Sen. Ted Cruz: Stand up for your liberties

SANDY — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz told a cheering crowd of fellow Republicans Friday that the country can be turned around if they stand up for their liberties against what he called the "lawlessness" of the Obama administration.

As Cruz cited President Barack Obama's actions to delay enforcement of provisions of his signature health care law, there were repeated cries of "impeachment" from those gathered for the United in Utah GOP rally at the South Towne Expo Center.

Widely seen as a candidate for president in 2016, Cruz said he is "incredibly optimistic" about the future of the United States even as he hears fears expressed about the future in his travels around the country.

He predicted Republicans will retake the U.S. Senate and promised 2016 will be "even better."

Cruz praised fellow tea party supporter Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, calling him a "rock star" and one of the strongest and most passionate defenders of liberty in Washington, D.C.

Lee, who received one of the biggest cheers of the evening, said God had given Americans their rights, "but Washington is trying to take them way. And we're taking them back."

Lee, who joined Cruz to lead a fight against the Affordable Care Act last year that led to a federal government shutdown, stood before a giant American flag and urged the audience to fight efforts to limit their freedom.

Utah's junior senator also asked the hall of Republicans to support his re-election bid in 2016. Some in Washington, Lee said, including members of both political parties, don't like those who "push back" against the establishment.

The rally continued long past the scheduled 9 p.m. finish, with singers and dancers filling the time until Cruz and Lee arrived. At one point, Attorney General Sean Reyes briefly joined American Samoan dancers in their performance.

"If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures." - Alexander Hamilton

"We don't intend to turn the Republican Party over to the traitors in the battle just ended. We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all." -- President Ronald Reagan

"A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." - Thomas Paine 1792

"It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams

"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams

All of that is nice and wonderful, but the way you are actually going to stand up for freedom is to

cut the $4 trillion government by at least 80%.

The more government and laws, the less freedom. The $4 trillion federal government. THAT is THE political issue of the day. Either the Right unites behind slaying that dragon or say good-bye to Ameirca.

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