Ted Cruz Deserves Award for Service to Democrats

I hereby nominate Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) for a Prize for Outstanding Service to the Democratic Party.

Surely he has done more for Democrats than anyone else alive.

• Would de Blasio be so far ahead of Lhota in New York City's mayoral race without Cruz?
• Would Cory Booker have won his Senate spot so "handily" in New Jersey without Cruz?
• Would Gallup be showing an unfavorable view of GOP at all-time high of 62 percent? Or a favorable view of the GOP at an all-time low of 28 percent? Democrats have to thank Ted Cruz for that.

You may ask: What about Speaker Newt Gingrich in 1995-96? Didn't he help the Democrats just as much by shutting down the government? It was longer then, 27 days (in two parts) vs. 16 days.

But no. Gingrich only put in play Bill Clinton's budget. By adding in the debt ceiling Cruz has called into question Uncle Sam's constitutionally obligation to pay U.S. debts.

Also, Gingrich did not cause such divisiveness in his own party, which should pay continuing dividends to the Democrats. Gallup shows hardly a blip in GOP favorability ratings during the earlier shutdown period.

Cruz absolutely deserves the prize.