You're still looking at this the wrong way. Cruz or AOC or Bernie doesn't have to march in step with everyone in Washington. They can have their own opinions and cater to their base to some degree. They just have to be beholden to their donors. Let's be real for a sec: Ted Cruz and AOC aren't getting votes if they don't get money, and they don't get money if they don't vote a certain way from time to time.

Even still, Bernie, who I think is an idiot, is probably the closest thing we have in Congress to an ideologue and look how he was treated by the DNC and the media. They literally rigged the election and forced every person to drop out of the race, so he couldn't win, even with HUGE national support. Same with Rand Paul and his dad, Ron. Ron Paul had support from both sides of the isle and the media called him crazy until all you non-thinkers started believing it (which didn't take long). Our political class can separate themselves from the ruling elite, but they can't gain any traction in a system controlled by them. Well, not until Donald Trump came along.

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