Why Ted Cruz is Right on TPA

Reclaim DC ^ | May 22, 2015 | David Serenda

[SoConPubbie]

It has been said that politics makes strange bedfellows. Well, there is no finer example of that statement than the recent votes on the Trade Promotion Authority. Free trade has long been advanced by conservatives who understand the need to expand our markets beyond our borders. On the other side stands the democrats and the radical left who fear competition and doubt America’s exceptionalism. Yesterday, the Senate cleared the 60 vote hurdle to bring the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) up for a vote. I for one, welcome President Obama to the side of common sense solutions, to help solve the economic disaster that his domestic policies have created. I only wish that he would use that common sense more often.

 

If you have listened to Ted Cruz speak on the economy, you will hear him promote the idea of free trade. One of the many reasons I support Ted Cruz for President is his common sense solutions to solve America’s economic problems. America has experienced a trade deficit for as long as I can remember. A large part of that stems from poorly negotiated trade deals in the past, high tariffs being placed on American products by foreign governments, and currency manipulation. The TPA is a step in the right direction to resolve many of the trade imbalance issues and will provide a set of strict guidelines for negotiations.

 

What exactly is TPA or fast track? I am glad you’ve asked. Trade Promotion Authority, TPA, and Fast Track all refer to the same piece of legislation. First, it is important to note that TPA is not a trade agreement in and of itself, but rather Congress establishing a set of requirements that the President must follow in every trade deal he submits through the TPA “fast track” legislation. By Congress authorizing this legislation they are able to have a part in the terms of the negotiations that take place with foreign governments. In addition to controlling the outline of any trade deal, they are able to force the President to share with them the details of any trade deals as he is negotiating. There are many opportunities for Congress to read and be involved in these negotiations if they really had a desire. There is also a requirement for public summaries to be released throughout the process of the negotiations. Once the trade agreement is completed it must be made available to the public before Congress is able to vote on it.

 

Without the TPA the President is able to negotiate any trade deal without any input from Congress or the American people. Even more alarming the President has the authority to conduct these negotiations in secret and only make them public when he submits them to Congress for approval. Once in Congress the process of buying votes and adding poison pills to the legislation corrupts the entire process. If we know anything about Washington, it is that its corruption runs deeper than the oceans. For these reasons previous Congress, both democratic and republican, have authorized “fast track” legislation.

 

As with anything in politics there are groups who, in an effort to promote their ideology of isolationism, will put out misinformation in order to derail legislation that they oppose. As with anything you read or hear about legislation coming out of Washington, familiarize yourself with not only the facts of the legislation, but any potential bias or agenda the author may be hiding.

 

[Jane Long]

Agree. Sen Cruz is the only one fighting (or trying to fight) on very IMPORTANT issues...just look at articles SCP posts, daily...recent issues...where Sen Cruz is at least a voice in the wilderness, calling out.

This TPA/TPP issue just isn’t sitting right, with me, for some reason. I’m not dropping my Sen Cruz, over this, either...but, it definitely has me puzzled.

[ek_hornbeck]

As am I. I’ve supported my Sen Cruz since he first ran for Senator. I am trying to make sense of this TPP agreement and why Sen Cruz would back something that 0bama wants...or, why Sen Cruz would team up with Lyin’ Paul Ryan to back said agreement or ANYTHING

You're right. Some people can't recognize the difference between supporting a candidate and acting as though that candidate is always right and infallible. Toeing the party line and groupthink are liberal traits (watch liberals twist themselves into knots to defend Hillary when her positions were the same as those that they attacked in Bush), there's no need to have them among conservatives.

[Georgia Girl 2]

LOL!

[boycott]

Nope. I was posting to astroaddict. He’s been here since May 24, 2015 and he’s already behaving in an uncivil and classless manner. The only thing he’s posted on is TPA.

The website that was linked isn’t working. I am sure it’s just some worthless blog.

[GeronL]

So politicians like Hillary can continue to sell access and rake in the corporate and foreign cash

[ek_hornbeck]

In fact, the Union mentality is a close cousin of your Anti-free-trade mentality. When you naively say you’re against free trade, you’re essentially saying you want to establish an “American Labor Union.”

There are worse things than happening to be on the side of "American Labor Unions." It seems to me that propping up the economies of corrupt third world countries with unilateral trade deals (i.e. we have open markets for their goods, they protect their markets with currency manipulation) is a good deal worse.

[Jane Long]

😂

[Lucky9teen]

I just posted the link to Ted and Pauls op-ed...I didn’t comment as to how anyone should take it. I myself don’t even know how to take this trade deal crap.

I mean, I’m all for Ted Cruz, he’s my top pick. So for him to sign off on this, it doesn’t make sense, because at face value, it really looks like a bad thing. But then I wonder why so many Democrats are against it?

Usually, when that’s the case, it’s probably a good thing. Generally, I’m in agreement with the general consensus here, and that is...if there’s secrecy...that’s a bad thing. If it gives Obama, or the Executive branch, more power...that’s a bad thing. But, if it stops the Executive Branch from taking power that it does not have, and stops Obama from going around Congress...that’s a good thing. And if it takes trade deals out of secrecy and makes them transparent to the public...that’s a good thing.

All I know is, I’m confused by it all. So I’m on the fence on this...not really sure if it’s good or bad.

[Gaffer]

That you and I and others here are confused I can certainly agree on. I’m puzzled.

When this happens I revert back to my universal principle of operation - ANYTHING that Obama is for, I am AGAINST, period.

The fact that Ted seems to have muddied things doesn’t dissuade me from wanting to vote for him. I think I saw something about his reasons for this, but I didn’t take time out of trying to make some bucks to pay for my gas, electricity, etc. to make the effort. My bad then...

[astroaddict]

I responded to you in such a way because you are spewing total lies and nonsense.

Don’t like it? I really don’t give a rip.

[astroaddict]

I already answered your question. Good bye.

[boycott]

What is in this agreement is secret. Stop pretending you know.

Again, let’s end the discussion.

[RKBA Democrat]

We’re in the spin phase of the political cycle now.

A few quick points:

-Ted Cruz was aware of significant and vociferous opposition from the conservative base on this bill. Yet he chose to both vote for it and flack for it. With Paul Ryan no less.

-Like most bills, the devil is in the details. We can’t see the details of the TPP. But we do know some of the details of the TPA and several of those act our detriment. Supporters of TPA are quick to note that a majority of Congress must vote on any trade agreement. So what? What is so important about these trade bills that they be excluded from the same scrutiny as any other bill? Now I realize that in the long run caesar gets whatever caesar wants. But why should we make it any easier?

-From a conservative perspective, how does it make sense to give this or any other president any more power than he currently has? conservatism and giving the president more power are not ideas that mesh.

In sum, this is another NAFTA. If you’re a globalist and think NAFTA was a great thing, you’ll love this. If you’re in the middle or working class, you’re about to get screwed.

[Jane Long]

Well, no...you didn’t answer my question asking if you are in ANY way affiliated with the TPA/TPP.

But, I will gladly accept your good-bye!

[Jane Long]

Then, there is this...

Here’s how much corporations paid US senators to fast-track the TPP bill

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3294001/posts

[astroaddict]

LOL. There is nothing in the TPA that is secret. Because of the TPA, there will be nothing ni the TPP that will be secret.

Take off your tinfoil hat.

[astroaddict]

Go get some more tinfoil for your hat.

[kidd]

What has Ted Cruz said about Ted Cruz’s opinion of the TPA? I would like to think that Ted Cruz has a good reason to support the TPA.

However, the article doesn’t explain this. The author uses Cruz’s name to promote the author’s opinion of the legislation. It is a bit underhanded of the author to do this.

[Jane Long]

Go get some more tinfoil for your hat.

---

Ahhh....I thought you meant it, when you said good-bye. There goes that projection thingy, you like to do, again.

(You still haven’t answered my question asking if you’re in ANY way affiliated with TPA/TPP.)

[alstewartfan]

“Welcome...Obama to the side of common sense solutions.” Anyone who reads beyond those imbecilic words of the author is indeed himself a dunderhead. STOP BEING SO STUPID!