General Discussion
Showing Original Post only (View all)We must not kid ourselves into thinking that Christie hasn't got a shot at the White House [View all]
In almost every election, Republicans nominate what they see as the sensible moderate in sheep's clothing. Romney won the "electable" meme and became the nominee against the teaparty clamoring for a "Real Conservative." (NOTE - a Teaparty "Real Conservative" is the person who sounds sane to the crazies.) McCain won the "electable" meme and the nomination in 2008. Bush won the "electable" meme in 2000, and the White House, with that "Compassionate Conservative" lie while running against Bill Clinton's zipper, with the help of criminal acts and the Supreme Court.
As long as there are enough Republicans who want someone they think is electable by the independent center right voters, he will win the "electable meme." If an open crazy like Cruz wins the nomination, the Republican party will have completed its Wiginization and will be gone by 2020, replaced by a party that keeps its screaming crazies in a box.
This is why Christie is the most dangerous Republican in the current race. He is capable of looking normal to the independent, non-aligned voters in the center, many of whom are Republicans who were left without a party by the shifting definition of "Conservative" and the drive for ideological purity.