Posted on 02/17/2015 7:52:22 AM PST by pinochet
I need to mention a fact that many freepers will find painful and upsetting. In the 20th Century, Country Club Republicans had greater influence in selecting Republican nominees for President, than grassroots Republicans. There are only 2 notable exceptions when the establishment candidate did not win - 1964 and 1980.
In 1964, the Republican establishment was deeply divided. Three Republican candidates from extremely wealthy, Old Money, WASP families were on the ballot. They were Governor Nelson Rockefeller from New York, Governor William Scranton from Pennsylvania, and former Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. from Massachusetts. Lodge did not formally enter the race for President, but his supporters put him on the ballot as a write-in candidate probably with his covert support, in an effort to stop Rockefeller. The division in the Republican establishment created an opportunity for the anti-establishment candidate, Barry Goldwater, to snatch the nomination. Many members of the Republican establishment were outraged by Goldwater's nomination, and they ended up supporting Democrat Lyndon Johnson in the November election.
In the case of Reagan, he developed a large number of admirers among pro-life Democrat working class Catholics and evangelical Protestants, in his 1976 run for the Republican nomination. Gerald Ford, the 1976 Republican nomination winner, was a weak pro-lifer, and his wife, Betty, was an open pro-abortion activist. It was Reagan's pro-life Republican followers who put the pro-life plank in the Republican platform in 1976. In 1980, working class pro-life Democrats, who did not usually vote in Republican primaries, registered for the Republican primary to vote for Reagan. These were the so-called Reagan Democrats. The Republican establishment candidate, George H W Bush, was defeated, but he got the VP's job.
Right now, the WASP Republican establishment has lined up behind Jeb Bush. Wealthy Republican Catholics have also lined up behind Jeb, because he is the first Catholic (although a convert from Waspish Protestantism) with the best chance to become a Republican President.
If Jeb gets the nomination, there will be no point in voting for President. The country will not elect a third Bush, and that’s it, regardless of his stances on anything. The media doesn’t even need to do any work if he gets the nomination; they did all they needed during his brother’s administration. All they need to do is ensure he gets the nomination, and they can go on vacation until after the election.
NO they don't.
I will not vote for Hillary's twin brother in 2016
Sorry, guy! You know how it is . . You’ve seen one race baiter, you’ve seen them all!
That's beyond stupid.....not only in regard to my comment, but in regard to my entire history of writing and media interviews.....
not that it makes any difference, but that was Jesse Jackson, not Sharpton....
IMO Jeb Bush has zero chance to win the nomination. Look for him to fade after the first debate. He will not come out well agains’t the conservatives. They will all target him.
I hope you’re right.
But I see this primary as a land rush election with 20 candidates, each debate participant gets 5 minutes, and the name recognition and big money win.
Mitty already bailed and NJFatboy won’t play well outside the East Coast.
I agree Crispy is toast before he even gets going. Nobody wants the guy. It also appears Jeb has little or no grassroots support.
How many of them are left? Are they really the same as the old East Coast Republican Establishment? From one point of view a wealthy country clubber from Utah or Alabama may not be so different from the East Coast Rockefeller Republicans of a half century ago, but something has definitely changed in the country and the party.
Wealthy Republican Catholics have also lined up behind Jeb, because he is the first Catholic (although a convert from Waspish Protestantism) with the best chance to become a Republican President.
First I've heard of it. There may be a tiny bit more of a cultural affinity with Jeb than with Ted or Rand or Scott, but I don't see Catholic Republicans lining up to contribute or vote for Jeb. It's not like he's Al Smith (or Rudy Giuliani or even Chris Christie). White bread Jeb just doesn't rock the ethnic thing.
If Jeb does win the nomination it would be because he made himself appear to be mainstream, non-confrontational and vanilla, while other candidates identified too closely with specific factions in the party and destroyed each other.
Sure, he'd have more money, but that doesn't have much to do with religion. After all, however important Mormon seed money was, most of Romney's campaign money must have come from non-Mormons. Jeb's aiming at being more moderate than the other candidates and the money people like moderates.
Again shaddup, I’m over the target taking GOPe shill flak. Bwahahahaha. Loser.
No mas Booshes por favor.
if you’re real nice, and apologize profusely - I’ll send you autographed copy.......BAAAAHWWWWWAAAAAAAAAA....
It’s just been revoked.
THANK YOU....KISSES.... signed/Hillary
THANK YOU......KISSES....signed/Hillary (getting closes!!)
DOUBLE THANKS....THAT'S LIKE 2 VOTES FOR ME..signed/Hillary
With loyal Republicans like you...we don't even need Democrats....just sit on your ass and sure enough...another Obama gets the office....PATHETIC
Indeed it is.
Choose wisely, GOP.
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