Posted on 12/14/2014 10:49:21 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
It’s a question that will prove crucial next year when Mitch McConnell takes the reins of a new Senate: Just how big is the Ted Cruz caucus?
Three votes on the “cromnibus” late Saturday night suggest it could be as large as 22 senators — a dangerously high number for McConnell — or as few as a handful.
Let’s break down the three votes — on filibustering the $1.1 trillion package, on Cruz’s point of order aimed at targeting the president’s immigration action, and final passage.
The high-water mark for the Texas Republican came on his point of order vote, which 22 Republicans backed. While that represented a thumping, it could also be seen as a show of strength against the McConnell forces. Just 20 Republicans, including McConnell Republican Whip John Cornyn of Texas voted against Cruz; three did not vote.
Cruz’s point of order itself basically contended that the underlying bill was unconstitutional because it didn’t block President Barack Obama’s immigration action. Many Republicans, including Cruz, say they oppose the immigration action but don’t think the cromnibus itself is unconstitutional.
On final passage of the cromnibus, 18 Republicans voted no.
But only 12 Republicans joined Cruz in both votes for both his point of order and against the cromnibus. They are: Sens. Michael D. Crapo of Idaho, Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, Mike Lee of Utah, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Rob Portman of Ohio, Jim Risch of Idaho, Marco Rubio of Florida, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Jeff Sessions of Alabama, Richard C. Shelby of Alabama and David Vitter of Louisiana.
Nine others switched to yes on final passage after voting with Cruz to say the bill itself was unconstitutional. They are: Sens. Roy Blunt of Missouri, John Boozman of Arkansas, Richard M. Burr of North Carolina, Deb Fischer of Nebraska, John Hoeven of North Dakota, Johnny Isakson of Georgia, Mike Johanns of Nebraska, Pat Roberts of Kansas and John Thune of South Dakota. Johanns is retiring.
Those nine Republicans ended up providing the margin of victory for the underlying cromnibus, which passed 56-40.
Even that group of a dozen might be overstating Cruz’s hold on the GOP.
An even smaller subset of the Senate Republicans — 11 of them — voted with Cruz against final passage, for his point of order and to filibuster the bill in the first place: Crapo, Lee, Moran, Paul, Portman, Risch, Rubio, Scott, Shelby, Sessions and Vitter.
That’s more than enough to cause McConnell trouble given that he will have 54 Republicans in his camp and will need to get to 60 votes on most bills and likely 51 Republicans to pass a budget resolution.
Notable in the group who consistently voted with Cruz are his potential presidential rivals Paul and Rubio.
It’s also worth noting that Rubio continues his shift to the right after helping write the Senate immigration bill last year.
No Democrats supported the Cruz point of order.
Correction, 11:28 a.m.
An earlier version of this post omitted Scott as voting against cloture.
With respect, who did you vote for locally in November, and why?
Did you vote for conservatives and conservative principles? Or did you vote for Boehner-McConnell-McCain-Romney-Bush "Republicans"?
Since you post here, I'm pretty sure I know the answer, and I believe the national mood about Obamacare and amnesty reflects why a lot of people voted the way they did.
The only national conservative voice who seems to be actually listening to voters is Ted Cruz. Like it or not, he's representing that constituency. And it looks to be like it's getting bigger every day.
We will see who makes it to the nomination. We will also see who votes for the winner if X or Y or Z loses.
Indeed we will. But if the 'winner' is from the Boehner-McConnell-McCain-Romney-Bush wing of the party, they are guaranteed national losers, because people who want Ted Cruz-brand conservatism won't cross the street to vote for them.
Yes indeed. And I would add that RINO season is starting again. Time to start working on primarying some more RINOs.
Coburn would have voted against. He’s opposed to omnibus bills on principle.
Being absent is as close as he could come to support and leave with his oft stated principles about not voting for omnibus intact.
In that light, and given these were some of the final votes he could take, my guess is his absence was strategic.
I think he’s a wash: would have voted against if here so that’s why he’s not here...
I am an American first, a conservative second, and I vote Republican not libertarian.
I’m doing a self-study of McConnell geared towards a summary profile of his Modus Operandi.
So far since the election he has concentrated on the only thing he has utility to offer. But he offers NO MESSAGE and is therefore no leader that can inspire turnout in 2016.
Unfortunately he thinks and I imagine a good number of the people around him think that he is the man for the job. So what is his job?
His job, as reported in Politico (http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/mitch-mcconnell-2016-senate-elections-113123.html
), is to be the Rainmaker and to bring ‘grooming services’ to those up for reelection in 2016.
24 US Senators are up for reelection in 2016. and McConnell is their money gofer.
But if those incumbent Senators don’t have a message, then I foresee a slaughter in the 2016 election because I believe the democrats will regroup and come back with a vengeance, especially with a GOP that doesn’t know how to talk without a script.
Hence, it is crucial that Ted Cruz continue to become the voice of the Republican Party and that his views and mastery of the US Constitution be respected and subscribed to by the 24 incumbent GOP Senators.
For now McConnell is the weakest link in the chain. His utility is in campaign finance, not in bringing a surge of voters to the polls. But he thinks finance is all that is necessary; HE IS WRONG!
Somehow McConnell has to be put in his place which is as a support operative, not as a leader and voice for the party.
Houston, we have a problem .....
Maybe because he is really old? Born November 17, 1934
That is old. Hopefully he’s got enough left to fight the global warmists.
Exactly!!!. I hope a C-Span visual of this vote ends up as a primary campaign ad for every one of these treasonous RINOs.
They will have to explain it at some point.
Mississippi’s twosome are missing.
SHAME on WEASEL WICKER.
Go, Cruz, GO!!
I think you may be correct... check out twitter..some of the GOP are a bit condescending in my opinion...
All the way to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC!
BUMP!
Yes, indeed!
Right On!
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