Last edited Mon Jul 16, 2018, 03:56 PM - Edit history (2)
and help steer the thought processes and the direction of the legislating efforts. She could have been an influence for GENUINE common sense. NOT the cheap-ass talking point “common sense” or what I now often see written as “commonsense.” Somehow it’s become a one-word concept by now.
Especially when you think of state legislatures as farm teams for the majors (in Washington DC). They're "feeder schools" for higher office, whether it's the governor's job or Senate or House of Reps. And who knows, maybe higher. That's where many of them earn their "experience" stripes. State offices are viewed by a lot of political operatives as stepping-stone job to bigger things in the future. One thing always strikes me whenever I'm dealing with or observing state office-holders. Those who stay in THAT job, at THAT level, for a long time, would appear to be behaving as though they WANT to be in THAT job. At THAT level. Mainly, I'd guess, it would be THAT job. I know these things have their rewards. I've met people who treat their version of THAT job, at THAT level, as almost a calling. Because they recognize it's about being a public servant. Taking care of the public's interest and needs. You're like a custodian. A guard. An advocate. It's something that's... well... elevated. It has a higher purpose.
Others, of course, see it as a means to an end. That, too, cuts both ways.
Are you 1) purely in it for a higher perch from which you can do more good, and help more of the people who need real help, not just those who don't like paying taxes? OR are you 2) just in it for more power (since most of these jobs don't pay a lot, particularly when your home turf is far away from Washington and you have a family and you have to maintain two residences). What else are you gonna do if you work full-time in Washington DC for living arrangements, and how often do you get to come home, realistically? Based on how close your home state is and how much plane fare has to be covered? Financial considerations are there whether you're doing this altruistically or not.
And probably for a lot of those in the second column, they're looking to win a high-level government position because of how lucratively it translates AFTER they leave office. Look at the dramatic raise in pay and perks toward which you can parlay all that government experience and all its friends and contacts and connections? It means hitting the jackpot, financially, even if you're bounced out of office. Example: Eric Cantor. He WAS at one point on the House GOP "line of succession's" short list and mentioned as a possible future Speaker.
Eric Ivan Cantor (born June 6, 1963) is an American politician, lawyer, and banker, who served as the United States representative for Virginia's 7th congressional district from 2001 until 2014. As a member of the Republican Party, he became House Majority Leader when the 112th Congress convened on January 3, 2011. He previously served as House Minority Whip from 2009 until 2011.
His district included most of the northern and western sections of Richmond, along with most of Richmond's western suburbs and, until redistricting in 2013, portions of the Shenandoah Valley. Cantor was the highest-ranking Jewish member of Congress in its history, and at the time of his resignation, the only non-Christian Republican in either house.[1][2]
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In June 2014, in his bid for re-election, Cantor lost the Republican primary to economics professor Dave Brat in an upset that surprised political analysts. In response Cantor announced his early resignation as House Majority Leader, and several weeks later, he announced his resignation from Congress, which took effect August 18, 2014. Immediately thereafter, Cantor accepted a position as vice chairman of investment bank Moelis & Company.[3]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Cantor
He's there as a trophy piece. "But hey, look at my take-home! And now I can look out for #1 and answer to NOBODY. I'm not in government anymore! I don't have to worry about fundraising and my fickle constituents and the nuisance media!" Look at the recovering Republicans with regular on-air gigs as "contributors" or "analysts"? And the book deals and promotional tours and appearances throughout the talk show circuit you'll be all over and your future is SET!!! You "retire" as a respected elder statesman to write more books and do more TV and the entire machine that can keep on crankin' for a nice long time.
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