It’s been fascinating to hear and read all about the utterly
surprising fall from grace of Eric Cantor, Republican of the great city of
Richmond, VA. I’m guessing House Speaker
John Boehner hit the Chianti pretty hard last night as he contemplated a Tea
Party takeover of his caucus. Now it
begins – the hard right v. the harder right as Cantor “wannabes” swarm the
carcass and jockey for position to be the next Majority Leader of the House.
While it’s true that I did, for a moment, dance a little jig
in my family room upon learning of Eric Cantor’s defeat, I also appreciate that
it can’t be good for the Grand Ol’ Party…or, in the near-term, for the
country. Good luck getting anything done
for the remainder of this congress, and most likely, until 2016. So much for the Dreamers and any chance at
immigration reform. So much for any compromises on a jobs bill. Cantor was possibly one of the few willing to play “let’s make a deal,”
if only to make Boehner look less effective. (Honestly, I don't think they ever liked each other, but learned to live together, as it were, for the sake of the children...er, caucus.)
Who's going to want to stick his or her neck out now to pass legislation that's important for securing the nation's recovery from the Great Recession and two wars -- especially when that person could become the next Speaker of the House?
So what do we have to look forward to? Ever more toxic politics and stagnant
growth as the radicalization of the Republican Party proceeds apace. With no
agenda but “no” while decrying the evils of “big government,” we’re once again about to
see Tea Party governance at its best.
I’m sorry, but radicalism is never good for a country. Ever.
Let’s say a little prayer while Mr. Cantor brushes up
his resume for that open teaching positioning at Randolph Macon College (“Randy
Mac” for those of us who went to school in our great Commonwealth – and that
was not necessarily a term of endearment) and plots his return to power.
God help America. 
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