On Cruz and leadership
Reflecting more on last night, I want to emphasize Cruz’s leadership role.
Yes, I was happy to hear the substance of Cruz’s criticism of the MSM. But that’s been done before, in particular by Gingrich and by Trump, as well as by random others here and there. But of greater importance than that was Cruz’s sudden turn as leader.
That was unexpected (for me, anyway). Although I know he’s a brilliant guy with strong opinions, Cruz has been the maverick for so long that it was somewhat of a surprise to see him lead the charge. He showed very good leadership instincts as well as courage, and the others sensed it and responded by following.
Neither Cruz nor anyone else had taken that leadership role in previous debates. The MSM wanted them to attack each other, and after all it’s a debate, and so for the most part they were happy to follow the MSM lead and do so. Cruz turned the tables, replacing the MSM as “leaders” with himself as leader of the Republican candidates, at least on that particular issue.
When Gingrich had mounted a similar attack in 2012 on the MSM during the debates, he hadn’t take the same leadership role. How did Cruz do it? Instead of just talking about himself, or even talking about the MSM generally, he talked about what the MSM had done to all the other candidates in this very debate, and gave colorful and pointed specifics. This is what bonded him to the group, which is part of the leadership role—the group members must recognize him as a leader and see his leadership as benefiting them and joining with them emotionally, if only temporarily.
It will be very interesting to see if any of this continues. It will also be of interest to see if it raises Cruz’s poll numbers. I would imagine it would, but voters are fickle and unpredictable, especially this year.
But even if it doesn’t help Cruz, this could help the party as a whole. One of the main criticisms of Republicans is their bitter divisions, and Cruz has been regarded as one of the most divisive of all. If that perception of Republicans can be overcome—if they can disagree civilly and yet be seen to be friends who have each other’s backs—that can help dispel public distaste for the entire brand.
I got into it with my Ran Paul loving stepson awhile back when he said Cruz was a nut job.
I simply asked what Cruz said that made him call Cruz a nut job. When he finally decided I wasn’t going to let him off the hook and demanded an example … he caved and said he just didn’t like him.
Then I told that’s what you should have said to begin with.
This is what Cruz does. He won’t let you say things and then let you off the hook. I love that part of him and that’s what he did to the mods in the debate.
Here is what NBC thinks of Cruz. We aren’t going to let voters see that again!
Blocked on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmUqzJnf8zY#action=share
Viva la Cruz and Rubio! I see Cruz and Fiorina as the sharpest knives in the drawer, but Rubio is included in my top 3. I hope they continue to attack the msm.
Ted Cruz has an audiographic memory. He actually “in order” ran through the questions that the moderators asked the candidates. He can not lose a debate!!
Love Cruz, and happy to see him break from the pack last night!
Cruze is the man. In a debate, he will wipe the floor with Clinton.
Neo’s comments about group dynamics are interesting. Interesting. Listening on the radio, I missed what was going on.
Jack: This link still works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZuQcLFrl1Y
From what I’ve heard, Christie was the first to give a group compliment, and Rubio was the first to criticize the press. (I didn’t see the debate.) How did Cruz lead?
Attack, attack, attack, and hit the critical points.
Conservatives act like the cuckservatives and Leftists have them hostage and people are shuddering and quaking as if they were under Stockholme Syndrome.
He did something else. He called the democrats communists (Mensheviks and Bolsheviks). Commies hate being called out and Ted knows it.
Cruz is sharp. In fact, he’s terrifyingly smart. But he knows it. That’s probably the one thing that keeps me from being enthusiastically in his camp. He has an almost arrogant attitude because he is aware that there are few people who can match wits with him. He scares people who see a man who is so smart and so ideologically conservative that he picks fights with other Republicans. He was asked on a Fox show today how he could bring people together and lead them to a smaller government and greater prosperity when he is seen as mostly divisive. He didn’t answer the question. Instead he ducked and claimed that Reagan was divisive, but Reagan was able to lead a conservative revival. The main thing I remember about Reagan is that he was extremely likable and he observed the Eleventh Commandment – “Speak no ill of a fellow Republican.” A quality that Cruz has not yet developed and maybe never will. People thought Reagan was an amiable dunce. People will never think that of Cruz. Cruz comes off to me as knowing he is the smartest guy in the room with a superiority complex because of it.
That said, he is far superior to any democrat in the field and would have my vote if he gets the nomination.
Ted is very quick of mind.
We really have a great field.
Unlike the messiah, Cruz is often the smartest person who walks through the door. I do not see arrogance in his demeanor, I see a person who is self assured and knowledgable. He (and to a lesser extent Lee, Paul, and Rubio) has bucked the senate leadership which definitely needs shaking up. I want him to remain in the senate where he can do the most damage to the statists.
A quality that Cruz has not yet developed and maybe never will.
A bad idea to treat tactical proverbs as strategic laws.
“Cruz comes off to me as knowing he is the smartest guy in the room with a superiority complex because of it.”
At least he actually is the smartest guy in the room unlike Obama who only thinks he is.
I try not to come to a quick judgment about who the smartest person in the room is until I’ve personally interrogated them and put them to the Question, on various matters.
And no, MSM moderators don’t count as the Question, because they are what they are.
You don’t have to be the smartest person in the room. If you are simply smart/have good morals/vision and ability to convey those traits …. that goes a long way.
Actually I don’t see that arrogance etc. in Cruz. That’s me. I laughed — back some time ago — when there was a tatooed image of Cruz with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, and torn shirt. Although I do not recall the circumstances, I seem to recall Cruz joining in the fun as well. And perhaps a pointed comment as well.
gracepc –
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/02/27/the-guy-who-made-ted-cruz-into-a-ripped-tattooed-smoker/
Neo:
I’ve said before that I eagerly await the day, hopefully during a debate, when a candidate says: “Okay, let me be frank. I think I’d do a better job as President than other people running, and that’s why I’m running. But can all of us, up on this stage, agree that ANY of us would do a better job as President than ANY of the Democrats running? Can we all agree on that? Could I see a show of hands, please?”
I believe Ted Cruz has come closest to something like that so far.
Nick– Thanks. I clicked over but apparently I have used up my “freebies” at WAPO.
According to Sean Hannity, Cruz has eidetic aural memory. He remembers everything he hears – and thus, at the debate, segmented his complaints with perfect reference to the targets and what was said to them in proper serial order.
Hannity further explained (on his radio show) that this helps to explain how Cruz can seem robotic in stump speech delivery. Because Cruz, almost literally to himself, inserts a given audio file and simply performs it.
His apparent lack of spontaneity is in direct contrast to Trump’s style. People speculate on whether Cruz can reach populist appeal, given this difference in style.