Republicans Too Divided To Challenge For The White House?

[AR Husker Fan]

Just wanted to throw this out there and see what everyone thinks. This election cycle and recent events would seem to indicate that the Republican party is becoming so fragmented that getting its candidate elected will be more of an uphill climb than last cycle. Consider:

 

1. The sheer number of announced candidates - This can be argued as evidence the Republican party can't decide on a single candidate (or a small number of candidates) to throw its weight behind. The problem, of course, is that each candidate, to some degree or another, siphons off funds that could go to, say, three or so viable candidates - money that could come in handy in a general election. We saw this last cycle; it's worse this cycle. Meanwhile (and despite Sanders' bump in the polls), most Democrat money is flowing to Hillary alone.

 

2. FOX News' decision to bolster lower-tier candidates - FOX News has tweaked the debate "rules" so that every candidate is going to get some exposure. This is yet another indication that the party is continuing to fragment and can't act as a single force behind one or a very few viable candidates.

 

3. The Trump Factor - Here's a guy that I think everyone will agree has no chance to emerge as the Republican nominee (and what a disaster for the party if he does). Yet he's leading in the polls? And he's not only doing so in spite of his outrageous comments, but because of them. That certainly reinforces the perception that this is a party of old, white men, and plays hell on arguments that the party wants to be inclusive. And with demographic trends being what they are, the future looks bleak. Worse, there's a real possibility that he will run as an Independent if he's not the nominee. And as we know, it doesn't take much for an Independent to swing the tide. If this happens, Republicans face a daunting task in winning the so-called "purple" states, where votes are so close.

 

4. The recent move to oust Boehner - This isn't the first attempt; probably won't be the last. But, again, it illustrates what appears to be deepening cracks within the party.

 

So...can the Republicans actually field a winning candidate for President? Who would it be? And how does the party overcome its own internal dissension? Can it build a platform that will appeal to minorities, which becomes critical as demographics continue to slant toward minorities?

 

I know that we are a long way away from the election, and untold things can happen - but at this point in time, have Republicans become so fractured that the election is a forgone conclusion?

[Landlord]

#BernieorBust

[zoogs]

I think they can. At the end of this long-winded bit of theater, we know a mainstream-ish candidate is going to fall out. That candidate is going to appear remarkably reasonable next to the Trumps of the world, and what are supporters of the fringe runner-ups going to do, vote for Hilary? They're quite united in a few things, at least -- overturning or undercutting the ACA, for example.

 

The question will be then whether that candidate can carry the right states.

 

At this point, though, I would be skeptical of any candidate running under the Republican name. It's unclear in what direction that party is being steered, and, should they retake the White House, who would doing the steering.

[Landlord]

It will be interesting to see what Trump does, because he is a bit of a wildcard.

 

 

It doesn't seem like much of a secret that the only reason he's in this race is to further his own fame, so when he doesn't get the republican ticket, does he think it does HIM more good to bow out and support the Republican candidate, or does it do him more good to run as an independent and keep the circus show going? Because if he does, he could take away more votes from the right's candidate than people think, imo.

[zoogs]

I find it a little hard to believe that Trump actually believes in all his blather and all his double down. Maybe he does. I'd like to think someone so successful is not quite that stupid.

 

My own pet theory is he's doing his fellow Republican candidates a solid. They and their party have had a real image problem lately of appearing crazy (in various degrees). Next to Trump, though? ...all of a sudden, they are "safe".

[zoogs]

Or maybe this really is Trump. The Scientology method. Guess it works.

[ZRod]

Honest to god I don't want to vote for Hillary, but with all these republican loonies I'm almost tempted to vote for Trump. He's not a religious zelot like most of the right, and he actually speaks his mind and gives an answer unlike Hillary. But he's a friggin idiot when it comes to policy and common sense.

 

All a repub would need to do to win is maintain a moderate pro Christian stance to keep his base and adopt democratic economic principles. There has to be someone better out there than any of these buffoons.

[Landlord]

Honest to god I don't want to vote for Hillary, but with all these republican loonies I'm almost tempted to vote for Trump. He's not a religious zelot like most of the right, and he actually speaks his mind and gives an answer unlike Hillary. But he's a friggin idiot when it comes to policy and common sense.

 

All a repub would need to do to win is maintain a moderate pro Christian stance to keep his base and adopt democratic economic principles. There has to be someone better out there than any of these buffoons.

 

 

 

Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!

[Moiraine]

I really don't get this obsession for someone who speaks their mind. Speaking your mind is only good if you're not an idiot. On the other end of the spectrum is not wanting someone who flip flops to whatever happens to be popular at the moment, but Trump has flip flopped on lots of issues since becoming a candidate.

[cornographic]

There must be $(career advancement) to be had in running for prez is all I can say. Most the Republicans, and Dems not named Hillary or Bernie, don't have a chance in hell to get the nomination in their respective parties.

 

Trump(the irony of the name doesn't go unnoticed) is like a bull in a China shop and I find it very disturbing--though not particularly surprising--that he's leading the Rep polls: the cult of celebrity rules in Murica. Trump wants to build the Chinese Great Wall on the Mexican border and have Mexico pay for it--good luck--no mention of the Canadian border--oops. Somehow Trump is going to miraculously bring back 'our jobs'(and The People believe him) from, presumably, China, Mexico, Honduras, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Japan, El Salvador, Ecuador, Cambodia, India, South Korea, Phillipines, Guam, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Chile...well, you get the picture.

 

Amazing that Trump is 'the best ever' at whatever he decides he's 'best ever' at( and has zero experience in). He's 'the most militaristic guy ever!', having zero military experience. He's gonna be the 'best immigration pres ever!', though has never lived near a border. So far Trump has called Latinos 'rapists', McCain an 'un-hero', the critical Des Moines Register a 'piece of garbage rag', and a breast feeding mother a 'horrible, distusting human being'--and possibly raped a previous wife, hence his first hand knowledge of rapists. EXCUSE ME?! How many banks/companies had Trump bankrupted on his way to the top? Trump is the quintessential 'self made man', with ~150 mil start up cash from daddy, of course.

 

They say a country gets the leaders it deserves.

 

Hucklebee is a disaster(again) and hopefully he'll disappear from the scene sooner than later, like he did last time he ran. Has zero chance.

 

Overall, I don't think any Rep candidate can challenge Hillary as they don't have Labor, women, young adult, and minority factions behind them. They're basically the party for angry, white, businessmen.

 

Of either party, Bernie is the only guy that offers a significant departure from biz as usual in D.C and therefore will be vehemently opposed by the reactionary right wingers should he become a serious threat.

 

Ted(my wife was an exec @ Goldman Sachs) Cruz should quit politics, and take his Robin Williams look alike act to Vegas:

 

[ZRod]

 

Honest to god I don't want to vote for Hillary, but with all these republican loonies I'm almost tempted to vote for Trump. He's not a religious zelot like most of the right, and he actually speaks his mind and gives an answer unlike Hillary. But he's a friggin idiot when it comes to policy and common sense.

All a repub would need to do to win is maintain a moderate pro Christian stance to keep his base and adopt democratic economic principles. There has to be someone better out there than any of these buffoons.

 

 

 

Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!

Maybe... I'm still a little leary of votingfor a socialist, even though I pretty much am one. I do like the way he handles himself.

[Landlord]

 

 

Honest to god I don't want to vote for Hillary, but with all these republican loonies I'm almost tempted to vote for Trump. He's not a religious zelot like most of the right, and he actually speaks his mind and gives an answer unlike Hillary. But he's a friggin idiot when it comes to policy and common sense.

All a repub would need to do to win is maintain a moderate pro Christian stance to keep his base and adopt democratic economic principles. There has to be someone better out there than any of these buffoons.

 

 

Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!

Maybe... I'm still a little leary of votingfor a socialist, even though I pretty much am one. I do like the way he handles himself.

 

 

 

That word hangs a lot of people up, understandably. I'm fully on the Bernie wagon at this point, but I still feel weird thinking about that word. Socialist.

[ZRod]

I really don't get this obsession for someone who speaks their mind. Speaking your mind is only good if you're not an idiot. On the other end of the spectrum is not wanting someone who flip flops to whatever happens to be popular at the moment, but Trump has flip flopped on lots of issues since becoming a candidate.

Because it's refreshing, and different, and what people actually want. And he says some things that people like on all side every now and then.

 

On flip flopping, potato/pota-toe. (not necessarily related to the Trump case) I'd like someone who is willing to change their mind over time. It's called learning and growing, something most politicians are incapable of. You'd think the Repubs could learn from Kansas for God's sake...

[ZRod]

 

 

 

Honest to god I don't want to vote for Hillary, but with all these republican loonies I'm almost tempted to vote for Trump. He's not a religious zelot like most of the right, and he actually speaks his mind and gives an answer unlike Hillary. But he's a friggin idiot when it comes to policy and common sense.

All a repub would need to do to win is maintain a moderate pro Christian stance to keep his base and adopt democratic economic principles. There has to be someone better out there than any of these buffoons.

 

 

 

Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!

Maybe... I'm still a little leary of votingfor a socialist, even though I pretty much am one. I do like the way he handles himself.

 

That word hangs a lot of people up, understandably. I'm fully on the Bernie wagon at this point, but I still feel weird thinking about that word. Socialist.

Word.

[cornographic]

 

 

 

 

Honest to god I don't want to vote for Hillary, but with all these republican loonies I'm almost tempted to vote for Trump. He's not a religious zelot like most of the right, and he actually speaks his mind and gives an answer unlike Hillary. But he's a friggin idiot when it comes to policy and common sense.

All a repub would need to do to win is maintain a moderate pro Christian stance to keep his base and adopt democratic economic principles. There has to be someone better out there than any of these buffoons.

 

 

Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!

Maybe... I'm still a little leary of votingfor a socialist, even though I pretty much am one. I do like the way he handles himself.

 

That word hangs a lot of people up, understandably. I'm fully on the Bernie wagon at this point, but I still feel weird thinking about that word. Socialist.

Word.

 

Well, Bernie is a 'democratic socialist' or 'democratic social capitalist', think Germany/Denmark or FDRoosevelt type guy. Wants to break up Wall St some, which would be a real good show if he got in. I'm for Bernie, absolutely!