Politics makes strange bedfellows. It also makes Ted Cruz and Lindsay Graham as giddy as school girls. They used to love hating each other. But for now they’re best friends.
The duo just did a joint interview to plug legislation defunding the United Nations. But even that potential seismic shift on the geopolitical stage paled in comparison to their budding friendship. “Love is everywhere!” a giggling Graham explained.
An interesting Senate development in the Trump-era, it truly is remarkable. You know, kind of like in “Lethal Weapon” when Riggs and Murtaugh hated each other at first until they discover the power of friendship. Minus the fact that the crime-fighting duo didn’t work on legislation and Danny Glover never called on 98 U.S. senators to murder Mel Gibson.
Less than a year ago, Graham toyed openly with the idea of murder. “If you killed Ted Cruz on the floor of the Senate,” the South Carolina senator said in February, “and the trial was in the Senate, nobody would convict you.” And honestly, for a time, Graham was probably right.
A lot of people don’t like Cruz. The list includes commentators, fellow senators and even presidents. Cruz has been called all sorts of names, like a sleaze, unlikable and a nasty guy — and those are just the ones coming from people in his own party. Not to be undone, Graham even preferred suicide by bullet or poison rather than watching Cruz in the Oval Office.
But apparently after the Republican primary, the two failed presidential hopefuls have reconciled their differences. “I want to apologize to Ted for saying he should be killed on the Senate floor,” a chuckling Graham said. “At least we’re not on the Senate floor now,” a slightly nervous Cruz followed up.
It’s not clear if the two will keep on hanging out after the U.N. issue is over. While it’s fitting to make fun of the bromance, it’s also important to take note. Undoubtedly the Dwight Schrute of the Senate at times, Cruz continues to be the most popular senator with the base.
Senators such as Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and John McCain of Arizona might not enjoy his company. But they absolutely need him. Minus his flip-flop on the president-elect, Cruz has demonstrated an unflinching dedication to principle. Sometimes counterproductive to political deal making, that approach has bought the trust of movement conservatives.
Should President-elect Trump’s populism veer into liberal lanes, Republican leaders won’t have the credibility to check the executive. That’ll be a job for Cruz. He has the brand, the credibility and therefore the closest relationship with the base inside the GOP conference. Cognizant of that fact, others need to follow Graham’s example. They should make nice with the Texas senator.
Philip Wegmann is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
