A Cruz Missile Launch, Like a Light, Shows the Cockroaches Scurrying

Erick Erickson September 24th, 2013

“Ted Cruz and Mike Lee have, whether they can muster the support or not in this round, ensured the GOP cannot begin collaborating with the Democrats to fix what the voters want repealed.”

A curious moment happened on Fox News Sunday. Chris Wallace told Karl Rove that a number of Republicans in Congress had sent him opposition research on Ted Cruz once Fox announced Cruz would be on.

Rove responded. He said this was all happening because Cruz and Mike Lee had not worked out strategy in the regular Senate Republican Conference lunches on Thursdays. Rove said that was what was supposed to happen. Except that for a year now, Senate Republicans have routinely leaked the proceedings of those meetings to the New York Times and Washington Post in ways designed to harm Cruz, Lee, and others who side with them……Had Lee and Cruz approached their Senate colleagues, they would have been dismissed. I can say this confidently because it has happened repeatedly and since their election to the Senate their Republican colleagues have routinely taken to “on background” leaks assailing them……

Rove…..simply disagrees with their strategy and has been very vocal about how terrible he thinks it is. But the strategy is actually quite marvelous and Rove has to be smart enough to what is actually going on. Now it is time for everyone else to see the bigger picture...........To Read More...

My Take – Years ago I remember reading about Senator Hughie Long, who was the former governor of Louisiana, nicknamed the “Kingfisher”.  The Senate has a long tradition for newly elected Senators.  During your first term - sit down and shut up. 

Hughie Long had created quite a stir when he went to the Senate because his first days there he walked around the Senate shaking everyone’s hand telling them “the Kingfishers in town and things are going to change!”  And things did.  There was serious discussion of him running against FDR  for POTUS - and there were doubts that FDR would get the nomination of his own party in favor of Long.  The only difference here is that Long would have been even worse than FDR. 

One thing is clear.  Cruz is clearly the brightest pebble in the brook or they wouldn’t be attacking him from so many quarters or behind the scenes.  This man scares them for a number of reasons.  

•  One - He’s a lot smarter than the rest.   
• Two - He can articulate his views intelligently and calmly.   
• Three - His views are plain common sense, which resonates with the average person.   
• Four - He clearly gives the impression of being unafraid to stand up for what he believes to be right.   
• Five - His passion demonstrates his actions are not about him, but about what’s right for the nation.    
• Six, - This may be the most important - there doesn’t seem to be anything in this man’s background that can be used against him.  
• Seven -  They’re scared of him.  

To quote another article linked today: 

"We are seeing the same dynamic play out with the defund battle. Senator Ted Cruz came to Washington to actually change the game. He plans to follow through with his campaign promises.

 

What a novel idea. 

 

He plans to take an unpopular law and actually oppose it when it really counts. Not surprisingly, John McCain, Bob Corker and the backbencher progressives are hyperventilating. But once again, we hear only crickets from the minority leader, except for a few parsed statements indicating that he opposes the defund effort in general, parts of Obamacare are “okay,” and that his standalone delay bill – which will never force the issue – Is the true way to defund Obamacare."

I suspect the attacks will increase incrementally as we approach 2014 midterms, and skyrocket in 2015. The 2014 may see startling changes in the makeup of the U.S. Congress and if that happens, the Senate's old bulls may find themselves being abandoned by their colleagues and 2016 may be an even bigger shock....when they aren’t there any longer. 

Oh...one more thing. Can anyone name one prediction made by Rove that actually happened? The man and his chalkboard are way over rated, along with Dick Morris.