There is a famous story in my family about how my mother was bullied as a child. When she was in fourth grade, my mother would come home from school and cry to her mother, my grandmother, that another little girl was picking on her in the schoolyard. My grandmother, who I refer to as “Nanny,” would explain patiently to my mom that she should turn the other cheek. “It is unbecoming for little girls to fight,” she would say. “Ignore her and she will go away,” my Nanny instructed.

As she did at the time, Nanny walked my mother to school and one particular morning she lingered as her little girl left her side to dash into the schoolyard. Shortly after their separation, another little girl, much larger than my mother, raced toward my mom and pushed her so hard that mom, in her new dress, fell over in the dirt.

Crying and dirty, my mother raced back to Nanny. With her jaw set, Nanny said to my mom:

“You take off your shoes now and go get her.”

My mother, a good little girl, did as she was told and gave her antagonist a big fat lip.

The schoolyard bully and my mom ended up becoming friends, and I refer to her now as my “Aunt.”

It is time for Ted Cruz to take off his shoes

Ted Cruz is a statesman. His supporters care about the Constitution and limited government as envisioned by America’s founding fathers. As a long-time conservative operative who worked closely with Ronald Reagan told me this weekend,

“Ted Cruz is the man we have been praying for.”

But many Americans are just plain mad and rightfully so. They are gravitating toward Trump, who is reflecting their anger. If Ted Cruz wants to win, he should follow the advice of Ben Shapiro and Steve Deace. Forget about Rubio, and go medieval on Trump’s rump.

Ted Cruz is quite capable of delivering smack downs. We saw it when he famously called out Mitch McConnell on the Senate Floor. We saw it when he smacked down a nominee for associate attorney general for his involvement in “Operation Choke Point.”

Ben Shapiro writes at the Daily Wire:

“He should face down Trump and say to him, ‘Donald, for months, everybody has been tiptoeing around you out of courtesy. Enough. We all know you’re a spoiled brat who’s never had anybody say no to him. You’re a pathetic, bloated old man who stood on daddy’s money stack to make billions, and then can’t shut up about how he’s a self-made man. You’re a ridiculous dolt who lies about his politics, brags about having sex with married women, and shafts little old ladies for cash. And every time you are attacked, your face turns as red as the Kool-Aid man – just like it’s doing now. Then you cite polls, as though polls make you not all those things. They don’t. You’re just as much of a ridiculous clown as you ever were.’ If Trump tries to interrupt him, Cruz will have to tell him to shut the hell up, and then not back down. It will be brutal. But if Cruz wants to win, he’s going to have no other choice. Trump won’t be defeated so long as both Cruz and Rubio are in the race, and Rubio’s going nowhere. Somebody’s going to have to knock King Trump off the top of the hill.”

Similarly, Steve Deace – speaking to Cruz – writes at the Conservative Review:

Erick Erickson of The Resurgent reported only 4% of Super Pac money has been spent on exposing Trump, and that is political malfeasance bordering on the clinically insane. The American people fear losing their country. They don’t care about perceived momentum or consultant-driven expectations games those of us on the inside like to play. They want their darned country back, and they’re gonna vote for the guy they think will give it to them—period. Be that guy again. And start by completely destroying the fraud pretending to be that guy now, because we all know the same liberal media currently giving Trump unprecedented free pub will certainly do it once he’s the nominee. Stop telling us how much you like Trump personally. Stop saying things like “everyone on this debate stage would be better than Hillary.” That’s typical GOP unity speech, and people don’t want typical GOP unity speech. They want their darned country back, which is why they’re aligning with the most divisive, craptastic figure ever to attempt to run for president. They especially don’t want it from the guy claiming to be the one the Washington Cartel hates the most. They want to see the Cruz that causes on-sight rashes and coronaries in Washington at the mere mention of his name. Be that guy again. When a people become desperate and afraid, regardless of language and custom, they have a tendency to latch on to the first megalomaniac who comes along. Making promises he knows he can’t keep just for the sake of acquiring power and affirming his own ego. Unless they see a better alternative, that is. Be that alternative again. If you’re not better than Trump, then why are you running? If Trump wouldn’t be a complete and total disaster for the party and the country, then why not get out of the way and get his nomination over with? Trump is playing for first place or go home. Now go, and do likewise. South Carolina just told us they don’t want to see clever Cruz, but the cut-throat one who calls Mitch McConnell a liar to his face on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Be that bad you-know-what again. In short, South Carolina’s electorate was tailor-made to vote for Ted Cruz. They just didn’t see the Ted Cruz they were hoping to vote for. Show them that Ted Cruz again, by wiping the floor with this progressive poser at the Houston debate next week.

Hopefully Ted Cruz and his campaign will consider this advice, before it’s too late.