Why is GOP bent on extreme candidate instead of trying to draw moderates away from Dems?

[Panich52]

While Jeb Bush isn't, IMHO, the moderate the media and CPAC attendees seem to think he is, he'd certainly be more capable of drawing independents, maybe even Dems, who are more politically central.

All in with Chris tonight said sone CPAC attendees plan to walk out on Jeb. Apparently they either buy into reports that he's 'not his brother' and is more willing to not be extreme on some of their favorite issues, or that he is like his brother -- a closet big gov't deficit spender who's willling to betray some of his more theocratic backers.

Walker seems the sweetheart of CPAC but he has little chance of drawing moderates. Clinton is hardly progressive, but she's more likely to be favored by moderates than Walker.

Does the GOP think there are enough union-hating, racist, misogynistic theocrats to outnumber rational people? Every election they choose an even more radical candidate. Do they think they have, or will be successful enough at voter suppression and gerrymandering to allow such a RW extremist to win the WH? To be honest, the tactics certainly worked in past 3 elections to win Congress, but the Oval Office?

I apologize f/ rambling a bit. Trying to hunt & peck my old phone to express rational, cohesive op-eds f/ rational discussion is not that easy.

So. Any thoughts on the power of the RW extremists?

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[jeff47]

1. Because they win primaries.

Republicans have to fear losing a primary to a more radical candidate. So they pander to the right to avoid that.

Democrats do not have to fear losing a primary, because there are a lot of institutional barriers to an "outsider" winning a primary. Instead, Democrats have to fear losing general elections due to low turnout. So many Democrats pander to "the middle" in the hope that crossover votes can let them win.

Each party has different problems, so they have to handle them in different ways.

[Panich52]

10. Good point

[elleng]

2. You do pretty well with rational thought, Panich52!

Response? They've lost control, repugs have 'evolved' into a group overrun by radical out of control extremists. IMO there is no single GOP/it does NOT think. And if Dems play our cards right, we'll win overwhelmingly. (That is an 'if,' you know. Howard Dean would be a good Dem to be in at the head.)

[Panich52]

11. Thx. Tskes me so long I worry about rambling

Needing to get non-idiots to polls has been a problem. Too many left-of-ctr have just given up while wackos are fired up.

In a way, the voter suppression tactics may be a positive f/ rational side. Backlash. Every action ...equal & opposite reaction. If only that backlash continues.

[elleng]

12. Presidential elections are better, for participation.

I doubt suppression positive; too long to confirm, to result in backlash against repugs.

[99th_Monkey]

3. Maybe the GOP wants HRC in the White House. nt

[dhill926]

8. sure...of course they do...

what the hell...

[Midnight Writer]

15. They apparently want Eric Holder as Attorney General

Since they refuse to approve his nominated replacement. (Even though she was overwhelming approved by Republicans as US Attorney in the country's most powerful district)

There is no logic, no rhyme, no reason, no strategy for their actions. They are like a child throwing a temper tantrum.

[guillaumeb]

4. does the GOP need the White House to win?

Since Racist Ronnie Reagan, the GOP has successfully pulled the political discussion to the right every election. Even when the President is a Democrat the acceptable political discussion is framed by the GOP. Whether it is tax policy, or foreign affairs, to take two examples, the GOP sets the terms of the debate.

In tax policy, the ridiculously low rates on the top 10% are considered extreme even by people who will never be rich.

In foreign affairs, continual war and a war budget that consumes 60% of discretionary spending is considered "barely enough defense spending to protect America" to borrow from the prevalent thinking.

So why does the GOP need the Presidency?

[C_U_L8R]

5. It ain't your daddy's GOP anymore

Nothing but a bunch of racist knuckledraggers, opportunistic grifters, climate denying dopes and sanctimonious religious nutjobs. That's today's GOP.

[Thinkingabout]

6. Truthfully who do they have for a decent candidate. Jon Huntsman was a decent person but he

Worked for Obama so the GOP would never allow him to be president candidate. They have nothing to choose from but fringe TP type and this nation does not need the TP in charge.

[elleng]

13. They have none, surely that Tbuggers will go for.

Huntsman would have been good; much too rational for them.

[Pakid]

7. Why Not

Seeing as how so many of the rational people stay home and don't bother with voting their nuts have at least a chance of winning and if they win well who will stop them from doing whatever they want. Even if they only get 50% of what they want done it will take a long time to undo the damage that they will have done if it can be undone. Given the current state of the American people there just might be enough of those nuts to put their nut in office. A lot of American just don't care at all about what happens to the other guy and when it finally happens to them to bad so sad by then it will be to late to stop the evil that is today GOP.

[MisterP]

9. why'd they want to stop the 21-year rightward canter?

[Scootaloo]

14. Because they know about the Democratic Cult of Centrism

The Republicans can go all the way right, as loony-bin as they possibly can... and the Democrats will always follow them step for step, desperate to keep an equal amount of distance between the two parties, so as to not look "partisan" and to create the image of being "moderate."

The only way to fix this is to cut ourselves loose. Un-tether the Democratic party from the Republican party. if our centrist cultists want to follow the Republicans like puppies, let them do so, on their own fucking time.

[AverageJoe90]

16. The GOP knows their chances are quite slim with an extremist.....

But chances are, that's what they'll end up picking anyway, and they'll pull any dirty tricks to ensure that their guys win.....and if they do, they can trot out guys, like purported "outsider" Richard Viguerie(although this is a bit dubious, given his track record, and his unwillingness to discuss the shenanigans that got Bush in office, nor voter ID laws, which may have cost us 2014 in at least some spots.), to say, "see? we told you so!".....but that might only occur if our candidate is particularly badly mediocre, and that's not what we had with Obama. And Hillary is still strong amongst women, an increasing number of whom are tired of RWNJs inserting their business into their personal lives.