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Byron York: No, Ted Cruz Did Not Let Harry Reid Confirm Appointments That Otherwise Would Have Failed

A few weeks ago, I noted that if an "expert" is not on your side, he's not a benefit to you. In fact, he's a threat.

What I mean by that is simple: An expert who's actually on your side can provide you with useful and true information and advice.

An expert who's not on your side can use his claimed expertise to bully you into accepting lies as the truth.

Witness Jonathan Gruber and all the alleged "Health Care Wonks" of the press who lied the public down the river.

Last week, Establishment types began claiming that Ted Cruz, by seeking a vote on immigration, somehow invoked a little-understood part of Senate rules which then permitted Harry Reid to ram through a bunch of stalled progressive appointments.

It was not quite explained how this rule operated or how Cruz had activated it.

The whole story relied on the bullying power of asserted expertise: Trust us, we understand Senate rules, and, while they're too complicated to explain right now, you'll just have to take our word for it that Ted Cruz permitted Harry Reid to do something he was otherwise powerless to do.

I don't like being told to just take things on faith, by anybody. I have not liked doing so since I was a child. Since I was a child, I rejected most claims of authority about what conclusions I should draw. If I don't understand the logic and facts which lead to the conclusion, I don't accept the conclusion as true, no matter how passionately the expert demands I take his word about things.

Which is not the same as saying I reject the conclusion as false: If I don't understand things, I can't say the conclusion is false, just as I can't accept it as true. I myself can draw no conclusions about it. I can cite the conclusions of experts, and even trust the conclusions of experts, but what I cannot do is take the conclusions of experts to be my own conclusions.

A man who's ignorant of the basic facts and principles in play does not get to have conclusions; he can only regurgitate the conclusions of others.

At any rate, I was skeptical of this claim not for any especially strong reason, but just due to pocket (fallible) heuristics, like: The people claiming this did not offer up a detailed explanation, permitting me to follow their logic and check their claimed facts. They just wanted me to Accept It.

People who have the truth on their side have no need of demanding I Accept things, given that they can prove them.

I also sort of didn't like the shabby sorts of people making the claim, like John McCain, who I know fancies himself as honorable and true but in fact is a low, sleazy liar in pursuit of his political goals. (See: "Build the dang fence.")

It's also the sort of Too Good to Be True/Proves All of the Arguments We've Always Been Making sort of claim. I've generally found these sorts of claims to be false.

Anyway, I didn't have strong reasons to doubt it, but I did have some reasons.

But, not having any real insight into the truth here, I refrained from writing about it.

That wasn't just me being lazy. I just get so fucking sick of having to offer Strong Opinions on things about which I know nearly nothing. Sometimes I like to implicitly confess my ignorance and not write about things about which I know nothing.

And now Byron York, someone I tend to trust a lot, has looked into it, and his conclusion is this was all nonsense.


Specifically, the accusation is that Cruz's initiative created a break in the consideration of the spending bill that allowed Reid to take the opportunity to set in motion the procedures necessary to get the confirmations underway. By doing that on Saturday, instead of having to wait until after the spending bill was passed on, say, Monday, the thinking goes, Reid got to pass more nominations than he might otherwise have. And of course, given that Democrats are about to give up control of the Senate, this was Reid's last chance to confirm Obama's nominees on his own.

There are four problems with the anti-Cruz scenario. The first is that on Dec. 9, days before Cruz threw a wrench in the works, Reid signaled his intention to confirm all of Obama's remaining nominees, no matter how long it took.

"You know, maybe we'll have to work the weekend and maybe even work next week," Reid told reporters. "I know that's tough duty for everybody, but we may have to do that. We have a number of nominations we're going to do. We're going to -- we have nine judges left. We're going to do those. We're going to do [Surgeon General nominee] Dr. [Vivek] Murthy. We're going to do the head of Immigration Naturalization, ICE. Social Security administrator and other things. I've given a list to the Republicans and it's up to them to decide how long we stay."

Does that sound like a majority leader who is ready to pack up and go home without passing his party's nominees? No, it doesn't. And that leads to the second problem with the scenario, which is the nature of Harry Reid himself. It is simply impossible to believe that the man who made the Senate pass Obamacare on Christmas Eve would abandon the president's nominees out of the goodness of his heart so that Republican colleagues could go home to make scheduled dates at the ballet or visits with family. That is not Harry Reid's style. If Cruz had not acted, would Reid have said, 'Well, it looks like we would have to work all the way until Dec. 18 to finish these nominations, so let's just put them aside and go home and have a nice time, even though it's our party's last chance to pass them." Does anyone believe Reid would have done that?

You can read the other two points.

The best argument made for the Cruz-Ruined-Everything scenario is less persuasive. The idea is that while Senators must stay in DC to pass the CRomnibus, they could go home once that is done; so if the CRominbus passed earlier, Democrat senators might bug out of Washington to get an early start on their vacations, rather than stick around to vote on appointments.

I find this unpersuasive and silly in its speculation. First of all, we were only talking about a couple of days.

Second, there would have been Holy Hell to Pay from the leftwing blogger/activist base if Democrat Senators went on vacation instead of passing President Princess' oh-so-important progressive appointees.

I just can't think of who they have in mind, when they postulate these leftwing senators willing to use the nuclear option to get Obama's picks installed, but not leftwing enough to stick around the couple of days needed to do so.

Such people might theoretically exist, but no one's pointed to a specific senator and said, "Well, Al Franken totally loves his vacation, he would have been out of here."

Let me point out the obvious:

The Republican Establishment is very similar to the Progressive Establishment in the dim view it takes of the Tea Party, and also in the belief that it is itself "rational" and "fact-based," as opposed to those emotional, hot-headed fabulists in the Tea Party who just "make up facts to comport with their ideology" and who "just make shit up so they can yell about it on talk radio."

Let me suggest here that making up silly fantasies about Ted Cruz enabling Harry Reid to do what Harry Reid could always have done (and which he said he would do) does not convince me that the Establishment is as "fact-based" is it believes itself to be, nor as above "just making up silly partisan hokum to make people angry so they can yell about it."

In fact, it appears like The Establishment has all of these failings too. Wrapped in entitlement and arrogance, to boot.

So if The Establishment wants my vote -- and I am a gettable vote -- it has to actually act as if being "fact-based" and "above made-up nonsense smears" is something that's important to them, rather than just something they claim to be all about (as they gleefully make up silly nonsense to smear the Tea Party with).

And speaking of Joe Scarborough.

Posted by: Ace at 05:01 PM




Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 YUp that was all bullshit. Most of those appointments went thru AFTER the budget was ultimately passed. But then the fuckin dems and Rhinos wouldn't lie to us, would they??????

Posted by: Nevergiveup at December 18, 2014 04:56 PM (Zmw74)

2 I won't read this if there are spoilers in it.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 18, 2014 04:57 PM (8ZskC)

3 Second, there would have been Holy Hell to Pay from the leftwing blogger/activist base if Democrat Senators went on vacation instead of passing President Princess' oh-so-important progressive appointees.


Threadwinner!
Oh, corgis have been summoned.

Posted by: rickb223 at December 18, 2014 04:57 PM (BPT9g)

4 The idea is that while Senators must stay in DC to pass the CRomnibus, they could
go home once that is done; so if the CRominbus passed earlier, Democrat
senators might bug out of Washington to get an early start on their
vacations, rather than stick around to vote on appointments.


Yeah, no.

Posted by: Harry Reid at December 18, 2014 04:57 PM (4nR9/)

5 Joe "Where's my secretary?" Scardouche is a pirate lad...

Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at December 18, 2014 04:59 PM (/4AZU)

6 The Republican Establishment is very similar to the Progressive Establishment in the dim view it takes of those who support the idea of limited (federal) Government...

FIFY

Posted by: anon a mouse at December 18, 2014 04:59 PM (/jpU8)

7 Ted Cruz ate my baby!

Posted by: The Great White Snark at December 18, 2014 04:59 PM (XUKZU)

8 http://tinyurl.com/ofwnt83

Law enforcement authorities now hope to bring Black Liberation Army cop killer to justice from Cuba.

That's just a really pathetic example of hope right there. Almost kind of sad they would even remotely think that.

Posted by: Dang at December 18, 2014 05:00 PM (MNq6o)

9 This is also the same reason I'm still skeptical of the claim the Norks hacked Sony. It's entirely based on the claim that the US Govt has some secret data that totally shows NK did it.

Maybe. Then again, maybe not.

Posted by: Costanza Defense at December 18, 2014 05:00 PM (ZPrif)

10 So if The Establishment wants my vote -- and I am a gettable vote -- it
has to actually act as if being "fact-based" and "above made-up nonsense
smears" is something that's important to them, rather than just
something they claim to be all about (as they gleefully make up silly
nonsense to smear the Tea Party with).


I am also in the gettable, but rapidly decreasingly so category. I'm not going to be one of those who feels the need to announce every day his determination to stay home, but if someone like me has had enough, the GOP has a serious problem on its hands.

They are on probation, nay, double secret probation.

Posted by: pep at December 18, 2014 05:00 PM (4nR9/)

11 A few weeks ago, I noted that if an "expert" is not on your side, he's not a benefit to you. In fact, he's a threat.

What I mean by that is simple: An expert who's actually on your side can provide you with useful and true information and advice.

An expert who's not on your side can use his claimed expertise to bully you into accepting lies as the truth.


Before I read any further, are you down with the Tea Party/Conservative revolution now Ace? HUOS is just my coffee shop sock so don't try to lie.
I'm watching you. You sneaky Ewok.

Posted by: Hopped Up On Something at December 18, 2014 05:00 PM (NHtMs)

12 9
This is also the same reason I'm still skeptical of the claim the Norks
hacked Sony. It's entirely based on the claim that the US Govt has some
secret data that totally shows NK did it.



Maybe. Then again, maybe not.


Skeptic, please.

Posted by: pep at December 18, 2014 05:01 PM (4nR9/)

13 They are on probation, nay, double secret probation.



Since last August!

Posted by: rickb223 at December 18, 2014 05:01 PM (BPT9g)

14 I think I found a way Sony could save their movie

just swap out lil Kim for Cruz

Posted by: ThunderB at December 18, 2014 05:02 PM (zOTsN)

15 Law enforcement authorities now hope to bring Black Liberation Army cop killer to justice from Cuba.

Hope is not a strategy. Is it?


Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at December 18, 2014 05:02 PM (W5DcG)

16 13
They are on probation, nay, double secret probation.







Since last August!

Posted by: rickb223


The GOP should be very, very concerned about February. After that, it's the Ides of March.

Posted by: pep at December 18, 2014 05:03 PM (4nR9/)

17 Ace: "Sometimes I like to implicitly confess my ignorance and not write about things about which I know nothing."

That's crazy talk, that's what that is.

Posted by: The MFM at December 18, 2014 05:03 PM (1CroS)

18 I can also pretty much guarantee that Ted Cruz know the Senate Rules better than McCain.

Cruz is objectively a very smart man. Disagree and dislike him, but his raw IQ isn't up for debate.

McCain, on the otherhand, was the son of a Navy bigshot let into the Naval Academy as a legacy and who literally finished last in his class. McCain is objectively not a very smart man. Not a dumb man, but provably not a super-genius.

In the question of which of the two has mastered the arcane rules of the Senate, it seems a pretty easy call to make.

Posted by: Costanza Defense at December 18, 2014 05:03 PM (ZPrif)

19 If you have the law on your side, pound the law.

If you have the facts on your side, pound the facts.

If you have neither on your side, pound the table.

Posted by: the "experts" at December 18, 2014 05:03 PM (qfd4W)

20
Yeah, Teh Ewok didn't like this movie either.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 18, 2014 05:03 PM (TIIx5)

21 Hope is not a strategy. Is it?



Not without "n-Change!"

Posted by: rickb223 at December 18, 2014 05:03 PM (BPT9g)

22 I'm on the verge of a ragestroke.

That Joe Scarborough quote comparing his "moderate" beliefs to Ted Cruz' is...I have no words.

Not too long ago, he ridiculed Cruz on his stupid show with the b.b.-brained parrot sidekick, and declared he no longer wanted the name Ted Cruz spoken on his show.

I'll be on the floor over there----------->

Posted by: Jane D'oh at December 18, 2014 05:04 PM (FsuaD)

23 So the Repub Establishment was, get this, lying.

Shock face.

Posted by: Costanza Defense at December 18, 2014 05:04 PM (ZPrif)

24 In the question of which of the two has mastered the arcane rules of the Senate, it seems a pretty easy call to make.

Yes, but to paraphrase Peaky Blinders, in the case of McCain, there's not an ounce of guile in him. He's not smart enough.

I listened to Cruz yesterday on Hannity. He was slipping punches and obfuscating with ease, and that makes me suspicious. He's smart, but also slippery and canny.

Posted by: pep at December 18, 2014 05:05 PM (4nR9/)

25 Why not listen to Sen Cruz himself as he blew that bullshit out of the water the next day?

Posted by: Gmac- who is tired of all this at December 18, 2014 05:05 PM (baiNQ)

26 19 Posted by: the "experts" at December 18, 2014 05:03 PM (qfd4W)


and at all times pound Reggie's ***.....


//Chief Justice Momjeans

Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at December 18, 2014 05:05 PM (/4AZU)

27 18 Posted by: Costanza Defense at December 18, 2014 05:03 PM (ZPrif)


John McCain-enemy ace...

Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at December 18, 2014 05:06 PM (/4AZU)

28 Ace: "So if The Establishment wants my vote -- and I am a gettable vote..."

That makes one of us. The GOPe has lost my vote. I am no longer gettable by The Party. It's now a matter of just how angry I'll be at any given election and how many wrenches I can throw into the gears.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at December 18, 2014 05:08 PM (1CroS)

29 Trust us, nothing untoward is about to happen in your mouth.

Posted by: garrett at December 18, 2014 05:08 PM (j6M6d)

30 We have some rising stars in the GOP. We just need to carry out the trash to make way for them.

Posted by: maddogg at December 18, 2014 05:08 PM (xWW96)

31 I listened to Cruz yesterday on Hannity. He was
slipping punches and obfuscating with ease, and that makes me
suspicious. He's smart, but also slippery and canny.


Posted by: pep


At the risk of reinforcing a meme, you know who's also smart, but doesn't seem to traffic in BS? Tom Cotton.

Posted by: pep at December 18, 2014 05:08 PM (4nR9/)

32 John McCain-enemy ace...
Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at December 18, 2014 05:06 PM (/4AZU)[/i

He didn't start the fire.
Did he?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at December 18, 2014 05:09 PM (W5DcG)

33 Lou Dobbs, usually a sensible guy, blamed the appointments getting confirmed on Ted
Cruz, on his show last night. It really pissed me off. I may never watch his show again.

Posted by: Ronster at December 18, 2014 05:09 PM (9vrWU)

34 It's now a matter of just how angry I'll be at any given election and how many wrenches I can throw into the gears.

What does that mean? You can not vote for their candidate, but then what?

Posted by: pep at December 18, 2014 05:09 PM (4nR9/)

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at December 18, 2014 05:09 PM (W5DcG)

36 Dobbs is an idiot

Posted by: ThunderB at December 18, 2014 05:10 PM (zOTsN)

37 These establishment people of which you speak are the same establishment people who paid minorities in MS to vote for Thad Cochran? Those establishment people? They wouldn't lie to us.

Posted by: Thin veneer of civility at December 18, 2014 05:10 PM (XzRw1)

38 BDS movement at work.

Katherine Timpf @kctimpf 1h
Harvard to Stop Buying SodaStream Machines Because They're a 'Microaggression' http://natl.re/13E6Amg via @NRO

Harvard University Dining Services has decided stop buying water machines from the Israeli company SodaStream due to concerns that their very presence might be a microaggression against Palestinian students.

Posted by: Costanza Defense at December 18, 2014 05:10 PM (ZPrif)

39 So Joe and Jeb "don't set houses on fire and scare kids." Who are they trying to distinguish themselves from? The Clinton administration?

Posted by: Insomniac at December 18, 2014 05:10 PM (2Ojst)

40 At the risk of reinforcing a meme, you know who's also smart, but doesn't seem to traffic in BS? Tom Cotton.
Posted by: pep at December 18, 2014 05:08 PM (4nR9/) Yeah. We did OK with Tom.........so far........waiting to see if he gets Washingtonitis. Its fatal you know.

Posted by: maddogg at December 18, 2014 05:10 PM (xWW96)

41 Cruz Cotton and Gowdy

Posted by: ThunderB at December 18, 2014 05:10 PM (zOTsN)

42 @35

I agree.

Posted by: Marcel Marceau at December 18, 2014 05:10 PM (4nR9/)

43 32 Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at December 18, 2014 05:09 PM (W5DcG)

No he's just incredibly lucky....


Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at December 18, 2014 05:10 PM (/4AZU)

44 Barack Obama is a SCOAMT.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - TrueCon at December 18, 2014 05:11 PM (kff5f)

45 Until the NYT or CNN or some prominent MSM firm goes down in flames completely, as in spectacularly bankrupt, I won't be satisfied. And Rolling Stone doesn't count, except as an appetizer.

Propagandists, every last one of them.

Posted by: MTF at December 18, 2014 05:11 PM (LISuA)

46 Those Judges and that jerk off Surgeon General were going to be pushed thru no matter what.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at December 18, 2014 05:11 PM (Zmw74)

47 Huh. Almost as if a *real* constitutional lawyer who has actually won cases in front of the Supreme Court might have some clue as to Senate Procedure.

The deuce you say!

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - TrueCon at December 18, 2014 05:11 PM (kff5f)

48
So, you're saying that "conservatives" like Hatch, Graham and the lizard-like Jennifer Rubin, lied about Ted Cruz?

Tres suprise.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at December 18, 2014 05:11 PM (kdS6q)

49 Leftover:

Well to be fair...
Comedy Central


Actually DID get a truck bomb parked at their door.

Posted by: DaveA at December 18, 2014 05:12 PM (DL2i+)

50 41Cruz Cotton and GowdyPosted by: ThunderB at December 18, 2014 05:10 PM (zOTsN) I respectfully wish to add Louis Gohmert to that list.

Posted by: maddogg at December 18, 2014 05:12 PM (xWW96)

51 pep: "What does that mean? You can not vote for their candidate, but then what?"

I can vote for the opposition. I can contribute to the opposition. I can lobby for the opposition. Same as always but now I don't fear that I'm helping the "Bigger of Evils."

They have forced me to quit caring because Statists are interchangeable parts.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at December 18, 2014 05:13 PM (1CroS)

52 OT, but things are slow, so whatevs. Whoever posted that Tetris history of the Soviet Union" sidebar should BIH. I've had history's worst earwig for a week now. Don't go to Youtube and search on "Tetris Soviet Union". Seriously. Don't do it.

I am the man who arranges the blocks....

Posted by: pep at December 18, 2014 05:13 PM (4nR9/)

53 Wait...Ted Cruz put judicial appointees in a choke hold??

Posted by: CNN - 24/7/365 at December 18, 2014 05:14 PM (UFV5W)

54 that jerk off Surgeon General

Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders was a fapping advocate.

Posted by: wooga at December 18, 2014 05:14 PM (OuLBr)

55 [oi]I can vote for the opposition. I can contribute to the opposition. I can
lobby for the opposition. Same as always but now I don't fear that I'm
helping the "Bigger of Evils."

Fair enough.

Posted by: pep at December 18, 2014 05:14 PM (4nR9/)

56 So many layers of bullshit.

I trust Cruz because he makes Senators do things they don't want to do.

He forces them to go on record and he reveals who is a phony and who is not.

Posted by: eman at December 18, 2014 05:14 PM (IFp78)

57 Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders was a fapping advocate."

And a big Eric Clapner fan, from what I heard...

Posted by: anon a mouse at December 18, 2014 05:15 PM (/jpU8)

58 Harvard University Dining Services has decided stop buying water machines from the Israeli company SodaStream due to concerns that their very presence might be a microaggression against Palestinian students.

Wait, what?

We Are All Special Snowflakes, Now!

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - TrueCon at December 18, 2014 05:15 PM (kff5f)

59 There is gettable, then there is gettable. Choosing someone approximating conservative for speaker and then giving Boehner a habanero enema is what it would take to get my vote.

Posted by: SpongeBobSaget at December 18, 2014 05:15 PM (zauWW)

60 How come Ted Cruz didn't just use his teeth?

Posted by: Don Lemon at December 18, 2014 05:15 PM (OuLBr)

61 "We Are All Special Snowflakes"

And must melt at the first sign of light.

Team France, the Movie anyone?

Posted by: anon a mouse at December 18, 2014 05:16 PM (/jpU8)

62 54 that jerk off Surgeon General

Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders was a fapping advocate.
Posted by: wooga at December 18, 2014 05:14 PM (OuLBr)

Jocelyn Elders was a from-the-moon freak nomination in the 90's. She'd be considered a tad on the conservative side for the Barky administration.

Posted by: joefl65 at December 18, 2014 05:16 PM (UFV5W)

63 a habanero enema

Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow.

Possibly worse than rickrolling Helen Thomas.

Posted by: DaveA at December 18, 2014 05:16 PM (DL2i+)

64 Posted by: pep at December 18, 2014 05:13 PM (4nR9/)

"Do, do-do do, do-do do do-do do..."

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - TrueCon at December 18, 2014 05:16 PM (kff5f)

65 Shorter and to the point: Ted Cruz's enemies lied about him and here is why.

Posted by: Darth Randall at December 18, 2014 05:16 PM (6n332)

66 "How come Ted Cruz didn't just use his teeth?"

You mean like me?

Posted by: Mike Rowe on Dirty Jobs with the lambs at December 18, 2014 05:16 PM (/jpU8)

67 There is gettable, then there is gettable. Choosing someone
approximating conservative for speaker and then giving Boehner a
habanero enema is what it would take to get my vote.


pffffft, RINO. It's ghost peppers or nothing.

Posted by: pep at December 18, 2014 05:16 PM (4nR9/)

68 Which means that all of the establishment type Republicans and pundits who said that Cruz did cause this to happen are lying, which means that all of those sockcuckers are no better than SCOAMT.

Posted by: LoneStarHeeb at December 18, 2014 05:17 PM (BZAd3)

69 67 There is gettable, then there is gettable. Choosing someone
approximating conservative for speaker and then giving Boehner a
habanero enema is what it would take to get my vote.

pffffft, RINO. It's ghost peppers or nothing.
Posted by: pep at December 18, 2014 05:16 PM (4nR9/)

A capsaicin colonic.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 18, 2014 05:17 PM (2Ojst)

70 Choosing someone approximating conservative for speaker and then giving Boehner a habanero enema is what it would take to get my vote.

And then nominating a real Conservative (I'll take Ron Reagan. I want Cal Coolidge) for President.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - TrueCon at December 18, 2014 05:17 PM (kff5f)

71 Hate to go off topic before 100 posts but Judicial Watch got some emails between the DoJ and a PR firm/advisor from back around the F&F time where the PR hack names reporters that will write whatever they are told in support of DoJ along with a note saying they were reaching out to CBS big wigs and Bob Schieffer to "rein" Sharyl Attkisson in because she was out of control.
Good example of experts lying through their teeth.

Posted by: Hopped Up On Something at December 18, 2014 05:18 PM (NHtMs)

72 66 "How come Ted Cruz didn't just use his teeth?"

You mean like me?
Posted by: Mike Rowe on Dirty Jobs with the lambs at December 18, 2014 05:16 PM (/jpU

Oh Lord, you just had to bring that up, didn't you?

Posted by: Insomniac at December 18, 2014 05:18 PM (2Ojst)

73
Cruz has long been established as The Villain. People will now believe ANYTHING that is said about Cruz.

Posted by: please dont squeeze the soothie at December 18, 2014 05:19 PM (+cLwS)

74 The GOP is unwilling to ever exercise any political capital it may how. The reasons certain things are not done is not because they can't be done, but because they do not have the political will to do such things. That is fine as it goes, as there are certain things that are not worth the spending of political capital and in some cases, the political will of the American people simply do not exist. But the GOP establishment takes that to an extreme, and has lost the credibility of the base.

Posted by: SH at December 18, 2014 05:20 PM (gmeXX)

75
That punk Jeff Flake is on the anti-Cruz bandwagon.

Posted by: please dont squeeze the soothie at December 18, 2014 05:20 PM (+cLwS)

76 Ring of Fire, indeed.

Posted by: Garrett at December 18, 2014 05:20 PM (d8S42)

77 So Jeb and Joe don't set houses on fire...


There's the ticket. Right there.

Turn off the lights. Close the doors. It's all over.

Posted by: LoneStarHeeb at December 18, 2014 05:20 PM (BZAd3)

78 You mean like me?
Posted by: Mike Rowe on Dirty Jobs with the lambs at December 18, 2014 05:16 PM (/jpU

Oh Lord, you just had to bring that up, didn't you?

Posted by: Insomniac at December 18, 2014 05:18 PM (2Ojst)


*twitches on floor*

Posted by: Rubber-banded Baby Lamb at December 18, 2014 05:21 PM (0NdlF)

79 Cruz has long been established as The Villain. People will now believe ANYTHING that is said about Cruz.

-----

They said the same of Reagan - Reagan went over there heads. Cruz has the ability, the intelligence, and the passion to do the same.

Posted by: SH at December 18, 2014 05:21 PM (gmeXX)

80
62 54 that jerk off Surgeon General

Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders was a fapping advocate.
Posted by: wooga at December 18, 2014 05:14 PM (OuLBr)

Jocelyn Elders was a from-the-moon freak nomination in the 90's. She'd be considered a tad on the conservative side for the Barky administration.
Posted by: joefl65 at December 18, 2014 05:16 PM (UFV5W)


Yeah wasn't her thing pretty much "masturbation for minors?"

Obama's has some people more along the lines of full blown child molestation

Posted by: Buzzion at December 18, 2014 05:21 PM (z/Ubi)

81 Flake transitioned from right-wing firebrand to McCain moderate amazingly quick.

Posted by: Costanza Defense at December 18, 2014 05:21 PM (ZPrif)

82 Cruz has long been established as The Villain. People will now believe ANYTHING that is said about Cruz.

He's a nut job and a terrorist just like Palin and the Tea Party. The child-loving Reid and President Barry have denounced them all many times.

Posted by: Hopped Up On Something at December 18, 2014 05:22 PM (NHtMs)

83 ...and UPS finally shows up.

I don't envy those poor bastards this week.

Posted by: Garrett at December 18, 2014 05:22 PM (d8S42)

84 28 -

Same here. If the 2012 election were held today (which would be odd, since it would be over 2 years late!), I would NOT vote for Mitt Romney. Even if, 2 years on, he had a much better chance of winning.

I'm done with the Gope. No more of my votes, no more money, not one jot of effort on their behalf, and that will especially apply to local candidates.

Posted by: BurtTC at December 18, 2014 05:22 PM (TOk1P)

85 Trust me, honey, Kaboom will make your hair curly!

Posted by: ace's aunt at December 18, 2014 05:23 PM (Dw98+)

86 I know what Cruz & Lee did Saturday didn't allow Reid to pass those libtard nominees.
Reid's assistant sent out aTweet Friday that he intended to do so.

Posted by: Carol at December 18, 2014 05:23 PM (sj3Ax)

87 The GOPe is basically saying that if *they* were in a lame duck session, they would totally give up on key conservative nominees if it kept them from going to a few holiday parties.

"31
I listened to Cruz yesterday on Hannity. He was

slipping punches and obfuscating with ease, and that makes me

suspicious. He's smart, but also slippery and canny."

OMG! Cant have that, can we. Canny, slippery ... what next ... eloquent? Actually drives home a point?


Posted by: Keep Calm Cruz On at December 18, 2014 05:24 PM (wT9UL)

88 "Got a macaque that won't attack? A chimp with a limp? Maybe a Gibbon who's taking more than he's giving? An Orang with no Tang? come on down to the MU Monkey rescue! Spider, squirrel, we got 'em all, and we take trade-ins!"

Posted by: Mirror Universe Monkey Rescue at December 18, 2014 05:24 PM (2cS/G)

89 The critics of Cruz also assumed that Republicans would have stayed behind, while Democrats left town early, in sufficient numbers to affect a confirmation vote. As we saw in 2010 during the Obamacare vote, they are as desperate for time off as the Democrats.

"it has to actually act as if [anything] is something that's important to them, rather than just something they claim to be all about"

But that's directly contrary to their strategy of fix nothing, complain always. It's Paul Ryan voting for funding of abortion with tax dollars, and then standing in the snow protesting abortion.

Posted by: Chris_Balsz at December 18, 2014 05:24 PM (kTWS+)

90 Weird. Every day around the same time it seems, the mumr shows up and posts and posts and posts and posts the same message over and over and over. Trollbusted each and every time. But it keeps trying.

I think it's not human.

Posted by: BurtTC at December 18, 2014 05:24 PM (TOk1P)

91
>>>"How come Ted Cruz didn't just use his teeth?"

You mean like me?
Posted by: Mike Rowe on Dirty Jobs with the lambs at December 18, 2014 05:16 PM (/jpU<<<


You're a baaaaaad man.

Posted by: one of Mike "Tyson" Rowe's lamb victims at December 18, 2014 05:25 PM (qfd4W)

92 They said the same of Reagan - Reagan went over there heads. Cruz has the ability, the intelligence, and the passion to do the same.
Posted by: SH


He doesn't panel well though. He needs to work on his media personality or something. A little too easy going with Progressives with bylines when I've seen him.

Posted by: Hopped Up On Something at December 18, 2014 05:25 PM (NHtMs)

93 Cruz has long been established as The Villain. People will now believe ANYTHING that is said about Cruz.

More or less. Well, people outside of Texas, anyway.

The most pernicious thing about this, though, is that the "arguments" the GOPe makes are all open to interpretation. They assert that had Cruz not forced the weekend session, that Reid would have had at least some fewer nominations passed. But that's an assertion for which no evidence can be presented. And the negative for it- that he would have gotten just as many passed- can't be proven either. Both are alternate history theories.

So the GOPe tries to throw Cruz to the wolves. Tell me, where were they when McCain was doing all of his "Gang of X" shenanigans? How about when a certain Senator from Maine heard "history calling?" Hmm?

It seems that some Republican Senators are more equal than others, no?

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - TrueCon at December 18, 2014 05:26 PM (kff5f)

94 Of that Bill they voted on the illegality of EO Amnesty, 9 who voted that it was illegal & then voted for Cromnibus Bill.

Posted by: Carol at December 18, 2014 05:26 PM (sj3Ax)

95 OMG! Cant have that, can we. Canny, slippery ... what next ... eloquent? Actually drives home a point?





Posted by: Keep Calm Cruz


You got me. Nothing to worry about with those types. Nothing.

Posted by: pep at December 18, 2014 05:27 PM (4nR9/)

96 I'm glad you posted about this, Ace. Cruz sent out a letter explaining much the same thing.

We'll see how he proves out in battle, but at least he's putting up a fight.

Posted by: Beverly Cooper at December 18, 2014 05:27 PM (LlFF+)

97 And, on cue, the MUMRbot shows itself.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at December 18, 2014 05:28 PM (knoK7)

98 The GOPe is basically saying that if *they* were in a lame duck session, they would totally give up on key conservative nominees if it kept them from going to a few holiday parties.

Good point here, too.

"Well we *wouldn't* have stayed, so obviously they wouldn't have either, right? Right?"

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - TrueCon at December 18, 2014 05:28 PM (kff5f)

99 95
OMG! Cant have that, can we. Canny, slippery ... what next ... eloquent? Actually drives home a point?








Posted by: Keep Calm Cruz

You got me. Nothing to worry about with those types. Nothing.


Posted by: pep


In fact, I think I'll sign my house over to him. If he asks me to drink some flavored beverage, I will. Best not to think at all. It's easier.

Posted by: pep at December 18, 2014 05:29 PM (4nR9/)

100 So... the mumr tries to prove itself to not be a robot by attaching some stupid silly attack to the back end of it.

Honestly, I think it's master bating at this daily act.

Posted by: BurtTC at December 18, 2014 05:29 PM (TOk1P)

101 Honestly, I think it's master bating at this daily act.

So why give him the attention he craves?

Posted by: pep at December 18, 2014 05:29 PM (4nR9/)

102 99 Posted by: pep at December 18, 2014 05:29 PM (4nR9/)

It's worked for the press and Giggles right?

Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at December 18, 2014 05:30 PM (/4AZU)

103 Yeah wasn't her thing pretty much "masturbation for minors?"

Posted by: Buzzion at December 18, 2014 05:21 PM (z/Ubi)




That and "child-proof" guns with the logic that if we can make child-proof medicine bottles, we can make child-proof guns. I have yet to see a kid over the age of eight that can't open a medicine bottle.

Posted by: Al Sharpton at December 18, 2014 05:30 PM (nL0sw)

104 The Fredo Admin keeps bragging about all the muzzie terror leaders it kills in air strikes, but nothing ever comes of it?

So either they are lying, are incompetent and can't count, or we need more air and real air strikes

Posted by: Nevergiveup at December 18, 2014 05:30 PM (Zmw74)

105 in Brighter news the Army is kicking the fuck out of ISIS.

Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at December 18, 2014 05:31 PM (/4AZU)

106 it's cock sucker time

Posted by: Nevergiveup at December 18, 2014 05:31 PM (Zmw74)

107 If anyone reads PJ Media on the weekends someone should send this to Rick Moran who runs the Tatler during that time.

Dude's a dickhead.

Posted by: thathalfrican at December 18, 2014 05:31 PM (R5HRU)

108 Off freakishly large-headed sock.

Posted by: Country Singer at December 18, 2014 05:31 PM (nL0sw)

109 I don't think the attention matters, one way or the other. It's already furiously stroking, as it watches the messages get zapped over and over.

It really is like a senseless master baiting monkey. I really don't think it cares that any of us are watching.

Posted by: BurtTC at December 18, 2014 05:31 PM (TOk1P)

110 Trust me Ace, a blog takes no time at all, brings in plenty of money and you'll hardly lift a finger.

Posted by: Michele Kerr at December 18, 2014 05:31 PM (NHtMs)

111 Holy Hell. Is Ace on a tear today, or what? Sadly I have to miss most of it. On the plus side, tin/aluminium anniversary this week. Bless her for keeping me.

Posted by: flounder at December 18, 2014 05:32 PM (sDapq)

112 "Oh Lord, you just had to bring that up, didn't you? "

Posted by: Baaa Raaam Ewe at December 18, 2014 05:32 PM (/jpU8)

113 On the plus side, tin/aluminium anniversary this week.

Aluminium? My, my, pardon us, your majesty.

Posted by: pep at December 18, 2014 05:33 PM (4nR9/)

114 That was fast.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at December 18, 2014 05:33 PM (FsuaD)

115
in Brighter news the Army is kicking the fuck out of ISIS.


Posted by: (Sorry, but pixy doesn't like your sig/link)

I saw three leaders were killed in air strikes recently. Three. Wowsers.

Posted by: Dang at December 18, 2014 05:33 PM (MNq6o)

116 "81
Flake transitioned from right-wing firebrand to McCain moderate amazingly quick."

Basically any 'libertarianish' Republican can morph into a total RINO with ease.

Rand Paul, dining with Al Sharpton, endorsing McConnell, giving thumbs up on Obama's pro-Castro stunt, pandering on crime, for open borders and MJ ... is another example.

The ONLY Republicans I trust now are those who take arrows in their back for the cause.

Cruz has that in spades by now.
Walker has as well.

Posted by: Keep Calm Cruz On at December 18, 2014 05:33 PM (wT9UL)

117 I saw three leaders were killed in air strikes recently. Three. Wowsers.

Well, those 3 and however many other "grunts."

I call it a good start.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - TrueCon at December 18, 2014 05:34 PM (kff5f)

118 On the plus side, tin/aluminium anniversary this week.

Sounds like soup and six pack!

Posted by: Dang at December 18, 2014 05:34 PM (MNq6o)

119 It wouldn't be so bad without the hash tags. But always always with the same two disgusting things at the end. Sad. He in a mental hospital now? And this is his library privilege time?

Posted by: ThunderB at December 18, 2014 05:35 PM (zOTsN)

120 Ok, this is getting (heh) weird.

That, or pixy's really PO'd...

Posted by: anon a mouse at December 18, 2014 05:35 PM (/jpU8)

121 Dear Ace, I have had a busy horse-filled day here in the winter horse-capital of the fucking world and I'm just now checking today's output. You have your libertarian freak on. I agree with
1. Establishment GOP - assholes
2. Paramount - Spineless pussies
3. Slate = shit
4. Van Susteren - What the fuck is with her anyway? Scientology rotting her brain?
5. University Proggs are the worst sort, except for the ones that govern me personally.
Thanks.

Posted by: dr kill at December 18, 2014 05:35 PM (ifjKw)

122 I saw three leaders were killed in air strikes recently. Three. Wowsers.



Well, those 3 and however many other "grunts."



I call it a good start.

Posted by: AllenG


A reenactment of the Gulf War Highway-of-Death would be a good start. Don't hold your breath.

Posted by: Dang at December 18, 2014 05:36 PM (MNq6o)

123 The ONLY Republicans I trust now are those who take arrows in their back for the cause.

Cruz has that in spades by now.
Walker has as well.



Posted by: Keep Calm Cruz On


Right. I can't think of any other reason.
cough**publicity**cough

Look, there's a lot to like about the guy, but I don't believe for a second that this is a "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" scenario.

I don't care which politician it is, they all bear watching and skepticism, especially the smart ones.

Posted by: pep at December 18, 2014 05:36 PM (4nR9/)

124 "82
Cruz has long been established as The Villain. People will now believe ANYTHING that is said about Cruz.
"


He's a nut job and a terrorist just like Palin and the Tea Party.
The child-loving Reid and President Barry have denounced them all many
times.

His name is Senator Ted Emanuel Goldstein Cruz.

Posted by: Keep Calm Cruz On at December 18, 2014 05:36 PM (wT9UL)

125 He in a mental hospital now? And this is his library privilege time?

I've thought that for a long time.

Posted by: Ronster at December 18, 2014 05:36 PM (9vrWU)

126 They key to preventing RINO-itis is to not be mentored by McCain. See Ayotte and Flake

Posted by: ThunderB at December 18, 2014 05:36 PM (zOTsN)

127 The guy's down to a 2 second run time and he's still at it. What a pathetic display.

Posted by: Dang at December 18, 2014 05:38 PM (MNq6o)

128 You should take up painting. Or creative writing. Or do the parachute thing

Posted by: ThunderB at December 18, 2014 05:38 PM (zOTsN)

129 115 Posted by: Dang at December 18, 2014 05:33 PM (MNq6o)

US ground forces...

http://tinyurl.com/mxb5juf

We'll see how ISIS does against Air-Land warriors who aren't Arab...

Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at December 18, 2014 05:39 PM (/4AZU)

130 God Bless

Posted by: ThunderB at December 18, 2014 05:39 PM (zOTsN)

131 Are you going to Scarborough fair?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at December 18, 2014 05:39 PM (W5DcG)

132 I don't care which politician it is, they all bear
watching and skepticism, especially the smart
ones.




Trust, but verify.

Posted by: rickb223 at December 18, 2014 05:39 PM (BPT9g)

133 You should take up painting. Or creative writing. Or do the parachute thing

Posted by: ThunderB

I hear you don't really need the cords. Just increases the risk of getting tangled.

Posted by: Dang at December 18, 2014 05:39 PM (MNq6o)

134 O/T Megyn Kelly says she had an "awkward" conversation with the JEF at the WH Christmas party Tuesday night.

She must have asked him to get her car.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at December 18, 2014 05:40 PM (FsuaD)

135 117 Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - TrueCon at December 18, 2014 05:34 PM (kff5f)

You want Washington crossing the Delaware.....

You'd settle for TR at San Juan Hill.....

We'll get Giggles going on a 17 day Golf vacacay

Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at December 18, 2014 05:40 PM (/4AZU)

136 The computer files of more than 40,000 federal workers may have been
compromised by a cyberattack at federal contractor KeyPoint Government
Solutions, the second breach this year at a major firm handling national
security background investigations of workers at federal agencies, the
government confirmed Thursday.


Top.Men.

Posted by: Thin veneer of civility at December 18, 2014 05:41 PM (XzRw1)

137 Trust, but verify.

Treat like children.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, Curmudgeon Extraordinaire at December 18, 2014 05:42 PM (0HooB)

138 You want Washington crossing the Delaware.....
You'd settle for TR at San Juan Hill.....



I'd settle for Old Hickory.....

Posted by: rickb223 at December 18, 2014 05:43 PM (BPT9g)

139 It really is a fatal flaw in our system that once voters have thrown people out of office, they still have several months to make mischief.

Congress should really be shut down on Election Day and not be able to reconvene until the new Congress has been sworn in.

Posted by: McAdams at December 18, 2014 05:43 PM (Esinq)

140 US ground forces...

http://tinyurl.com/mxb5juf

We'll see how ISIS does against Air-Land warriors who aren't Arab...


2 hour firefight. 2 hours. Wait till Obama reads this in the newspaper. He'll shut down whatever they accomplished. Fast. He's probably already telling generals to remove the US forces from the area.

Posted by: Dang at December 18, 2014 05:43 PM (MNq6o)

141 Treat like children.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, Curmudgeon Extraordinaire at December 18, 2014 05:42 PM (0HooB)


Important clarification:

Treat like your own children?
Treat like strangers' children?
Treat like children you like of parents you don't like?
Treat like children you don't like of parents you don't like?
Treat like children you don't like of parents you do like?
Treat like children you like of parents you like?

"Treat like children" is just way to broad.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - TrueCon at December 18, 2014 05:43 PM (kff5f)

142 nood.

Posted by: rickb223 at December 18, 2014 05:43 PM (BPT9g)

143 I think it's weird that the White House and the London Air traffic control system lost power within a couple days of each other


December 12 for London. December 15 for the White House.

Posted by: ThunderB at December 18, 2014 05:44 PM (zOTsN)

144 O/T Megyn Kelly says she had an "awkward" conversation with the JEF at the WH Christmas party Tuesday night.

Maybe he hit on her. Like he just hit on a R.I. Ebola doctor at the WH Menora lighting. Really.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/nfuawny

Oh wait, Megyn's not a guy, so never mind....

Posted by: Lizzy at December 18, 2014 05:44 PM (ABcz/)

145 Posted by: Thin veneer of civility at December 18, 2014 05:41 PM (XzRw1)


Bloody hell. Am I going to have to sign up with one of those ID fraud prevention services now?

Posted by: Country Singer at December 18, 2014 05:44 PM (nL0sw)

146 His name is Senator Ted Emanuel Goldstein Cruz.

The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism?
He wasn't too happy with Cuba getting a Communist reach around from Barry. I'll bet his parents weren't either.

Posted by: Hopped Up On Something at December 18, 2014 05:45 PM (NHtMs)

147 "Treat like children" is just way to broad.

Treat like retarded children.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, Curmudgeon Extraordinaire at December 18, 2014 05:45 PM (0HooB)

148 The thing about Cruz is I actually think in a roomful of 100 Senators he's probably the most intelligent, most knowledgeable about Senate rules and procedures , most levelheaded. The mother-f*cking media swore that Obama (voting 'present') was some sort of super genius when he was/is anything but.

As a member of Smart People Anonymous(tr) I'm getting really tired of the media deciding for me who is smart and who is not -- then getting it bass ackwards -- EVERY FUCKING TIME.

Posted by: SE Pa Moron at December 18, 2014 05:46 PM (zxQ4h)

149 "The people claiming this did not offer up a detailed explanation, permitting me to follow their logic and check their claimed facts. They just wanted me to Accept It."

Note that this was on display as well in the previous big shutdown brouhaha. Wherein the GOP Beltway establishment asserted firmly that the shutdown had been an utter public relations disaster for Republicans and that such should never again be attempted.

Except... gee whiz, Wally, when you ask the establishment types what their evidence was for the public being angry with Republicans over the shutdown, they were able to point to precisely one (1) poll, conducted by one of the reliably liberal alphabet networks.

And sure enough, that one (1) poll did in fact say that the public thought Republicans were big fat meanies and the shutdown was horribly damaging to the country. That one (1) poll also happened to have -- purely by chance, you are assured! -- oversampled registered Democratic voters by an absolutely ludicrous margin.

Let's also note that the voters didn't seem to have too much of this alleged shutdown-induced anger with Republicans on display when the next election cycle concluded, and Republicans won a huge number of seats on the Hill in both houses.

Posted by: torquewrench at December 18, 2014 05:47 PM (noWW6)

150 Treat like retarded children.

But, see, the other categories are important, too.

Like, if it's a kid I like but I don't like their parent? Totally giving a drum set for Christmas.

But if I like the parents, too, then I at least include ear protection as part of the present.

See?

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - TrueCon at December 18, 2014 05:47 PM (kff5f)

151 "absolutely ludicrous margin. "

But did they go plaid?

Posted by: anon a mouse at December 18, 2014 05:49 PM (/jpU8)

152 Pep misses my point by a mile.

So Cruz is 'slippery', eh. There is the tactical Verbal Art of debate and point-making, and then there is the strategic purpose to that verbal pugilism.

Sen Ted Cruz has verbal skills. He's been in front of the SCOTUS a dozen times. He may not be the cunning linguist Bill Clinton is, he's less smooth and more talkingpoint-headed, but he's at least Newtonian Gingrichesque in his ability to stick to conservative points. that alone puts him above all but a handful of Republicans in Congress, most who cant debate themselves out of a shoebox, and never dare to express conservative thoughts lest the Media Horde descend like locusts.

Now, is verbal skill bad? If it's in service to a dishonest cause or in aid of dishonest representations, yes. If it's selling socialist dreams and phony narratives (viz Obama ' 0 yes. If it's selling a lie, yes. We have clear evidence that gaffe-tastic Senators lied about Cruz and his impact on nominees. Did Cruz actually promise to repeal and replace Obamacare and then fund it? Did Cruz say that Obamacare would save buckets of money in premiums?

But if it's to advance conservative policy and agenda, then you have to ask - The bottom line is that Cruz:
#1) rarely stoops in kind to personal attacks
#2) Does NOT engage in spreading lies and FUD per se, but
#3) simply makes the conservative case on policy and states it well,
So unless you have specific claims he makes as false, the canny, erudite, willing-to-fight Senator Cruz is a man we need fighting for conservative causes.

Posted by: Keep Calm Cruz On at December 18, 2014 05:50 PM (wT9UL)

153
100 So... the mumr tries to prove itself to not be a robot by attaching some stupid silly attack to the back end of it.

Honestly, I think it's master bating at this daily act.
Posted by: BurtTC at December 18, 2014 05:29 PM (TOk1P)



This is why I think the next step should be to start turning his comments into nothing but "hodor"

Posted by: Buzzion at December 18, 2014 05:50 PM (acD6r)

154 "Rand Paul, dining with Al Sharpton, endorsing McConnell, giving thumbs up on Obama's pro-Castro stunt, pandering on crime, for open borders and MJ ... is another example."

Remember to add voter ID to the list of Luap Nard's pandering.

Why, did you know that voter ID proposals are "offending" people?

It's true! They are! Nard says so.

Thank goodness we have Nard looking out for our best interests and steering us away from such potentially "offending" policies. Which "offend" overwhelmingly, um, well, people who wouldn't ever vote other than Democratic in a million years.

But I'm sure we can all agree that graciously not offending the Dem base is the KEY TO SWEEPING VICTORY.

Posted by: torquewrench at December 18, 2014 05:54 PM (noWW6)

155 When you say "retarded children", um... how retarded?

Posted by: Dang at December 18, 2014 05:54 PM (MNq6o)

156 But if it's to advance conservative policy and agenda, then you have to ask - The bottom line is that Cruz:...
#2) Does NOT engage in spreading lies and FUD per se


Well, if his lies aren't per se, that's good enough for me.

Posted by: pep at December 18, 2014 05:55 PM (4nR9/)

157 Pep -
Oh, and now you whine about 'publicity'. The reality is that OTHERS are making a big deal about Cruz, in any Alinskyite fashion, they are trying to marginalize Cruz. Is Cruz a MTP flunkie like McCain? No. Does Cruz get rockstar treatment at conservative events and win Straw Polls? Yes, for a simple reason. He stands for conservative policy and takes conservative positions, and does it seriously.

If our GOP leadership were doing their job, you wouldn't have heard much about Cruz at all. If the GOP leadership had done the conservative thing, conservatives in the Senate wouldnt stick out like sore thumbs. Sen Cruz wanted what Sen Lee and some others advocated:
1) The Lee-Sessions-Salmon CR plan where we do a short-term CR and fight Obama on amnesty in January; or
2) Barring #1 at least a vote on Obama's executive amnesty.
On Friday, Cruz thought #2 was the deal, but then Reid and McConnell cut a deal to take off the weekend and NOT hold that vote.
That set the wheels in motion for his constitutional point of order.

Negative stories about Cruz have been popping up in the media since 2013. The sources for the negative comments have come both from Senate leadership and from RINO Senators, who really don't like being exposed on their "act conservative when running, vote moderate when in the Senate" game.

Cruz is the winnowing fork. He has shown us who is wheat and who is chaff.

"His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing
floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with
unquenchable fire."

Posted by: Keep Calm Cruz On at December 18, 2014 06:06 PM (wT9UL)

158 Just think: if Franco and Rogen had made a movie where they assassinate Ted Cruz, everything would have been swell!

Posted by: Null at December 18, 2014 06:07 PM (xjpRj)

159 Once again, Cruz defenders cite the statement from Reid on the 9th, but ignore the schedule he announced on the 11th after reaching an agreement with McConnell. A few nominees would have had time to come up, but not most.

I expect this from Democrats and left-media.

Posted by: Adjoran at December 18, 2014 06:15 PM (QIQ6j)

160 by: Adjoran at December 18, 2014 06:15 PM (QIQ6j)



Troll.

Posted by: Buzzion at December 18, 2014 06:21 PM (z/Ubi)

161 156
But if it's to advance conservative policy and agenda, then you have to ask - The bottom line is that Cruz:... #2) Does NOT engage in spreading lies and FUD per se

Well, if his lies aren't per se, that's good enough for me."

The man's a lawyer, got to throw in some Latin there.

Actually, my point should have been - Cruz does NOT engage in spreading lies and FUD. Period. Often, a conservative or Republican makes a point, then a liberal disagrees with it and then declares the conservative a 'liar' - like the "Bush lied" meme from the liberals. Conservatives arent allowed to get the benefit of the doubt regarding sincerity of beliefs in the media, and Cruz gets hit with that. Doesn't validate the media attacks on him.

Of course some politicians lie. Often. We know Sen Hary Reid is a creepy liar because he went on the Senate floor with that lie about Romney and taxes. We know Obama lied about Obamacare and we got "Grubered" on it.
But I wouldn't go out of my way to call Sen Durbin or Sen Schumer liars even if they said things I know are wrong - they may be sincerely held falsehoods.

Cruz is not the party's Elizabeth Warren. He's more like Sen Chuck Schumer - smart, ideological, and yes, canny. Schumer has and will push the ball in his direction, throw his power around, and hog the cameras. All for the liberal cause. The difference is that the Democrats have a guy like that in leadership
...
in our leadership, we have a turtle, the cowardly lion, and the powderpuff squad.

Posted by: Keep Calm Cruz On at December 18, 2014 06:21 PM (wT9UL)

162 This is an excellent post, Ace.

Posted by: Y-not at December 18, 2014 06:26 PM (9BRsg)

163 "But I'm sure we can all agree that graciously not offending the Dem base is the KEY TO SWEEPING VICTORY.
"

So, basically Rand Paul is the political equivalent of the love child of John McCain and Ron Paul.

Eeek. Coming to a supermarket tabloid near you!

Posted by: Keep Calm Cruz On at December 18, 2014 06:27 PM (wT9UL)

164 Great post. Exactly how I felt, too, these "experts" pretend they know about complicated Senate rules but I thought, "Really?" Ha, nope. So the MSM has hung another lie around Cruz. First it was "He shutdown the government" now it's "He allowed votes on Obama's nominees" That Cruz sure is powerful for just being a Freshman.

Posted by: Aslan's Girl at December 18, 2014 06:29 PM (rldyO)

165 So Krauthammer was trashing Cruz (and the tea party) ... iirc, it was the same show where George Will was saying how all the Republicans hate Cruz. But I think it is the establishment types, that have contempt for the 65% of America that wants less government, controlled borders, less corruption. Cruz hurts them by taking votes on sensitive subjects, making it harder for the crusty establishment to make their quid pro quo deals that sell out America.

So Dr K and George are DC/NY denizens, so steeped in the centralized power structure that a guy like Cruz just becomes an annoyance for their closed off world of Let's Make a Deal, where the voter is the absent party.

Krauthammer acted as lawyer a week or so back, saying having a grand jury meant some guy couldn't be tried again ... no one corrected him, but that's not right is it? New evidence means they can convene another grand jury I think. Double jeopardy only applies to an actual trial, afaik.

Special Report may need some new blood. Baier did have Cruz on to explain, and I thought he handled it well. But his panel needs a tea party type that is well informed to replace George or Chuckles ... not sure who that would be exactly.

Posted by: Illiniwek at December 18, 2014 06:30 PM (+/zkf)

166 "As a member of Smart People Anonymous(tr) I'm getting really tired of
the media deciding for me who is smart and who is not -- then getting it
bass ackwards -- EVERY FUCKING TIME."

The same media that:
- got Trayvon story wrong
- got Ferguson story wrong
- told us about a UVA rape that was fiction

Missed the election predictions bigtime. Let us get Grubered and STILL wont report it, while reporting on meaningless twitter comments from a staffer as national news.

What are the odds they'd get this right. One in a thousand?

Posted by: Keep Calm Cruz On at December 18, 2014 06:30 PM (wT9UL)

167 Ace, let me simplify this for you.


FUCK THE ESTABLISHMENT. FUCK THEM STRAIGHT IN THE ASS.


Every single one of those fuckers promised to fight obamacare with all their power and to stop unlawful executive amnesty.


Yet they just stroked the checks until September.

FUCK THEM FUCK THEM FUCK THEM

Posted by: prescient11 at December 18, 2014 07:30 PM (PlDuh)

168 You know who else throws fits when the Tea Party comes up? even when he has to bring it up himself?

Hector.

Yeah.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at December 18, 2014 08:35 PM (AVEe1)

169 Escort girls www.regmodels.ru

Posted by: Linda at December 19, 2014 03:38 PM (sh8b/)

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