Come for the politics, stay for the snark.
lol ted cruz is buying someone else’s book with campaign donations and essentially reselling it at 10x list price in order to get more campaign donations pic.twitter.com/yGyMCpjq7c
— Roger Sollenberger (@SollenbergerRC) March 13, 2021
Late Night Open Thread: An Entirely Parasitic OrganismPost + Comments (35)
He’s got notoriety, some power, support — while he’s perceived as a useful tool — but as he’s only too aware, nobody actually likes Ted Cruz. He’s superficially accepted that he’ll never be loved, but his inability to perform the ‘normal’ political functions far outweighs his self-promotional gifts.
Where was President BIden, on Friday?
Biden tells staff gathered at the Harris County Operations Center that he was eager to send federal aid when Texas Governor Greg Abbott called, telling staff, "Before he asked the question, I said yes."
Abbott laughs, adds "He did, he said yes before I even asked the question." https://t.co/7IoXiFWqgu
— DJ Judd (@DJJudd) February 26, 2021
And where was Texas Senator Ted Cruz?
CPAC Open Thread: Ted Cruz Will Never Get the Acclaim He CravesPost + Comments (151)
I get it now. Ted and Heidi Cruz wanted their children to be safe, to have basic sanitary services like heat and running water, to leave behind a third-world apocalyptic nightmare for a safer place. Like so many parents before them, they decided to cross the Mexican border.
— Julie Roginsky (@julieroginsky) February 19, 2021
To the surprise of no one (including, probably, Ted Cruz), his kids’ schoolmates’ parents don’t like him, either…
Late Night Open Thread: Repercussions, of A SortPost + Comments (62)
Ted Cruz continues to be a trailblazer as he becomes the first Hispanic person to flee FROM Texas TO Mexico because of ICE
— Wayne Lawson, PhD (@WayneALawson) February 20, 2021
Could not happen to a more deserving simulacrum of a human being…
Late Night Open Thread: Cruz, In for A Bruisin’…Post + Comments (53)
.@BetoORourke to @TedCruz: “If the president attacks you personally…how you respond is your business. But when the president attacks our institutions…that is our business.”
Watch the debate here, courtesy of @NBCDFW. https://t.co/YrOsTJAA4L#txsen #tx2018 #txsendebate pic.twitter.com/NHloaOpV9G
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) September 21, 2018
Reports from last night’s debate:
Did Ted Cruz just blame school shootings on “removing God from the public square”?!
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) September 21, 2018
Beto: I have a responsibility as a white person to use my white privilege to dismantle white supremacy
Cruz: All children must die because you are bad at praying, don't shoot the messenger#TXSenateDebate
— andrea grimes (@andreagrimes) September 21, 2018
And then…
The last question requires O’Rourke and Cruz to say one nice thing about each other. “I think you are sincere in your beliefs, like Bernie,” says Cruz. “True to form,” O’Rourke responds. ??
— Elaina Plott (@elainaplott) September 21, 2018
For his part, O’Rourke said he admired Cruz’s commitment to his family in midst of such a high-pressure job.
— Elaina Plott (@elainaplott) September 21, 2018
Cruz debates like a champion college debater: he cares about "impressing the judges" and winning on points because that's mostly what counts there.
IRL, not coming across like an ungracious prick matters even more. https://t.co/kW1XeYt4em
— Jeff B. (@EsotericCD) September 21, 2018
Yeah…that kinda captured something huh https://t.co/AuLASuBpVX
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) September 22, 2018
Local Races Open Thread: Beto vs. Cruz, #TrueToFormPost + Comments (36)
Ted Cruz and the Texas GOP have now warned voters that @BetoORourke likes to (1) eat Whataburgers, (2) drink beer, (3) play in a rock band and (4) occasionally curse.
I’m sure this will all repel Texans, who are famously dainty. https://t.co/4kmuPIYrVb
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) September 3, 2018
You know the Repubs are worried when they start the blatant ratfvcking this early. Per the Dallas News:
A person masquerading as a volunteer for Beto O’Rourke apparently sent text messages to voters Wednesday to give the impression the Democrat’s Senate campaign was seeking help to take “undocumented immigrants” to the polls.
A spokesman for O’Rourke’s campaign attributed the texts to “an impostor,” the Austin American-Statesman reported, and said campaign officials were looking into what happened.
“Hi, it’s Patsy here w/Beto for Texas,” the text said. “Our records indicate that you’re a supporter. We are in search of volunteers to help transport undocumented immigrants to polling booths so that they will be able [sic] vote. Would you be able to support this grassroots effort?”
Word of the messages quickly circulated on social media, prompting the campaign to follow up with another text message explaining that the impostor had signed on as a volunteer and then sent the unauthorized messages…
Highlight of my night is hearing that a midterm candidate from the party that doesn’t hold the White House, who is massively out-raising the (unlikable) incumbent, is a point behind the incumbent, on Labor Day, _and that’s supposed to be bad news for the challenger_!!!!!
— Dana Houle (@DanaHoule) September 4, 2018
Even Chris ‘the Mad Bitcher’ Cillizza is excited — “Yes, the Texas Senate race is for real”:
Cillizza: It’s post-Labor Day. Is this race as close as most polling suggests?
[Texas Tribune CEO Evan] Smith: Well, it’s close, and more importantly it’s closer than nearly every general election race in Texas has been for several decades. There is general agreement among pollsters and political observers that O’Rourke is trailing by mid-high single digits. By contrast, the Democrat running for governor is behind by twice that amount or more. O’Rourke has raised more money than Cruz and has more cash on hand, meaning can he get his name ID up and his message out in a very expensive state. He is already getting tons of free media. But Texas is a red state, and that’s the mountain he has to scale. The odds are still against him, though they’ve improved…Cillizza: Cruz seems to be worried. They have started attacking Beto over being in a band, wearing a dress and a past (known) DUI. Is this a sudden panic?
Smith: They’re definitely sounding the alarm. Not sure it’s panic quite yet. O’Rourke is still relatively unknown, so they’re trying to define him in character terms before he can define himself. Oldest trick in the book. They’re betting that his younger, wilder days will be a turn-off. Hmm, where have I heard that phrase before? Oh, right, George W. Bush. Who won the presidency. For this strategy to be successful, you’d have to believe there are voters who are toying with voting for O’Rourke but won’t because HE WAS IN A PUNK ROCK BAND. I’m not sure this is a “Footloose” election cycle…
Ted Cruz was literally born in Canada but ok. https://t.co/U00NLPTiY2
— Evan 20XX (@evan7257) September 4, 2018
In a heavily edited video, new Ted Cruz campaign ad falsely depicts Beto O'Rourke saying he’s ‘grateful’ for flag burninghttps://t.co/Bu0HZVghzn
— Nathan McDermott (@natemcdermott) September 5, 2018
I will be doing a major rally for Senator Ted Cruz in October. I’m picking the biggest stadium in Texas we can find. As you know, Ted has my complete and total Endorsement. His opponent is a disaster for Texas – weak on Second Amendment, Crime, Borders, Military, and Vets!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 31, 2018
Now that Trump has set a bar for rally size being an electability measure, everyone will note how Beto's rallies will dwarf Cruz's as election day gets closer. Nice job!
— Schooley (@Rschooley) September 1, 2018
Saw a Beto bumper sticker in the Walmart parking lot. Still no Cruz swag. He’s definitely winning.
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) September 1, 2018
Okay, here’s one Cruz sign. https://t.co/tJHMgXom46
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) September 1, 2018
Texas Brawlin’ Open Thread: Betting on BetoPost + Comments (24)
Reminder to media: CPAC doesn't represent the now non-existent conservative movement, but rather is a gathering of fringe players, low travelers, white nationalists and knuckle heads. Being kind, actually.
— John Weaver (@JWGOP) February 22, 2018
This is what many conservatives complained to reporters who covered CPAC for the last decade. Then the speakers they were complaining about took over the party and the WH and the critics were relegated to a fringe resistance. https://t.co/odnZLdRXQU https://t.co/dJAISFTAnG
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) February 22, 2018
.
Why I love Twitter, for days like this…
Ted Cruz on Hill reporters: “Their questions are never about substance"
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) February 22, 2018
. @tedcruz "I think the Democrats are the party of Lisa Simpson and Republicans are happily the party of Homer and Bart and Maggie and Marge."
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) February 22, 2018
i don't even find beto o'rourke that appealing but I can't read this and not want to see him give ted cruz an atomic wedgie https://t.co/orzr8B1BY0
— Zeddy (@Zeddary) February 22, 2018
As a Simpsons animator for many years, I can say with 100% certainty that A) Lisa is officially the conscience of the family so…awesome. B) Neither Marge nor Homer are Republicans.
— Anna Maltese ? (@MalteseAnna) February 22, 2018
CPAC Open Thread: Social Notes from the Clown ParadePost + Comments (106)