"United We Stand,..Divided We Conquer!"

"The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock,whose habitation is high, that saith in his heart, who shall bring me down to the ground?"
Obadiah: 1:3
Now, at this time in history, after a masterful display of political maneuvering worthy of Shakespeare,this is the question that must be answered of two men, inexorably linked by fate and destiny;the Leaders of the Republican Party,Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.
"Who Shall Bring Them Down To The Ground?"
Who indeed?
The answer is, no one.
Both men, proud , arrogant, reckless at times, sure, yet also steel willed,savagely patriotic, and grimly determined as well, to win not only for themselves, but for America as well, the nation that both of these men have a fierce loyalty to.A loyalty, and a determination to make it Great Again, no matter what the odds .Indeed, both have dedicated their lives and fortunes to doing exactly that. Either man,left alone to his own devices, in a time of his choosing,would have been political forces to be reckoned with, to be certain. Each would have easily dominated that time in history.
Yet, destiny decreed that they share this time in history, share this political stage, share this battle for the lost soul of the nation. During the Republican Primary season, they started as friends , each recognizing the skill and will of the other,each respecting what they saw, and chose to concentrate their attacks on the other 15, lesser contenders.
At first, that is. But, just as it was inevitable that they would be the last men standing in the Primaries, so too was it inevitable that they clash in final battle.
Each possessed of equal strength, each decreed by the Shakespearean fates,to be locked in eternal struggle,to prove their mastery over the other. This seems to be their political destiny ,while the future of the nation hangs in the balance. Indeed, their conflict seems reminiscent of the rivalry of another two great men, whose destinies were also seemingly determined by the three Macbethian Witches known only as The Fates.Three Witches ,who seem playful and cruel indeed, in their manipulations of mortal men.
Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier ,were these other two mortals, who, like Trump and Cruz, seem to have been forced into Olympian conflict ,that would become the stuff of legend.
In truth, there is much of Muhammed Ali in Donald Trump, perhaps by design, since Trump is a long time admirer of the boxer. Both men have similar personalities , with a P.T.Barnum -like flare for pretended bluster and braggadocio.Both have a child-like humor about them. Both have a talent for self-promotion. Both have iconic, charismatic, larger than life personalities that are tailor made for the media.Both seem to transcend social and political divisions,and attract fans and followers from every class in the American spectrum .Even politically,both seem to be unorthodox, and undefinable,.Both Trump and Ali ,at various times in their lives,were both Democrat and Republican. Ali started as a patriotic, right -wing Olympian, then morphed into a Black Muslim , linked to the Nation of Islam, then finally turning Conservative Republican, backing Ford, Reagan, and Bush Presidential runs. So too for Trump,who spent most of his life as an unfocused, low information, unpredictable  New York Democrat ,before transforming into a populist style Conservative Republican over the last three years, as the nation's grim fate under Democrat rule ,could no longer be denied.After this "Road to Damascus" style awakening, Trump has emerged as an instinctive conservative by nature,with a fierce loyalty to the nation that brought him great personal success.The nation's distress awakened a determined patriotism that compelled him to enter the race for the Presidency. Ali too,experienced a patriotic rebirth,despite his links to Islam, after the 911 attacks .Had Ali's health endured, who knows what a political force he might have been ?Who knows how he might have helped the nation to heal? We can only speculate.
Yes, the Trump -Ali comparisons are obvious, just as the Cruz -Frazier similarities are as well. Both Ted Cruz and Joe Frazier are fierce competitors in their chosen fields,both have a relentless , attacking style , both are strong, no nonsense conservatives who bristled at the childish antics of the rival that  would draw them into the epic battles that defined their careers. Both Cuz and Frazier are men of honor, integrity,men of strong religious faith, men who believe your word is your bond. And, most importantly, both Cruz and Frazier have a fierce loyalty to their families, and will not tolerate any attacks on them. Frazier held a lifelong grudge against Ali,for calling him an "Uncle Tom', calling him a "White Man's Negro", calling him a" Gorilla".All these attacks, not only hurt his pride, but also led to his children being bullied in school. Frazier never forgave Ali for these attacks , and rightly so, since overweening pride never allowed Ali the luxury of apologizing to Frazier. So too,has Cruz held a grudge against Trump, for his Primary campaign attacks on his wife and father, disparaging his wife's looks and inexplicably linking his father to Lee Harvey Oswald, and the Kennedy assassination.Both Ali and Trump most likely carried out these attacks in a sophomoric, tongue -in cheek,humorous spirit. Both men most likely never meant their attacks to be taken seriously.But, both Cruz and Frazier took them seriously. And, both attacks did have an impact on both Frazier and and Cruz's personal lives.
Intriguing parallels to be sure, in these four men, forever linked by fate, and destiny.
Much of the Ali-Frazier rivalry was spent in Manila ,with both men calling their third and final encounter the "closest thing to death",they had ever experienced.Both men left pieces of themselves in the ring that night .Both men would never be the same again. And, although much of their hatred had been spent in that ring, in that third and final fight, they still remained bitter rivals for the remainder of their lives.
Ali and Frazier, forever determined to prove themselves the master of the other, until death's hand claimed them,..and perhaps even beyond that.
Will Trump and Cruz suffer the same fate? Will they allow past grudges , carelessly inflicted insults, during the heat of battle, of intense political conflict, force them into an eternal rivalry, that will define their existence? Perhaps. The second night of the Republican Convention in Cleveland, Ohio was perhaps a portent of things to come between these two men, as Cruz gave one of the finest speeches of the entire event, yet, was then booed off the stage for failing to endorse a man who had insulted his wife and father. Even with the fate of the nation hanging in the balance, the Christian Cruz could not forgive and forget and offer a formal endorsement of Trump from the convention stage.
Yet, all is not what it seems, for Trump invited Cruz, wanted him there, wanted him to speak, and knew ,there would be no endorsement. Trump met with Cruz , approved his speech, word for word, and accepted the fact that Cruz would not be making a formal endorsement. At least, not yet. Trump accepted this, and still approved Cruz's appearance at the convention. Why would he do this?For one simple reason;..he wanted to test him. And,..Cruz accepted, because he wanted to test Trump. Yet again, the rivalry would not, could not, be put to rest. In truth, both of these men will be testing each other ,for many years, in many political battles to come.That is their fate.Like Ali and Frazier , that is their destiny.
But, unlike many of the other Republican Primary candidates,Cruz,in fact, did honor the pledge, and Trump knows it. He showed up, where many did not, including the Governor of Ohio John Kasich. Cruz said that all Republicans should vote their conscience, vote for conservatives who follow the constitution, vote straight ticket Republican,..and most importantly, Cruz insisted that every Republican honor the memory of the Founders who sacrificed everything for freedom, by not staying home for this election,by showing up,..and electing Republicans.,..by defeating the Democrats, permanently.
There are only two candidates left;.. Trump and Hillary.Which, of these two, supports the constitution? Which of these two, supports the border wall, that Cruz endorsed? Which of these two , would  more likely implement the conservative principles that Cruz lives by?
Of course Cruz endorsed Trump. He even congratulated him on his nomination. But , what Cruz didn't do, was bow before a man who he still seeks to defeat politically some day, a man he still seeks mastery over.
Cruz endorsed Trump, but he did it like a man, not like a whipped dog ,as Christie did. And, despite intense bitterness towards Trump, he showed up. Unlike Bush, or Kasich, Cruz, Walker, Perry,and Carson,would put aside Primary bitterness, and show up for the good of the Party, and the good of the nation.
Trump wanted Cruz to speak, not to belittle him, or destroy him politically,but because he respects him as his greatest rival, his steadfast foe, his fiercest competitor. So too, for Cruz, who wanted to be there because he knows , like Trump., like Pence, like Carson, like Gingrich, like Guiliani, like Phares, like Sessions,like Ryan,..that Hillary must never become President ,and the Democrat Party must be defeated permanently, if America is to be saved.
They were not seeking, to destroy each other,
But to test each other,..
Both passed the test,..
Both are men of courage, conviction, determination ,
Both are dedicated to making America Great Again,..
And both will continue to do battle with each other in the political arena , for many years to come .
Indeed, that is their destiny.
But, what of Republican Party unity?Does not this endless political infighting and maneuvering hurt the Party, divide the Party, and help the Democrats achieve victory?
Not at all.
In truth, the Cruz incident helps the Party, and secures the Trump victory in November, because it shows the Republican passion, for the battle, and their honesty. It shows the Republicans are the thinking mans Party , the Party of Lincoln, of Reagan, the Party that wages fierce internal battles, but also is united behind basic the conservative principles of tax and regulation cuts, a strong military, 2nd Amendment rights,support for our Judeo-Christian values,and our Allies in freedom.
These principles, despite all differences , always unite Republicans and these principles , despite all bitter arguements, despite all rancour, are the reason Republicans will be victorious in November ,and Democrats will suffer permanent defeat.
House Speaker Paul Ryan said it best, when he told the gathered convention crowd that the differences that pull us apart, do not matter. It just means that we are individuals who think,who feel,who are alive, and who love freedom and the constitution that protects it. Of course we disagree .We are the thinking man's Party, made up of strong , opinionated conservatives who believe in their own vision , to be sure, but , in the end, believe in truth above all else.
The Constitution may be set in stone, and unalterable, but Republicans are not. And, it's that freedom,that diversity, of thought , of opinion, of will, that truly defines this, the Party of Washington,the Party of Lincoln, the Party of Reagan,..
You want unity of Party?
You want unity of thought?
You want unity of agenda?
Look no further than the Democrat Party.
They are united in higher taxes and regulations on all Americans.
They are united in open borders that threaten our security ,and increase their voting base.
They are united in weakening our military ,and appeasing our terror enemies,..
They are united, in attacks on our 2nd Amendment right, the right that makes all other rights possible,..
They are united in the concept that America is the true terror state, and it is America that must be destroyed.
So much for unity.
Republicans prefer to battle among themselves, like men, as our founders did,..and then unite against the enemy to protect this Free Republic, this Shining City, this America.
Did the Trump-Cruz conflict help the Party? The Nation?
You bet.
It shows We the People , like our Founders, are real men, unafraid of conflict, unafraid to stand and fight for passion , for principles, for the last best hope for humanity,
This Shining City,..America.
Donald J.Trump may not be conservative in the traditional sense, like his nemesis Ted Cruz, but his agenda is defined by his team, and they are conservative indeed. Pence, Gingrich,Guiliani, Phares, Carson, Sessions, Ryan,..and perhaps,..one day,..even Cruz,..plus all ultra-conservative Supreme Court picks ,..all this,..define the man, the Party, and this moment in history.After all,conservatism is nothing more than truth,..and, as Christ once told Pilate,"All those who are of the truth, hereith my voice".All those at the Republican Convention, including Trump and Cruz, here this voice indeed.
Will Trump and Cruz battle on?
No doubt.
As proud men , they can do no less than self-crucify,on that  pride,that vanity .
But, in the end, after all the conventions done,
All the speeches over,..
They will unite, on the real battlefield, against the real enemy,..
The Democrat Party.
A Party United? Nay, a Party of individuals, of one God, of one Nation,  indivisible,
And, as yet undefeated,against all enemies united against her.