After another couple years of running the circus (whether he holds on to the Speaker chair or is relegated to Minority Leader status), he’s going to be in the same position as John “Orangeman” Boehner – if he were to catch fire, not one of his colleagues would stop to piss on him.
There are some on that list of names who aren’t absolutely crazy picks to be presidential candidates, but a lot of them are really reaching. If someone honestly thinks that Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, or Allan West are more ready than Hillary, they would think that literally anyone Republican would be more ready than her.
But also, Trump winning just shows how dissatisfied that Republican voters are with their party. If the Republicans had been getting more done, and not lying about what they can and would do, I’d guess more would have voted for Bush or Rubio.
It’s perfectly consistent. How deep your bench is depends on how low you’re willing to set the bar. Based on that list, the Republicans are willing to set the bar at “has a pulse”. And Trump meets that qualification.
(and yes, I just realized that there’s an error in that post, but it’ll be funnier if someone else points it out)
It’d be funny if it weren’t so pathetic.
Oh, what the heck – I’ll laugh anyway: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
The deep Republican bench had a “Group W” sign next to it.
Not really, because Trump’s appeal has little to do with what is says–it’s purely about how he says it. He could be talking about country club life, and still win those same voters he has won, as long as he uses the same rhetorical techniques which he has been using so far.
What’re you in for, kid?
Running for President.
And they all moved away from me.
Now that we’re done pointing & laughing, an amateur attempt at analysis:
The conservative response to 8 years of the Obama administration was to feed the beast that we can simplistically identify as Tea Party. This was an angry mob, lashing out at the ideals represented by Obama, and manifesting itself as nationalistic, xenophobic, fearful of job loss (especially linked to “trade deals”), libertarian and not-just-a-little racist, and mistrustful of Washington.
But after 8 years of feeding the beast, it came time to lead the beast. And no sitting or former Senator or Governor could talk to them. Just Donald. He said all the words they wanted to hear.
Interesting article by Megan McCardle:
The four horsemen of the Republican apocalypse
Puts the blame on Trump, Jeb!, Chrstie and Kasich for acting irrationally throughout.
Yes.
Yes, it was.
Cheney doesn’t even meet THAT bar!
It’s only interesting if you ignore the way it’s completely divorced from reality. By “irrational”, McCardle means, “they should have been doing everything in their power to elect Marco Rubio”. Rubio - an empty suit huddled around a gaping desperation - was never going to be the Republican savior. He’s such a lightweight he must have had rocks in his pockets.
The Republican party keeps insisting the American electorate wants conservative candidates. And the American electorate keeps rejecting them.