Earlier today, the boss ran down four reasons that, despite the naysayers, Cruz's all-night fight mattered. I agree with all of them. However, there's one more reason - perhaps more politically tangible - that he didn't mention. Cruz’s non-filibuster was as much about the future of the GOP as it was about the affordable care act. Simply put, Cruz now owns his party's base lock, stock, and barrel.
Granted, he was already on his way to that position. Beginning with his support of Rand Paul's filibuster, Cruz had been building a resume as the kind of hardcore constitutionalist that the right has been desperate to see emerge. Last night, by standing to fight while most of his party ran the other way, Cruz cemented his place atop the conservative heap.
No, he didn't stop Obamacare, and he hasn't managed to defund it. What he's done is make himself the most powerful member of the GOP heading into 2014 and 2016.
Much of the party would prefer to deny this. It's pretty clear that the top brass would love nothing more than to see a Chris Christie ticket. If they had their way, they'd build another bland, easily controlled, RINO-laden ticket so they could pander to the wishy-washy middle.
Cruz has just handed this mentality a staggering pre-emptive defeat.
In Cruz, Paul, and Lee, the base has found at least three Senators who are actually willing to fight - against all odds - for principle rather than party. This trio has shown itself to be uncompromising in the best possible way. From here out, there's just no way that the GOP can field the same old go-along-to-get-along candidates and hope to win.
If the party doesn’t give its membership candidates who will fight, the base won’t show, and they’ll suffer another 2012-style defeat. It’s obvious to everyone outside the beltway, and Cruz just drove the point home in Washington DC. Now, we’ll wait and see if the Republican elites have gotten the message. They can get on board, or their party can fade away forever. It's up to them.
However, like it or not, things have changed - and no party can win without its base.
If the party values its continued existence, Cruz’s 21 hour marathon will have marked the end of the mediocrity that has been the recent hallmark of the GOP.
...what an achievement that would be.
