Cantor to step down as Majority Leader
This is good, because he would have been rendered ineffective by his loss:
Cantor (R-Va.) was expected to officially announce his decision at a special meeting of the House Republican conference Wednesday afternoon. He’ll step down after July.
On Tuesday evening, Cantor was upset by little-known Randolph-Macon economics professor David Brat, who had strong Tea Party backing…
Cantor’s shocking defeat instantly put him in the situation of being a lame duck in Congress.
Part of his job description is trying to corral a fractious conference into passing legislation. He also sets the floor schedule and raises millions for Republicans in their re-election campaigns.
His ability to complete all those tasks could have been severely diminished by his lame-duck status.
I have no idea who will replace him. I doubt the Republicans in the House know, either, because this was so unexpected.
Elections have consequences. In this case, though, I’m not sure they’ll be as good as people might think. Whatever disappointments people have had with Cantor, he’s actually a pretty conservative guy compared to those who might end up replacing him.
In war, riding the wave of chaos is for those with skill. Keeping with the status quo, when defeat is certain, is of little benefit.
So even if the Democrats engineered this to get rid of Cantor, it also provides an opportunity they did not foresee or predict.
Rand Simberg thinks that Cantor’s defeat may be beneficial for commercial space, in a roundabout way.
http://www.transterrestrial.com/?p=55335
Being a pretty conservative airline pilot doesn’t amount to a hill of beans if he gets it into his head that you can drill through a mountain with a 747.
We’re on the ropes already; amnesty and the entitlement costs that would come with it would be almost certainly be fatal.
Interesting that Jack Trammell, the Democrat Brat will face in November, says on his website that he was a regular contributor to the Washington Times. Southern Democrats must be very different from those elsewhere — can’t imagine many of them touting writing for a conservative newspaper.
Are we sure he can’t beat Brat?
Are we sure he can’t beat Brat?
Has anyone predicted 100% victory yet?
Be careful about Trammell. He is a sociology prof at Randolph-Macon, and there is no such thing as a conservative sociologist. He was an underaduate at conservative Grove City College, where his views were “moderate” and he has shifted Left ever since.
From Wiki (likely self-written): “Trammell has focused on the need for educational reform, including special education and greater access to college, student loan relief, jobs creation; accountability in massive public private projects like the 460 expansion, and basic healthcare that every American can access.”
Translation; more $ for all schools, all colleges, all teachers and their unions; minority racial bigotry in admissions; more taxpayer hosing for college loan forgiveness; single payer health care.
He is a Democrat practicing taqiyya; it is OK with Allah to lie to unbelievers.
Did you see the bit at Gateway Pundit about Obama wanting contraceptives for the illegal children flooding our borders? He also wants consideration of problems they may have with their sexual identity. This guy is just a few steps away from going over the edge.
I hope that Cantor’s relacement has the ability to calmly point this out to the public.
I think Republicans would do well to consider Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers she had by far the most effect response to a state of the union in all of Obama’s years in the White House.
expat,
I really don’t think the blame for that can be placed on Obama. It sounds pretty much boiler-plate for programs funded by the Dept. of Health and Human Services, and Gateway Pundit was talking about a grant HHS recently put up for bidding.
Interesting when to do something or not do something, considering the unintended consequences.
1) There is the bedrock Buckley rule, nominate the most “conservative” electable person. It is the best advice, although who is most electable and who is most conservative might be up for dispute. And what happens when there are two or more equally electable conservatives?
2) Unless there is some horrendous scandal or heinous circumstance attaching to the incumbent (and there was not with Cantor), the incumbent should get the presumption on the basis that incumbents usually win and usurpers are wild cards, regardless of how appealing they might seem.
3) The incumbent has demonstrated he does not represent the interests of his district, a district where party affiliation is the most probable deciding factor. This seems to be the case with Cantor, although it is not without risk, unless you are talking about party hegemony on the par with Cambridge, Ann Arbor, the Castro District, or the other wealthy Leftist places.
4) Total indifference to the consequences, in hopes that the message sent is actually sent, and has future benefits. This is so beguiling, but basically absurd.
Cantor was pro amnesty; he even had the chutzpah to travel around with that La Raza freak, Rep. Luis Guitierrez (Communist-IL) to push amnesty. That is a ‘heinious circumstance’.
We don’t have to round up all the illegals (who are lawbreakers simply by being here) and kick them out. We can get them to self deport quite easily.
1) Seal the borders, using the military if necessary and where required;
2) Cut off all entitlement benefits to illegals;
3) Fine employers who hire illegals $1M per day per illegal hire;
4) Arrest those who are guilty of ID fraud (using a fake or bought social security number, etc.), placing them on trial in criminal court with jail terms for those found guilty; then deport them once their jail term is over.
Within a couple of months, once the Free Shit gravy train stops, they’ll leave. Then they can stand in fucking line like the rest of the legal immigrants, but start that legal immigration process at the back of the line. Amnesty rewards those who cut the line, and that is inherently un-American. And if they are rewarded for un-American behavior, what hope do we have that they’ll ever be American?
If the left thinks the US should not be the world’s policeman, then why should the US be the world’s welfare state?
Giving amnesty to illegals is the surest and quickest way to national suicide.
RickZ (5:57 PM):
Cantor was pro amnesty; he even had the chutzpah to travel around with that La Raza freak, Rep. Luis Guitierrez (Communist-IL) to push amnesty. That is a ‘heinious circumstance’.
This is true and I retract my observation.
And now I wonder why and how Cantor would have done that.
It is just as “remarkable” as BO trading 5 Taliban America haters for one American deserter.
Except I know BO hates America.
Cantor? Disturbing under any inference.
I saw Cantor’s presser this pm. He opened with reference to his Jewishness. He sounded like he was from Hartford, CT, except for the occasional “y’all” to the ‘reporters.’ It is very odd he has lived in Richmond all his life but sure doesn’t speak like it.
Cantor had 3 major problems: amnesty, amnesty, and Amnesty! The base, not specifically the tea party, punched his ticket home. Let this be a lesson to all republicans and red state democrats… amnesty is the new 3rd rail. The children/teenager diseased, hungry, abandoned swarm that the messiah has encouraged to crash the border was a big mistake on the part of dear leader and the chamber of commerce republicans.
Don Carlos: ty for citing the Cantor press conference. I looked it up as a result and I must say I came away liking him for the press conference, understanding there was more to the story.
As an agnostic, I see no special distinction in Cantor talking about Jewish scripture as a guide to his attitude about defeat. I see it as a positive.
I have zero difficulty with Christians citing their faith, it is a positive to me.
I just wish folks would say as agnostics say, they really do not know, and cannot know. But I do not hold it against them if they think they know, and do not say they do not know.
The stuff Cantor said about working together with Leftists sounded like total baloney, but maybe he believes it.
The rest of the stuff means he is running for the senate next time it is available.
And he did not trash Brat, although he should have praised him.
Notice how Cantor (nor Boehner for that matter) didn’t encourage Cantor’s supports to get behind the winner, Brat? A truly classless in defeat RINO/eGOP. I won’t be surprised to see him supporting the Dem in the race (if there is one; there are stories both ways). Good riddance, Cantor. One down, hundreds more to go.
Tonawanda, maybe the reason that Christians and Jews, not to mention Muslims, Buddhists, and others, do not talk about doubts is because they have faith. Just as Atheists do not talk about their doubts; although their faith is in something different. All Agnostics can talk about are doubts.
I have not seen Cantor’s statement. I assume that he is not wrapping himself in his Jewishness to explain his loss. I do note that some of the knee-jerk crowd have started that already. I wonder how they explain that Cantor won in that district with big majorities of the Red-neck vote before he became too “Inside the Beltway”?
I saw this mentioned on another site:
“Conservative Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) opened the door to a possible run for House Majority leader.” At first glance he looks good.
It remains to be seen whether Brat’s win is the bow wave of major statement by the electorate. A great percentage of the 535–and others who feed at the professional political trough– are hoping it does not. But, they better not write it off prematurely; and they better not attack Brat. He has got the attention and support of a lot of us.
It begins — Eric Cantor’s Career Killer-Nowhere Near Ready For Prime Time
and
Brat didn’t go to Princeton Univ.
Ann, leaving that hanging gives the impression that Brat lied about going to Princeton, the impression the Lefties at WashPo are eager to give.
This is a lie. He said he went to the Princeton Theological Seminary, which is, in fact, true.
And the slanders and lies begin! I hope David has a pair of asbestos pants.
Didn’t mean to leave that impression. I just wanted to show the slander and lies have started.
Tonawanda:
My note on the Cantor presser was meant to report; there was no criticism of content intended in my note.
Don Carlos:
He sounds Southern to me. Not a thick Southern accent, but definitely a Southern accent.
And most definitely not Hartford!
Unless it’s Hartford, Georgia.
Vahginia accents are tricky on the ear. The mountains are very different than the east, and neither sounds like a First Families of Va.
It doesn’t matter how conservative he is. It was an example, to the GOP, what happens when it chooses money over what the people are telling them. If examples have to be made, they will continue to be made. I understand, they have a commitment to big money. Big money is demanding political suicide through amnesty.
Sometimes, truly, and without jesting at all, you have to destroy a village to save it… or nation. If it is all a lost cause, then it… really can’t matter all that much. If we hang, literally, together, or apart, I will choose apart, for my part. I won’t hang for sins I didn’t agree with, only for my own and those I supported… whether they be literal, political, social, or secular sins. Won’t carry the water anymore.
Cantors wife is a big shot at the Chamber of Commerce, which wants Amnesty. She is also a progressive liberal. Any wonder he wants amnesty???
http://beforeitsnews.com/tea-party/2014/06/things-about-eric-cantor-that-make-other-things-make-sense-2529616.html
RickZ on June 11th, 2014 at 5:57 pm,
Pretty much agree with a few modifications. Instead of fines, mandatory felony convictions and jail terms for any employer of three of more illegals. Fines for 1-2 illegal hires.
The legal immigration system needs reform, it is now a system that brings in uneducated, third world immigrants from socialist societies. Many are not interested in assimilation or the American dream, they are interested in accessing a better social safety net.
The goal of the left is America’s cultural suicide.
Instead of going after employers…
Just cut off the Federal gravy train.
Draconian punishments are fun to type but will never come to be.
America had no limits on immigration in the 19th Century.
America had no gravy train, either.
The result was that only vigorous, self-starting immigrants chanced the effort.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPjzfGChGlE
6 minutes ^^^ explains much.
Border detention of children shames America
It’s a mess. U.S. officials don’t have the faintest idea of what to do with the influx, even though they had advanced warning that this crisis was coming.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry told radio host Sean Hannity this week that public safety officials in his state had informed the federal government about a surge of unaccompanied minors crossing the border as early as 2012. The Department of Homeland Security appears to have not adequately addressed the problem. And now, with more than 1,000 children coming across the border every day according to government reports……
my fav wacko thing is that one author has claimed a conspiracy against jews!!!
David Brat’s Writings: Hitler’s Rise ‘Could All Happen Again’
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/06/11/david-brats-writings-hitlers-rise-could-all-happen-again/
And then Mr. Brat implied there is no reason to entrust either conservatives or liberals with the government that he said “holds a monopoly on violence.”
THAT must have hurt the left…
Mr. Brat’s academic CV lists a doctorate in economics from American University and a master’s in divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary along with dozens of writings about theology and politics. His first test in the spotlight will be how he holds up under the scrutiny of his past writings.
lib rail redding comprension has improvd one hunner per cent!
Yeah, Ann, Brat didn’t attend Princeton U. Michelle did, and in her senior thesis lambasted Princeton the University for not being black enough. Pfagh.
Don Carlos and Neo: this post is way too late for you to see it, but I want to post it for peace of (fragile) mind.
Cantor did have an accent to my ears.
One of my close friends in college was from Kentucky. Our (northern) group when speaking with him (he was a really close friend) would adopt our approximation of his accent.
After a year or so, he asked why we were making fun of him.
We were shocked, but enlightened.
We loved the way he spoke, we loved his accent, there was so much to it, and we wanted it for our own.
He was truly amazed, as were we.
I do not understand the objection that Cantor was more conservative than many other members of the house. The VA voters didn’t have a choice between Cantor and other house members. Their choice was between Cantor and Brat. And they chose Brat, who appears to be more conservative than Cantor. We shall see how he develops in office.
Karla:
I don’t see anyone saying conservatives should have voted for Cantor instead of Brat.
The point had to do with choosing which Republicans to primary in the first place, and whether the challenger Brat can actually win the general election.
In this case, however, I think Brat has a good chance of winning (mostly because the district is a Republican one).