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<body class='hmmessage'><div dir='ltr'>Tom,<br><br>This ain't dancing and I don't have to prove squat. That his mother was a US citizen is all I need.<br><br>You're the one braying that he's a naturalized citizen. You're the one with the burden to provide proof. <br><br>Put Up or Shut Up.<br><br>Sunil<br><br><div><hr id="stopSpelling">Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Ted Cruz launches 2016 presidential run<br>From: thansen@moscow.com<br>Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 12:45:18 -0700<br>CC: vision2020@moscow.com<br>To: sunilramalingam@hotmail.com<br><br><div>Tell ya what, Mr. Ramalingam -</div><div><br></div><div>I'm tired of dancin' with you. Go find another partner.<br><br><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" target="_blank"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"There's room at the top they are telling you still.</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If you want to be like the folks on the hill."</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- John Lennon</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div></div><div><br>On Mar 24, 2015, at 12:36 PM, Sunil <<a href="mailto:sunilramalingam@hotmail.com">sunilramalingam@hotmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote><div>
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<div dir="ltr">Tom, <br><br>We are emphatically NOT in agreement that Ted Cruz is a "naturalized citizen". <br><br>Sunil<br><br><div><hr id="ecxstopSpelling">Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Ted Cruz launches 2016 presidential run<br>From: <a href="mailto:thansen@moscow.com">thansen@moscow.com</a><br>Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 12:25:19 -0700<br>CC: <a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>To: <a href="mailto:sunilramalingam@hotmail.com">sunilramalingam@hotmail.com</a><br><br><div>I am in agreement with you, Mr. Ramalingam, in that Ted Cruz is a "naturalized citizen". This has been reviewed and accepted publicly on television. No argument there. </div><div><br></div><div>Ted Cruz IS NOT a "natural born citizen".<br><br><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" target="_blank"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><br></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div></div><div><br>On Mar 24, 2015, at 12:00 PM, Sunil <<a href="mailto:sunilramalingam@hotmail.com">sunilramalingam@hotmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote><div>
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<div dir="ltr">"Articles."<br><br>Boy, you sure showed me! "Articles."<br><br>You're not in bed with Trump, Tom, you're romping in the gutter. <br><br>Where's your evidence that Cruz had to apply for citizenship? Do you have his N-400 (or any predecessor form)?<br><br>Look at this:<br><br><a href="http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/files/M-1051.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/files/M-1051.pdf</a><br><br>I hope it's a helpful "article."<br><br>Sunil<br><br><div><hr id="ecxstopSpelling">Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Ted Cruz launches 2016 presidential run<br>From: <a href="mailto:moscowcares@moscow.com">moscowcares@moscow.com</a><br>Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 11:51:01 -0700<br>CC: <a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>To: <a href="mailto:sunilramalingam@hotmail.com">sunilramalingam@hotmail.com</a><br><br><div>No, Mr. Ramalingam. I do not "want [to] get in bed with Donald Trump". For the very FIRST TIME (and, most likely, LAST TIME), Donald Trump and I agree on something.</div><div><br></div><div>BTW, Mr. Ramalingam: Those "articles" you linked would have been more appropriately published as op/ed columns.<br><br><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" target="_blank"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><br></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div></div><div><br>On Mar 24, 2015, at 11:39 AM, Sunil <<a href="mailto:sunilramalingam@hotmail.com">sunilramalingam@hotmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote><div>
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<div dir="ltr">Did he apply for US citizenship? Did he take a test? Did he have to take an oath?<br><br>Your claim strikes me as balderdash. You really want get in bed with Donald Trump and the other Birthers? <br><br>Did you read either of the articles I linked? Can you explain why they are wrong?<br><br>Sunil<br><br><div><hr id="ecxstopSpelling">From: <a href="mailto:thansen@moscow.com">thansen@moscow.com</a><br>Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 11:35:18 -0700<br>To: <a href="mailto:paul.rumelhart@gmail.com">paul.rumelhart@gmail.com</a><br>CC: <a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Ted Cruz launches 2016 presidential run<br><br><div>Ted Cruz was born in Canada. At that time he acquired Canadian citizenship. His mother was/is a U.S. citizen. As such, Ted Cruz acquired "naturalized" U.S. citizenship due to his mother's </div><div>U.S. citizenship, NOT "natural born" citizenship. </div><div><br></div><div>Ok?</div><div><br><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" target="_blank"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"There's room at the top they are telling you still.</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If you want to be like the folks on the hill."</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- John Lennon</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div></div><div><br>On Mar 24, 2015, at 11:26 AM, Paul Rumelhart <<a href="mailto:paul.rumelhart@gmail.com">paul.rumelhart@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote><div><div dir="ltr"><div>Does he have a birth certificate or a naturalization certificate?<br><br></div>Paul<br></div><div class="ecxgmail_extra"><br><div class="ecxgmail_quote">On Tue, Mar 24, 2015 at 11:22 AM, Tom Hansen <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:thansen@moscow.com" target="_blank">thansen@moscow.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="ecxgmail_quote" style="border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;"><div dir="auto"><div>Cruz is a "naturalized citizen", NOT a "natural born citizen" as required by the U.S. Constitution to run for President of the United States.<span><br><br><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);" target="_blank"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">"There's room at the top they are telling you still.</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">If you want to be like the folks on the hill."</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">- John Lennon</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"> </span></div></span></div><div><div class="h5"><div><br>On Mar 24, 2015, at 11:18 AM, Paul Rumelhart <<a href="mailto:paul.rumelhart@gmail.com" target="_blank">paul.rumelhart@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div>I'm not sure why you think this strengthens your case. It further suggests a categorization of citizens (those natural born and those naturalized). Both are citizens. The only difference I know of between them is that to be President you have to be "natural born" instead of "naturalized".<br><br></div>Are you trying to say that Cruz is not a citizen? Are you trying to say that he did not become a citizen at birth? Are you trying to say that he was born an alien and then was naturalized? What exactly is your thesis?<br><br></div>Paul<br></div><div class="ecxgmail_extra"><br><div class="ecxgmail_quote">On Tue, Mar 24, 2015 at 10:25 AM, Tom Hansen <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:thansen@moscow.com" target="_blank">thansen@moscow.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="ecxgmail_quote" style="border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;"><div dir="auto"><div><span></span></div><div><div><ol style="padding:0px;border:0px;"><li style="padding:24px 24px 0px;border:0px;list-style:none;clear:none;"><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Hmmm.</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"><b><br></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"><b>"NATURALIZED CITIZEN</b>. One who, being born an alien, has lawfully become a <b>citizen</b> of the United States Under the constitution and laws. He has all the rights of a natural born <b>citizen</b>, except that of being eligible as president or vice-president of the United States.</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"><a href="http://www.lectlaw.com/def2/n039.htm" target="_blank">http://www.lectlaw.com/def2/n039.htm</a></span></div></li></ol><span><br><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);" target="_blank"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><br></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"> </span></div></span></div><div><div><div><br>On Mar 23, 2015, at 4:12 PM, Paul Rumelhart <<a href="mailto:paul.rumelhart@gmail.com" target="_blank">paul.rumelhart@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote><div><div dir="ltr"><div>I'm not on the Supreme Court, but it seems to me that there are two ways to become a citizen - you either become a citizen at birth, or you become "naturalized" later. The website I linked to talks about a "naturalization test", so it seems to me that another way of saying that you become a citizen at birth is that you are "natural born".<br><br></div>Paul<br></div><div class="ecxgmail_extra"><br><div class="ecxgmail_quote">On Mon, Mar 23, 2015 at 4:03 PM, Tom Hansen <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:thansen@moscow.com" target="_blank">thansen@moscow.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="ecxgmail_quote" style="border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;"><div dir="auto"><div>Mr. Rumelhart -</div><div><br></div><div>Your reference addresses satisfying the citizenship requirement to vote, be issued a social security number, or run for congress. </div><div><br></div><div>This requirement is taken a huge step forward when running for president. Hence the "natural born citizenship" stipulation of the Constitution.<span><br><br><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);" target="_blank"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">"There's room at the top they are telling you still.</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">If you want to be like the folks on the hill."</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">- John Lennon</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"> </span></div></span></div><div><div><div><br>On Mar 23, 2015, at 3:54 PM, Paul Rumelhart <<a href="mailto:paul.rumelhart@gmail.com" target="_blank">paul.rumelhart@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote><div><div dir="ltr">From a casual reading of the Constitution, "natural born" appears to mean that you became a citizen at birth rather than becoming "naturalized" later in life. Here is a snippet from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website on how to become a US citizen (<a href="http://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship" target="_blank">http://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship</a>):<br><div><br>"To become a citizen at birth, you must:<span><ul><li>Have
been born in the United States or certain territories or outlying
possessions of the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction of the
United States; OR </li><li>had a parent or parents who were citizens at the time of your birth (if you were born abroad) and meet other requirements"</li></ul><br><br>I'm sure (as Sunil states) that the law is much more detailed than this, but that seems to be the gist of it.<br>I'm not a fan of Ted Cruz (or President Obama, for that matter), but it seems pretty clear.<br><br>Paul<br><br></span></div></div><div class="ecxgmail_extra"><br><div class="ecxgmail_quote">On Mon, Mar 23, 2015 at 3:21 PM, Moscow Cares <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:moscowcares@moscow.com" target="_blank">moscowcares@moscow.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="ecxgmail_quote" style="border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;"><div dir="auto"><div>Ted Cruz is NOT a natural born US citizen, which makes him constitutionally ineligible to run for president. It really is . . . JUST . . . THAT . . . SIMPLE.</div><div><br></div><div>But, then, laws (constitutional and otherwise) are only as strong as those who enforce them!<span><br><br><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);" target="_blank"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"> </span></div></span></div><div><div><div><br>On Mar 23, 2015, at 3:15 PM, Sunil <<a href="mailto:sunilramalingam@hotmail.com" target="_blank">sunilramalingam@hotmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote><div>
<div dir="ltr">
<div dir="ltr">Do I find it worthy of much discussion? Beyond pointing out hypocrisy, no. <br><br>Here's a take from someone with several connected brain cells:<br><br>'I assume liberals are not going to jump on this Ted Cruz being born in
Canada business with the same fervor as the right's masturbatory
obsession with Obama's birth certificate because the facts are clear: he
is eligible to run for president. But it cannot pass unnoted that the
right wing spent years attacking Obama for allegedly not being a
"natural born American" even to the extent that they claimed he faked
his birth certificate. But the fact is that he <i>was</i> born in the US and <i>it wouldn't have mattered </i>if he hadn't been since his mother was American, <i>just like Ted Cruz's.</i>'<br><br>Read more here:<br><br><a href="http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-canadian-candidate.html" target="_blank">http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-canadian-candidate.html</a><br><br>Sunil<br><br><div><hr>From: <a href="mailto:thansen@moscow.com" target="_blank">thansen@moscow.com</a><br>Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2015 08:38:47 -0700<br>To: <a href="mailto:scooterd408@hotmail.com" target="_blank">scooterd408@hotmail.com</a><br>CC: <a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com" target="_blank">vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Ted Cruz launches 2016 presidential run<br><br><div>Jus' what I expected from Mr. Dredge . . . mindless rhetoric . . . no thought-out, open-for-discussion response . . . something that would open the proverbial floor to debate among those of us with connected brain cells.</div><div><br></div><div>Does ANYBODY on this list care to discuss Ted Cruz' citizenship and how it impacts his candidacy for President of the United States . . . or is it as simple as I Initially suggested?<br><br><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);" target="_blank"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">"There's room at the top they are telling you still.</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">If you want to be like the folks on the hill."</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">- John Lennon</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"> </span></div></div><div><br>On Mar 23, 2015, at 7:59 AM, Scott Dredge <<a href="mailto:scooterd408@hotmail.com" target="_blank">scooterd408@hotmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote><div><div><<span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Where are the "birthers" at?></span></div><div><br></div><div>It looks like you're already doing a good job of following their lead.<br><br></div><div><br>On Mar 23, 2015, at 7:33 AM, Tom Hansen <<a href="mailto:thansen@moscow.com" target="_blank">thansen@moscow.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote><div><div><span></span></div><div><div><span></span></div><div><div>Where are the "birthers" at? </div><div><br></div><div>Ted Cruz was born . . . in Canada . . . in a Canadian hospital . . . to a US-born mother and a Cuban father.</div><div><br></div><div>What is your definition of "natural born citizen"?</div><div><br></div><div>Courtesy of today's (March 23, 2015) Spokesman-Review.</div><div><br></div><div>--------------------------------------</div><div><h1 style="clear:both;line-height:1.2;font-size:28px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(17,17,17);">Ted Cruz launches 2016 presidential run</h1><p style="overflow:visible !important;"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">WASHINGTON – Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz has become the first major candidate for president, kicking off what’s expected to be a rush over the next few weeks of more than a dozen White House hopefuls into the 2016 campaign. </span></p><p style="overflow:visible !important;"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">“I am running for president and I hope to earn your support,” the tea party favorite said in a Twitter message posted just after midnight today.</span></p><p style="overflow:visible !important;"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Cruz will formally launch his bid during a speech this morning at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, choosing to begin his campaign at the Christian college founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell rather than his home state of Texas or the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire. It’s a fitting setting for Cruz, a 44-year-old tea party darling whose entry into the 2016 campaign drew cheers Sunday among fellow conservatives. </span></p><p style="overflow:visible !important;"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Amy Kremer, the former head of the Tea Party Express, said that the Republican pool of candidates “will take a quantum leap forward” with Cruz’s announcement, adding that it “will excite the base in a way we haven’t seen in years.” </span></p><p style="overflow:visible !important;"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Elected for the first time just three years ago, when he defeated an establishment figure in Texas politics with decades of experience in office, Cruz has hinted openly for more than a year that he wants to move down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Senate into the White House. </span></p><p style="overflow:visible !important;"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">In an online video promoted on his Twitter account, Cruz offered a preview of his campaign’s message. </span></p><p style="overflow:visible !important;"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">“It’s a time for truth, a time to rise to the challenge, just as Americans have always done. I believe in America and her people, and I believe we can stand up and restore our promise,” Cruz said as images of farm fields, city skylines and American landmarks and symbols played in the background. “It’s going to take a new generation of courageous conservatives to help make America great again, and I’m ready to stand with you to lead the fight.” </span></p><p style="overflow:visible !important;"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">While Cruz is the first Republican to declare his candidacy, he is all but certain to be followed by several big names in the GOP, including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and two Senate colleagues, Kentucky’s Rand Paul and Florida’s Marco Rubio. </span></p><p style="overflow:visible !important;"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">The Houston Chronicle first reported details about Cruz’s campaign launch. His move puts him into pole position among those whose strategy to win the nomination counts on courting the party’s most conservative voters, who hold an outsized influence in the Republican nominating process. </span></p><p style="overflow:visible !important;"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">“Cruz is going to make it tough for all of the candidates who are fighting to emerge as the champion of the anti-establishment wing of the party,” said GOP strategist Kevin Madden. “That is starting to look like quite a scrum where lots of candidates will be throwing some sharp elbows.” </span></p><p style="overflow:visible !important;"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Following his election to the Senate in 2012, the former Texas solicitor general quickly established himself as an uncompromising conservative willing to take on Democrats and Republicans alike. He won praise from tea party activists in 2013 for leading the GOP’s push to partially shut the federal government during an unsuccessful bid to block money for President Barack Obama’s health care law.</span></p></div><div>--------------------------------------<br><br><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);" target="_blank"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote><div><span>=======================================================</span><br><span> List services made available by First Step Internet,</span><br><span> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.</span><br><span> <a href="http://www.fsr.net" target="_blank">http://www.fsr.net</a></span><br><span> <a href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com" target="_blank">mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com</a></span><br><span>=======================================================</span></div></blockquote></div></blockquote><br>=======================================================
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