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| Ted Cruz Runs Counter To Senate's Courtly Ways |
| 2013-02-16 |
| WASHINGTON - As the Senate edged toward a divisive filibuster vote on Chuck Hagel's nomination to be defense secretary, Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, sat silent and satisfied in the corner of the chamber - his voice lost to laryngitis - as he absorbed what he had wrought in his mere seven weeks of Senate service. Mr. Hagel, a former senator from Mr. Cruz's own party, was about to be the victim of the first filibuster of a nominee to lead the Pentagon. The blockade was due in no small part to the very junior senator's relentless pursuit of speeches, financial records or any other documents with Mr. Hagel's name on them going back at least five years. Some Republicans praised the work of the brash newcomer, but others joined Democrats in saying that Mr. Cruz had gone too far. Without naming names, Senator Barbara Boxer, Democrat of California, offered a biting label for the Texan's accusatory crusade: McCarthyism. "It was really reminiscent of a different time and place, when you said, 'I have here in my pocket a speech you made on such and such a date,' and, of course, nothing was in the pocket," she said, a reference to Senator Joseph R. McCarthy's pursuit of Communists in the 1950s. "It was reminiscent of some bad times." In just two months, Mr. Cruz, 42, has made his presence felt in an institution where new arrivals are usually not heard from for months, if not years. Besides suggesting that Mr. Hagel might have received compensation from foreign enemies, he has tangled with the mayor of Chicago, challenged the Senate's third-ranking Democrat on national television, voted against virtually everything before him - including the confirmation of John Kerry as secretary of state - and raised the hackles of colleagues from both parties. He could not be more pleased. Washington's new bad boy feels good. "I made promises to the people of Texas that I would come to Washington to shake up the status quo," he said in e-mailed answers to questions, in lieu of speaking. "That is what I intend to do, and it is what I have done in every way possible in the responsibilities that have been granted to me." In a body known for comity, Mr. Cruz is taking confrontational Tea Party sensibilities to new heights - or lows, depending on one's perspective. Wowed conservatives hail him as a hero, but even some Republican colleagues are growing publicly frustrated with a man who has taken the zeal of the prosecutor and applied it to the decorous quarters of the Senate. Barack Obama on down can throw lies and false accusations and then leave it up to opposition to prove the lies false. Ted Cruz is just playing the game by THEIR playbook. But his grey accusations MAY ACTUALLY BE TRUE. What is disgusting is that the Republicans like McCain don't get it. |
| Posted by:Dino Shomomp7692 |
| #9 No one favors a bully. But asking a good question is not being a bully. Ted, keep asking questions. A good question should bring a good answer. We need good answers these days. |
| Posted by: whatadeal 2013-02-16 22:57 |
| #8 Bingo, John! |
| Posted by: Barbara 2013-02-16 14:20 |
| #7 Cruze is feeding the left's tactics back to them and they do not like it one bit. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2013-02-16 13:54 |
| #6 It was really reminiscent of a different time and place, when you said, |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2013-02-16 11:58 |
| #5 They forget their power comes from the electorate not the other way around Does it still JQC? It seems like the only power that matters comes from the elite to the elite in the form of their ultimate gov't control of all the funny money. Maybe I'm too cynical and despondent but I really don't see what's going to break the back of the elite. I know what COULD do it, but I don't see it happening. |
| Posted by: Alanc 2013-02-16 11:53 |
| #4 |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2013-02-16 10:57 |
| #3 There is a great need for elected representatives of the people to occasionally break glass in Washington rather than preserve their cherished institutions, lobbying and other cozy relationships, and jobs. The country suffers from too much of the latter. They forget there power comes from the electorate not the other way around. So Sen. Cruze, continue with what you are doing; it serves the people and plays well out here. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2013-02-16 10:56 |
| #2 There is a new way of looking at the dichotomy in politics. Where once there was left & right it is now more apt to look at above the line and below the line. Above the line is the self described and self empowered elite. Herein reside most of the pols, lobbyists and sychophantic media. Ted Cruz is standing up for the below the line populace and the 'pubs who think he "goes to far" are the perfect example of the above the line cartel. Rhinocrats and Demopublicans need to be ridden out on a rail. |
| Posted by: Alanc 2013-02-16 10:56 |
| #1 Wowed conservatives hail him as a hero, but even some Republican colleagues are growing publicly frustrated with a man who has taken the zeal of the prosecutor and applied it to the decorous quarters of the Senate. No downside! Please continue. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2013-02-16 08:34 |