Does America need more politicians with Sen. Cruz's passion?

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Does America need more politicians with Sen. Cruz's passion?

Texas senator blasted by both sides of the aisle for ObamaCare fight

DISCLAIMER: THE FOLLOWING "Cost of Freedom Recap" CONTAINS STRONG OPINIONS WHICH ARE NOT A REFLECTION OF THE OPINIONS OF FOX NEWS AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS INVESTMENT ADVICE WHEN MAKING PERSONAL INVESTMENT DECISIONS. IT IS FOX NEWS' POLICY THAT CONTRIBUTORS DISCLOSE POSITIONS THEY HOLD IN STOCKS THEY DISCUSS, THOUGH POSITIONS MAY CHANGE. READERS OF "Cost of Freedom Recap" MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN INVESTMENT DECISIONS.

PASSION VS. POLITICS: SEN. TED CRUZ BLASTED BY BOTH SIDES IN HEALTH CARE FIGHT

CHARLES PAYNE: Ted Cruz was articulate, passionate, smart, witty, and he had great interactions with his colleagues. He wasn't a nut. The idea of portraying him that way, as well as trying to dismiss the Tea Party has been the agenda of the media for a very long period of time. The Tea Party would be disingenuous if it didn't go after everyone.

DAGEN MCDOWELL: I agree with other Republicans that believe ObamaCare should be allowed to collapse in on itself; you don't need this kind of up front talking, you don't need this kind of grandstanding, if you just sit back and let the chips fall the American people will turn away from this law.

BEN STEIN: Just let ObamaCare go through, if it's a mess, it will bring down the whole Democrat Party. Then we can get a Republican president and a Republican Congress and we can start again. At this point the ship has sailed, the bill is law. If it's a mess, it will be the end of Obama. If it works, that's great.

ADAM LASHINSKY: I think what he is doing is disgusting and shameful. What we should do is pull together for legislation that has already been enacted and help it be good.

WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE $300 MILLION IN AID FOR DETROIT

CHARLES PAYNE: Detroit is the ultimate poster child for progressive politics. You can throw money at the problem, but are they even in a position to pull them out of the problem? I don't think it will fix the fundamental problems.

DAGEN MCDOWELL: It's no shock that the federal government is putting some money into this city. What is shocking is some of these undisclosed payments that were made to retirees; again, it is a bigger morass in this city than was thought before.

BEN STEIN: This is not a progressive problem, it is a racial problem. This is the collapse of black family structure and the legacy of racism and slavery. It is a racial matter and has to be addressed as such.

ADAM LASHINSKY: This is not a bailout. I think the federal government would like to do a bailout, I'm sure Detroit would like a bailout. The $300 million is redirected federal money to help out a city that needs its help.

SAT SCORES SHOW 57 percent OF INCOMING FRESHMAN NOT READY FOR COLLEGE

DAGEN MCDOWELL: There is something genius in this, I hope our educational system goes in this direction. If you can figure out what you want to do and do the cost benefit analysis before you commit to going to a four year university, then I am all in favor of this.

CHARLES PAYNE: We've become a country that does not appreciate knowledge. We don't cherish intellect. We cherish sports and reality television. We don't encourage the idea of learning something new every day of your life.

BEN STEIN: I love online learning. I think it is a fabulous innovation in education. If you have a kid that is willing to study and throw him into it, you have a very rare kid. For the rest of them that are just getting high all the time, it is a colossal waste of money and a colossal waste of time. I think online education is the wave of the future.

ADAM LASHINSKY: On one hand, I think all sorts of students are wasting their time with college, on the other studies show that people with college degrees are the ones who get ahead. We have a conundrum there. It's a tough one.

"FOURTH QUARTER" WINNERS

CHARLES PAYNE: Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS)

ADAM LASHINSKY: Airgas, Inc. (ARG)

BEN STEIN: iShares MSCI Thailand (THD)