Posted on 02/16/2014 3:21:21 PM PST by SoConPubbie
Rather than allowing Senate Democrats to pass the bill with their own 55-seat majority, however, Cruz insisted on a 60-vote threshold, forcing a handful of Republicans help move the bill forward. No Senate Republicans ultimately voted to pass the legislation, but Cruz’s maneuver ruffled some feathers among his colleagues who felt he forced them to take an unpopular vote without any clear strategy to pass an alternative bill.
The Treasury Department has warned that a failure to extend the borrowing authority on time could invite a default on the nation’s debt.
Shortly after the bill passed on Wednesday, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., took a swipe at Cruz’s tactics, saying the Texas Republican had no “end game.”
Corker also praised the fortitude of Senate Republican leaders who helped advance the bill, saying they demonstrated “tremendous courage,” especially given the primary fights some of them are facing in 2014.
McCain echoed that commendation Sunday. “I appreciate our leadership voting the way that they did, even though they face primary oppositions,” he said. “There was enough of us that we move forward and put this issue behind us, and now focus on Obamacare, on the economy, on many other issues, in which we think are winning issues.”
Cruz has defended his approach to the debt ceiling vote, saying Republicans should put up or shut up if they’re so opposed to extending the U.S. borrowing authority.
“I recently had my staff print out a list of three pages of Republican senators — I might note all the people that are running around the press saying nasty things about me — saying ‘We will stand on the debt ceiling and fight for it,’” Cruz told conservative radio host Mark Levin on Thursday. “And then a few months later, it’s like they think the American people are just a bunch of rubes, that we don’t remember what they say.”
McCain and Cruz have clashed in the past, with McCain dubbing Cruz and some of his like-minded colleagues “wacko birds.” He later apologized for the label, but he’s continued to criticize Cruz’s confrontational style and tactics.
Forcing them? Was he holding a gun to their heads? we're they unable or unwilling to vote WITH Ted Cruz? Seems if he was able to force them to do anything it would be to vote WITH him...
Ted Cruz’s ‘plan’ is simple. Stop spending money we don’t have.
” - - - Cruz insisted on a 60-vote threshold, forcing a handful of Republicans help move the bill forward. - - - “
Yup. Way to go Cruz!
Keep ‘em HONEST !
BTW, didn’t Loser Emeritus John “Wacko Bird” McCain vote to stop Senator Cruz?
Why is McCain trying to split the Republican Party in the US Senate?
RINOs Senators McCain. Cornyn and McConnell tried and failed, now step aside!
I believe it’s TIME for Ted Cruz to LEAD.
You’ve been added!
And McCain does?
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