We talked a couple of weeks ago about Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) annoying his colleagues by objecting to a routine Senate resolution commemorating Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week. It had already been easily endorsed by House Republicans, but the far-right Texan was "unhappy with a clause in the resolution" -- perhaps the one about "expanding access to medical treatment" for those affected with multiple sclerosis? -- holding up its passage.
And then it happened again.
[In March], a deeply noncontroversial Senate resolution commemorating International Women's Day had to be taken back and edited because someone objected to a paragraph -- which had been in an almost identical version passed in the last Congress -- stating that women in developing countries "are disproportionately affected by changes in climate because of their need to secure water, food and fuel for their livelihood."You may be wondering who the objecting senator was. Normally, these things are supposed to be kind of confidential, but in this case the lawmaker in question is proud to let you know that he is -- yes! -- Ted Cruz of Texas."A provision expressing the Senate's views on such a controversial topic as 'climate change' has no place in a supposedly noncontroversial resolution requiring consent of all 100 U.S. senators," a Cruz spokesman said.
Keep in mind, the measure didn't talk about the causes of the climate crisis; it simply acknowledged women that many women the in developing world are affected by the crisis. The same resolution was approved in the last Congress without incident, and there were plenty of right-wing climate deniers in that Congress, too.
But for Cruz, it was a bridge too far.
Three months into this guy's Senate career, he's already well positioned to be the least-liked lawmaker in the chamber, for reasons that have nothing to do with party. That Cruz seems to revel in his ability to annoy those around him says something interesting about his character and personality.