Disgraceful Senate Republicans Demand Ted Cruz Apologize To Mitch McConnell
[guest post by Dana]
In a stunningly brazen display of tone-deaf hubris, Senate Republicans made Ted Cruz an offer he could refuse: We’ll think about throwing our weight behind your candidacy, but first you must kneel and kiss the ring:
Republican senators said that Cruz must return to Capitol Hill and make the case directly to his colleagues to help ease long-festering tensions. And a large number of Republicans said the fence-mending starts with this: Apologizing to McConnell for calling him a liar last year on the floor of the Senate.
That message — to smooth things over with Senate Republicans in a private session — was personally delivered by fellow Texan and McConnell’s chief deputy, Sen. John Cornyn, who spoke with Cruz by phone after the candidate won their home state’s primary earlier this month.
“I actually made that suggestion to him when I talked to him last,” Cornyn said when asked if he thought Cruz should apologize for his McConnell remarks. (A spokesman later said that Cornyn did not seek an apology but urged Cruz to speak directly to the Senate GOP Conference.)
And most stunningly, this from Orrin Hatch:
“It’s always helpful when you admit you’re wrong.”
The Republicans’ complete lack of self-awareness and arrogant blinded-by-our-own-light mentality just kills me. If they really want to stop the Trump train, they would coalesce behind Cruz in a heartbeat. But clearly that’s not what is most important to them; that would be their wounded pride and power. It’s more important to them than the very future of our nation. Could there be a more selfish, calculating, and corrupt group of power-mongers?
Fox News Channel’s James Rosen tweeted Ted Cruz’s response:
“[Cruz] tells me he won’t go ‘on bended knee, with my hat in hand’ to Mitch McConnell to unify GOP against [Trump].
I love Cruz. This is a candidate who will stick to his principles, no matter the cost.
Idea: Cruz should tell leadership that he will apologize to them after they set the example by apologizing to the American people for their lies and betrayals. Let’s see the leadership, actually, you know, lead.
–Dana
Hello.
Dana (0ee61a) — 3/16/2016 @ 5:21 pmAmen. Time and time again these guys have reversed course after elections on most of their principles. That they sit there and demand an apology from Cruz for telling the truth about their dishonesty is incredibly obnoxious. And it’s an insult to me, a Cruz voter who is pleased that Cruz did as he said he would. McConnell is actually demanding fealty from conservatives, and this demand is enforced with a threat of letting Trump be the nominee (essentially giving the election to Hillary).
It’s on them, then. Of course, should Hillary be sworn in, the McConnells of the country will once again blame everyone else. What makes McConnell so special that he can betray the party’s supporters, demand they apologize to him for it, while McConnell is the one screwing up the party’s future? He must see himself as a ruler rather than a leader.
Dustin (2a8be7) — 3/16/2016 @ 5:29 pmit’a in their nature, as the proverb goes, that’s why I found the ‘help me obiwan’ request on the other thread, re cornyn, ironic.
narciso (732bc0) — 3/16/2016 @ 5:33 pmDuh
– why do you think people are willing to vote for the democrat trump.
hint – it aint because the republic leadership dont like cruz
Joe - From Texas (debac0) — 3/16/2016 @ 5:40 pmOne could say that the GOP members of the Senate are sticking to THEIR principles, too, if they could remember where they left them.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/16/2016 @ 5:42 pmrepublican senators are unbelievably gay
happyfeet (831175) — 3/16/2016 @ 5:44 pmBut Cruz should go and talk to them, behind closed doors. This is too important to leave to a dick-measuring contest.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/16/2016 @ 5:44 pmno, they are sticking to their principal.
narciso (732bc0) — 3/16/2016 @ 5:45 pmnothing to see here,
http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-state-department-documents-show-that-nsa-rebuffed-hillary-clintons-attempts-to-obtain-a-secure-blackberry/
narciso (732bc0) — 3/16/2016 @ 5:51 pmBut clearly that’s not what is most important to them; that would be their wounded pride and power. It’s more important to them than the very future of our nation. Could there be a more selfish, calculating, and corrupt group of power-mongers?
Exactly. This is the GOPe being the GOPe. And this is why I refuse to support them, and fear the prospect of a brokered convention (resulting in a stolen nomination). They are, and have been all along, every bit as much against Cruz (and Carson, and Fiorina, etc) as they are against Trump. To them, this is all about them.
Do they care if the destroy the party and damage the country? Not at all.
This should be an easy call for Cruz, even without the principle factor; doing as they demand would badly hurt him with voters. I think, though, that he’d be best advised to publicly tell them to shove it.
*unless* Kasich comes at least close to Cruz and Trump in delegates, I’ll be one of many opposing him in November if he’s the nominee. At this juncture, given the delegate ratios as they stand now, the only two with any sort of plausible, acceptable claim to the nomination are Cruz and Trump. Kasich, or worse yet, someone who is no longer running or hasn’t run at all, are flat out not acceptable – that’s be a stolen nomination and flat out disenfranchisement of the voters. And that’s exactly what the GOPe is aiming for. The result of this would be a landslide loss (including downticket) in November – but that’s fine with the GOPe. It is, after all, all about them.
Arizona CJ (da673d) — 3/16/2016 @ 5:53 pmThere’s a lot to be said about this.
1) The GOP establishment dislikes Cruz even more than Trump [or we’d have had #Cruz, not #nevertrump(orcruz)]
2) The GOP establishment is clueless beyond imagination: e.g., sending Mittmentum to help Rubio/Kasich (lol)
But for these two points, I’d be inclined to think the GOP establishmentarians have finally wised up and are trying to help Cruz by antagonizing him.
If I had some corned beef I could have corned beef and cabbage, if I had some cabbage.
asdf (4227f2) — 3/16/2016 @ 5:54 pmhttps://weather.com/storms/severe/video/trump-tower-hit-by-lightning-in-chicago
happyfeet (831175) — 3/16/2016 @ 5:59 pmhttps://youtu.be/gE4h6tOgVgc
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 3/16/2016 @ 6:04 pmThis election is about taking power from McConnell and his pals. That is the point. The point is not that the democrat is scary so we have to let the bad guys on our side run things. That’s the con that ruined the country in the first place. Without a reform option the problems we face can’t be fixed. We put it off every election. Cruz doesn’t. Pretending he is sorry for the very thing that makes him a leader would probably cost him support from anyone on the fence between Cruz and Trump.
Remember, Cruz isn’t fighting Rubio anymore because establishment support didn’t seem all that useful after all.
Dustin (2a8be7) — 3/16/2016 @ 6:05 pmwell rubio is no longer on the board, but certainly the top men have minimized cruz’s effectiveness, eg; the sea island conference, or as I’ve dubbed it appalachin.
narciso (732bc0) — 3/16/2016 @ 6:12 pmcanada turd crud should apologize for being an illegal alien stinking up the senate. crud suppositories back up the arse you go!
trump 3 (5a1a3f) — 3/16/2016 @ 6:20 pmcruz can apologize until meghan’s coward daddy gets up the courage to defy the new york times editorial board just once in his disgraceful cowardly life and guess what
Mr. Trump is still gonna be the nominee
he wonned it
bushfilth lost it
lil roob roob lost it
harvardtrash ted lost it
but Mr. The Donald, he stayed true to his purpose and he stands ready to lead
he stands ready to help us make America great again
thank you, Mr. Trump
happyfeet (831175) — 3/16/2016 @ 6:20 pmthere is no point to cruz, apologizing to them, it’s like greens eggs and ham,
narciso (732bc0) — 3/16/2016 @ 6:22 pmThere’s nothing to apologize for. If anything McConnell needs to apologize to the people for playing his Inside The Senate games, then resign. But the GOPe has got to come to understand that their only way out is to surrender to Cruz. The wave that lifted Trump will come for them next if they try to play it cute.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/16/2016 @ 6:30 pmIf Cruz would do that, he would immediately lose a huge percentage of his support.
MD in Philly (at the moment not in Philly) (ebc723) — 3/16/2016 @ 6:31 pmDo they not understand that, still,
or do they not care?
Or are they still afraid he will win and they would rather have Trump?
There is a direct parallel to when Rubio went along with Schumer and took the point on the Gof8. Rubio was stoopid and weak enough to go along. He did not realize he was sealing his fate in 2016.
Cruz, whatever faults he may have, is not stoopid. All he has is his integrity. “Read my lips, no new apology.” I look forward to what he will do to make the GOP Conference’ lives miserable once he ends his campaign.
I reeeeeeeeeally hope he will be the point man leading the charge to destroy the GOP and founding a legitimate party. He absolutely has some Lincoln in him. Maybe a LOT of Lincoln.
Ed from SFV (3400a5) — 3/16/2016 @ 6:32 pmPerry, you need to call your death panel and apologize for missing your appointment yet again. Yes, I know you forgot.
nk (dbc370) — 3/16/2016 @ 6:33 pmwho-boy, shades of Obama…
MD in Philly (at the moment not in Philly) (ebc723) — 3/16/2016 @ 6:33 pmwhen asked who he talks to about the military and foreign policy…
he answered himself because “I have a big brain”
he does seem to rely on general flynn among others as counsel, but recall what claridge did to carson, in the times,
narciso (732bc0) — 3/16/2016 @ 6:39 pmOn topic, the GOP Senators in close elections need Cruz more than he needs them, and by extension so do the rest of the GOP Senators if they want to keep their leadership positions and chairmanships. They are not offering their support, they’re asking for a ride on his coattails. Actually, I’d say he needs them like he needs a hole in the head. Like you all said, they are what he is really running against and the people are loving him for it. And we saw in the Texas primary that his Senate seat is safe for another eight years if he just continues to be his own self even if he does not win the Presidency.
nk (dbc370) — 3/16/2016 @ 6:42 pmcornyn went for castle, crist, murkowski, cochran, roberts, allen, thompson, and mack, you sense a pattern of ennui and despair,
narciso (732bc0) — 3/16/2016 @ 6:45 pmDear Mitch… I just wanted to tell you that I am sorry I fought with you, I shouted at you, and I did misbehave. I hurt you a lot and now you has a sad. But I can’t do this without your support. I am sorry. Please forgive me.
Yours forever,
Teddy
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 3/16/2016 @ 6:52 pmTed Cruz has nothing to apologize for, if fact it’s the GOPe who owes Cruz an apology.
ropelight (e9d543) — 3/16/2016 @ 7:00 pmTrump is your natural, uninhibited, after a couple beers at the bar, no one’s looking who you vote for, candidate.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 3/16/2016 @ 7:06 pmTrump and Cruz at some point soon will make nice. And when they do McConnell, McCain and the like will find their world turned upside down. Which is long past time. For all their anger at Cruz, Cruz and Trump are in front because of their inaction and stupidity. They are why Trump got an opening at all.
Bugg (3ae93d) — 3/16/2016 @ 7:06 pmtruly it isn’t about the person, but the wave they are riding, the rest have crashed onto the rocks.
narciso (732bc0) — 3/16/2016 @ 7:09 pmMcConnell can nurse his hurt feelings and watch Trump get the nomination, meaning Hillary gets the WH.
Or he can get over them.
They’re still working through the stages of grieving (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance). They’re approaching bargaining, but we need to get them to acceptance tout suite; if so, they can be depressed from now until, say, August. But they have to get to acceptance.
Beldar (fa637a) — 3/16/2016 @ 7:20 pmDoes Cruz need Cornyn’s help to win Texas? Does he need Hatch’s help to win Utah?
Outside of their own states, why would any GOP voters give a flying fig what those two think? The big GOP endorsements this year, those Senators respected across a wide swath of the conservative moment, would be Jeff Sessions (ugh!), Tom Cotton, Tim Scott, Mike Lee, Joni Ernst and Ben Sasse. Perhaps I am missing one or two others. Everyone else (and this kind of includes Sessions too) is just an aging time-server. You couldn’t pay me enough to seek out Thad Cochran’s vote.
JVW (9e3c77) — 3/16/2016 @ 7:21 pmwell it’s CNN, so there’s a one in four chance it’s true, these are their terms.
narciso (732bc0) — 3/16/2016 @ 7:22 pmIt’s truly a testament to the blind ambition and arrogance of the Republicans: If Cruz wants the GOP backing, he must first apologize. Why? Because Cruz hasn’t been unbelievably successful, thus far, *without* their blessing???
Let’s face it, it’s not as if Cruz has remotely needed them to propel him in the top two. Further, he’s done it in spite of their hatred of him. They’re so stupid they can’t even see their clown nose.
It’s a delicious irony that they need Cruz more than he needs them (as someone mentioned above). The person who needs the least in a relationship, is the person who holds the power.
Dana (0ee61a) — 3/16/2016 @ 7:22 pmBugg, Cruz and Trump will never make nice. Trump has no core, no principles at all, so if he thought there were some advantage to the Trump Brand, he might. But Cruz? Never — not if you tied him to the stake and set him alight.
I know that seems like a ridiculous thing to say about any politician. I’ve never, ever even contemplated saying something like that about any politician. But I am very confident that I have adequate insight into Ted Cruz to say that with assurance.
Beldar (fa637a) — 3/16/2016 @ 7:22 pmI’m still not happy with Nikki Haley after her endorsement of Rubio, but she is now “praying for Cruz to win,” which is a good thing. I think a Cruz/Haley ticket would be a winning one. It checks off pretty much all the boxes, but I’m not sure how much name recognition she has outside of her state.
Dana (0ee61a) — 3/16/2016 @ 7:25 pmI think we’ve all seen Cruz risk and sacrifice in order to remain true to himself and his principles. This is something of which Trump knows nothing about, nor understands. He would, no doubt, see it as a weakness, something done by losers.
Dana (0ee61a) — 3/16/2016 @ 7:27 pmDana,
Cruz/Haley has too much South in it. Assuming that you accept that the VP is just a sinecure, right now the best play for Cruz is to offer it to Kasich and somehow get him to hold on to his delegates while accepting the VP role. Now, maybe Kasich wants to be VP so bad he’ll be second fiddle to Trump, but I can’t see that as very attractive. Kind of like G’Kar’s role for Emperor Cartagia.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/16/2016 @ 7:36 pmAh, the intellectual stylings of your average Trump booster.
arik (02de93) — 3/16/2016 @ 7:40 pmCruz/Haley would have the very salutary effect of all the Neo-Nazis, Klansmen and skinheads self-purging from the GOP and going back to picking their toes in their trailers.
nk (dbc370) — 3/16/2016 @ 7:44 pmyes, well photogenic charismatic nominees the dems have little use for.
narciso (732bc0) — 3/16/2016 @ 7:51 pmTRUMP™®© Deluxe as the candidate means Minority Leader McConnell will watch as Majority Leader Schumer eliminates the filibuster and moves President Clinton’s appoints through at a breath taking clip. If TRUMP™®© Deluxe can’t hold 43%, the new Speaker of the House will team up with Schumer to pass whatever the brain damaged drunk in the Oval Office deems necessary.
The fact Cornryn’s suggestion was made public indicates this is theater but I question the effectiveness of a Senior Clown Show as an interlude at the moment.
Rick Ballard (ba78e0) — 3/16/2016 @ 7:52 pmah rick, you have forgotten past is prologue so soon,
http://donsurber.blogspot.com/2016/03/republicans-laugh-at-you.html
narciso (732bc0) — 3/16/2016 @ 7:58 pm@ Rick Ballard (#43): That’s piquant imagery — “Senior Clown Show” — for which I salute you. You are surely right that there are at least elements of theater involved here. Washington is like that: It’s famously a city of flagpoles and sewers, to run things up and leak things from.
I share your concerns, but I confess that I still find myself unable to get my mind around the question of how a Trump nomination affects the rest of the GOP ticket downballot across the nation.
I think most of the governors are comparatively safe; they can tack and gib as needed to weather most conceivable Hurricane Trumps — I predict we’d quickly come to number those in Roman numerals, like the Super Bowls, and he’d lap them within his first 180 days. But the House? The Senate? Who can predict anything with any confidence, except for chaos, of which we’re all certain?
Beldar (fa637a) — 3/16/2016 @ 8:23 pm*jibe
Beldar (fa637a) — 3/16/2016 @ 8:24 pm@ arak (#40): You shouldn’t speak badly of the commenter who posted (#16) under the name “trump3.” I hear he’s on Trump’s short list for Secretary of State.
Beldar (fa637a) — 3/16/2016 @ 8:26 pm*arik, sorry … gremlins in my keyboard!
Beldar (fa637a) — 3/16/2016 @ 8:27 pmLot of things wrong with that. Those guys already vote Democrat. Those guys aren’t a voting block, they are tactics deployed in service of the main body of Democrats.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 3/16/2016 @ 8:33 pmyeah that has the ring of truth
happyfeet (831175) — 3/11/2016 @ 9:33 pm
Luke Stywalker (78d90b) — 3/16/2016 @ 8:40 pmthe best play for Cruz is to offer it to Kasich
Noooooooooooooooooooo! Don’t force voters to have to do this, Ted.
Dana (0ee61a) — 3/16/2016 @ 8:41 pmOh, I know, papertiger. I should have said go back to voting for the Pat Buchanan Reform Party or the Lyndon LaRouche Whatever Party, but picking their toes in their trailers had a French Connection nostalgia to it.
nk (dbc370) — 3/16/2016 @ 8:48 pmWe have a lot of dimbulbs who post here incessantly. (Happyfeet, nothing personal).
Cruz should tell Mitch McCakehole to make love to himself and go to double hockey stix.
GUS (30b6bd) — 3/16/2016 @ 9:29 pmThe GOP is DONE. El finito. McCakehole, Weeping Lil Johnny Cougar BONERCAMP, got his candy ace handed to him because he was too interested in TANNING, GOLFING and LYING. Ironically I believe Weeping Boner lives most of the time in MARCO ISLAND FLORIDA. MARCO!!
The normal and loyal GOP voters have told the GOPe. GO STRAIGHT TO HELL, do not pass GO.
With each passing moment, the GOP is declaring they would rather go down with Trump than do whatever it takes to save the country. How is it that there has yet to be an avalanche of endorsements now that Rubio is done and it it clearly down to Ted and DT?
The hounds aren’t barking. There’s your clue and your truth.
Ed from SFV (3400a5) — 3/16/2016 @ 9:52 pmthey don’t want either, hence the ryan boomlet, endorsements have little effect, just as rubio,
narciso (732bc0) — 3/16/2016 @ 9:58 pmWe’ll think about throwing our weight behind your candidacy, but first you must kneel and kiss the ring:
Channel Jedi-Master Yoda he should! Tell them, “KISS THIS”!
And if trouble they have understanding him, use sign language:
…………………./´¯/)
Yoda (feee21) — 3/16/2016 @ 10:03 pm………………..,/¯../
………………./…./
…………./´¯/’…’/´¯¯`·¸
………./’/…/…./……./¨¯\
……..(‘(…´…´…. ¯~/’…’)
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Ed, it seems you have it ASS BACKWARD. The GOP decided several years ago, that THE TEA PARTY concept did not pass MUSTER. Those WHO CONTROL the GOP and the MONEY and their own FUTURES, would decide who is acceptable.
GUS (30b6bd) — 3/16/2016 @ 10:09 pmHow is that working out ED??? The GOPe. The GOP elites don’t want TRUMP not CRUZ in control. Because the GOPe GRAVY TRAIN stops for them. The GOPe, has made the CHOICE of allowing RODHAM to win, VERSUS, backing the CANDIDATE that the REPUBLICAN PARTY and IT’S PRIMARIES have chosen. THE GOP et al decided to be IN CHARGE, rather than DO THEIR JOB. the GOP killed itself.
Ed, nothing personal!! You’re not that smart.
GUS (30b6bd) — 3/16/2016 @ 10:10 pmEd from SFV (3400a5) — 3/16/2016 @ 9:52 pm
Good point.
Have we heard endorsements from all the candidates who have suspended their campaigns? I haven’t kept track. I think Fiorina is the only one whose come out for Ted Cruz, no?
Christie and Carson are Trump’s lapdogs.
Dana (0ee61a) — 3/16/2016 @ 10:12 pmSo Gus, that I am making the case that the GOPe prefers putting up a Trump who has no shot at beating HRC, goes against your assertion that they would rather have HRC?
George Noory is on Line 3 for you, dude.
Ed from SFV (3400a5) — 3/16/2016 @ 10:14 pmthe gope spent about 200 million, trying to take out trump, first bush then rubio and finally kasich, what is it you miss about this reality,
narciso (732bc0) — 3/16/2016 @ 10:19 pmnarciso – what part of handling Trump with kid gloves due to the GOPe being scared shitless he would go Perot on them did you miss? They had their chance to squash him, but instead chose to spend their energy propping up Jeb and making sure everyone knew that Ted was the most hated man on Capitol Hill.
Ed from SFV (3400a5) — 3/16/2016 @ 10:30 pmSomeone in the conservative media should keep a running list of Rubio endorsers who are endorsing a new candidate after Rubio dropped out. You can put pressure on them if you keep a running tally that is constantly upgraded of the endorsements. Of course the conservative media doesn’t do useful stuff like that. I’m not sure what they hell they do.
jcurtis (028437) — 3/16/2016 @ 11:23 pmThe GOP is DONE. El finito
So, a one-party system then? I live in California. That’s what we have here. I guaraneffingtee you won’t like it.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/17/2016 @ 12:16 amHaley is Mcconnell or Cornyn with boobs.
mg (31009b) — 3/17/2016 @ 2:40 amRIP Republican Party
mg (31009b) — 3/17/2016 @ 2:41 am6 feet is not deep enough for you azz wipes.
Running traitor Ryan or any other twit shows the hate for conservatives. This country has no brains or balls. Revolting effing hacks.
mg (31009b) — 3/17/2016 @ 2:52 amAm I evil, ‘DC vaporized by means of a NorK hydrogen bomb’ popped into my head?
DNF (ffe548) — 3/17/2016 @ 4:07 am64. McConnell, check the hips.
DNF (ffe548) — 3/17/2016 @ 4:08 am63, 66. It is looking like 68 all.over.again.but.this.time.with.feeling.
DNF (ffe548) — 3/17/2016 @ 4:21 am#67 Only if both chambers are in session please with PTOUS working by them..
Rodney King's Spirit (a089dc) — 3/17/2016 @ 6:46 amWhoever says Trump can’t beat Hillary is a fabulist. Just like folks who said a black person can’t win POTUS. Cool stories bro.
Rodney King's Spirit (a089dc) — 3/17/2016 @ 6:48 amNo, its called reality “bro”.
Patrick Henry, the 2nd (ddead1) — 3/17/2016 @ 6:53 am#72 Talking your book.
Trump does so much better with traditional Democratic Voters that what he may lose on the Republican side he could make up 2:1 on the Democratic side. Entire Midwest is in play with Trump. Southeast is Trump. Texas is Trump. NY is in play for Trump.
Other than the Stoner States on the West Coast, MN I don’t see what States to even favor HRC in.
And the funny part is Trump is following the electoral strategy outlined by Ann Coulter herself who stated “get the white vote out” and you win. Trump is going to that in November barring some catastrophe.
Rodney King's Spirit (a089dc) — 3/17/2016 @ 6:59 amYes it is evil, California is a people’s republic due to lawfare.
narciso (732bc0) — 3/17/2016 @ 7:11 am