You have to go so deep into Rand Paul territory on this one to turn it into a right-wing argument that the only people likely to vote for it are the ones that don't vote because they don't want to end up a list because internment camps and chemtrails.

Rand Paul once argued in an NPR interview that Solyndra was basically responsible for income inequality. And he was considered a serious presidential candidate at one point. I think that blows Newt's moon base out of the water.

FWIW, I don't actively worry about Cruz; I just think that it's a worthy exercise to imagine him winning so that you can imagine stopping him from winning. I'm familiar with Iowa's history of voting for the biggest moron of the bunch. (I didn't worry about W for the same reason, it should be stated. It took me a long time to comprehend him as president.) But presidential politics are weird right now. You basically run for president of Florida and Ohio instead of USA. Cruz could conceivably win FL, but probably not OH. There's also a strong possibility that Cruz could inspire a Walter Mondale level ass whipping, because, well, all the reasons you cite.

I don't think he'll be the nominee, and I think by early April we'll have heard the last of him until the next government shutdown (aka when he starts his Cruz 2020 bid). Best case scenario is that he exposes himself to the country, and Texans are so embarrassed that they kick his ass out of the Senate in 2014. A man can dream.