Primary 2014: Ted Cruz sends a Message

Earlier today, Cahnman's Musings was invited to attend this event next Saturday in the DFW area:

TEXANS FOR FREEDOM & LIBERTY KICKS OFF 2014 WITH A "FREEDOM RALLY"
SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2014 AND A STAR SPANGLED EVENING
EMCEED BY EMPOWER TEXANS' MICHAEL QUINN SULLIVAN,
FEATURING PJ MEDIA'S BILL WHITTLE AND A KEYNOTE BY SENATOR TED CRUZ

(Allen, TX) January 7th, 2013 - Texans for Freedom & Liberty will kick off 2014 with a "Freedom Rally" that will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2014 at the Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church (1015 State Hwy 121, Allen, TX 75013).  A private reception will be held from 4-5:30 PM followed by the rally at 5:30-7:30 PM in an evening that celebrates our freedoms and liberties.

....

"This is an evening to celebrate our freedoms and liberties and to thank Senator Cruz," notes "Afterburner" host Bill Whittle who adds, "Texas is the last great hope for America, and it's because of guys like Sen. Ted Cruz (who's) fighting on the front lines of liberty to protect it for the next generation!"

Cahnman's Musings has a previous commitment in Austin this Saturday, otherwise we'd be tempted to attend; in examining this announcement a second time, however, we were struck by one VERY important detail:

EMCEED BY EMPOWER TEXANS' MICHAEL QUINN SULLIVAN

This is a MAJOR development that people who aren't familiar with the internal contours of Republican politics in Texas will miss.

Who is Michael Quinn Sullivan?!?

Michael Quinn Sullivan is the man establishment Republicans, at the state level in Texas, despise above all others.  Sullivan is a persistent thorn in the side of the Republican "leadership" in the Texas legislature, especially the Texas House.  For his loyalty to the Republican party platform, business-as-usual Republicans in Texas DESPISE him.

The Republican establishment despises Sullivan so much that they passed a bill last session deliberately designed to intimidate his donors.  Governor Perry, to his credit, vetoed it.  The establishment has even filed frivolous ethics charges against him.

For Ted Cruz, at the beginning of primary season, to share a stage with Michael Quinn Sullivan is a major, albeit subtle, signal to the grassroots.

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Author's Note: None of the above changes the fact that Michael Quinn Sullivan is still a dirty, dirty Aggie.