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phantom power

(25,966 posts)
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 10:00 AM Jun 2014

Dave Brat was elected because he ran against the very few things that Eric Cantor did

It wasn't just the fact that Cantor flirted with immigration reform. Brat also hit him for voting to raise the debt ceiling -- Brat has promised to vote against raising the debt ceiling for the first five years he's in Congress -- and for voting for the Ryan-Murray budget plan, and for voting to end the government shutdown. In other words, Dave Brat was elected because he ran against the very few things that Eric Cantor did that remotely helped the government simply to function. Apparently, Brat would have the country default on its debts, go without a budget, and have the government still shut down until the president is willing to torpedo his signature policy success, If you lived in the Seventh Congressional District of the Commonwealth of Virginia, those are the policy choices your fellow citizens would have endorsed last night. Any pundits who ever again criticize the president for not "compromising" with a party that thinks this way -- and is proud that it does -- deserve to have their keys to the Green Room icebox confiscated.

As for the winner, Brat seems a very bad combination of serious religious quester and devout Randian economist, a combination that would have had Ms. Rand herself reaching for the opium pipe. He got his undergraduate degree at Hope College in Michigan, which is run by the Reformed Church in the United States, a conservative evangelical wing of the United Church Of Christ. He then got a Masters in Divinity at Princeton, which is a very conservative seminary and now, according to his website, Dave attends St. Mary's Catholic Church with his wife Laura and their two children: Jonathan, 15 and Sophia, 11. So either he's a Douthatian convert, god help us, or his faith is all over the lot, which may account for his rather startling announcement last night that he won because God was speaking through the voters of the Seventh Congressional District of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Even his background in economics is shot through with conspicuous religiosity.

...

What's that mean? Who in hell knows, although any attempt to marry Niebuhr's theology with Rand's economics and general view of the world -- to say nothing of her atheism -- is going to be more appropriate to the Cirque du Soleil than to a political philosophy. Nevertheless, Professor Dave Brat has taught his first lesson. The worst possible thing any Republican politician can do -- even a powerful politician, even a member of the congressional leadership -- is to demonstrate, however faintly, that the national government should work at all.

http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/The_Dave_Brat_Lesson
6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Dave Brat was elected because he ran against the very few things that Eric Cantor did (Original Post) phantom power Jun 2014 OP
It was a historical upset in many ways Ichingcarpenter Jun 2014 #1
Cantor lost for two reasons mudy waters Jun 2014 #2
It seems likely they just replaced him with somebody a lot worse phantom power Jun 2014 #4
yes,yes,yes gwheezie Jun 2014 #3
I have to wonder old guy Jun 2014 #5
It pretty much shows the people are angry, but very stupid Johonny Jun 2014 #6

Ichingcarpenter

(36,988 posts)
1. It was a historical upset in many ways
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 10:09 AM
Jun 2014

and as we see everybody is scrambling to figure out WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED? from the left to the right.

It will end up being a case study for political scientists

 

mudy waters

(41 posts)
2. Cantor lost for two reasons
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 10:13 AM
Jun 2014

Democrats and Independents who saw this as their only opportunity to unseat Cantor voted in large numbers. And the Tea Part has a pretty strong network in the 7th. That's it. It really was an instance where the left and right came together to destroy an entrenched politician.

phantom power

(25,966 posts)
4. It seems likely they just replaced him with somebody a lot worse
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 10:23 AM
Jun 2014

I mean, the Dem candidate might win, but based on what I've read it's far from a sure thing.

gwheezie

(3,580 posts)
3. yes,yes,yes
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 10:22 AM
Jun 2014

Brat went after Cantor on obamacare, called him a socialist, named him the lyin king, bashed him on his wall st ties, the dbt limit etc

old guy

(3,281 posts)
5. I have to wonder
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 10:52 AM
Jun 2014

if people really looked closely at Brat or just voted against Cantor to change things. Most people I am around who lean to the right seem to think that anyone can go and govern. No experience necessary. This is a long way from reality and those that think that are more often than not disappointed in the results, not that they will ever admit it. Does he have a resume or does he just talk the talk?

Johonny

(20,681 posts)
6. It pretty much shows the people are angry, but very stupid
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 11:04 AM
Jun 2014

They hate that congress has done nothing, but aren't smart enough to consider that the very people they vote for are the cause of that and doubling down on crazy won't help them at all. If Eric Cantor (95+% RW voter) can't get it done is this nut bag going to get it done.

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