Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Jeb Boasts of His Endorsement by… Eric Cantor?
A few days ago I recommended that Jeb Bush drop out of the primary. After sitting out the Obama years, Jeb’s political instincts are rusty, he’s far out of step with GOP voters, and he’s making the whole party look bad with his constant mistakes.
Little did I know Jeb was just warming up:
Eric Cantor, former House majority leader, will endorse Jeb Bush on Thursday evening and will be named a Virginia state co-chair of his presidential campaign, Republican sources tell POLITICO.
Cantor was courted intensely by other candidates. Cantor retains a strong political network in Virginia, a key primary and swing state. And he has enviable connections among Jewish business leaders who can be key supporters and donors.
“This is a big deal for Eric, and a big deal for Jeb,” said a top Republican involved in the negotiations.
A Cantor source said: “They have known each other for a long time, speak regularly and have great mutual respect for one another. Eric believes he is the only candidate with a real long-term vision for the country who can also actually implement it – not just talk about it.”
Eric. Cantor. The once-promising conservative who soon succumbed to the Beltway machine. The avatar of the self-interested, double-dealing GOP establishment. The target of the Republican base’s wrath who was tossed on his ample ear by unknown Tea Party candidate Dave Brat, despite the latter being down 30 points and many millions of dollars. Eric Cantor, who answered these anti-crony critics by immediately taking a job with massive investment bank and running their DC office.
Let me close with a quote by my favorite writer:
Published in GeneralJeb seems like a nice man. He had an excellent tenure as governor many years ago. But it’s obvious that his heart is not in this race, he doesn’t understand our Alinskyite political climate, and he is confused by both his base and modern media. The longer he vies for the nomination, the more he hurts himself and the GOP.
For the good of his country and his party, Bush needs to sit 2016 out.
“A top Republican” and “a Cantor source.”
We need names. And then we need to round these people up and make a public display of them as a warning to the next generation.
A cunning plan by Cantor to sabotage Bush.
Mike Murphy
Jeb, you Cantor won’t win.
A “strong political network” that couldn’t get him a primary win against an unknown candidate. Other Jeb! hires:
Also, two coalitions for Jeb! have announced chairs: Michael Vick will head up Animal Lovers for Jeb!, while Jane Fonda will chair Vietnam Veterans for Jeb!. There are unconfirmed rumors that Jeb! is seeking an alliance with Donald Trump by offering him the position of Ambassador to Mexico in a potential Jeb! administration.
Stick a fork in him. He’s done.
You know, I’m usually the first one to say that the whole Establishment™ thing is overblown but… sheesh.
Rather curious to know who those other candidates are.
You have to admit, it’s convenient when the candidate dots the “i” and crosses both “t’s” in “Establishment™” for you.
Our senator Heller, my local congressman, and our AG all already endorsed Jeb. They’re all sausage making type pols without much spine.
Look, I don’t like Jeb either, but he’s gonna win. It’s just the CREAM theory at work.
You gotta remember that the first job of every politician is to perpetuate their own power. These politicos are doing the smart thing getting on the Jeb! train now rather than later.
That Jeb! is tone deaf to anything conservative in America outside of being pro-life isn’t news. What I am curious about is who are the others with this poor judgment:
Kasich, maybe Christie, Gilmore, or Pataki?
He’s not just tone deaf; he’s deaf, dumb, and blind.
Next week, Jeb digs up Zombie Eddie Cantor.
If you knew Jebbie, like I know Jebbie… Oh, oh, oh what a guy!
I think Jeb still wins it (the nomination). Until Jeb leaves I’m going to think that out of my own paranoia. The money and power behind him are immense. BTW, don’t ever, I mean ever, link the Wu-Tang clan to me again. It cannot be unseen and unheard now and I blame you Fred.
Could’ve been worse. He could have gotten Bolling’s endorsement.
But the actual still-elected politicians in Virginia — or the still-popular former Republican nominees — aren’t jumping on that train, at least not yet.
David Brat hasn’t endorsed, but I’m going to go out on a limb and predict it won’t be Bush. Ken Cuccinelli, who is trying to find a way to box in Trump, hasn’t endorsed — but he won’t go for Bush either. Maybe Cruz?
State Senator Mark Obenshain — who came closer than anyone else recently to winning statewide office and is perhaps the most plausible 2017 nominee — has endorsed Walker, who also just hired Ed Gillespie’s campaign manager.
JG, that “quote from my favorite writer” comment is awesome!
From Big Trouble in Little China:
I love that movie. Jack Burton is one of my role models.
What we need is a ticket that will really shake the pillars of Heaven, like Burton and his buddy Wang.
But he’s joyful! That’s important.
Ignorance is bliss.
What is most sad is that the third time isn’t the charm, it makes the whole family legacy look worse.
His candidacy reveals so much. It’s like Hariet Miers cubed.
Now we know.
That’s a good point, Franco. Jeb!’s cluelessness makes the other two look pretty awful. For the sake of the family legacy, Jeb!, drop out now!
Whomever needs money from Cantor’s banker buddies . . . so, everyone but Trump, Cruz. Gilmore is Virginian, so no doubt he’s desperate for Cantor-love.
Cantor outspent the unknown college professor Dave Brat by 40 to 1. He spent more campaign money in Washington DC steak houses–no kidding–then Brat spent on his entire campaign. Cantor’s district is about an hour and a half drive from DC. Guess where he was on the night of the primary? Yeah, in DC.
Even if you thought well of Jeb! before this, does this really strike you as a guy who has woken up to the Trump-trampling that’s been rocking every minute of his day since mid-June?
I think he simply regards that percentage of the vote as simply lost to him in any scenario, and as far as that goes he’s probably right.
If he could afford to lose that percentage of the vote, this might make sense. He can’t. And he couldn’t even before Trump. Don’t politicians usually practice addition, not subtraction?
“Here’s to the Army and Navy and the battles they have won;
here’s to America’s colors, the colors that never run!
…May the wings of liberty never lose a feather.”
Aw Come On Man!
While I always appreciate your pragmatism we gotta have something to hang our hat on.
Jeb will lose the general to a ham sandwich.