Not so. I’ve been around for awhile. I’ve watched the NE be right about plenty of other sex scandals involving political figures. I find it interesting that the writer who tackled the Edwards story is the same one tackling the Cruz story. This is where my thoughts are coming from.

Trump has been incredibly silent on this story. I am not taking my thoughts from him or anyone else. This is purely from my OWN head and what has turned out to be true in the past.

Cruz and his wife lived apart on-and-off throughout their marriage. There is something strange there. The story about his wife having some kind of nervous breakdown on the side of the road was also strange. Many people are turned off to Ted because they think he is ‘creepy’ and a bit oily. And this was well before the affair rumors. Cruz has proven that he is sneaky and manipulative.

I will remind you 9 months ago I was THRILLED that Cruz jumped into the race. I even donated a small amount of $$ to him to make sure he stayed in when the number of candidates looked insurmountable. So CRUZ himself has changed my mind about him and his motives, his candidacy. NOT Trump.

There is something off about Cruz in the way he uses psychologists to target voters with the words they want to hear, the emails I received for months from his campaign (very different in tone and style from Carson and Carly…I was receiving their email stuff as well for months), the behind-the-scenes shenanigans in Iowa and other places, the hiring of a slimey campaign director. Little by little Cruz has turned me OFF to his campaign by his own actions.

Removing all the emotionally charged words such as “gallant knights” and “horrified”, I think the biggest problem, or at least the root problem that Trump has that disqualifies him for President is this: He treats people like crap.

I may be in a minority, but in my assessment of another human being I generally like to get an idea of how they treat others. I think it’s an important trait in a leader – are they ruthless or do they exhibit any form of grace or appropriate gentleness, especially when dealing with people who are not enemies of the country.

Trump treats everyone who comes against him like garbage, whether they are in the way of his real-estate plans, or in the way of his presidency. Just treats ’em like crap. Some people see this as strength. I see it as a really, really bad character flaw and disqualifier.

When last I checked, Rubio was no longer in the running.

And the word “operatives” covers an awful lot, doesn’t it? What’s more, funny thing how it wasn’t published back then, apparently because there’s nothing much to it. If you actually read the story, it’s a report that there are reports of affairs. Until there’s more, give the gossip a break.

It is of note, however, that it gets trotted out by Trump’s good buddy when Trump’s locked in a battle with Cruz. No doubt you think that’s a coincidence, or Rubio’s fault, or “Rubio’s operatives'” fault.

What women are you talking about–candidates’ wives like Heidi Cruz, who are usually off-limits to other candidates, and yet whom Trump himself has dissed?

I don’t think anyone here has the vapors or thinks they need extra protection. But it is extremely valid to point out what this says about Trump and his character.

I think Cruz also based his campaign on both reason and conservatism.

Nor am I certain that Trump will be the nominee. I think it’s likely, maybe 75% or so likely, but by no means a done deal. If not, I’m not sure it will be Cruz, either.

How’s that for waffling?

I also think there’s a chance these allegations won’t hurt Cruz except with those who already weren’t disposed to vote for him. They don’t seem to be sticking, although all dirt sticks somewhat.

Time will tell.

Ted Cruz as a candidate had one major personal character flaw that he tried to overcome, which was his inability to connect to the average person. With a brilliant mind always one step ahead of the guy next to him he couldn’t be himself and at the same time be accessible. His way of connecting to people was through religion, what he thought was the common denominator holding the right together, and what he thought was the basic moral underpinning holding everyone together. He wasn’t totally wrong since it worked for him in places like Iowa and Utah. But it was not nearly enough.

What Trump’s campaign is doing is a final assault on the one thing Cruz based his appeal on, his religious following and his blemish free character and high morals. Cruz’ conservative credentials, voting record, educational and intellectual achievements have been beside the point in an election based on emotion and personal feelings. What I kept hoping for was someone who based his or her campaign on reason alone. Fiorina came close, as did Ben Carson on occasion. But none of them could get past the hype and circus of Trump.

Have you Trump supporters become cultists, where all you can do is repeat the party line? The only thing Trump hasn’t (yet) asked you to do is shave your heads and self-castrate.

A piece of advice: when the time comes, drink the Kool Aid last, so you can just walk away. You may even get a book deal and lots of money for “telling your story of survival.”

Rubio’s operatives peddled this story for MONTHS before the Enquirer ran it.

You know, Dondi.

And EVERYONE declined to run it (because it was specious and salacious), until Trump’s buddy at the National Enquirer came along. Luckily, he has no standards at all, and knows how to word an article *just so* so that it doesn’t meet the definition of libel.

Now, because of the building backlash against Trump for peddling sleaze, his supporters are furiously backtracking.

What other lies will Trump supporters have to tell on Donald’s behalf before this is over?

On the other hand, why have people become gallant knights horrified at Trump’s treatment of women? Sheesh! Women are out there, in the fray, they need a man (and by extension kid-glove handling by a man) the way a fish needs a bicycle.

All this swooning and vapors over how Trump speaks about some women is sort of disingenuous. They, the women, chose to enter the rough and tumble, then they would be expected to take the hard knocks.

No special protections for women, or should I say for the dear old gals?

Rubio.

You know, Dondi.