Chicago Tribune: Bush and Rubio remain "among the candidates who don't scare children and moderates"

[Miles Archer]

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's plans to ride message discipline and policy pliability into consensus support from the party's corporate elite suffered a setback on Saturday night at the Republican debate in New Hampshire. (The Wall Street Journal editorial board, a pillar of that elite, said that Rubio's "gutting by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Saturday was as complete as any we've seen.&quot Former surgeon Ben Carson appears ready to take his assiduously compiled list of donors and head off for a lucrative retirement.

***

Yet, all things considered, Bush may be the most formidable candidate that Republicans could run in the general election.

Christie is fatally flawed for Republicans by virtue of his own record and a scandal that, at the least, involves his top aides' creepy abuse of power. Ohio Gov. John Kasich has a strong record in an important swing state and appears to be the only genuinely happy warrior in the field. But his support for Obamacare's Medicaid expansion in Ohio will almost certainly destroy him in the primary, should he become a serious threat for the nomination. (And, at the end of the day, he's a bit herky-jerky in demeanor for White House duty.)

So that leaves Rubio and Bush among the candidates who don't scare children and moderates. Rubio may or may not be the future. But if Republicans believe their own experts, Bush is probably their best shot in the present.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-jeb-bush-loss-in-new-hampshire-20160209-story.html

[global1]

1. After All - Jeb Was The 'Presumptive Nominee' Going.....

into this. That's what TPTB told us was their choice and who they could live with. Dubya will get the credit now that he's been brought in to campaign for Jeb.

Somehow and somewhere soon Trump will implode. Rubio took himself out with his robotic debate performance. No one that matters likes Cruz. Kasich has issues that will disqualify him for the top job - but they need him to bring in Ohio - so my guess is he'll be tapped for VP.

Jeb's got the money to last out. He's moved up the ladder with his 4th place showing in NH. SC will be where he will do his best. I'm thinking a move to 3rd place.

Keep an eye on Jeb. Watch and listen to the talking heads as they're beginning to shape a win for him.

[Miles Archer]

2. All 100% valid points, a perfect summation

No matter how badly some people want Cruz, I think the establishment is smart enough to know he can't win.