Sens. Cruz, Lee say they won't block deal

The Hill ^

[Sub-Driver]

Sens. Cruz, Lee say they won't block deal By Mike Lillis - 10/16/13 12:38 PM ET

Sens. Ted Cruz and Mike Lee said Wednesday that they won't try to block the bipartisan deal to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling.

"The timing of the vote will make no difference to the outcome," Cruz (R-Texas) said. "I have no intention of delaying the vote."

Cruz and Lee (R-Utah) had spearheaded the campaign to attach ObamaCare language to any new budget bills, and had pushed their colleagues to take a hard-line stance.

But the pair emerged from a meeting of Senate Republicans Wednesday afternoon to say they would let the agreement — which contains only one provision on ObamaCare — move forward.

"Some of us want to see it first — we still don't have text," Lee said. "But provided we get the text and have time t review it and everything, I suspect we'll collapse the time."

There has been speculation that the bipartisan deal might originate in the House, thereby eliminating some procedural hurdles when the bill moved to the Senate. But with Cruz and Lee withdrawing their filibuster threats, several GOP senators said the upper chamber will likely act first on the agreement.

The deal reached by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) would fund the government through Jan. 15 and raise the debt-ceiling until February. It would require income verification for subsidies under ObamaCare, but otherwise leave the helathcare law untouched.

The weeks-long fight over ObamaCare has left the GOP sharply divided and licking its wounds, after centrist Republicans warned for weeks that the battle was futile and damaging to the party.

Several Republicans left the meeting Wednesday grumbling that the conservatives in their ranks had prolonged the impasse even as Republicans were sinking in the polls.

"We left a lot on the table because we couldn't get our act together, but this is the best Mitch could do," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who will vote for the deal. "We need to stop the bleeding, lessen the damage to the party."

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) echoed that message.

"I hope it is another 15 years at least before we have to go through this exercise again," McCain said. "We're in a hole, we have to dig out and come up with a positive agenda."

[LostInBayport]

they're only able to get away with it because over 150 million of us have the capacity of a 5 year old. No offense to 5 year olds.

Sadly true. I work with many people who are quite intelligent, but woefully uninformed. It is a direct result of the news sources they consult. I often tell them things that are basic knowledge here on FR and see their faces freeze ever so slightly, a telltale indication that they did not know what I've told them. The media doesn't have to lie (though they do); their best deceptive skill is omission. I work with people who think Sarah Palin said 'this stupid thing' and Michelle Bachmann said 'that stupid thing' but when I tell them that Sheila Jackson-Lee thought the Mars Pathfinder drove over to where Neil Armstrong left the American flag, they say 'Who is Sheila Jackson-Lee'? Selective 'reporting'.

[SoConPubbie]

Public hates Obamacare. They do. That needs to be capitalized on by the GOP. Hitting that hard will win us the 2014 and 16 elections. Then we have the inner party debate/fight on how to proceed. We need numbers now. Not to divide and kill the party.

Most of that I agree with.

However, we cannot go to war with some of the Collaborators we have on our side.

It is imperative that we remove as many of those unwilling to fight for principle and who tell us one thing and then surrender, that we can.

Otherwise, we just keep repeating the same defeatist scenario time after time.

We need to remove as many of the politicians on our side that care more about their campaign cash than us that we can.

[Wyatt's Torch]

Finally a good analogy. Well done.

[justice14]

Not denying that there are some opportunists on our side. There are. But it goes both ways. Public hates this law. Even moderate Dems. We win the Senate and Presidency and those opportunists have to follow suit and vote for repeal. Public pressure (not just from Conservatives, but country as a whole) will be pushing for it.

[SoConPubbie]

I’m sorry, but doing a Pickets charge type attack against an entrenched enemy is not choosing the best tactic. AT ALL.

That's your interpretation of this battle and I doubt history will show that it is an accurate interpretation.

Obama's agenda was completely stalled during this time period and in the process, Senator's Cruz and Lee, and other patriots like Governor Palin and others have injected new vigor into the base and lit a fire under a lot of people's butts in the process heading into the 2014 elections.

This was necessary, we need to see leadership, our so-called leadership in the GOP right now, the elected leadership, is full of cowards and men/women who are more go-along to get-along and concerned more about their campaign cash then about leading.

We need new leadership, we are not going to win with the likes of McCain, Romney, McConnell, Boehner, Pete King et all.

They don't want to win apparently, but just want to retain their seats.

[justice14]

Thanks.

[justice14]

—That’s your interpretation of this battle and I doubt history will show that it is an accurate interpretation.—

Please challenge me on this. Please.

[SoConPubbie]

Please challenge me on this. Please.

It is too early to tell.

You and I will not know that until 2014 as to whether or not this skirmish by Senators Cruz and Lee will bear fruit.

[justice14]

McCain is an idiot and needs to go. Obama has stalled. You know why? Because we have (and kept) the house.

Leadership doesn’t lead it’s group on a suicide mission. There were better tactics to go about this.

[GodAndCountryFirst]

Be careful. When I criticized St. Ted, I was called a troll.

[justice14]

And I hope it does. I don’t see it going either way to be honest. But I don’t get slamming the GOP and even Cruz for “caving”. There was no chance of a defund. At all.

[SoConPubbie]

It is too early to tell.

You and I will not know that until 2014 as to whether or not this skirmish by Senators Cruz and Lee will bear fruit.

In the meantime, instead of cutting the men/women off at the knees who dare to lead on conservative principles by tucking tail, or bad-mouthing them, we need to come together, stand firm, and support them.

THIS type of intra-party squabbling amongst conservatives causes damage to our message and the leaders who dare step out onto the firing line.

[SoConPubbie]

Leadership doesn’t lead it’s group on a suicide mission. There were better tactics to go about this.

Agreed.

And I think on this, we should be very vocal on how disappointed we are, because they don't want to lead, but they want to maintain control.

[Viennacon]

Sadly, you’re right. I apologize for expecting better, but I think most of the offenders are trolls

[SouthParkRepublican]

Already did. It’s just not easy keeping the faith when can kicking (if not outright capitulation) seems to be the back up plan whenever the GOP does not get what it wants.

[justice14]

Exactly. Good post. Winning in 2014 and 16 should be our party’s goal.

[Leaning Right]

He's done what he can. Let it go and let's stand firm and keep fighting.

Yeah, you're probably right. I'm just desperate for some sort of principled conservative win anywhere in this mess. So I'm starting to see a lousy 30 hour delay as a victory.

[onyx]

GOOD on you.
White Flag Republicans are the worst.
God bless and keep you.

[manc]

one of the most utter shite posts ever on here

[GodAndCountryFirst]

Pretty much. I went to far earlier when I called Cruz a coward. But he is being duped, I think.