Cruz is in Control (and so are the Republicans and the American People)
Did US Senator Ted Cruz’ talk-a-thon FINO (Filibuster in name only) cause more harm than good?
One local operative in my Congressional district suggested that Cruz was fighting the wrong battle, putting his Republican colleagues on defense.
Cruz did cuttingly declare during his twenty-two hour speech: “A vote for cloture is a vote to fund Obamacare.”
Does that mean that compromise is dead, or that anyone who wants to fund the government and Obamacare is a sellout, a traitor, or a weak, spineless jellyfish RINO(Republican in Name Only)?
Not at all. Senator Cruz has focused the narrative on the disastrous legislative train wreck called Obamacare, and he is placing the blame squarely on the Democratic Party, where it belongs. President Obama is embracing his law with greater vehemence, and he does so at great peril to his party. His long speech in the Senate has focused the cause and community of a seemingly disparate conservative caucus in the US Senate, as well.
Frustrated with Cruz’ oblique assertion that his decision not to defund because of a certain Obama veto, US Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) shared with Joe Scarborough: “I guess that makes me a RINO”.
Senator Tom Coburn respects the collegiality of the US Senate. He understands the importance of good compromise, and he also received the highest ranking from the American Conservative Union in 2012. Coburn then explained that the best way to end Obamacare was to repeal the legislation, which cannot be done while President Obama is still in office. He is waiting until 2016 and 2017, when a new President will occupy the White House.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the need for a long-term strategy, Tom. Thanks for moving Senator Coburn to share his thoughts on the matter, Ted!
US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has acknowledged repeatedly that Obamacare must be repealed, not merely defunded. He objected to Cruz’ speech because he wanted his colleagues to vote on the legislation, which would defund Obamacare while funding the rest of the federal government.
Thanks for bringing attention to a looming government shut down, Mitch. Thanks for demanding the defunding of Obamcare, Ted!
Conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer hammered Cruz’ audacious remark, reminding him and everyone else listening that Republicans have been fighting Obamacare since its inception until its passage in 2009.
Thanks for reminding us, Charles. Thanks for prompting Charles to speak up, Ted.
US Senator John McCain has played the Establishment card a little too much, lately. Arizona residents have excoriated the senior senator for supporting amnesty, campaign finance reform, and even working with Joe Lieberman to fight nebulous climate change. McCain once called Cruz “a whacko bird”, then apologized. He has openly criticized the Texas junior senator for seeking to filibuster gun control legislation. News reports have hinted that McCain deeply despises Senator Cruz. Senator John McCain took to the Senate floor following Cruz’ control in the US Senate.
“We have worked long and hard to defund this law,” McCain asserted.
Thanks, John, for telling us which side you are on. Thanks, Ted, for getting McCain to confront you man to man and draw a line in the sand.
Senator David Vitter shared his desire for an amendment which would place every federal legislator and their staff under Obamacare. It only seems fair. Cruz agreed. Thanks for the wonderful idea, David.
The last time the US Government shut down, the Republicans took the blame in the short run, but in the long run, they gained three senate seats, including US Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama). He openly assented his support for Senator Cruz’ mission to reeducate the entire country, including the US Senate, about the dangers, the fallouts, and the economic detriments which have followed because of Obamacare.
Thanks, Jeff, for siding with Ted. Thanks, Ted, for working with Jeff.
Under Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, Republicans were fighting with each other. Steele was telling reporters and critics to shut up, yet the complaints never ended. Steele was in the press more than his fellow Republicans running for office. Columnist George Will chided Steele for stealing the spotlight from the Republican Party.
The new Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Preibus has worked very well with different members of his party behind the scenes. When Senator Ted Cruz stood and talked on September 24-25, Preibus tweeted to everyone of us to #StandWithTed and #MakeDCListen. We stood up, and we listened.
Thanks, Reince, for standing with Ted, and inviting us to do the same. Thanks, Ted, for giving Reince a chance to lead from behind and let Republicans succeed in the front page.
Another Establishment Republican, Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) has been rebuked by his state party three times. He faces three primary challengers. One can enter a run-off and take Graham’s place. Now Graham has sided with Cruz to defund Obamacare.
Thanks, Lindsey, for remembering which side you are on.
Thanks, Ted, for putting the pressure on your colleagues to stop playing along to get along, then getting them to end Obamacare.