What is this, the inquisition?
A guy can’t hurl a few Palin-esque “you’re a terrorist or terrorist lover” insults at another guy without people going all, “Hey didn’t you say there were Communists hiding out at Harvard?”
Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) spokesperson thinks it’s “curious” that the New Yorker would cover a speech he gave two years ago when he McCarthyed his way into the arms of the Koch brothers with suggestions that Harvard was a cover for a Marxist government take over plot. You see, Ted Cruz’s history has nothing to do with anything. Leave him alone!
The New Yorker reported yesterday:
Cruz’s spokesman called it “curious” that The New Yorker would cover Cruz’s speech “three years” after he gave it. But Cruz’s hostile questioning of Obama’s nominee for Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel, and insinuations about Hagel’s loyalties had provided a fresh context for looking more closely at the nature of the accusations he has leveled at political opponents. Observers like Senator Barbara Boxer wondered if they were seeing a revival of McCarthyism. Judging from Cruz’s speech—and, now, his defense of it—it’s a good question.
FYI, Harvard is full of Commies, according to Cruz, so he stands by his accusation just like a Breitbart writer stands by his “reporting”. I meant I heard, not I know! Questions must be asked, people. But only of Republican opponents.
You want to know what is relevant? According to Cruz, a speech Chuck Hagel (R-NE) gave in 2000, which by my regular, unskewed math, is 12-13 years ago instead of 2-3 years ago. Curious, that.
Also, Cruz is still waiting to find out if Hagel is pallin’ around with terrorists. Sure, Breitbart’s “Friends of Hamas” has been widely debunked. But Cruz also asked during the confirmation hearings, “It is at a minimum relevant to know that if that $200,000 that he deposited in his bank account came directly from Saudi Arabia, came directly from North Korea.”
Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my! This outraged John McCain, whose VP nominee talked that way on the trail, but not during official business. These sorts of things are not said by civilized people on the floor or during hearings. But Cruz is a “conservative” and hence, not civilized. Please lower your expectations.
What else is relevant? It’s what Ted Cruz thinks the Iranian government means via some American headlines of an Iranian spokesperson. Okay?
Politifact Pants-on-Fired Cruz’s claim that Chuck Hagel’s nomination as defense secretary “has been publicly celebrated by the Iranian government.”
Cruz accused, “Hagel’s nomination has been publicly celebrated by the Iranian government — surely an occurrence without precedent for a nominee for secretary of Defense.”
When asked why, his office pointed to some headlines (yes, headlines). As you may have guessed, world affairs are a bit more nuanced than we might get in our headlines here (Does Cruz not know this or is he playing dumb?).
The Fars account further quotes the spokesman, identified there as Ramin Mehman-Parast, as saying: “We hope that the U.S. officials will favor peace instead of warmongering and recognize the rights of nations instead of interfering in the countries’ internal affairs. If such a trend is adopted (by the American officials),” the Fars story quotes the spokesman as saying, “hatred for the U.S. hostile policies will decrease, although,” he is quoted as saying, that assessment only “can be made in action.”
PolitiFact was left nonplussed, “Our sense is there has been no Hagel party in Iran, leaving this claim worse than incorrect. It’s ridiculous. Pants on Fire!”
Ted Cruz doesn’t think it’s news when he gives a speech 2 years ago, but a speech Hagel gave 12 years ago is all the rage. Never mind that as a Cabinet member, Hagel will be (he will most likely be confirmed in spite of Cruz et al’s Little Boys Crying Wolf routines) enacting the President’s agenda, not his own.
Leave Ted Cruz alone! It’s hard out here for a Koch pimp.
Ted Cruz is more than a problem for the GOP. He is symbolic of the larger problem inherent within the party, driven by the sad, paranoid bubble of conservative media. And he personifies why Republicans can’t win national elections anymore. Sure, he’s fringe — but then so is the Republican Party.
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Anklejive.com
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 12:09 pm
Don’t the people of Texas know that this idiot’s actions are a reflection on them? What were they thinking???
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carlos
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 12:26 pm
Texas don’t think much specially if they are Reps..
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Subee
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 2:52 pm
I am a Texan, something i used to be proud of, and am now horrified at the takeover of our state by the “low information” voter. I have heard with my own ears people tell me that they think they have done a positive thing by voting for Cruz because as a “Mexican” (he’s not and isn’t even a Texan) they are showing that they are welcoming diversity. Then there are the lazy voters who are unwilling to vote if it requires any effort at all to do anything except hit the “R” button. From my perspective the Castro brothers are our only chance to change the game in this state. God, how I miss Ann Richards! She was the game changer we had to have to turn things around at that time. She was a Democrat but had been a county commissioner who understood agriculture and the oil business. Julian Castro can do this as soon as he gets a little more age and experience under his belt. Please remember that there are some of us who are fighting the good fight.
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SinghX
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 5:42 pm
…I have heard with my own ears people tell me that they think they have done a positive thing by voting for Cruz because as a “Mexican” (he’s not and isn’t even a Texan)…
WOW! Do they know he’s actually Canadian?
“Cruz was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where his parents, Eleanor Darragh and Rafael Cruz, were working in the oil business.”
from Wikipedia.
His father was Cuban and didn’t become a citizen until 2005 (although the father claims to have been here since 1957. His mother was born in Delaware).
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Jo Hargis
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 1:08 am
I too am a Texan and frankly wish I lived in some nice blue state. Texas has been gutted by the GOP here and they just continue to elect cretins like Cruz. Believe me, we liberals knew exactly how bad he’d be before he was elected. I hope he continues to open his mouth and spew extreme fringe ideas; it can only go good for us here in Texas.
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Aleatha Carr
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 5:07 pm
Once they were in power, the right silenced Texas voters through gerrymandering and voting restrictions. This has lead a lot of people to believe Texas is a red state, when in fact, it would be, at worst, a purple state if you level the playing field. Unfortunately, nobody backs a campaign when they think they can’t win. So the best and the brightest never even step up to the plate.
Fortunately, the illegal gerrymandering was recently slapped down in court, so the playing field has been leveled a bit. There are indications Texas may go blue in the next election. But I’m not holding my breath. Living in the Liberal oasis Austin, one can forget that there are still a lot of extremely under-educated and bigoted voters out there. (Subverting our educational system is another way the right has held onto power.)
I wonder if members of the Texas right ever stop to think that if you have to win elections through dirty engineering instead of the force of your ideas and ability to lead & persuade, maybe you shouldn’t be in power at all. Subverting democracy while screaming your patriotism
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Fred
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 6:04 pm
Thank you for posting that. You nearly made me hopeful for the future. Here’s to a blue Texas.
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mjh
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 2:45 pm
Don’t the people of Texas know that this idiot’s actions are a reflection on them?
Rick “Helmethair” Perry.
George W. Bush.
‘Nuff said.
.
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Mike J
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 3:39 pm
Don’t forget Louie Gohmert Pyle.
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Gail Anderson
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 5:26 pm
This guy who isn’t even American has the audacity to rank all over Hagel, a decorated Viet Nam War Vet and what has he done??? He never served in the U.S. military. He’s nothing but a little piss ant who isn’t going to go very far. I can’t stand the sight of him and his friggen ass lies. Go the hell back to Canada or Cuban wherever you are from. What is wrong with the people in Texas??? They just keep on voting in the biggest and worse nutjobs going. Jesus you people need to read up on a candidate before you vote for him. This guy is a PATHETIC PIECE OF SHIT.
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Norma
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 10:51 pm
Actually been calling that fool,Perry, HELMETHEAD since he grabbed onto the coat tails of the nitwit Bush!!.The politicians (and I use that term loosely!) in the current State level offices and the Federal level…think too much of themselves and I hope that the rest of Texas, along with Houston and Austin..finally wake up to their shenanigans and bounce their worthless asses out of office ASAP! They have brought this State down to level of below Stupidity, in many areas!!
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pearl
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 6:43 pm
I was just down there and the tea party folks are acting like Ted Cruz is their new political messiah. I overheard talk that he’s the next Thomas Jefferson and that no politician is as well versed in the Constitution as he is, lol. They really think he’ll be president one day! [snarf!]
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fred234465
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 9:24 pm
Texas thinks about who they vote for? When did that start happening? I must have missed it.
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Harold Mellons
Feb. 27th, 2013 at 7:03 pm
Cruz is a closeted gay man…he was ‘allowed’ to ascend because he will always support the military industrial complex and the banks to the EXTREME because he is easily able to be blackmailed. This is the BARGAIN. Very sad our system is reduced to this.
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Anne
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 12:13 pm
Not only are Ted Cruz’s actions and words a reflection of the Texans who voted for him, but his own past is also fair game since he started this nonsense of false accusations and character smears.
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Debbie Spencer
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 12:29 pm
Our districts are so gerrymandered here that it is nearly impossible to get a democrat elected. We can thank Tom DeLay, Grover Norquist, Karl Rove, GWB, and Rick Perry for this.
More democrats than republicans actually voted in the last election in our state. So, please, don’t blame Texas voters for this moron. Put the blame where it belongs, right square in the lap of the GOP criminals.
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lm945
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 2:50 pm
That argument would be valid if Cruz was a Representative. But he isn’t. He’s a Senator.
You may not have personally voted for him, but the majority of Texans did.
Texas sicced this moron on the country. He’s your responsibility.
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zelduh
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 3:51 pm
Senators also “represent” their states.
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Shiva(Moderator)
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 3:57 pm
In theory, I wonder how much in practice
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Sabyen91
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 4:20 pm
So, he is the responsibility of the people who voted against him? Horsehockey.
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Eykis
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 12:29 pm
My guess is TeddyBoy got elected due to hispanic name – the Texas Repiggery had him “pass” as Mexican~he will go down and very soon – he is undoubtedly corrupt~
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Elle B.
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 12:29 pm
Full disclosure: I am a Texan.
Here are some of my observations as they relate to Cruz and others that are elected in my home state:
Texans have decided that they are not interested in having healthy citizens in our state. They have decided that they are not interested in having an educated population. They have decided that violence against women is acceptable. They have decided that there should be no reasonable gun control regulations (It will simply be collateral damage if one or more of their loved ones is affected by a massacre or gun accident.).
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Elizabeth 44
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 3:42 pm
I’m thinking the next time Texas wants to secede we ought to find some way to accommodate them.
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mjh
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 3:09 pm
I’m thinking the next time Texas wants to secede we ought to find some way to accommodate them.
If that were to happen, I GUARANTEE that, within 72 hours, Tejas will become Mexico’s 33rd state . . .
.
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suggarstalker
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 5:37 pm
The acceptable damage you refer to about the loved ones of gun fanatics falling victim to gun violence, seldom occurs. Gun nuts are incapable of understanding another’s tragedy. Only when it happens to them, they wake up,they go sane, and they change their ways.
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rewinn
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 12:31 pm
Cruz is basically saying: “Stop Telling The Truth About Meeee!”
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UncaJoe
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 1:05 pm
~ Adlai E. Stevenson
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mack
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 12:34 pm
Ask Cruz about his Dad’s commie ties to Castro whom he fought for before coming to the US on a student visa and overstaying. Maybe Cruz himself is a commie sympathizer…apple and tree?
Also ask him why he claimed to be hispanic for the purposes of college admissions apps when he was born in Canada, raised in TX, and couldn’t even debate his state opponent in Spanish when challenged to do so. Weren’t Republicans all hot under the collar over Elizabeth Warren’s claims of being Native American?
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Mike J
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 3:41 pm
Great points!
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SinghX
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 5:53 pm
This guy isn’t as stupid has he pretends to be…he’s very calculated and has just been waiting for the right moment to step on the national stage…we’re all being duped.
From Wikipedia:
“Cruz attended high school at Faith West Academy in Katy, Texas,[11] and then graduated from Second Baptist High School in Houston.
Cruz earned his Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School. He was an editor of the Harvard Law Review, an executive editor of the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, and a founding editor of the Harvard Latino Law Review.[12] While at Princeton, he competed for the American Whig-Cliosophic Society’s Debate Panel as one of North America’s top-ranked parliamentary debaters, winning the top speaker award at both the 1992 U.S. National Debating Championship and the 1992 North American Debating Championship.[13] In 1992, he was named Speaker of the Year and Team of the Year (with his debate partner, David Panton) by the American Parliamentary Debate Association.[13] In 1991 he and his partner came in second to Austan Goolsbee and partner David Gray. Cruz was also a semi-finalist at the 1995 World Universities Debating Championship.[14]“
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Sam
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 12:36 pm
Texan here too. Cruz was elected by a GOP-controlled state. He was the TEA Party darling and had no viable opposition on the Democratic side. Not only is Cruz a far right Republican, he is a rabid member of the Southern Baptist Church. Put all those together and you have a seriously messed up individual.
The only good news is that Cruz will be such a spectacle that he will drive voters away from the GOP. Our pain can be your gain. Just know that not all of us aren’t crazy, just the old white people.
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NancyE
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 1:59 pm
It’s impossible to fight idiots like Cruz IN Texas. I’m sure I’m not the only one who sent money to Elizabeth Warren and the DCC to help elect Democrats in other states to try to dilute the effects of the morons Texas elects.
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Curt
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 12:37 pm
I think NOW is the perfect time time cull through everything Cruz has said in the public sphere and start hammering HIM with it all!
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Cyndi
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 12:41 pm
The republican party depends on the fact that people have a short term attention span. By bringing up what they said in the past you destroy their ability to lie and manipulate the current situation. They seriously depend on the fact that people will forget just how stupid they really are.
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labman57
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 12:46 pm
For someone who sanctimoniously proclaims that his actions are driven by his faith, Cruz seems to be oblivious of that fundamental tenet embraced by so many religions — the Golden Rule.
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Mark Lysle
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 12:46 pm
Perhaps it’s time to counter the “Republican outrage” over Benghazi, by asking Rep. Issa why his party cut Embassy/Consular security funds? THOSE CUTS ae part of the reason for the problems getting security to the Benghazi consulate.
And then ask the Republicans to explain the lack of outrage over the numerous attacks on our embassies and/or consular activities overseas on Bush’s watch.
And if they respond with their eye-rolls and the “oh, there you go again bringing up Bush,” nail their collective butts to the wall over their hypocrisy. Nothing worse than politicians and their brain-dead followers engaging in double standards when it comes to their own side being implicated in things they accuse their opponents of.
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Anne
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 12:52 pm
If I could give you another up vote, I would. You just nailed the crux of the whole problem that led to the inadequate security which resulted in those deaths. For anyone with even one brain cell and an accurate recollection of history, they cannot bring up the issue of Benghazi without looking like the hypocritical fools they are. Their outrage is completely phony and based on nothing more than the purpose of making the president look bad. To that end, they have used people like Amb. Susan Rice, Secretary Hillary Clinton, and now Chuck Hagel as whipping boys. The irony is that none of them seem to have attended a meeting that was held to shed light on what happened.
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NancyE
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 2:03 pm
Our press is so lame. I, too, have wondered why no one brings up the 59 I believe, deaths at overseas embassies under the Bush administration. The “press” does not do their job anymore; doesn’t fact-check OR challenge the people they interview.
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Elle B.
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 3:44 pm
Most of the major media outlets are now owned by a few huge corporations. It is corporate media and they aim to protect wealthy people and corporations. Thank goodness for sources such as PloiticusUSA!
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patsy soto
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 1:07 pm
I am also a Texan, and I take exception to saying that “Texans” voted for this Ted guy… I sure as hell did not! There are democrats in this state, but with all the gerrymandering that went on, we can’t catch a break in national elections with decent, democratic candidates. When that pig Perry and his ilk are finally voted out of power, and we get some real balance in the local government, then the Ted Cruzes of the world will not be an automatic shoo in, and Texans… at least the democratic ones, will not be blamed for republican embarrassments who call themselves “Our representatives” in Washington. So don’t blame us all… Ellie B.
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Anne
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 1:15 pm
I know perfectly well that not all Texans voted for this nutcase. That’s why I noted in an above post that his election is a reflection of the mentality of those Texans who did vote for him.
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Elle B.
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 3:30 pm
Hi Patsy – No offense was intended to you. Perhaps my comment should have read “most Texans who voted…” I knocked on many doors for Paul Sadler and provided research to sure my conservative friends and family knew he was the best candidate.
In case you are not aware, one of the groups that will be working to “turn Texas blue” will have an announcement this week. It is called Battleground Texas and comes out of the Organizing for America effort. The Executive Director is Jenn Brown. Jenn was the Ohio Field Directory for Obama for the 2012 campaign.
http://www.battlegroundtexas.com/
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Warren G Richards
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 1:17 pm
Irony. RepubliKKKan politicians MUST be voted out of office so they cannot pull this class-warfare destructive bigoted divisive obstructionist bullsht again.
Take care and hang in there, everyone.
Your friend,
Warren
Warren G. Richards
Kayenta, Mesa, and Tucson AZ
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TStMauro
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 2:04 pm
The states that are attempting to change the election rules must be the primary focus now; this cannot be allowed to happen. The repubs know their ideas suck so they must now rig the game to win. An all out effort must be made to stop this.
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Rednail64
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 3:41 pm
I’ve heard that Ted Cruz was involved in the death of a 10-year old girl in 1993. I’m just asking questions here people.
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Beth Smith
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 4:24 pm
Cruz is a McCarthy clone, and he doesn’t even get that. Other, more experienced Senators are calling him on it, even Republicans. I lived through that era in our history, and it was a vicious, ugly time. In any case, accusing anyone of being a communist in this day and age is pretty silly.
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mjh
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 4:53 pm
Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) spokesperson thinks it’s “curious” that the New Yorker would cover a speech he gave two years ago when he McCarthyed his way into the arms of the Koch brothers with suggestions that Harvard was a cover for a Marxist government take over plot.
Really?
Well, I think it’s “curious” that Sean Hannity would get all excited over a video of Barack Obama hugging a Harvard Law professor — in 1990:
http://www.newshounds.us/hannity_agog_over_breitbart_s_recycled_obama_race_video_exposing_whom_obama_hugged_in_1990_03082012?page=2
Love how these rightwingnuts think everything in President Obama’s past — no matter how trivial — is supposed to be grist for their rumor mill . . . but don’t think their pasts are subject to any examination . . .
.
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suggarstalker
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 5:49 pm
After Cruz’s odious performance with Hagel, there has been a few suggestions comparing him to McCarthy. I say, this is no vague likeness. This is exactly how McCarthy was on precisely the same anti communist rhetoric. So let’s be done with what he “sounds like”, Cruz IS today’s McCarthy.
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NoE
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 1:30 am
He also looks like McCarthy.
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Producer James
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 7:06 pm
Everyday people will see the real Republican Party. As a party they don’t want to govern……they want to rule.
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TXguy
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 7:13 pm
Ok,
So Ted Cruz was born in Calgary to an American mother and fathered by Cuban immigrant. Hmm this sounds familiar.
What a bunch of hypocrites liberals are. A Senator asks tough questions during confirmation hearings HIS JOB! Questions the nominee refuses to answer or can’t answer. Since when are these types of questions uncivillized? These are exactly the type of question that need to be asked.
Maybe if these types of questions were being asked of the current administration, the U.S. would not be facing sequestration, miserable job creation rates, Hi unemployment rates, and seeing the constitution and the bill of rights being trampled on.
But hey you all keep listening to the liberal media and voting dem. One day you will wake up and realize that what you got exactly what you didn’t want.
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Shiva(Moderator)
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 7:37 pm
Tough questions or questions based on innuendo?
BTW, Obama was born in America. Your analogy doesnt work
How is ” the constitution and the bill of rights being trampled on.”?
Also, the House has to come up with the budget, not this administration.
You are living on cliches
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mjh
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 2:57 am
So Ted Cruz was born in Calgary to an American mother and fathered by Cuban immigrant. Hmm this sounds familiar.
Come to think of it, it does . . . what I’d like to know is, where’s all the demands to see Cruz’s long-form birth certificate?
.
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Gordon Hilgers
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 8:44 pm
Ted Cruz, ushered in from Canada, is a test tube baby taken straight from Adolph Hitler’s purloined testicles, and was raised to be a Nazi Manchurian Candidate. Everyone thought the Nazi Manchurian
Candidate would come from Mexico–because that’s where all the Nazis went after they lost the war. The Koch brothers were the proverbial wolf that raised this modern-day Romulus of Nazism.
Be forewarned: He’s not one of us.
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fred234465
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 9:26 pm
One look at that guy and I just know there is some scandal waiting to happen. Either something he’s already done or is going to do. He has that dead hooker in the trunk look about him.
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Ron
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 11:32 pm
We simply dont need another Cuban Tin Horn Dictator involved in our government or country.
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Paul Shene
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 12:43 am
Hypocrisy knows no limit. The outrage meter is long broken so people now shrug when GOP members do things worthy of a lynching.
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Carl Merkin
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 2:01 am
Ted Cruz, Have you no shame? Stealing the philosophy,ethics and antics of Poor old Joe McCarthy (“I have here a list of 87 Communists in the State Dept. and we will get these 54 pinkos out of our government before any of these 31 commie-crats can do any more harm. No, you can’t see this list of more than a dozen traitors….it’s classified”). Just leave the poor fat slob to burn in Hell for eternity and find your own scam. How about going after college professors or scientists, or intellectuals, or atheists? Have someone lift up the rock you crawled out from under and GO HOME, We all know you are a smug self-righteous craven NeoCon chicken-hawk looking to send somebody else’s sons and daughters to bleed in the sand for your puppet-master’s oil!
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