Sen. Ted Cruz wants Senate Republicans to block almost every one of President Obama's nominations in retaliation for him immigration executive order. He said so in
an op-ed in Politico: "If the president announces executive amnesty, the new Senate majority leader who takes over in January should announce that the 114th Congress will not confirm a single nominee—executive or judicial—outside of vital national security positions, so long as the illegal amnesty persists." There's a bit of a problem there, though, as "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace
pointed out. Blocking every nomination means keeping Attorney General Eric Holder in place.
"Are you saying that the Senate should refuse to confirm Loretta Lynch, the president's new nominee for attorney general, and thereby leave Eric Holder, who you don't like very much, in that position even longer?" asked Wallace.
Cruz largely avoided Wallace's question, simply saying that Republicans "should use the constitutional checks and balances we have to rein in the executive."
Wallace, however, persisted, and asked the question again. This time, Cruz still did not state directly that the Senate should block Lynch, but implied as much by saying that only positions of "vital national security" should get to the floor for a vote.
"In my view, the majority leader should decline to bring to the floor of the Senate any nomination other than vital national security positions," the senator said. "Now, that is a serious and major step."
Clearly, Cruz is not prepared to acknowledge reality. Or change his talking points to acknowledge reality. Same thing. But if he decides to continue to be a one-man stonewall, it doesn't bode well for more nominations getting through this lame duck session.