The government shutdown, Cantor’s defeat and the death of the gang of eight were all part of the same movement. The movement started after the elections of 2012 and primarily emanated from a handful of brave individuals. Among them, Jeff Sessions, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, Jason Chavetz, Steve King and Jim Jordan. The movement centered around the idea that conservatism is not predestined to lose. Sometimes it is o.k. to fight and it may even be possible for conservatism to win.
At the time, the leadership (including Cantor) wanted to work with Obama to pass amnesty. The conservatives were instrumental in holding off amnesty FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR by convincing the moderate mushy Republicans that the media narrative was wrong. They didn’t have to go along with the leadership and commit suicide. The long march toward third world status was not inevitable. They could oppose it and save the country and not only would they not be punished by the voters, they would be rewarded. They went on the talk shows and brought their message to the people. The people listened and voted out Cantor. This proved that Sessions, Cruz, Lee, Vitter, King, Goehmert, etc.. were right. So, it was a process of brave conservatives telling other Republicans that they could stand up to Cantor and Boehner and McConnell which ultimately culminated in Cantor’s defeat.
Would Cantor ever have even been in danger if the conservatives weren’t actively fighting him in the House?
From June 30 2014...
http://www.rollcall.com/news/home/eric-cantor-defeat-a-victory-for-ted-cruz
From Politico...
“There were three tiers of meetings: The first was primarily members-only on the House side. Then communications aides from House and Senate offices met to discuss messaging tactics. Finally, there were broader staff huddles involving policy and communications hands. A couple dozen Republican offices from both ends of the Capitol regularly participated.
House members tried to meet weekly when they were in Washington, usually in King’s office but sometimes in other Hill locations to strategize their foes’ next move. When aides met, they would pore over the polling and studies available to make their case, and figure out how to loop in outside allies, such as talk-radio hosts.
Sessions and Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) were the most active senators, while Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) played supporting roles. Key House lawmakers included King and Reps. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), Lamar Smith (R-Texas), John Fleming (R-La.), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) and Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), among several others, according to lawmakers and aides involved.”
You are engaging in revisionist history by trying to wipe Cruz’s influence out of the history books. He was an instrumental part of defeating the gang of eight and the Washington Cartel which was funded by Trump.
Talk shows did NOT defeat Cantor. That is an actual psychotic POV. It was Brat and his tireless army of foot soldiers who defeated Cantor. Your narrative is as detached from reality as anything I’ve ever witnessed. Cruz didn’t campaign for Brat. He didn’t contribute money. He merely sat on the sidelines, as did Lee. How DARE you take the blood, sweat and tears of Brat and his supporters and blithely give Cruz credit for them? You’re as bad as he is: taking other people’s accomplishments and pretending they belong to Cruz. It’s an abomination.