I break with some of my fellow Cruzadors on this one.
Ted Cruz was always for fast track (TPA), is still for fast track, and though ultimately havingg voted against it, Cruz did so only because he knew it would pass. Ted Cruz always wanted fast track for his Presidency, and that’s exactly what he got. (In fact, he said it straight out yesterday, He said it directly yesterday— “I want to negotiate TPP.”)
And, in that regard, there’s been such absolute nonsense spewed in this thread; especially by some who are normally sane people. The Trumpers trumpet from on high how they want the Donald to negotiate or renegotiate trade deals. You know the YUGE ones that will bring back jobs to America, and it will be beautiful, and good, and make us great again. Well, thanks to Cruz, he now has the fast track mechanism to do just that— the Dems can’t block him! Why would Trumpeters not want fast track as a tool for the Donald to make America Yuge and great?
Now, as to TPP, Cruz never expected it to pass, because he assessed the political landscape of 2016, and made a judgment that the Dems would not support it (e.g. Hillary Clinton) — and an equal judgment that the Pubs would be foolish to support when the odds are that there will be a GOP President to re-negoiate it in 2017. It won’t pass! Cruz knew this!
Cruz thus secured fast track with the knowledge that it would not benefit Obama.
Now, if TPP passes, then certainly, people can criticize Cruz for his wrongful strategy. If it doesn’t pass, however, then hopefully (though doubtfully) some will give credit to a master strategist.
Exactly.