G.O.P. Hopes for Unity May Be Upset by Ben Carson.

[elleng]

A conservative think tank recently sent Ben Carson, a potential presidential candidate and fierce critic of the federal health care overhaul, a series of messages to post on Twitter during the grilling in the House of Jonathan Gruber, the M.I.T. economist who advised the Obama administration.

Mr. Carson, a retired pediatric neurosurgeon, has set off a prairie fire of rank-and-file conservatives urging him to run for the Republican nomination. He liked the think tank’s idea, but he knows that he excites supporters because he is an unscripted outsider. So he wrote his own Twitter posts, including, “Why was it necessary to disrupt entire medical system to take care of the needs of 15% of the people?”

With former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida moving closer to declaring his candidacy, and the Republican establishment determined not to repeat the mistakes of the lengthy nominating fight of 2012, the rise of Mr. Carson suggests the best-laid plans of the party for 2016 may not go as smoothly as desired.

Even as Mr. Bush began to quietly line up donors, and the attention of the news media turned last week to policy disputes over Cuba between two other potential high-profile contenders, Senators Marco Rubio and Rand Paul, Mr. Carson was riding an under-the-radar groundswell.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/22/us/politics/gop-hopes-for-unity-may-be-upset-by-ben-carson.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

[oldandhappy]

1. Rick Santorum and Ran Paul

will not consider Jeb Bush a done deal.

[Wella]

2. The GOP will never go for Santorum as a serious candidate

Paul is much more plausible, but Rubio is making a name for himself right now with the Cuba thing. With Rubio, the GOP gets a twofer: the first serious Hispanic on a ticket who is a virulent anti-communist and conservative (like many Cubans).

I told you all months ago that Jeb would run:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025590478

The GOP establishment wants Jeb because they see him as an antidote to the Tea Party. The Tea Party sees Jeb as a RINO and "another Bush"--sort of the way the people on this board see Hillary as "another Clinton."

Whether Jeb gets the nod or not depends on how desperate the country club GOP feels about the Tea Party GOP.

The other person you might not count out here is John Huntsman. With all the foreign policy problems, Huntsman may be seen as a very experienced person in this regard. A Huntman/Rubio ticket, a Jeb/Rubio ticket are both doable for the establishment GOP.

[oldandhappy]

3. Huntsman would be good.

I don't know if anyone can get clear of the tea-folk.

[Wella]

4. Huntman has the potential to be an actual statesman

Lots of good experience. Speaks Mandarin. Also, I thought, a decent guy. He was the one person in the 2012 "clown car" that seemed like he could really do the job. (Mitt was too plastic, and the others were whack jobs.)

Democrats could live with a Huntsman presidency if they had to. Far better than another Bush. The problem is the Tea Party is applying insane pressure and you need someone who can deal with the endless barrage of Tea Party bile. I can't see Chris Christie handling it. Jeb does not appeal to the Tea Party in the same way his brother did, and conservative blogspots are already pointing to his ties with the Mexican PRI party. (Long story, lots of wind, but it could be effective.)

I don't know if Huntman has the stomach for 24/7 crazy.

[davidpdx]

9. Huntsman's problem is he is WAY too sane for the GOP

[oldandhappy]

10. agree!!

Like your 'statesman' comment. Huntsman bailed in a hurry last time around. He saw what was happening. I think he is smart. It would be a real campaign with him in the race -- he can talk issues. And yes, what sane person wants the 24/7 crazy! Yikes.

[TexasTowelie]

6. There cannot be a Jeb/Rubio ticket.

The president and vice-president have to be registered in different states. That is why Cheney had to register back in Wyoming when he ran with W.

I guess Jeb could move out to George's basement and register there though.

[Wella]

7. Ah, that's right.

The idea of Jeb living in George's basement in Texas is hilarious!

[Jim Lane]

12. A slight correction

There's no requirement that the President and Vice President be from different states. The requirement is that each member of the Electoral College must vote for at least one person who doesn't reside in his or her own state.

We could run a ticket of Joe Biden and Chris Coons, figuring that, if we won, Biden would become President, and Coons would probably be elected Vice President even without Delaware's three electoral votes. Even that would be risky; after all, Bush-Cheney were (s)elected with only 271 electoral votes, so they wouldn't even have had 3 to spare.

A Jeb-Rubio ticket would be constitutionally permissible but being unable to get Florida's 29 votes for both candidates isn't something anyone would consider.

[olddots]

5. its important to have a well rounded clown car of repukes

The really confused love Dr. Ben so he should get his pick of clown car seating .

[trusty elf]

8. ......

[img][/img]

[yellowcanine]

11. Carson won't amount to a fart in a hailstorm.