Ted Cruz: Delusional or Ingenious?

As I intermittently listened to Senator Ted Cruz’s filibuster, or more correctly, his elongated speech, I heard all the arguments that have been trotted out before. He is right that this monstrosity of the Affordable Care Act will be incredibly burdensome on society. However, this is not about ideas it's about tactics. It is tiresome to hear politicos and pundits act as if the defunding of the bill is feasible.

Senator Cruz knows that he cannot win and in waging this campaign he will needlessly incite increased division within the Republican party. He is a man who clearly has ambitions for the Presidency just eight months into his Senate term. He saw how Rand Paul became a star when he filibustered over the usage of drones. This was a calculated machiavellian move by Cruz to become a face of the Republican senate and party. It is not that there is anything wrong with this message but the house of representatives has passed resolutions repealing part or all of Obamacare over 40 times. Why is it now that he has chosen to take up the House’s cause and push for a continuing resolution to fund all parts of the government except for Obamacare?

Strategically as a person seeking political power it is probably a solid move on the Senator’s part. However, how often do politicians deliver on big promises? The answer is rarely. By taking the senate floor and reading from Dr. Seuss as he did, he screamed out to the nation “look at me”. He asserted his piety and love for liberty and law while he conducted a futile exercise in effecting policy, but most likely a profitable one in terms of gaining celebrity.

Politicians are some of the most narcissistic people one will ever encounter. It is part of the job description: “Think and act like you are important and others will perceive that you are”.

If you want to help the American people, and if you want to enrich and better the lives of your constituents do not waste their tax dollars and resources on a doomed plan. Obamacare may be a travesty but wasting time trying to defund it when there is no, and I mean absolutely zero possibility that this would ever be signed into law, is wasteful and irresponsible.

I hope that our elected officials will start to pour their efforts and energy towards legislation that is pragmatic. This showmanship and posturing from the junior senator from Texas is ill conceived and ultimately detrimental to the Republican party. Ted Cruz does not care about Obamacare, it does not affect him. He cares about advancing his political career, and he seized the opportunity. Can we really blame him?

You are correct in asserting that legally he could have no bearing during the passage of the bill. However, out of the over 40x the ACA has been repealed in part or totality it has been done multiple time during his short term as Senator. Never tell now has he put up a fight, and it must be noted he himself caved, the senate vote was 100-0 ... its quite clear whatever his objective it is not defunding obamacare, or why else would he vote for the go-ahead on the funding, why would Republicans like Tom Coburn and Paul Ryan adamanetly against Cruz? I may get censored for this because FR is not a free speech community too many of my friends who may not agree with R’s but hate D’s have been kicked off for “trolling” which measns FR does not approve of your views and your argument is TOO rational. The Harvard grad with a Texas drawl is just the same as all the Demicans and Republicrat, do not fool yourself.

Twice in two posts now you have accused me of naïveté:

do not be so trusting of Harvard grads with Texas drawls.

The Harvard grad with a Texas drawl is just the same as all the Demicans and Republicrat, do not fool yourself. (emphasis supplied)

I draw to your attention a post of September 23:

'Defund' isn't a 'con job,' but it will leave a bitter taste

9/23/2013 7:46:19 PM · 20 of 22

nathanbedford to The Old Hoosier

Even the Romans feared their mercenaries and they were well advised to do so as they eventually turned against them. We conservatives would be well advised to regard our elected representatives as mercenaries. They are our hired hands contracted to be our gladiators but not our heroes.

There is not a damn one of them there who is not expendable and there isn't a one of them who not above turning on his Masters.

That is is true of the left as it is of the right. Our problem is their mercenaries are more afraid of those in control of the rat party than our mercenaries are afraid of us. Indeed, our mercenaries are more afraid of the media than they are of the conservative base.

That is a perception which might just change if a few of our gladiators enter the arena of primaries and are confronted with thumbs down.

Why don't you go find another poster on FreeRepublic of whose history you are not quite so ignorant to make gratuitous remarks about.

As to your complaints about FreeRepublic and its alleged lack of free-speech, you should be well aware of the parameters of FreeRepublic being the proprietary forum of Jim Robinson and entirely under his control. Once again, you have misunderstood your man because it is I who have over the years consistently publicly maintained on this forum my opposition to the practice of zotting and censorship beyond that which is necessary to maintain an orderly forum. In this regard you might have a look at my about page.

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