Nobody wants to be the next John Anderson.
Republican congressman 1961-1981.
Ran for the GOP nomination in 1980; did not win.
Ran as 3rd party candidate against Reagan in 1980. It ended his political career.
The GOP establishment (which included Kristol’s dad Irving Kriostol) pulled the same stunt against Reagan that Bill Kristol is trying today. They promised Anderson the moon if he would run 3rd party and split the Republican vote (and thus elect Carter to a 2nd term).
Instead of getting the Moon, Anderson’s political career was destroyed. The promised senate seat never happened, as Anderson came to be viewed as a traitor to the party by the rank and file.
I fear Kristol and Co. might pick someone who's not a politician in the first place. Perhaps a famous athlete or a famous movie star. The key word here is "famous". It would have to be someone who's name catches the eye of the voter in the voting booth.
Kristol can do some serious damage here.
Well who doesn’t have a GOP career or for that matter a political career now?
Jebbie Bush, Paul Ryan, John McCain, Mittens, Bob Dole, Haley Barber, Ron Paul to name a few. Run Jebbie run