2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumDon't look now but they are pouring the cement for Jeb 2016 already
The sniping has already begun but it is rather obvious that on Nov 7th two things are going to happen in the Republican Party;
1) Mitt Romney will become known as the man who gave the election to the President aka the most hated man in the party (which with equally disdainful feelings of the Democrats and the Independents for different reasons) will make him the most hated man in America.
In order to try and undermine the President's second term they will completely take apart the man who ran against him. The meme will be "of course Obama won, look at the idiot that ran against him'.
2) There will be serious talk about structural Republican demographic problems, especially among Hispanics. From the Republican point of view the Hispanics are the most church going anti abortion ethnic group in America, that and the fact that they are the fastest growing means that the only way forward is that they must capture the Hispanic vote to win.
There is only one Republican candidate who has legitimate Hispanic credentials, Jeb Bush. Jeb is married to a wealthy Mexican national and is fluent in Spanish. His views will be portrayed as 'moderate'.
So expect to see;
1) More Romney sniping, cascading into 'he's an idiot' among punsters. You might even see cable anchors look into the camera and cover their face and mutter "sweet Jesus" after watching Romney on the stump.
2) More Romney financial cash flow problems. Now this requires some discipline because people mix up the huge funds of the Presidential campaign and those of the SuperPacs. The SuperPacs can buy ads but for most campaign activities they cannot. In the swing states of Ohio and Florida the Obama campaign has run 10,000 more ads than Romney. (I am also beginning to think that these hundred million dollar Koch checks maybe more myth than reality - in which case they had probably let a lot of Republicans think that they didn't need to contribute anything).
The truth is that the Bush/traditional Republican hierarchy never opened up their pocket books for Romney.
3) Strange polling. What kind of strange polling? Polling in the middle of a Presidential campaign that would suggest that the Bush Brand is not doing that badly, especially compared to Romney:
http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2012/09/george-w-bush-posts-better-favorability-ratings-than-mitt-romney-in-new-bloomberg-survey.html/
George W. Bush posts better favorability ratings than Mitt Romney in new Bloomberg survey
For all the talk about whether Mitt Romney should distance himself from George W. Bush and the policies of the last GOP White House a new survey shows that the former president actually has better favorability ratings than the Republican nominee.
A Bloomberg News National Poll released Wednesday has Bush receiving a favorable rating from 46 percent of those surveyed and an unfavorable rating from 49 percent. Thats compared to Romneys 43 percent favorable and 50 percent unfavorable.
You really have to admire the quality of the Bush machine. Even when they are this obvious most Republicans have no idea what is happening. By December 1st they will be marching in step behind a new movement, "Only Jeb can save us now".
Karl Rove may be a POS but he can run an effective Republican operation.
valerief
(53,235 posts)grantcart
(53,061 posts)Secondly they knew how effective the President is both running a campaign and appearing as a candidate.
Thirdly they were realistic about how damaged the brand was up until now. After Romney all sins against the Bush's will be forgiven if he can be shown to out poll Mitt, oh wait that is already the case.
TroyD
(4,551 posts)valerief
(53,235 posts)Skee
(61 posts)The vast majority of 'votes' in the USA
are processed on blackbox tabulators
of unknown design, build, programming,
or operation.
valerief
(53,235 posts)before 2016.
Skee
(61 posts)With many names, they are all of unknown design, build, programming, or operation.
Those who anonymously process the 'votes' may not be electors or even Americans.
bornskeptic
(1,330 posts)If they did, we could never have elected Jimmy Carter. I certainly don't want to see Jeb Bush in the White House, but he's a hell of a lot smarter politically than his brother or Mitt Romney. He didn't run this year because He knew how tough it would be to unseat a personally popular incumbent. Personally, I hope they nominate Rick Perry or Rick Santorum. Then we could nominate anybody and win easily.
orpupilofnature57
(15,472 posts)Republicans would offer up Adolf Hitler just to win.
bklyncowgirl
(7,960 posts)It's already starting. I saw in another thread that the Shrubster has a higher approval rating than Romney.
I've alway thought that the Bushies plan was to let this one go. When Romney goes down in flames and Obama has to do some painful things to fix our long term economic problems, Jeb well be ready to run, all Florida sunshine and happiness.
I wonder if Shrub's little jaunt to the Cayman Islands may be a way of sticking a knife in Mitt's back.
Cosmocat
(14,568 posts)to the point where they about have him carved on mount rushmore, they can take just enough stink off of Bush II to not have it hurt Bush III.
valerief
(53,235 posts)GHWB will conveniently die before 2016. He'll be glorified like Reagan (well, as much as can be done) by the press. That way, the name Bush will be associated with all things pseudo-good like patriotism (instead of peace) and individualism (instead of cooperation).
hlthe2b
(102,342 posts)Between brother, Georgie's* current escapades and Mitt, one would think the stench would stick.... but the RETHUGs will surely be desperate for someone that seems competent.
Zen Democrat
(5,901 posts)They don't have competent players; and they have a bench of idiots.
Gman
(24,780 posts)He hasn't given any hints, he hasn't been sly about it. Nothing but very clear that he does not want it. I don't know what would change his mind.
orpupilofnature57
(15,472 posts)magical thyme
(14,881 posts)grantcart
(53,061 posts)leveymg
(36,418 posts)RMoney killed AMC. Shrub killed Jeb's chances at the Presidency, along with any other Bush this generation. Blame the parents for insisting that Junior be "mainstreamed' and treated as the heir apparent. They should have sent him to that special school, as the Doctors advised.
magical thyme
(14,881 posts)all the GOP lies in the world won't be able to hide reality.
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)Because we can defeat another Bush who is a dick!!!
yellowcanine
(35,701 posts)He can thank W for poisoning that well for him. It ain't going to happen.
Zen Democrat
(5,901 posts)The United States has elected:
Two Adams
Two Harrisons
Two Roosevelts
Two Bushes
We may have Two Clintons one day, but the Bushes are done. W poisoned the brand.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)Without a serious change in demographics among Hispanics the Republican Party will never win another election, and the smart ones know it.
There is only one national Republican candidate that has any possibility of repairing relations with Hispanics.
Skee
(61 posts)The central tabulators have secret designs, builds, programs, and operation.
Frank Cannon
(7,570 posts)And no one wants to see that monkey mug ever again.
DCBob
(24,689 posts)both have Hispanic connections which I agree is the GOP focus for the next election cycle.
rock
(13,218 posts)But could tie his own shoes. If it weren't for his constant drooling, if he stayed quiet, (he can speak English words but he cannot speak English), you might not realize how imbecilic he is. Mitt on the other hand can't tie his own shoes, but doesn't drool and although he can speak (totally nonsense) English many take him for being sane.
For the last decade these guys represent the best the party has to offer.
jody
(26,624 posts)cr8tvlde
(1,185 posts)Going to be a lot of campaigning in Spanish, that's for sure.
jody
(26,624 posts)cr8tvlde
(1,185 posts)He'll definitely be in line for a Cabinet position!
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,829 posts)the stench of big brother George will have been overwhelmed by the stench of Romney. Kind of like when you spray yourself from head to toe with Jade East to cover up a week's worth of b.o.
kooljerk666
(776 posts)it is going on the car today...........I will ad a JEB to it though..........
http://www.cafepress.com/dd/6350765
a postcard but looks close..............
KurtNYC
(14,549 posts)It is bizarre that in a year when they put so much on "repealing Obamacare" that they ran Mitt Romneycare. They have spent the last 4 years convincing more people that Obama is a "secret Muslin" and then they run a Mormon. They have sandbagged the recovery so that they could claim Obama's policies don't work and then they nominate a guy who openly cashed in on outsourcing.
GoCubsGo
(32,086 posts)In addition, from what I have heard and read, Jebbie ain't as popular in Florida as many have lead us to believe. He left the state government a huge mess--even before Rick Snott got a hold of it. I don't see Jeb even attempting it, in light of all of that. They might try again down the road with George P., Jeb's oldest son. He's half Hispanic, and might go over with the Hispanic community--if he can overcome his uncle's legacy.
drexelkathy
(118 posts)I expect to see Christie on the short list for 2016...that's why you saw him as a keynote this convention, why he's working with a nutritionist/dietician to drop weight, etc. IMHO.
cr8tvlde
(1,185 posts)Chris Christie, taking his weight out of the equation, is loud, angry, self-centered. He'll trip himself up at some time.
smorkingapple
(827 posts)If the next 4 years don't markedly improve and if Hillary doesn't run then Jeb is in play. If it does improve and she runs, he'll sit out.
Jeb takes Florida most likely and puts a dent into the Hispanic bloc. Watch out for him, and definitely watch out for his son in the next 2 decades...
Dawson Leery
(19,348 posts)Rove and company may attempt to revive the Bush name, still there is are deeply negative feelings which go with the name.
Keep and eye on Marco Rubio.
For some reason, should Jeb run, expect the country klan to fully support him just as they did with shrub in 2000.
cr8tvlde
(1,185 posts)Yes, perhaps Rubio ... but he's a Cuban Hispanic and has already accrued his share of political foibles.
Unless there are a lot of changes, Hillary and Jeb are the ones with name recognition, yes baggage which could cancel each other out...campaigns agree to go only so far...that I could see.
A Mexican-American Hispanic is going to speak to the majority of American Hispanics. I'm not sure of his contraception policy, however, which could make a difference.