The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Actual GOP Leadership On Display

Posted on | March 9, 2014 | 20 Comments

by Smitty

In stark contrast to the Vichy GOP propping up the wrong side of history, here we have a clip of Ted Cruz telling a smarmy little mongrelish semihuman reporter that, if the will of the people is expressed strongly enough, Democrats could in fact put a stake in the undead heart of ObamaCare:

We must all respect the calmness with which Ted Cruz treats Beltway wisdom like a urinal cake.

via Rare

UPDATE: Ted Cruz differentiates himself from Rand Paul on foreign policy. I don’t think there is a substantial difference between their views; it’s mostly stylistic. In reality, international power abhors vacuum, and the U.S. either fills that void, or stands by like a gaping Obama while less savory figures like Putin do.

What truly inspires about Cruz, however, is his rhetorical command. Stacy McCain says, and all of these blow-dried codpiece media idiots do, “The only way that a journalist should look at a politician is down the nose.” Cruz, however, is completely undaunted by any of them. Either his legal training or his debate practice (or both) seem to enable Cruz to play verbal chess three moves ahead of whatever buffoon is trying for a piece of him.

Truly inspiring stuff.

Category: Health Care, Politics, Ted Cruz

Comments

20 Responses to “Actual GOP Leadership On Display”

  1. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    March 9th, 2014 @ 3:30 pm

    Urinal cake? A very apt metaphor there!

  2. Mike G.
    March 9th, 2014 @ 3:45 pm

    Or you could say he treats Beltway wisdom like a wad of toilet paper.

  3. Shawny
    March 9th, 2014 @ 4:45 pm

    Not just his takedown of a hostile reporter, but his unflinching belief in positive change and actions at a time where there is so much defeatism, cynicism, helplessness, lack of faith in our own abilities to effect events at all. He’s a much needed and refreshing morale raiser against the Progressive propaganda machine who wish to keep us quiet and cowed.

  4. Sunday Linkfest – Thrones and Patriots | Blackmailers Don't Shoot
    March 9th, 2014 @ 4:51 pm

    […] The Other McCain: Actual GOP Leadership On Display […]

  5. Cube
    March 9th, 2014 @ 4:55 pm

    This is exactly what we told Boehner when we re-elected him in 2012 – “REPEAL Obamacare”. IIRC, he even said it himself. Now he pretends he never heard those words.

    Ted Cruz is right. We can repeal this unpopular law with a very small amount of spine, ignoring the media and Obama whining.

  6. richard mcenroe
    March 9th, 2014 @ 5:02 pm

    But…but…Rand Paul won a straw poll! He is the one!

  7. Bob Belvedere
    March 9th, 2014 @ 5:05 pm

    The Senator is too smart to let it touch his body.

  8. Rosalie
    March 9th, 2014 @ 5:06 pm

    I agree. He such a refreshing change. Because he’s not afraid to tell it like it is, he criticized for grandstanding. Maybe they’ve forgotten what it’s like for a politician to actually have principles.

  9. Rosalie
    March 9th, 2014 @ 5:09 pm

    It’s not only the media and Obama. It’s those who claim to be on our side when they’re not, and who demonized guys like Cruz and Lee.

  10. Cube
    March 9th, 2014 @ 5:33 pm

    You’re right. Anyone who views people like Cruz as a threat to their power has to go. That includes a significant part of the GOP.

    It’s not just about power. Anyone else wonder how members of congress tend to accumulate so much personal wealth on a ~$200k salary in a high cost of living area? Bring back the term “public servant”, with emphasis on ‘serve’.

  11. Dai Alanye
    March 9th, 2014 @ 7:54 pm

    In other political news, in Ohio’s 14th Congressional District, tucked in the northeast corner of the state, Matt Lynch is taking on the RINO presently squatting in Washington. This is the former district of Steve LaTourette, just about the worst Republican “moderate” during his sixteen dissolute years in the office.

    LaTourette, now a (wouldn’t you know it) lobbyist has started an organization called Mainstreet Advocacy with the intention of going after conservative Republicans, one of whom happens to be Matt Lynch.

    Lynch has held office at the local and state level, with a record of cutting expense and taxes, and presents himself well. But opposing an incumbent is always an uphill battle. If you have a couple thou lolling about in a worthless investment, I imagine he’d appreciate a donation.
    http://mattlynch.com/contribution_for_lynch.html

  12. Michael Adams
    March 9th, 2014 @ 11:24 pm

    In private conversations, he is thoroughly engaged, lively, listens(!) I think that what looks like rhetoric is just the stage version of that. A bit like My Gal Sarah, he converses with the audience. He does not speechify/stupify them.

  13. richard mcenroe
    March 10th, 2014 @ 12:16 am

    Mitch McConnell has promised in an interview to crush the Tea Party.

  14. K-Bob
    March 10th, 2014 @ 2:32 am

    “We must all respect the calmness with which Ted Cruz treats Beltway wisdom like a urinal cake.”

    Okay, calling that a ‘gem’ would be wrong. But it’s a keeper.

    ABC seems to have pulled the feed from the entire interview with Karl.

    Bonus: Looks like Breitbart has a copy of the full interview, at the link Smitty included at the “UPDATE:” section. Or just click here:

    http://landing.newsinc.com/shared/video.html?freewheel=91074&sitesection=breitbartprivate&VID=25697011

  15. Adjoran
    March 10th, 2014 @ 2:35 am

    If I’m not mistaken, he predicted incumbents would crush their opponents in three challenged primaries – his own, Pat Roberts in Kansas, and Thad Cochran in Mississippi. The Tea Party wasn’t mentioned at all, at least by McConnell.

  16. Adjoran
    March 10th, 2014 @ 2:46 am

    “Leadership.” You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

    You don’t have to be a leader to put down a moronic leftist interviewer. You just have to be able to think on your feet. That’s an admirable and useful quality, but it is NOT “leadership” by any stretch of imagination.

    Leaders build movements and coalitions to accomplish goals. You can’t lead without the respect of your colleagues. You can’t lead when you don’t even bother to attend your caucus meetings.

    Throwing red meat to mindless groupies is easy. There are always plenty of willing dupes for any grandstanding demagogue. But it’s not leadership that makes the packs run to and fro, it’s just the meat. It’s a circus trick.

    Circus tricks only qualify someone as a clown, not as a leader.

  17. Rosalie
    March 10th, 2014 @ 8:09 am

    You mentioned “circus tricks”. That pretty much describes what’s going on with the Establishment. It’s all tricks. IMO Cruz is a leader and a damn good one. If he, and others like him, had the Establishment with them instead of against them, he would be able to “build movements and accomplish goals”. Call me a “willing dupe” – and proud of it.

  18. CRUZismypick
    March 10th, 2014 @ 8:44 am

    I hope Rand Paul will drop his presidential aspirations, and clear the floor for Ted Cruz. Rand Paul simply lacks the confidence that Cruz has. Paul always looks nervous and uncomfortable, while Cruz just handles these reporters like he was swatting flies. He would eat Katie Couric alive.

  19. cmdr358
    March 10th, 2014 @ 8:34 pm

    THAT!

  20. cmdr358
    March 10th, 2014 @ 8:44 pm

    While Senator Cruz has not established himself as a leader yet, that is only because he is radically different from his “colleagues”

    When your colleagues are a bunch of clowns only interested in their own welfare, their respect will always be impossible to attain because you threaten their livelihood.