In the aftermath of the U.S. government shutdown and a close call with default, there is a political consensus among Democrats, many Republicans, establishment conservatives, business leaders and the inside-the-Beltway commentariat: Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and tea party members in the House have done grievous harm to themselves and their brand.
They caused economic and political wreckage and got nothing for it. The silver lining, critics say, is that these right-wingers may now be chastened, and Cruz's national ambitions have been dealt a lethal setback.
That, however, isn't the way Deedee Vaughters and Bob Vander Plaats see things.
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