Posted on 06/23/2015 4:29:02 AM PDT by Leto
As a general matter, I agree (as did Ronald Reagan) that free trade is good for America; when we open up foreign markets, it helps American farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers. But TPA in this Congress has become enmeshed in corrupt Washington backroom deal-making, along with serious concerns that it would open up the potential for sweeping changes in our laws that trade agreements typically do not include. Since the Senate first voted on TPA, there have been two material changes. First, WikiLeaks subsequently revealed new troubling information regarding the Trade in Services Agreement, or TiSA, one of the trade deals being negotiated by Obama. Despite the administration’s public assurances that it was not negotiating on immigration, several chapters of the TiSA draft posted online explicitly contained potential changes in federal immigration law. TPA would cover TiSA, and therefore these changes would presumably be subject to be fast-track. When TPA last came up for a vote, both Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL)80% and I introduced amendments that would have barred fast-track treatment for any trade agreement that attempted to impact immigration law. Two other Republican senators objected, and we were both denied votes on our amendments. Instead, the House inserted substantially weaker language in related legislation.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
I’m disoriented, combative and confused about this. Didn’t Cruz come out last week on this Forum to say the deal was good, along with Paul Ryan and a slew of Republicans? What the heck is fact and fiction here?
Here’s the real truth: In Fox News poll governing entry into the debates, Cruz was in 9th place at 4% with Carly Fiorini at 2%.
I guess he figured out that Jeb had the “pro-flood the nation with immigrants” vote sewed up.
He has seriously injured his candidacy and sent his supporters to others with whom they are comfortable. Right now it appears to be a Bush/Walker race.
One thing that needs to be clarified. The trade bills are only secret while they’re being negotiated and still in draft format.
Under TPA they are made public prior to the Congressional debate on passage. I think it’s something like 60 days prior to the passage vote, but I could be wrong.
The key issue here, IMHO, is that TPA removed the ability to filibuster the bill in the Senate. That means that TPA is the Cloture vote for trade agreements. It’s the part of TPA that really needs to go.
Baloney. Cruz knew what was in those trade bills. Or he is a liar. He said he read them. And since those bills were specifically mentioned in the TPA, he voted to fast track them.
No, Cruz changed his mind because the money stopped flowing. For the last week I have been getting desperate e-mails from Ted and Heidi begging me to contribute to their campaign. I have responded by saying that since he decided to vote for TPA, I will not be sending him another dime.
Instead of making excuses for Ted, maybe you should spend some time apologizing to all the freepers you belittled on the other threads. Maybe you should admit that YOU WERE WRONG.
I almost never see that on Free Republic.
Ted Cruz is going to do the right thing, but for the wrong reason. But maybe he has learned that his friends in the elitist GOP and their corporate allies are his enemies.
Makes the browser on my iPad crash. I got so tired of it that I went out and bought a cheap android tablet. This let’s me run a browser with AdBlock so that Breitbart is tolerable.
I’d boycott Breitbart, but I haven’t found a good alternative site with breaking news updates and conservative comments. Freerepublic.com used you be that place, but after the great purges of the last two elections and after the overzealous sidebar moderator was installed, it’s become almost useless for timely news updates. I routinely see Breitbart stories appear in the Front Page or Breaking News sidebars 1 or 2 days after they are first posted on Breitbart.
TPP is the trade bill. Cruz hasn’t come out on it one way or another.
TPA, which Cruz supported and now doesn’t, is the process for moving trade bills through Congress. It would apply to TPP, but also every trade bill introduced for the next 7-8 years (I think).
Doesn’t help people browsing with tablets, which is an increasing percentage. Breitbart doesn’t even relent on the mobile version of their site.
Stay strong, Norm.
I don’t see any other choice among the DOZENS of others in the running. I’m trying to forget their names even.
Blazing fast loads, anywhere I go, even on my old netbook with just 2 gig or RAM.
My take as well. I like Cruz on the issues but his political instincts can be a bit lacking. I can think of no reason to give Obama more power regardless of the issue.
In the lead article for this thread, Cruz says himself that TPA was rotten, corrupted by deal-making in Congress.
What about being corrupt didn’t he know the first time around?
Because if he didn’t recognize it the first time around, he’s admitting he’s just a neophyte with Congress.
I am laughing at all the haters who likely didn’t read Cruz explanation and are against him before and after.
Here’s the real truth: In Fox News poll governing entry into the debates, Cruz was in 9th place at 4% with Carly Fiorini at 2%.
I guess he figured out that Jeb had the “pro-flood the nation with immigrants” vote sewed up.
He has seriously injured his candidacy and sent his supporters to others with whom they are comfortable. Right now it appears to be a Bush/Walker race.
^^THAT^^
I am laughing at all the haters who likely didn’t read Cruz explanation and are against him before and after.
Haters? The only haters are the ones who consistently bashed those of us for being AGAINST this cr@pola. We were called trolls for not blindly supporting Sen Cruz.
Who’s laughing, now?
Look at this video.
And again it demonstrates that there is no perfect candidate.
I don't have any problem at all voting for someone who is right on a lot more things than he is wrong on. This includes Cruz, Walker, Perry, Jindal and probably a few others.
If that's just not good enough for you, God bless ya, but then, get used to seeing Jeb! on the ticket.
Whole lotta consumerism and Cruz bashing going on. I guess they want Jeb. smh.
Do you still support TPA?
You obviously have reading comprehension issues....
Cruz supported the original TPA, but per his words, EXTRA items were added by the powers that be that made him reconsider.
That is fair. So, like I predicted, this “change” by Cruz wouldn’t be good enough for the trolls.
Question...where is Perry and Walker on this new TPA?
I was donating to Cruz, arguing for Cruz on every issue. And then he hit us with his double-down-dare-ya on the H1B visa. Then he told us TPA was clean as the driven snow...even though WE knew it meant easy access for Obama to a flood of immigration via TPP.
I wrote them and told them they were wrong. An intermediary said they'd get back with me. They didn't. They dug in to their position.
I'm here to tell you Cruz shot himself in the foot and has probably irreparably injured his candidacy. He's at 4% in the first debate poll that Fox will use to provide entry to the debate. They will allow the first 10 into the debate. Cruz stands now at #9.
Not only was I not a hater, I was a fired up supporter. Then my candidate told me to take a hike.
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