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House Majority Leader Cantor loses GOP primary to tea-party challenger[W:243:247:349]

Re: Eric Cantor is Gone

Most of the bitching about the Tea Party on this website has come from leftwingers like you. The GOP has plenty to learn about how out of touch they are with rightwing America, and it looks like Lesson #1 came last night.

This is absolutely right.

The lesson here is very simple and it's very simple in all the Tea Party primaries - if you don't listen to the people, if you don't listen to your constituents, if you spend all your time in Washington and you become more concerned with Washington than you are with the people who voted for you, you risk that those people who voted for you will look for someone else who'll listen to them.

This primary beat down was entirely, 100%, about immigration reform and Cantor's constituents didn't like where he was trying to take it.

I fully respect an electorate that doesn't go along to get along and doesn't reward broken promises simply because the guy who broke the promise has a great chance of being reelected. If you keep ignoring and/or rewarding politicians who are ignoring you, you deserve to be ignored.
 
Re: Eric Cantor is Gone

Cantor deserved this for obstructing the Presidency since election night 2008.
And the one issue Cantor wasn't a TEA-loon on, he got a huge DOSE of GOP-demonization at the local level.

Cantor waffled on immigration, trying to please all factions of the GOP.
We all know that is impossible.
Obstructing Obama is a positive. That man is a disaster.
 
Re: Eric Cantor is Gone

Wow commentators on the news last night were falling all over themselves over the outcome of this race. Some had that deer in the headlight look to them. :lol: What I find so amazing about Brat's win is he had very little funding. Cantor had 5 million in his coffers. Guess it is true, money can't buy you love. Another thing I learned is none of the national tea party groups were campaigning for Brat. If they had been, he would have had a whole lot more money pouring in from out of state. The Tea Party organizations that backed Brat were grassroots local folks. But what Brat did have were the microphones of Laura Ingram who campaigned for Brat, Levin, Hannity, Coulter, Palin, and Limbaugh who used the airwaves or the written media to promote Brat. Brat is another Tea party backed academia candidate to win this primary season. The other one was in Nebraska. Brat is an economics professor and though immigration was a big issue, the stagnant economy, over-bloated government, out of control spending was also a big part of his message
 
Re: Eric Cantor is Gone

Wow commentators on the news last night were falling all over themselves over the outcome of this race. Some had that deer in the headlight look to them. :lol: What I find so amazing about Brat's win is he had very little funding. Cantor had 5 million in his coffers. Guess it is true, money can't buy you love. Another thing I learned is none of the national tea party groups were campaigning for Brat. If they had been, he would have had a whole lot more money pouring in from out of state. The Tea Party organizations that backed Brat were grassroots local folks. But what Brat did have were the microphones of Laura Ingram who campaigned for Brat, Levin, Hannity, Coulter, Palin, and Limbaugh who used the airwaves or the written media to promote Brat. Brat is another Tea party backed academia candidate to win this primary season. The other one was in Nebraska. Brat is an economics professor and though immigration was a big issue, the stagnant economy, over-bloated government, out of control spending was also a big part of his message

As I read, what I find is the Cantor took the vote for granted. This was a creation of the right wing noise machine. Cantor was looking at a bigger chair and forgot you have to win your own election. This is an angry voter base who saw their guy forgetting about them. Brat will do one of two things, he will become articulate and sound like a candidate who has an agenda (being anti-establishment and anti-Obama is not an agenda) or he will say something remarkably stupid and become the next insurgent candidate to become a suicide bomber.
 
Re: Eric Cantor is Gone

As I read, what I find is the Cantor took the vote for granted. This was a creation of the right wing noise machine. Cantor was looking at a bigger chair and forgot you have to win your own election. This is an angry voter base who saw their guy forgetting about them. Brat will do one of two things, he will become articulate and sound like a candidate who has an agenda (being anti-establishment and anti-Obama is not an agenda) or he will say something remarkably stupid and become the next insurgent candidate to become a suicide bomber.
To be at odds with Obama's agenda is what the majority are looking for in a candidate. The last polling data I reviewed has Obama's approval rating at 38%. The gap between Cantor and Brat was significant which tells me there must have been a real unity between Republicans and Independents. You are entitled to your opinion, but this fiscal conservative who just made history and did it on a shoestring budget must be saying things a lot of folks wanted to hear.
 
Re: Eric Cantor is Gone

To be at odds with Obama's agenda is what the majority are looking for in a candidate. The last polling data I reviewed has Obama's approval rating at 38%. The gap between Cantor and Brat was significant which tells me there must have been a real unity between Republicans and Independents. You are entitled to your opinion, but this fiscal conservative who just made history and did it on a shoestring budget must be saying things a lot of folks wanted to hear.

except Cantor wasn't even in his district yesterday. But this another example of a right winger being painted as a liberal by the right wing noise machine because they aren't crazy. Cantor never explained himself to people and they were angry. This is not the first time someone lost touch with their district but it is a big deal as the GOP just lost one of their best fighters in Washington. What will be funny is if now the establishment attacks these guys (because they couldn't stop people like Lindsay Graham). It will be fun watching the GOP eat their own.
 
Re: Eric Cantor is Gone

I'm actually okay with Cantor losing, although I liked him somewhat. It gives me some hope.

1. We need outsiders in Washington right now, desperately
2. It shows that grass roots can beat establishment, something else we need desperately right now
3. It shows that you can spend less on your campaign than your opponent can on steak, and still win
4. A shakeup was needed in the GOP, and I'm fine with sacrificing Cantor
5. It will diminish Boehner somewhat, and that's something both Washington & the GOP need

That said, I predict Cantor will be back in the races soon in some capacity - rechallenging for his current job, governor, senator, something.

Now I have to learn something about this guy who won. All I know is that he's a professor at Randolph-Macon and he spent less on his campaign that Cantor's campaign spent on steak.
 
Re: Eric Cantor is Gone

This is absolutely right.

The lesson here is very simple and it's very simple in all the Tea Party primaries - if you don't listen to the people, if you don't listen to your constituents, if you spend all your time in Washington and you become more concerned with Washington than you are with the people who voted for you, you risk that those people who voted for you will look for someone else who'll listen to them.

This primary beat down was entirely, 100%, about immigration reform and Cantor's constituents didn't like where he was trying to take it.

I fully respect an electorate that doesn't go along to get along and doesn't reward broken promises simply because the guy who broke the promise has a great chance of being reelected. If you keep ignoring and/or rewarding politicians who are ignoring you, you deserve to be ignored.

Well said, CJ. For a Canucklehead ;), you seem to understand the way things work and SHOULD work better than most Americans!
 
Re: Eric Cantor is Gone

except Cantor wasn't even in his district yesterday. But this another example of a right winger being painted as a liberal by the right wing noise machine because they aren't crazy. Cantor never explained himself to people and they were angry. This is not the first time someone lost touch with their district but it is a big deal as the GOP just lost one of their best fighters in Washington. What will be funny is if now the establishment attacks these guys (because they couldn't stop people like Lindsay Graham). It will be fun watching the GOP eat their own.

I think you are missing the major points of what just happened last night. Corporatism just took a huge blow as it has been the U.S. Chamber of Commerce who have been lobbying Republicans for amnesty of illegals........ cheap labor. Cantor, Boehner, Ryan and McCarthy have all been carrying the water to push for amnesty. What is at the heart of the split in the Republican party is the corporatist Republican establishment versus the Tea Party capitalists. Tea Party capitalists had a huge victory last night and no doubt will have a rippling effect throughout the Republican establishment.
 
Re: Eric Cantor is Gone

To be at odds with Obama's agenda is what the majority are looking for in a candidate. The last polling data I reviewed has Obama's approval rating at 38%. The gap between Cantor and Brat was significant which tells me there must have been a real unity between Republicans and Independents. You are entitled to your opinion, but this fiscal conservative who just made history and did it on a shoestring budget must be saying things a lot of folks wanted to hear.

What polling data re: Obama are you looking at?
 
Re: Eric Cantor is Gone

Aren't you ignoring the fact he lost his primary because he wasn't obstructionist enough

I was thinking the same thing. I don't live in Virginia but I highly doubt that this Tea Party candidate won by singing Obama's praises.
 
Re: Eric Cantor is Gone

I remember California's first exodus from the state, late 1970's and early 1980's. The destinations were Atlanta Georgia and the DFW and Houston areas of Texas.

Wait a sec, Jerry Brown was Governor back then. You don't think :thinking

Very possible, Good Morning.
 
Re: Eric Cantor is Gone

This Cantor development perfectly illustrates the old saw about he inmates taking over the asylum. It further illustrates just how far to the right the Republican party is. I suspect even the patron saint of 20th century conservatism Ronald Reagan could not survive today in this far right extremist environment.
 
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor loses GOP primary to tea-party challenger[W...


I've also seen polls with him in the 44-45 range. I'll have to check RCP once my computer is done updating to weed out the outliers. RCP average is usually a good start.

It's probably not 38, but it's probably not 44 either.
 
Re: Eric Cantor is Gone

But you have been "quiet" when it comes to the Mississippi primary in two weeks.
Linc has pegged McDaniel since last year, as you know.
Think Dems and their contributors sat up tonite?

You've been expecting a Mourdock/Akin moment, but none of us can predict these tsunamis/rogue waves in politics.

Now, Cantor may actually work with Boehner and Obama on Real-Life problems .

Work with Boehner and Obama? You mean like the lame duck session in December of 2010 where both sides gave and took. The repeal of DADT, the approval of START and the extension of the Bush Tax Cuts. I really doubt it. I have been concentrating on the seats in the senate that might switch. Mississippi isn't going to switch no matter who the Republican nominee is. If whoever is the Dem nominee can get within single digits, then I will start paying attention. If the race was considered safe, I really haven't looked at them.

This is June, once the primaries are over, I am sure foot in mouth disease will strike. There are some Republicans that can't help themselves. It seems to me the establishment Republicans worry and want to win election and are not so pure ideological drive. The Tea Party wants pure ideological candidates and are not that interested in winning. By that I mean the Tea Party are very happy to beat a more moderate, less ideological pure candidate in the Republican primaries even if they know that candidate has no chance of winning in the fall and guarentees the seat will go to the Democrats. Of course in some states and in some districts, the ideological will win in the fall with VA-7 and Mississippi being prime examples. But not in places like Indiana, Missouri or even perhaps Georgia.
 
Re: House Majority Leader Eric Cantor loses GOP primary to tea-party challenger[W...

I've also seen polls with him in the 44-45 range. I'll have to check RCP once my computer is done updating to weed out the outliers. RCP average is usually a good start.

It's probably not 38, but it's probably not 44 either.

RCP has him at this today:

RCP Average 5/29 - 6/9 -- 43.0 52.9 -9.9

RealClearPolitics - Election Other - President Obama Job Approval

If we didn't learn anything from the Romney/Obama polls, we better have learned it from the Cantor/Brat polls, which had Cantor ahead by something like 40 points.
 
Re: Eric Cantor is Gone

Cantor had appeared well positioned for reelection.

The most recent campaign finance reports showed he spent more than $1 million in April and May but still has more than $1.5 million in the bank....

Brat, by contrast, raised just more than $200,000 :)shock:) for his campaign, according to the reports.

"Dollars don't vote, people do," he told Fox News. :rock

Cantor upset in Virginia GOP primary by Tea Party-backed challenger | Fox News

Cantor's war chest was more than $5 million, so this puts politicians on notice that they ignore their constituents, who are often painted as mindless sheep, at their peril. This election puts a dent, even if just a small one, in the argument by progressives, communists, socialists, and assorted fellow travelers that America is a plutocracy. If ever there was a poster child for a political David running against the Establishment Goliath Brat was it. What kind of a name is "Brat," anyway? Apparently, a winning one. :)
 
Re: Eric Cantor is Gone

Saying Obama is for open borders is like saying you've never heard of Obama being criticized for his record level of deportations.
Laughable when compared to the amnesty President, Ronald Wilson Reagan, another Illinois boy.

Hispanic-American groups have been furious at Obama for his recort-level deportations.
Obama's been waiting for Cantor's immigration stance before another round of deportations--Cantor may stab the TEAs now on immigration.

Illinois is known for "normal" Republicans compared to the rest of the Nation.
We are at least in the ballpark when compared to the historical influence of Ohio in the GOP >

I honestly have not kept up with deportations, since I live in Ohio, far away from the border, so I asked my question truthfully. I really had not ever heard him referred to as "deporter-in-chief." You know me, NIMBY - I don't play games like that. I'm much more concerned with the level of debt this country has, and what effect that will have on our future, to worry about much else since that's going to affect all of us. Sorry you took my question the way you did.
 
Re: House Majority Leader Eric Cantor loses GOP primary to tea-party challenger[W:243

CNN reports now that Eric Cantor, Republican top-liner is gone. He was beaten by a Tea Party candidate. What does this say about the rest of the down-stream Republican Ticket in 2016, if Cantor, can't even hold on to his seat - which I am certain he thought he would/could retain?

"We've got some stuff falling. A little bit of stuff falling."

Gee. They are even feeling this in Los Angeles.

This must have a whole lot of politicians on both sides of the aisle quaking in their boots. About damned time.

I hope this gets lots of press. This editorial describes an arrogant man surrounded by arrogant staff who decided to focus their legislative prowess on running for Speaker of the House instead of their constituents.

Cantor's $4 million campaign spend compared to his opponent's $122,000 spend. Just imagine. An incumbent beaten by a $122,000 man. A man who favored amnesty against a virtual nobody who was against it.

Perhaps there is hope.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/06/10/why-cantor-lost/
 
Re: House Majority Leader Eric Cantor loses GOP primary to tea-party challenger[W:243

This must have a whole lot of politicians on both sides of the aisle quaking in their boots. About damned time.

I hope this gets lots of press. This editorial describes an arrogant man surrounded by arrogant staff who decided to focus their legislative prowess on running for Speaker of the House instead of their constituents.

Cantor's $4 million campaign spend compared to his opponent's $122,000 spend. Just imagine. An incumbent beaten by a $122,000 man. A man who favored amnesty against a virtual nobody who was against it.

Perhaps there is hope.

Why Cantor lost | Fox News

The people are better represented when there is solid competition. I always thought it was dangerous for a politician to take his post for granted. It just seemed contrary to the democratic process. Eric Canter can reclaim his seat in 2016 but first he has to humble himself and appeal to the people.

Sometimes you hate to see the good ones go but competitive elections is a good sign that the will of the people isn't going to be ignored as much. I see this as a positive thing even if it causes negative results in the short run. I'm not saying that it will but if it does that is a small price to pay for a properly functioning democracy.
 
Re: House Majority Leader Eric Cantor loses GOP primary to tea-party challenger[W...

RCP has him at this today:

RCP Average 5/29 - 6/9 -- 43.0 52.9 -9.9

RealClearPolitics - Election Other - President Obama Job Approval

If we didn't learn anything from the Romney/Obama polls, we better have learned it from the Cantor/Brat polls, which had Cantor ahead by something like 40 points.

The Romney and Cantor polls were internal polls. As I said in the other thread, the GOP has a serious data problem. The national polls had Obama ahead by, basically, exactly what he won by.
 
Re: House Majority Leader Eric Cantor loses GOP primary to tea-party challenger[W:243

The people are better represented when there is solid competition. I always thought it was dangerous for a politician to take his post for granted. It just seemed contrary to the democratic process. Eric Canter can reclaim his seat in 2016 but first he has to humble himself and appeal to the people.

Sometimes you hate to see the good ones go
but competitive elections is a good sign that the will of the people isn't going to be ignored as much. I see this as a positive thing even if it causes negative results in the short run. I'm not saying that it will but if it does that is a small price to pay for a properly functioning democracy.

Cantor was NOT one of the good ones.
 
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