It seems like only yesterday that we were hearing what was a near endless steam of critics, from both sides of the aisle, as they condemned, even ridiculed as being nothing more than a complete waste of time, Sen. Ted Cruz’s 21 hour filibuster against the debacle that we have all come to know as Obamacare. Funny thing, though, but because of a rollout that was nothing short a disaster, and the fact that millions of Americans have already lost their healthcare coverage, that they had been promised they would be able to keep, period, I think it can now be said that Sen. Cruz has been more than vindicated.
And I think what can also be said to be proof that Cruz has been vindicated, is the fact that, according to a new Rasmussen Reports poll, the Texas Republican was considered to be the world's third-most influential person of 2013, falling behind only Pope Francis and the creator of Obamacare, Barry "Almighty." Eleven percent of the 1,000 adults polled on Dec. 11-12 picked Cruz as the most influential person, Rasmussen announced on Sunday. Cruz was also a runner up in Time Magazine’s annual "Person of the Year" selection last week, with Time selecting the pope for the top honor.
In the Rasmussen survey, 23 percent of those surveyed picked the pope as the most influential, followed by 21 percent choosing Barry. Cruz, one of the most prominent politicians aligned with the tea party movement, was followed on the list by National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden, who was seen as most influential by eight percent of those surveyed. The survey also went across party lines. Among Republicans, Cruz was second behind the pope, with 19 percent calling the freshman senator and Tea Party leader the world’s most influential leader.
Summing up the rest of the list, four percent of those taking part in the poll, picked Russian President Vladimir Putin as being most-influential, followed by three percent who actually picked House Speaker John Boehner and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Two dramatically opposite women, singer Miley Cyrus and Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton each gathered two percent of the vote. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai each scored one percent.
According to Rasmussen, many Americans, especially those of Catholic faith, believe Pope Francis has improved people's perceptions of the church. However, Barry's approval ratings are at a record low following this fall's botched Obamacare rollout. The poll also showed that a divide exists between the sexes. Women were more likely to pick the pope as most influential, while men were twice as likely to pick Cruz. And, oddly enough, people over 65 felt more strongly that the pope and Barry are the most influential. I can understand them picking the pope, but not Barry.
I think it safe to say that most establishment Republicans, as well as just about every single Democrat, would like us all to believe that Cruz is really nothing more than a kook with a huge ego, and is a guy who resides out there on the rightwing fringe. But try as they might, it would seem that the only ones that they have been able to convince of this, are themselves. I think a great many people, myself included, see Cruz as being a straight shooter. Now I must confess that, while I do not agree with everything that he says or does, I still view him as providing a positive influence in Congress.
No comments:
Post a Comment