Chickens of Self-Inflicted Political Wounds Come Home to Roost

"Then the king defiled the high places that were east of Jerusalem, which were on the south of the Mount of Corruption, which Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the people of Ammon."
2 Kings 23:13

[Note: You can read Cruz's full rationalization statement on his vote here.]

Sad:

WASHINGTON - The Farm Bill, one of the most important pieces of federal legislation to millions of Texans, successfully made its way through both chambers of Congress this week and awaits the signature of President Donald Trump.

Formally known as the Agriculture and Nutrition Act, the Farm Bill is a massive spending package that will deliver $867 billion over 10 years to subsidize farming and nutrition.

....

It passed with widespread support in the U.S. Senate, including from the two Texans – John Cornyn and Ted Cruz – who serve in that chamber.

....

Cruz's support was noteworthy. As a freshman, he voted against the 2014 Farm Bill. Moreover, he frequently aligns himself with the conservative group Heritage Action which lobbied hard against the Farm Bill's passage because of the lack of more work requirements for SNAP recipients.

"I think it was unfortunate that the conference committee removed the improvements on work requirements that were in the farm bill," he told the Tribune earlier Wednesday. "I would've liked to have seen them there. I introduced an amendment on the floor of the Senate to toughen the work requirements because we should be working to get people out of the trap of dependency and back in the workforce, back on their own feet and back able to provide for their own family."

Cruz narrowly won re-election in November, largely based on strong rural turnout.

There you have it.  The Texas Farm Bureau wanted this bill.  The Texas Farm Bureau just endorsed Cruz.  In his current weakened political position, Cruz can't say no.  It's awful.  It's disgusting.  But it's reality.  Unfortunately.

Taking on the ag. lobby requires tremendous political capital.  In 2014, Ted Cruz had that kind of political capital.  He doesn't anymore.

Bottom Line:  Like it or not, the seeds of Wednesday's disappointment have been being sown for awhile....