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Cruz on Loretta Lynch: Absence is a no vote
thehill ^ | May 01, 2015, 08:27 am | By Mark Hensch

Posted on 05/01/2015 5:04:04 PM PDT by yuffy

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said Thursday that his absence during last week’s confirmation of Attorney General Loretta Lynch was the same as voting against her.

“There was no significance to the final vote, and I had a scheduling conflict,” Cruz said, according to media reports.

“Under the Senate rules, absence is the equivalent of a no vote,” the 2016 GOP presidential candidate added. “It is identical procedurally.”

Senators confirmed Lynch as the nation’s new attorney general on April 23 in a 56-43 vote. Cruz, a notable opponent of her nomination, said Thursday he abstained because a majority of Republicans had backed her selection for the position. “I flew back to Washington to speak on the Senate floor, passionately speaking against confirming Loretta Lynch,” he said. “But unfortunately, leadership chose to go a different direction."

Lynch’s confirmation ended a standoff over her qualifications lasting over 160 days. Cruz was the only senator absent during the final vote.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) subtly rebuked Cruz’s decision in a tweet issued on April 25. In it, he discounted Cruz’s earlier explanation that a cloture vote over Lynch’s candidacy was the only vote that mattered.

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 114th; cloture; cornyn; cornyncloture; cornynclotureweasel; cruz; lynch; mcconnellcloture
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To: nickcarraway
He was elected to be a Senator. What was more important than that? The fact he is revisiting this means he knows he screwed up. Time to step up.

Wow - why not start your own circle and start firing? Amazing how so many seem to think they are "principled Conservatives" that have no actual concept of either word and serve as useful tools for the Left.

I take it you like Walker and are willing to make up stuff based on some inner voices that just won't stop talking to you. If we hated the Left as much as you seem to detest one of the most Conservative choices we've ever had, we might make some progress - despite you.

If I stepped over any lines, it was intentional....

61 posted on 05/02/2015 3:56:00 AM PDT by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
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To: nickcarraway

Actually, the states right argument is the Constitution. If SCOTUS follows the Constitution, they will leave marriage issues up to the states where they has always been. At this point, it’s a toss up, because we all know that they have ruled outside the Constitution many times.

One of Cruz’s bill calls for a Constitutional Amendment to support traditional marriage. It won’t get past Obama, of course, but it can be reintroduced once he is out.


62 posted on 05/02/2015 5:33:07 AM PDT by conservativejoy (We Can Elect Ted Cruz! Pray Hard, Work Hard, Trust God!)
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To: conservativejoy

Amendments have absolutely zero Presidential involvement, other than bully pulpit.


63 posted on 05/02/2015 5:40:36 AM PDT by Crazieman (Article V or National Divorce. The only solutions now.)
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To: mrsmel; Gator113
Mrsmel - you are completely correct and that is exactly what I was trying to communicate. And for you gator, I do support Cruz, he is my choice.

But I don't feel a need to make excuses for my candidate like a democrat does. Cruz isn't perfect - no one is perfect and he will make mistakes. Cruz will make some dumb mistakes over the next year and a half.

And I am not so insecure in my choice that I need to reflexively support a choice he makes if he is wrong.

What you need to understand gator is that symbolism, almost always trumps reality and truth in politics. It is sad that is the case, but it is true. Since that is the case, Cruz needs to be very careful, because it may take only one perceived "error" and he is done - the press will ruin him and he needs more than our three votes.

The reason I am supporting Cruz is that he is a true leader. He may not have the experience as Walker, but I think he has the ability to accomplish things as president. He is articulate and able to deflect attacks on him by reporters, which is vitally important today. But at the same time he is in your face. I switched from Walker to Cruz when he made his announcement at Liberty. That took guts; that took leadership and I loved it. He communicated to me that he did not care about any criticism from the press or the left about him making his announcement at an institution the left hates. He's fearless and that attracted me to him. So when he skipped Lynch's vote, for me, I didn't care, but I knew it was a mistake. He had an opportunity to make his statement on the floor of the Senate and he chose not to. Can you imagine Kennedy missing a vote like this?

So, I think Cruz has learned his lesson. I doubt he will miss another key vote, because it is not worth the criticism.

64 posted on 05/02/2015 12:12:06 PM PDT by Dave W
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To: Dave W

“The reason I am supporting Cruz is that he is a true leader.”

That is all I needed to read, dave.


65 posted on 05/02/2015 12:21:16 PM PDT by Gator113 (Cruz, Lee, and Sessions speak for me.... most anyone else is just noise.)
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