I like [mc_name name=’Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’C001098′ ] a lot as a Senator, but I have never been a huge fan of his candidacy for President – at least until now. Generally speaking, I prefer governors to Senators, and I have an especial wariness for first term Senators. Additionally, I have questions about Cruz’s ability as a coalition builder and I know that he is a polarizing figure, even within the conservative movement.

However, episode three billion in the GOP Failure Theater tour, this time featuring Planned Parenthood failure theater, has pushed me into the camp that makes me want, more than anything, to see a Presidential candidate who is willing to fight and show the cowering squishes who run this party how it is done.

If the polls are to be believed, there are quite a lot of people who feel this way, given that it is the stated raison d’etre of the Donald Trump campaign. There’s only one real problem with their choice of candidate – Donald Trump hasn’t really done a lot that shows actual personal courage in terms of standing up to the Establishment. Donald Trump came into this world with a ton of money, every time he gets in any measure of financial trouble he displays his one true skill (coming out of bankruptcy with still a ton of money), and regardless of what happens in this election, he will be fine both financially and professionally. The only thing really he’s done is make offensive remarks about people, which doesn’t make him a more courageous or worthy Presidential candidate than Anthony Jeselnik would be.

[mc_name name=’Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’C001098′ ], on the other hand, has shown time and time again a willingness to put himself at risk of personal and professional alienation for the sake of his principles. Whatever you think about Cruz’s repeated efforts to repeal Obamacare, his actions with respect to the Planned Parenthood defunding fight have demonstrated, even for those who have been inclined to defend leadership over the years, how well and truly rotten the Senate leadership is. The fact that he put [mc_name name=’Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’C001056′ ] on record stating that adherence to the Senate calendar was more important than defunding Planned Parenthood was a public service to the whole world.

And for doing this, he has been the victim of an unrelenting campaign of smears and cold shoulders from the GOP establishment. No one in the GOP field – including Trump – has been the recipient of more invective and unsourced backstabbing than [mc_name name=’Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’C001098′ ] over the years.

A lot of candidates this year are positioning themselves as the “anti-establishment” candidate. If you want to know who really deserves that mantle, look at who the establishment constantly attacks and belittles. The reality is that the one guy who has consistently taken the fight to them, from day one, has been [mc_name name=’Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’C001098′ ].

If you are coming increasingly to the belief – as I am – that willingness to fight is the most important qualification for our 2016 nominee, then it’s time to take a second hard look at [mc_name name=’Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’C001098′ ], whatever you think about his other qualifications.