i think ted cruz can be a pretty formidable politician, and will have a primary run, but he's quite off today at his announcement speech at liberty u. he's off rhythm, vague, badly written, cliche-ridden. this thing where you make your family into inspiring american exemplars - even across some pretty idiosyncratic stories - seems particularly half-hearted in this case. he emotes poorly. i do get a slimy vibe from cruz, but maybe that's unfair. he's by far the most rock-ribbed conservative in the race, and is at his best (even here at liberty), throwing that down polemically. it's a collage of libertarian/constitutional and religious-right themes, though, which has never been a coherent position.