The reason the GOP establishment is trying to drag Christie or Ryan into this race is...

[scheming daemons]

...because they know that Perry cannot win a nationwide election.


They know that the "Texas schtick" doesn't play in this country anymore... it's a net negative.



That's why they are desperate for a conservative to enter the race who can energize the tea partiers without turning off the vast American middle.


Rick Perry is a carnival sideshow. He's Bachmann with a penis. The bigwigs in the GOP know this.


Romney would be their guy easily if it weren't for the "mormon thing".


They will try to drag Christie, Ryan, or Daniels into this thing kicking and screaming. But I think all three will still say no.


So they're stuck with Romney or Perry. And they don't really want either one.

So they'll have to dress up a "pig" as best they can.


I believe Rove and the other PTB in the GOP think they can dress up Romney easier than Perry. Perry is a disaster waiting to happen, every single day.


Don't give me the "Perry has never lost an election" crap. America ain't Texas. Most of America has visceral dislike of anything Texas, especially Presidential candidates after 2001-2009.

It will be a long time before the upper midwest and mid-atlantic states EVER vote for a Texas candidate again... especially one who is SO MUCH like the last one that it's spooky.

[peace frog]

1. Ryan has a shot, but Christie is a wash

Either way, Obama will have little trouble trouncing the opposition. Teh Crazee doesn't play well outsde of teabaggerville.

[MADem]

2. Not to point out the "elephant" in the room, but Christie is a fat bastard.

He's not just chunky, he's FAT. Like...really fat.

The focus will be on his FAT, and he will not win for that reason. The press will have a field day every time he goes out for a burger or an ice cream, trying to be a "regular guy." The pictures will be mercilessly photoshopped.

We don't even need to go to the new attention on childhood obesity that is taking hold nationally; but the guy is a walking, talking, cautionary tale. His "candidate's physical"--if he takes one and releases the results--will be something to be "chewed over" for days.

He's just not viable, because he's fat. Before anyone beats me up for pointing out the obvious, I'm not commenting from a moral or health perspective (though fatness does sometimes--not always, but sometimes-- symbolize excess, and it is plainly unhealthy), I am simply commenting from the standpoint of public perception.

[LAGC]

4. Obesity never stopped William Howard Taft from becoming president.

I know there is more awareness over childhood obesity and what not these days, but fact is, many more Americans are overweight (if not obese) than they were back in 1908.

I'm just not so sure that would be the "deal killer" here, but his policies would be.

[annabanana]

7. (most Americans had very little idea what he looked like). . .n/t

[jwirr]

9. In Taft's day there was no television. People did not know. At least

most of the people.

[MADem]

10. Back in the dark ages, when he was elected, he was viewed as "prosperous"

because extra weight meant you were eating regularly and well. Skinny people were not viewed as "fit," they were viewed as poor and hungry.

Also, most people saw pictures of him from the chest up, if at all. He had girth, but most people didn't realize how fat he really was (and he got fatter as the years went by). And back then, too, men were (still are) "allowed" to be fatter than women....but that's changing.

A fat bastard is a fat bastard. Christie's weight would be an issue in a national campaign--it would also be a huge distraction. It would "eat up" (pardon the expression) a huge amount of every debate, and everything the guy put in his mouth would be fodder for the press. Also, his health would be a constant topic, as well.

A guy who clearly saw that fat doesn't play nationally was Mike Huckabee--that very personable, avuncular, pleasant and charming "To The Right of Attila" wingnut, who used to be big as a house. It played fine for him on a regional level, but he knew that national ambitions required him to lose a person. And he did just that, and got himself a following of crazy people who liked his pleasant nature, and that led to a nice gig on FauxSnooze.

[scheming daemons]

11. people of NJ knew he was fat and voted for him anyway

In 2008 it was unthinkable that America would vote for a black man.

[MADem]

12. Again, a regional thing.

Like Huckabee....

Fat being the lesser of two "evils" from the perspective of that voting subset.

Nationally, though--it won't play.

[scheming daemons]

13. how did being black play nationally in 2008? Times are a-changing...

People aren't hung up on the superficial as much.... the D or R next to the person's name matters as much or more.

[MADem]

14. It was time for black or female (but not both--yet, I do not think); it is NOT time for "fat."

And honestly? I don't think party matters when it comes to that.

Americans don't want a fat President, or an ugly one. We might take that in a VP, but not in the top slot.

It's superficial, but we're like that in some regards.

[nc4bo]

16. It wouldn't play well to people who are having their food stamps cut

or WIC reduced, kids whose schools no longer offer free lunches or those trying to pick out a meal from the back of a restaurant or supermarket dumpster.

Not saying it's right or wrong, just I can see it not playing well for some especially in tough times.

[MADem]

17. I shouldn't laugh, but that was perversely funny, in a gallows humor sort of fashion!

No school lunch for you--fat bastard ate it all!!!!!

And the SNL skits write themselves....this would make the Dukakis skits (the elevator podium, for example--because he was short) look like child's play.

[Snotcicles]

3. They better start pacing themselves, we have a ways to go till the election.nt

[emulatorloo]

5. Yes, the Perry Saviour thing is not working out too well. Ryan might get in

To the race as the next Saviour. But he's nuts too.

[annabanana]

8. I'm sure his "give granny a coupon for her healthcare" will be a HUGE draw. . .n/t

[Yavin4]

6. It's Getting Too Late for New Entrants

The Iowa caucuses are in January which is not that far away. Additionally, new entrants would further undermine the candidates already in the field.

If Paul Ryan or Chris Christie got in at this point, Ron Paul could surge to the nomination.

[MADem]

15. Ron Paul is probably the least likely of the candidates.

Aside from being an unrepentant racist, he's TOO OLD. The media has already cut him from the herd, and without them, he can't win.