I don’t think Cruz and Lee took Republican leaders seriously. I think they knew all about them and what they would do.
Correct. The author is incorrect if he thinks Cruz and Lee ever took that bunch seriously. But, they have to “wave the dead chicken,” as it were, to prove to people watching the GOPe leaders are not serious about shrinking Big Government. Sometimes we have a good reason to follow what seems to be a futile course, not related to reaching the goal.