Wednesday Open Thread [3.25.15]

The editors at Bloomberg tell us what a courageous conservative would do.

A courageous conservative would be willing to stand up to the ideologues and zealots in the Republican Party and confront truths that they will not. That may be too much to ask of a presidential candidate — but when one of them claims the mantle of courage, he or she asks to be judged by that standard.

A courageous conservative would dare to tell the Republican Party that the U.S. economy needs the 11 million immigrants who are here illegally, and many more besides; that they aren’t going to be deported, and that it would tank the economy if they were; and that it is long past time for Republicans to put forward a comprehensive plan to fix the immigration system. Cruz, the son of a Cuban immigrant, has the background to make this argument, as other conservatives have done. Apparently he lacks the guts.

A courageous conservative wouldn’t be afraid to tell Republican voters that the scientific evidence overwhelmingly indicates that human activity is contributing to climate change, which is creating serious economic risks, and that ignoring this danger isn’t “conservative.” Many Republicans are beginning to face this reality, but no thanks to Cruz. He’s adopted the party’s new talking point of calling anyone who favors action on climate change an “alarmist.”

FLORIDA–PRESIDENT–REPUBLICAN PRIMARY–Public Policy Polling: Bush 25, Walker 17, Rubio 15, Carson 12, Huckabee 7, Cruz 6, Christie 4, Paul 4, Perry 3.
FLORIDA–PRESIDENT–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY–Public Policy Polling: Clinton 58, Biden 14, Warren 10, Sanders 3, O’Malley 2, Webb 1.
FLORIDA–PRESIDENT–Public Policy Polling: Clinton 48, Rubio 46; Clinton 47, Bush 44; Clinton 46, Paul 42; Clinton 49, Huckabee 44; Clinton 48, Cruz 41; Clinton 48, Christie 41; Clinton 49, Carson 41; Clinton 50, Perry 42; Clinton 49, Walker 41.

Only 37% of Florida voters think Jeb Bush should run for President, to 52% who say they think he shouldn’t. The numbers for Marco Rubio on that front are almost identical- 35% say he should run to 51% who believe he should sit it out. The lack of enthusiasm for either Bush or Rubio making a White House bid is at least partially a function of their not being terribly popular. 45% of voters approve of the job Rubio is doing as a Senator to 40% who disapprove. Bush’s favorability numbers are similar with 45% giving him good marks to 42% with a negative opinion. Their numbers aren’t bad but they aren’t that impressive either.

NEW HAMPSHIRE–PRESIDENT–REPUBLICAN PRIMARY–Gravis Marketing: Walker 19, Bush 18, Christie 10, Paul 10, Rubio 7, Cruz 6, Carson 6, Fiorina 4, Huckabee 4, Santorum 1
NEW HAMPSHIRE–PRESIDENT–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY–Gravis Marketing: Clinton 49, Warren 20, Sanders 12, Biden 5, Webb 2, O’Malley 2
NEW HAMPSHIRE–PRESIDENT–Gravis Marketing: Clinton 43, Bush 40; Clinton 46, Walker 43; Clinton 45, Paul 42.

NEW HAMPSHIRE–SENATOR—-Gravis Marketing: Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) 47, Gov. Maggie Hassan (D) 45

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) blamed Al Gore in a speech for the fact that “people of my party are all over the board” when it comes to thinking climate change is real.

Said Graham: “I said that it’s real, that man has contributed to it in a substantial way. But the problem is Al Gore’s turned this thing into religion. You know, climate change is not a religious problem for me, it’s an economic, it is an environmental problem.”

Well, first, Al Gore did not turn belief in science and what science was telling us about our changing climate into a religion. He just showed a passion about it. And because Republicans hate Al Gore, Republicans had to hate what he was passionate about, with an equal or greater passion.

Second, Graham’s excuse here is very analogous to a wife beating husband blaming the wife for his beating her.

Mark Morford at The San Francisco Chronicle lists the 10 best things about Cruz running for president:

Cruz’ vehement refusal to accept the science of climate change – which was enough to make Jerry Brown call him “absolutely unfit” for the presidency – will bring out the worst in his own party’s already fractured, combative extremism; his opponents will either have to sigh heavily and agree with Cruz’ radicalism, or play the moderate card and risk alienating the wrath of the dumbed-down base to which Cruz, like Sarah Palin before him, is shamelessly appealing. Either way, the debates should be a clown car of lowest common-denominator, anti-intellectual delight.

The problem is that what Cruz says, and how he says it, is what the base of the GOP believes. It is fun to see Peter King of New York call him a carnival barker, but others cannot disagree with him too much, lest they disagree with the base, and then the base would rally to Cruz. Yes, amazing as it is to say it, there is a definite path for Cruz to easily win the GOP nomination.

The Onion can always be counted on. Here is their take on Ted Cruz.

Texas senator Ted Cruz announced Monday that he will run for president in 2016, becoming the first Republican politician to officially declare his candidacy. Here is what you should know about the first-term senator:
Political Positions: Deafening
Ethnicity: White enough
Supporters: Those people from high school who got married when they were 18
Speaks: Spanish, English, Tongues
Campaign Slogan: “I’m Ted Cruz”
Likelihood Of Becoming President: Huckabeesque

Bill Boyarsky at TruthDig writes that the GOP is planning to use a desired War with Iran as a campaign strategy for 2016:

The Republicans want to frighten the voters into believing that the Democrats will sell out Israel and the United States.
Selling this phony message is tremendously important to them as they get ready for the 2016 election. Domestically, their arguments against the Democrats are vanishing. Obamacare is increasingly popular as signups become more efficient. The deficit—the Holy Grail for Republicans—is shrinking. Unemployment is declining. All they can do is complain that Obama and the Democrats are surrendering to Islam.