Discussion: Eric Cantor's Legacy Is One Of Economic Destruction

Discussion for article #223829

Eric Cantor will be fine — he’ll get a lobbying job, board-of-director seats, “visiting fellow” offers at think tanks, Wall Street Journal op-eds, and of course a full Congressional pension. If only the thousands of people whose unemployment came from his policy choices could be so lucky.

Exactly. He is a worm, didn’t care about our country. I am happy that he is embarrassed, even for a moment. Because he is too far gone to feel real shame.

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What’s the point of delivering these tendentious “takes” on the causes? How about some research & careful analysis?

Of course, that would make it less like a TV show…

“…and of course a full Congressional pension…”

For the rest of his life. True conservatives should want this stopped.

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Brilliant article! When Cantor abruptly walked out of Debt Ceiling negotiations, the end result was United States credit rating was lowered … for the first time in American history.

Good riddance Eric Cantor, you vile POS

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What I want to know is how many people have been left homeless and ill due to this bĂĄstards policies.

There’s a scoop for you, Josh.

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Yes, but Eric Cantor was not just crooked but also incompetent. He still deserves to win the primary because he spent and raised more 20 times more money from corporations than his opponent and his own polling firm told him that he was up by 34 points. That should count for something. I am sure the conservative RATS on the Supreme Court could consider an appeal immediately. The combination of personal incompetence and corporate humanity at the ballot box should count for something with these folk.

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The defeat of Mr. Cantor by a Tea Party candidate is not a surprise to many people. The business side of GOP (US Chamber of Commerce/Wall Street /Big Banks etc.) had been using and dumping the social conservative side of GOP for many years, right after winning national elections. When W. Bush was running for presidency, the social conservatives carried water for him while the business side stayed quiet. Most of President Bush’s policies favored Wall Street and Financial Institutions
Although Tea party is ostensibly anti-tax, the main frustration driving this group is economics. Good paying jobs were shipped out of the country and at the same time cheap illegal workers were brought in to replace jobs used to be held by African Americans and lower class Whites. Laws and tax policies favored big business that relocated their companies abroad. Many high paying and manufacturing jobs were taking out of the country. Factories were moved out of urban areas to sub urban, then to the south, Mexico (NAFTA) and then beyond.
US Chamber of Commerce and big business side of GOP fight against implementation of E Verify and relaxation of immigration laws for example increasing number of H-1B visas issue by the government.
In order to justify importation of cheap immigrant workers, the mantra has been that Blacks do not want to work. When blue/trade workers (mostly Whites) started to lose their jobs (roofing, plumbing, construction, etc.) then the mantra changed from “Blacks do not want to work” to “jobs Americans will not do”. This claim was not believed by those skilled blue workers who see illegal aliens take over the jobs that they used to do. In the meantime, Democrats have become pro illegal alien. It is mind boggling that democrats will be fighting for the rights of workers brought to displace their constituencies.
Back to the Tea party and taxes. I always felt that the natural allies of the Tea party are African Americans. Individuals from both groups are victims of business friendly GOP and Wall Street. What will really change and shake up Washington is if the gentle man who defeated Mr. Cantor should reach out to the African American community as well as native born US Hispanics (members of these groups lost jobs to illegal aliens) and take on Democrats.

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Appreciative of Seth D. Michaels take on Cantor’s malfeasance toward the nation during his watch.

The criticality was somewhat refreshing.
I was pleased to have come to the end of the piece without some equivocating paragraph or two-- haphazardly tacked on to assure balance.

Cantor reminds one of Tom Delay.
Both huge a^^holes-- just wears a nicer suit.

Cantor can rot for all I care.
He certainly felt that way toward many millions of other US citizens.

jw1

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Wow, that was a great comment that really had me nodding along before it took a turn for the totally bizarre.

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They always leave out the second part of the complaint…“at the rate we want to pay”.

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Yeah, I don’t think there’s much chance that Brat will be reaching out to non-whites of ANY flavor. He’s all in on Ayn Rand - a natural ally for Paul Ryan.

Seems to me like a more ideological version of Cantor himself. Just what Virginia needs, I’m sure.

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Full Pension - Ok, pet peeve. Quit harpin’ on the pension. Cantor served 14 years. Based on the basic formula to which he is subject under FERS, he can collect a basic pension of about 44k/year when he reaches the age of 62, or can start taking a much smaller annuity at 57. Plus whatever he can has in his thrift plan. Plus COLA’s, etc. It’s not parsimonious, but its hardly over the top, considering his 180k+ salary and time in service (14 years) and the importance of his job.

This whining about his pension eligibility is a little too close to the “we should cut congressional pay” screeching we hear every time they screw the little guy. I despise the man, he did damage to our country and our polity, but in an age where the US Congress is becoming more and more of a billionaire boy’s club, and millions are required just to have a shot at joining, we really shouldn’t be dogging on the benefits, or the pay, if we have any interest at all in having non zillionaires in Congress, who might actually, you know, NEED the salary and benefits. The pension is reasonable. But it’s chump change compared to what he’ll rake in elsewhere. Let it be.

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Brat’s even worse, but he won’t be the majority leader, just another wingnut GOP congressman.

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I understand your point on the pension, dis. But more than a few of Cantor’s positions would reduce or remove similar support for the working guy - to wit, let’s get rid of Medicare and Social Security, which would impact many low and middle income folks approaching retirement.

Since more than a few conservatives would like to see merit pay for jobs like teaching, I’d personally like to see merit pay for congressional members. Based on the last term or two, we’d’ve been able to service the national debt on how little the taxpayer would’ve paid Congress. :wink:

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I’ve come to appreciate Seth Michaels’ occasional articles in general. Yes, he makes sharp points, without mealy-mouthed qualifications. And he writes well.

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He lost me when he called the teabagger a “gentle man.” Then he says Brat should “reach out” to African-Americans and Hispanics. Really? A teabagger?

Someone hasn’t been paying attention. Perhaps he knows something about falling temps in hell, but I doubt it.

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As. Virginian who is hugely upset about the weasel Democrat who just quit, giving Republicans the majority I the state senate, I am almost to the point of thinking, OK! You get what you vote for! If these poor people whose wages are flat, who don’t have health care, and whose schools are crappy because most of the funding is from local real estate taxes, really want to continue with no hope for the future, so be it!

We had a chance when we sent Ken Cuccinelli packing, to rise above this GOP hell that they seem to be happy to inflict on everyone who is not wealthy. But fear, hatred of the President, and a loathing of acting like adults (ie compromise in order to achieve the greater good) seems to be winning.

I understand that Brat’s opponent is not a strong candidate, but I will pony up for him, and I hope he will get some decent coaching. If he loses, then those who voted for more GOP intransigence will get what they deserve. Unfortunately they will drag the rest of the undeserving down with them.

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A true deranged domestic terrorist who operated inside the government.

As a neocon he will be taken care of. His wife was set up years ago to receive stealth payments for the family. As a wall street tool he will be taken care of. He will live high off the steer for the rest of his life, but karma is a witch in the love of money sequels.

The only “reaching out” they will do to African-Americans and Hispanics is with a stick, making sure they keep their distance. I was also put off by the “gentle man” comment. Poo!