I do not like you in a house. I do not like you with a mouse. I do not like you here or there. I do not like you anywhere. I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like you or them, Ted-I-am . . .

Apparently Republicans have yet to learn the lesson, which has been taught to them multiple times the past several national election cycles, that popularity among GOP primary voters is not a measure of anything remotely resembling reality, either short term or long term.  Remember how in 2012 every other week there was a new GOP front runner du jour - Bachmann, Santorum, Perry, Cain, Trump, Gingrich . . . etc.?  GOP primary popularity does not necessarily translate to voting booth appeal in national elections.

Observe:

Raleigh, N.C. – PPP's newest national poll finds Ted Cruz is now the top choice of Republican primary voters to be their candidate for President in 2016. He leads the way with 20% to 17% for Rand Paul, 14% for Chris Christie, 11% for Jeb Bush, 10% each for Marco Rubio and Paul Ryan, 4% for Bobby Jindal, and 3% each for Rick Santorum and Scott Walker.

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2013/09/cruz-leads-national-republican-field.html


Let's keep in mind -- that 20% number is, in all likelihood, primarily made up of rabid Teahadists.  And coincidentally - and on an even more interesting note - that percentage number just also happens to closely conform to the national, overall favorability rating of the Tea Party themselves.

The only reason The Gadfly is posting about this poll is because it simply underscores the psychopathic disposition of your average primary Republican voter in this day and age.  Think about it - all it took for Ted Cruz to vault to the top of the list as favored 2016 Presidential candidate in the minds of the GOP base was for him to orchestrate a phony filibuster calling for de-funding of the ACA, and yammering ad nauseum on the Senate floor for 21 hours about pirates and Darth Vader and Green Eggs & Ham.  Then, once his spectacle came to a magnanimous end, he turned around and voted for cloture on the very same bill that he had just "filibustered."  If that was all that was required to make him instant Presidential material in the eyes of the GOP base, don't you think that is setting the standard pretty fucking low?

So yeah -- tell The Gadfly that there isn't some form of mental instability issues going on with people who find Ted Cruz to be a quantitatively qualified candidate to lead this country forward going in to the next decade.


----TFG