Cruz Not Making Friends in the Senate

Dana Millbank has a fascinating look at how Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) nearly caused a catastrophe in the U.S. Senate this week by filibustering an effort to raise the debt ceiling.

“Watching the chaos from the side of the chamber was the man who caused it: Cruz, his hands in his pants pockets and a satisfied grin on his face. The Texas Republican strolled to the clerk’s table to check on the vote count and was met with a look of disgust from Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN). And the feeling was widespread: Moments after Cruz walked into the Republican cloakroom, four senators emerged from it and changed their votes to ‘aye.'”

“Cruz reemerged from the cloakroom, chewing gum, his hands again in his pockets. He smirked as his colleagues finally overcame his filibuster after a ­59-minute struggle. “