Let’s jump in the Way-back Machine for a moment. It’s 1989 and Inglewood Little League in Los Angeles is about to crumble from within. Registration is at an all-time low, bills aren’t getting paid because of the few number of players, Hispanics are beginning to become the majority and yet the Board remains comprised of all African Americans, save the President, an affable but completely incompetent George Custer of a leader who happens to be Hispanic. In an attempt to bring in new blood the Board in search of a new president confronts a young black man who everyone knows and who’s seemingly always at the park, umpiring, helping in the “Snack Shack” or coaching his 13-15 year olds. What an opportunity, impart Ralph Bailey’s thoughts and ideas on the entire program … a dream come true, I thought. And such must be the case for Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a shot at becoming California’s second Speaker of the House, a mere two heart beats away form the presidency! But I warn, as I wished someone had warned me back in the 80s, heavy is the head the wears the crown. Kevin has a tremendous opportunity but may take over a house not only in turmoil but a conservative end of his own party in search of a fight. John Boehner is a good man and a decent politician but the writing for his departure has been etched on the walls for months if not years and yes it was I who urged the congressman to lead the revolt against his friend and become the hero of the Right. But to his credit, Kevin remains too loyal for such subterfuge and remained one step behind the beleaguered Speaker. And now with a vote that should certainly go his way, does the man whose career began with a lottery ticket and a sandwich shop have the political chops to control his angry mob while convincing moderates he’s not a pure ideologue driven primarily by a hatred of Barack Obama? The vote will go Kevin’s way, as most things have in his story book life but what dangers lay ahead only the shadow knows. But one thing is for sure, Kevin is in for the fight of his life … and I’m talking about AFTER his historic victory
