Where Is Cantor Going?

A better question might be, can a member of the House of Representatives be elected president?  The last time that happened was in 1880, when James Garfield pulled it off.  Politico has an article up about Cantor's ambition and his sometimes off relationship of Minority Leader John Boehner.  I don't see Cantor going anywhere else, because nothing makes sense.  Why run for governor of Virginia when you can only get one term and leave all that you've built in the House?  I can get maybe running for the Senate if Republicans don't win the House back, he would be by FAR the best candidate of the conventional ones talked about.

But in this new viral era, I think any politician can build a constituency without holding a major statewide office.  Gone are the days where being governor of New York and/or governor of California where the most powerful positions in the country.  Now we see, for good or bad, folks like Michelle Bachmann and Alan Grayson become national players because they understand new media and how to go over the heads of seniority.

We are seeing a changing of the guard as old titans like Jack Murtha, Ted Kennedy, and Robert Byrd have passed away.  The seniority system is still in place, but in an age where a congressman can create a web video and reach millions over the heads of leadership and chairmen and old bulls.

Comments

[Bruce]

I still think it likely he will become the first Jewish Speaker of the House.

Once he is done with that (he's still young), I can see him serving in a Cabinet roll (Sec. of State?) and getting the executive experience he needs to run for national office. Or even serving as a VP candidate. I do not think he will run for President and - while I am a big fan - do not believe he could or should run for President without some form of executive experience (attorney, state legislator and member of Congress is what we have now).

[Lee Talley]

There is precedence, James K. Polk.
It can be done.

[Chris]

Polk was governor of Tennessee after he was speaker. He actually lost reelection twice in Tennessee for governor and then became president. kind of a round about way to get to the White House.

[Marjorie Morningstar]

We need Cantor to be Speaker now! Pelosi thinks unemployment checks create jobs. Yikes!

[local gop]

cantor should stick with house whip and perhaps majority leader for now. he is very calculating and seems to just want speaker for the sake of being speaker. being speaker means carrying the party line, no matter what principle says because you are party leadership.

cantor is just as conservative as boehner so implying that cantor will fix all the problems and boehner wont is unfounded.

[Lillian G]

Can somebody please explain what local gop said? I'm not sure if it is the grammar or the syntax. Or, maybe she's just a fool.

[PWConservative]

I support running a Congressman for President, Paul Ryan, by far the most articulate intelligent elected official in the Federal Government and he is gaining in popularity and knows how to use new media. I don't think Cantor can pull us out of the mess we are in or pull enough independants to get elected, but I have no doubt that Rep. Ryan would be a great President and a great Nominee. He's like Ron Paul but young and without the baggage.