By Doug Porter
Given Senator Ted Cruz’s fundamentalist leanings, there’s no small irony in the growing assumption among Republicans that he is ‘the devil they know’ and Donald Trump is the devil they don’t.
Yesterday the Cruz campaign announced appearances in Irvine and San Diego on Monday. Locally, the Texas Senator will appear from 6-8 pm at the Town and Country Resort in Mission Valley. Pre-registration will be required for those wishing to attend.
The latest Field Poll has Cruz just 7 points behind Donald Trump in California, a state with a winner-take-all lode of 172 GOP delegates. Former Republican state chair Ron Nehring, who hails from San Diego, is now a national spokesman for the Cruz campaign.
The Texas Senator’s west coast tour follows a disastrous swing through the Big Apple.
Ron Nehring & Ted Cruz
From the New York Post:
There are more than 1.4 million people in the Bronx — but Ted Cruz couldn’t even muster 100 at a campaign event in Parkchester with state Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., a conservative Christian minister.
Cruz visited the Sabrosura Chinese-Dominican restaurant, where Diaz said the presidential candidate could “listen to the social, economic and spiritual needs of our community” while dining with other clergymen on the eatery’s famed fried rice and plantains.
Aside from about 70 ministers affiliated with Diaz, only a dozen voters turned up — and two of them were tossed out after screaming protests about the Texas senator’s hardline stance on immigration.
And that was the nice coverage. Check out the cover of the NY Daily News:
How Bad Can It Be?
The question for Republican voters in California trying to chose between their top two candidates (IMO, Kasich has no chance) comes down to who will do the least damage to the party in the long term.
With some analysts saying that Donald Trump’s down-ballot effects could put GOP control of the House Representatives at risk, Ted Cruz has become the best alternative.
From Time Magazine’s report on the woes on the Republican establishment:
For many, the choice is the lesser of two evils: go with Trump and you avoid the short-term drama of splitting the party, as Cornyn warned. Trump himself predicted riots should he be denied the nomination. But that short-term gain might not be worth much if Trump puts off a generation of female and minority voters, essentially denying the party the White House for years to come. Cruz would give the party a Goldwater moment, still an expected crushing loss, but one that might help bring the Tea Party back into the fold by 2020. The problem is, Cruz leaves his colleagues with such a bitter taste in their mouths…
…Even Cruz’s best friend in the Senate, Utah’s Mike Lee, has had trouble stomaching him. In October, Cruz sat next to Lee in the Judiciary Committee as Lee urged his colleagues to vote for a criminal-justice bill he’d laboriously co-authored. Lee hadn’t known what to expect from Cruz, who’d been largely absent on the campaign tail. But judging by his floored facial expression caught on C-SPAN, he certainly didn’t expect what happened next. Cruz proceeded to come out against the bill, leaving Lee sputtering and the legislation essentially knee-capped.
Things got so bad that in January, Richard Burr, a North Carolina Republican Senator up for re-election, reportedly told attendees at a private fundraiser that he’d rather vote for Bernie Sanders, the self-described Vermont socialist challenging Hillary Clinton from the left, than Cruz. Burr denied the story and now says he’ll support the nominee, whomever that may be, though he has declined to make an endorsement in the race.
The End Times Transfer of Wealth
Aside from his prickly personality, questions remain to be answered about Senator Cruz’s real motivations. Despite wrapping himself in a Christian banner throughout his political career, Cruz has failed to win over many evangelicals, long considered a key segment of the GOP coalition. As the following passage from a site called Now The End Begins indicates, it’s likely that Trump’s support from that bloc has actually come from evangelicals voting against Ted Cruz:
Ted Cruz press people will tell you endlessly that he is a born-again Christian, and he may well be. But Ted Cruz is also a member of a strict fundamentalist branch of the Southern Baptist Church but also has deep roots in the Dominionist theology and Charismatic Pentecostalism of his father. His father Rafael Cruz is is a noted Dominionist preacher. One of the doctrines he preaches is the Charismatic prosperity heresy of something called “end times transfer of wealth“. This is not found anywhere in the Bible, and in fact is a ploy by the Charismatic movement to get their people to “tithe” at a higher level. This is the type of “Christianity” that is found in the Cruz household.
Dominion theology is also known as Christian reconstructionism and theonomy. Dominion theology states that biblical Christianity will rule all areas of society, personal and corporate. Christian reconstructionism reasons that society will be reconstructed by the Law of God as preached in the gospel and the Great Commission. Theonomy is a post-millennial view believing that all of the moral laws contained in the Old Testament are yet binding today.
Rafael Cruz indicated that his son Ted is among the evangelical Christians who are anointed as “kings” to take control of all sectors of society, an agenda commonly referred to as the “Seven Mountains” mandate, and “bring the spoils of war to the priests”, thus helping to bring about a prophesied “great transfer of wealth”, from the “wicked” to righteous gentile believers. They believe that they are working to “bring in the Kingdom” right here and now instead of waiting for it as the Bible says with Jesus Christ.
So there you have it folks: it’s the anti-Christ vs Satan. The label you wish to apply to each candidate is your choice.
Weekly Progressive Calendar: Upcoming in San Diego
Transgender Day of Empowerment
Friday, April 8, 6pm
The Center
3909 Center Street (Hillcrest)
Info & Updates
Join us in celebrating the rich diversity of San Diego’s transgender community! This year’s program is youth-focused and will include: speakers, entertainment, refreshments, awards and the announcement of the 2nd Annual Tracie Jada O’Brien Transgender Student Scholarship!
The San Diego Transgender Day of Empowerment was established by long-time San Diego community member Tracie O’Brien as a way to celebrate, empower and honor the transgender community in San Diego. More than a decade later, this event draws hundreds of community members to hear transgender speakers and enjoy community fellowship!
Important: This event will be interpreted in American Sign Language for our Deaf attendees.
Restorative Justice: What It Is And Why It Matters
Saturday, April 9 10am-Noon
Peace Resource Center of San Diego
3850 Westgate Pl.
Info & Updates
We know that our criminal justice system is not serving us well. State budgets for education have steadily decreased while funds for prisons increase. We are incarcerating minorities at an alarming rate, often for nonviolent offenses. With their zero tolerance policies, schools are calling on police to arrest children for behaviors that would have meant a visit to the principal’s office in decades past.
One solution is Restorative Justice.
But what is it? How does it work? And what makes it better than what we currently do?
As an advocate for social justice, what can you tell your representatives, co-workers and friends about Restorative Justice?
Advocating for peaceful and just solutions in our own communities requires us to be informed. Join us for a closer look at “RJ” and its proactive sister, Restorative Practices.
Refreshments provided. Donations appreciated. Co-hosted by Peace Resource Center of San Diego and SD First Church of the Brethren
12th Annual Zapata March/La Marcha de Zapata!
Saturday, April 9, 10am
Chicano Park
1983 National Ave
Info & Updates
Since 2004, la Marcha de Zapata has been organized every year by Union del Barrio in San Diego in unity with local MEChAs and with other youth oriented groups. The goal is to pay respect to the memory and legacy of the struggle of General Emiliano Zapata killed April 10, 1919. The Marcha serves to build unity among the different groups with the goal of building unity within a “movement of raza youth”.
This year’s theme is ¡Juntos Lucharemos, Juntos Venceremos! !Together We Fight, Together we Rise! We will be taking the streets to make visible the struggle for human rights, to reject state terrorism in our communities, to reject gentrification and defend our right to higher education. In order to make our voices be heard, we must unity and stand up against our oppressor. Como dice el General Emiliano Zapata, “Si no hay justicia para el pueblo, que no haya paz para el gobierno.” We must let go of our fears and stand in solidarity. So we challenge you to stand in the front lines with us and fight for our libertad porque ¡El Pueblo Unido, Jamas Sera Vencido!
Sips & Civility: Money in Politics
Tuesday, April 12, 6-8pm
New San Diego Central Library
330 Park Blvd
Info & Updates
Enjoy some free drinks and learn about the influence of money in politics at the same time. The League of Women Voters San Diego is hosting its next Sips & Civility event on April 12, a nonpartisan evening of drinks and civil discourse.
League leaders are excited to share information about Super PACs and dark money. Join us for a round-table discussion and weigh in with your thoughts too.
This event is open to the public, and located at the San Diego Central Library, Shiley Events Suite on the 9th floor. Anyone age 21 and older may attend. RSVPs are appreciated.
Fight for $15 Global Day of Action
Thursday, April 14, 11:30am
3rd & Broadway, Downtown San Diego
Info & Updates
1:30 FIGHT FOR $15 MARCH starts at 3rd/ Broadway *Park at Horton Plaza – Join UDW Homecare Providers, Janitors, and Security Officers as they escalate their contract fights for $15 and Union Rights!
12:15 STRIKE MCJOBS RALLY AND ACTION (Park Blvd/A St)
* Stand up against the McDonaldization of our economy!
*Lunch will be provided to all
*Post- action music, voter registration, and opportunities to get involved in upcoming campaigns will be available.
An Enchanting Evening of Stories and Songs in the Round!
w/ Nena Anderson, Cindy Lee Berryhill and Kimm Rogers
Grass Roots Oasis
Friday, August 15, 7:30-10:30pm
3130 Moore St. (Old Town)
Info & Updates (Admission)
You don’t want to miss our mid-month celebration kicking off The GO’s 2nd Year with 3 powerful women of song and story, PLUS the premiere of The GO Gratitude Wall by Listen Local SD impresario, and very talented artist, Cathryn Beeks! Reserve your seats NOW and support this space for progressive culture and organizing.
Nena Anderson, Cindy Lee Berryhill and Kimm Rogers represent the fullness of lives lived with ache, beauty, humor and alchemy, reflected in words and music rendered honestly and artfully.
During our 1st Year Anniversary Month, the Grassroots Oasis is very pleased to present “An Enchanting Evening of Stories and Songs in the Round” with these amazing artists based here in San Diego.
Get your event listed: I try to list the next 10 days or so of mostly non-commercial events I think our readers might find of interest. I source my material from social media listings and press releases. In cases where there are competing but similar events or campaigns of the progressive persuasion, I do my best to list everything. (Hint, hint Hillary fans.) Unfortunately, my subscription to the psychic hotline has lapsed so if you don’t tell me or Facebook, etc., about your event it won’t get listed. See my email address below.
On This Day: 1911 – A total of 128 convict miners, leased to a coal company under the state’s shameful convict lease system, were killed in an explosion at the Banner coal mine outside Birmingham, Ala. The miners were mostly African-Americans jailed for minor offenses.1974 – Hank Aaron hits 715th home run breaking Babe Ruth’s record. 2002 – Suzan-Lori Parks became the first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for drama for her play “Topdog/Underdog.”
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Doug Porter
Latest posts by Doug Porter (see all)
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Thank You for your incisive analysis on the coming of Cruz — sobering, indeed. And Thank You once more for featuring my Grassroots Oasis in your Friday Event Calendar! Our 1 Year Anniversary this month is definitely a celebration of our grassroots progressive community.
“constitutionalist” cruz not even eligible to be president:
http://www.rense.com/general96/proofcruz.html