Senator Ted Cruz here, what questions do you have for me? (Answering your questions on Feb 26th!)
*Senator Cruz will be joining us for a live Q&A on Friday, 2/26 at 1:00pm EST. Post your questions below in advance of the Q&A. Questions with the most up votes will be answered first. Please be upfront and to the point with your questions. RP Staff will be monitoring this discussion.*
From Senator Ted Cruz:
America now faces a momentous decision. Almost a decade of irresponsible defense cuts has slashed the number of combat personnel, seriously degraded their combat readiness, and shrunk the size of our military below any reasonable standard. If America continues to lead from behind, we will lose the ability to guarantee our safety at home and abroad.
Our all-volunteer force deserves better. They deserve a leader who will provide them with the finest weapons systems and the best training. They deserve the full and unapologetic support of their Commander-in-Chief, not a minimal commitment and overly restrictive Rules of Engagement.
Furthermore, Americans make up the finest military professionals and veterans in the world, and they deserve an investment in their careers, their health, and their families. We must honor of our military members, families, and veterans by ensuring they receive the respect and care they have earned.
Under focused, new leadership, America can, and will, rebuild our military and take care of our veterans.
The financing and the details of my plan: https://www.tedcruz.org/american-resolve/
12 Statistics on Hospital Profit and Revenue in 2012
Despite pressures from Medicare, Medicaid and commercial payers, hospitals and health systems accumulated massive profits two years ago as the country pulled itself further from the economic recession.
Then I saw your answer to women and selective service. Similar to women be better off staying at home under the MAN's thumb attitude. I see no answers from any of you about fairness it's just you can't do that it was not my idea. Yes I know he gone but still not impressed!!!
Very good question and I apologize for my ramble.
We'll also seize the opportunity to sell federal assets and properties that would be better used in the private sector, and would also result in generating substantial revenue to American taxpayers.
And we will implement pro-growth tax reform (https://www.tedcruz.org/tax_plan_summary/), regulatory, and monetary reform and we will devote the resources from a booming American economy to rebuilding our Navy, rebuilding our Air Force, rebuilding our Army, and rebuilding our Marines.
We will prioritize rebuilding our military because the costs of not doing so are far too high.
As President, my top priority will be to make sure our military has what it needs to keep us safe at home and ensure that we are respected abroad — and that should be a bipartisan priority. Our Sailors won’t be on their knees with their hands on their heads. And our Secretary of State will not be apologizing to and thanking Iran. Instead, they will be standing on the decks of the mightiest ships the world has ever known with their heads held high, confident that the great country that the great country that they volunteered to serve has their back.
Yes I am referring to the current vacancy. Yes the Constitution states "the advice and consent of the Senate". So the Senate consents through confirmation hearing. The nomination starts in the Senate Judiciary Committee and they decide whether it goes to the full Senate. So yes the Senate must consent to the nomination. Otherwise that wording would not be in the Constitution. What they are doing now is telling the President to not even nominate. That, again, is within the duties of the President. When the President nominates they need to either consent/non-consent (confirm). The problem will be that if they tie up the process it could come back to bite them at election time.
We need to ensure that we honor the commitment that was made to each and every one of our veterans. If you want to go to the VA, if you like the treatment you’ve been getting there, if you’re happy with it, then you’re entitled to do that, and that was a promise that we have made and we should keep.
But why can’t every veteran choose to go to any doctor he or she wants? We need to reform the VA system so that every veteran can see the doctor of his or her choice. If you want to go see a cardiologist at the hospital down the street, you should be able to do that.
"It's all 'bout that action, boss" ~Marshawn Lynch
You propose increased spending for the military. However, during the past 14 years I've served, I have seen wasteful programs and wasteful spending at all levels (e.g. funding programs that are unnecessary or outdated). How will your plan ensure that my tax dollars don't perpetuate a wasteful culture?
Additionally, I've released a detailed plan to save more than $500 billion over 10 years that is all available here: https://www.tedcruz.org/five-for-freedom/
American Resolve: Rebuilding America’s Military | Cruz for President
Rebuilding America’s Military The Constitution is unambiguous and clear. The defense of our nation and the security of our citizens is the exclusive and mandatory responsibility of the Federal Government. A nation that is unable to assure the sanctity of its sovereign borders and incapable of influencing global events will soon struggle for its very existence. Every American intuitively …