A few years ago I had the pleasure of interviewing Ted Cruz, solicitor general of TX, for a brief "rising star" profile in the Harvard Political Review titled "Cruz Control: Ted Cruz Charts a Course for the Top". (I know, I know--headline writing is not my gift.)
This afternoon I was privileged to watch him argue in a moot court of Medellin v. Texas, the case he'll be arguing in front of the Supreme Court on Wednesday. (For a concise overview of the issues in the case, see this article)
Back in 2005, I wrote that Ted Cruz was a real contender to be a Senator or Governor down in Texas one day. Without proclaiming any updated knowledge of Texas politics, I'd argue that if he emerges victorious on Wednesday, having successfully defended the Republic (of Texas, natch) from the evil clutches of federal power and vanquished the last legal options of a convicted murderer of small children, speculation regarding his ambitions will once again catch the imagination of the punditry.
And there's a lot about Ted Cruz to catch the imagination. He's well-educated, well-spoken, smart and persuasive, as his career as an attorney might suggest. In 2005, he impressed me with his respect for the "tremendous difference" public policy can make, particularly in the area of education. This afternoon, he impressed me with his ability to make a listener connect to a complex issue, without lecturing or talking down. I was and am impressed with his candor, his modest mien, and his drive.
So the moral of the story is twofold:
1. If you want to hear a heck of an argument, listen to the Supreme Court oral arguments in Medellin v. Texas this Wednesday.
2. If you want to see one heck of a run, keep an eye on candidacy filings bearing the name "Ted Cruz"
