GOP in 2016

[Proud Public Servant]

Just curious - with Christie in decline and Paul and Cruz both jokes, who do you think they're going to settle on? Ryan (that would be true to GOP form, reaching back to the previous election)? Walker? One of yesterday's men, like Jeb or Huckabee? A dark horse like John Kasich or Mike Pence? Other political junkies: what's your bet?

[wandy]

1. Why do you say that Paul and Cruz are both jokes? We are dealing with the GOP....

here after all. When you look at it they don't have anyone we would consider reasonable.
Still we are dealing with the GOP.
A Chris Christie, Bob Bob McDonnell ticket would not surprise me.

Christie is a man's man, tough business man who would take whatever actions necessary to trim the budget by not giving out "free stuff" and provide tax incentives to the job creators.
McDonnell has exactly the family values and high standards needed to "take our country back".

Don't underestimate Karl Rove. He could probably pull it off even if the pair of them were wearing orange jump suits.
Then and again, Romney came soooooooo close.
Why if it weren't for all that voter fraud.

[Proud Public Servant]

2. Cruz and Paul will run

But I think we have to be clear-eyed about GOP history: even with a primary field full of crazies, they will nominate the sanest guy in the room. Romney, McCain, W, Dole, Papa Bush -- none of them were scorched-earth ideologues. That's one of the reason I don't think Cruz or Paul will get the nod; the other is that its going to be an anti-DC election, and being a member of Congress is going to be a liability in that climate.

[wandy]

5. My gut feel is that they will go with Romney or Bush............

Not because they are "sane" but because they will attract the money and power.
Ether might be packaged in a manner acceptable to the the independent voter.
The "true conservatives" will grumble and complain but will eventually follow their heard instincts and "get with the program".
Their best bet would be to avoid another clown car demolition derby and spring their great champion forward with as little conflict with other candidates as possible.

[AlinPA]

8. Things are different in the GOP now. Teabaggers and religious crazies rule the party.

[okaawhatever]

3. I think romney may run again, also Jeb bush. Jeb will run on his bogus education record and that

will appeal to a lot of people (unless the truth comes out).

[JaneyVee]

4. Ben Ghazi 2016

[AlinPA]

6. Cruz will take it. He's the craziest except for Bachmann. Perry will have appeal to the base as well

[Gidney N Cloyd]

7. Since when does being a Joke disqualify you from running in the GOP?

Here are some of the punchlines from 2012:

[Gothmog]

9. Morning Joe was pushing Jeb Bush

Morning Joe was pushing Jeb and thinks that he may run despite his mother's statements.