How Big Is the Ted Cruz Caucus? (very interesting analysis)

blogs.rollcall.com ^ | 12/14/14 | Steven Dennis

[cotton1706]

It’s a question that will prove crucial next year when Mitch McConnell takes the reins of a new Senate: Just how big is the Ted Cruz caucus?

Three votes on the “cromnibus” late Saturday night suggest it could be as large as 22 senators — a dangerously high number for McConnell — or as few as a handful.

Let’s break down the three votes — on filibustering the $1.1 trillion package, on Cruz’s point of order aimed at targeting the president’s immigration action, and final passage.

The high-water mark for the Texas Republican came on his point of order vote, which 22 Republicans backed. While that represented a thumping, it could also be seen as a show of strength against the McConnell forces. Just 20 Republicans, including McConnell Republican Whip John Cornyn of Texas voted against Cruz; three did not vote.

Cruz’s point of order itself basically contended that the underlying bill was unconstitutional because it didn’t block President Barack Obama’s immigration action. Many Republicans, including Cruz, say they oppose the immigration action but don’t think the cromnibus itself is unconstitutional.

On final passage of the cromnibus, 18 Republicans voted no.

But only 12 Republicans joined Cruz in both votes for both his point of order and against the cromnibus. They are: Sens. Michael D. Crapo of Idaho, Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, Mike Lee of Utah, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Rob Portman of Ohio, Jim Risch of Idaho, Marco Rubio of Florida, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Jeff Sessions of Alabama, Richard C. Shelby of Alabama and David Vitter of Louisiana.

[cotton1706]

There will be nine new republican senators on January 6th. How many of these will side with Cruz and how many with the McConnellites? Daines(MT), Ernst(IA), Cassidy(LA), Tillis(NC), Cotton(AR), Sullivan(AK), Lankford(OK), Rounds(SD), Gardner(CO).

In addition a number of these, how many of those up for reelection in 2016 will side with Cruz here and there to cover themselves. And how often will Cruz force them take sides.

McConnell is probably in for a miserable two years.

[2ndDivisionVet]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3237123/posts

[marron]

I hope fewer. Can’t they replace him at first opportunity?

[cotton1706]

Thanks. Missed another one. I’m losing my touch.

[Da Coyote]

The Cruz caucus had better grow in power and kick McDorkell out so hard he lands on his Obamahole in Kansas.

The GOP is dead to me until he and his alcoholic idiot bro Boehner are not only out of power, but have to beg to get a lobbyist to f*rt in their general direction.

Those two are slime. Purse slime. Almost Obama and Clinton level slime.

[SCHROLL]

McConnell and the rest of the present leadership should be told to stand down or be embarrassed by being beaten in a vote for their present posts or having these 22 Senators refuse to caucus with the GOP with him and his toadies at the helm.

[MtnClimber]

We need to allpy strong pressure. No more Boner, no more McConnels.

[VerySadAmerican]

I wish Cruz would start a third party and those other 22 senators join him. The rinos vote with the democrats every time.

[Regulator]

McConnell is probably in for a miserable two years

It's cool. All he's gotta do is steer some more cash towards Paul Chao and then get outta town unindicted.

A guy who ends up worth 17 million after being in government his whole life really only has one thing in mind.

[Nifster]

I hope that Ted’s caucus just grows and grows.

I stand with Ted

[Bluestocking]

After Obama issued his Executive Amnesty edict and it was endorsed by Congress yesterday, along with everything else Obama wanted, in the CRomnibus bill, we’re living in a dictatorship.

So it doesn’t matter how many votes Ted Cruz or Mitch McConnell or any other Republican can amass. Congress will be either a rubber stamp for Obama’s edicts, like the Soviet Politburo was when Stalin was in power; or, if Ted Cruz can amass enough votes, maybe he and his supporters can throw a tantrum and shut down the government, but it won’t mean anything now that Obama’s budget has been passed and his programs have been funded.

Obama no longer has delusions of grandeur that he’s Emperor of America, because he is. Instead, it’s we who have lost our minds and have delusions that our representatives in Washington have any power to work on our behalf.

[freedumb2003]

>>I hope fewer. Can’t they replace him at first opportunity?<<

A;ways nice to hear from the eGOP.

How is your Master Boehner treating you these days?

[freedumb2003]

>>I hope fewer. Can’t they replace him at first opportunity?<<

Unless you meant something different than the OP thesis...

[bigbob]

Needs more keywords...

But seriously, the one thing I think would help more than anything is to rejuvenate the Tea Party machine to confront sitting Republican Senators who were not up for re-election last month every single time they set foot in their districts. If they feared the conservative vote as much as they fear McConnell and the deal-makers in the Senate, I think Cruz’s Caucus would gain members, especially those who flipped on this issue.

[huckfillary]

I’ve said it a thousand times-—nothing is going to happen, nothing is going to change. We are so f****d. The Dems and the GOPe have the money, the power, the votes, and all but completely control the organs of propaganda, i.e. the media and academia. They brook no meaningful opposition. There is no lie they will not tell, no crime they will not commit to maintain power. The lowest rings of hell await these maggots and parasites.

[oblomov]

What about Sasse? He was a tea party favorite. Quite an interesting background: military service, Harvard AB, Yale PhD, McKinsey, university president, and now the US Senate...

[lodi90]

The TEA brand is damaged and not necessary. A more general anti beltway movement would be harder for the Dems and RINOs to target. The focus on removoing Boehner & McConnell is wrong. This has to up bottom up movement if we are to restore the Republic. Remove the careerist fake conservatives in Congress and Boehner or his RINO successor will be gone.

I think term limits are a good place to start. Attack now and put some fear in them. Until the beltway careerists fear Main Street nothing will change.

[marron]

I was referring to the last line of post #1 McConnell is probably in for a miserable two years.

I'm would love to see McConnell defenestrated when the new senate comes in.

[PubliusMM]

Once again, Rob Portman surprises me. Never figured him to side with Cruz, as he’s been such a weeny party-boy up to this point.
It’ll take a lot more that these two votes, though, to convince anyone he’s changed his spots...

[marron]

For me, its Cruz or Cruz. My connection to the GOP grows more tenuous by the day. This may be the last hurrah.