2011: Ted Cruz on the wall (and amnesty)
Those who say that everyone else is just following Trump when they talk about a wall and a secure border, should take a look at this from 2011. And notice, also what he said about amnesty.
Oh, I know it won’t matter to the most fervent Trump supporters. “Well, that not a wall like Trump will build a wall!” There will always be something to object to. But Cruz has been fighting for this—actions, not just words—for a long time, as long as he’s been in public office (that 2011 interview was during his campaign for the Senate).
In the video, Cruz actually supports more than a wall; he was being inclusive and expansive about all the solutions to the main problem, which is to secure the border. I wrote a piece about the logistical, geographic, and legal problems here; take a look and you’ll see what I’m referring to.
Over two years ago, the El Paso Times wrote this about Cruz and the border (I copied the text a while back, but unfortunately the link is now dead and I can’t find another) [emphasis mine]:
A border congressman last week said that Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s demands for “100 percent operational” control of the border are expensive and unrealistic”¦
…[I]n a June speech to the Senate, Cruz said he would not support any reform bill until the United States established “100 percent operational control” of its border with Mexico.
A few weeks earlier, he voted to block debate of an immigration bill hashed out by the bipartisan “Gang of Eight.”
“The insecurity of our borders is causing human tragedies in our country, many, many of which are occurring in my home state of Texas,” Cruz told the Senate on June 22. “Central to any debate over immigration is the need to secure our borders.”
Cruz later added, “Right now, our borders are anything but secure.”
Cruz proposed to secure the border by tripling the size of the border patrol and quadrupling the number of helicopters and cameras on the border and completing a double-layered border fence.
That was in the fall of 2013.
well, they are putting me at the point where falling on the train tracks will be the best thing i can do for my family…
Ted Cruz, the presidential candidate who wants to increase the H-1B cap by 500%
http://www.computerworld.com/article/2900126/ted-cruz-the-presidential-candidate-who-wants-to-increase-the-h-1b-cap-by-500.html
Cruz argued for increasing the base H-1B cap to 325,000
[edited for length by n-n]
Look, I like Cruz. I don’t think he’s a bad guy. He is on the list, but it will come down to what the rest of the voters are doing. How enthusiastic they are to vote for certain candidates. It just is what it is.
Cruz’s biggest problem is that he comes across as robotic to me. The last debate was probably his best for seeming personable, but sometimes the smartest guy in the room also comes across as the coldest guy in the room. Not his fault. Just a vibe he gives.
I really am hoping more of the ‘smaller’ candidates will drop out, so i can see where those votes go. If Kasich or Christie leave the race, what happens? What about Carson?
In the end, I happily vote for whoever is the Republican nominee. I just hope others on this site do the same. And don’t stay home for some reason. Just because ‘your guy’ doesn’t win isn’t a reason to not vote in the general.
Appearing robotic is a genuine problem for Cruz — which he acknowledges.
He says his audiographic memory causes him to remember things VERBATIM and he catches himself pausing to rephrase things so people aren’t hearing exactly the same thing all the time.
It’s a catch-22. Saying the exact same thing makes you sound robotic. Speaking with a slight halting pace makes you sound robotic.
I think he’s managing it much better in the later debates.
Think about this though: imagine someone in the Oval Office that has the ability to quote back what people said verbatim when they’re arguing who said what during negotiation with congress.
NE Senator to appear with Rubio and Cruz.
Not everyone hates Ted.
Did not know that about Cruz’s memory. Thanks for letting me know!
I very much appreciate how he has stood up against Republicans and Democrats in the Senate. I want him to do well, but I need to see it before I believe it.
I also think Cruz would make one hell of a Supreme Court pick!
Super smart conservative guy … still not good enough. “Robotic.” Unable to play nicely and cooperate with delicate establishment goon squad who all hate him.
Whatever, Trump’s got momentum, and Bob Dole, on his side.
Not to re-direct traffic but Ace of Spades has a great post on why people should vote for Cruz in Iowa because the GOPe is pretending to support Trump because it wants Cruz out to clear the decks for Rubio as a catch-all for Republicans who can’t stand Trump.
Cruz is far from being robotic on the campaign trail. I have been to two of his events in Eastern Iowa, he is very easy to like as a human being.
The more I listen to Cruz the better he sounds. The last week we’ve been seeing what looks to be a systematic trashing of the guy by a lot of people in the Republican party who I suspect are more comfortable with the status quo than someone who will actually make changes. The guy’s tax plan looks more than just workable, it looks like it would promote real growth, and also put a lot of tax accountants and lawyers out of business. Oh, and make it harder for existing politicians to promise tax code changes to encourage more contributions to their re-election campaigns.
I thought before today I couldn’t disrespect Trump more, but he managed to find a hidden reservoir of dislike I didn’t know about when he announced he won’t be attending the debate for some peeve over Kelly at Fox News.
Trump is a empty. Cruz is real.
On the plus side maybe this debate will focus on real issues and we can avoid the theatrics with Trump. Maybe enough people will come to their senses and drop the xxxxxxxx.
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Otiose makes a good point. It may be a win-win to have Trump sit on the sidelines and pout. Without his distractions, maybe candidates will have an incentive, and get the air time, to talk about substantive issues. Actually that is a rather tall order given the format, but all is possible.
The Trump supporters are ludicrous. Many are saying that he was dissed by FNC and was right to boycott. I think the timeline shows that he announced his boycott because Meygn was not servile enough, then Roger Aires took his shot. Trump should not start verbal fights with Aires; he is a heavy weight (no pun, or maybe it is)
James Taranto has a fun column up in the WSJ today: he teases with the lede that one presidential candidate refuses to debate, then points out it is Sanders. He points out that two or three other presidential candidates refused to debate, and still, he is not talking about the person who is sucking all the air out of the room. In fact his entire column goes without mentioning the one candidate who has dominated neo neocon’s commenters, and whom I shall not name either. It IS possible to talk about the Republican candidates without mentioning one of their names. Let’s do it!
ArtfldgrsGhost Says:
January 26th, 2016 at 4:21 pm
well, they are putting me at the point where falling on the train tracks will be the best thing i can do for my family…
Ted Cruz, the presidential candidate who wants to increase the H-1B cap by 500%
&&&&
It is COMMON for rogue legislators to wrap sugar all around poison pill amendments.
His wording would’ve been accepted and included in the final draft — if it wasn’t loaded with poison. There would be no-one on the other side of the deal — to vote against it.
Every Big Shot from Bill Gates on over would’ve favored it.
But, the way it works is that amendments have to be adopted as proposed… entire. The Senate Majority Leader can’t strike out words to suit himself. He can’t eject the poison.
The author of that hit piece naturally omits ‘the rest of the story.’
%%%%
Such manuvering is as common as blue sky in Washington.
MrAleGuy Says:
January 26th, 2016 at 4:52 pm
Appearing robotic is a genuine problem for Cruz – which he acknowledges.
He says his audiographic memory causes him to remember things VERBATIM and he catches himself pausing to rephrase things so people aren’t hearing exactly the same thing all the time….
I think he’s managing it much better in the later debates.
…
* * *
I noticed his memory (as did others) in the debate where he called out the moderators on their questions, repeating exactly what they had asked of whom.
I have problems with some of his policy issues, but I’m Cruzin’ anyway.
Otiose Says:
January 26th, 2016 at 9:10 pm
The more I listen to Cruz the better he sounds. The last week we’ve been seeing what looks to be a systematic trashing of the guy by a lot of people in the Republican party who I suspect are more comfortable with the status quo than someone who will actually make changes.
* * *
A lot of people in the GOP are more comfortable with the status quo, and they are running around like roaches looking for a hidey-hole.
“The more I listen to Cruz the better he sounds. ”
Cruz has been systematically “no-platformed” since he got to the Senate.
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