Here's
Texas Ottawa Senator Ted Cruz today,
saying that Republicans won't be able to get rid of Obamacare without winning an election...
"I think it is likely that it will take another election for a full repeal," he said.
...because:
"We know with an absolute certainty that President Obama and Harry Reid are going to push back, are going to fight to defend Obamacare," Cruz said, emphasizing that the only way repeal can happen is through a sustained grassroots effort. "It's going to depend on making the case to the American people."
So, Cruz says that the Obamacare defund scheme really isn't viable and Republicans need to focus on winning elections. That almost puts him on the same page as President Obama, who earlier this week
noted: "[Obamacare] was an issue in last year’s election and the candidate who called for repeal lost."
But if you can't believe that Cruz could possibly be stepping away from the insanity of his defund antics, then you won't be surprised to hear what Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said a short while later:
Cruz tells me he's open to floor filibuster to defund Obamacare
— @LukeRussert
And:
Cruz: "I will do everything necessary and anything possible to defund Obamacare."
— @LukeRussert
So on the one hand, Ted Cruz concedes that Obamacare repeal ain't happening, at least not now, because Republicans need to win an election first. And on the other hand, Ted Cruz says he's committed to getting rid of Obamacare by all means necessary, including a filibuster that would force a government shutdown.
Not that John Boehner needs any sympathy, but this is enough to almost make you feel sorry for him: If Ted Cruz can't figure out which way the wind is blowing, how on Earth is Boehner supposed to know what to do?