Posted on 12/10/2013 2:50:57 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
The memorial service for Nelson Mandela is a big deal. "We're now on 91 Heads of State & Gov confirmed plus 10 former Heads of State, 86 Heads of delegations & 75 Eminent Persons," tweeted South African government spokesman Clayson Monyela on Monday. Among those leaders attending are the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, British Prime Minister David Cameron, and French President Francois Hollande -- plus, of course, President Obama and former Presidents Carter, Clinton, and George W. Bush. Dozens of lesser leaders, plus celebrities like Bono and Oprah Winfrey, will also be there.
From the United States Congress, House Speaker John Boehner appointed a 23-member delegation, led by Illinois Republican Rep. Aaron Schock and dominated by members of the Congressional Black Caucus, all Democrats. Their plane departed early Monday morning.
But what about the U.S. Senate? Senators could have joined the representatives on the congressional plane. But exactly one -- one -- senator will be at the Mandela memorial: Texas Republican Ted Cruz. No member of the majority Democratic or minority Republican leadership will attend. And not the Senate's only black Democrat, Cory Booker, or the Senate's only black Republican, Tim Scott.
Why such a poor turnout from the world's greatest deliberative body? "Remember, the presidential delegation didn't invite any members of Congress," says a Senate Republican aide. "The delegation the House put together only took shape over the weekend, so it was a scramble to even make it available to members in the first place (and to those who could get back to DC in time to make the flight). So I wouldn't read anything into that small attendance."
A winter storm across much of the country also had something to do with it. "The [congressional delegation] plane left before dawn, and a lot of members who wanted to go had their flights or trains canceled or delayed," says a Senate Democratic aide.
So how did Cruz make it? There's no doubt the freshman from Texas has shown a lot of energy in his 11 months in the Senate, and he did it again this time: He made the plane when others didn't. Says a spokesman: "Sen. Cruz believes that once-in-a-generation historical leaders, whatever their strengths/weaknesses, who accomplish extraordinary things, should be recognized and celebrated. And he personally wants to be part of demonstrating the recognition in American of the transforming power of the end of apartheid."
Cruz took some hits in the hours after Mandela's death when he posted a Facebook item saying Mandela "will live in history as an inspiration for defenders of liberty around the globe." Some of his followers criticized Cruz for praising Mandela, and some in the press picked up the story as an example of alleged Republican intolerance. But in the end, Cruz was unfazed -- and he made the plane.
Forrest Gump’s mother described you best.
Would you go to this commie’s funeral?
Thatcher dies and bozo did nothing like this but get a man who fights white rule and he;s all in.
Doug When I first heard it I responded the same way —in anger that he went.
Now that I have thought it over I will have to give him the benefit of the doubt.
IMO Mandela was a terrorist, Marxist POS, and certainly I wouldn’t have gone. If Cruz thinks his going will get him one black vote he is wrong, but perhaps he is thinking ahead, I know he is much more intelligent than I and perhaps he is right. I will wait and see.
As for George Bush getting on the same plane as Obama——I would have swam over there before getting on that plane with the man who has accused Bush of every failure of Obama’s term.
what did he do for Maggie Thatcher? Nothing , this man is a piece of crap and how much did it cost to have all these Bush, Clinton and bozo there, I;ve seen costs of up to half a billion of our money
Flew to Mandela’s funeral and celebration w/ 0traitor delegation, a dedicated commie/marxist/murderer/racist. Raul Castro, whose brother imprisoned Cruz’ father, will be there.
That’s the way I see it.
No better time to open diplomatic ties than at the opening of a new chapter.
Now I’ll have to look around for another votable candidate; as you say, the pubbies’ bench IS empty of anyone to vote for, IMO. Like Rubio and amnesty, Cruz shows poor judgement.
Hitlery won’t be running; she carries too much bad baggage. The dems will find someone new to showcase.
Would you express the same indignation at those whom Jesus was told not to speak to?
How about using the gourd on your shoulders, holding your powder and letting it play out. I’m sure that Cruz knows exactly what he is doing and it can be further exemplified by the expected words he utters either there or on his return.
Eyes, watch the eyes. There is a plan there and it has nothing to do with he wanted to be there because he liked the guy.
And also his full understanding of how complicated it is.
I can't believe there are people here who are throwing Senator Cruz under some imaginary bus for some imaginary unpardonable sin of attending this funeral.
Excuse me while I go throw up somewhere.
Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
I hate to say it, but it started before Reagan. Maybe Reagan slowed it a bit, but it didn’t regress. For a hundred years, off and on, things have been moving toward “democracy,” aka communism or tyranny.
Thanks! Yes I meant constitutional republic. But that’s just what I meant: It pretty much went downhill when Reagan left and now we got 24 years of liberal and RINO damage that has to be overcome so it’s going to be a tough game Cruz has got to play but he can do it. We just have to make damn sure he gets elected because one more RINO, or God forbid Hillary as POTUS, it will be like nuking the Titanic after it hit the iceberg.
LOL
He got to see Obama’s speech on freedom live.
That must have been heartwarming.
He chose to go and called it an 'honor' to go.
I have problems with that.
I choose to not make myself a target at FR from name callers simply because I like my heroes being consistent.
Kudos to the South Carolina Sheriff who refused to fly our American Flag half staff for Mandela .....Obama's edict.----If I remember correctly Obama wants us flying OUR FLAG for Mandela for 10 days
I couldn't wait, yesterday, to drive to a nearby military compound of retired warriors and families.....where they fly their beloved flag every single day.....and lower it to half staff when a warrior dies.
Yesterday it was flying high and free.....HOORAY FOR THEM---no kowtowing for them!
Sometimes I think I'm the last of the idealists who remember what freedom use to feel like, taste like, feel like.
I will not start compromising and making excuses for Ted Cruz....*btw I was gung-ho and rooting for him from the bandstands from day one*.....
But I didn't expect this about face (Mandela) just like I didn't expect George Bush to have his little love fest with illegals, (among other things)
....I can simply choose not to stay at FR among people who question my loyalties if I don't play the.... 'anything goes to get Cruz the Presidency'... game.
Been there....done that.
Don't need the grief.
Let us say our system continues the slide to tyranny, and a few people you know, love, and respect need to stoop to the tyrant's level to re-acquire freedom. This is a probability, at this point, not just a possibility, so it's real.
Are those men evil because of their actions? To an extent, yes. But they are also good, because of their motivations. So it goes with Mandela.
I give Cruz a pass here, because he is recognizing the good. If pressed, I am certain he would disavow the evil acts of Mandela in the same breath.
Mandela is not the saint the left wants us to believe, nor is he the horror some here have made him out to be. Listen to the commentary of Joel Pollack on Mark Levin's show last week if you want to get some balance.
Giving up because Bambi flies the flag at half mast for 10 days, and he and Ted Cruz went to the same funeral is incomprehensible. That's NOT being an idealist.......
The left, meanwhile, get even stauncher in their views and their base worships them. Obama probably didn't consider going to Margaret Thatcher's funeral for one second. And I'm sure it won him admiration among dems.
This was a mistake by Cruz on all fronts. And it makes me sad to think he just may be there for sincere reasons. I'm sure he'll have some extensive statement when he realizes the damage he's done. I'll reserve judgment until I hear it.
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