What if Ted Cruz is right (on immigration)?

Washington Post ^ | February 21, 2013 | Chris Cillizza

[Seizethecarp]

Here’s (in part) what he said:

“I don’t believe President Obama wants an immigration bill to pass, instead I think he wants a political issue. His objective is to push so much on the table that he forces Republicans [to] walk away from the table because then he wants to use that issue in 2014 and 2016 as a divisive wedge issue.”

To be clear, we have no reason to think the president is up to some sort of grand Machiavellian scheme to destroy Republicans’ chances with Hispanics in the medium and long term at the expense of passing a reform of the nation’s immigration system this year. But, what if that’s the end result of all of this back and forth on immigration?

If comprehensive immigration reform appears to be withering on the vine in the next few months — whether due to policy disagreements or, in Cruz’s formulation, due to Obama’s grander political strategy — Republicans will be left with two unappealing options.

1. Cut a deal no matter what.

2. Walk away.

[Seizethecarp]

Cillizza knows darn well Cruz is right because tanking immigration reform got Obama elected and re-elected!

[GeronL]

The last thing the GOP needs is to pander to foreigners over taxpayers

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Ted Cruz is right.

Sarah Palin needs to forget about John McCain this time. IMHO her dues are paid. In full.

Then Sarah Palin needs to drop by Ted Cruz’s place.

Just saying. :)

[muawiyah]

Actually, failure to rally Republican voters to turn out for the election resulted in Obama's win ~ and the loss of 12 or so GOP-e candidates for Senate.

[ClearCase_guy]

Obama follows this strategy all the time. It creates a "can't lose" situation for him --

2013 -- "I want full amnesty, plus $200,000 annual income for any illegal immigrant, for life."

GOP response: This is ridiculous. We can't pass that bill.

2014 Campaign -- "I tried to control illegal immigration. We were just that close to agreement, but in the end, the Republicans were just too stubborn. They would not bend. They wanted it all, and refused to negotiate. That is why we need to elect more Democrats, so that reasonable policies can return to Washington."

Media -- "Her's right, you know."

[RoosterRedux]

we have no reason to think the president is up to some sort of grand Machiavellian scheme to destroy Republicans’ chances with Hispanics

Cruz is being clever. He knows the President has every reason to be up to a grand Machiavellian scheme.

Obama is a skunk...or worse. Much worse actually.

Cruz knows it and so does half of Congress. But Cruz is willing to speak the truth...and no one else is.

That's why they call it leadership!

[jsanders2001]

Ted Cruz calling Obama out at his own game and letting him know that he knows what he’s up to. I like this guy.

[jwalsh07]

Majorities of Americans want illegals deported. There is no hue and cry for amnesty. In fact there is a hue and cry against amnesty but neither democrats nor republicans give a crap.

[Reddon]

Sarah Palin needs to forget about John McCain this time.

At least she could stop going way, way out of her way to slobber all over him at every opportunity. I would love to see a Palin Cruz ticket for 2016 I don't care if it's Republican or third party at this point.

[SatinDoll]

“In fact there is a hue and cry against amnesty but neither democrats nor republicans give a crap.”

Correct! The Democrat Party sees new liberal voters and the Republican Party sees cheap immigrant labor.

[SueRae]

Yes he is. And he’s very good at it. Fearless, too. I’m very much okay with his approach.

[Gene Eric]

>> Actually, failure to rally Republican voters

Obama’s victories are largely tied to the existence, activities, and votes of the GOP Establishment.

[sickoflibs]

RE :Cruz : ”I don’t believe President Obama wants an immigration bill to pass, instead I think he wants a political issue. His objective is to push so much on the table that he forces Republicans [to] walk away from the table because then he wants to use that issue in 2014 and 2016 as a divisive wedge issue.”
Cruz’s criticism centers on Obama’s insistence on the need for a path to citizenship for undocumented workers to be included in any legislation — a proposal that he says is directed at “scuttling” the bill.”

Cruz is pretty sharp from what I have seen of him so far.
His words are always careful to not help Democrats and instead to hurt them, unlike a few others. He doesn't talk stupid and give the Dems and MSM ammunition to use to win and get what they want. Instead he sets out to hurt them.

He is no Sharon Angle or Tod Akin.

Cavuto did a segment the other day showing how Rubio/McCain/Schumer amnesty jumps illegals way ahead of the line of those immigrants who follow the legal path. They not only get to stay here while the others wait to come in but they get citizenship first too,

When McCain was asked at a town hall on why we should give illegals path to citizenship/voting and he replied "Because I am a Christian".
Is that the perfect Obama answer or what?

[Cringing Negativism Network]

My preference is GOP, though there is a boring old fuddy-duddy in the prime seat at the moment, leading me to strongly say I would not (in the least) mind Palin choose another seat altogether, to make a quality run of this.

Picking up Ted Cruz as her major number 2.

That would have to happen pretty quickly though, to make it really work.

Just saying. It could really work though.

[Seizethecarp]

“Actually, failure to rally Republican voters to turn out for the election resulted in Obama’s win ~ and the loss of 12 or so GOP-e candidates for Senate.”

In 2008 compared to 2004 the swing of Hispanic voters from George Bush to Obama was equal to the entire Obama gain over Kerry’s performance.

In 2012, Hispanics were holding back from voting until Obama’s unilateral “Dream” executive non-enforcement order. It is estimated that this helped push FL, CO and NV into Obama’s electoral column.

Romney got more votes than McCain and won all of the white demographics over age 40. It was the single women (mostly minority) and those under 40 who get their news on the Comedy Channel and HBO that really gave 2012 to Obama from my reading of the exit demographics.

[TexasFreeper2009]

to which the citizen should of replied...

so if the Chinese put 400,000,000 people on ships and start dropping them off on our shores... must we make them all citizens too.. “because we are Christians?!”

[TexasFreeper2009]

I must have missed that day in Sunday school when they taught that Christianity was a civilizational suicide pact!

/s

[muawiyah]

The exit polling was seriously flawed ~ it was too thin to make many of the claims they advance.

Be that as it may the MACRO numbers are much more important. McCain and Romney got FEWER VOTES than George Bush!

Obama got more votes than any Democrat candidate ever in 2008, but he also lost several million voters in 2012.

I think the answer for the Democrat drop was simple demographics ~ blacks die sooner than whites, and the Boomers are falling down all around us now!

The Republican answer is more complex than that ~ sure the Boomers are dying off now ~ poor kids eh ~ but it's that drop after Bush that should concern us the most. Population growth still happened and we should have gotten more votes in 2008 than we did in 2004.

There's some indication the old Rockefeller Republican faction stopped voting for Republican candidates when McCain ran. These are, in fact, Romney's own peeps! They undoubtedly came back in 2012, but somebody else dropped out ~ possibly RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES!

Long term unemployment, or marginal employment at minimum wage hardly makes someone like Romney popular among them.

[Reddon]

Reason I would like to see third party is look at how Republican party already is starting to join Democrats in trying to take out Ted Cruz. Same as they did to Palin. I think the only way this country is ever going to get a chance to vote for a Palin or a Ted Cruz for President is if they head up a third party. They may not win the first time, but I bet they get more votes than the Republican candidate and who knows they could even win. Even if a third party lost on the first try it would be a more valiant effort than our last pathetic election effort.

[Gene Eric]

>> To be clear, we have no reason to think the president is up to some sort of grand Machiavellian scheme

These Marxists ass-kissers never inserted such caveats when discussing matters involving Republican Presidencies.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

This only works as long as the Media is in Obama’s Corner—But that will not always be the case...

[veracious]

Ill. Immigration is allowed in order to make up for all the USA children who were aborted. Please note that a civiliation is unsustainable with a birth rate as low as USA has today.

>50 million ill. imm. verses >50 abortions; think about it.

[21st Century Crusader]

From what I’ve seen, Ted Cruz has shown more intelligence, gonads and backbone in two months than the weeper of the house, Boehner, has shown in the past four years.

[Sgt_Schultze]

Don’t be preposterous. Just because much of the world’s population is poorer and more deserving than the Mexicans who steal into this country is no reason to believe they would be welcomed with open arms. Only those people who come from a country lucky enough to share a border with the US can freely stream across. They are only here trying to provide for their families.

[Sgt_Schultze]

Very true. And the quest to make them citizens is a last ditch effort to extend the death date of the Ponzi Security system. Without the tax “contributions” of the 50 million lost Americans, the current system may collapse on the watch of politicians you know who may still be alive when it happens.

[Waryone]

I can’t say for certain what the “stupid” party sees because as soon as these invaders are given legality, all cheap labor goes out the window. They will have to be paid minimum wage by law. They will have to appear on the books. Employers will have to pay taxes and provide the same health insurance. These newly legal people will be able to sue if you don’t pay them the same and provide them with the same benefits other Americans receive. Increased labor costs do not provide cheap immigrant labor.

So anyone who believes that is the republican reason for amnesty is dead wrong. The only reason I can see for RINOs supporting amnesty is the same reason that the democrats want amnesty — they desire more democrat voters. Which leads to the understanding that RINOs = DIABLOs, Republicans in Name Only = Democrats in All But Label Only.

[Waryone]

I am a christian too, but I do recall the Bible being specific about obeying the laws. Also, as a christian, I have no right to give away something that does not belong to me. I am a citizen, but I cannot bestow citizenship on anyone but my child. The idea that I can hand over national sovereignty to anyone I choose because my religion says to do it, goes against what I was taught.

As an individual, there are many things I can do to help those I believe are less fortunate. I can donate my money, time and abilities to help others. But, as an individual, I cannot donate this country. God told us as christians to help others. We can even join together with other christians to help. But as individuals, we can’t just give the entire country to foreign invaders because a few of us think that is what the Bible says.

[AuntB]

“When McCain was asked at a town hall on why we should give illegals path to citizenship/voting and he replied “Because I am a Christian”.
Is that the perfect Obama answer or what? “

How did I miss that one? It’s A holes like McCain that give Christians a bad name!

[sickoflibs]

RE :“When McCain was asked at a town hall on why we should give illegals path to citizenship/voting and he replied “Because I am a Christian”.
Is that the perfect Obama answer or what? “
.......
How did I miss that one? It’s A holes like McCain that give Christians a bad name!”

Here's the exact context I think : Why are we not going to deport immigrants who have been living in the country for over 40 years? “Because we are a Judeo-Christian nation,” McCain affirmed. Mass deportation is contrary to our values.
John McCain Gets Tough on Immigration by Janelle Tupper 02-20-2013 | 9:56am

Here's where he makes illegals out to be a huge benefit to this country at the same meeting:
John McCain Defends Immigration Reform in HEATED Town Hall Meeting. MUST SEE .(youtube, Feb 20, 2013 )

From link: Some of the reaction, however, was negative: Some audience members shouted out their disapproval. One man yelled that only guns would discourage illegal immigration. Another man complained that illegal immigrants should never be able to become citizens or vote. A third man said illegal immigrants were illiterate invaders who wanted free government benefits. McCain urged compassion. “We are a Judeo-Christian nation,” he said.

[sickoflibs]

Watching McCain in action I see his main act is :
“We must give illegals citizenship (the vote) because we cant deport them all as we are a Judeo-Christian nation”

Just because we cant deport them all they have to be able to vote? This argument makes no sense to me.

[AuntB]

ICE is too dysfunctional to handle what they have...Amnesty will be a disaster, just as former INS agent Mike Cutler stated in congressional testimony in 2007:

“Look, last year U.S. CIS, the division of DHS that gives out citizenship and immigration benefits, claimed that they lost — are you ready for this — 111,000 immigration files and then went ahead and naturalized 30,000 aliens without their files. “

http://towncriernews.blogspot.com/search?q=lost+files

[Impy]

Walker/Cruz 2016?

[sickoflibs]

RE :”Walker/Cruz 2016?”

Yup, Cruz would be great as a VP candidate, he knows how to go for the kill without saying stupid stuff.

Once again I heard myself copied.
This week's show Capital Gang at the end a couple of them who don't like him said that he is ‘very, very smart’, that he is dangerous because he is a very smart demi-god. It was a bit of honesty..

I can see the liberals really dislike him hearing some grumbling on MSNBC against him, but him giving them no material to use against him, unlike morons like Akin who gets praised by a few clueless fools for helping Dems win.