Cruz Control: Junior Senator is smart, so why can’t he resist picking so many losing fights....

Politico Magazine ^ | February 21, 2014 | Erica Grieder, senior editor, Texas Monthly.

[2ndDivisionVet]

he last time I interviewed Ted Cruz, the freshman senator from Texas, was in October, about a week after the end of the federal government shutdown. Official Washington was just getting back to business as usual, and a clutch of woolly-looking protesters were chanting outside Cruz’s office in the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Cruz himself was running a little late that morning, and when I was finally ushered into his office, he warned me that he might be grumpy, because he was sick. It was the day before Halloween, and as I set up my recorder, I tried to make small talk—which was, as always, a thankless exercise..

“Do you have a costume?” I asked.

“No,” Cruz said. “I have in past years,” he added, gamely. “But I don’t...” he trailed off.

“What was your best costume of all time?”

“I’ve done Zorro,” Cruz said, and sighed. “Zorro wasn’t bad. I’ve done Phantom of the Opera.” He paused, apparently looking for something else to say. “They’re certainly similar.”

This was typical of my experience. I had spent hours with Cruz last year, interviewing him for a long profile in Texas Monthly. We talked in Washington in July, when he wasn’t considered much more than a Tea Party pest, newly elected and quoting Ludwig von Mises; in Waco in August, while he was traveling around Texas promoting the effort to defund the Affordable Care Act; in Houston in October, shortly after the end of the shutdown that he had arguably helped start; and several other times. Regardless of the circumstances, each time I tried to make small talk with him, it was boring. I was bored. And he seemed bored too, as he dutifully fielded my questions....

[upchuck]

Curzer ping.

[upchuck]

Erica could have easily cut 25% of this article and it wouldn’t have lost a thing.

[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!

[CatherineofAragon]

Erica, maybe his boredom had to do with your absence of mental keenness and your vapid, moronic questions about Halloween costumes.

[ilovesarah2012]

If we only pick fights we can win, what is the point of fighting? Why not stand up for what is right?

[ilovesarah2012]

I guess they get paid by the word.

[Mike Darancette]

If everything a conservative senator wants to accomplish is a lost cause why be conservative in the first place? Sometimes things need addressed just so the left knows we’re still thinking about them.

[ilovesarah2012]

From the liberal Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel:

Ted Cruz woos Florida Republicans during Palm Beach event

He amped up the criticism of President Barack Obama. He dialed down the my-way-or-the-highway zeal that often infuriates his fellow Republicans. And he left Florida political activists pumped up and buzzing over whether he’ll run for president.

“Ted Cruz is a wonderful political figure. Smart guy. Knows his stuff,” said Margi Helschien, who lives west of Boca Raton and is president of the Independent Conservative Action Network. “He is exciting.”

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/elections/fl-ted-cruz-donald-trump-20140222,0,305958.story

[Georgia Girl 2]

I’m glad to see Politico is so worried about Ted Cruz and his career. :-)

[tcrlaf]

“erica... you are one dumb journolista.”

She is just pimping the popularly accepted Orwellian Groupthink.

ANYTHING not in support of the Democrat Agenda is a “losing Fight.

[alstewartfan]

In this Olympic season, how many times did each gold medalist try and fail before ultimately succeeding. You can never be a winner if you are afraid to fail. Bob

[ru4liberty]

Self ping

[listenhillary]

Smith: I guess this is just another lost cause, Mr. Paine. All you people don't know about lost causes. Mr. Paine does. He said once they were the only causes worth fighting for. And he fought for them once, for the only reason any man ever fights for them. Because of just one plain, simple rule: "Love thy neighbor."

And in this world today full of hatred, a man who knows that one rule has a great trust. You know that rule, Mr. Paine. And I loved you for it -- just as my father did. And you know that you fight for the lost causes harder than for any others. Yes, you even die for them -- like a man we both knew, Mr. Paine.

You think I'm licked. You all think I'm licked! Well, I'm not licked. And I'm going to stay right here and fight for this lost cause, even if this room gets filled with lies like these; and the Taylors and all their armies come marching into this place. Somebody will listen to me.

[Lisbon1940]

I’ve never understood the coupon-clipping thing.

[Private_Sector_Does_It_Better]

The knows he’ll lose when he does things like filibuster, he’s not stupid. He fights the good fight to bring attention to the cause and hopefully rally others to join him.

[Private_Sector_Does_It_Better]

He knows he’ll lose when he does things like filibuster, he’s not stupid. He fights the good fight to bring attention to the cause and hopefully rally others to join him.