As regards the pattern of GOP nominees, there is no way that Santorum will get it -- not a chance. That said, someone equally stupid, obnoxious, and useless will get the nomination. The Republicans have swung so far to the right among the rank and file that they really don't have much choice if they are to attract sufficient numbers to go to the polls. Besides, their most recent "moderate" candidates -- McCain and Romney -- blew up in their faces, and Bush (no proto-Tea Party conservative himself) was a disaster they are still trying to excise from the history books.
It must suck so much to be a GOP strategist. How do you find a candidate who isn't bat shit crazy, will hew to the party line on divisive GOP hobby horse issues, will have broad appeal among women and minorities, and will satisfy Wall Street banking and investment firms -- all while managing not to publicly step on his dick every time he speaks off the cuff?
Really, all the GOP can do is spend 2015/2016 running against Obama. Clinton will almost certainly be the Democrats' nominee, and there is nothing Republicans seem to like better than to bash the Clintons, but they have to be very careful: many people think of '93-'01 as relatively good times and Bill's popularity in certain circles remains undimmed. Even people who aren't thrilled at the prospect of a Hilary presidency will take one look at the upcoming GOP primary freak show and conclude that a Clinton twofer in the White House is not the worst thing imaginable.
I suppose I'll hold my nose (again) and vote Democratic, if only to prevent worse damage. In retrospect, I wish Obama hadn't won in '08. I wish McCain had got in so that the GOP would have had no choice but to own the consequences of the Bush years. It would have either destroyed their brand for good, or it would have forced them into more moderate positions on certain issues. As it is, they were given the luxury of eight years functioning as an opposition party whose only job was to obstruct and blame.
It must suck so much to be a GOP strategist. How do you find a candidate who isn't bat shit crazy, will hew to the party line on divisive GOP hobby horse issues, will have broad appeal among women and minorities, and will satisfy Wall Street banking and investment firms -- all while managing not to publicly step on his dick every time he speaks off the cuff?
Really, all the GOP can do is spend 2015/2016 running against Obama. Clinton will almost certainly be the Democrats' nominee, and there is nothing Republicans seem to like better than to bash the Clintons, but they have to be very careful: many people think of '93-'01 as relatively good times and Bill's popularity in certain circles remains undimmed. Even people who aren't thrilled at the prospect of a Hilary presidency will take one look at the upcoming GOP primary freak show and conclude that a Clinton twofer in the White House is not the worst thing imaginable.
I suppose I'll hold my nose (again) and vote Democratic, if only to prevent worse damage. In retrospect, I wish Obama hadn't won in '08. I wish McCain had got in so that the GOP would have had no choice but to own the consequences of the Bush years. It would have either destroyed their brand for good, or it would have forced them into more moderate positions on certain issues. As it is, they were given the luxury of eight years functioning as an opposition party whose only job was to obstruct and blame.
