Report: Cruz Foolishly Interested in AG Position
Ted Cruz has told confidants he’s interested in serving as attorney general in the Trump administration, according to two sources familiar with the conversations.
Speculation that the Texas senator could become attorney general began Tuesday after Cruz met President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence at Trump Tower in Manhattan.
Ted Cruz is not immune from mistakes when it comes to Trump, but . . . no, Ted! It’s a mistake!
Amanda Carpenter explains why:
A thought: if Trump declared me a mortal enemy in the primary I probably wouldn't accept a fireable position from him.
— Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) November 16, 2016
Yeah . . . no. Just no.
Fortunately, Trump can more easily and quickly humiliate Cruz by nominating someone else, now that Ted has expressed interest . . . supposedly. According to anonymous sources.
I think the quick and easy humiliation is the better option.
well there is precedent, henry clay, William seward (the abolitionist champion), james blaine, a consolation prize by Harrison, but it seems a little unlikely,
narciso (d1f714) — 11/17/2016 @ 6:40 pmLizard people. I’m sorry Cruz turned out to be one, but it’s not a surprise. I’ve quoted it before:
It comes from a very ancient democracy, you see…”
“You mean, it comes from a world of lizards?”
“No,” said Ford, who by this time was a little more rational and coherent than he had been, having finally had the coffee forced down him, “nothing so simple. Nothing anything like so straightforward. On its world, the people are people. The leaders are lizards. The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people.”
“Odd,” said Arthur, “I thought you said it was a democracy.”
“I did,” said Ford. “It is.”
“So,” said Arthur, hoping he wasn’t sounding ridiculously obtuse, “why don’t people get rid of the lizards?”
“It honestly doesn’t occur to them,” said Ford. “They’ve all got the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they’ve voted in more or less approximates to the government they want.”
“You mean they actually vote for the lizards?”
“Oh yes,” said Ford with a shrug, “of course.”
“But,” said Arthur, going for the big one again, “why?”
“Because if they didn’t vote for a lizard,” said Ford, “the wrong lizard might get in. Got any gin?”
“What?”
“I said,” said Ford, with an increasing air of urgency creeping into his voice, “have you got any gin?”
“I’ll look. Tell me about the lizards.”
Ford shrugged again.
“Some people say that the lizards are the best thing that ever happened to them,” he said. “They’re completely wrong of course, completely and utterly wrong, but someone’s got to say it.”
We’re tired of lizards, so we’re going to try short-fingered vulgarians.
Gabriel Hanna (4f5ff1) — 11/17/2016 @ 6:44 pmOh, God above, Patterico. Now we wil get to readl tons of repetitive comments about Cruz from profane and lazy trolls.
Simon Jester (c8876d) — 11/17/2016 @ 6:46 pmWell,
who knows what to believe about anonymous friends saying things.
You really think Trump would appoint him to a position just to fire him and get him out of the senate??
MD in Philly (f9371b) — 11/17/2016 @ 6:52 pm@Simon Jester: Some of us who voted for Cruz in the primary are not sorry we did. It’s just not that big a surprise that he’s a politician. There were people who made him out to be much more than that, and they’re disappointed now.
He’s better than most of the other lizards, I’ll say that for him.
Gabriel Hanna (4f5ff1) — 11/17/2016 @ 6:52 pmTrump certainly knows how to have fun. I actually like the Romney visit a bit better.
Rick Ballard (bca473) — 11/17/2016 @ 6:52 pmit’s not an unheard of circumstance, I guess the parallel is closer to taft, or phil crane, if history matters a whit. but it’s Jennifer Jacobs, how often was she right this spring?
narciso (d1f714) — 11/17/2016 @ 6:54 pmObjection, Your Honor! Hearsay; lack of foundation.
Much more likely that the media is just stirring up trouble for two people it doesn’t like.
nk (dbc370) — 11/17/2016 @ 6:59 pmThe real question is: do I think Trump will back Cruz the first time there is an issue, or throw him overboard?
Patterico (115b1f) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:01 pmNo surprise that Cruz’s ambition again outflanks his judgment.
WarrenPeese (a6c998) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:06 pmYou really think Trump would appoint him to a position just to fire him and get him out of the senate??
Yes. But that’s not what is going on.
There was what everyone said in March, and there is the reality on the ground today. Some people won, some people didn’t. These are pros, guys. What was said when the party was OUT means nothing now that the party grabbed the brass ring. Sure, there are those that wish that it hadn’t been TRUMP, but it is, and they will deal with like professionals.
And what the fanbois of both sides think isn’t really very interesting.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:14 pmThe news media is getting EVERYTHING wrong because they are like eloi trying to understand Klingons. The only thing of note is that Trump met with Cruz. The MSM’s idea of “what this all means” is just speculation by people who haven’t a clue about how Republicans (or Trump) thinks.
Cruz could be considered for AG, or the Court, or as a special prosecutor. Maybe Trump just wants his advice. But I would put much stock in what the media says.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:18 pm*wouldN’T
Kevin M (25bbee) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:19 pmGreetings:
Wasn’t Rudy Guilliani a federal prosecutor before he became Mayor of NYC ??? Por que, amigos why no Rudy for AG ???
11B40 (6abb5c) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:21 pmdo I think Trump will back Cruz the first time there is an issue, or throw him overboard?
I think that Trump would like to avoid endless “cabinet turmoil” news articles.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:22 pmPor que, amigos why no Rudy for AG ???
Rudy seems to not want it.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:23 pmCruz is a politician! Why would he not meet with the new president?
There are bound to be NeverTrumpers in this administration, which needs 4000 people right off the bat. Why should they say no? I just don’t get it. Should they just retire for four years?
Patricia (5fc097) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:23 pmThat is a truly original analogy, kevin, and on point, they really thought the Medici would prevail if not rubio.
narciso (d1f714) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:25 pmTed Cruz would make an excellent choice for Attorney General. It’s a no brainer.
ropelight (1b2921) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:27 pmCruz being born in Canada won’t be an issue.
His appointment of a Special Prosecutor will be.
Fish, snakes, and lizards are cold blooded. Tuna have elevated body temperatures. Cruz is a tuna.
All things considered, I’d prefer Cruz to stay in the Senate and Giuliani be AG.
A big difference between Republicans and progressives is that the latter are cultists, and the former are simply hopeful.
BobStewartatHome (b2bab4) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:32 pmCruz being born in Canada won’t be an issue.
That poor horse.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:34 pmYes they’ve beaten into tadajo, meanwhile the puffington gets all agitated over Boston, for telling the truth again, about Iran.
narciso (d1f714) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:39 pmI was hoping Patterico would reduce the constant Trump ranting. He is, by his ranting, insulting all of us who voted for Trump, including those of us who did it as a lesser of evils.
I may finally stop reading this blog, after years of enjoying it.
Just as I tire of being insulted by the left, I tire of gratuitous bashing from a conservative who won’t quit.
Oh yeah, I voted for Cruz in the primaries.
But enough is, darn it, enough!
John Moore (508b53) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:39 pmThere are bound to be ex-NeverTrumpers in this administration
FIFY. They became EX the evening of election day. And had Trump lost, a lot of his supporters would have turned on him in a flash. When you’re the only party in town, even Mitt shows up with some booze.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:39 pmnarciso, either you are being more tangential than normal, or your spellnazi is off the leash again.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:41 pmHere’s what the new President would do to screw over Cruz:
* Cruz would express interest in appointing a special prosecutor to look into the dealings of the Clinton Global Initiative and Foundation.
JVW (6e49ce) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:42 pm* The President would say, no, we don’t do special prosecutors any more (because Lord know, he doesn’t want one looking as his dealings), and that the DOJ would handle the investigation.
* Cruz would demand to be rid of the partisan hacks that Obama, Holder, and Lynch stuffed into the department so that we could be sure the investigation is serious.
* The President would express dismay when Cruz tried to fire all of them and order that they be retained.
* Cruz would then handle the CGI Foundation investigation himself, and then just at the moment that he has uncovered serious evidence of malfeasance, the President would be convinced by the New York Times editorial board to shut down the investigation and dismiss Cruz.
* The President would then happily glow in left-wing esteem for having “risen above politics” to “close the chapter” on the last election, and we would smugly be reminded that we don’t jail political opponents here in America.
I can’t see Trump keeping any of the DoJ PC-enforcement crowd. He may fire them in his inauguration speech.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:43 pmI can’t see Trump keeping any of the DoJ PC-enforcement crowd. He may fire them in his inauguration speech.
Let’s hope, but I fear that he is going to make overtures to get back into the good — well, at least tolerable — graces of the Manhattan elite.
JVW (6e49ce) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:46 pmI expect that there will be a special prosecutor for several things: the IRS, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Clinton Foundation, and maybe the email thing. If any of these impinge on Obama or Clinton, he will let the dirt fly, then magnanimously grant them pardons after they are thoroughly discredited.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:46 pmHowever, I don’t think he’ll let Ron Paul audit the Fed, as much fun as that would be.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:47 pmTasajo is shredded beef, beating a dead…ariannas scrapbook is allperturbed by someone speaking truth to power.
narciso (d1f714) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:52 pmYes, but is that Boston, or Bolton?
Kevin M (25bbee) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:53 pm@JVW:I fear that he is going to make overtures to get back into the good — well, at least tolerable — graces of the Manhattan elite.
He was never in them. They always snubbed him. If he were as small-hearted as you think, he would delight in their praising him through clenched teeth when he does things they hate.
Gabriel Hanna (4f5ff1) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:57 pmI mean why would HE suck up to THEM? THEY have to suck up to HIM now.
Gabriel Hanna (4f5ff1) — 11/17/2016 @ 7:59 pmI fear that he is going to make overtures to get back into the good — well, at least tolerable — graces of the Manhattan elite.
I think he’d rather make them grovel.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 11/17/2016 @ 8:00 pm*sigh*
When we get to heaven, there will be no politics. Until then, keep calm and carry on.
Patricia (5fc097) — 11/17/2016 @ 8:03 pmHe was never in them. They always snubbed him.
Oh please, Gabriel. You’ve seen the pictures of him smiling grandly with the Clintons at his wedding, and there are lots of other instances of him hobnobbing with Bloomberg, Schumer, and every other piece of gutter trash who has ever ridden the Acela. He was as much a part of the wealthy New York social scene as any left-wing Democrat, and I fear he will end up longing to be part of the crowd once again.
JVW (6e49ce) — 11/17/2016 @ 8:07 pmThe Bank of Japan owns very substantial portions of all the major companies in Japan, but only indirectly. BoJ buys funds that are the owners of the stock, and thus avoids the potential political danger of the appearance of a conflict of interest, as well as the issue of representation on Board of Directors of those major companies. Yellen seem sympathetic to this policy. Since she can create money at will, there’s no reason any favored stock should ever lose value if she goes down this road. She can buy on every dip. Ordinary companies, say Chevron, have to borrow money to buy their own stock. Only the very best financiers like Yellen can create money.
This will be a classic case study in the next decade with the theme being Sowell’s question “What happens next?” The answer will be painfully obvious, and question today is why can’t we, and Yellen, see it now?
BobStewartatHome (b2bab4) — 11/17/2016 @ 8:18 pmHow is anything I am saying insulting to Trump voters? I have consistently said that I respect the decision of those who voted for Trump as the lesser of two evils.
Now, here we are. If you preferred someone else, but voted for him as the lesser of two evils, then you must think he will be good on some things and bad on others.
Me too.
Criticizing Trump is not insulting you. If you choose to take offense, that is wholly your decision.
Patterico (115b1f) — 11/17/2016 @ 8:34 pm@JVW:I fear he will end up longing to be part of the crowd once again.
Don’t worry, the crowd will go to where he is.
Gabriel Hanna (fd688e) — 11/17/2016 @ 8:38 pmHere in California, we have been through this already with Schwarzenegger.
Patterico (115b1f) — 11/17/2016 @ 8:39 pmTed Cruz has told confidants he’s interested in serving as attorney general in the Trump administration, according to two sources familiar with the conversations.
Does an ambitious ambulance chaser have the legs to win the swimsuit competition?
‘I’m a human being, God damn it! My life has value!’- Howard Beale [Peter Finch] ‘Network’ 1976
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/17/2016 @ 8:51 pmHe was as much a part of the wealthy New York social scene as any left-wing Democrat, and I fear he will end up longing to be part of the crowd once again.
Around February 15, the GOP will realize he has never ‘left’ it.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/17/2016 @ 8:59 pm@Patterico: Schwarzenegger, like Donald Trump, already was a liberal Republican, he didn’t become one as a governor. Like Mitt Romney, another liberal Republican, he couldn’t have been elected governor if people thought he was a conservative.
Rudy Giuliani, also a liberal Republican, Chris Christie the same. I think Trump already is what he’s going to be.
Gabriel Hanna (fd688e) — 11/17/2016 @ 9:05 pmWhy would Trump install a guy that hates him as AG?
The only thing Cruz would investigate would be DJT.
Much better to put Cruz on the court. Cruz would enjoy it, be good at it, and Trump knows that as a rule, the justices don’t backbite the President that nominated them
steveg (5508fb) — 11/17/2016 @ 9:29 pmThey also don’t come off the Court to contest primaries. FDR put his rival Douglas on the Court for that reason.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 11/18/2016 @ 12:44 amCruz for SCotUS!!!!
IGotBupkis (c70a1c) — 11/18/2016 @ 9:51 amI think the quick and easy humiliation is the better option.
Commonly known as his ‘comfort zone.’
Denied. Humiliated, as expected. Might as well have a ‘kick me’ sign taped to his back. But he managed a Sessions soundbite for the daily news cycle out of it.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/18/2016 @ 11:05 amPerhaps, but Trump operates in a different environment than Arnold schartzenegger, he’s with a different crew
narciso (d1f714) — 11/18/2016 @ 11:44 am