Ted Cruz This Week: Highlights From Senator's Speech Against 'Obamacare' | The New York Times

Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, continued to speak on the Senate floor against the Affordable Care Act, which senators will vote on Wednesday afternoon.
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Ted Cruz This Week: Highlights From Senator's Speech Against 'Obamacare'
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[@tomford7983]

Harvard Law must be so proud.

[@CFannyPack]

I've always wanted to know what it would be like for a senator to read me a bed time story.

[@0wnageclan]

What if I want green eggs and ham ?

[@huebothedog665]

You buy them

[@mongomaddy]

@@huebothedog665not with this inflation you don’t

[@huebothedog665]

@@mongomaddy real

[@iloveeveryone8611]

I dont think the memes could outdo this amazing performance

[@-8_8-]

You missed the part where he actually tries the green eggs and ham and figures out that he didn't know wether he liked it or not.

[@user-df4zw7yb4v]

If MrBeast was a senator

[@TheLegend-ws1sl]

Best use of a filibuster ever!!

[@xchopp]

Try kzbin.info/www/bejne/pp6ZoqyVbqpjqLs

[@austina4189]

Guy to the left looks extremely concerned

[@cvleisure]

I usually disagree with Ted Cruz and the GOP, but I thought him reading Green Eggs and Ham was light hearted, relieving and hilarious! Hear me out, it reminded me that at the end of the day, we're all human. We may disagree with each other, but I'm sure there are tons of things that don't have to do with politics that we agree on - like loving a good book like Green Eggs and Ham. If I were a Senator, sure I'd be annoyed with the reason he was filibustering, but I'd smile if I saw him reading that book. I guess what I'm trying to say is that he provided democrats and republicans with common ground, he drifted away from politics and talked about something both sides can enjoy - even if it did only last for a little

[@youfrancis]

Frankly: I think we ALL should have a standard of healthcare to match that of the Senate; and this turkey doesn't give a damn about fairness. He's just making a scene to appease his constituents.

[@keenanwalker6597]

Red Cruz is a genius he really is! One of his greatest moments

[@traceygeorgechrisguthrie2882]

“I do not like it here or there, I do not like Obamacare.” -Ted Cruz, probably.

[@b2e1z]

The most surprising aspect of this video is that Ted Cruz can read.

[@youfrancis]

Well, you know: when you say things like "finding their own path," and "help people become self-reliant" in the same sentence, it seems disingenuous--like you really wouldn't want to be bothered to begin with. "Teach a man to fish"--that's what you meant, I'm sure. But the difference is: you really have to be more tenacious and Kantian. Not just write-off an entire country.

[@GeneDexter]

What? Affordable, responsible health insurance for all? A disaster! But I do appreciate this guy's passion in spite of getting voted out after this ridiculous waste of time.

[@TheDragonboy2001]

Ted Cruz looked so much more dislikable back then than he does now. The beard really must be doing smth for him

[@KavishSaini]

OboomerCare

[@youfrancis]

Boss, you're talking about living in the 19th Century. No doubt: we could all be survivalist, and live on the Frontier by ourselves if we really wanted to--and indeed: no one has a right to take that away from us. But we can't both be a member of modern society and a hermit, simultaneously. In a society, we survive because we believe in caring for one another.

[@kekkekson2484]

You're right. The barriers to entrepreneurship, taxation and regulations should be reduced to liberate the markets. In a modern society we can't just keep to ourselves.

[@VietTran-IAMV]

Lmao. Dont make filibuster illegal. This is comedic af

[@youfrancis]

You should become a humanitarian.

[@jannmutube]

To find a list of congressional members who have signed the Grover Norquist Tax pledge not to raise taxes on the rich, google "list Tax Payer Protection Pledge signers 113th Congress" and click on "Taxpayer Protection Pledge - Amazon S3" Vote them OUT ...Put an end to private control of government.

[@jannmutube]

Write your representatives in the House and the Senate and tell them "No more compromises, just say NO to John Boehner, Ted Cruz, and other Norquist Republicans. If more revenue is needed, take it from the highest income earners who retained the Bush tax cuts (those making more than 250K) The last threatened shut down of the government already caused a devaluation of our credit and it won't be right to leave the country without affordable health care or undefended".

[@jannmutube]

Put an end to private control of government. Many states are holding elections for Governor in 2013. Find out if yours is one of them and vote out those who signed the Norquist tax pledge. Who are they? Search "State Taxpayer Protection Pledge List_CURRENT_2013" ....and then click on "Taxpayer Protection PledgeVote - Amazon S3. Vote them OUT!

[@youfrancis]

"Should" and reality are too different things. But if people are to maintain the same standard of living, doing the same job, then compensation must be adjusted for inflation. If we were instead to freeze base salaries indefinitely, people who (insanely) stay in those positions would eventually slip into poverty, as the world continued to turn and they didn't with it. E.g. in 1950 an NYPD policeman made roughly $5000/year. By today's standards, they'd be well below the poverty line.

[@youfrancis]

@TheYoungTurdz Incorrect: I pay Federal Income Tax all year long. And only when they're done playing with my money, MAYBE do I get some of it back. In addition: I pay Social Security, Medicare, State Income Taxes, Property Tax, Sales Tax, Unemployment Insurance, many many Highway Tolls, and many bullshit bank fees to transit my money around. So please, don't quote from the Book of Romney now. I don't get to hide my 2 leftover nickels in either the Cayman Islands or Switzerland.

[@Tehgoat]

Brit here, we are laughing our asses off at the GOP. Stay classy..lol

[@selfishcapitalist3523]

We are laughing at Brits too.

[@Adamalmosawy0420]

Personally do not understand the problem against the ACA. Constitutionally upheld by a conservative supreme court, protected by the ideals off of John Locke (who we based lots of our constitution off of) and our own founding fathers used Individual Mandates during their time. (President George Washington Signed It) The plan will help to lower the cost of premiums and remove 1 trillion from the deficit. What else do you want? Not like the GOP has provided ANY ALTERNATIVE.

[@jannmutube]

Texas please, no more Ted Cruz. While I am an advocate of states rights, it should not be for programs regulated by the federal government. Romney, Cruz and other Norquist Republicans want to give control of Obamacare to the states. It would still be funded by a federal tax, but as in other endeavors, some corporations and trusts would try to eliminate federal regulation by operating out of other states without any rules or regulations to keep a monopoly on resources, goods and services.

[@youfrancis]

That's not a good argument, only for the fact that no one is immortal; and then you'd have to fire all doctors. In theory, however--and not trying justify the ineptitude of the VA, believe m--their salary ought to at least grow with inflation. But my point is: for Senators, the salary is paid for by all of us. Which any of them could spend however they like. But for he or any of them to say "I'm not a drain on the economy" is bullcrap. They just don't want to go with econo-brand insurance.

[@totagteam]

Go Ted!!

[@businessandpoliticsinswede3138]

Is this real?

[@peterwilliams2887]

Sadly, yes

[@youfrancis]

Fair enough. But I don't recall my ever mentioning 1%, or making demands. Really, I just find it hypocritical that this Senator--a government employee--should be concerned and disapproving at all for what perks other people are getting. No one has ever had it better than this fellow.

[@amalaljohani]

yes dear, I have white friends living there.

[@gracie123loves456]

Oh my god dear lord PLEASE do not let this man anywhere NEAR the Oval Office!

[@youfrancis]

You're right: I've never owned one; and I hope never to. Frankly, I don't need to spend a lot of money to feel good about myself. Don't fall for the false equivalence of either price and quality, or wealth and qualification.

[@youfrancis]

That's fine; but if you keep giving people unsolicited and condescending advice (particularly about where THEY ought to locate), likely no one will ever listen to you. And then your dream--of the America that might have been--will never be realized. BOOOHOOOHAHAHAHAHA *spooky fingers*

[@stuartmcdicks4792]

Ted Cruz is the best

[@youfrancis]

@2:20 But somehow the conditions of the Senate--their benefits and their healthcare--shouldn't apply to everyone also? Why isn't that okay? Are the Senate more important than any other government employee? Tell it to the Soldiers. Tell it to the Custodians of our mess.

[@blacjackdaniels200]

With all this talk about the filibuster, I had to rewatch this .

[@youfrancis]

Again, I didn't admit anything--I stated a point of fact. "Admitting" implies that somehow I felt I was wrong, while really that is probably more a projection on your part. And while you're feeling ashamed somehow on my behalf, please reconsider your own choice of words. If you want to be taken seriously anyway.

[@James-sh8mu]

Chad

[@youfrancis]

Gucci is a brand of handbag--an expensive brand of handbag; but a handbag nonetheless. It really is not much better than your average handbag, in so far as it's practical purposes are concerned. And yet, people will buy Gucci, simply for the fact that it is status symbol. Point of fact: I was being sarcastic. There is no "Goochi"-brand Healthcare, in name at least (although, considering what some charge for a basic check-up, there really ought to be).

[@youfrancis]

What is a $1000 to a millionaire? 0.1% of their total resources. Not quite the same thing as it is to someone making $10,000/year--10% of their income. It's the same amount of money, for sure; though the fact is that the millionaire could easily sustain such a blow, whereas a person living below the poverty line would have to decide then between eating and living indoors. A flat tax, while more easily predictable, has a more egregious bearing on the persons with a lower income.

[@youfrancis]

*Does a double take* The man read from the gospel according to Dr. Seuss, for Pete's sake! And your complaining about government cartoons? And whether he's on "Obamacare" yet or not, he's still very much getting paid a bloated salary--in addition to whatever asslicking he gets from lobbyists--just to read us all bedtime stories, in lieu of actually do anything constructive. BRAVO. *index finger clap*

[@youfrancis]

Of what, precisely? This guys speech? He's a pawn. A well paid pawn...with healthcare surely better than yours or mine.

[@youfrancis]

It's called shared responsibility. No one likes paying taxes--I certainly don't anyway. But we do it still for the greater good of our civilization. Now, if you don't want to be a member of modern society, that's your prerogative. As far as your links are concerned: I didn't instigate this conversation with you, and I'm not looking to join your cult.

[@youfrancis]

Mr. Turd: you see only what you want to. Still the fact is Obamacare isn't free--it's a tax; which I would have guessed was your problem with it to begin with. On the other hand, I don't have a strong opinion about it either way yet. Still if the theory holds: you should expect to get good care for less than what you're paying now, simply for the fact that everyone will have insurance. And good news: you'll still be able to prove your intelligence by buying the most expensive brand instead.

[@youfrancis]

I'm not confessing myself, if that is what you mean by admitting. Also, repeating yourself doesn't make for a sound argument. As for our forefathers: I should think--by today's standards at least--we really ought to be more ashamed of THEM for doling out human rights so inconsistently (i.e. strictly for white men). Still, again, that was in the distance past; and we really can't judge them too harshly, can we? We've evolved since then.

[@michaelweyenberg6238]

8 years later. Proven correct. Wages stagnant. Healthcare costs more than ever.

[@Connatiah1]

Bye Bye love. Hello loneliness. Goodbye happiness. I think I'm gonna cry. Bye Bye love good bye. There goes my baby with someone new. There goes my darling now I'm so blue. Ted Crud should resign, and go the way of Palin and Romney. He has committed political suicide with my help. He is a disgrace to his family and America. Makes ya wanna cry don't it.