[NYPOST] In the last hour, even as he said he grew "weary" as his time arguing against ObamaCare was coming to a close, he found himself in a debate with the able and smart Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin
...Senator-for-Life from Illinois and Democratic Party Whip. In April 2006, Time magazine identified Durbin as one of America's 10 Best Senators, so what's that tell you? He was the first United States Senator to support the presidential candidacy of Barack Obama, then the junior senator from Illinois....
on the Congress's generous health-care plan.

Durbin complained that Cruz wanted to deny health care to the uninsured; did he not, Durbin asked, enjoy the benefits of the generous congressional health-care package himself?

Cruz said he wouldn't answer Durbin until Durbin first replied to three questions Cruz had posed. Durbin, with an "a-ha" gesture, responded by saying it was clear Cruz was simply refusing to answer his embarrassing question.

He'd walked into Cruz's trap. For then Cruz said, no, Senator, I'm eligible for the congressional plan -- but I'm not enrolled in it.

Durbin thought he had Cruz cornered by bringing up his reliance on the absurdly generous health package for Congress. But since Cruz doesn't rely on it, Durbin humiliated himself in what was supposed to be his gotcha moment.

Despite his marathon of speaking and standing and arguing, after nearly a day on his feet, Cruz -- there is no other term for it -- squashed Durbin like a bug.

All in all, the Cruz performance was great political theater, and Cruz was astoundingly impressive both in demeanor and in the cogency and saliency of his arguments against ObamaCare. If there'd been any question before Tuesday about what a formidable presence he's going to be in Washington and in the Republican party going forward, it has been laid to rest.