Republicans’ pathetic last resort: When Jeb and Mitt are your 2016 saviors

[DonViejo]

With Christie and Walker mortally wounded (again), the GOP establishment’s last hope rests with one of two retreads

JOAN WALSH

Only last week, it seemed as if scandal-dogged GOP Govs. Chris Christie of New Jersey and Scott Walker of Wisconsin might be back in the 2016 game. At Mitt Romney’s Utah summit, Christie told big donors that his troubles are “over, it’s done with and I’m moving on.” Walker’s supporters crowed that in May, a judge put an end to the second John Doe probe he’s faced, this one into illegal coordination between his anti-recall campaign and outside conservative groups like Club for Growth.

Then came Thursday, when shoes dropped for both men. An Esquire report alleged that U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman has close Christie confidants talking about all the New Jersey scandals, not just Bridgegate, and he may be close to indictments. The same day a Wisconsin judge released documents showing that John Doe prosecutors believed Walker was at the center of a “criminal scheme” – two words no governor wants to see attached to his name.

It’s important to note that the shocking documents were released because a judge found no grounds to continue the probe. Walker may not face any further legal trouble here. But his political trouble keeps getting worse. The most stunning piece of evidence was an email from Walker himself to Karl Rove, boasting about his political operation, which seems to indicate some effort to coordinate with outside groups like Rove’s American Crossroads – though in the end, Rove did not wind up getting involved with the Wisconsin races.

An aside: Am I the only one who thinks someone stupid enough to send Karl Rove a personal email that at least smacks of an effort at illegal campaign coordination is too stupid to be president – and maybe even to remain as governor? I thought that when Walker was pranked by a faux David Koch, too, but apparently Wisconsin voters are more forgiving. Still, Walker’s in a tough race for reelection this year and he may have to fight hard just to stay in Madison; he sure can’t look ahead to Washington.

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http://www.salon.com/2014/06/20/republicans_pathetic_last_resort_when_jeb_and_mitt_are_your_2016_saviors/

[HooptieWagon]

1. Well, there's Rubio...

but he and Jeb are at odds with GOP base with their support for immigration reform. Cruz and Perry are going to get solid support from the wingnuts, but they are dream opponents for any Dem candidate in GE. I guess Romney is the default... but he's already lost, and badly, and I don't envision him getting enough teabagger support to get another chance. Who's left? Paul Ryan and Rand Paul. I'm not sure how they'll rate... either within GOP or broader appeal in GE.

[Jamaal510]

2. The GOP has gone through more presidential hopefuls

in a few years than the Raiders have through head coaches and QBs in a decade! We might as well call this the "Wingnut Carousel".

[blkmusclmachine]

3. All the GOP needs are a couple dozen loaded black box ballot "counters," and they'll be golden come

election day.

[Arkana]

4. Jeb hasn't even been politically relevant in over a decade.

The people who elect Presidential candidates in his party hate him, AND he's a Bush.