Posted on 09/26/2015 11:01:59 AM PDT by Isara
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a persistent thorn in the side of Republican congressional leadership, basked in the news Friday that House Speaker John Boehner was resigning.
As Cruz spoke at an annual meeting of social conservatives in Washington, the speaker was at the Capitol, making official what had surfaced earlier Friday: that he was stepping down at the end of next month amid GOP infighting on the Hill.
By the time Cruz took the stage at the Family Research Council's Value Voters Summit, he barely had to mention the Ohio Republican's name before drawing loud applause.
“You want to know how much you terrify Washington?" Cruz asked the crowd. "Yesterday John Boehner was speaker of the House."
"Y'all come to town and somehow that changes. My only request is: Can you come more often?" Cruz added, turning offstage to Family Research Council head Tony Perkins and suggesting weekly meetings of the group.
Speaking with reporters after the speech, Cruz warned Boehner against surrendering to Democrats before leaving Congress.
"I will say the early reports are discouraging," Cruz said, according to video from the Democratic opposition research group American Bridge. "If it is correct that the speaker, before he resigns, has cut a deal with Nancy Pelosi to fund the Obama administration for the rest of its tenure, to fund Obamacare, to fund executive amnesty, to fund Planned Parenthood, to fund implementation of this Iran deal, and then presumably to land a cushy K Street job after joining with the Democrats to implement all of President Obama’s priorities — that is not the behavior one would expect of the Republican speaker of the House."
Formally announcing his resignation later Friday, Boehner rebuffed the idea he would capitulate on his way out. "I'm going to make the same decisions I would've made" before deciding to step down, he told reporters at the U.S. Capitol.
While Cruz has avoided direct attacks on Boehner, the senator has a record of prodding House Republicans into confrontations with their leaders. In private, the speaker has reportedly done little to hide his disdain for Cruz, calling the senator a "jackass" at an August fundraiser.
At the Value Voters Summit, U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine, R-Okla., introduced Cruz by tying Boehner's resignation to the senator's arrival in Washington three years ago.
"The good news is we're going to get new leadership in the House of Representatives, and I want to share with you why that's happening," said Bridenstine, who has endorsed Cruz for president. "It's happening because there was a newly elected senator who showed up and he started articulating principles that were consistent with the Republican platform and he started exposing the fact that Republicans over and over again were continuing to fund things with [continuing resolutions] that were antithetical to the beliefs of the people in this very room."
Cruz went on to deliver a more boisterous stump speech than usual, opening with new jokes about Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama. He cracked that with Chinese President Xi Jinping in D.C. to see Obama, the media was clamoring to cover the "historic meeting of the world's most powerful communist — and the president of China." On Clinton, Cruz continued to poke fun at the ethical cloud hanging over her campaign and Democratic disagreements about how many primary debates to have.
"You know, in a few months, we may see the first presidential debate held at Leavenworth," Cruz said, referring to the Kansas prison. "You know, if they can project a rainbow on the White House, maybe they can put bars on the windows."
Cruz is truly a great conservative. Thanks Ted for all you did!!
Go, Cruz, GO!!
Cruz is the best and we just got rid of one of the worst Establishment Country-Club republicans ever.
GO TED GO!
Bask, Cruz, bask!
One down, one to go
Ted Cruz, Senate Majority Leader up next
“Boehner rebuffed the idea he would capitulate on his way out. “I’m going to make the same decisions I would’ve made””
That would mean he will continue to “capitulate” to the democrats as long as he’s there. Why can’t he just stay home starting Monday, I’m sure Hale, Boggs can make room for him, give him an office next to fellow rino Trent Lott, former Republican Senate majority leader. Liar McConnell next.
Boehner is really going to screw us on the way out the door with the Iran deal, with PP, and who knows what else.
Piece of garbage.
TED IS 100% A CLASS ACT !!!!!!!!!!!!
From Dennis Miller:
“Boehner tears up more frequently than a sous chef peeling onions while watching “Terms of Endearment” in a Lasik Surgery recovery room.”
LOL!
Now; if they’ll only NOT pick Boehner II for his replacement.
If the GOPe has anything to say about it, the next one will be worse.
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>> “I’m going to make the same decisions I would’ve made” before deciding to step down, he told reporters at the U.S. Capitol. <<
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That’s what we’re worried about Johnny boy.
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>> “Ted Cruz, Senate Majority Leader up next” <<
Nope!
President Ted Cruz up next!
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Will they wise up and give us true leadership?
Amen! From your keyboard to God's ears!
I don’t think enough credit is being given to Trump’s candidacy here. Do you really believe that boehner would be resigning if it weren’t for the rise of Trump? He has blown a hole in the gope and exposed them for what they are. Any member of congress that claims to be a conservative knows he/she better show some credibility if they ever want to be re-elected as a conservative. I don’t know if Trump will be elected or even nominated, but I believe this next election is a do or die moment for the conservative movement and America. And the whole election will be influenced by what Trump has already done as a candidate.
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