Cruz and Walker are symptoms of a political system gone horribly awry. No one and I mean no one goes into electoral politics these days to do good or do the best for the country.
To the defense of those who might want to be better, they simply can’t. There is no way a decent person can get elected. The sheer amount of fundraising necessary to do so precludes doing anything but hustling for dollars based on your record and promises. Most people have no idea how much of an elected representatives time is spent fundraising. At the Federal level its the vast bulk of it. So we’re going to expect virtue out of someone who is hustling campaign contributions the majority of each and every day?
Ted Cruz is easily explained. He’s a political hustler with a great conservative schtick. And he views office as an investment, one that will pay off for him handsomely.
Scott Walker is a little more difficult to explain. He isn’t in Washington yet. But you have to wonder why a relatively obscure governor suddenly shoots to above the fold on newspapers and is getting copious amounts of coverage. It stinks, but in a less direct way than Cruz.
Upshot is I’m not cutting any elected politician running for president any slack, nor am I giving them any sympathy. They don’t deserve it and don’t need it. The least well-off of them is completely set for life. I’ll save my sympathy for the guy who is working to feed his family and gets laid off because some kleptocrats in Washington thought it would be a fine idea to screw the middle class.
Your entire post is excellent.
Cruz has been a profound disappointment. I no longer support him.