Posted on 04/19/2016 7:40:31 AM PDT by xzins
It really is quite stunning to see the voices who support Ted Cruz try and reconcile his prior support for the Trans-Pacific Trade issue. Their obtuse position is fraught with intellectual dishonesty, and, quite frankly, a necessary head-in-the-sand approach.
We’ve previously outlined the issue HERE. Senator Cruz supported the legislative trade-passage vehicle of TPA (Trade Promotion Authority) because ultimately the trade bill itself (TPP) benefits Wall Street’s interests.
However, the best way to understand the issue of his support is to actually listen to Ted Cruz explain in 2015 why he supported, then stopped supporting TPA:
You can clearly see, in his own words, Senator Cruz stating he stopped supporting TPA because Senator Mitch McConnell lied to him about buying votes for a later re-authorization of the Import-Export bank, which Ted Cruz does not support.
An intellectually honest person would admit, given the reasoning Cruz eloquently delivered, that absent of the Import/Export bank issue the Senator supported the legislative vehicle TPA and the final product TPP.
Ultimately, the simple question: “why would a Senator support the vehicle for trade approval (TPA) if the Senator had doubts about the actual trade deal itself (TPP)” ?
Secondly: “why would a Senator support Fast-Track TPA, the change for 60 vote legislative support for approval to a simple majority of 51 votes, if the senator did not want to grant easier authorization for the president” ?
The bottom line is Senator Cruz supported TPA. Senator Cruz admits he supported TPA in the video above. Remember also, this was HIS BILL along with Paul Ryan.
TPA is HR2146 (TPA “Trade Promotion Authority” containing “Fast Track”): This House Bill #2146 originating April 30th ’15, became the vehicle for passage of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal.
HR2146 was originally introduced in the House of Representatives as a bill to address issues with retirement funds of federal law enforcement officers and firefighters.
In the beginning of the congressional session, with Republicans now in control of both the House and Senate, in Feb-March-April of 2015, Senator Ted Cruz and House Ways and Means Chairman, Representative Paul Ryan, supported Trade Promotion Authority being added to HR2146.
Their support was most notable when they posted the following Op-Ed which appeared in the Wall Street Journal on April 22nd:
http://paulryan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398270
On May 12th, 2015, HR2146 passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 407 – 5 (Roll no. 220). (text: CR H2848)
The bill passed the house 407-5 because it was not controversial. It was simply a bill for benefits toward LEO and Firefighters retirement funds.
However, as planned, on June 4th 2015, the senate passed the house bill “with changes”. The Trade-Deal was added and notably included an amendment “adding TPA” (thanks to Ted Cruz) and TAA (needed for Elizabeth Warren coalition). TAA was an amendment by the Elizabeth Warren coalition to add union retraining funds in the event the trade bill resulted in job lay-offs.
TPA with TAA passed by unanimous consent thereby avoiding a roll vote on record.
https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/2015/house-section/page/H4507-4518
On June 18, 2015 the House accepted the TPA change (Paul Ryan spearhead). The change was the addition of TPA and TAA to the original fire fighters retirement bill.
However, Ryan removed TAA (the financial assistance package for training of union workers – this angered the base of the progressive caucus, Pelosi, Warren, etc). The Senate Democrats, who generally oppose TPP were hoodwinked – TAA was never originally going to be allowed – Senator Elizabeth Warren was furious.
The Democrats in the Senate were furious. They turned to Nancy Pelosi for help in getting the entire fiasco eliminated. However, the White House (President Obama) supported the entire construct of the TPP. Minority leader Nancy Pelosi had to be arm twisted by the White House to go along with HR2146 with TAA spending removed – she acquiesced to President Obama.
Without the training amendment (TAA), HR2146 passed again in the House – only this time with a much closer vote of 218-208, and went back to the Senate to resolve differences. (Remember because of the way it was constructed, the only difference now was the removal of TAA – the training spending)
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2146
On June 24th HR2146 (TPA without TAA) Then passed the Senate (Ted Cruz did not attempt to block or filibuster because this was the original plan all along). The bill passed in the Senate 60-38 (3/5ths passage rule).
President Obama now had “fast track trade authorization” to complete the Trans-Pacific Trade Deal and thanks to Ted Cruz Obama only needed 51 votes to pass it.
On June 29th 2015 Obama signed Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and HR2146 became law.
President Obama now has the legislative vehicle (TPA) he needs to see TPP (the actual deal itself) get through the Senate. It would now take more votes to block the Trans-Pacific Trade Deal than to approve it. Thanks to Ted Cruz and Paul Ryan the threshold for legislative approval was lowered.
Senator Ted Cruz voted for Cloture on TPA Fast track trade authority removing the hurdle and concern of further amendments and clearing the way for passage.
Again, just like “unanimous consent” cloture votes are not recorded roll call votes. Thereby Ted Cruz could obfuscate his support. He figured to hide, see how that works?
However, Cruz advocacy could not be hidden entirely. On another bill HR 1314 Cruz voted against an amendment to the Trade Deal that would require congress to be consulted if China (or other nations) were to join after the fact:
Senate Amendment 1251 “To require the approval of Congress before additional countries may join the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement”…
Cruz voted NAY. Directly saying he did not want congress to be consulted before other countries, namely CHINA, could join TPP.
♦ The China Back Door – Remember during November 2015’s GOP debate, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz were saying China is not part of TPP; contrast their voices against Donald Trump who was honestly saying TPP carries a backdoor for China (and Russia) to join.
NOVEMBER 4th – In an interview with Russian interstate channel Mir TV, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry invited China and Russia to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
“We invite people to come join other initiatives, like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the TPP. We welcome China, we welcome Russia, we welcome other countries who would like to join, as long as they want to raise the standards and live up to the highest standards of protecting people and doing business openly and transparently and accountably,” said Secretary Kerry. (read more) State Dept Link HERE
Donald Trump was entirely correct. Senator Rand Paul, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz were factually incorrect. Everyone knows China will ultimately join TPP, it’s not a big secret.
BOTTOM LINE – It might hurt Cruz supporters to admit what took place, and worse – to accept the transparency of motive behind what drove his decision making, but it makes no sense at all to ignore the truth of what took place.
Unfortunately, Ted Cruz is part of the Wall Street purchased construct that is currently infecting our entire body politic. The connections to the U.S. CoC legislative agenda, and Goldman Sachs are evident within action not words, along with KtP and obviously his wife Heidi Cruz [ employed by Goldman Sachs, and adviser to Council on Foreign Relations].
For those who still find it challenging to accept the truth in the video below Ted Cruz Explains why he supports (TPA) Trade Promotion Authority:
@01:56 of the video, again: “I support TPA” ~ Ted Cruz
Don’t pay attention to what Cruz says, pay closer attention to what Cruz does !!
For those who still find it challenging to accept the truth in the video below Ted Cruz Explains why he supports (TPA) Trade Promotion Authority:
@01:56 of the video, again: “I support TPA” ~ Ted Cruz
Cruz supporters are the new Obots and there is NO doubt of that.
Intellectual diishonesty?
The thing that gas turned me off to Trump as first choice is the intellectual dishonesty Trump exhibits, and moreso his fanatic followers.
There is also just plain dishonesty, but that’s another issue.
Trump had a chance for greatness and screwed it up with trivia and pettiness.
He blew it.
I listened to the explanation at the time and it just didn’t add up. That was when I turned sour on Cruz. That and the Corker bill. Two bad choice in a row close together are hard to overlook.
The issue here is that Cruz was a driving force behind TPA.
It’s best for supporters of Ted Cruz to simply admit that and drive on or side with the current concept of free trade and defend his support of it.
People are allowed to dislike Donald Trump. It’s America....at least for a while longer unless Clinton wins for the 3rd term of Barack Obama.
And the H1B. Cruz was tap-dancing like crazy at the time, and it just didn’t add up the way he was telling it.
Note if the reason he changed his mind and stopped supporting it was because of the bank/IMF issue..then he supports it! There is so much in there beyond the banking stuff to cause one to dislike this bill.......Vote Trump!
The bigger question for me about Ted Cruz and TPA and TPP et al is the question of why his conversations now are all about ‘delegates’ rather than ‘voters.’
The blithe acceptance of an obvious maniac’s support to win Utah (Glenn Beck), hiring Neil (S&L) Bush as a financier, gladly accepting warm gestures from Lindsey Graham and the poweratti of the GOP Congress......
Overall, he’s working the delegates and the convention strategy rather than convincing millions of voters. Does he think his hijinks will be lovingly approved by the massive millions out there who can see this scheming for the power the grab that it really is?
The Electoral College isn’t a cloistered establishment GOP bitch that can be wheedle and bought with promises. At least 26 states have some form of “faithless elector” laws that bind their votes to the will of the voter. Unfortunately for Mr. Cruz, they are states that he would badly need in a win against Hillary or Sanders.
The bottom line? I don’t give a hoot about his damned video. I give a damn what he’s doing right now - today. And tonight he’s gonna find out how all this is working out - in spades.
Yes that too. He talks one way and votes another. I finally realized the guy is just not trustworthy. Trump may be a little hard to take but he’s pretty much honest about things. I really don’t think he lies. I think he sincerely means to do what he says.
Cruz is big on doing one thing and then coming up with excuses as to why he did what he did. I guess he can’t help it....it’s the “brilliant lawyer” in him.
Some people even believe him.
Intellectual diishonesty?
It’s a fact Senator Cruz campaigned for TPA fast track while claiming to oppose Obamatrade. It’s a fact ZERO fast tracked trade deals have ever been voted down. Those positions are not intellectually consistent. If one opposes Obamatrade the proper action was to always oppose TPA. Cruz did not.
This is one of the great issues of our time. NAFTA on steroids. A true conservative should be revolted by Cruz’s intellectual dishonesty here. But I guess loving eyes can never see. Sad.
The game is all but over. If Trump comes up a little short, the GOP leadership will steer enough of their “unpledged delegates” his way for him to get the nomination. I feel badly about Cruz. His campaign has been completely infiltrated by people loyal to the party leadership. This was a deal with the devil; they never intended to let him win and still do not. They are destroying Cruz’s image and his future in politics. Even though it was the party insiders who disenfranchised the voters in Colorado, Wyoming and many other places all the blame will be directed toward Lyin’ Ted. this entire campaign season has been an eye opener.
If you were honestly bothered by that, you would be bothered by Cruz lying to your face over and over again. Fact is, Cruzers behave like sociopaths and cultists, believing anything Cruz does and making any excuse they can to oppose him.
I'm sure a Trump Administration would not want any Trade Privileges like Trade Promotion Authority.
Just a little bravado and finger wagging, and it's a done deal? ...I don't think so.
Overall, he’s working the delegates and the convention strategy rather than convincing millions of voters. Does he think his hijinks will be lovingly approved by the massive millions out there who can see this scheming for the power the grab that it really is?
The Electoral College isn’t a cloistered establishment GOP bitch that can be wheedle and bought with promises. At least 26 states have some form of “faithless elector” laws that bind their votes to the will of the voter. Unfortunately for Mr. Cruz, they are states that he would badly need in a win against Hillary or Sanders.
***
It was Cruz that said “win the debate” but he hasn’t done that with the voters.
Is there more info on the electoral college “faithless elector” laws?
This is what revealed Cruz as a fake to me last year.So I’ve known since then . but now many more see from Cruz’s recent actions and Trump exposing him that Ted is lying Ted.
Go Trump! America first ! China second!
The issue is the history of TPA.
Cruz supported it. The intellectually honest thing for his supporters would be to fight for both TPA and TPP.
I will not vote for Cruz or Ryan.
This Cruz’s actions on TPA TPP etc. is what revealed Cruz as a fake to me last year.So I’ve known since then . but now many more see from Cruz’s recent actions and Trump exposing him that Ted is lying Ted.
Go Trump! America first ! China second!
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