Republican candidates, as usual, are going for the lowest common denominator.

[MineralMan]

From Donald Trump right through to Scott Walker, the Republican Clown Car is focused almost entirely on the Republican "base," which is the racist, states' rights, fundamentalist Protestant, MRA wing of the party. They're the 5-10% of the party that only cares about a few insular issues. The clowns tumble out of the car, blowing horns and swinging rubber chickens, while the band plays on. Everyone's looking at them, and that's intentional.

Since they're all saying just about the same things, none has a lock on the GOP nomination. The only one not engaging in non-stop pandering to that so-called "base" is Jeb Bush, which is why he will end up being the Republican nominee. Instead, he's out raising money for the general election already. He's quietly building support while people are focused on the brightly-colored costumes and crazy antics of the rest of the clowns.

The rest of this nest of mean-spirited clowns are fighting over a minority of Republicans, lining their own pockets all the while. It would be comical, except for the master clown, Bush, standing off in the corner and watching the antics of the rest of the wannabe clowns.

Everyone's watching the clown show, with Donald Trump wearing the largest rubber nose and sporting the wildest hair of the bunch. Nobody's paying much attention to Bush, who is quietly going about the business of collecting delegates to the GOP convention. The clown car is a distraction, just as clowns in the circus are. They're all keeping the audience's eyes on themselves, so people don't notice what's going on in the background between acts.

[Kber]

1. Valid point!

[Fred Sanders]

2. Well said. Whoever takes the long range view, and remembers the GOP Clown Car of 2012, gets it.

For me the flood of recent triumphs for liberals has to be credited for the President taking the long range view on all things and has the gift of instinctively knowing when the time is ripe.

How many heads do the GOP and their media enablers have available to explode simultaneously, really? Obama's timing has been impeccable, and he also has the gift of patience.

And of course the GOP always nominates the richest white man they can find, which is why Romney is still a legitimate contender.

[MineralMan]

3. Yup. We need to be watching Bush, and to stop

paying attention to the rest of the clowns. He's the real threat for 2016. He will be the one running against the Democratic nominee. What's he up to? Nobody's paying much attention on the Democratic side. We're all busy laughing at the clowns, and missing what's going on in the background at this political circus.

It's time for the elephants to make their way into the center ring, and someone forgot to fasten their chains.

[Fred Sanders]

4. Bush has been busy raising a mountain of cash, in the open and in secret.

As you say, at the end of the day all you have to do is look at the calendar - and remember what Citizen's United means to next year's election.

[MineralMan]

6. Yes. He's already built a large campaign fund,

with far more money that any of the others. That's what he's doing while the rest are making the audience laugh. We need to pay attention.

[Hepburn]

5. I am shocked, totally shocked...

...NOT!!!

[MineralMan]

7. I know...really.

Even DU is being distracted by the show.

[DetlefK]

8. Problem: If you are not fanatic enough, these voters abstain.

These 5-10% of republican voters are 2.5-5% of the eligible voters.

They would never vote for the other guy, BUT they will vote for you if you tell them what they want to hear and abstain if you don't tell them what they want to hear.

In a close election, having or not having 5% makes a huge difference.

According to a recent poll, Hillary would beat Bush 52:48. That's within the margin of error for early polls. But if you substract the 5% republican tin-foil-hatters who stay home if you don't come out against the government occupying Texas and liberal elitists using sophisticated diplomacy with big words, the result is more like 54:46.

[MineralMan]

9. That's true, but some Democratic voters may well not

show up if Hillary Clinton is the candidate. Personally, I think that's a wash, but it might not be. I'm not sure at this point. If 5% of voters from both parties stand down in the general election, it probably wouldn't make a difference in the outcome.

As it stands right now, I'm pretty sure it will be Clinton v. Bush next November. That's why I'm focused on that combination, even though I plan to caucus for Senator Sanders in Minnesota. I think things will turn out Clinton/Bush. What really concerns me is coattails. I do not want the next President to have a Republican Congress in both houses. That would be a disaster, regardless of who wins the presidential election.

And yes, I know that's not a popular view here.

[longship]

10. MM, I am with you on this.

But another possible facet is that the clowns might so damage the GOP brand that the Dem nominee will sweep into office. And there are so damned many clowns this time that they are getting a lot of coverage. At least one would hope.

My other hope is that we can do something about the state offices. We desperately need that. We will need turnout to accomplish anything good there.

[MineralMan]

11. Really serious GOTV activism is the thing that

could make this election go our way in a big way. That's always been my opinion.