Ted Cruz got a prime speaking slot at Donald Trump’s Republican National Convention on Wednesday, but he came and went from the stage without endorsing the party's newly minted nominee. 
 
 The Texas senator not only failed to endorse Trump at any point during his 23-minute remarks, he also encouraged Republicans to “vote their conscience.” 
 
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 “To those listening, please, don’t stay home in November,” Cruz said, a plea that suggested he was about to endorse Trump. But he didn’t. 
 
 “If you love our country and love your children as much as I know that you do, stand and speak and vote your conscience,” Cruz said. “Vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution.” 
 
 When it became clear that Cruz was not was not offering a direct endorsement, the crowd broke out in boos that continued for the balance of Cruz's remarks, shouting "We want Trump" as Cruz wrapped his speech. 
 
 And that wasn't the only interruption. Toward the end of Cruz's remarks, Trump himself made a previously unannounced entrance into the arena, prompting cheers and pulling the attention away from the main stage. 
 
 Republicans were livid with Cruz for declining to endorse. Mississippi state Rep. Becky Currie blasted Cruz, calling him “stupid” after proving that he “apparently only thinks of himself.” 
 
 “If he came here to really unite the party, he would have stood behind the candidate the people chose," Currie, who shouted “Trump” with others in the crowd as Cruz finished his speech, told POLITICO. 
 
 Cruz had been largely silent since he returned to the Senate following a brutal primary loss to the real estate mogul in May but was given a prime-time speaking slot despite having not endorsed Trump. But his early comments signaled an imminent endorsement despite reports that it was unlikely. 
 
 “Heidi and I are so honored to join you here in Cleveland, where LeBron James just led an incredible comeback victory. And I am convinced America is going to come back, too,” Cruz said at the outset of his remarks, which came directly before those of the nominee’s son, Eric Trump. 
 
 Ted Cruz's full speech at the RNC 
 
 “I want to congratulate Donald Trump on winning the nomination last night,” he said less than two minutes in, sparking raucous applause. “And like each of you, I want to see the principles that our party believes prevail in November.” 
 
 But he soon shifted his tone, even referencing his failed White House campaign — as well as the campaigns of all the GOP primary candidates — by explaining “why you and millions like you devoted so much time and sacrifice to this campaign. We’re fighting, not for one particular candidate or one campaign, but because each of us wants to be able to tell our kids and grandkids … that we did our best for their future and our country.” 
 
 Cruz largely focused on his message of America flourishing under the leadership of a true constitutional conservative as he ticked through a number of conservative principles, possibly hinting at another White House run in 2020. 
 
 The Texas senator acknowledged the divisiveness that has dominated this campaign cycle, but he declined to take a step toward mending his fractured party that many Republicans had called for. 
 
 Cruz has remained one of the GOP’s most prominent holdouts even as other former Trump rivals offered tepid endorsements of the controversial Republican nominee. Cruz, the candidate who was best positioned to deny Trump the nomination, ended his campaign on bitter terms. Before a decisive loss in Indiana’s primary dealt this campaign a final blow, the Texas senator lit into Trump with a fiery, blistering rebuke. 
 
 Cruz called the real estate mogul, who branded the Texas firebrand “Lyin’ Ted,” a “pathological liar” and “serial philanderer” after Trump had suggested Cruz’s father was somehow involved in John F. Kennedy’s assassination. 
 
 Even so, fellow conservatives in recent days had increased pressure on the Texas senator to fall in line behind Trump. 
 
 Cruz mocked President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, suggesting that enough is enough as he argued that Republicans offer a better vision of the future and a return to freedom. And he announced support for Trump’s border wall and two of the RNC’s convention themes. 
 
 “We stand here tonight a nation divided. Partisan rancor, anger, even hatred are tearing America apart,” Cruz said. “And citizens are furious — rightly furious — at a political establishment that cynically breaks its promises and that ignores the will of the people.” 
 
 “We deserve an immigration system that puts America first, and yes, build a wall to keep America safe,” he said, sparking chants to build a wall. But he also made the most of his moment, heeding his own advice. 
 
 “We must make the most of our moments, to fight for freedom, to protect our God-given rights, even of those with whom we don't agree, so that when we are old and gray, and when our work is done and we give those we love one final kiss good-bye, we will be able to say freedom matters and I was part of something beautiful,” he said. “The case we have to make to the American people, the case each person in this room has to make to the American people, is to commit to each of them that we will defend freedom and be faithful to the Constitution.” 
 
 “We will unite the party,” he continued. “We will unite the country by standing together for shared values, by standing for liberty.” 
 
 ||||| Photo: Alex Wong 
 
 Welcome, I guess, to my New York live-blog of the two conventions of 2016. Settle in, calm your nerves (mine will be frayed enough for all of us), have a drink (or a joint), and enjoy! 
 
 If you want to send me your thoughts as the events proceed, email me at sully@nymag.com (if you’re a recovering dishhead, you can also always use the old email address). Please refresh to update. 
 
 11:14 p.m. I’m off now to grab a Jäger or two. I really need them. See you tomorrow night for the final Gotterdämmerung. 
 
 11:14 p.m. What interested me about Pence’s speech is what he did not say: no mention of the mass deportation of 11 million people; no mention of the ban on Muslim immigration; no mention of Trump’s belief in the obsolescence of NATO or his support for Vladimir Putin; no mention of a new protectionism. No mention of any of the core policy proposals, in other words, that won Trump the nomination. 
 
 A serviceable speech; but not a great one. And everything overshadowed by the Cruz moment. 
 
 11:10 p.m. Faces of the day: 
 
 Each Trump face, watching Cruz, is its own work of art. #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/wsZld77gMd — Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) July 21, 2016 
 
 11:07 p.m. And now we are back to “Lock Her Up!” And this is the lie: Clinton never said “What difference does it make?” about the American deaths in Benghazi. She said that about the specific reasons for the attack. 
 
 11:02 p.m. So we are now finding out that if Trump is elected, NATO will be effectively disbanded. The Baltic states will be offered up to Putin: 
 
 [A]sked about Russia’s threatening activities that have unnerved the small Baltic States that are the most recent entrants into NATO , Mr. Trump said that if Russia attacked them, he would decide whether to come to their aid only after reviewing whether those nations “have fulfilled their obligations to us.” 
 
 The party of Reagan is now in rigor mortis. 
 
 11:01 p.m. Now this is coming over the wires: 
 
 NEWS: Trump says he would NOT automatically come to the defense of NATO allies under terms of the charter >>https://t.co/Fmc5azI8P7 — Alex Burns (@alexburnsNYT) July 21, 2016 
 
 10:56 p.m. This is a pedestrian conventional, bland veep nominating speech. I can’t say I think he’s setting the house on fire – or that anything he says will be remembered tomorrow. Again, there’s no policy, no specifics. But it’s competent. Which is a relief. 
 
 10:49 p.m. A reader writes: 
 
 Since Pat Buchanan’s speech at the RNC in 1992, I have awaited this election, prophesied its coming, and feel vindicated because this is the one where I think that the centripetal forces that have been putting strain on the GOP will finally tear it apart. Earlier in the year, I was gleefully saying my political Christmas present was coming and I was so looking forward to this convention. 
 
 
 
 That was then, this is now. Seeing this has long since stopped being entertaining even in the “see, you lie down with dogs, you wake up with fleas” sense because the GOP did this to itself. Now it’s just uncomfortable, like watching someone who really thinks they can sing butcher the National Anthem and they have only gotten as far as ‘By the dawn’s early light…’ and you know there’s more to come because they can’t stop and everyone in the audience is antsy. It feels like that kind of awkward now. 
 
 10:46 p.m. Feel the love, Ted: 
 
 The floor as Cruz ended his speech pic.twitter.com/0o9iMjvUDy — Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) July 21, 2016 
 
 10:45 p.m. Pence feels solid, midwestern, reassuring. He’s pacing this beautifully. He’s still below the fold, of course: 
 
 Trump/Manafort screwed Pence tonight. Knew Cruz wouldn't endorse & allowed him to speak & be booed. Which will be night's story. Not Pence. — David Corn (@DavidCornDC) July 21, 2016 
 
 10:41 p.m. So we now know that the Trump peeps knew well in advance the details of Cruz’s speech but still let him cut the knees off the nominee in prime time. How stupid was that? Or how, simply, incompetent? Ayway, Bob Forehead is now on the stage … 
 
 10:38 p.m. Feel the anger: 
 
 From @DanaBashCNN: Some people on donor suite level so angry at @tedcruz they called him disgrace to his face; one man had to be restrained… — Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) July 21, 2016 
 
 10:36 p.m. There’s this, of course: 
 
 All this gross fear mongering doesn't even have a basis in policy. Hillary is more hawkish than Trump. — Franklin Foer (@FranklinFoer) July 21, 2016 
 
 10:34 p.m. Gingrich is going on too long. Cruz stole the night. It feels post-coital. 
 
 10:30 p.m. We’re actually back to the mushroom cloud in an American city. But what does Gingrich propose we do? I’m still waiting. Still crickets. 
 
 10:26 p.m. Gingrich now scaring the shit out of a lot of old people. He’s right, of course, about the evil of ISIS. But I’m still waiting for the answer to what “the change of course in the war” would mean. Without that specific strategy, this is largely meaningless fear-mongering. 
 
 10:23 p.m. Gingrich is now trying to walk back Cruz. The idea that Donald Trump will protect the Constitution is preposterous. 
 
 10:20 p.m. A reader writes: 
 
 Trump walking in to distract people from Cruz’s speech isn’t just like something from Maury. It’s a trope from pro wrestling. 
 
 Another comments: 
 
 You know, everyone hates Ted Cruz. Everyone who comes into contact with him talks about what a miserable SOB he is. But that speech was BRILLIANT . I’m a Democrat but I can admit that he played that beautifully. We will all be talking about that third degree burn he laid on the Trump campaign in the news cycle tomorrow. Cruz knew that. Trump knows that. Checkmate, motherfucker. 
 
 10:18 p.m. Another no-show: Melania. 
 
 10:15 p.m. This really speaks to me right now: 
 
 Trump Threatens To Keep Trotting Out Children Until Country Agrees To Unite Behind Him #RNCinCLE — Onion Politics (@OnionPolitics) July 21, 2016 
 
 10:14 p.m. Things got really tense on the floor after Cruz’s speech: 
 
 HEIDI CRUZ escorted out by security as crowd gets angry at Cruz for his speech. One Trump supporter shouting "Goldman Sachs!" at her — Manu Raju (@mkraju) July 21, 2016 
 
 10:13 p.m. Photo of the night: 
 
 Holy shit this is a real image pic.twitter.com/ShoA6D0bQT — Tim (@prvcticeNYC) July 21, 2016 
 
 10:05 p.m. Eric Trump is now making the case for a common sense businessman in the White House. That’s the pitch at 10 p.m., as most people are tuning in. 
 
 10.02 p.m. The reality television dimension doesn’t get any more prominent than Trump physically attempting to distract attention from the runner-up – like some guest on Maury. 
 
 10:01 p.m. Quite: 
 
 Wow. Quite the opposite of an endorsement, really. — John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) July 21, 2016 
 
 9:58 p.m. You know: I’m proud of Ted Cruz tonight. He took a stand. He took the heat. He stared the bully down. 
 
 9:55 p.m. Now, open war is breaking out, as the crowd is beginning to shout Cruz down. Watching Cruz get booed at this event is quite something. He’s being heckled and jeered – as Trump appears at the side of the stage as if to distract attention. Cruz leaves to a massive wall of hostile noise. 
 
 9:52 p.m. Cruz actually showing some love for the other side – African Americans, gays – if only rhetorically. Then he puts the knife in: “Vote your conscience” in November. Boos; jeers; cheers. And then the crowd shouts back: “We Want Trump! We Want Trump!” This is now coming apart, as the boos and jeers begin to interrupt the last phrases of the speech. 
 
 9:51 p.m. 
 
 This is a stirring tribute to the party that exists in Ted’s head — Allahpundit (@allahpundit) July 21, 2016 
 
 Well it beats the one staring right back at him. 
 
 9:46 p.m. I have to say that, despite Cruz’s shrillness, I find his disquisition on freedom to be reassuring. It feels like the old GOP, not the authoritarian creeps who have now taken over. Yes, Trump can make you miss Cruz. 
 
 9:43 p.m. Obama “imports terrorists.” And wants “open borders.” Two lies. 
 
 9:41 p.m. The first speech dedicated to an idea called freedom. So far, it’s all been about authority, power and violence. And Cruz is delivering this very well – not shouting, not yelling, capturing the crowd. It’s a good launching pad for 2020, but so far he’s mentioned Trump’s name once – in a pro forma congratulation. 
 
 9:39 p.m. “Did we live up to the values we believe in?” Not at this convention, Senator Cruz. Not at this one. 
 
 9:38 p.m. Cruz is talking movingly about one of the murdered cops without politicizing it … yet. 
 
 9:37 p.m. A reader writes: 
 
 I have a lot of Southern, white, rural, Christian, conservative friends who are into various “health” multi-level marketing businesses like Ms. Van Etten. They are driven to these charismatic CEOs of their companies and aspire to the wealth and independence enjoyed by someone like Trump. 
 
 
 
 In a lot of ways, it was smart (or maybe it was an accident) to include someone from this “industry” in the convention line up. She may be a circus performer, but she’s a home-grown one for these folks. The Right can play identity politics too. 
 
 9:34 p.m. What does Rubio get out of this beamed-in endorsement of Trump? He further besmirches himself with the stain of this grotesquerie, but doesn’t really give Trump his full support. It’s as lose-lose as his entire primary campaign. 
 
 9:30 p.m. The family assistant keeps referring to the LGBTQ community. Weird. Then speaks of the young Trumps as the siblings she never had. The kicker: she supports Donald Trump “because of the color of my skin.” I guess she needed to avoid plagiarism, but could she have mangled MLK more brutally? 
 
 9:27 p.m. Now we have a “senior family assistant.” It’s 9:30 pm. 
 
 9:22 p.m. A small reminder: 
 
 When people find out how bad a job Scott Walker has done in WI, they won’t be voting for him. Massive deficit, bad jobs forecast, a mess. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 27, 2015 
 
 9:21 p.m. I get the feeling these speakers aren’t holding the hall – hence the yelling from the stage: 
 
 Who the hell teaches politicians how to speak these days? @GovWalker sounds really shouty and stagey. — Marc Ambinder (@marcambinder) July 21, 2016 
 
 9:12 p.m. Scott Walker is making a relatively positive speech, on the change theme, which is, I’d say, the best message for this campaign. This, kids, is what a convention is usually like: a party star enunciating core principles with some lame chant every other sentence. Meanwhile, a reader writes: 
 
 I think it’s worth mentioning that the lady who gave the incoherent speech about circuses and the Common Core is also associated with a multi-level marketing firm that sells naturopathic “cures” to people. They make all the standard BS claims that fake medicines usually make: stop inflammation, prevent cancer, feel better. All just vague enough to not get sued, of course. 
 
 9:10 p.m. Nate Silver says Cruz – in his prepared remarks – will mention Trump’s name only once: 
 
 Just one mention of Trump would definitely be below the over-under line. Cruz is a pretty calculating guy, and taking the side of the bet that (i) Trump will lose and (ii) Republicans will declare Trumpism a failure might be a good percentage play. 
 
 9:09 p.m. A reader channels my core questions: 
 
 Who are these people speaking? Did some cereal brand hold a promotion giving away speaking roles for buying enough boxes? 
 
 9:07 p.m. An old oil executive with dyed hair says that president Obama “gave Iran the nuclear bomb.” This is another massive lie. Followed by another: Clinton and Obama are taking us away from energy independence. 
 
 9:02 p.m. An obscure pastor is now ranting phrases from the Constitution. In previous conventions, we would now be listening to a senator, or former president, or up-and-coming political star. This is amateur hour. But I wonder if this is deliberate. The goal is to destroy politics as we have known it and turn it into an entertainment spectacle that appeals to those who feel left out, ignored or condescended to. You can relate to these C-listers in a way you couldn’t to the pols or Hollywood A-listers of the past. And so the general vibe is that the elite Bastille has been seized. 
 
 8:53 p.m. An eloquent attempt by a Latino Republican to make a case for immigration to the U.S. Quite how this complements one of the most nativist campaigns in American history is beyond me. Then this: he criticizes Obama for failing to live up to his promise of immigration reform! The head spins. 
 
 8:48 p.m. The circus performer says that “the American dream is being denigrated right now because of what is going on.” That’s the most coherent thing she’s said so far. It’s truly skin-crawlingly awful. 
 
 8:46 p.m. Chait: 
 
 Current speaker: "My dream was to be a circus performer." Well congrats. — Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) July 21, 2016 
 
 8:44 p.m. This is next: a woman is talking about a circus for a birthday party or something. It appears that this section is just women for Trump saying anything that comes to mind. 
 
 8:43 p.m. “America is asking: ‘What next?’” Indeed, we are. 
 
 8:41 p.m. A pioneering female astronaut is now talking about robot expeditions to Pluto. Oookaaayyy. Finally a specific proposal: More space flights! If Trump wins, can I get on one? 
 
 8:38 p.m. Now a completely unexpected infomercial for NASA. Hey, I’m just reporting what I’m seeing on CSPAN. I have no idea what message this is supposed to be about. An astronaut parade? 
 
 8:35 p.m. “America needs to behave like America again.” What on earth does that mean? Of course no specifics. Just a feeling. 
 
 8:32 p.m. Some more info on that creepy casino developer: 
 
 Trivia: This is Phil Ruffin's wife. He's 81; she's 35. pic.twitter.com/F8TaOvW2mh — Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) July 21, 2016 
 
 8:30 p.m. Fascinating formulation: “November 8 is when America will feel safe again.” Notice “feel.” That’s what this is about: finding a way to make truly terrified people feel safe because a strongman is around. And so we become Russia. 
 
 8:29 p.m. That was truly weird. The man just vouching for Trump’s integrity was an over-tanned casino developer in sunglasses. I guess it beats an ex-president. 
 
 8:28 p.m. Heh: 
 
 I need to remain sober tonight so my phrase to drink to is "climate change" #RNCinCLE — Pete Dominick (@PeteDominick) July 21, 2016 
 
 8:26 p.m. Seriously, we have a casino developer detailing real estate numbers. Then this massive lie: “he always pays his bills promptly.” Hey, maybe someone may believe it. Why not throw that out there? 
 
 8:23 p.m. Ingraham has tapped the usual convention energy for the first time. But now, in a massive swoon of energy, some business friend with a bar dye hair-job is telling us that Trump is the most ethical businessman imaginable whose word is his bond. Everything we know shows this to be untrue. Now he’s just rambling. Way to kill the momentum. 
 
 8:20 p.m. Now Ingraham turns on her colleagues in the press. “America is onto you!” This despising of the press is always a part of neo-fascist rhetoric. This is populist red meat from a talk radio host, channeling talk radio anger. But then this is a talk radio party. 
 
 8:18 p.m. This equation of the situation in 1980 with today is surreal. The misery index in 1979? 19.7 percent. Now? 5.3. 
 
 8:16 p.m. Ingraham calls Cruz and Rubio “boys” with “wounded feelings.” She demands their endorsement of Trump. Will they be paraded in front of the mob and forced to bow the knee? This is rhetorical intimidation. 
 
 8:13 p.m. She’s now channeling 1980 again. That’s where they go for the erogenous zone. It’s always Morning in America, even though Reagan was for liberal immigration and freer trade. 
 
 8:09 p.m. It’s a strange word to use to frame what the Trump campaign is about: “respect”. But she did manage to mention that her family flew the flag every day – and not just on the Fourth of July. Now she’s rambling a bit. 
 
 8:07 p.m. Ingraham is mentioning her mother’s threadbare coat. They really are channeling Nixon, aren’t they? 
 
 8:04 p.m. Laura Ingraham is now saying hi to her kids at home. 
 
 8:03 p.m. Scott’s formulation that Trump will tell the governing class: “You’re fired!” is a really potent one. The change card in a populist election season is a powerful tool. Trump can play it. Clinton can’t. 
 
 8:01 p.m. Rick Scott is up first. He’s informing us that the U.S. economy isn’t growing. That’s not true.
– Ted Cruz stood before the third night of the Republican National Convention on Wednesday with an entire convention center awaiting the answer to the question: Will he endorse Donald Trump or won't he? The answer came late in a speech that was well received until the end. "We stand here tonight a nation divided," Trump's final Republican rival opened, before congratulating Trump on winning the nomination. But as Cruz's prime-time speech, which focused on freedom, neared its finish, it became clear he would not endorse the GOP nominee, proclaiming that Republican voters should not stay home in November, but rather "vote your conscience." As chants of "We want Trump!" broke out among the crowd, Cruz replied, per Politico, "I appreciate the enthusiasm of the New York delegation." Or as Andrew Sullivan put it at New York, "open war is breaking out, as the crowd is beginning to shout Cruz down." Trump himself appeared side-stage, seemingly to suck oxygen from Cruz's moment. Writes Sullivan: "Cruz leaves to a massive wall of hostile noise."