(09-13-2016 11:38 AM)solohawks Wrote: Because GOP leadership has done such a standup job this far at expressing their opinion and having the rank and file fall in line
I agree with what you're saying in general, but here's (one) problem-
Who or
what is GOP leadership? Clearly it's the Pres when he's in Office, so the last "leader" would be Bush, I guess. It ain' Romney, he had his shot and completely BLEW what should have been a relatively easy election (Though no R Pres is going to be elected "easily" these days).
Is it Ryan? Well, he lost too, and he's a policy wonk type with the inspirational appeal of a B-rate Kevin Costner movie.
Yertle the turtle? McConnell? He can't lead his own Senate conference.
It ain' Preibus, that's not his job anyway. He's the Chairman of the RNC, he's organizing debates, negotiating TV deals and whatever. His job is not really political per se, more making the trains run on time.
So, to me, that leaves a WHOLE bunch of people we don't even really know who they are (no, reflexive leftists, I'm not suggesting KOCH BROTHERS!!!), more the older, perhaps retired Pols that still wield considerable influence and will push candidate A., or B, arrange the considerable financial backing necessary etc.
So what we got was 16-17 "hopefuls" that some one thought would be a good candidate and presumably a good President.
Then, we got 1 Trump. That no one, least not in that chattering class of DeeCee leeches, thought would last much more than a cup of coffee.
What they didn't count on and didn't see coming was this is, still, the peoples decision.
And now look what happened- The "Leaders" applecart has been upset, they really don't know what to do with themselves.
Of one thing I am relatively confident- Trotting out Tom Ridge to bad mouth the GOP nominee isn't going to sway a whole lot of people.