Pure speculation thread - So who do you think will actually be the GOP nominee?

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Personally, I think it will be Walker, once the Koch and Sheldon Adelson money starts flowing.

They want an empty, obedient suit who will implement whatever they ask. And they don't want the Bush baggage in a general.

I believe the Bush family hold on the party has weakened enough that the money men will push Jeb aside. We're already seeing Rush championing Walker, which got him the early high numbers.

Walker is wingnutty enough for the base, and establishment enough for the DC crowd. And unknown enough to the general public that they can define him as a friendly "compassionate conservative" to get him in the door.

He's easily the most dangerous.

Your thoughts?

[DetlefK]

1. Jeb will be the new Romney: The empty suit nobody likes but everybody eventually settles for.

Walker is toast once the shit he has done in Wisconsin goes to the national press.

[BlueMTexpat]

8. I think that you

are probably correct.

It's wise NEVER to underestimate the power and reach of the BFEE.

It's going to be fun to see the BFEE's choice (Jeb!) and that of the Kochs, etc. (Walker) go head to head for awhile though.

Jeb! - the "Smart One" - is so bad that he makes Romney look like an intellectual in comparison.

It'll be even more fun if "The Donald" decides to run as an Independent.

[DetlefK]

11. I don't think that Trump is trying to win.

I think he just longs for the attention.

Romney also didn't really want to win: His heart wasn't in it. (IIRC his wife or one of his sons later admitted so.) Running president is just something you do when you are rich and powerful. It keeps you occupied and makes you feel important.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

13. I think Ann-toinette was the big driver in Romney's efforts

She wanted to be queen. Even went out on the trail and touched poor people to get Mitt there.

Word has it, she was bawling on election night. I bet that was a tense house for months.

[TBF]

2. Bush or Walker -

Rubio looks like a VP candidate for Walker .... but I just heard Kasich is announcing. He's from Ohio so that gives me pause. Is he a contender? I have to admit I don't know much about him.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. I tend to agree...

Walker may be the most dangerous one, by our standards, but he's perfect for them, with no obvious flaws (from their point of view).

They'll invent his successes and he has no obvious failures to point out, so he's the perfect gray flannel candidate for them.

[Paka]

4. Clueless as far as answering your question.

Opinionated enough to feel he is definately the most dangerous of the clown car offerings. He is a truly scary man.

[HughBeaumont]

5. A neo-fascist Theocrat.

GUARANTEED!

[BeyondGeography]

6. Bush

They always flirt with bomb throwers and come home to the safest choice. Walker is going to make more and bigger mistakes than Jeb during the course of the campaign. They want the White House back and the thought of another Clinton in charge will make electability king. The wild card is Rubio, but he just doesn't seem ready for prime time.

[deutsey]

7. Walker

He is a willing and eager toady of the Kochs, and I think the Kochs and the faction of the elite they belong to love Walker's track record in Wisconsin.

It's a match made in hell.

[steve2470]

9. Bush, the least insane and best known of the clown car nt

[AngryAmish]

10. Walker

Smartest of the bunch.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

12. He was smart enough to keep his campaign launch low key

To make himself less of a target of the other candidates. He knows better than to peak too soon and become the 2016 version of the many not-Romney GOP frontrunners.

He's waiting quietly in the wings, at second place, for the others to implode, and for the avalanche of money from his masters, which will be dumped just before voting starts.

[Yo_Mama]

14. Walker is my guess. n/t

[Greybnk48]

15. I say Walker cracks under pressure and/or

is too mean and extreme in the end. Especially if he's caught in several situations where he has to talk unrehearsed. He is REALLY nasty and he is REALLY dumb. I also think when people get a close look at his dead eyes they will be creeped out. At least that's my hope because Walker is a very dangerous creature. He will do ANYTHING for approval.

Probably Jeb or Kasich in the end.

[Orsino]

16. Jeb. The money's already spoken.

He'll let the others wear themselves out, and will golf his way to the nomination.

[CK_John]

17. IMO, the GOP game is to bring in Pataki (Romney standin) who will play

the part of the grownup and the old fashion Repub moderate on social issues and who will also have great Green backing.

New York is definitely in play. The battle of the burbs. We have the
"Lady from Chappaqua" and the "Gent from Garrison", the former Senator vs the former Governor of NY.

The only suspense will be who their VP will be.

[Yavin4]

18. Some asshole that wants to cut taxes on the rich and start a war in Iran

What do I win?