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What No One Seems To Know About Ted Cruz�s Past
PJ Media ^ | September 30, 2015 | Asheesh Agarwal and John Delacourt

Posted on 09/30/2015 2:20:47 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Cruz was once a director at the Federal Trade Commission. He had a remarkable record of convincing Democrats to vote for conservative principles.

In his first significant leadership role — as president of the Screen Actors Guild — Ronald Reagan fought communist influence in Hollywood and prevailed in a tough contract negotiation.

In his first command — as a captain during the Black Hawk War — Abraham Lincoln overruled his men to prevent the execution of a suspected Potawotami spy.

To win his first congressional race, Richard Nixon disingenuously linked his opponent to communist sympathizers, the start of a pattern that would earn Nixon the nickname “Tricky Dick.”

With presidents, the past is often prologue. So what do Ted Cruz’s early leadership roles tell us about his presidential proclivities?

Now that Cruz regularly polls toward the top of an ever-shrinking field, his early tenure bears closer scrutiny. Cruz has gained fame as a social conservative and an unwavering opponent of Obamacare. In his first major leadership role, however, he developed economic policy as the Director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Office of Policy Planning.

At the FTC, Cruz’s agenda could have been written by Milton Friedman.

Cruz promoted economic liberty and fought government efforts to rig the marketplace in favor of special interests. Most notably, Cruz launched an initiative to study the government’s role in conspiring with established businesses to suppress e-commerce. This initiative ultimately led the U.S. Supreme Court to open up an entire industry to small e-tailers. Based on his early support of disruptive online companies, Cruz has some grounds to call himself the “Uber of American politics.”

Moreover, and perhaps surprising to some, Cruz sought and secured a broad, bipartisan consensus for his agenda. Almost all of Cruz’s initiatives received unanimous support among both Republicans and Democrats.

Ted Cruz a consensus-builder? He was, at the FTC.

From the start of his tenure in 2001, Cruz strategically reoriented the FTC to focus on ways in which government restricts competition. To lay a foundation, Cruz organized a conference on regulatory barriers to e-commerce. Large online companies, such as Amazon and eBay, explained that government regulation and legacy laws threatened the growth of e-commerce. For example: funeral licensing laws meant online retailers could not legally sell caskets into certain states, even though they typically offered much lower prices. Other laws hampered online sales of cars, contact lenses, and legal and medical services.

In response, no brick-and-mortar company defended the government’s role … in regulating other industries.

Instead, like taxi cab drivers in New York or “green” energy companies demanding subsidies, every special interest argued that his particular industry uniquely required protection from competition.

The auto dealers complained that cars were too “sophisticated” for e-commerce; the funeral dealers explained that caskets were a product for “a very sensitive and specific time,” and the lawyers expounded that “we’re talking about something very different when we’re talking about access to the justice system.”

Cruz had little patience for anyone who sought to use the government to limit competition.

After the conference, Cruz testified at a hearing supporting the online sales of contact lenses and pushed the FTC to file an amicus brief supporting online casket vendors. Cruz also initiated a comprehensive study of the wine industry, which found that online competition lowered prices without increasing underage drinking. The study’s findings were ultimately embraced by the Supreme Court and by state legislatures around the country, who opened an entire industry to online competition and new small businesses.

Beyond the e-commerce initiative, Cruz also reoriented the FTC’s use of antitrust laws. For most of its history, the FTC has focused on private conduct that harms competition, such as (allegedly) anticompetitive mergers. Under Cruz’s leadership, the FTC instead targeted governmental conduct that harms competition. For example, the FTC successfully sued a state dental board to open the dental market to competition from non-dentists. This type of lawsuit primarily helped lower-income individuals, who would get more and cheaper options for basic health care.

Cruz also sent dozens of letters to states to fight new efforts to enshrine crony capitalism. Cruz sent a letter to New York to challenge a legislative attempt to impose a “minimum markup” on the sale of gasoline. This bill was a naked attempt to force gas stations to raise prices, but was couched as helping consumers. Cruz also sent letters to promote competition in financial services and energy markets. Through it all, Cruz kept his focus on the ultimate little guy — the consumer.

Perhaps surprisingly, Cruz secured a high degree of consensus in pursuing his agenda.

As an independent agency, the FTC has five commissioners, and during Cruz’s tenure, two of them had served in President Clinton’s administration. All five commissioners voted to support almost all of Cruz’s proposals.

Cruz achieved this consensus by listening to policy experts and political opponents. He listened to the FTC’s economic experts and marshaled empirical economic analysis to support his policy objectives. He solicited input from prominent Democrats, including the late Senator Howard Metzenbaum, who spoke at the e-commerce conference. In addition, Cruz worked to develop personal relationships across the aisle. He regularly met with Democratic commissioners and incorporated their ideas into his policy proposals.

What does all this tell us about a prospective Cruz administration?

Based on his record, a President Cruz would fight for free markets and against crony capitalists. Indeed, in his campaign, Cruz has spoken out against ethanol subsidies — to farmers in Iowa, no less — and against the FCC’s anticompetitive net neutrality rules. Cruz also supports a flat tax, which would improve the transparency of the tax code and limit handouts to special interests.

Moreover, a Cruz administration would seek meaningful change, and where possible, broad bipartisan support. Cruz is not one to nibble around the edges or bow to entrenched interests, but he does listen to experts and seek support from all quarters. If President Cruz becomes a reality, future historians might point to his time at the FTC as a harbinger of a presidency that is both conservative and consequential.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 2016election; cruz; election2016; tedcruz; texas

1 posted on 09/30/2015 2:20:47 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Ted can do but will need a different Congress and not just a handful of helpers.


2 posted on 09/30/2015 2:23:48 PM PDT by Resettozero
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

He’s $94k short per emails I get...let’s send him some $$$.


3 posted on 09/30/2015 2:25:06 PM PDT by CincyRichieRich (1984 Now)
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To: CincyRichieRich

You can use the link below, as I do.


4 posted on 09/30/2015 2:26:02 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (TED CRUZ. You can help: https://donate.tedcruz.org/c/FBTX0095/)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...
At the FTC, Cruz's agenda could have been written by Milton Friedman. Cruz promoted economic liberty and fought government efforts to rig the marketplace in favor of special interests. Most notably, Cruz launched an initiative to study the government's role in conspiring with established businesses to suppress e-commerce. This initiative ultimately led the U.S. Supreme Court to open up an entire industry to small e-tailers. Based on his early support of disruptive online companies, Cruz has some grounds to call himself the "Uber of American politics." Moreover, and perhaps surprising to some, Cruz sought and secured a broad, bipartisan consensus for his agenda. Almost all of Cruz's initiatives received unanimous support among both Republicans and Democrats. Ted Cruz a consensus-builder? He was, at the FTC. From the start of his tenure in 2001, Cruz strategically reoriented the FTC to focus on ways in which government restricts competition. To lay a foundation, Cruz organized a conference on regulatory barriers to e-commerce.

5 posted on 09/30/2015 2:33:30 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (What do we want? REGIME CHANGE! When do we want it? NOW)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
As Texas solicitor General he won the Medellín v. Texas against the UN, international courts, and the wishes of the Bush administration. In winning that single case he did more good for state sovereignty, US sovereignty, and the victims of illegal alien crimes that the entirety of congress has done in the past decade.

Medellín v. Texas, 552 U.S. 491 (2008), is a United States Supreme Court decision that held that even if an international treaty may constitute an international commitment, it is not binding domestic law unless Congress has enacted statutes implementing it or unless the treaty itself is "self-executing." Also, the Court held that decisions of the International Court of Justice are not binding domestic law and that, without authority from the United States Congress or the Constitution, the President of the United States lacks the power to enforce international treaties or decisions of the International Court of Justice.

Medellín v. Texas

That case was so effective that today the Michigan and Oklahoma attorney generals are encouraging other states to impose their own sanctions on Iran using Medellín v. Texas as precedent.

(MI) Schuette Calls on All States to Impose Sanctions on Iran

And perhaps most satisfying of all, Ted Cruz terrifies liberals in a way that other candidates can only dream of.

Uber lefty Chris Hayes explains his horror when he realized that Ted Cruz was running for a senate seat.

In october 2007 I sat in the media gallery of the united states supreme court and watched the solicitor general of texas argue on behalf of the state that he should have the ability to put to death a mexican national, Jose Medellín, who had been convicted of raping and murdering two teenage girls in houston. He won that argument and he (Medellín) was executed by texas on august 5th , 2008 , despite the objections of the united nations and the international court of justice . at the time, I had no idea who this man arguing on behalf of texas was. but all I could think was holy crap , this guy is good. it was one of his nine times arguing before the supreme court and he was witty, incredibly fast on his feet and clearly had a brilliant legal mind. it is to this day one of the most impressive displays i have ever seen before the court and i have had the good fortune to spend a lot of time there. so you can imagine my horror in 2012 when i tuned into the texas senate race. i hadn't been paying much attention to. and realized that lieutenant governor david dewhurst , the republican establishment candidate, was being prepared by a tea party candidate who was the same guy i saw kick ass in the supreme court in 2007 . i thought that night, night i made that connection, oh, this is trouble. and trouble that man has been. trouble in every direction. as he vies to be the singular voice of the right wing grassroots and as he has very quickly assumed a leadership role in movement.

Is Ted Cruz the most dangerous man on the American right?
6 posted on 09/30/2015 2:36:23 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I always thought so. He cleanly and concisely in maybe 15 seconds explained no citizenship for illegals. I heard this on live TV.
2nd.. This is very curious. The cable ratings for Monday 28th have no totals for FNC or FNB by the hour except fox and friends. What do you think?
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/09/29/cable-news-ratings-for-monday-september-28-2015/473818/


7 posted on 09/30/2015 2:39:29 PM PDT by libbylu (It is no longer right vs left. It is right vs wrong.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Based on his record

Yeah, but most people around here are distracted by bouncy-shiny things... Who looks at records anymore? That's so hard...

8 posted on 09/30/2015 2:41:36 PM PDT by roamer_1 (Globalism is just Socialism in a business suit.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
And he's only 44.

This guy is gonna be making things happen for another 30 years, long after Barack is eating strained peas & pureed carrots and crapping his drawers.

9 posted on 09/30/2015 2:43:17 PM PDT by skeeter
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To: skeeter

Isn’t Barry 53 or 54?


10 posted on 09/30/2015 2:48:52 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (TED CRUZ. You can help: https://donate.tedcruz.org/c/FBTX0095/)
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To: libbylu
Want Clarity?

Sen. Ted Cruz at the Defeat Jihad Summit

He said about the "migrant" crisis.

CRUZ: We Need to Address the Cause of the Migrant Crisis

“In terms of settling the migrants, if the ultimate goal is to return them to their homes, which I believe it should be, it doesn’t make sense from a logistical or a security standpoint to move large numbers of them to far-off countries like the United States.

Ethanol subsidies?

Cruz Applauded for Rejecting Ethanol Subsidies at Iowa Ag Summit

Sen. Ted Cruz attended the Iowa Ag Summit over the weekend and stood alone among attendees in his outright rejection of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the ethanol subsidies that have a significant impact on Iowa’s agricultural economy. The Texas Senator appeared along with several other prospective 2016 Republican presidential candidates. Despite the obvious risk of opposing the RFS at an event sponsored by the agriculture industry in a critical early primary state, Cruz was unequivocal in voicing his opposition to the RFS and the crowd applauded his comments.
11 posted on 09/30/2015 2:50:53 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

They seem to have left out that Barack Obama was a college homo and smoked lots of weed; then he butt humped the entire nation while stoked on the Wonderfulness of Himself (in his case, a powerful hallucinogen).


12 posted on 09/30/2015 2:52:43 PM PDT by Jack Hammer
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To: roamer_1

That is so true so many here are mesmerized by all things shiny, its like a rerun of 2008, gives us a magic man, where nothing really matters at all.


13 posted on 09/30/2015 3:01:01 PM PDT by PoloSec ( Believe the Gospel: how that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

BTT. Thanks for the info


14 posted on 09/30/2015 3:01:19 PM PDT by brothers4thID ("We've had way too many Republicans whose #1 virtue is "I get along great with Democrats".")
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To: PoloSec

I consciously research the candidates and even look for info about them before I had ever heard of them and I don’t listen to the radio talkers.

Mark Levin and Rush Limbaugh are great but I find that they get in the way of me really finding info I want to know.


15 posted on 09/30/2015 3:05:50 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.)
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To: cripplecreek

I said a few days ago that if Ted Cruz ever did get close to the top, the fire that is currently concentrated on Trump would be multiplied 10x. The establishment dislikes Trump, but ultimately, they probably believe they can either defeat him or work with him. Cruz, they know he will never give in on a matter of principle, and he is right, and he articulates his position in a way that Americans understand. They have to prevent him from reaching the ears of Americans so that they don’t start to agree with him.


16 posted on 09/30/2015 3:20:29 PM PDT by Defiant (I wouldn't have to mansplain if it weren't for all those wymidiots.)
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To: Defiant

I doubt they think Cruz is right.

However, the joke is on them since I can’t help but smell a Trump/Cruz union in a few months. Maybe I’m crazy, but...


17 posted on 09/30/2015 3:24:53 PM PDT by Future Snake Eater (CrossFit.com)
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To: cripplecreek

So, you’re saying your radio is broken.


18 posted on 09/30/2015 3:26:43 PM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate "Republican Freed the Slaves" month.)
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