Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Stephen is interested in all things regarding the US Senate and international relations. Born in NJ and raised on Army bases in Germany, Stephen graduated from American University in 2009. He is a former intern in the Office of the Senate Majority Leader, and former intern with Talking Points Memo.
1 posted on 10/18/2013 10:32:38 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies ]


To: 2ndDivisionVet
Michele Bachmann, she’s giving up her seat in the House. It doesn’t seem like she’s going to pursue, or continue to pursue much, her ambitions for higher office. Sarah Palin has been on the sidelines with respect to pursuing higher office.

I wouldn't be so sure of either of these things. Neither of these ladies is going away.

2 posted on 10/18/2013 10:44:15 PM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

LBJ called black people the n word all the time and IMO through great society hand outs turned them into government pets; no similarity to Cruz at all.


3 posted on 10/18/2013 10:46:11 PM PDT by A CA Guy ( God Bless America, God Bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
I have to post the last two paragraphs, because his sourced links are so amusing!



"Among his ideological faithfuls, he’s becoming an even bigger hero... But I would say that his reputation, on a nationwide scale, is being hurt at the same time. And he would quite simply say that that’s fine, and he would agree with that. He would say that it’s his job to convince his followers that he will eventually win the war against the establishment. He’s hopeful that he is also persuading more people to sign up to his side, but it certainly doesn’t look like that’s what happening."

But even if Cruz were to win the presidential nomination, it's possible his run would be torpedoed by the GOP establishment. Indeed, this has already begun to happen. And should this occur, Senator Cruz may find himself wishing he had opted for more congeniality instead of grandstanding; more listening instead of talking. For, as Lyndon Johnson himself often said, "You aren't learning anything when you're talking."

4 posted on 10/18/2013 10:53:39 PM PDT by onyx (Please Support Free Republic - Donate Monthly! If you want on Sarah Palin's Ping List, Let Me know!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

I suppose one thing has become clear —hate Cruz or love Cruz— people recognize he’s a leader.


5 posted on 10/18/2013 10:58:15 PM PDT by Irenic (The pencil sharpener and Elmer's glue is put away-- we've lost the red wheel barrow)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

There is NO REASON for anyone to HATE Ted Cruz.

He has hasn’t harmed ANYONE.

The lamestream, the demonic-rats and White Flag, corrupt republicans like Peter King and John McCain have smeared him, and those entities and people are entirely responsible for the HATE!


7 posted on 10/18/2013 11:04:43 PM PDT by onyx (Please Support Free Republic - Donate Monthly! If you want on Sarah Palin's Ping List, Let Me know!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

I tried to search for additional info on the writer. Do you think he interned for Harry Reid?

LOL.


9 posted on 10/18/2013 11:06:47 PM PDT by onyx (Please Support Free Republic - Donate Monthly! If you want on Sarah Palin's Ping List, Let Me know!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

‘”was that he knew more about the constituencies of most of the Senators than those senators did. So he would study and figure out what it is exactly that each senator would need in order to sign onto the plans that Lyndon Johnson had in the Senate.”’

Ted Cruz had a strategy from the beginning and although he probably knew in the end, the establishment had just enough weight to defeat him, he was doing three things.

A) Showing the base he stands on principle
B) Flexing his influence and testing it
C) Backing the establishment into a corner

Cruz knew the votes were not there on his side in the senate. Way too many ancient bulls, opportunistic former governors, and spineless mush from liberal states. He could lock down a little over 15. Most of the senators who ran on the Tea Party platform, the conservative elder statesmen who are not represented by the leadership, and one or two political operators willing to tack right in order to fend off primary challengers.
But that coalition is not the majority of the senate GOP.... yet.
It was Cruz’ maneuvers in the House that were a stroke of brilliance. The House breaks down roughly into 3 groups. About 80 hardcore RINO establishmentarians led by Boehner, about 45 solid conservatives, and the rest are floating populists who go where the wind blows. You lock up the third category, you control the majority, and have some power over the leadership as we saw.
Cruz lionized himself and immediately got the conservatives behind him. With the threat of potential primary challenges (Cruz can give thanks to outside PACS and talk radio for that one), most of the populist Republicans rallied with Cruz too. He controlled more of the House than Boehner, and the final vote tally shows it.

Ted Cruz is a shrewd politician, so I guess you could compare him to Johnson in those years. However, Johnson was a socialist, and Ted is a patriot.

Going forward, what are Ted’s plans running up to 2016? Very simple.

‘But even if Cruz were to win the presidential nomination, it’s possible his run would be torpedoed by the GOP establishment’

THERE WON’T BE A GOP ESTABLISHMENT! This was the political purpose of the entire debacle. Cruz plans to sunset Karl Rove’s munchkins in many of the House and Senate seats, and he has done it all as a gentleman, with a smile.
Because of this vote, Thad Cochran is likely to hit the retirement home. Mitch McConnell, our very own Judas, is going to be fighting for his political life against SCF endorsed Matt Bevin. Lamar Alexander and Linda Gayham, two of the most noxious lib RINOS around are facing bitter primary battles. Couple all that with the retirements of Saxby Chambliss and Mike Johanns, and you have opportunity for a mass takeover by Cruz acolytes.
In the House, its a similar story, with Mike Simpson and Ken Kinzinger already looking toast from the heat of Tea Party primary battles.
And this is not even going into conservatives victories against rat incumbents like senator Kay Hagan in North Carolina who will face off against Tea Partier Greg Brannon.

Cruz will be the death of the establishment, the consultant class, the GOP of cronyism and bipartisan chicanery. And once he has the Senate and House GOP behind him, with the last remnants of the McShame caucus bruised and subservient, there’s only one place left for Senator Cruz to go.

The Oval Office.


11 posted on 10/18/2013 11:10:17 PM PDT by Viennacon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
Compares LBJ to Ted Cruz

Of course, LBJ was a perfect bucket of scum while Cruz shows class. Does that matter?

12 posted on 10/18/2013 11:12:58 PM PDT by stevem
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

If Steven Calabina was so intereested in drawing compairisons he would have drawn the the withdrawal of financial support we pledged to the the South Viet Nam government of military support once we withdrew from South Viet Nam as a “talking pont “ summary. Ah but that was done by the denmocrats whom he’s working for!

That would have created a review of foreign policy to date. And that is what the so called Republican leadership failed to do and makes them totally incompetent.

Worse yet when the GOP Leadership failed to articulate and inform the American people what was wrong with the ACHIA affordable health insurance act in the 2012 election but (and now called Obama -care which removed the Romney connection) were given a second opportunmity to do so now do so but didn’t.

Those Republican House and Senate members who voted for the CR which is nothing but a a billion barrels of pork laden gifts including not requiring the elite bi-partisan ruling class to become part of the mess they created.Leaving American taxpayerst paying for their elite health care. As Americans struggle with complications created by government manipulation.Should be tossed in the garbage


19 posted on 10/19/2013 1:00:56 AM PDT by mosesdapoet (Serious contribution pause.Please continue onto meaningless venting no one reads.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
But even if Cruz were to win the presidential nomination, it's possible his run would be torpedoed by the GOP establishment.

That doesn't make sense.

Either the GOP-e would succeed in keeping him from winning the nomination, or they wouldn't be the GOP-e anymore.

20 posted on 10/19/2013 1:11:57 AM PDT by cynwoody
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

LBJ was an EVIL, VILE man who made people sit around his TOILET while he was taking a dump!! WHAT A CREEPY ASS and possibly responsible for JFK’s death...well, he or his awful wife....who had the MOST to win by JFK’s death.


22 posted on 10/19/2013 1:40:05 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion......the Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

The only people that hate Cruz would never vote for him anyway... including all of the progressive republicans in DC that voted for obama twice.


25 posted on 10/19/2013 4:37:03 AM PDT by LibLieSlayer (FROM MY COLD, DEAD HANDS!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
Compares LBJ to Ted Cruz

That's funny. I tend to compare President Reagan to Senator Cruz!

26 posted on 10/19/2013 5:05:40 AM PDT by HeartlandOfAmerica (Obama&Admin=An army of deer, led by a lion is more to be feared than an army of lions led by a deer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Stephen Calabria

31 posted on 10/20/2013 8:51:50 PM PDT by kcvl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson