Posted on 09/29/2013 10:06:54 AM PDT by Kaslin
Even though his filibuster against Obamacare is no proof that Ted Cruz is a real conservative, he deserves much credit for doing what he did.
And his Republican opponents are equally deserving of criticism, for their response to Cruz’s “red line”—and to be sure, Cruz did indeed draw the proverbial red line—is most certainly proof that they are not the conservatives who they claim to be.
First, it is “limited government,” and the individual liberty that this entails, for which Republicans are supposed to stand. Obamacare, though, is perhaps the most glaring affront to limited government and individual liberty that this country has witnessed in a long, long time, and maybe even ever—no mean feat considering just how enormous is the federal government.
So, unless Republicans are willing to make every effort to resist Obamacare, it is safe to assume that they are insincere, that they aren’t really conservatives.
The counter-objection to this line of reasoning—that Cruz’s Republican critics reject his tactics, but not his goal—is disingenuous. This gets us to our next point.
Second, while it may very well be the case that each and every Republican would like to see Obamacare go the way of the dinosaur, this goes no distance in making it their goal. I’d like to produce three best-selling books this year, but unless I am taking steps toward transforming my preferences into reality, this cannot be said to be a genuine goal of mine. Unlike Cruz, his critics have done nothing so far to convince us into thinking that they are determined to repeal it.
In other words, it is far from obvious that his Republican detractors share even his goal.
Third, as for their “tactics,” even on their own terms, the anti-Cruz “wing” of the GOP just doesn’t sound credible.
Cruz, the McCains and others tell us, is a “wacko bird,” a “fraud,” a “grandstander,” and the like, because he knows that his effort to defund Obamacare is bound to fail. That is, Obamacare will not be defunded. A much more promising “tactic” is for the GOP to reclaim the Senate in 2014 and then, then—watch out!—Republicans will deal with Obamacare.
It stretches credibility to the snapping point to think that anyone, let alone those who study politics for a living, could buy this line for a millisecond.
For starters, it is anything but a foregone conclusion that Republicans will reclaim the Senate in 2014. And even if they do, they will not be able to take care of Obamacare, in any way, shape, or form, until at least two years after that, for as long as Obama is president, Republicans’ chances of defunding, much less repealing, Obamacare will be no greater than they are now.
In fact, they will be even worse.
By 2016, Obamacare will have been fully in effect for nearly two years. As anyone so much as remotely familiar with the trajectory of Big Government programs—and there is no bigger Big Government program than Obamacare—knows all too well, once a program begins to fall over a land, it is there to stay.
Translation: Cruz’s detractors’ “tactic” is far weaker than that which he has employed.
Fourth, for as hard as they are at work trying to depict him as a crass opportunist, even Cruz’s opponents know that his campaign to defund Obamacare and his 21 hour filibuster were beyond mere symbolism. After all, that Republicans unanimously vote, and vote repeatedly, against Obamacare proves beyond a doubt that they know as well as anyone all about symbolism. But not only did very few Republicans refuse to stand alongside Cruz; they made a point of denouncing him, of ridiculing him, and doing so in such Democratic-friendly venues as CNN and MSNBC.
Why? It should be clear that they recognized that unlike any other mere act of symbolism, Cruz’s stance against Obamacare required courage, for it comes at a cost.
Cruz upped the ante.
Finally, if it is juvenile, naïve, self-defeating, etc. to try to fight for an end that is not likely to come to pass, as the anti-Cruz forces now insist, then I suppose they would have to agree that those of their base who, say, voted for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan last year were juvenile, naïve, and or self-defeating. Most polls taken during the election season consistently indicated that Romney had little chance of prevailing over Obama. As it turned out, they were accurate.
While many conservatives did indeed refrain from voting for Romney, according to this logic, all of them should have.
For that matter, if, as polls suggest now, Hillary Clinton is likely to have a lock on the presidency in 2016, maybe none of us should even bother voting for her GOP rival—who ever this may be.
ping
The GOP enemies of Senator Ted Cruz are not just his enemies, but those RINOs, just as the Demonrats, are the traitorous enemies of the United States of America.
Hillary Clinton is likely to have a lock on the presidency in 2016
_______________________________
I disagree. she has far too much negative baggage.
Remember Benghazi!
“...no proof that Ted Cruz is a real conservative...”
??? Then what is “proof”, what is Ted Cruz, and what is a “real conservative”? And other than our great Obama, what knid of narcisist even thinks they have the authority to answer those questions in the first place?
I’m with Ted Cruz. If he’s not a real conservative, then I don’t want to be one either. Don’t care about labels, I care about a right-thinking guy who doesn’t back down.
I (strongly) support Ted Cruz, but I resent that he has settled upon the one issue I do not support on which to cut his teeth.
Ted, you are doing great, but lay off of healthcare until you have a competing proposal.
Vice President
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Currently holds this position
Director Western Hemisphere
The White House
2003 - 2004 (1 year)
Director Western Hemisphere
National Security Council
2003 - 2004 (1 year)
Economic Policy
Bush-Cheney 2000
1999 - 2000 (1 year)
Economic Advisor
Bush Cheney ‘00
1999 - 2000 (1 year)
Heidi Cruz is Vice President Wealth Management Group at GOLDMAN SACHS in Houston, Tx. As of November 15, 2012.
??
You support ObamaCare?
Which is going to push companies to send jobs overseas
” Hillary Clinton is likely to have a lock on the presidency in 2016,” SAYS THIS BUSH BOT!
Bring back American jobs.
Now.
We have offshored American jobs now for an entire generation.
Bring back American jobs. Now.
Start by adjusting our tax code. America first.
Competing proposal? Why do we need a Republican version of Obamacare? How about just getting the government out of it? How much of healthcare do you think government should control?
There are lots of things which we can involve American companies in, without the government.
Problem is, we keep EXPORTING THOSE COMPANIES.
Bring back American jobs. American companies.
We do not need to keep building up Healthcare into an ever more expensive monstrosity.
Bring back other jobs.
I couldn't disagree with you more. Stopping Obamacare NOW is the most urgent priority, because once it is in enacted we will never be able to get rid of it, except perhaps when the left manages to replace it with single-payer.
And the lack of a competing proposal is still a better state of affairs than implementing Obama cares.
Imagine having the following scenario:
Doctor: "We don't know what's wrong with you or how to fix it, so we're going to cut your arm off because that way there will be less of you to be ill."
Patient: "But doctor, I really think cutting my arm off is a bad idea, for a lot of reasons. It will just make things worse, and I will be crippled for life with very little likelihood that your plan will make things better."
"Doctor: "Well, if you have a competing proposal, I'd like to hear it. Otherwise, shut up while I go get my saw."
That is essentially the position you are taking.
We need a competing proposal.
Now.
A competing proposal. Where is a competing proposal?
GOP what are you doing? Don’t be against something, without another option.
Our healthcare system right now SUCKS. Bigtime.
Where is our proposal?
Ben WHO???
/sarc
Mrs. Cruz is exceptionally well educated in economics...primarily Free Trade...it would be a good thing having brains on economics near the presidency don’t you think? Spread The Wealth’ers only enrich themselves....until the money runs out...then it’s chaos for awhile...true leaders take over eventually and history starts repeating its self.....
Thought it was interesting she advised Condi, Bush and Cheney. Also that she is in Houston, my former residence for 30 plus years. Had not heard much about the next President of the United States wife;^)..
Our proposal? Tort reform, it will drop healthcare costs by 50% or more. Other than that the government should stay out of healthcare.
I just sent a donation to Cruz, to thank him for the fillibuster attempt. Just like I sent one to Joe Wilson when he screamed “You lie!!” at The Won during the State of the Union Show. I live in Southern Illinois, with the likes of Rep Enyart, Sen Durbin and Rino Sen Kirk, I have no one in my home state to effect national policy and have to send it out of state. Still sending donations to Sarah and Ret. Col. West.
/johnny
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