Ted Cruz, the face of the 2013 government shutdown, says the Democrats will be to blame if the government shuts down later this month, the Texas Tribune reports.

"You know, I very much hope we don't have a shutdown. I will say I'm concerned. I think Chuck Schumer and the Democrats want a shutdown."

Why it matters: This is clearly posturing, and Cruz isn't the first Republican to blame the Dems in advance for a potential shutdown. But the posturing wouldn't be necessary if Cruz and other hardliners didn't plan to make a stand.