Ted Cruz’ victory in Wisconsin was no surprise. Republican leadership strong-armed conservative radio stations, and spent millions of dollars in anti-Trump ads on television. In addition, Trump damaged himself with several controversial comments in the week prior to the primary.

I have a message for Ted Cruz; the Republican establishment continues to hate you; you are not their ‘chosen son.’ You serve but a single purpose, and that is to guarantee that Trump does not receive 1,237 delegates before July.

The plan is to choose anyone but a Trump or a Cruz. Names under consideration are expected to include Paul Ryan, Marco Rubio, Mitt Romney, and even Scott Walker.

Regardless of what happens at what is expected to be an angry convention in July, the Republican Party is finished. The reality is that it has been a party in name only for sixteen years. There is no resemblance to the party of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Reagan, (but only his first term), or George H.W. Bush. It is now owned by special interest groups such as the one-percent, the NRA, and the Christian religious right. It no longer represents all of the American people, and in truth has no leadership.

For nearly seven years John Boehner and Mitch McConnell allowed the TEA Party, (now known as the ‘Freedom Caucus), which is a small group of extremists, to control our nation’s government. It became the ‘party of no.’

Negative actions become death blows to a party and a nation. Policies of disrupting a quasi-functioning government and actively seeking policies of austerity while denying efforts by progressives to move forward into the 21^st century have forever damaged our Democratic Republic. The oligarchy which exists today eliminates the right of all Americans to have their votes count. After they are elected, our Senators and Representatives in Washington ignore the will of the people, and pass legislation which the lobbyists of big business and the Christian religious right approve.

If you do not agree with me, answer these questions. Why are Republicans against immigration reform, when the majority of Americans want some form of path to legal residence for nearly twelve million men, women, and children who remain in limbo? Why do they oppose an increase in the federal minimum wage, although most Americans agree that it is necessary? They oppose legislation insuring that women are treated equally in the workplace, although the vast majority of our nation’s people recognize the necessity. Most of the American people support same-sex marriage; why are Republicans not in favor of the Constitution? Including gun owners, most Americans believe that a change in our gun laws is necessary; only Republicans oppose this fact. Why is the GOP opposed to stronger environmental legislation to reduce climate change when more than 70 percent of Americans believe that it is necessary?

The truth is that people are of no concern to conservatives. Real Republicans placed the needs of the people ahead of personal gain.

It is entirely true that neither Trump or Cruz is qualified to lead the free world; and they will not be living in the White House on January 20, 2017. Cruz needs to wake up and ‘smell the coffee.’ He is but a tool; a tool to defeat Donald Trump.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Source

Photo Courtesy of DonkeyHotey

Novels by James Turnage are available on Amazon Kindle