Whenever I indicate how I wish Cruz would be our president, people bring up the governmental shut down, and act like this was something terrible that Cruz did to the country. First, it was Obama who shut down the government, not Cruz. Second, remember what Cruz was fighting against? It was Obamacare. He was our last best hope to end this forever. It was Obama who shut down the government because he refused to approve the spending bill which defunded Obamacare. What Cruz is saying here is true. Republicans cave at every fight because they fear Obama will shut down the government, and they know now how the media will paint them as the villains.
You stated it very well in a few sentences.