TrustTed?

It's no secret that I've had my share of disagreements with Ted Cruz. I think his immigration reform plan sucks and I don't appreciate the underhanded tactics he used against Carson and Rubio. Spreading unconfirmed rumors and Photoshopped pictures is not the work of a gentleman. Granted, those actions may have been more the work of his campaign staff than his own. After today, I am more willing to make that distinction.

I don't care to sit still and watch a convention that cannot support any of my beliefs. I did consider making an exception for Cruz, as I was curious to hear how he would balance his pledge and his guest status with the things Trump said that no rational man could forget nor easily forgive. I expected a good rant, sole emphasis on their points of disagreement.

So, when I read the initial reactions this morning, I assumed that's what he'd done. As I've said, there's no love here for him to lose. He's far more reason to claim sour grapes than anyone, and Rubio, Kasich, Jeb, the last two GOP candidates, and the last two GOP presidents refused even to attend. With the rule-breaking maneuver to stifle the delegate protest, Cruz had every possible motive, opportunity, and excuse to throw guest-honor and pledge to the wind.

He did not do that.

I've read the full transcript of his speech. It did even contain passive-aggressive asides to undermine Trump. Taken at face value, it is everything you expect out of a convention speaker. He even repeated the theme that America is unsafe and needs to be made safer, and he called for that bloody stupid wall that I hate so much and which Trump has made the cornerstone of his campaign. It implied full support to Trump, and full disgust towards Hillary.

What more can one possibly expect?

The thing most notably lacking was an actual mention of Trump's name. It was an endorsement of the party, a call to rally 'round the banner - and the banner of a political party is its platform, the ideals that hold it together. The face of the party, its candidate, has always before been the chief spokesman, the one who waves the banner highest and advances the banner furthest. For a lieutenant to pick up that banner and rally people to it has always been considered a tacit endorsement.

But not today. Today, the banner is Trump's name, which Cruz did not say except once, to extend his congratulations.

Cruz spoke of freedom, love, making a difference, valuing community, serving and strengthening America. In the past, half of that speech would have been hailed as a brilliant iteration of American values and strength, straight out of and into the history books. The other half was devoted to things he has in common with Trump that not all Americans would share - disdain for Hillary and Obama mostly.

In short, point to even one sentence that was anything less than courteous and I'll buy you a drink.

If Trump wanted Cruz's endorsement, chances are, he need only have waited. That speech was pretty close and could have set the stage for more unity later. But Trump wanted everything right then and so proved that hard work, patience, and compassion are not among his values.

But then, we already knew that. He did, after all, accuse Ted's father of supporting murder. There was no reason for that, but then... there was also no reason for him to accuse his own followers of the same crime.

I suppose we should be grateful he hasn't shot anyone on Fifth Avenue yet.