[Hoot Gibson]

What do you guys think of Ted Cruz?

I think that Ted Cruz would have made a great president if he had won the 2016 election but the sleazy campaign that Donald Trump ran against him in the GOP primaries killed his chances of winning a national election and nearly cost him his Senate seat. I still read Trump supporters referring to Cruz as "Lying Ted" in conservative political threads. If Cruz managed to win the nomination in 2024, then I would enthusiastically support him in the general election but I just don't see it in the cards. Cruz has been the most consistent voice in Congress in opposition to illegal immigration, which is the issue on which Trump and Rubio accused him of being soft. Rubio was one of the so-called "Gang of Eight" that actively worked in favor of granting amnesty to illegal aliens. I will never, under any circumstances vote for Marco Rubio for any office.

At this point, the only reason for Donald Trump to run is to stall politically motivated investigations and indictments against him. I believe that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump and I believe that the investigations and legal attacks against him are dangerous abuses of power by Democrats and RINOs, but I also believe that this country does not need another elderly president.

My hope is that Ron DeSantis gets the nomination in 2024 and that Donald Trump does not do a hatchet job on him, like he did on Cruz in 2016. I appreciate the positive things that Trump did for this country during his term, but I hope that he decides to do what is best for our nation's future.

If DeSantis decides not to run or fails to win the nomination, I believe that any Republican nominee not named Trump or Rubio will easily win the 2024 election, regardless of who the Democrats nominate.