Yeah. You just have to keep promoting these totally unprincipled sleazebags because they say the right things for a few months, long enough to get themselves elected to a position where you and I do not matter any more. As a representative or governor or senator his future is paved with satin by the money thrown at him in his first term and he does not have to rely on even being re-elected for that Easy Street address, though it would be nice. He does what he has to do to get elected and then does what he has to do to get himself financially insulated. So far, our Tea Party heroes have more often than not, proven to be plain old generic politicians. I cheer when a Cruz stands up for principle but that is just today. How many days can/will he keep that up when he is denying himself Ease and access to fashionable cocktail parties? I have no faith in any of them.
Your description of the political career ladder is more or less accurate, but if you are indicating that the only two choices are “more of the same” or “nothing” - then I am not participating in your limitations.