Ted Cruz’ debt ceiling filibuster puts John Cornyn on hot seat

Dallas Morning News ^ | 2/12/14 | Todd J. Gillman

[jimbo123]

In case you weren’t glued to C-Span2 for the last hour, here’s what you missed.

The Senate voted 67-31 to quash a filibuster by Sen. Ted Cruz that would have blocked the Senate from lifting the federal debt ceiling. Cruz voted against cloture, naturally. But the top GOP leaders, fellow Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, sided with Democrats to cut off the filibuster.

The measure raising the federal credit line through March 2015 sailed through the House on Tuesday, after Speaker John Boehner decided that it would be better to let Democrats own it (only 28 Republicans voted aye) than to dig in, insist on budget concessions, and force a stalemate that would spook world markets and risk a default.

Cruz announced the same day that he wouldn’t let the Senate raise the debt ceiling via a simple 51-vote majority. The filibuster threat pushed the threshold to 60.

As GOP strategist John Feehery pointed out,, Democrats control 55 votes, so without Cruz’s maneuver, they would have been fully responsible, politically, for raising the debt ceiling. Instead, Cruz put GOP leadership on the spot.

Cornyn and McConnell – both facing tea party challengers for reelection – took the heat, and voted for cloture.

[BigEdLB]

Who were the other 30 good guys who voted with Ted?

[Cincinatus]

Cornyn and McConnell – both facing tea party challengers for reelection – took the heat, and voted for cloture.

Profiles in Dutch Courage.

[Jane Long]

Midge and McCornyn have to go. Worthless RINO traitors.

[BigEdLB]

I am answering my own question from senate.gov

NAYs ---31
Alexander (R-TN)
Ayotte (R-NH)
Blunt (R-MO)
Boozman (R-AR)
Burr (R-NC)
Coats (R-IN)
Cochran (R-MS)
Crapo (R-ID)
Cruz (R-TX)
Enzi (R-WY)
Fischer (R-NE)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Heller (R-NV)
Hoeven (R-ND)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johnson (R-WI)
Lee (R-UT)
Moran (R-KS)
Paul (R-KY)
Portman (R-OH)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rubio (R-FL)
Scott (R-SC)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Toomey (R-PA)
Vitter (R-LA)
Wicker (R-MS)

[Lake Living]

Thank you Ted Cruz! Give them no place to hid.

[cotton1706]

“John Cornyn is treating Ted Cruz’s back like his own personal cutlery holder,” Stockman tweeted after the vote.

That’s classic!!

[AU72]

I bet Cruz doesn't get many DC party invites.

I bet Cruz doesn't care.

[Jane Long]

McAyotte voted Nay??? She must be finally getting the messages we’ve all been sending her. She’s still a McGrahamnesty suck up, tho.

[deport]

Cloture vote:

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=2&vote=00033#top

[Regulator]

Everyone should remember...

The RINO “leadership” said “wait for the debt fight, that’s what we want to shutdown”

And this is what they did.

Cruz and Lee are the real leaders. Corny and McFuneralHome are phonies from the past.

[SoConPubbie]

Ted Cruz Ping!

If you want on/off this ping list, please let me know.

Please beware, this is a high-volume ping list!

[alloysteel]

Blood in the water....

Who are the T.E.A. party members that are challenging Cornyn and McConnell. Support them TODAY!

[Uncle Miltie]

Think of it this way:

Cruz forced McConnell and Cornyn to publicly back Reid and 0bamacare against the Republican Grass Roots.

Just like Boner in the House.

The “Leadership” is now in full revolt against their caucuses, constituents, and parties.

CRUZ WINS THE SET!

[CedarDave]

I bet Cruz doesn't get many DC party invites. I bet Cruz doesn't care.

He'd rather read Dr. Seuss to his children.

[SoConPubbie]

Once again, Senator Cruz unmasks the Trojan Horses in our midst!

[Cheapskate]

national heroes one and all!

[musicman]

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[trebb]

...after Speaker John Boehner decided that it would be better to let Democrats own it (only 28 Republicans voted aye) than to dig in, insist on budget concessions, and force a stalemate that would spook world markets and risk a default.

Boehner needs to go now - "letting the Dims own it" still screws the People and the markets need to be spooked sooner rather than later to minimize the already horrible damage that is pending.

[elcid1970]

Thank G-d for Ted Cruz. I thought I’d run out of heroes.