[ek_hornbeck]

How about another Senate conservative: Jesse Helms. Guy was a principled conservative, but was able to, as far as I know, work with people to get things done. Jesse didn’t piss off both sides of the aisle. Now, I know it was a different time, but Jesse was a staunch right winger even when the country was a little more “right” leaning. Ted, for all his positive traits, has a tough time getting guys even in his own party to work with him.

Ted Cruz likes to claim that he's hated by members of his own party because he's so honest and principled. The late Justice Scalia was principled, but was liked and respected even by his liberal colleagues (he and Ruth Ginsberg were close personal friends). Ronald Reagan was almost universally loved by his own party and respected by many ideological opponents. So if Ted Cruz is hated not only by his ideological opponents but by his supposed allies, being "principled" isn't the problem. The problem is Ted Cruz.

[Ted Grant]

I think if Ted Cruz is hated, it’s for entirely personal and substantive reasons.

[SoFloFreeper]

yes, you have described the situation very very well.