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Sowell: Cruz Control? Part II - GOP leaders ignore his appeal at GOP's own peril
The American Spectator ^ | February 19, 2014 | Thomas Sowell

Posted on 02/19/2014 11:14:41 AM PST by jazusamo

Senator Ted Cruz is a hero in some Republican circles — and the opposite among many of his Senate Republican colleagues.

At this crucial juncture in the history of America, internal battles within the only party that can turn things around are the last thing Americans need. Moreover, each side in this political civil war has all too many valid criticisms of the other.

The Republican establishment’s criticisms of Senator Cruz are criticisms of his rule-or-ruin strategy, which can destroy whatever chance Republicans have of taking back the Senate in 2014 and taking back the White House in 2016. And, without political power, there is no real hope of changing things in Washington.

Senator Cruz’s filibuster last year got the Republicans blamed for shutting down the government — and his threatened filibuster this year forced several Republican Senators to jeopardize their own reelection prospects by voting to impose cloture, to prevent Cruz from repeating his self-serving grandstand play of last year. The Republicans need every vote they can get in the Senate — plus additional votes by defeating some Democrats who are running for the Senate this fall. It can be a very close call. Jeopardizing the reelection of current Republican Senators is an act of utter irresponsibility, a high risk with zero benefits to anyone except Ted Cruz — and the Democrats.

However unjustified Senator Cruz’s actions, the very fact that a freshman Senator can so quickly gain so many supporters, with so much enthusiasm, ought to be a loud warning to the Republican establishment that they have long been a huge disappointment to a wide range of Republican voters and supporters.

(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: boehner; cruz; gope; sowell; tedcruz; thomassowell
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To: jazusamo

If the GOP senate leaders liked Cruz, I would probably like Cruz less.


21 posted on 02/19/2014 11:50:14 AM PST by Raycpa
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To: jazusamo; All

Dr. Sowell, like so many conservative intellectuals, has accepted the idea that opposition to the RINO credo of perpetual losses, is merely a foolish exercise in a shameful, egocentric behavior.

The concept of a principled warrior for Liberty to Dr. Sowell and other Republican Intellectuals, vanished as a lost cause long, long ago.

They define themselves as being grounded in the practical reality of always losing to the Federal Politicians in “both” political parties who find no limit to the expansion of the US Federal Government.

Thus, any challenge to their basic assumption of continuous financial and political Conservative failure must be put down as soon as possible.

Senator Cruz understands the value of attacking the enemy at multiple points of weakness.

RINO politicians, consultants, strategists, advisors, donors, volunteers, supporters and RINO voters do not understand this, as they tend to focus on one or two points of attack for the entire election campaign.

In this manner, the RINOs ignore the day to day fluctuations of opponent revealed weaknesses, and plod on to their usual, and very comforting defeat.

For example, in 2008 Loser Emeritus “Wacko Birds” McCain publicly admonished those who questioned the validity of then Senator Obama’s sealed birth certificate, thus assuring McCain of another very successful RINO-Style Defeat.

Another example is when RINO Speaker Boehner just last week chose to cave in to his overriding personal phobia of being bad-mouthed by the Left Stream Media, and took off the House calendar the necessary House Debate on the size of the National Poverty Debt Limit, thus guaranteeing the Conservative Democrat and Republican voters will from then on know that RINOs really stand for unlimited Federal Spending.

BTW, notice how many times RINO Rove says: “Republicans should let that go and concentrate on this one point.”

Senators Cruz, Lee and sometimes Rand Paul are wise enough to attack on many fronts, and the double down whenever a weakness is detected.

RINOs have refused to learn that the first rule in Federal Politics is to attack, Attack, ATTACK!

The second rule in Federal Politics is to savagely attack ALL weaknesses as they are revealed.

The third rule of Federal Politics is to accept, without question, that “ALL FEDERAL POLITICS IS NATIONAL.”

Newt, for a brief moment in time, used that wisdom to construct his very successful National “Contract with America.”

Newt’s wisdom soon quickly rejected by the rank and file RINO failure leadership.

No political Wing of any political party has ever enjoyed losing as much as the now obsolete, failed RINO Wing of the Republican Party.

House Member elected, House Sobber Boehner even lends a Soap Opera touch to many RINO cave in losses by sobbing frequently.

Democrats and all RINOs still believe the “Tipsy’” O’Neal failed con slogan which states: ‘All politics is local.’

Democrats and RINOs have used this failed slogan with great success to expand the number of non-working, non-taxpayers on their ballooning Welfare Plantation, paid for by borrowing to increase the National Poverty Debt.

In summary, RINOs belong in the Museum of Failed Politicians, (MOFP), and not on the taxpayer’s payroll.

Make 2014 the year of the extinct Federal RINO!


22 posted on 02/19/2014 11:51:58 AM PST by Graewoulf (Democrats' Obamacare Socialist Health Insur. Tax violates U.S. Constitution AND Anti-Trust Law.)
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To: jazusamo
If Republicans win the Senate and continue to hold the House in November 2016, the wins will not be because of the inarticulate Boehner, McConnell, McCain, et al.

If there is a Republican win in November, Cruz's clear identification and articulation of principles underlying our Constitution, and the "spirit of 1776" which he displayed in putting them out there, will be a major cause of that victory!

Make no mistake, the droll, unimaginative, compromising spirit of the "old order" among Republicans in both the House and Senate will not convince Americans, especially young Americans, that the Republican Party will do anything different than what it has been doing.

We now need men of courage, not "politicians," but statesmen who love liberty and will speak out on its behalf, so that future generations may look back and see that in the Year 2014, someone stood up to protect the Constitution, not their own and their Party's popularity!

One signer of the Declaration of Independence spoke eloquently about his observations of his fellow signers of that remarkable document of freedom.

Ellery joined the Whig party, and became active in politics.  He had inherited some money from his father, and he took this opportunity to study law.  His name appears as a member of the General Assembly in the year of the Stamp Act repeal.  He is now a leading member of the Sons of Liberty in Newport.  The year is 1766.  He has been a widower with six children for two years.  On June 28, 1767, he marries for the second time.  His second wife is a distant cousin, Abigail Carey, with whom he has ten children.

When the delegates to the Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia in March 1776, Samuel Ward, Ellery's old friend, died of smallpox.  Ellery was the choice to succeed him.  As the signers gathered to affix their signatures to the Declaration, it was said that Ellery stood where he could watch their expressions.  Of the 56 signers, nine died of wounds or hardships during the war, five were captured, brutally treated and imprisoned, several lost wives and sons, one lost his thirteen children, two wives were brutally treated, and twelve had their homes burned.  William Ellery's property was burned while the British occupied Newport.  He did, however, return after the war, and apparently recovered financially.  He lived nearly 93 years, dying on February 15, 1820.  He was interred in the Coggeshall Cemetery at the corner of Victoria and Coggeshall Avenue in Newport.  Later, he was given a tomb in the Common Burying Ground on Farewell Street.

Ellery is quoted elsewhere concerning the bravery he observed on the face of every single man who signed that revolutionary document, knowing that each might die for the action he was taking on behalf of liberty.


23 posted on 02/19/2014 11:54:58 AM PST by loveliberty2
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To: KarlInOhio

I believe you’re right. It’s one thing to have bipartisanship and work together for the good of the country but as far as some RINOs go bipartisanship is a one way RAT road.

Hopefully Linda is axed in the primary and we keep the seat.


24 posted on 02/19/2014 11:55:18 AM PST by jazusamo ([Obama] A Truly Great Phony -- Thomas Sowell http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3058949/posts)
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To: loveliberty2
Ooops. First line should have referred to election of 2014!!!!
25 posted on 02/19/2014 11:55:59 AM PST by loveliberty2
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To: stanne

I agree. Senator Cruz was entirely “justified.”

Furthermore, he gave the nation a worthy Contstitutional “schooling” that night.


26 posted on 02/19/2014 11:58:50 AM PST by onyx (Please Support Free Republic - Donate Monthly! If you want on Sarah Palin's Ping List, Let Me know!)
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To: loveliberty2

Thanks, very good post. We need many more with the courage of those men and Ted Cruz.


27 posted on 02/19/2014 12:03:45 PM PST by jazusamo ([Obama] A Truly Great Phony -- Thomas Sowell http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3058949/posts)
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To: jazusamo

There is simply no way to tell if a politician is self-serving or trying to serve a noble purpose. Having been burned by many before, I’d lean toward self serving.

However, I really don’t care what motivates a politician so long as they are attempting to support the kind of government I desire.

So, it is irrelevant whether Cruz is self-serving.


28 posted on 02/19/2014 12:04:14 PM PST by Raycpa
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To: Raycpa

I see your point and it’s a good one.


29 posted on 02/19/2014 12:05:41 PM PST by jazusamo ([Obama] A Truly Great Phony -- Thomas Sowell http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3058949/posts)
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To: jazusamo; xzins
True my FRiend, he still labels Ted Cruz as self serving and I personally think he’s wrong in that.

Apparently he has been listening too much to his GOP-E friends.
30 posted on 02/19/2014 12:11:18 PM PST by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: Zenjitsuman; All

Sowell’s “problem” can be found in this early quote from his article:

” - - - At this crucial juncture in the history of America, internal battles within the only party that can turn things around are the last thing Americans need. - - - . “

The fact that Sowell placed this statement early in his article reveals that this is one of his key assumptions that he will build on in the rest of his article.

Sowell thus comes across as one who will not support change, no matter how important that change is to the survival of our Republic.

Sowell is a Loyalist, a supporter of the Status Quo, and a great, great anchor to the obsolete RINO Wing of the Republican Party.

To Sowell and the other RINO intellectuals I say: “BRING IT !”


31 posted on 02/19/2014 12:11:49 PM PST by Graewoulf (Democrats' Obamacare Socialist Health Insur. Tax violates U.S. Constitution AND Anti-Trust Law.)
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To: jazusamo; TWhiteBear; painter; tbw2; Ricebug; parthian shot; mrsmel; infool7; ...

Ted Cruz Ping!

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

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


32 posted on 02/19/2014 12:12:09 PM PST by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: onyx

Taken as a pair, the two articles together are less damning of Cruz, Lee and others of his subset than the part one was standing alone.

Was Cruz by taking principled stands the creator of the division or was Republican leadership trying to marginalize conservative wing members after the 2010 bi-elections the start of the division?

Who can say? But with this second part, the old line Republicans are reminded that they are just as much responsible for the division and lack of effectiveness as the conservative faction with Cruz as their most visible activist.

Going back to Sowell’s point in the first article can now be done. Is the opposition divided, as in his example of division prior to the totalitarian Hitler moving his toe-hold of 32% and a place in the power structure into full control of power? Are we dithering about direction and allowing the defeat of our system of government because of division?

The answer is of course yes. Who has to move most to unify?

Who cares.

But movement for unity is the obvious need and it must happen prior to the start of the election cycle and both sides must do it.

Sowell is our Burke, our Kirk, and our Hayek. We must declare as Thatcher did, refering to Hayek, and slam Sowell’s words down on the podium and say as she said, “This is what we believe.”


33 posted on 02/19/2014 12:16:43 PM PST by KC Burke (Officially since Memorial Day they are the Gimmie-crat Party.ha)
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To: jazusamo
"However unjustified Senator Cruz’s actions"

========================================================

Failed premise right there.

Cruz IS justified in a big way. The current state of affairs and recent events completely withstanding demonstrate the absolute failure, nay, non existence, of any type of effective leadership or plan of action of and by the GOP, that they are complicit with the sad state of affairs.

If every member of the GOP had the same fighting spirit, fearless political will and conservative principles as Ted Cruz they could really turn this unconstitutional Fedzilla monster away and halt this lawless administration in their tracks.

It's called accountability and the checks are missing and the balances went with it.

The business as usual crowd is why the GOP is FUBAR and Sowell clearly one of them.

Not one of us as portrayed.

He let the mask slip off yesterday and even today fumbled with it.

Country clubber.

34 posted on 02/19/2014 12:19:46 PM PST by Manic_Episode (GOP = The Whig Party)
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To: Zenjitsuman; onyx; jazusamo

Sowell’s got in in for Cruz for some reason.

It’s so odd, because Sowell is saying something so unlike himself, something like “Cruz would be better off playing politics than dealing with facts.”


35 posted on 02/19/2014 12:23:16 PM PST by xzins ( Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for victory!)
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To: onyx

TRUTH also benefitted from Cruz’ play to force senators to vote on the record. We have been sick to death of political farce long before Ted started exposing it. Bob


36 posted on 02/19/2014 12:25:31 PM PST by alstewartfan (The dawn is turning away The ghost of Charlotte Corday. Al Stewart)
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To: xzins

Yes, does Dr. Sowell believe that America benefits when frauds can get away with duping the public? Why does he think that our system is nearing collapse? It’s because there is no counter-balance to the political class. Six more Lindsey Grahams would serve to do nothing but continue America’s steep decline. Bob


37 posted on 02/19/2014 12:29:37 PM PST by alstewartfan (The dawn is turning away The ghost of Charlotte Corday. Al Stewart)
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To: jazusamo

38 posted on 02/19/2014 12:31:32 PM PST by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: alstewartfan

Yep... Senator Cruz forced those weasels out in the open!


39 posted on 02/19/2014 12:32:42 PM PST by onyx (Please Support Free Republic - Donate Monthly! If you want on Sarah Palin's Ping List, Let Me know!)
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To: Manic_Episode

Agreed. Dr. Sowell needs to hang out with more normal Americans. We have our Pa. Leadership conference in April, and it should be interesting. Plenty of GOP-E’ers on hand. Bob


40 posted on 02/19/2014 12:33:50 PM PST by alstewartfan (The dawn is turning away The ghost of Charlotte Corday. Al Stewart)
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