Reply #8: Since 1980, Republicans have relied on "shadow government"

[KansDem]

therefore, their "President" is merely a figurehead.

Consider:
1980-88: Reagan/Bush--who REALLY ran that administration? Also, consider "Iran/Contra" and BCCI.
1988-92: Bush/Quayle--Poppy was ex-CIA (see "Reagan/Bush")
1996: Bob Dole, smart but I still think he was "sacrificed" when GOP saw Clinton was going to win re-election (didn't want to taint any Bush chance at White House). GOP tries VRWC to take Clinton down since he took office in 1992.
2000-04: BushII/Cheney--Well, we know for certain that this Bush is not running things. Consider all the secrecy and questionable deals going down during THIS administration.

GOP does not want a smart President, but one willing to take orders from the "shadow government," or insiders (crime syndicates) doing deals and making tons of money.

Doing "business," and not the "people's business," is the forte of the GOP.