Cruz Control to King Manchin – ‘The Sunday Political Brunch’

Cruz Control to King Manchin – ‘The Sunday Political Brunch’

It’s been another week of odds and ends in politics, with a whole hodge-podge of unconnected events. The new administration and Congress are still trying to get their footing. Let’s “brunch” on that this week:

 

“The Cruz Cruise” – It’s one of those bad political cliches you hear all the time, especially this week: “The optics are bad!” Amid a severe cold snap with snow, and massive power outages, in many states including Texas, someone took a vacation. Sen. Ted Cruz (R) Texas and his family hopped a plane to Cancun, Mexico. The blowback has been unreal, and Cruz quickly came back to Texas and apologized. “It was obviously a mistake" and that "in hindsight I wouldn't have done it," Cruz said.

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“Riding on ‘Cruz Control’” – Near as I can tell he flew down and came back in a day, or two. He wanted to be a good dad and visit his daughters and wife who were vacationing there. Believe me I get that quality time with kids and family is tough in the world of politics. Been there. But Texas is enduring a natural disaster akin to a hurricane, earthquake, or tornado wave. While governors largely direct emergency response, members of Congress need to be onboard to get emergency aide from the White House, FEMA, Homeland Security, and other agencies. You can’t look insensitive or asleep at the switch. Cruz did.

 

“The Fallout!” – If someone has a photo of Cruz in Bermuda shorts, walking the Cancun beach with a metal detector, it is gold! He’s not only been mentioned as a potential 2024 candidate for president, but widely respected in legal circles, he’s been in the mix for a U.S. Supreme Court nomination. Cruz’s other dilemma for 2024 is, does he run for his open Senate seat or does he run for president? He barely beat former Rep. Beta O’Rourke (D) Texas 51 to 48 percent in 2018. He’s vulnerable in a Senate race, and now has weakened himself as the most potentially powerful candidate in a presidential primary. Tough choices! As I always say here, the worst political wounds are usually self-inflicted.

 

“Manchin as Political Kingmaker” – I wish I could remember who told me this, and if it’s you, email me to confess (or at least let me know anonymously). Shortly after the 2020 election results were in, a friend said, “You just watch. Joe Manchin is about to become the most powerful politician in America.’ A bold, stunning, braggadocios statement I thought at the time, but now I am inclined to agree.

 

“The Manchin-Churian Candidate” –Sen. Joe Manchin (D) West Virginia is clearly the most conservative Democrat in the U.S. Senate. Or, as he always tells me, “I’m the most bipartisan.” He voted for more of President Trump’s initiatives than any other Democrat. Well, Friday Manchin announced he will oppose the nomination of Neera Tanden to be Director the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the White House. Let’s assume Manchin joins all Republicans in opposing Tanden, that makes it a 51-49 vote. Even Vice President Kamala Harris can’t cast a tie-breaking vote. Watch for Manchin to use this strategy a lot! He may have more political leverage than anyone in Congress right now.

 

“So, Who’s Conducting the Train?” – As Democrats faced last year, the Republicans are now in a similar generational fight for the future of their party. Do they stick with Trump-backed House and Senate Candidates in 2022, or do they bolt for folks more likely to win seats by distancing themselves from Trump? Do they pick an old-guard presidential nominee such as Jeb Bush or John Kasich, or do they look to a diverse up-and-comer such as Nikki Haley or Marco Rubio?

 

“A Rush to Judgement” – In the news business we share cars to get around town. I never turn off the radio when done, so twice in my career I have been chastised by a colleague who took over my vehicle and later quizzed me, “Why were you listening to Rush Limbaugh?” My answer was, “to gain insight and information.” If I am going to be an objective political reporter, (and I am), I must have a solid understanding of what each side is thinking. Between noon and 3pm on the East Coast, Limbaugh owned the airwaves. It was about the only political discourse on radio available. Sometimes I agreed with his point of view, and sometimes I thought he was nuts. But I learned a lot. And putting politics aside, he was simply a talented, accomplished broadcaster. His 32-year run of national success is almost unmatched in the industry.

 

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Mark Curtis, Ed.D., is Chief Political Reporter for the seven TV stations serving West Virginia and its five neighboring states and all of the Washington, DC media market, He is a MINDSETTER columnist for www.GoLocalProv.com and its affiliates.