Matt Gaetz reprising his foghorn role
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), a strident rightwing foghorn in Congress, is “seriously considering not seeking re-election” and may leave before his term ends to take a job at Newsmax, the news-summary website Axios reported on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.
Gaetz apparently hopes becoming a rightwing media personality will give him a platform from which to segue into an unspecified “future national political role,” Axios said. (Read their story here.)
Newsmax’s audience vastly expanded after the 2020 election by attracting Trump diehards upset with Fox News for not going all-in with Trump’s election lies. Meanwhile, the GOP’s failure to regain House control in 2020 leaves Gaetz, as a member of the minority party, largely sidelined in Congress.
As for what “future national political role” he may have in mind, I can think of three things: President, Senate, or a cabinet position. But personally I think the best use of his particular talents is to perch him on a lonely rock and employ him to guide ships through fog.
It would be nice if at least half of the House were to not run again for Congress in 2022. Let a new group of foghorns guide the lonely ships of our political discourse. I do mean a somewhat equal number from both patties. [This comment has been edited.]
Not a bad idea, but we may not agree about which half of Congress is worth keeping and which half is superfluous.