Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz - Elevating Themselves by Trashing the "Establishment"

[TomCADem]

How did Ted Cruz finish second to Donald Trump even though he is hated by many Republicans? The answer is that like Bernie Sanders, Ted Cruz has made a career out of elevating himself by trashing his colleagues and strategically picking fights with the establishment. You could substitute Bernie for Ted, and Democrat for Republican, and it would sound similar to Bernie's latest attacks on the Democratic "establishment."

The thing is that Ted Cruz's ideas are not too different from those of many Republicans, though they are framed in extremist language. Likewise, Bernie current views on climate change, taxes, etc., are not too different generally from other Democrats, except that they are more vague and aspirational, since he shies away from specifics regarding how the pieces will be paid for.

Like Ted Cruz, Bernie Sanders's image as being an uncompromising progressive, is betrayed by his history of pro-gun, anti-immigration votes, as well as votes in favor of dumping nuclear waste on poor latinos in Texas and building the F-35 in Vermont.

As Hillary noted, Bernie Sanders is privately disliked by many other Democrats because of his attacks. Hillary Clinton actually donated money to Bernie Sanders, which enabled him to win his Senate seat, yet this does not prevent him from demonizing her. Similarly, Ted Cruz is privately disliked by many Republicans for his self-serving antics where he embarrasses them in order to elevate himself.

What is interesting is that while we can clearly recognize Ted Cruz for what he is, people fall for the same schtick when it comes from a so-called progressive idealogue.

https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/Decoder/2014/0213/Sen.-Ted-Cruz-filibuster-angers-GOP-leaders.-Where-does-fight-end

Sen. Ted Cruz filibuster angers GOP leaders. Where does fight end?

Sen. Ted Cruz (R) of Texas is unpopular with many establishment Republicans in D.C. They see him as the driving force behind last year’s partial government shutdown, which sent their party’s approval ratings to new lows. Perhaps as a result, Senator Cruz was pretty quiet through the first part of 2014. But now he’s forced GOP Senate leaders into a vote they badly wanted to avoid.

Cruz is doubling down on his outsider status. He’s burning his remaining bridges with a blowtorch, to throw more metaphors into the mix.

Not that he’d see it that way. Cruz describes his actions as consistent with GOP small-government principles. It is party leaders who have moved away from those, according to the Texan.

“Today’s vote is yet another example that establishment politicians from both parties are simply not listening to the American people,” said Cruz in a statement Wednesday after the Senate approved an increase in the national debt ceiling.

[Me.]

1. Self Loathing

from 2 1%ers and members of the Establishment

[DanTex]

2. LOL. What???? Ted Cruz????

Bernie is nothing like Ted Cruz. At all.

[TomCADem]

3. Yes, I guess you are right...

How would anyone thing that there is any similarity between what Bernie says and what Ted Cruz say. I mean, it is only virtually identical.

Compare:

“Today’s vote is yet another example that establishment politicians from both parties are simply not listening to the American people,” said Cruz in a statement Wednesday after the Senate approved an increase in the national debt ceiling.

with:

Link to tweet

?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1231021453270769664&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.democraticunderground.com%2F1287556645

However, let me guess. I am betting that you can't see the similarity between those two quotes. Am I right?