Who made the best decision for their own political future: Pence, Kasich, or Cruz?
Kasich, but he may be too old.
Cruz has no future and Pence is too extreme. Pence would have been OK if this was 2000 or 04.
Who made the best decision for their own political future: Pence, Kasich, or Cruz?
So far, I'd say Cruz. It kind of depends on the outcome of the election though. Assuming reason prevails and Trump loses, Cruz effectively distanced himself from the Trump Train, but in the end he gets to claim that he is a team player and endorsed the guy. I think Cruz emerges from all of this as the leader of the religious right. Pence is, I guess, in second place in this race to nowhere. With the VP nod he'll get a lot more name recognition 4 years from now, but tying himself so closely to Trump can't be a good move in the long term. Who is Kasich again?
Pretty much agree. Bless me birdie for shooting bluejays with my BB gun as a child even though my dad raised parakettes and canaries as a hobby. Being non crazy, a bird genius, and understanding quantitative models goes a long way...
Pence knew he was DOA in Indiana and eagerly jumped aboard the Trump train. Christie is simarly dead in politics, but sent Mr Ivanka's dad to the big house. Not Trump U, but the pesky Bridgegate trial would have been a pesky distraction. Losing as VP is better than losing as Gov, but his time has passed.
Kasich is done if Trump wins. Already lost twice and too old to run in 2024. 2020 is iffy...
Cruz is a weasel and he's done if he loses in 2018 (primary or general election). His social positions are dead, but he won't have Trump stench if he's still viable in 2020.
RE: Cruz - the country is moving more to the middle. His brand of conservatism will be archaic by the time he has any chance to run again. Unless he changes his personality, he won't have a whole lot more friends in 4-8 years either. The only thing I can see for him 2020 is to set him up as a sacrificial lamb to lose and not bruise any new face.
You are correct about his like ability, I'd forgotten about that. I think you're incorrect about his brand of conservatism being archaic by 2020. His bible inspired insanity is alive and well and not going anywhere in places like Alabama, Mississippi, etc. He may not win elections but his people are all over the place down here, and he has a high potential to be the voice of that crowd.
He can't win in 2020 with his current stances on religion, gays or immigration. The combination of the aging of millennials, expansion or non-whites and women make his platform out of date today and will be worse in 2020.
Watch Texas. In 2018, I would not be surprised if one of the Castro brothers becomes governor. As this shows, Hispanics could outnumber whites in TX in 2020 ( http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/lo...number-whites-in-Texas-by-the-end-6375597.php ).
Peter Beinart makes the case that Trump is the anti-jhmd conservative. http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/09/trumps-abdication-of-personal-responsibility/501893/
Watch Texas. In 2018, I would not be surprised if one of the Castro brothers becomes governor. As this shows, Hispanics could outnumber whites in TX in 2020 ( http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/lo...number-whites-in-Texas-by-the-end-6375597.php ).
Trump donors kicked in $16M today. Still well short of the needed $140M for a promised ad campaign. Trump's going to have to kick in big time to make it happen.
He just bragged at the debate about not needing advertisements.
He just bragged at the debate about not needing advertisements.
Who made the best decision for their own political future: Pence, Kasich, or Cruz?
Also, sucks for those Blue Jays, but if it makes you feel better, it's doubtful that you had a population level effect.