The big loser

J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press — Ted Cruz on January 31, 2013

Ted Cruz’s Perfect Record 

By DAVID FIRESTONE , NYT

Ted Cruz of Texas has been in the Senate for all of a month, but has already compiled an impressive voting record, according to the Washington Times. He is the only senator who has been on the losing side of every vote he has taken this term, a zero-for-11 record.

That means he’s been against John Kerry’s confirmation as secretary of state, against suspending the debt ceiling for three months, and against modest changes to the Senate’s filibuster rules. He even voted against aid to victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Mr. Cruz’s perfect record slightly surpasses those of three other Tea Party icons, who tied for second: Mike Lee of Utah, Tim Scott of South Carolina, and Marco Rubio of Florida. (They all voted to confirm Mr. Kerry.)

You might think he’d feel a little embarrassed by this self-marginalization, or worry that Texas voters will start to realize how far out of the mainstream he really is. But naturally, Mr. Cruz is proud of himself.

(More here.)