[Cincinatus' Wife]

"Normally what you find in a Republican race and sometimes in a Democratic race is, if not an heir apparent, a pretty clear frontrunner," (Dan Balz) said. "We don't have that in the Republican race so it is going to be a more interesting one than we have sometimes seen."

Interesting. Jeb Bush and the Bush Machine can't like that.

Speaking of Dan Balz, Washington Post Chief Correspondent, this Monday he won the Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting "....Balz won the Toner Prize for a series of political profiles that illuminated the partisan divide in Washington. Toner Prize judge Adam Clymer called Balz’s coverage a “thoughtful look at the state of the Republican Party through the eyes of the old-line faction that put governing ahead of ideology.” The collection of stories also explores both parties’ divisions and factions. “Balz captures and tells all of this in his exceptional style,” said Toner Prize judge Charles Bierbauer."......

and Hillary Clinton gave the keynote speech.

[cripplecreek]

[Lurkinanloomin]

Republican strategist Ford O’Connell worked on the 2008 McCain-Palin campaign. He picked Bush, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and Florida Senator Marco Rubio

---

These would be candidates approved by the Cheap Labor Express or a Republican strategist would not pick them as O.K. for you to vote for.
When Walker accepts the nomination for VP from Bush, we’ll know he was a blocker for Jebster all along.
Anything to keep a conservative out.

[grania]

This article states that establishment Republicans are only 40 - 45% of the party. That's not a majority. My experience in the world around me and judging by what I read here, everyone who isn't an establishment Republican despises them. Considering that they aren't going to win many new voters to their side, it's in Ted Cruz's favor.

I don't think the country's mood, across the political spectrum, is to want over-the-hill establishment choices. If the dems are force-fed hillary, that's a real opening to bring in younger voters, religiously oriented dems, and others who don't believe a word hillary says.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

I suspect after all the battles, Walker will win. The rest is just episode.

[TomGuy]

The Republicans have not had an heir apparent since 1988, and that one didn't turn out so well.

The his turn policy hasn't worked out so well either: Dole 1996 loss; McCain 2008 loss; Romney 2012 loss.

Part of the problem is the way the RNC has the primaries stacked to favor the GOP establishment preference. Add in the superdelegates that at allotted by the RNC. That makes for primary skewed in favor of the GOP establishment preference.

Several southern states are trying to get their GOP primaries moved up to early March. The RNC does not want that. Wonder why?

[TomGuy]

The 2016 Republican race could be the most exciting in decades

What?

2012 was exciting. Heck, every few weeks there was a new frontrunner in the polls as the Dems/Media/GOPelites tripped them up or their own shooting themselves in the feet did them in.

Watching bandwagon after bandwagon crash. What could have been more existing?

2016 could potentially have nearly 2 dozen flocking and floundering. It might be exciting.

[TomGuy]

it will be a test of who can put together the strongest coalition of the various conservative groups

That will have to happen early enough to deflate the GOP preferred candidate. Otherwise, 2016 will turn out to be a 3-peat of 2008 and 2012, including a loss in the National election.

[COBOL2Java]

Cruz was born in Canada but since his mother was an American citizen he is eligible to run for president.

Uh oh! The Cruz birthers are incoming!

[Thunder90]

Scott Walker can win. Scott !

[hinckley buzzard]

...what is likely to be the longest, most expensive and perhaps most contentious Republican Party presidential battle in history.

If so it will do severe harm to the prospects for the GOP in 2016. Nothing good has come from the wars of attrition waged on the primary trail the last two cycles.

I wonder if conservatives will get smart and not bleed each other this time around. I'm not betting the farm on that happening.