POLITICAL INTRIGUE – AT 11:28 A.M. ET:  President Trump is going all out for Senator Ted Cruz of Texas.  The two have been bitter political foes, with Trump calling Cruz "Lyin' Ted" during the last presidential campaign.

The need to keep the Senate in GOP hands is motivating the new love fest.  From the Texas Tribune:

In a tweet Friday, President Donald Trump announced that he’d be coming to Texas in October to participate in “a major rally” for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican incumbent facing a tougher-than-usual challenge this year against Democratic U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke of El Paso.

“I will be doing a major rally for Senator Ted Cruz in October. I’m picking the biggest stadium in Texas we can find,” Trump tweeted Friday afternoon. “As you know, Ted has my complete and total endorsement. His opponent is a disaster for Texas — weak on Second Amendment, Crime, Borders, Military, and Vets!”

Cruz previously said he hoped the president would make a trip to Texas prior to the 2018 midterms. Donald Trump Jr., the son of the president, is also planning to visit the Lone Star State in September to campaign with Cruz, The Washington Post reported.

The rally will bring together two former political adversaries. During the 2016 election cycle, Cruz and Trump were pitted against each other in the GOP primary for president. During the race, Trump suggested during the 2016 presidential election that he had "dirt" on Cruz's wife and that Cruz's father was connected to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Cruz condemned Trump's statements at the time as "classless," calling him a "coward." Cruz later angered many Trump supporters by telling attendees at the national GOP convention to "vote your conscience" rather than explicitly endorsing Trump.

COMMENT:  I'm reminded of the fact that, at the start of World War II, President Roosevelt had to work with industrial leaders he had trashed regularly for about ten years.  This is the stuff of politics.  As the actor, Spencer Tracy, once said, sincerity is great, if you can learn to fake it. 

I guess we'll see the president and Senator Cruz faking it.  Don't be shocked, and vote for Cruz.

September 1,  2018