David versus Goliath – how Cantor Lost to the College Professor – David Brat

As Washington insides and pundits left and right are thawing out educated guesses as to why David Brat, a little known economics professor, bested, on no budget, a well funded, Congressional Majority Leader, the truth is rather simple – perhaps too simple. (See this link for Meet David Brat by NPR).

It was not necessarily the strength of the much maligned tea party, it was not that Brat “got lucky”, it is not that he is particularly far right, or far left, but more Libertarian –and pragmatic. It is simply put, an atmosphere in Washington of wealth, and degradation, as well as a propensity to watch out for Corporations rather than the general public, that has the general public, Democrat or Republican, rather sick of the same people in the same office. Therefore, they vote them out, good, bad or ugly, that’s the rub.

This phenomenon did not start yesterday, and it is not an across the board given, however, if one is to look back at minor races nationwide in 2013, at mayors races, in smaller cities, one might just find that incumbents, no matter how popular, got the boot. That boot was given by the general public, not because they were tired of the individual, rather because they were tired of multiple terms in D.C. and they took it out on the local level. Therefore, one can hypothesize, (exactly what this is all about), that this phenomenon will carry through the next few reelection cycles, and will reshape both major political parties. As to the Professor, David Brat, he will be doing exactly what our forefathers had done – Congress was made up of your ordinary neighbors, not the legal scholars of the day, those “gentlemen” preferred the Senate – but the real work is done in the House – which is history.

Expect more David Brats, not only in the House but in the Senate as well, this is going to be a season of unforeseen upsets, and it all comes down to the perception by the people, that Washington is working for Washington, and the lack of trust in the government (as witnessed by pollsters), is set firm. There is also a question of each parties base and the heft it carries foreword – specifically with the GOP – when Romney was nominated (as they are pushing Jeb Bush) – the backlash came not from the general voting public, rather from within their own party – millions stayed home and as a result, the race was lost President Obama. Perhaps, just perhaps if they (Those who run the RNC) paid attention to who will actually turn out and vote, and base decisions on which of their grass roots is going to put them over the finish line, they’ll be more careful in choosing a nominee that may appeal to just about everyone – even if that individual is reviled by his peers – and today, that leaves several people in mind. (And that goes for the Democrats as well, for in DC one can’t really tell the difference between the two.)