2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumWhy Ted Cruz is such an asshole
Cruz came to the Senate, in 2012, and then to national prominence, through an unusual route. Like many politicians, he is a lawyer, but his legal expertise is of a special kind, which helps explain both his fame and his notoriety. Before he ran for the Senate, Cruz was on his way to becoming one of the most notable appellate advocates in the country. He was and is the best appellate litigator in the state of Texas, James Ho, who succeeded Cruz as solicitor general of the state, told me. Trial lawyers, civil or criminal, are often brought into cases when there are compromises to be made; much of their work winds up involving settlements or plea bargains. But appellate litigators, like Cruz, generally appear after the time for truce has passed. Their job is to make their best case and let the chips fall where they may. That is the kind of politician Cruz has becomeone who came to Washington not to make a deal but to make a point. Citing Margaret Thatcher, Cruz often puts his approach this way: First you win the argument, then you win the vote.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2014/06/30/140630fa_fact_toobin?currentPage=all
Arkana
(24,347 posts)Maybe it's Maybelline.
Seriously, though, Cruz is an arrogant asshole with no idea how to make friends. His one marketable skill is antagonizing people.
yellowcanine
(35,690 posts)One can choose either to be an asshole or not to be an asshole.
Beacool
(30,243 posts)Alan Dershowitz said that he was brilliant and one of the best law students he ever had in his class.
question everything
(47,209 posts)He talked about him on CNN, I think and I caught that part. Traditionally, that is BTP - before tea party - politics was viewed as the art of a compromise. This is why we refer to legislative bodies ad "debating bodies." But his approach is "my way," so I hope that he will be rejected when it comes to national campaign.
Beacool
(30,243 posts)The guy is so far Right that he's scary. He's also a jerk who has antagonized most of his colleagues in the Senate, including Republicans (except for his T.P. buddies like Paul and Johnson).
world wide wally
(21,714 posts)Ted Cruz, Dick Cheney, or John McCain?
question everything
(47,209 posts)at least, from point of view of cooperation. Cheney and McCain were in congress when compromises were arrived at on a regular basis. Plus, by now by both have become cartoons of themselves.
Cruz is a dangerous rising star.