Author Topic: Ted Cruz's debt ceiling filibuster puts heat on Cornyn, other GOP senators (Read 4284 times)

sinkspur · « **on:** February 13, 2014, 03:40:20 pm »

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/todd-j-gillman/20140212-ted-cruz-s-debt-ceiling-filibuster-puts-heat-on-cornyn-other-gop-senators.ece

Ted Cruz's debt ceiling filibuster puts heat on Cornyn, other GOP senators

Todd J. Gillman

tgillman@dallasnews.com

Updated: 12 February 2014 11:44 PM

WASHINGTON — Anyone who thought last year’s government shutdown left Sen. Ted Cruz chastened, mellower or more of a team player got a harsh dose of reality Wednesday.

The tea partier from Texas made a lot of enemies in the Senate — on his own side — by forcing an uncomfortable and avoidable vote on increasing the federal government’s debt limit.

His filibuster put party leaders in a bind, not least among them fellow Texan Sen. John Cornyn. With 60 votes needed to ensure the measure passed and a catastrophic default was avoided, a few Republicans had to join with Democrats.

Then, Cruz piled on everyone who dared to cross him, denouncing “establishment politicians from both parties” and warning darkly of political consequences.

“Sometimes, come November, the people remember,” he said.

The term “quixotic” isn’t in Cruz’s lexicon, and he’s clearly not angling for “Most Popular” in the nation’s most exclusive club.

One could argue, as Cruz has, that the shutdown paid dividends for Republicans by shining a harsh spotlight on Obamacare’s rough edges.

It was hard to see any such upside in Wednesday’s events, other than for Cruz and fellow tea partiers.

The Senate would have raised the debt limit exclusively with Democratic votes, a political point Republicans could have exploited. In the end, in fact, that’s what happened, but only after the filibuster was quashed.

Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican, and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell were determined not to let the GOP suffer the blame for roiling the world’s economy. Both voted with Democrats, even though both have primary challengers as they seek re-election.

Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Clear Lake, accused Cornyn of using Cruz’s back as “his own personal cutlery holder.”

That stings, but so does casting a damaging vote on a lost cause.

sinkspur · « **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2014, 03:41:31 pm »

More clown car antics from the Senator with the biggest, floppiest shoes in Washington.

Cruz doesn't know what "pissin' in the ocean" means.

aligncare · « **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2014, 04:10:03 pm »

There's no reason for us to accept pronouncements from the Lords in the most exclusive club in Washington. 100 trillion in unfunded liabilities, 17 trillion in debt and we're supposed to just shut up and sit down. No. Not just no – but, hell no!

sinkspur · « **Reply #3 on:** February 13, 2014, 04:30:03 pm »

Quote from: aligncare on February 13, 2014, 04:10:03 pm

There's no reason for us to accept pronouncements from the Lords in the most exclusive club in Washington. 100 trillion in unfunded liabilities, 17 trillion in debt and we're supposed to just shut up and sit down. No. Not just no – but, hell no!

I've never found it useful to fight battles I knew, going in, that I was going to lose.

Bigun · « **Reply #4 on:** February 13, 2014, 04:33:24 pm »

Quote from: sinkspur on February 13, 2014, 04:30:03 pm

I've never found it useful to fight battles I knew, going in, that I was going to lose.

And you have known going in that you were going to loose all of them haven't you Sink! Go cower in the corner while the rest of us try to save what's left of our country!

sinkspur · « **Reply #5 on:** February 13, 2014, 04:46:20 pm »

Quote from: Bigun on February 13, 2014, 04:33:24 pm

And you have known going in that you were going to loose all of them haven't you Sink! Go cower in the corner while the rest of us try to save what's left of our country!

I've won more than I've lost, bub.

You aren't saving anything. You're just making a lot of noise and mistaking that for action.

aligncare · « **Reply #6 on:** February 13, 2014, 04:47:51 pm »

Fighting Washington bloat will be difficult, agreed, but not impossible. But, I also don't think we can get it done through the system as currently configured. We've got to shake things up! People need to hear from as many voices as possible in as many venues as possible that business as usual won't save the republic. It's got to start now.

Bigun · « **Reply #7 on:** February 13, 2014, 04:59:26 pm »

Quote from: sinkspur on February 13, 2014, 04:46:20 pm

I've won more than I've lost, bub.

You aren't saving anything. You're just making a lot of noise and mistaking that for action.

As usual, you don't know what you are talking about!

Now go back to your corner and hide!

DCPatriot · « **Reply #8 on:** February 13, 2014, 05:04:07 pm »

Quote from: Bigun on February 13, 2014, 04:33:24 pm

And you have known going in that you were going to loose all of them haven't you Sink! Go cower in the corner while the rest of us try to save what's left of our country!

Bigun...just because one is against the tactics doesn't mean that he/she doesn't want to fight.

Wasn't it you that suggested that before you can mop up the water, you first had to stop the leak? While the analogy was used in discussing border security/immigration reform, it can also be used here.

I love that Cruz went to the podium again. But that doesn't mean I didn't realize it was not going to change the vote outcome.

The real fright here is that a sound strategy being deployed....letting the DEMS hang themselves for the mid-terms...is not guaranteed, because we have a president that isn't abiding by the 3 Branches of Government rules.

Delaying the employer mandate for THREE YEARS...on the heels of saying, "......I can do whatever I want".

They should immediately draft Articles of Impeachment and go after him hard. Is it a losing proposition? If you're looking for a conviction, perhaps.

But it sure would slow him the hell down.

alicewonders · « **Reply #9 on:** February 13, 2014, 05:11:34 pm »

Quote from: aligncare on February 13, 2014, 04:10:03 pm

There's no reason for us to accept pronouncements from the Lords in the most exclusive club in Washington. 100 trillion in unfunded liabilities, 17 trillion in debt and we're supposed to just shut up and sit down. No. Not just no – but, hell no!

Hear! Hear!

Bigun · « **Reply #10 on:** February 13, 2014, 05:53:44 pm »

Quote from: DCPatriot on February 13, 2014, 05:04:07 pm

Bigun...just because one is against the tactics doesn't mean that he/she doesn't want to fight.

Wasn't it you that suggested that before you can mop up the water, you first had to stop the leak? While the analogy was used in discussing border security/immigration reform, it can also be used here.

I love that Cruz went to the podium again. But that doesn't mean I didn't realize it was not going to change the vote outcome.

The real fright here is that a sound strategy being deployed....letting the DEMS hang themselves for the mid-terms...is not guaranteed, because we have a president that isn't abiding by the 3 Branches of Government rules.

Delaying the employer mandate for THREE YEARS...on the heels of saying, "......I can do whatever I want".

They should immediately draft Articles of Impeachment and go after him hard. Is it a losing proposition? If you're looking for a conviction, perhaps.

But it sure would slow him the hell down.

I have no problem with disagreement at all and never have but I DO have a big problem with childish behavior!

I have long been an advocate of impeaching the bastard simply because it is the RIGHT thing to do and to hell with whether or not the senate sees fit to convict him! (We know they won't)

Luis Gonzalez · « **Reply #11 on:** February 13, 2014, 05:56:14 pm »

The thing about Cruz is that the difference between "wining" and "losing" at this point in time for the GOP may more Ted Cruzes, not less.

More Ted Cruzes would shift the political strategy of the GOP to something akin to the DNC's grand design of rather base, populist, class politics designed for today's equivalent of the occupants of the maenianum secundum in legneis level in the Roman Colosseum.

Gentility and complex strategy may be counterproductive -or even disastrous- in today's political ambiance, and the GOP's old guard may not be in tune with that. It could very well be that what the GOP needs is a little bit of a plebeian insurrection across the heartland of this nation to counter the inroads made by the coastal army of lipstick progressives, well-healed, guilt-ridden (because it's fashionable) avant garde metro sexuals and wealthy Socialist elites that's out there herding the racial and ethnic minorities into a mindless, thoughtless, stampede of "the TEA Party is racist because Rev. Barber said so" true believers that the DNC is aiming all their marketing efforts toward.

Great omelets begin with broken eggs, and the GOP needs to start breaking some eggs.

Luis Gonzalez · « **Reply #12 on:** February 13, 2014, 06:00:04 pm »

Quote from: Bigun on February 13, 2014, 05:53:44 pm

I have no problem with disagreement at all and never have but I DO have a big problem with childish behavior!

I have long been an advocate of impeaching the bastard simply because it is the RIGHT thing to do and to hell with whether or not the senate sees fit to convict him! (We know they won't)

I am a huge advocate of reversing suffrage, but advocacy is cheap, and action is difficult and complex.

The left's ENTIRE political strategy is based on advocacy of humanitarian ideals.

The problem with that is that advocating to end poverty is NOT the same as ending poverty... which is impossible. But so long as you advocate it, you are seen as a compassionate, caring individual and leftists and morons (that's a bit redundant) vote for you.

Bigun · « **Reply #13 on:** February 13, 2014, 06:01:53 pm »

Quote from: Luis Gonzalez on February 13, 2014, 05:56:14 pm

The thing about Cruz is that the difference between "wining" and "losing" at this point in time for the GOP may more Ted Cruzes, not less.

More Ted Cruzes would shift the political strategy of the GOP to something akin to the DNC's grand design of rather base, populist, class politics designed for today's equivalent of the occupants of the maenianum secundum in legneis level in the Roman Colosseum.

Gentility and complex strategy may be counterproductive -or even disastrous- in today's political ambiance, and the GOP's old guard may not be in tune with that. It could very well be that what the GOP needs is a little bit of a plebeian insurrection across the heartland of this nation to counter the inroads made by the coastal army of lipstick progressives, well-healed, guilt-ridden (because it's fashionable) avant garde metro sexuals and wealthy Socialist elites that's out there herding the racial and ethnic minorities into a mindless, thoughtless, stampede of "the TEA Party is racist because Rev. Barber said so" true believers that the DNC is aiming all their marketing efforts toward.

Great omelets begin with broken eggs, and the GOP needs to start breaking some eggs.

Hear here!

Bigun · « **Reply #14 on:** February 13, 2014, 06:06:59 pm »

Quote from: Luis Gonzalez on February 13, 2014, 06:00:04 pm

I am a huge advocate of reversing suffrage, but advocacy is cheap, and action is difficult and complex.

The left's ENTIRE political strategy is based on advocacy of humanitarian ideals.

The problem with that is that advocating to end poverty is NOT the same as ending poverty... which is impossible. But so long as you advocate it, you are seen as a compassionate, caring individual and leftists and morons (that's a bit redundant) vote for you.

Again I agree but vehemently disagree that what the left advocates is humanitarianl! It is, in fact, quite the opposite if you examine the EFFECTS of what they advocate!

Luis Gonzalez · « **Reply #15 on:** February 13, 2014, 06:13:41 pm »

Quote from: Bigun on February 13, 2014, 06:06:59 pm

Again I agree but vehemently disagree that what the left advocates is humanitarianl! It is, in fact, quite the opposite if you examine the EFFECTS of what they advocate!

Ergo advocacy is an effective political ploy, after all, when you say that your political position is to give money to some who may not have all the money they want/need, the effects of the machinations involved in moving the monies from pocket "A" to pocket"B" is of little concern to the owners of the receiving pockets.

Fishrrman · « **Reply #16 on:** February 14, 2014, 03:17:50 am »

Sinkspur wrote above:
[[ I've never found it useful to fight battles I knew, going in, that I was going to lose. ]]

In war, you don't get to pick the battles you know you can win.

You have to fight them all. The ones you can win, the ones where victory may be in doubt -- and even the battles where the outcome looks grim.

What's going on in the country now is "cold civil war". And it's going on in the halls of Congress, as well.

Mr. Cruz is something akin to the South's Nathan Bedford Forrest. A scrapper of the first order.

If you were hiring generals, Sinkspur, they'd all be named McClellan.

Rapunzel · « **Reply #17 on:** February 14, 2014, 03:28:12 am »

Quote from: Fishrrman on February 14, 2014, 03:17:50 am

Sinkspur wrote above:
[[ I've never found it useful to fight battles I knew, going in, that I was going to lose. ]]

In war, you don't get to pick the battles you know you can win.

You have to fight them all. The ones you can win, the ones where victory may be in doubt -- and even the battles where the outcome looks grim.

What's going on in the country now is "cold civil war". And it's going on in the halls of Congress, as well.

Mr. Cruz is something akin to the South's Nathan Bedford Forrest. A scrapper of the first order.

If you were hiring generals, Sinkspur, they'd all be named McClellan.

If you don't fight it's really easy to sit baclk and toss stones at those who do. At this point it is either fight to save this country in every way possible or support the establishment who are destroying it - and they are in both parties.

sinkspur · « **Reply #18 on:** February 14, 2014, 03:45:20 am »

Quote from: Fishrrman on February 14, 2014, 03:17:50 am

Sinkspur wrote above:
[[ I've never found it useful to fight battles I knew, going in, that I was going to lose. ]]

In war, you don't get to pick the battles you know you can win.

You have to fight them all. The ones you can win, the ones where victory may be in doubt -- and even the battles where the outcome looks grim.

What's going on in the country now is "cold civil war". And it's going on in the halls of Congress, as well.

Mr. Cruz is something akin to the South's Nathan Bedford Forrest. A scrapper of the first order.

If you were hiring generals, Sinkspur, they'd all be named McClellan.

Shove your condescension.

Cruz is a prima donna who's running for president. He could care less about actually getting anything done; he just wants to fire up the tea partiers so he can keep those cards and letters with cash flowing in.

Luis Gonzalez · « **Reply #19 on:** February 14, 2014, 04:09:37 am »

Quote from: sinkspur on February 14, 2014, 03:45:20 am

"... he just wants to fire up the tea partiers so he can keep those cards and letters with cash flowing in.

So, which politicians and/or political party is NOT doing that?

Certainly they all strive to strike a note with a specific portion of the body politic in order to "keep those letters and cash flowing in" for their OWN purposes.

As Friedman pointed out in that video, political self-interest is not by a long shot somehow nobler than financial self-interest.

In the end, with very few (if any) exceptions, financial self-interest is the flip side of political self-interest for all politicians, because they need the money to be politicians.

I am a registered Republican, and I get more mailers asking me for money from the GOP than possibly from the sum total of every other organization out there asking me for a donation to their cause.

evadR · « **Reply #20 on:** February 14, 2014, 04:10:33 am »

I keep waiting for a sign, something, anything, to indicate that this scurvy bunch is doing anything but pissing on us and passing us over.
I am definitely a member of the POPO club.

Rapunzel · « **Reply #21 on:** February 14, 2014, 05:32:35 am »

Texas is danged lucky to have Senator Cruz... I'm stuck with two assholes here in AZ since Kyl retired and McCain's mini-me ran in his place.

Formerly Once-Ler · « **Reply #22 on:** February 14, 2014, 07:44:49 am »

Quote from: Luis Gonzalez on February 14, 2014, 04:09:37 am

So, which politicians and/or political party is NOT doing that?

I am a registered Republican, and I get more mailers asking me for money from the GOP than possibly from the sum total of every other organization out there asking me for a donation to their cause.

Do those mailers attack the GOP? Because that is what Cruz is doing. "Well ya know, It is remarkable in the 13 months I've been in the Senate, it has become apparent to me the single thing that Republican politicians hate, and fear the most, and that is when they are forced to tell the truth." Senator Cruz on his failure to filibuster the debt ceiling hike.

Rules for Radicals
Rule 4 “Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.”

Cruz has picked his enemy and it ain't the rats.

Bigun · « **Reply #23 on:** February 14, 2014, 10:52:54 am »

Quote from: Once-Ler on February 14, 2014, 07:44:49 am

Do those mailers attack the GOP? Because that is what Cruz is doing. "Well ya know, It is remarkable in the 13 months I've been in the Senate, it has become apparent to me the single thing that Republican politicians hate, and fear the most, and that is when they are forced to tell the truth." Senator Cruz on his failure to filibuster the debt ceiling hike.

Rules for Radicals
Rule 4 “Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.”

Cruz has picked his enemy and it ain't the rats.

Anyone who thinks that the only enemies of liberty in Washington are those with a "D" beside their name is a complete idiot!

Ted Cruz is right on the mark and I wish we had more like him! I'm working hard on seein that we do real soon!

aligncare · « **Reply #24 on:** February 14, 2014, 11:43:43 am »

Quote from: Bigun on February 14, 2014, 10:52:54 am

Anyone who thinks that the only enemies of liberty in Washington are those with a "D" beside their name is a complete idiot!

Ted Cruz is right on the mark and I wish we had more like him! I'm working hard on seein that we do real soon!

Exactly, Bigun. Both parties jettisoned constitutional principles of governance along time ago.

There are precious few politicians who care more about the future of the country than their team jersey. And from my perspective here in the Peoples Republic of New York City, Ted Cruz appears sincere in his efforts to do the right thing.