Posted on 12/15/2014 6:23:54 PM PST by Jim Robinson
WASHINGTON — Two late-night votes in the Senate last weekend provide fodder for party activists already drawing up plans to reward loyalists and punish adversaries as the 2016 U.S. election cycle starts.
The litmus-test votes: passage of a $1.1 trillion spending bill that Democrats criticized for being too kind to big banks and campaign donors, and Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz's failed constitutional objection to President Barack Obama's immigration policy.
Pressure from the bases of both parties was strong enough that 40 senators -- 22 Democrats and 18 Republicans -- voted against the bill even though it included provisions to pay for America's national defense, cancer research and food safety. Those could spawn any number of 30-second attack ads in a general election.
But senators are more worried now about primaries and their more ideology-driven voters.
Of the 23 Republican senators up for re-election in 2016, 16 voted for Cruz's parliamentary objection, known as a point of order, against what he called Obama's "amnesty." Two of them, Rand Paul and Marco Rubio, are -- like Cruz -- considering presidential bids.
"They know what voters want to hear," Cruz aide Amanda Carpenter said of Republicans who voted with her boss. "God forbid we do what people want us to do."
Some conservative activists issued warnings to senators in real time as they cast their ballots. For instance, the Senate Conservatives Fund, a leading player in Republican primaries, fired off a Tweet Saturday night criticizing Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., who is up for re-election in 2016, for opposing Cruz.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
They’re idiots if they think their votes don’t count with US.
No sweeter boot would be sending Ayotte packing in 16. She’s a vindictive two faced RINO attack wench for the elderly establishment turncoats.
They are on record as supporting Obama’s executive amnesty and fully funding ObamaCare if they voted against Cruz and for Reid. They lied when they were running for re-election, and that’s good for the voters to know next time they run.
“included provisions to pay for America’s national defense, cancer research and food safety.”
Hmmm. Interesting. In my copy of the constitution I can’t seem to find anything discussing how the federal government has authority over cancer research or food safety. Maybe I have an older version or something.
Ayotte is about as useless as Shaheen. But that’s NH.
If I was a senator, I would park a turd right in McConnel’s desk drawer with a note saying “Returned gift from the American people”. I’d also leave a similar present on the Oval Office rug for Barry to step in the next time he decides to leave the golf course.
Is there nobody in Washington except Cruz who will stand up for the American people, and do what is right? Anyone who will denounce the illegal scum, the race pimp rodeo clowns, the insane King Bokassabama?
America needs a heeeeerrrooooo
Yeah, she needs a true patriot to whoop all the libs
She needs a heerrooooo
I wanna junk all the libbies and so do you
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