Ace of Spades HQ

September 19, 2013

Sen. Cruz Walks Back Comments, Vows To Fight In The Senate
— Gabriel Malor

On Hannity's show, Sen. Cruz walked back his suggestion that it's unlikely anything can be done in the Senate to see that the House's CR passes with the defunding language intact:

"And I can guarantee you one thing. [Sen.] Mike [Lee (R-Utah)] and I are going to fight with every breath in our body. As Churchill said, we will fight on the beaches, we will fight on the streets. We will fight at every step to stop the biggest job killer in America."

We'll see. Drew says, "There's nothing Ted Cruz or anyone in the Senate minority can do about Reid's majority."

In any case, House leadership and Sens. Cruz and Lee will hold a joint press conference at 12:30 eastern that's being billed as "damage control" for the events of the past 24 hours. We certainly need it. I'll update this post if I can find streaming video of the presser.

Update - 12:33: The defunding presser is starting right now. It's streaming here.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 07:17 AM | Comments (148)
Post contains 184 words, total size 1 kb.

1 That's a walkback? He's not saying it's going to pass, he's saying they'll fight for it. Two different things.

Posted by: joncelli at September 19, 2013 07:19 AM (RD7QR)

2 I'm on Team Cruz.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at September 19, 2013 07:19 AM (IXrOn)

3 Don't know why it's billed as damage control before it even happens or how this comment is a walk back.

Posted by: Catmman at September 19, 2013 07:20 AM (C8XlI)

4 Walk back?

I only see one walk back here and it isn't Cruz.

Posted by: Dave in Fla at September 19, 2013 07:20 AM (9/oj+)

5 yeah, there's no walk back the Beck & Levin interview is good

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at September 19, 2013 07:21 AM (IXrOn)

6 A symptom of narcissism is being unable to admit to any error, regardless of degree.
The one doing the walkback here is not Cruz.

Posted by: Kinley Ardal at September 19, 2013 07:22 AM (mJEtb)

7 Walk back? You and Obama have at least one thing in common.

Posted by: Velvet Ambition at September 19, 2013 07:23 AM (R8hU8)

8 That Daily Mail/Hillary Clinton quote is just a bone to the rainbow community for the upcoming election. Way to keep the base.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at September 19, 2013 07:23 AM (IXrOn)

If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without blood shed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves.

Winston Chuchill

Posted by: wrg500 at September 19, 2013 07:23 AM (kPeSM)

10 OT: Rep. JOrdan (R-Ohio) is taking Adm. Mullen apart in Benghazi hearing

Posted by: Ma Bell at September 19, 2013 07:24 AM (RLdcX)

11 Need to go mow my lawn. Hopefully Ace will be here by then 0_0 !

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at September 19, 2013 07:24 AM (IXrOn)

12 The only reason we would need damage control is if our esteemed Republican House majority is made of a material approaching eggshell. WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THEY ARE PUSSIES PUSSIESSSSSSS

Posted by: Yoshi, Aggrieved Victim of the White Man at September 19, 2013 07:24 AM (YNK3y)

13 Cruz said this from the beginning....ain't no walk back. He can't be blamed because others freaked out about something he said from the get go.... "Cruz was more direct in an appearance on CNN at about the same time. "We do not have the votes right now," he told the network on August 25. "I believe if we see a grassroots tsunami, that is going to cause Republicans and Democrats to listen to the people."

Posted by: Tami[/i][/b][/u][/s] at September 19, 2013 07:25 AM (bCEmE)

Seems the Boehner/Cantor Save Our Seats campaign is in full swing

Posted by: meh at September 19, 2013 07:25 AM (W2qJe)

15 Why don't you show me were in Cruz's original statement he said he was giving up or wouldn't fight. He said Reid had the votes to do what he wants. That's the truth and not the same as, "I won't try and fight".

Posted by: DrewM. at September 19, 2013 07:26 AM (1dCTA)

16 Gabe, you are indeed a masochist.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 19, 2013 07:26 AM (DmNpO)

17 How--other than your characterization--is it a walk-back from this:

Harry Reid will no doubt try to strip the defund language from the continuing resolution, and right now he likely has the votes to do so. At that point, House Republicans must stand firm, hold their ground, and continue to listen to the American people.

Posted by: RoyalOil at September 19, 2013 07:26 AM (VjL9S)

18 Nice.

Posted by: Lizzy at September 19, 2013 07:26 AM (U6BWX)

Gabe: thanks for providing Boehner's spin. I wasnt sure where he stood.

Posted by: meh at September 19, 2013 07:27 AM (W2qJe)

20 Ted Cruz last week- we need to defund Obamacare Ted Cruz yesterday - we need to defund Obamacare Ted Cruz today - we need to defund Obamacare. Gabe: Walkback!!!!11!!!!! Eleventy! Gabe's plan for tomorrow's post: Men won't date me because I am too beautiful and smart.

Posted by: Bronco Bama at September 19, 2013 07:27 AM (3p8HS)

21 Walks back comments? Whatever, Gabe.

Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at September 19, 2013 07:27 AM (tmzN0)

22 No, Gabe. He "walked back" YOUR characterization of his comments. Just in case you missed it.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff at September 19, 2013 07:27 AM (pqBkB)

23 GOP theme song: Bonaparte's Retreat

Posted by: VADM (Red) Cuthbert Collingwood (Mentioned in Despatches) at September 19, 2013 07:28 AM (YLI2v)

24 But, but, but, Gabe's crystal ball did not call for this! Must be a mistake.

Posted by: Lincolntf at September 19, 2013 07:28 AM (ZshNr)

25 OT comedy relief:

A Saudi cleric was caught on video tantalizing his many listeners with an account of just how many Â“black-eyed virginsÂ” they get in the afterlife Â— and he also shared what he believes will happen to the Â“earthlyÂ” wives of the men.

Â“If you get married in this world, then [in paradise], you get your wife from this world, along with 70 black-eyed virgins with whom you are allowed to have sex, and each of these 70 virgins comes with 70 servant girls,Â” the cleric said with a smile. Â“So how many women do you get? ThatÂ’s the minimum.Â”

Seventy times 70 is 4,900.

Posted by: WalrusRex at September 19, 2013 07:28 AM (XUKZU)

26 Not sure what the big issue is here. There is nothing that can be done in the Senate without democratic help and we ain't getting any of this. Make a good show of it -Yes, Make an argument so we put obama on the defensive- Yes, but ultimately we all know this is headed for stalemate. So our job is to set the stage for that stalemate

Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 19, 2013 07:28 AM (9Xc5j)

27 Cruz and lee need to show they are fighting. I think they have been all along. But the realities have not changed. The battle is in the house. Cruz and lee are using their senatorial platforms, political skills, and conservative ideology to move the house in a direction the house doesn't want to move. Nothing wrong with that.

Posted by: SH at September 19, 2013 07:28 AM (iReEb)

28 skip

Posted by: Y-not at September 19, 2013 07:28 AM (5H6zj)

29 On a completely unrelated subject, Mullen and Pickering are getting the crap kicked out of them at the Benghazi hearings. Mullen just admitted to Rep. Jordan that he was briefing Clinton and Cheryl Mills about their investigation before the report went public. This is getting heated.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 19, 2013 07:29 AM (g1DWB)

this constant unwillingness of Gabe's to engage with DrewM in debate is emblematic of the problem we face with the surrender caucus of the party.

No ideas, but lots of complaints.

Posted by: MTF at September 19, 2013 07:29 AM (B5y+v)

31 I'm usually sympathetic to your view, Gabe, but being that the original Cruz position and the "walkback" can definitely exist together, I'm not seeing it. Furthermore, if Cruz actually did walk anything back, it would be a complete fuckin' disaster since we can all admit that this is the closest that Republicans have come to actually doing something conservatives wanted them to since...since Bush was President.

Posted by: Yoshi, Aggrieved Victim of the White Man at September 19, 2013 07:29 AM (YNK3y)

32 On a completely unrelated subject, Mullen and Pickering are getting the crap kicked out of them at the Benghazi hearings. Mullen just admitted to Rep. Jordan that he was briefing Clinton and Cheryl Mills about their investigation before the report went public. *** On CSPAN-3

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 19, 2013 07:30 AM (DmNpO)

33 Who knew that Vaudeville would become popular again in the 21st century?

Posted by: Fritzmungus at September 19, 2013 07:30 AM (UzPAd)

34 Moonwalking is so 1980's.

Posted by: Boss Moss former editor of the Harvard Law Review at September 19, 2013 07:30 AM (0axsw)

Posted by: WalrusRex at September 19, 2013 11:28 AM (XUKZU)

Great! 4900+1 to 3 (wives) all bitching at you. Sign me up for hell it would be quieter.

Posted by: wrg500 at September 19, 2013 07:31 AM (mwctc)

36 Oh FFS, Gabe.

Jeez, who writes the "Gabe" stuff? Our Miss Brooks? David Frumpy?

It's like hitting that damn Tepid Air button: you get a pitiful little "beep," and a flood of warm Jell-O.

Posted by: MrScribbler at September 19, 2013 07:31 AM (kaGpp)

37 If there is a difficult choice to be made in adversarial politics, the only sensible thing to do is punt that difficult choice to your adversary if possible, and let them take the heat over the results.

The GOP should simply invoke the Clinton precedent.

They should point out that Bill Clinton produced strong job growth and small deficits while spending X dollars of federal money per capita.

And the GOP should say with one voice that they propose to give Obama and Reid _exactly the same amount of money they gave Clinton_. Keyed to year of Presidency.

This is Obama's fifth year in office. Okay, the GOP should say, Obama can have as much budget money to work with, per capita, as Clinton got in his fifth year. A simple, comprehensible, explainable stance.

Let Obama and Reid figure out what they want to fund -- and what they want to DE-FUND -- in order to come in under that budget cap. Drop the whole reeking mess in their laps and let them try to figure a way out. (Hint: there is not a politically palatable way out.)

Obama wants Obamacare? Okay. Let him figure out what other federal programs get de-funded in order to make the nut, and let him justify those cuts to the public.

Posted by: torquewrench at September 19, 2013 07:32 AM (gqT4g)

38 And on a somewhat related note, can Republicans just SHUT UP about trying to get a delay? We should not be trying to get delays of any sort! WTF!!

Posted by: Yoshi, Aggrieved Victim of the White Man at September 19, 2013 07:32 AM (YNK3y)

39 along with 70 black-eyed virgins with whom you are allowed to have sex

But then you have no virgins.

Posted by: HeatherRadish™ needs a beer at September 19, 2013 07:32 AM (/kI1Q)

40 In any case, House leadership and Sens. Cruz and Lee will hold a joint press conference at 12:30 eastern that's being billed as "damage control" for the events of the past 24 hours.
==========
I read that as Boner and Cantor: "holy shit, we've been getting our asses handed to us by the base. Quick! To the Pandermobile!"

They thought the Rockefeller wing would rally to their defense when they went after Cruz.

They (and those with them) chose . . . poorly.

(billed as "damage control" by who? Without even digging I can safely bet it's the same group that has the balls to attack Cruz and claim that Cruz is the only one attacking fellow Republicans.)

Posted by: RoyalOil at September 19, 2013 07:33 AM (VjL9S)

41 Great! 4900+1 to 3 (wives) all bitching at you. Sign me up for hell it would be quieter.

Posted by: wrg500 at September 19, 2013 11:31 AM (mwctc)
================

It's the old joke:

Q: What's the punishment for bigamy?

A: Having two wives!

Posted by: Parker at September 19, 2013 07:33 AM (YkW3i)

42 A "walk-back," you say? A couple of hours ago, Ted Cruz was some sort of cheese-eating surrender monkey, according to you. News flash: this "walk-back" happened YESTERDAY. Cruz has been consistent the whole damn time, saying this fight is between the GOP House and the Dem Senate. Can you please pick a narrative and stay with it, or just admit you're full of crap?

Posted by: OhioCoastie at September 19, 2013 07:34 AM (9m3Zl)

43 Man, y'all. This is getting...awkward.

Posted by: Lauren at September 19, 2013 07:34 AM (ELdpj)

44 this constant unwillingness of Gabe's to engage with DrewM in debate is emblematic of the problem we face with the surrender caucus of the party. No ideas, but lots of complaints. Posted by: MTF at September 19, 2013 11:29 AM (B5y+v) --------------------- Andy says Gabe will be on tonight's podcast, so I'd be surprised if this isn't one of the topics. The intra-party battle in the GOP IS the hill to die on. It's the only hill. Without an opposition party, none of this matters.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff at September 19, 2013 07:34 AM (pqBkB)

But then you have no virgins.

Infidel whore women do not understand science!

Posted by: Smrt Saudi Clerics at September 19, 2013 07:34 AM (BrQrN)

46 Gabe walks back comments, concedes Ted Cruz is awesome.

Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at September 19, 2013 07:34 AM (tmzN0)

47 This is getting heated. Posted by: JackStraw at September 19, 2013 11:29 AM (g1DWB) Jordan did nicely. Connolly is a viper. Connolly is saying Reagan didn't get beat up like this, well, the people were more confident in their government then. And the people keep shouting about Benghazi and the ACA, demanding action. We're getting down right pesky.

Posted by: Ragamuffin at September 19, 2013 07:34 AM (fzFF6)

48 Honestly, Gabe's animosity towards Cruz seems almost personal... wtf.

Posted by: KG[/i][/b] at September 19, 2013 07:35 AM (p7BzH)

49 >>>22 No, Gabe. He "walked back" YOUR characterization of his comments.

Just in case you missed it.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff at September 19, 2013 11:27 AM (pqBkB)

My characterization? I'm sure you mean the characterization of Reps. Duffy, Griffin, Radel, and others.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at September 19, 2013 07:35 AM (jZUEZ)

Amazed at the lack of a backbone by the Republican establishment. Being against Obamacare is a highly popular decision. Force the Dems to vote to support it, and wrap it around their necks in 2014. Or alternatively, force enough of them to vote against an unpopular law, or face a reckoning with an angry electorate in 2014.

I can only come to two conclusions - that the Rep establishment would rather run against Obamacare than repeal it, and that they would like Obamacare to be fully implemented (bigger federal government = more power).

Posted by: tofer732 at September 19, 2013 07:35 AM (z3MpN)

51 Gabe walks back comments, concedes Ted Cruz is awesome. Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at September 19, 2013 11:34 AM (tmzN0)
I propose that this sentence replace the current thread headline.

Posted by: Kinley Ardal at September 19, 2013 07:35 AM (mJEtb)

52 My characterization? I'm sure you mean the characterization of Reps. Duffy, Griffin, Radel, and others. 'Your' can be plural.

Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at September 19, 2013 07:36 AM (tmzN0)

53 Let's see, shall I believe the facts, or Malor?

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at September 19, 2013 07:36 AM (9T/th)

54 Pickering and Mullen are getting their asses kicked by Chaffez, after a thourough ass kissing by the fucking demoncrat

Posted by: Ma Bell at September 19, 2013 07:36 AM (RLdcX)

55 Gosh I just can't imagine why so many were questioning why gabe didn't directly include Cruz's quote this morning after he is now claiming that Cruz has made a walkback that isn't a walkback.

Posted by: buzzion at September 19, 2013 07:36 AM (LI48c)

56 These back and forth posts are getting out of hand. FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT

Posted by: HoboJerky, now with 56% more DOOM! at September 19, 2013 07:36 AM (09o/X)

57 >>Jordan did nicely. Connolly is a viper. I have a different word for Connolly. Chaffetz is slicing like a hammer. These assclowns didn't interview anybody in the military. The report is a joke.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 19, 2013 07:37 AM (g1DWB)

58 I can't decide if Mullen's body language is that of a man so beaten he can't remain upright or that of a man so bored by it all that he can't remain upright. Perhaps both.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 19, 2013 07:38 AM (DmNpO)

59 It's like hitting that damn Tepid Air button: you get a pitiful little "beep," and a flood of warm Jell-O. At least it isn't Jell-O salad. That would be an offense to nature.

Posted by: Brother Cavil at September 19, 2013 07:38 AM (naUcP)

60 Iowahawk nails its: "It's political suicide to stop the most hated government program in history. #DCThink"

Posted by: Lizzy at September 19, 2013 07:39 AM (U6BWX)

61 My characterization? I'm sure you mean the characterization of Reps. Duffy, Griffin, Radel, and others. Posted by: Gabriel Malor at September 19, 2013 11:35 AM (jZUEZ) ---------------------- I don't recall them posting here this morning. Did you give them access to your account?

Posted by: Empire of Jeff at September 19, 2013 07:39 AM (pqBkB)

62 Why don't you show me were in Cruz's original statement he said he was giving up or wouldn't fight. He said Reid had the votes to do what he wants. That's the truth and not the same as, "I won't try and fight".

Show us where he did.

He put the onus squarely on the House, citing the fact that Reid will no doubt stand in the way. The implication was pretty clear- "While there's nothing I can do, you guys should totally fight to the death in a futile effort to defend my plan that is doomed to fail."

Posted by: Hollowpoint at September 19, 2013 07:40 AM (SY2Kh)

63 Mullen is so full of shit. Daughter the elder is working in Stuttgart (not directly in AfriCom) and what he just said about readiness is the biggest lie ever.

Posted by: Ma Bell at September 19, 2013 07:40 AM (RLdcX)

64 Show Gabe some respect!

Posted by: John Bender at September 19, 2013 07:40 AM (jfUIE)

65 Can we get a new real thread?

Posted by: Boss Moss former editor of the Harvard Law Review at September 19, 2013 07:40 AM (0axsw)

66 Posted by: Gabriel Malor at September 19, 2013 11:35 AM (jZUEZ) Their characterization (if it's the one in your earlier post) is flat out wrong with the full quote. What Cruz inadvertently admitted is exactly what everyone knew what was going to happen from Day One. I'm not surprised they would jump to such a ridiculous interpretation, though. After all, spineless creatures will wiggle through any hole that presents itself.

Posted by: Yoshi, Aggrieved Victim of the White Man at September 19, 2013 07:40 AM (YNK3y)

67 Man, y'all. This is getting...awkward.

Posted by: Lauren at September 19, 2013 11:34 AM

Anyone who expresses their opinions publicly -- especially when they are ill-considered, aggravating to your audience and not too accurate -- should expect some "awkward" moments.

When you forget that, you have to go all Cahrles Jnoshon on your readers.

Posted by: MrScribbler at September 19, 2013 07:40 AM (kaGpp)

68 Oh hell... Here comes the scolding by a Dem. OUTRAGED by the conduct of the committee towards Mullen and Pickering.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 19, 2013 07:40 AM (DmNpO)

69 Posted by: Hollowpoint at September 19, 2013 11:40 AM (SY2Kh)

Why do you keep hitting yourself?

Posted by: KG[/i][/b] at September 19, 2013 07:41 AM (p7BzH)

70 Could be a bloody day at headquarters...

Posted by: t-bird at September 19, 2013 07:41 AM (FcR7P)

71 >A Saudi cleric was caught on video tantalizing his many listeners with an account of just how many Â“black-eyed virginsÂ” they get in the afterlife

don't know what to think of a 'religion' that portrays its heaven as a whorehouse

Posted by: I Am Rex Ryan's Spleen at September 19, 2013 07:41 AM (8sCoq)

72 No, thanks.

Posted by: [/i][/b][/s]akula51 at September 19, 2013 07:41 AM (4p5/2)

Here's a thought re: Cruz' comments about fighting on the beaches. If you follow through to the end of Churchill's speech (given during the bleakest part of early WWII - the Battle of Britain when all seemed lost), it acknowledges that Churchill was expecting the U.S. to eventually enter the fray and rescue the Brits clinging by their last ounce of strength-

The British Empire would "carry on the struggle, until, in GodÂ’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.Â”

In Cruz' analogy, who's going to come to the rescue of the conservative minority in the Senate?

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at September 19, 2013 07:42 AM (N/Sup)

74 Cruz at first: "it's likely the Democrats have the votes to strip Obamacare defunding out of the House CR."

House GOP: *outcry*

Cruz, retrying: "I will fight like Churchhill against the Nazis for Obamacare defunding."

Yeah, kinduva little different tone there, huh?

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at September 19, 2013 07:42 AM (jZUEZ)

75 don't know what to think of a 'religion' that portrays its heaven as a whorehouse

Posted by: I Am Rex Ryan's Spleen at September 19, 2013 11:41 AM (8sCoq)

It's awesome!

Posted by: Horny, stupid suicide bomber in training at September 19, 2013 07:42 AM (RD7QR)

76 48 Honestly, Gabe's animosity towards Cruz seems almost personal... wtf.
===========
I think a google search of Cruz +"gay marriage" will be profitable toward an answer . . . .

A sample for you, "Jul 23, 2013 - Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is predicting that tolerance of equal rights for LGBT people will result in Christianity being defined as Â“hate speech.Â”

Posted by: RoyalOil at September 19, 2013 07:42 AM (VjL9S)

77 I can't say that I agree with Gabe's take on this one.

Posted by: rdbrewer at September 19, 2013 07:43 AM (Iyg03)

78 So Malor, outside of you and your fellow twits in the GOP, along with the marxists, WHO EXACTLY is billing this "damage control"?

Posted by: WVinMN at September 19, 2013 07:43 AM (4Pleu)

79 In Cruz' analogy, who's going to come to the rescue of the conservative minority in the Senate? Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at September 19, 2013 11:42 AM (N/Sup) SMOD

Posted by: HoboJerky, now with 56% more DOOM! at September 19, 2013 07:43 AM (09o/X)

80 Yeah, kinduva little different tone there, huh?

Still not a walkback.

Posted by: GMan at September 19, 2013 07:43 AM (sxq57)

81 Senator Ted Cruz ‏@SenTedCruz 2m Why is President Obama threatening to shut down govt to shove Obamacare down Americans' throats? #DefundObamacare http://t.co/Eo6lJbmyFT

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 19, 2013 07:44 AM (DmNpO)

82 Gable beating the hell out of the hyperbole button...

Posted by: Catmman at September 19, 2013 07:44 AM (C8XlI)

83 Since it is in the sidebar and it involves GOP politics, I'm going to go ahead and talk about the Delay victory. Thank God! The whole situation was an abomination that had terrifying implications for all republican politicians.

Posted by: Lauren at September 19, 2013 07:44 AM (ELdpj)

84 Man, y'all. This is getting...awkward.

It needs popcorn. Or brownies.

Posted by: HeatherRadish™ needs a beer at September 19, 2013 07:44 AM (/kI1Q)

Harry Reid will no doubt try to strip the defund language from the
continuing resolution,

Absolutely. It's standard M.O. for the Webelo-fingering felcher.

and right now he likely has the votes to do so.

Yes, right now. That may change. Hairy may get more votes or less, depending on what pressure is brought to bear on our *spit* "illustrious solons."

At that point, House Republicans must stand firm, hold their ground,
and continue to listen to the American people.

Again, yes. If Hairy's dog-fellating Dem colleagues vote "nay," then the only way to stop Obamacare is by the power of the purse - which belongs to the

House. Hence, they need to "stand firm" and "listen to the American people" who are telling them NO OBAMACARE!

"And I can guarantee you one thing. [Sen.] Mike [Lee (R-Utah)] and I are going to fight with every breath in our body. As Churchill said, we will fight on the beaches, we will fight on the streets. We will fight at every step to stop the biggest job killer in America."

See my note about "votes" above. Cruz is saying he is going to do his best in the Senate to get the votes he needs.

Now, somebody around here is going to great lengths to misread, misunderstand or trash-talk Cruz. And it's not me.

Posted by: Ray Donovan at September 19, 2013 07:44 AM (zF6Iw)

86 This post could have been titled: "Cruz changes his tune"

Posted by: HoboJerky, now with 56% more DOOM! at September 19, 2013 07:44 AM (09o/X)

That's not a walkback. The two Cruz statements are not mutually exclusive; indeed, when taken together, they read, "Dingy is probably going to win, but we're going to fight like hell to win ourselves."

That's more than I can say for the House, which gave away the game that they will not have any defunding or delaying in the conference bill.

Posted by: steveegg at September 19, 2013 07:44 AM (o44nj)

88 Nothing like a little AOS razzmatazz to get the marks juiced up for the big show.

Posted by: Fritzmungus at September 19, 2013 07:45 AM (UzPAd)

89 Whoops. Reagan-era sock off.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at September 19, 2013 07:45 AM (zF6Iw)

90 I can't say that I agree with Gabe's take on this one. Posted by: rdbrewer at September 19, 2013 11:43 AM (Iyg03) -------------------- Whoa, buddy! Let's keep it civil.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff at September 19, 2013 07:45 AM (pqBkB)

91 Great. Gabe p***ed in my coffee, now he's gunning for my OJ. I'll wait for Ace to get up before I unpack lunch.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at September 19, 2013 07:45 AM (eHIJJ)

92 4-5-6 more threads twisting it...and it still won't be anything near a "walkback". Shameful. We've got Obama trying to divide the party, we've got Carney trying to divide the party, we've got Democrats trying to divide the party, we've got the establishment trying to...sigh. LMK when a new one's up.

Posted by: [/i][/b][/s]akula51 at September 19, 2013 07:45 AM (4p5/2)

93 Yeah, this walkback is a lot like the walkback I saw on several years ago when the only access to news I had was through broadcast television news. Day 1: President Bush signals ouster of al-Maliki. Day 2: President Bush walks back ouster signals. What Bush actually said on Day 1: Iraq is a Democracy. ItÂ’s there choice who to vote for, not ours. (1) Report something that didnÂ’t happen. (2) Reality catches up. (3) Report a walkback. (4) Gloat about Â“damage controlÂ” and Â“disarrayÂ”. And then, of course, (5) Â“lament inexplicable poll results saying that people are spending less time watching newsÂ”Â—or complain about commenters not taking you seriously.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at September 19, 2013 07:46 AM (QF8uk)

94 I think it fair to say that it would have been nice had Cruz included that he stands ready to fight with the house and do everything he can in the senate. But it doesn't change the political realities. Nor did it actually need to be said. We just assume he will fight because he has been fighting. His actions trump his word. But it still may have been nice to say so that seam Duffy wouldn't of had his feelings hurt so badly

Posted by: SH at September 19, 2013 07:46 AM (eb70/)

95
billed as "damage control" by who?
Posted by: RoyalOil

Byron York
Lucy McCalmont (The article linked)
Gabe

and that would appear to be it, at least as of the moment.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at September 19, 2013 07:46 AM (kdS6q)

96 Why is President Obama threatening to shut down govt to shove Obamacare down Americans' throats? Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 19, 2013 11:44 AM

No doubt Choom Boy is counting on his new "Miracle Weapons" to turn the tide of war, and snatch victory from the jaws of certain defeat.

Didn't that work for a previous self-important, hate-filled Maximum Leader back in 1945?

Posted by: MrScribbler at September 19, 2013 07:46 AM (kaGpp)

97 Gabe - your characterization of Cruz's capitulation in the morning thread now seems laughable after hearing more about it.. You should learn to not pee in your pants every time someone says something.

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at September 19, 2013 07:47 AM (f9c2L)

"Yeah, kinduva little different tone there, huh?"

No walkback. [Insert rule of hole digging here]

Posted by: meh at September 19, 2013 07:47 AM (W2qJe)

99 He put the onus squarely on the House, citing the fact that Reid will no doubt stand in the way. The implication was pretty clear- "While there's nothing I can do, you guys should totally fight to the death in a futile effort to defend my plan that is doomed to fail."

Posted by: Hollowpoint at September 19, 2013 11:40 AM (SY2Kh)

I'm with Cruz. I don't care if Reid has the votes in the Senate to kill the Obamacare defunding effort (which he does). What I want as a Republican voter is for Republican representatives and senators to do all they can to oppose this thing. Screw the they do this, we do that, they do this, we do that Nth dimensional chess they've been playing. Sometimes there's nothing for it but to sweep the pieces from the board and slap the face of the guy across the table, consequences be damned.

Posted by: troyriser at September 19, 2013 07:47 AM (O66NZ)

100 74 Cruz at first: "it's likely the Democrats have the votes to strip Obamacare defunding out of the House CR." House GOP: *outcry* Cruz, retrying: "I will fight like Churchhill against the Nazis for Obamacare defunding." Yeah, kinduva little different tone there, huh? Umm, no. That's what is called assessing the likely outcome while maintaining enough intestinal fortitude to fight on regardless of the odds. We used to refer to this as valor.

Posted by: WVinMN at September 19, 2013 07:47 AM (4Pleu)

101 >>Don't know what to think of a 'religion' that portrays its heaven as a whorehouse.

Yeah, and when do the women get some Heaven? On earth they're treated as property, genitally mutilated so that they cannot enjoy sex, married off while still children, beaten and raped by their husband with their cleric blessing - and that's just if they're well-behaved.
And they go to Heaven....and become whores for some a$$hole jihadi?

Posted by: Lizzy at September 19, 2013 07:47 AM (U6BWX)

102 The Hammer! A Texas Court of Appeals in Austin has overturned the 2010 conviction of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. DeLay, 66, IS found NOT guilty of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering for helping illegally funnel corporate money to Texas candidates in 2002. Good On! We will all see where DeLay lays his strengths; with Cruz's leadership for constitutional governance, or with the Bush neoconservatives who have no problem with biggest government so long as they're the top dog Majority.

Posted by: panzernashorn at September 19, 2013 07:47 AM (MhA4j)

103 New real thread up.

Posted by: Boss Moss former editor of the Harvard Law Review at September 19, 2013 07:47 AM (0axsw)

104 What damage? The squishes are upset, they were upset before, they'll be upset later.

Posted by: Jean at September 19, 2013 07:47 AM (CMlD4)

105 78 So Malor, outside of you and your fellow twits in the GOP, along with the marxists, WHO EXACTLY is billing this "damage control"? // I was about to say the dudes at the politico link, but I noticed you mentioned "marxists." It's amazing what kind of hay groupthink can produce, downright amazing I tell you.

Posted by: Yoshi, Aggrieved Victim of the White Man at September 19, 2013 07:48 AM (YNK3y)

106 How about, when Obama and the Senate refuse to approve the CR, the House says"

WE ACCEPT YOUR OFFER.

And then go home until the offer gets better.

Posted by: Troll Feeder at September 19, 2013 07:48 AM (Ln8m5)

107

I'll wait for Ace to get up before I unpack lunch.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at September 19, 2013 11:45 AM (eHIJJ)

How long until the crack of one?

Posted by: AoSHQ Clock at September 19, 2013 07:48 AM (o44nj)

108
Oh, Jennifer Rubin just tweeted calling it "damage control" also.

So, pretty much everyone on the hardcore paleo-right.....

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at September 19, 2013 07:49 AM (kdS6q)

109 74 Cruz at first: "it's likely the Democrats have the votes to strip Obamacare defunding out of the House CR." House GOP: *outcry* Cruz, retrying: "I will fight like Churchhill against the Nazis for Obamacare defunding." Yeah, kinduva little different tone there, huh? More like: Cruz: Good job, House! This is the first step. It's gonna come down to a shutdown. House: BWAAAAAAH! You surrendered! Nutless! Nutless! Cruz: Huh? I'm gonna do everything I can to defund it. I think we can do this.

Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at September 19, 2013 07:49 AM (IS2o0)

110 @94 If the House were actually planning on a fight, then perhaps he would have. As it was, they had pretty much already conceded the issue to the Dems. Cruz/Lee and base pressure forced the Houses hand, which is why their pissing and moaning about Senste conservatives.

Posted by: Catmman at September 19, 2013 07:49 AM (C8XlI)

111 Cruz' sin was the highest and most vile of Washington DC sins: Telling the truth.

He told the truth.

He told the House that there would be no negative consequences for any Dem Senator so long as there was no possibility of a shut down.
And if there is not going to be any punishment for stripping out the defund portion, of course the Dems are going to strip it out.

The whinnyness and pissyness prove that out: They got called on their game.

It's not a negotiation if one side says, "We'll give you everything you want, just beat us up for a while."

Posted by: RoyalOil at September 19, 2013 07:50 AM (VjL9S)

112 He never said he wasn't going to fight. That is a lie.

Posted by: GM at September 19, 2013 07:50 AM (K0tm3)

113 >>>I think a google search of Cruz +"gay marriage" will be profitable toward an answer . . . .

A sample for you, "Jul 23, 2013 - Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is predicting that tolerance of equal rights for LGBT people will result in Christianity being defined as Â“hate speech.Â”

Posted by: RoyalOil at September 19, 2013 11:42 AM (VjL9S)

You are a piece of shit. Newsflash: I voted for Romney, McCain, and Bush 43, not to mention more down-ballot politicians than I can remember who all had the same position on gay marriage as Sen. Ted Cruz.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at September 19, 2013 07:50 AM (jZUEZ)

114 It's not a negotiation if one side says, "We'll give you everything you want, just beat us up for a while." It is if youÂ’re negotiating what style of torture implements youÂ’re going to get.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at September 19, 2013 07:51 AM (QF8uk)

115 AoSHQ Clock: "How long until the crack of one?" As long as it needs to be. Or 42.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at September 19, 2013 07:51 AM (eHIJJ)

116 Cruz at first: "it's likely the Democrats have the votes to strip Obamacare defunding out of the House CR."

House GOP: *outcry*

Cruz, retrying: "I will fight like Churchhill against the Nazis for Obamacare defunding."

Yeah, kinduva little different tone there, huh?

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at September 19, 2013 11:42 AM (jZUEZ)

Oh, FFS! "Cruz at first" is speaking the political truth. "Cruz retrying" is saying that despite it being a difficult and / or futile fight, he will fight. They are both the same thing!

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at September 19, 2013 07:51 AM (zF6Iw)

117 Yeah, kinduva little different tone there, huh?
Gabriel Malor at September 19, 2013 11:42 AM (jZUEZ)

Not a walkback. Give it a rest, Malor.

Posted by: mrp at September 19, 2013 07:51 AM (HjPtV)

118 99 He put the onus squarely on the House Isn't that kinda where the onus is? It seems a lot of people are mad they might get negative press in DC.

Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at September 19, 2013 07:52 AM (IS2o0)

119 BREAKING NEWS: The sun, which went down last night, has since walked back from its position and rose again this morning. We will keep you posted on any further developments.

Posted by: boone at September 19, 2013 07:53 AM (3p8HS)

120 @110. I had no problems with what Cruz said about the house. It's true for one and he was pushing them. I think he could have added that he would do what he could even though to me he's showing he will. Gave and Duffy would still be upset I'm sure

Posted by: SH at September 19, 2013 07:53 AM (eb70/)

121

As long as it needs to be.

Or 42.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at September 19, 2013 11:51 AM (eHIJJ)

Grab your lunch; Ace is either in early or the Clock is broken.

Posted by: steveegg at September 19, 2013 07:53 AM (o44nj)

122 Not a walkback. Nothing even close to being a walkback. Here's Byron York: ------------------ The unhappiness is understandable. But perhaps those Republicans now angry at Cruz should have listened to him more carefully all along. In his speeches promoting the defunding campaign, Cruz, a Harvard-educated lawyer, chose his words closely, not claiming that defunders had the votes to prevail but instead suggesting that they might somehow spur a popular uprising against Obamacare in which an enraged populace would pressure reluctant lawmakers to change their positions Â— and then vote to defund. CruzÂ’s rhetorical strategy was on full display during a late August trip to New Hampshire, home to the nationÂ’s first president primary of the 2016 race. In an appearance at a state GOP fundraiser, Cruz repeatedly said the Obamacare fight could not be won in Washington DC. Â“The only way weÂ’re going to succeed in defunding Obamacare is if it comes from the American people,Â” he said. Â“This is not a strategy of trying to convince Washington, DC. ItÂ’s a strategy of empowering the American people.Â” Cruz was saying, in an indirect but still clear way, that Senate Republicans did not have the votes to defund Obamacare. (I wrote this at the time; see here.) Cruz went on to outline a plan in which, if enough people signed a petition at the website dontfundit.com, and then got in touch with their senators and representatives to urge them to support defunding, public sentiment would force lawmakers who now oppose defunding to change their minds and support it. Â“The only way weÂ’re going to succeed in defunding Obamacare is if it comes from the American people,Â” Cruz said. The tactic would even work on Democrats, Cruz argued. Â“If youÂ’re a Democrat, particularly in a red state, whoÂ’s up for election in 2014, and you start to hear from 5,000, and then 10,000, and then 20,000, and then 50,000 of your constituents, suddenly the calculus starts to seem very, very different,Â” Cruz told the New Hampshire audience. ------------- Cruz said nothing inconsistent with what he's said before. Trying to force fit Cruz's statements with a pre-determined narrative that he somehow threw the House under the bus is very much misleading. Is it any wonder conservatives have a hard time trusting the Establishment types?

Posted by: @JohnTant at September 19, 2013 07:56 AM (F3IIA)

123

Hollowpoint you are the biggest contrarian ever. If the concensus was Gabe and the House GOP was right, you would be spouting fantasy military analogies that make no sense about how the GOP has sent Cruz on a suicide mission.

As sure as the sun sets in the West.

Posted by: polynikes at September 19, 2013 07:56 AM (m2CN7)

124 Did Cruz refuse to sign Gabe's dreambook or something? it's like it's personal with him

Posted by: lets just all get along at September 19, 2013 07:56 AM (SezoJ)

125 Cruz was obviously sideswiped by a Haliburton Stupid Missile. He's coming back to his senses.

Posted by: FUBAR at September 19, 2013 08:05 AM (Cs2tJ)

126 Are we allowed to call other folks pieces of macaca now?

I missed that latest update to the style book.

Posted by: Troll Feeder at September 19, 2013 08:05 AM (Ln8m5)

127 >>>You are a piece of shit. Newsflash: I voted for Romney, McCain, and Bush 43, not to mention more down-ballot politicians than I can remember who all had the same position on gay marriage as Sen. Ted Cruz.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at September 19, 2013 11:50 AM (jZUEZ)

Sorry dude, that didn't save the Jacobins from Robespierre, and it won't save you from the True Conservative Blog Comments Warriors.

Posted by: Paul at September 19, 2013 08:06 AM (JM48I)

128 Yeah, RoyalOil was out of line.

Posted by: Yoshi, Aggrieved Victim of the White Man at September 19, 2013 08:07 AM (YNK3y)

129 Oh, now it was just a different tone being used in a different context? Well, gee whiz, that sounds like basic communication skills, not a "walk back".

Posted by: Lincolntf at September 19, 2013 08:07 AM (ZshNr)

130 Hollowpoint you are the biggest contrarian ever. If the concensus was Gabe and the House GOP was right, you would be spouting fantasy military analogies that make no sense about how the GOP has sent Cruz on a suicide mission.

As sure as the sun sets in the West.

And yet, I get proven correct over and over again. And will be once more when this effort fails to defund Obamacare.

Perhaps that's more a reflection on you guys than myself.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at September 19, 2013 08:09 AM (SY2Kh)

131 Jeb's on the case

http://tinyurl.com/mn7kc4w

Good Gawd.

Posted by: FUBAR at September 19, 2013 08:10 AM (Cs2tJ)

132 Are we allowed to call other folks pieces of macaca now?

I missed that latest update to the style book.
___
Don't do it man.

Posted by: George Allen at September 19, 2013 08:12 AM (P3U0f)

133 Are we allowed to call other folks pieces of macaca now? Some animals are more equal than others.

Posted by: Paul Zummo at September 19, 2013 08:13 AM (Ud5vq)

134 Posted by: RoyalOil at September 19, 2013 11:42 AM (VjL9S)

You are a piece of shit. Newsflash: I voted for Romney, McCain, and Bush 43, not to mention more down-ballot politicians than I can remember who all had the same position on gay marriage as Sen. Ted Cruz.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at September 19, 2013 11:50 AM (jZUEZ)

============

Then I'm wrong. Two data points: 1) you have ridden the marriage hobby horse and 2) you have shown what appears pretty clearly to be a personal animus toward Cruz.

So, I put those together wrong. I'll admit I'm wrong.

Not fair at all, then.

Posted by: RoyalOil at September 19, 2013 08:16 AM (VjL9S)

135

Are we allowed to call other folks pieces of macaca now?

I missed that latest update to the style book.

Posted by: Troll Feeder at September 19, 2013 12:05 PM (Ln8m5)

Unless you want to be the AoSHQ equivalent of a conservative commenter at Althouse's place, I'd recommend a little more tact than that.

Posted by: steveegg at September 19, 2013 08:19 AM (o44nj)

136 134-it's more of what might be called "David Brooks" Syndrome. As Chris Matthews would say, Cruz has that black irish look about him, not a cool crease in his pants like Obama.

Posted by: ejo at September 19, 2013 08:21 AM (GXvSO)

137 And yet, I get proven correct over and over again. And will be once more when this effort fails to defund Obamacare.

Perhaps that's more a reflection on you guys than myself.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at September 19, 2013 12:09 PM (SY2Kh)

Correct about what? Its an uphill battle to defund Obamacare so if you are measuring whether you are correct based on that the odds are in your favor. But that's not what you are opposing. You are opposing fighting for defunding and you will be wrong that that will not have positive efffects.

What other tidbits have you decided in your head that you have been 'correct' about?

Posted by: polynikes at September 19, 2013 08:23 AM (m2CN7)

138 >>>And yet, I get proven correct over and over again. And will be once more when this effort fails to defund Obamacare. Posted by: Hollowpoint at September 19, 2013 12:09 PM (SY2Kh)>>> Given the current House, I'm pretty sure that almost everyone is predicting that.

Posted by: GM at September 19, 2013 08:25 AM (K0tm3)

139 >>>Correct about what? Its an uphill battle to defund Obamacare so if you are measuring whether you are correct based on that the odds are in your favor. But that's not what you are opposing. You are opposing fighting for defunding and you will be wrong that that will not have positive efffects. What othertidbits have you decided in your head that you have been'correct' about? Posted by: polynikes at September 19, 2013 12:23 PM (m2CN7)>>> House GOP has actively sabotaged the strategy so that when they inevitably fold and fail to defund they can show everyone how right they were.

Posted by: GM at September 19, 2013 08:27 AM (K0tm3)

140 122 Posted by: @JohnTant at September 19, 2013 11:56 AM (F3IIA) ========================== York is right on point: the "process" people and the "ideological" people are basically talking past each other right now. Both sides are trying to get to a winning electoral message. So we are all on the same team here. The ideological side of the party is trying to find a popular message around which the GOP can unify, and be a real party with a governing message. A "Here is what we will do if you elect us!" kind of message. I am strongly in favor of getting to that point. We've tried the status quo, "we will monkey around with the Democrats ideas, make them more palatable, and run things better than those asshats!" message, and it failed in two straight elections.

Posted by: MTF at September 19, 2013 08:27 AM (fP+1P)

141 And yet, I get proven correct over and over again. And will be once more when this effort fails to defund Obamacare.

Perhaps that's more a reflection on you guys than myself.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at September 19, 2013 12:09 PM (SY2Kh)

This effort will--in all probability--fail to defund Obamacare. That isn't really the point. Politicians like Cruz advocating opposition and promoting the defunding effort knew that going in. The point is that Republican elected officials do what they were elected to do, which is--based on the results of the last midterm election--to oppose Obamacare.

So no, it doesn't take The Amazing Kreskin to predict the failure of the defunding effort in the Senate. That doesn't mean we shouldn't try.

Posted by: troyriser at September 19, 2013 08:34 AM (O66NZ)

142 It's a non-walkback walkback, I guess.

Posted by: Andy at September 19, 2013 09:13 AM (6Y9v5)

143 Sen. Cruz is starting to annoy me.

He reminds me of the kid at school who wears a jacket and tie to class every day, sits in the front row, dominates every conversation, then scolds the prof on a Friday afternoon for forgetting to assign weekend homework.

Cruz is plenty book smart, but he is equally dumb on street smart and often quite tone-deaf. Imo, he'll never build a nationwide powerbase broad enough to be viable high office-wise, unless these skills become equally visible to people.

Posted by: miked at September 19, 2013 09:33 AM (iZiIb)

144

"Walks back"

I wuz wondering, anybody seen Gabe Malor and Anthony Weiner simultaneously, not necessarily together.

They sure have the emotionally abused sleazeball thing in common.

Posted by: gary gulrud at September 19, 2013 10:32 AM (uv0Aw)

145 >> "Honestly, Gabe's animosity towards Cruz seems almost personal... wtf."

>>>"I think a google search of Cruz +"gay marriage" will be profitable toward an answer . . . .
"A sample for you, "Jul 23, 2013 - Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is predicting that tolerance of equal rights for LGBT people will result in Christianity being defined as Â“hate speech.Â”"

Thank you... yes, that was clarifying.

Posted by: Commissioner Gordon at September 19, 2013 10:51 AM (NrYe5)

146 Cruz is plenty book smart, but he is equally dumb on street smart and often quite tone-deaf. Imo, he'll never build a nationwide powerbase broad enough to be viable high office-wise, unless these skills become equally visible to people.

Posted by: miked at September 19, 2013 01:33 PM (iZiIb)

Every man or woman I've met--without exception--who bragged about having plenty of 'street smarts' was a complete dumbass. It's engraved in stone somewhere as one of those Rules Of Life.

Posted by: troyriser at September 19, 2013 12:33 PM (O66NZ)

147 Really? He walked back these comments? "Harry Reid will no doubt try to strip the defund language from the continuing resolution, and right now he likely has the votes to do so. At that point, House Republicans must stand firm, hold their ground, and continue to listen to the American people." By saying ""And I can guarantee you one thing. [Sen.] Mike [Lee (R-Utah)] and I are going to fight with every breath in our body. As Churchill said, we will fight on the beaches, we will fight on the streets. We will fight at every step to stop the biggest job killer in America."? Heh. Heh heh. RE: "being billed as "damage control" for the events of the past 24 hours. We certainly need it." Nah -- the Republican *establishment* probably needs "damage control". But "we" don't need it.

Posted by: Igor at September 19, 2013 12:37 PM (h+aZI)

148 Cruz has a chance to win the hearts of Americans in a big enough way to pressure Senate Dems. Quit blaming the House.

Posted by: Coleridge at September 19, 2013 03:48 PM (t1cAA)

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