Speaking only for myself, I know that every time I see Cruz on stage next to Trump, I become a little less likely to pull the lever for him. I don’t view the Trump boomlet as harmless fun or as a well-meaning rebellion against the status quo, but rather as the unthinking embrace of an irresponsible and feckless liberal by people who ought to know better.

If people are looking for a conservative who is willing to lead a rebellion, they should be looking to Cruz, or someone like him, and I have been saying so for months. It’s frustrating that they are instead looking to Trump, who is an obvious charlatan. It’s doubly frustrating that so many alleged thought leaders in our movement are aiding them in believing (incorrectly) that Trump will be anything resembling a conservative if he is elected. One gets the distinct impression that they are doing it for the sake of the ratings that Trump boosterism unquestionably drives.

Eventually, if and when Trump comes crashing back to earth, there will hopefully be a day of reckoning for his enablers and reckless boosters. Maybe he’ll finally say something too offensive for even Ann Coulter (I suppose hypothetically it is possible) and the rest of his supporters who have stood by him through irresponsible remark after irresponsible remark. And on that day, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 100% should ask himself whether he wants to be remembered for standing next to him for months even after it was known what kind of man Donald Trump is.