Vetting the candidate

[vlyons]

Given how dreadful the 2016 Republican candidate is, do you think that the GOP RNC will be more likely next time around to vet their candidates? For example, create a rule that candidates must release a minimum of 5 years of tax returns, or have no criminal or civil ongoing lawsuits, or lawsuits within the last 5 years?

How about the media? Do you think the media will do a better job next cycle?

[saltpoint]

1. The GOP's initial strategy was to avoid caucus and

primary turbulence. Things didn't exactly work out with that plan.

They have a Trump problem, certainly. He's very likely going to lose, possibly bigly. It's just over a month before a national election and their standard-bearer is dousing himself with gasoline and setting himself ablaze.

But the GOP also has a Pence problem, a Cruz problem, etc. Trump is roughhewn and vulgar but everybody else on the bench generally has no quarrel with Trump's positions. The GOP can't control Trump, which I'm guessing is their main gripe against him, plus a fear that he may lose them the Senate.

But ideologically, there's no indication at all that the Republican Party will admit to creating an environment in which a candidate like Trump could thrive, be nominated, and proceed to trash the joint. They gave a half-hearted try at "outreach" after Romney's loss, but every single one of the 17 or 18 presidential hopefuls were rightwing kooks. Outreach became outrage almost immediately.

There's little or no 'there' there anymore for the GOP. If Trump continues to shoot his mouth off over beauty pageant weight issues and sex tapes, the cleanup for 2020 is going to be overwhelming.

[apcalc]

2. The media will continue to do whatever brings in ratings and money.

[artyteacher]

3. they'll invent a gop version of super delegates...

but even more super...