The Briefing Room
State Chapters => Texas => Topic started by: Elderberry on March 14, 2019, 08:40:53 pm
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TedCruz.org Email
Today, the National Emergencies Act required the Senate to answer one question: whether there is an ongoing emergency at our southern border.
I voted to support the President’s declaration because, as Texans realize all too well, there is one.
This was a difficult vote. I understand my colleagues’ real concerns regarding the vast emergency powers that Congress has given the President over the last half-century. I share those concerns.
The press will spin today’s vote as a rejection of border security, as opposition to a wall, and as a rejection of President Trump’s commitment to building the wall.
All of that is false.
Here’s what I believe:
Number one, we have crisis on our border. A heartbreaking emergency, which I’ve seen first-hand in Texas, over and over again. Countless human lives hurt or lost by drug traffickers, human traffickers, and unchecked illegal immigration.
For example:
In 2018, Customs and Border Protection apprehended 396,579 people at our border. In the first 4 months of 2019, CBP has caught another 201,497. If that rate continues, we’ll apprehend over 600,000 people in 2019.
These hundreds of thousands include a record-high number of families, including over 1,700 identified cases of an adult lying about a relationship to a child in order to get into our country. Each of those children are at serious risk of sexual assault or physical abuse – nobody compassionate should want even a single boy or girl in the custody of human traffickers.
Between 2012 and 2018, border authorities seized over 7,300 tons—almost 14,700,000 pounds—of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.
Of these, fentanyl seizures alone increased by almost 400% from 2016 to 2018.
And in just 2014 to 2018, Border Patrol agents captured 1,630 members of MS-13 alone. That’s one member of MS-13 almost every day.
This is a crisis and a tragedy, and we must fix it.
Number two, we need to build a wall. From the first day I ran for Senate, I’ve fought to build a wall. I urged the President and the Senate to take up budget reconciliation and fully fund the wall last year—when we still had majorities in both houses of Congress. I’ve introduced the EL CHAPO Act to build the wall, and pay for it using the billions criminally forfeited from El Chapo and other drug dealers.
Number three, the Constitution matters. Profoundly. My whole life, I’ve fought for the Constitution. The Constitution protects our fundamental liberties, and every President should be bound by it, whether Republican or Democrat.
I took an oath to uphold the Constitution, and I made that promise to the People of Texas.
When President Obama violated the Constitution through executive amnesty, I led the fight against that lawless action.
Unlike President Obama, here President Trump is acting pursuant to explicit statutory authority.
The National Emergencies Act gives the President the authority to activate more than a hundred distinct emergency powers, including those he is exercising here. That statute is, I believe, over-broad. It invites abuse.
Indeed, it is easy to imagine a future Democratic president using this statute to try to implement a radical, far-left agenda over the will of Congress and the American people.
A President Warren could declare climate change a national emergency and try to suspend offshore drilling.
A President Sanders could declare a national emergency in the Middle East and try to freeze the bank accounts of Americans who do business with Israel.
And a President Sanders, or Warren, or some other avowed socialist, could try to reallocate billions of dollars, without the consent of Congress, to advance their socialist policies to address those and other so-called emergencies.
That is why I am an original co-sponsor of Senator Lee’s ARTICLE ONE Act, which significantly narrows how these emergency powers can be used going forward. This bill would end any new national emergency if Congress does not approve it within 30 days. Combined with a thorough review of ongoing emergencies, this proposal would reduce the danger of an abuse of national emergency powers by any of the dozens of far-left candidates seeking the Democratic nomination.
And I am grateful that the President announced today—at the urging of many of us—that he will support our efforts to reform this law, and guard against potential abuse by a lawless future president, Democrat or Republican.
Yet while I support reforming the National Emergencies Act, that wasn’t what the Senate voted on today.
Current law empowers the President to declare a national emergency and activate statutory emergency powers when he determines there is one, and Congress can then vote to determine whether or not an emergency exists.
And make no mistake: an emergency absolutely exists on the border, and it is a national and humanitarian disaster.
We cannot end this emergency without securing our southern border, and we cannot secure our border without building a wall.
I support the President’s efforts to build the wall and secure our border. And I will continue to work with the President and my colleagues in Congress to reform our national emergency system and protect Congress’s Article I authority.
But today’s question was whether there was an emergency at our southern border. There is, and I voted to recognize that tragic fact.
For liberty,
Ted Cruz
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Good on Ted! This is one thing I really appreciate about him, he's clear, easily understood and straightforward. I agree with his rationale.
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Ted never misses an opportunity to suck up to the base. "You can trust me. ;-) ;-) ;-)"
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Ted never misses an opportunity to suck up to the base. "You can trust me. ;-) ;-) ;-)"
I notice all the 'rat presidential candidates are suddenly singing the praises of capitalism.
They're probably not sucking up though. I'm sure they mean every word.
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Ted never misses an opportunity to suck up to the base. "You can trust me. ;-) ;-) ;-)"
Did you read what he said @Dexter? And, if so, do you need for me to explain it for you?
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Did you read what he said @Dexter? And, if so, do you need for me to explain it for you?
Good lord Sanguine. He sounds like a weasel even through text. He's just using this to boost his popularity among Republicans. He's an opportunistic car salesman. Do you really think this man is genuine? He's just telling you what he knows you want to hear.
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Good lord Sanguine. He sounds like a weasel even through text. He's just using this to boost his popularity among Republicans. He's an opportunistic car salesman. Do you really think this man is genuine? He's just telling you what he knows you want to hear.
I've got news for you, Dex. Ted Cruz has no idea who I am and didn't send this email to me. Yes, I do find him to be an honest man. As for you, such cynicism is unappealing in someone so young.
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Good on Ted! This is one thing I really appreciate about him, he's clear, easily understood and straightforward. I agree with his rationale.
And there are many other things as well.
I'll start with articulate, knowledgeable, staunch conservative and a family man. From what I have read, he also has a healthy fear of the Almighty and knows his place.
And I did not even mention his Texas credentials.
We are so blessed to have him represent us and occupy the seat that once Ralph Yarborough sat in.
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I've got news for you, Dex. Ted Cruz has no idea who I am and didn't send this email to me.
I'm aware.
Yes, I do find him to be an honest man. As for you, such cynicism is unappealing in someone so young.
The fact that good people fall for his bullshit is the most frustrating thing about him. That snake preys on the kindest and most trusting family values type conservatives. He's a con artist. The only thing people like him are loyal to is money. He tells conservatives what they want to hear and then profits. He is right wing Hillary Clinton and I really don't think he gives a damn about the people that voted for him.
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I'm aware.
The fact that good people fall for his bullshit is the most frustrating thing about him. That snake preys on the kindest and most trusting family values type conservatives. He's a con artist. The only thing people like him are loyal to is money. He tells conservatives what they want to hear and then profits. He is right wing Hillary Clinton and I really don't think he gives a damn about the people that voted for him.
OK, so that's your opinion - back it up with some facts that show that anything you say here is accurate.
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Today's vote was nothing more than people posturing for their masters over on K Street. Nothing more.
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OK, so that's your opinion - back it up with some facts that show that anything you say here is accurate.
@Dexter, where did you go? We were having a good conversation?
You claimed: "He's a con artist. The only thing people like him are loyal to is money. He tells conservatives what they want to hear and then profits. He is right wing Hillary Clinton and I really don't think he gives a damn about the people that voted for him."
Give me some facts. You're not afraid of facts are you?
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You're not afraid of facts are you?
Terrified.
Putting in effort to try to make you see the truth about that man would be a frustrating waste of time and energy for both of us. I know I'll never change your mind. In trying to do so I'd get wrapped up in another 20 page thread and ultimately accomplish nothing. I just wanted to complain about it and move on.
Sorry...
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Terrified.
Putting in effort to try to make you see the truth about that man would be a frustrating waste of time and energy for both of us. I know I'll never change your mind. In trying to do so I'd get wrapped up in another 20 page thread and ultimately accomplish nothing. I just wanted to complain about it and move on.
Sorry...
@Dexter, the point is that this is a conservative site, not a leftist site. You don't go around slinging insults and making claims unless you can back them up. I know this is a very different way of operating in the world, but I promise you that if you can train yourself to think clearly and objectively, you will be rewarded.
Your unsubstantiated opinion means absolutely nothing.
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this is a conservative site
If my views aren't welcome here the mods can get rid of me at any moment. They know it'll be no hard feelings. Maybe I shouldn't have gone after Ted at a time when I'm not willing to get into it with his supporters.
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If my views aren't welcome here the mods can get rid of me at any moment. They know it'll be no hard feelings. Maybe I shouldn't have gone after Ted at a time when I'm not willing to get into it with his supporters.
There is no problem with your views. The problem is with your tactics. Most places call what you do trolling.
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There is no problem with your views. The problem is with your tactics. Most places call what you do trolling.
I put real thought and effort into a lot of the conversations I have here. Trolling is low effort baiting. It's saying something just to get a rise out of somebody and nothing else. I won't say all of my posts are quality, but I do try most of the time. I don't think I'm a troll.
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They're probably not sucking up though. I'm sure they mean every word.
There is no shortage of partisan tools on the left either. It plagues both sides.
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If my views aren't welcome here the mods can get rid of me at any moment. They know it'll be no hard feelings. Maybe I shouldn't have gone after Ted at a time when I'm not willing to get into it with his supporters.
Why do you leap immediately into victim mode when I tell you that you need to use facts?
And, as you well know, it's not the "going after Ted" that is the problem, the complete lack of justification for your opinion is the problem.
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Why do you leap immediately into victim mode when I tell you that you need to use facts?
And, as you well know, it's not the "going after Ted" that is the problem, the complete lack of justification for your opinion is the problem.
Your post just came across wrong I guess. It sounded like you were suggesting that I need to take extra care because I'm an outsider on a conservative site. It's not like that though, not as far as I know. I'm welcome here the same as everybody else, and the same as everybody else I am entitled to not always be at my best as a poster. Sometimes I just want to talk shit about a politician and move on. I can do that. I don't have to write you a book on my reasoning.
I have been here for years and I think I've proven myself as a decent member of this community. I don't need to be told what kind of website this is or what's expected of me here.
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Your post just came across wrong I guess. It sounded like you were suggesting that I need to take extra care because I'm an outsider on a conservative site. It's not like that though, not as far as I know. I'm welcome here the same as everybody else, and the same as everybody else I am entitled to not always be at my best as a poster. Sometimes I just want to talk shit about a politician and move on. I can do that. I don't have to write you a book on my reasoning.
I have been here for years and I think I've proven myself as a decent member of this community. I don't need to be told what kind of website this is or what's expected of me here.
OK, two points: 1) you are just as much a member here as I am. Period. No one is suggesting otherwise.
2) See, that "talking shit" bugs the hell out of me. I'm a conservative because that's how I view the world, and as both a Christian and a conservative, I don't like to just talk crap about people. I try to know what I'm talking about and have my facts straight before I say something about a person. And, if you will notice, the only thing I said about you is that you are young and not presenting fact-based, objective opinions. I didn't say you were a shifty, red-haired geek, or anything even close to that. And, that's because I don't know that about you and I don't like personal attacks.
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See, that "talking shit" bugs the hell out of me.
I think just about every poster here has engaged in what could be called shit talking at one point or another. If I had said "Hillary is a lying POS." nobody would have had an issue with that low effort opinion.
I normally wouldn't shit talk a conservative politician in a place like this, but Ted has a special place in my heart and I know a lot of conservatives aren't fond of him either.
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Good move Ted, supporting our president on the wall. Well done.
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I think just about every poster here has engaged in what could be called shit talking at one point or another. If I had said "Hillary is a lying POS." nobody would have had an issue with that low effort opinion.
I normally wouldn't shit talk a conservative politician in a place like this, but Ted has a special place in my heart and I know a lot of conservatives aren't fond of him either.
No, you'll notice a lot of people here don't casually and without evidence attack the characters of other people. Some do, I'll admit. However, with your Clinton example, we could provide stacks of evidence as to the nature of her character.
Cruz seems to incite those who feel rather than think. And, I notice that you appear to be completely unable to factually explain your dislike. Frequently that's a signal that you just might be wrong in your judgement.
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Terrified.
Putting in effort to try to make you see the truth about that man would be a frustrating waste of time and energy for both of us. I know I'll never change your mind. In trying to do so I'd get wrapped up in another 20 page thread and ultimately accomplish nothing. I just wanted to complain about it and move on.
Sorry...
Exactly right, I tried to educate people about Ted Cruz in 2016 a complete waste of time. I voted
for him for the Senate but he is a con artist. But he usually votes the right way so he is vastly
better then any D
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Exactly right, I tried to educate people about Ted Cruz in 2016 a complete waste of time. I voted
for him for the Senate but he is a con artist. But he usually votes the right way so he is vastly
better then any D
ROTFL. You've found a kindred spirit.
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I put real thought and effort into a lot of the conversations I have here. Trolling is low effort baiting. It's saying something just to get a rise out of somebody and nothing else. I won't say all of my posts are quality, but I do try most of the time. I don't think I'm a troll.
When you make an assertion and then don't back it with facts, well, that's pretty low effort.
Had North Dakota had a Presidential Republican Primary, I would have voted for Ted. Because of the crap pulled by the ND State GOP, I was denied that opportunity. I had been watching Cruz for some time, and saw him in one of those ambush interviews where he performed quite well. Maybe it was staged, although I don't think so, but typical of his explanation above, he laid out the logic behind what I thought was a Constitutionally correct answer. Spouting words is one thing, spouting a whole belief is another.
Lest we forget, someone very loud cast doubt on the man's veracity as a campaign gimmick, dragged his family into a series of well timed smears aimed at target audiences where there were primaries happening and some other dirty tricks to win.
While we're waiting for that person to fulfill their promises, consider that someone who had every reason in the world to tell that winner to engage in improbable acts of auto-erotica, instead settled back in, has done his job, and supported the administration better than most in the Senate. He has done a far better job of adhering to his Constitutional principles than most in DC.
In the meantime American Politics has become a childish three ring circus, with carnival barker, plenty of clowns, a fire eater or two, and all the usual dog and pony show, only for very high stakes. Sooner or later, the adults will have to take back over, or the tantrums will get out of hand and wreck this country. When that happens, I'll vote for him if I can.
BTW, I too, understanding full well the implications of the false dichotomy this country is offered every election, voted third party, for a clear Party Platform I not only support but admire. Not so much for the man, but for the principles he embraced. Pity far more Americans won't consider that option.
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Exactly right, I tried to educate people about Ted Cruz in 2016 a complete waste of time. I voted
for him for the Senate but he is a con artist. But he usually votes the right way so he is vastly
better then any D
As a politician, isn't the way he votes the reason to judge him to be honest in politics? Does he speak one way and vote another?