By JOHN KANELIS / johnkanelis_92@hotmail.com

Allow me one more shot at the Cruz Missile.

Ted Cruz went to Cancun to bask in the sun with his family while the state he represents in the U.S. Senate is suffering from a monstrous Arctic blast. He came home to face a torrent of well-deserved criticism.

But … he also has his pals on the far right. One of them is right-wing gasbag Ben Shapiro, who wondered what a senator could do. Should he fire up a blowtorch and start thawing frozen plumbing? Shapiro asked.

What a moronic notion.

Senators can do plenty. They have staffs who do something called “constituent service.” They can talk directly to FEMA officials, to their fellow senator, to members of Congress, to mayors, county judges, to utility bosses asking them what they need. He can show up at warming shelters to lend a good word of encouragement. He can demonstrate empathy, compassion and concern.

Cruz abandoned his post. Where I come from that is called “dereliction of duty.”