Ted Cruz Ends Non-Filibuster Filibuster After 21 Hours
Texas Senator Ted Cruz ended the speech he started yesterday afternoon at Noon today:
Ted Cruz finally released his grip on the Senate floor after more than 21 hours of speaking about the need to defund Obamacare.
The Texas Republican seized control of the Senate floor on Tuesday about 2:42 p.m. vowing to “speak in support of defunding Obamacare until I am no longer able to stand.” Cruz could have spoken all the way up to a 1 p.m. procedural vote on moving spending bill forward, but he relented at noon.
“It is my it intention to accept the end of this at noon,” Cruz said.
After his 20th hour holding the floor, Cruz asked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to come to the floor to listen to a pair of requests that sparked a bizarre exchange. Cruz asked to waive Wednesday’s vote and move a high-stakes procedural vote to Friday rather than Saturday to allow more people to watch.
“I think it is better for this country that this vote is visible,” Cruz said. “Sticking it on Saturday in the middle in the middle of football games would disserve that objective.”
Reid ignored Cruz’s requests and asked for far more time to be yielded back to allow the House more time to consider what the Senate will send back.
“There’s a possibility that they may not accept what we send them and they may want to send us something back,” Reid said.
Cruz cut off Reid, accusing him of “making a speech” rather than asking Cruz a question.
Despite his Ironman stand on the floor of the upper chamber, Cruz could not stop a Senate already in motion from eventually returning a clean continuing resolution to the House scant days before a government shutdown is scheduled to take effect on Oct. 1. Under Senate rules, the latest the upper chamber could take the first procedural vote on a House spending bill that defunds Obamacare is 1 p.m. on Wednesday — a reality Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) broadcast to the world Tuesday morning when he opened the Senate and again on Wednesday.
“This is not a filibuster. This is an agreement that he and I made that he could talk,” Reid said Wednesday.
There was some discussion near the end of the non-filibuster filibuster that Cruz could have continued to hold the floor until 1pm when the vote was scheduled to occur. But, Cruz seemed intent on yielding at noon as originally agreed. In any case, while the speech was eagerly followed by conservatives online throughout the night, I’m not sure that it actually accomplished anything. The Senate will vote to proceed shortly and we’ll have several days of debate before a final cloture vote either late Friday or early Saturday, when there will be less than 72 hours left to avoid a government shutdown.
. In any case, while the speech was eagerly followed by conservatives online throughout the night, I’m not sure that it actually accomplished anything.
Sure it did. A lot of those idiots will give money to their newest crush. Mission accomplished.
The Financial Times in its lead editorial this morning called Cruz a modern-day Robespierre. Nails him perfectly.
Out of curiosity, I checked the Dallas Morning News and the Houston Chronicle on-line. Both are playing the story pretty Cruz friendly, refraining from pointing out that Cruz’s fauxlibuster served no procedural purpose. Typical, from the Chronicle, “Ted Cruz ended his all-night talkathon to dismantle President Barack Obama’s health care law…” However, they did do a little bit of he said, she said, including “”He raised some money with the tea party folks,” Reid said. “That’s what it’s all about.””
I did love their quote from Cruz, “”When Americans tried it, they discovered they did not like green eggs and ham and they did not like Obamacare either,” Cruz said. “They did not like Obamacare in a box, with a fox, in a house or with a mouse. It is not working.”” Wasn’t the whole point to Suess’s story that you might like something if you actually tried it? Somebody’s already been into Wiki and added a reference to Cruz’s claim last night that his father invented green eggs and ham.
I find that highly unlikely. I can’t stand to listen to him for more than 5 mins. That even people who like him would go 21 hrs???
Than again, there are some sick people out there.
@gVOR08: Indeed, I’ve seen it suggested that if Republicans _actually_ thought Obamacare was bad, they’d let it go into full effect, because it would be a terrible embarrassment to the President. The _only_ rational reason to be fighting so hard against it is because they believe it will be hugely successful, and they would literally rather see poor Americans die than let a Democratic President have even a moment of success. They are truly the monsters among us.
@legion: The _only_ rational reason to be fighting so hard against it is because they believe it will be hugely successful, and they would literally rather see poor Americans die than let a Democratic President have even a moment of success. They are truly the monsters among us.
I’m sorry, you need a special permit to use Class VII Hyperbole in this forum. Please present your paperwork, or constrain your hysteria.
It offends my sense of fair play that Cruz got to ramble about nearly anything while the Texas Legislature threw all sorts of restrictions at Wendy Davis.
@Jenos Idanian #13: Actually I totally understand why you would choose to ignore @legion’s central point – it is simply infallible logic – not an attractive trait to Republicans at the moment.
It’s like I’ve always told my daughters, “nothing good happens after 2 in the morning”
@legion: I’d like to disagree with your very cynical assessment of Republicans. I’d really, really like to disagree. I would feel so much better about the future of the country if I could disagree with you. But I can’t.
I think a lot of Republicans at the national level would burn the country to the waterline if they thought the Koch bros would give them 10K for it. It’s just hard to decide if they’re evil, or if they’re five year olds with matches.
@ Jenos
Ah, you made another funny. You might want to include a few bullet points, explaining that this is an attempt at humor, why you think it is amusing, telling everyone what a funny guy you really are, and reminding them that they should laugh. Here are some bullets you can cut and paste, just fill in the blanks.
•
•
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Or, you could just pipe down until you have something to say that is actually funny.
Whoa, that could cut into Obama’s golf game. The horror!
@JKB:
I know, it’s very amusing to consider that Republicans are planning to again intentionally leverage a Debt Ceiling Limit “crisis” into into yet another downgrade in the Bond Rating of American federal government securities. What the heck, the only people who will be harmed are the millions of Americans and institutional investors who hold these securities.
@JKB
A President playing golf? Another unprecidented assault on our way of life – is it time to talk impeachment?
@ JKB
Really dude, good call. I can’t believe Obama actually has the nerve to play golf. It’s simply not done.
Maybe you should contact the President, and suggest that he should caddy for some of the white folks. This would be more in line with modern conservative values.
@ al-Ameda
Look on the bright side. When you damage US financial markets, you are pimping for gold at the same time.
Not true! New Years Eve 1986 up at Ft. Point 🙂
@anjin-san: You don’t like it when I go funny? Fine. Let’s go serious.
In a time of mass shootings, of serial butchers like Kermit Gosnell, tyrannical regimes using weapons of mass destruction against their own people, beheadings, bombings, and all sorts of horrific examples of Man’s Inhumanity to Man, to say that a bunch of politicians acting like politicians “are truly the monsters among us” shows an incredibly stupid lack of perspective, and that that comment would get so many up-votes proves that legion is truly An Idiot Among Idiots.
You like that better, Drunken Master?
@ Jenos
I think it would be great if you were funny. But you aren’t.
Applying some historical perspective, the world is relatively peaceful at the moment, and the streets of America are pretty safe. Do you have an argument to present that does not involve being hysterical?
Deliberate efforts to damage our economy, especially when we were on the brink of a depression not so long ago, is not politics as usual. Like millions of other Americans, I have investments I am counting on if I ever want to retire. I don’t appreciate a pipsqueak like Ted Cruz putting them at risk so he can enjoy his moment in the spotlight and fatten his PAC’s bank account.
@anjin-san: Deliberate efforts to damage our economy, especially when we were on the brink of a depression not so long ago, is not politics as usual.
Agreed, Which is why I oppose ObamaCare. We’re already seeing just what a train wreck it is. Lots of people are losing their insurance as their employers choose to dump their much-more-expensive health plans and toss people into the “exchanges,” which are supposed to roll out in a couple of weeks and all signs show it’s going to Epic Fail. Insurance companies are canceling policies left and right, discontinuing entire programs because they don’t meet ObamaCare standards.
For example, Michelle Malkin provided her family and employees with a BCBS plan. I don’t know the details, but she was satisfied with it. Well, it’s dead now, and no matter how many times she quotes Obama’s promise that “If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor. Period. If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan. Period. No one will take it away. No matter what,” it ain’t coming back.
For the (questionable) benefit of a relatively few people, ObamaCare makes things a lot worse and a lot more expensive for a lot more people.
Deliberate efforts to damage our economy, especially when we were on the brink of a depression not so long ago, is not politics as usual.
If you actually typed that with a straight face, I am truly impressed.
@anjin-san: My apologies, I missed this truly hysterical line of yours.
Do you have an argument to present that does not involve being hysterical?
I think you meant that line to legion, not me. If not, then I cheerfully concede that you are far funnier than I ever could hope to be.
@ Jenos Idanian #13
Did you say something?
@Jenos Idanian #13: How do you know that “it makes a lot of things worse.” You sound like a talking parrot. Simply repeating the same stuff, over and over.
The real stupidity is that we’re paying twice what other countries do for health care and we still can’t cover our people. Before you fulminate about the evilness of Obamacare, you might want to address that.
@grumpy realist: There are plenty of reasons. For one, we are, in essence, the world’s R&D for medicine. For another, we have layers and layers of bureaucracy mandated by government. For another, we’re the most litigious society on earth, and lots of doctors pay huge percentages of their income on malpractice insurance.
None of which addresses the fundamental point: while the previous system had its problems, ObamaCare makes things worse overall.
And if you didn’t notice (you don’t seem overly observant), I linked to a column by Michelle Malkin, where she talks about how her own personal situation is now being made worse by ObamaCare — and she had plenty of links to show that her circumstances are far from unique.
@ Jenos
Are you saying we have MORE bureaucracy that the evil socialistic Europeans?
Yes, and big pharma rakes in big, big profits. And we pay more than anyone else for health care. Hmmm. Cause and effect?
@ WR
Hey, Michelle Malkin says so. Case closed.
@anjin-san: it ain’t just Big Pharma — which was a big backer of ObamaCare. The medical devices industry is getting whacked with taxes that will put a big hurting on them and their R&D.
And just who the hell are you to say to someone else “you’ve made enough money, we’re going to take even more of it because you make more than I think you should?”
Still making up positions for others, I see.
@anjin-san: Annie, if part of your argument is “they make big money,” then it’s pretty much presumed that you object to their making big money. You’re either objecting to how much they make, or how they make it. And since you didn’t bring up how they make it, only the amount, then the only logical conclusion is that you object to the amount.
Don’t blame me because you can’t speak coherently.
@ Jenos
Well sure. If your are an idiot.
Let me ask you something, have you spent any time around the executive suite of a Fortune 500 company? Been in meetings with guys that run billion dollar originazations? Sat down with the President of a significant medical devices company? Had a real life 1% er/job creator call you and ask you to work with them on a project?
Because I’ve done all those things. It’s how I make my living, helping real capitalists make real profits. in my own small way, I am a maker. I suspect you are a taker, though you probably don’t realize it.
I mean, it’s kind of cute when you put on your Captain Capitalist costume and run around making little wooshing sounds, but you would be more credible if you came across as someone who could succeed as a shift manager as a Taco Bell. You don’t.
@anjin-san: And Annie, it’s so transparent when you suddenly feel the need to assert your superiority. You tout all your experiences and credentials (which, of course, all must take your word for, and can’t verify), but you run away from the actual questions.
And the question here is, what are the benefits of ObamaCare? What are the costs? Who benefits, how many, and how do they benefit? On the other hand, who are losing choices, being charged more, and what are they losing?
Finally, I’m not asking you to provide evidence to support your assertions about your own accomplishments. I don’t care, Annie. I’m just noting that your assertions all boil down to “I’m awesome, take my word for it, so I know better and you just shut up, you worthless prole.”
Points for style, but zero for substance.
Lets see – someone who thinks calling a guy a girls name is a clever put down is talking about substance. Well, that is kinda funny in a “they are laughing at you, not with you” kind of way.
And you still won’t talk about your business experience. Can’t imagine why that is 🙂
At any rate, there are people on OTB that know me in the real world, I am sure they will chime in if I misrepresent myself. Well, enough of this, I am down in Monterey, and the weather is awesome. The super bike guys from Laguna Seca are starting to arrive, and they are kinda awesome too.
@Anjin-San: Actually, the “Annie” was from the Star Wars prequels. And apparently you missed the first time I said I didn’t care whether or not you were telling the truth about your experiences.
You constantly seem to need to prove your superiority. First it was in veiled threats to demonstrate your skill with guns, now that you’re more successful in careers.
If this is all a way of compensating for your tragically small wee-wee, get some therapy, dude.
On the other hand, if you want to actually discuss issues, such as the questions I raised about ObamaCare, let me know.
But I won’t hold my breath.
In the meantime, have fun with your big, burly biker friends. Hope you brought your leather…
Well, you made a crack about me “wetting myself if I saw a pop tart that looked like a gun” so I simply pointed out that I am very comfortable around guns after decades of target shooting. And I asked if you would be interested in doing some target shooting, so we could see who could really handle a gun. Turns out you are not up to it. Big surprise.
In other words, you were a wise ass, and it kind of backfired on you.
Today you made some truly strange remark about me wanting to curtail corporate profits, and I pointed out that I make my living helping (very) successful people make even greater profits, and that I am actually in the game in business, which is something that I doubt is true of you. Profits are my goal every day of the week.
Again, you were a wise ass, and a sadly uninformed one at that – sorry if it did not work out the way you hoped it would.
Now you are down to making dick jokes, the last refuge of the unfunny comic. Again, hate to burst your bubble, but I have been very, very lucky in lust in my life. Sorry Skippy, if you want to wound me, you will have to look elsewhere.
The moral of the story is you should not try to mock your betters. It just won’t work out the way you want it to. In every case, you opened the door with lame shots at me. All I did was point out that you are full of it.
Oh and the “bikers”? The guys I was referring to race on the international circuit. They are out at Laguna Seca this weekend. Hanging out with guys who race professionally is a hell of a lot of fun. So again, you fail at mockery.
There are quite a few people on OTB that can provide rewarding discussion of issues. You are not one of them.
Oh, and the “veiled threat”? A persecution complex is what lies beyond your well developed victim complex. You should probably talk to a therapist before this goes much further. Paranoia is the next stop, and it’s not a place you want to visit.