In what can only be described as a self-serving political stunt to help the most obnoxious two-faced politician Texas has ever sent to Washington, our esteemed Mayor has decided to hand over the Key to the City of Laredo to Ted Cruz.
Was it the Mayor’s decision or did a group of Republican contributors place a few calls to try to squeeze out a few more votes from Webb County? Teddy Boy is Canadian-born with a Castro inspired Cuban father. He now calls himself a Texan minus the drawl. Cruz has never worked with Democrats on anything since being elected Senator.
The former Mayor paid for billboard ads supporting Cruz for re-election. Cruz praises Henry Cuellar for helping him with a Bill for a new bridge. In 2015, Ted called Trump a pathological liar, serial adulterer, and a sociopath, and then did a complete turnaround when it benefited him politically. Cruz tries to take credit for the expansion of I-27 into a Ports to Plains corridor that will run through Texas. No wonder Teddy refused to take any questions during his ceremony. He would have had to answer why he eventually voted against the Bill which funded the project that Senator John Cornyn supported.
What did Ted do for Laredo to merit this ceremonial honor just days before Election Day for the Senate race against Democratic Congressman Collin Allred? Who actually signed into law the Bill making the Bridge possible? President Joe Biden did. Let’s award him an honorary key to the city. Has the City Council prepared for this proposed bridge and the hundreds of thousands of tractor trailers that will be streaming in from Mexico? Has the Council started to plan to build new highways leading from the Bridge or will Laredo face more nightmarish traffic and more overpasses and hours-long delays? Are Teddy and Henry working hand in hand to bring billions to Webb County to alleviate the potential traffic? Or will it be a disastrous bridge to nowhere?
When Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg died in 2020, Cruz blocked a Senate resolution honoring her life because he objected to some language. Cruz filibustered for 21 hours on the floor of the Senate to overturn the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) by reading Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham. He cares nothing for the healthcare of all Americans. He gleefully shut down all government operations to get his way. Later he claimed that he has consistently opposed government shutdowns. Cruz has always opposed common sense gun legislation and has an A+ Rating from the NRA. Days after the Uvalde school massacre, Cruz chose to attend an NRA function in Houston rather than reach out to grieving parents.
Ted refuses to help immigrants by denying over 800,000 Dreamers a pathway to citizenship. He backs his hero Trump in wanting to deport 12 million undocumented immigrants immediately. He favors a wall to keep everyone out regardless of the cost or environmental consequences. Ted tried to completely defund Planned Parenthood and is against women’s reproductive rights and abortion access. He is very proud that Roe V. Wade was overturned after 50 years of settled law. He will certainly not help the millions of unwanted children with medical costs or maternal care.
Ted’s personality is so well known amongst his fellow Senators that former Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner called him “Lucifer in the Flesh.” Ted denied Climate Change, voted against student loan forgiveness, and attacked the Voting Rights Act. He is against marriage equality, favors school vouchers for private schools, and has always opposed a Federal $15-hour minimum wage for all employees.
Ted was among eight Republican Senators to reject the 2020 Presidential election results during the unlawful January 6th riots in the halls of Congress. There is no guarantee he will not repeat this treasonous stunt should V.P. Harris win the Presidency on November 5th.
With Cruz’s appalling personal and political history to showcase, I can see why our distinguished Mayor felt this “honor” was long overdue. I can hear former Mayor Pete Saenz applauding in the background. Now that Ted gets the honor of the key to the City days before Election Day, all I would ask is for the city officials to change the locks and check their wallets.
