Al Franken : No regrets on devoting chapter to his loathing of Ted Cruz . 
Ted Cruz
Despite his outspoken liberalism , Franken has worked hard to make friends with Republicans , Cruz excepted . 
Of late , Cruz has shown a humbler , more compassionate side . 
Franken was unsparing in his criticism of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in his book , "Al Franken : Giant of the Senate ." 
Would America be better off if it had elected Cruz and not Trump president ? 
The second , Chapter 37 , "Sophistry ," details how much he loathes Sen. Ted Cruz , whom he describes as a smarmy , condescending grandstander . 
"He 's the exception that proves the rule ," Franken told the American-Statesman , explaining his decision to abandon normal senatorial courtesy in writing about Cruz . 
Smith said that he did n't know Cruz would figure so importantly in Franken 's book when he arranged for Franken 's prime spot at the conference , but said , "It 's the cherry on the sundae ." 
As for Cruz , Franken said he has no regrets about committing his misgivings to print . 
Franken and Cruz will bookend the Texas Tribune Festival this weekend . 
On Sunday , Smith will moderate a discussion with Cruz and his Texas Republican Senate colleague , John Cornyn . 
When the book came out in May , Cruz told Politico , "Al is trying to sell books and apparently he 's decided that being obnoxious and insulting me is good for causing liberals to buy his books . 
Smith will moderate a discussion with Republican U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz at 9 a.m. on Sunday , also at Hogg Auditorium . 
As far as he knows , Smith said , "it 's the only event that has both Al Franken and Ted Cruz on the program ," and , he said , no speaker in the festival 's history has generated as much advance interest and excitement as Franken . 
Also , American-Statesman chief political writer Jonathan Tilove will interview U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke , D-El Paso , who is running for Cruz 's Senate seat .
Despite his outspoken liberalism , Franken has worked hard to make friends with Republicans , [TGT] excepted . 
Of late , [TGT] has shown a humbler , more compassionate side . 
Franken was unsparing in his criticism of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in his book , "Al Franken : Giant of the Senate ." 
Would America be better off if it had elected Cruz and not Trump president ? 
The second , Chapter 37 , "Sophistry ," details how much he loathes Sen. Ted Cruz , whom he describes as a smarmy , condescending grandstander . 
"He 's the exception that proves the rule ," Franken told the American-Statesman , explaining his decision to abandon normal senatorial courtesy in writing about [TGT] . 
Smith said that he did n't know [TGT] would figure so importantly in Franken 's book when he arranged for Franken 's prime spot at the conference , but said , "It 's the cherry on the sundae ." 
As for [TGT] , Franken said he has no regrets about committing his misgivings to print . 
Franken and [TGT] will bookend the Texas Tribune Festival this weekend . 
On Sunday , Smith will moderate a discussion with [TGT] and his Texas Republican Senate colleague , John Cornyn . 
When the book came out in May , [TGT] told Politico , "Al is trying to sell books and apparently he 's decided that being obnoxious and insulting me is good for causing liberals to buy his books . 
Smith will moderate a discussion with Republican U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and [TGT] at 9 a.m. on Sunday , also at Hogg Auditorium . 
As far as he knows , Smith said , "it 's the only event that has both Al Franken and [TGT] on the program ," and , he said , no speaker in the festival 's history has generated as much advance interest and excitement as Franken . 
Also , American-Statesman chief political writer Jonathan Tilove will interview U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke , D-El Paso , who is running for [TGT] 's Senate seat .