Ted Cruz Stars in 'Friends'

Is Ted Cruz making new GOP friends on the Hill? Read below from Politico.

At a GOP lunch last week, Sen. John McCain noted that “some crazy guy from Texas” stormed out during President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address.

“Hey,” Texas Sen. Ted Cruz chimed in, “I didn’t walk out of the State of the Union.”

The packed room erupted in laughter.

The exchange — referring to GOP Rep. Steve Stockman’s heavily publicized early exit — reflects thawing tensions between Cruz and his fellow GOP senators. After battling with Senate Republicans for much of 2013, prompting tense confrontations and occasional shouting matches, Cruz is starting to achieve what once seemed unthinkable: He’s getting along reasonably well with most of his GOP colleagues.

(QUIZ: Do you know Ted Cruz?)

Since playing a lead role in the government shutdown last fall, Cruz has joined with Republicans on fights ranging from the Internal Revenue Service’s scrutiny of conservative groups to the Obamacare contraception mandate. Cruz dined with McCain at the posh Capital Grille steakhouse. He cracked jokes with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) at last week’s State of the Union.

In an olive branch to his colleagues, Cruz privately assured them he wouldn’t raise money for a conservative group attacking GOP senators. And he even allowed the Senate to leave early for its Martin Luther King Jr. Day recess by dropping demands for what would have been a futile attempt to gut Obamacare.

It’s a sharp departure from his high-profile battles with his party last year over whether to confirm Chuck Hagel to lead the Pentagon, launch House-Senate budget negotiations and fund the government if Obamacare moved forward. And it’s a sign that Cruz — who has cast himself as an outsider battling the party establishment — is starting to develop an inside game in the clubby Senate, where relationships are important.

There's nothing wrong with Cruz's attempt at peace. I don't think Tea Party conservatives are going to have to worry about Cruz bending on his principles. Those are pretty much non-negotiable.