The Plethora of Republican Candidates: Could It Be Partly Tactical?

[snot]

I'd really like to see an investigative reporter dig into this a bit.

I've heard that the candidates are motivated to collect fees for public or tv appearances, as well as campaign contributions . . . and of course, absent a clear front-runner, why not . . .

But it also seems to me that the longer a candidate is out there without a lot of company, the longer s/he's under the media's scrutiny – the longer s/he as to screw up, or have some embarrassing incident from the past surface, or even just have their public record scrutinized . . .

It's kind of like having the protection of a herd. Which makes me wonder whether Repub leaders or backers are unofficially encouraging all the candidacies partly for tactical reasons – to give Jeb or someone cover for as long as possible.

I think similar considerations may be part of why Hillary delayed declaring for so long.

What do you think?

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. I think every one of them realizes every other one out there is a total clown.

They just don't see their own clown makeup, and assume they'll be able to simply stomp all the other clowns.

[immoderate]

2. A conspiracy? Nah! It's "emergent behavior."

It's a no brainer for a billionaire to deduce that for a few million he could have shot at owning the chief executive. Remember this is disposable income. They already have a home, a yacht, a jet, another home, a helicopter, an elevator and a building with their name. What else can they buy?

--imm

[shraby]

3. With a lot of candidates, it keeps the republican brand in the news more

than a few Democratic candidates can.

[stevenleser]

4. Its going to work for and against them. First, its going to be a circular firing squad. And these

poor specimens are all going to be outed as terrible prospects to be President.

On the other hand, you are now going to have 14+ people attacking Hillary (and Bernie to some extent) 24x7 which they hope will hurt both Hillary and Bernie.

[snot]

9. Good thoughts.

[Blus4u]

5. To be polite....

....these jokers have colossal egos which would never allow them to subvert their aspirations for the betterment of "the party"!

Besides, being a presidential candidate has become a money maker and the only thing greater than there egos is their greed,

Peace

[rurallib]

6. I think most are working on a book deal or shooting for a FOX gig

what better way to do it? Get your name out there daily and let someone else pay for promoting you.

The only scary part is one of those idiots could actually get elected.

[IphengeniaBlumgarten]

7. May want to be bought out by some other offer...

Possibly VP or cabinet or other nice appointment, should their party win... or, if not, perhaps something in the party hierarchy or one of its think tanks. Or speaking engagements with nice fees, maybe. Surely most of them are well aware that they have no chance at the nomination.

[snot]

8. I'm not saying all the candidates themselves understand the overall strategy,

or there's some kind of conspiracy planned in detail.

But surely, e.g., Rove is still advising the Bushes.

They're giving us circuses (no longer concerned about giving us bread).

[Johonny]

10. Given most failed once already, is there any doubt they are out there due to $$$ and graft?

the "cover" last GOP primary gave Romney did him zero good. This is all about collecting money off stupid people. This, as far as I can tell, is the whole reason for the existence of the GOP these days. The obvious graft should piss off economic conservatives, but of course, most in that party are idiots. Some like Donald Trump are rich idiots and many are self induced idiots, but is there any doubt the way these people are robbing them that they are in fact very stupid people.

[lindysalsagal]

11. Giving them too much credit. "If G.Bush could do it, how hard could it be?"

They're all too stupid to figure out how the system really works, and that none of them are really the least bit viable.

[CK_John]

12. IMO, the GOP is out to wreck the primary system and go back to the convention model.

How;
BY flooding the number of candidates seeking the nomination, which will disrupt the debates. Making it impractical to schedule time on TV and limit individual response.

Also at the local precinct just printing the ballot will be a problem and the ability for scanners and time to select candidates, will generate high error rates and long lines of voters.

Defined;
After the 1968 (convention primary) where the states party apparatus was all about selecting delegates bound to a candidate for the first convention vote. The selection process was ward boss appointments, country chair selling delegate, and unions appointing blocks of delegates, it was who you knew and what can you do for me system.

The system was reformed in the '70s. to the secret ballot and the average voter having a direct vote in picking the party candidate and the convention became a platform writing session and a free week of TV.


Why;
It is cheaper and easer for the 1% to control and present the message in the convention infomercial format.

[Stinky The Clown]

13. I think the GOP "grownups" want to destroy their primary system and stop the crazies from . . . .

. . . . voting in ever loonier candidates in their primaries.