Why the Republican field was so weak

[cthulu2016]

I agree with Dr. Krugman that it's impossible to navigate the republican primaries while retaining any veneer of seriousness.

But that doesn't fully explain why no "serious" Republicans (other than Romney, who was thought serious) decided to run this year.

You have to get your money right waaaay before the campaigning starts. In 1992 it was a weak field of Clinton, Tsongas and Brown because back when more major potential candidates had to pull the trigger on a run (a year earlier) we had just won Iraq War I and Bush I was at 90% in the polls and looking unbeatable.

This time around, though, at the time Republicans had to get serious about $$$ backing this time Obama looked beatable. So why the pitiful roster?

As we have watched Romney outspend the opposition 8 to 1, 10 to 1, 12 to 1, in state after state after state the thing clarified itself for me. Back at the time a potential candidate had to determine if he could get the right backing all the big money boys were already commited to Romney. It appeared that there was no political oxygen available. And the new phenomenon of finding rogue billionaires wasn't settled into the conventional wisdom at the time. So all the pros looked at the thing and decided Romney had all the money nailed down.

That's what I'd guess.

[Warpy]

1. Who else do they have, really?

Remember, they cast around looking for other candidates long before they settled into their 15 month primary season. Remember how Jindal was put forth as the governor of a big southern state? Remember Pawlenty, the governor of a northern state? Just who do they have left who is young enough, can form declarative sentences without stepping on his tongue, and has the star power it takes for a Republican to woo the dimwits and gain office?

I honestly don't see anyone beyond Jebbie, the too tarnished Gingrich, and Romney. Jebbie knew this wasn't his year because Republicans won't even mention his brother's name. He's hoping things will be different 4 years from now since 8 years provided adequate deodorant between father and eldest son. Gingrich is too tarnished to win anything outside of Dixie and Romney is going to have trouble bringing them out in Dixie unless there's some sort of hate legislation for the bigots to vote for.

Santorum is just plain nuts. I doubt he will be Romney's running mate, but I wouldn't count out a space cadet like Perry who can talk to crazy Protestants and deodorize the ticket.

Quite frankly, the Republican party is out of gas. It's policies have been put into practice and have been miserable failures and all they have left is whipping up hate. The old lions are dead or moving into senility. The young ones have been unable to motivate a population that has taken a beating from a bad economy.

I sincerely hope this marks the breakdown of both the Nixon coalition and the Reagan coalition, both the southern bigots and the religious nutcases deserting a party that has simply used them for decades while giving them little.

[Lasher]

2. Imagine for a moment what today's average GOP primary voter is like.

Right wing extremists, I say: Faux Noise/Rush zombies, teabaggers, birthers, Paulbots, etc. Now ask yourself what the winner of their primary has to look like.

I rest my case.