The long knives come out for Ted Cruz

American Thinker ^ | March 1, 2015 | Thomas Lifson

[SoConPubbie]

“PALM BEACH, Fla. — In a wide-ranging speech to the Club for Growth winter meeting Friday night, Sen. Ted Cruz looked back on his 2013 crusade to defund Obamacare — an effort that consumed Washington, led to bitter Republican party infighting, and resulted in a partial government shutdown — and concluded it was a fight he probably never could have won. "Is it likely we would have altogether defunded Obamacare then?" the Texas Republican said. "Probably not. That would have taken an almost perfect storm. I was never Pollyannaish about the political factors it would take for that to happen.” - See more at: https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2015/02/no-change-in-ted-cruz-2013-story#sthash.NMdDxSkS.dpuf

This was then tweeted by York, as if it were some kind of confession that Cruz all along knew the shutdown was futile and was just grandstanding to the base.

 

Link: Ted Cruz: Obamacare defunding fight 'probably' wasn't winnable. http://t.co/EL5q3MVqVV— Byron York (@ByronYork) February 28, 2015

That tweet has gone viral, retweeted by Dana Perino among others.

Jeffrey Lord (another person I deeply admire) explains why this is a bogus point at Conservative Review:

 In October of 2013, Senator Cruz, along with Donald Trump, was a headliner of The American Spectator’s annual dinner in Washington. I was there, introducing Trump from the podium, and took note of Senator Cruz and his battle. Mr. Cruz’s talk was taped and is found here. 

The Texas senator made it abundantly clear that the shutdown wasn’t winnable because in fact the Senate Republicans “dive bombed” the GOP House that voted to defund Obamacare. Cruz was quite specific, saying that the strategy was as follows:

1. Mobilize the grassroots.
2. The House would vote to defund Obamacare
3. Senate Republicans would then unite with House Republicans. And then…

[SoConPubbie]

	"If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures." - Alexander Hamilton "We don't intend to turn the Republican Party over to the traitors in the battle just ended. We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all." -- President Ronald Reagan "A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." - Thomas Paine 1792 "It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams "If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams

[SoConPubbie]

Ted Cruz Ping!

If you want on/off this ping list, please let me know.

Please beware, this is a high-volume ping list!

CRUZ or LOSE!

CRUZ or LOSE!

[samtheman]

Cruz is our greatest senator. We need him there.

[SoConPubbie]

Cruz is our greatest senator. We need him there.

No, Cruz is the greatest Conservative Leader, we need him as President of the United States.

[samtheman]

Cruz is my #2 choice.

Walker my #1.

One of the many, many reasons I have them in that order is that I strongly believe we need Cruz in the Senate.

[Hostage]

Senator Cruz brought the real issue of the complicity of the GOPe into the lives of Americans. He and Mike Lee stood up for principle. Whereas he, Mike Lee and a very few others stood up for America in 2013, now there are more than 20 that stand behind him on issues that grassroots conservatives care about deeply such as Executive Amnesty.

Ted Cruz is winning.

[SoConPubbie]

One of the many, many reasons I have them in that order is that I strongly believe we need Cruz in the Senate.

I would disagree.

Walker isn't as good as Cruz on the issues and certainly does not have the fidelity to conservative principles that Cruz has.

His strength on the conservative issues is much, much more important to lead both this nation, and our party.

He will do a much better job in that area than Scott Walker.

[samtheman]

I very much respect your opinion.

[SoConPubbie]

I very much respect your opinion.

As do I yours, samtheman.

[samtheman]

And I will also go along with the will of majority conservatives (ignoring all GOPe and demo-cross-over voters) in the upcoming primary season.

I think the earlier we all come to an agreement on a conservative candidate the better for our side.

I hope Walker ends up with the votes necessary for the nomination but if it turns out to be Cruz, Cruz will get my 1000% support.

Cruz is a great leader and a great conservative.

[G Larry]

CRUZ to Victory!

The GOPe is terrified.

[CAluvdubya]

If you never try, you will never succeed.....

[napscoordinator]

Walker isn’t as good as Cruz on the issues and certainly does not have the fidelity to conservative principles that Cruz has.

That may be so but that is why Cruz needs to be Senate Majority Leader and let Walker be President. Walker is a blue collar get the job done. Cruz is an intellectual who can be the policy monk. Walker’s speeches are less platitudes. Cruz can talk the conservative word and Walker will make sure they get done. I think it is a win-win for all involved.

[gwgn02]

Cruz isnt a late comer to defending the American citizen like some now who are trying to morph themselves to get into the Conservatives good graces. Cruz has been the most consistant leader, and he leaves no room for doubt where he stands on the big issues, shoulder to shoulder with hard working Americans. He’s no one trick pony, he’s the real deal.

[mellow velo]

The problem with that line of thought is that as long as we have the turtle from Kentucky leading the Senate - and doing Harry Reid's bidding - Cruz isn't as effective as he could/should be.

Would much rather see Ted on a national ticket setting the agenda.

[billys kid]

Agree, 100%. The “Long” knives have been out to get him from the moment he became a senator.
Please! Pass the bullshat to somebody else. We poor conservative souls in Massachusetts have adop
ted him as our Senator and will support him in his presidential run. He is the real deal.

CRUZ/2016

[SoConPubbie]

That may be so but that is why Cruz needs to be Senate Majority Leader and let Walker be President. Walker is a blue collar get the job done. Cruz is an intellectual who can be the policy monk. Walker’s speeches are less platitudes. Cruz can talk the conservative word and Walker will make sure they get done. I think it is a win-win for all involved.

No naps.

The POTUS chair demands the best leader. The one who is most fearless, the one GUARANTEED to fight the hardest for constitutional government, individual rights, smaller/limited government, and the social issues.

We need Ted Cruz as President.

CRUZ or LOSE!

CRUZ or LOSE!

[Leep]

Is Ted Cruz going to be the one who runs out of funding? Just in time for Jeb Bush, who was in behind the whole primary season,is suddenly our #1 man?

[SoConPubbie]

Is Ted Cruz going to be the one who runs out of funding? Just in time for Jeb Bush, who was in behind the whole primary season,is suddenly our #1 man?

Nope.

Doubtful.

As he gets more and more exposure, he'll get more and more money.

Reagan ran on the grassroots support.

Ted is following the same model.

[Durus]

Agreed. We can't allow a Walker v. Cruz split of the base because that will mean a Jeb nomination. Mobilize behind Cruz now.