Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., this week might have delivered my favorite retort to a fresh-faced upstart to date in the 113th Congress.
She did so Wednesday when Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, seemed to lecture her on what he believes is the sanctity of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the one that guarantees people the right to “keep and bear arms.”
Cruz has been in the Senate all of about two months. Feinstein has served there for a couple of decades. Feinstein favors a law that bans assault weapons. Cruz believes the legislation as written is too restrictive and he wondered whether Feinstein would react the same to restrictions on the First, Fourth or Fifth constitution amendments. Feinstein said she didn’t need a lecture from someone such as Cruz, noting that she’s voted on enough law, studied the Constitution extensively and is “reasonably well-educated” enough to know what she’s talking about.
It is true that Cruz is no dummy, either. He once served as Texas solicitor general. But his constant preening and posturing in front of more experienced and seasoned colleagues seems oddly pretentious — even for a Texas politician.