The taming of Ted Cruz (it's fun to reflect on wrong predictions)

A new show has opened on Capitol Hill, and, with any luck, it will have a long run.

Grenade-launching Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas took a familiar position of obstruction last week: He called on conservatives to fight any bill that funds President Obama’s immigration actions — even if this provokes a standoff that leads to a government shutdown.

“Just about every Republican candidate in the country campaigned saying, ‘If you elect us, we will stop President Obama’s amnesty,’ ” he said at a rally at the Capitol with tea party activists last week. “What I’m here urging my fellow Republicans to do is very, very simple: Do what you said you would do.”

Cruz, who also met with House conservatives to stoke opposition, opposed the “meaningless show vote” lawmakers were considering as an alternative to a confrontation. He declared “a full-fledged constitutional crisis.”

"But something extraordinary happened in response to Cruz’s hyperventilation: absolutely nothing. The House went ahead with its show vote last week, and all indications are that a bill funding Obama’s immigration policy will sail through the House with bipartisan support on Thursday and then face similarly smooth Senate passage. House Speaker John Boehner boasted on Wednesday that he was “proud” that the House acted “without a threat of a government shutdown.”

It's always interesting to reread these stories after the fact. The reality: Boehner was nearly humiliated when his bill barely made it past "the rule" and then it passed with one vote over a majority, only by getting enough democrats to cover conservative defections! And we've yet to see if there will be smooth senate passage with liberals all upset.

Are conservatives controlling the agenda? No, not by a long shot. But they are causing hell and headaches for those in charge, making them work, and exposing for all to see, their previously hidden complicity and alliance with their buddies the democrats.

But they are causing hell and headaches for those in charge

That's why I voted for Cruz and worked to politically destroy Dewhurst.

/johnny

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.