Evan McMullin

[1972Shocker]

I generally agree, but I am not looking forward to the uphill climb faced with young voters and certain other demographics after this election. I think a lot of folks who may have been willing to vote for a Rubio-type candidate this cycle will be tough to deliver for a while because of the Trump stench.

This assumes that the Republican Party can be successfully reconstituted. Not sure if that is going to happen very easily. We will have to see but even though Donald Trump appears to be headed to defeat he still has a substantial number of fanatical followers that may not be so easily enticed to make peace.

The Republican's supposedly did a post-election autopsy after the 2012 election and arrived at the following conclusions in 2013:

1. Pass Imigration Reform Yesterday
2. Listen to Minorities
3. Gays aren't going away
4. Quit talking to themselves
5. Look to the States
6. Stop being the rich guys

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/6-big-takeaways-from-the-rnc-s-incredible-2012-autopsy

So what did the Republicans do with those conclusions They nominate Donald Trump. That does not give one a great deal of confidence that they can recover from this year's self-inflicted debacle.

[Play Angry]

Yes we (the GOP) certainly took the dumbest avenue available this year and do not reflect a recent history of informed introspection and willingness to adapt. I am expecting a painful tussle for control of the party.

[1972Shocker]

Yes we (the GOP) certainly took the dumbest avenue available this year and do not reflect a recent history of informed introspection and willingness to adapt. I am expecting a painful tussle for control of the party.

Reince Priebus has to be gone shortly after November 8th doesn't he? Not sure what direction the RNC will take but it may not be a job anyone will covet.

[SB Shock]

I agree it must be totally different than Trump, but not totally different than what many are currently trying. Just as you say you have harped on this topic repeatedly, I've probably harped on Rubio being the answer to the R's problems. Good conservative policies, honest and likeable guy, not a Trump sleeze, not a Cruz enemy maker, and smart enough to just present conservatism in an optimistic manner. I really think that is all that is needed.

I think Rubio probably was a little inexperienced for this election and wasn't ready for what he was going to be hit with. He will know better next time and will be a much better candidate for 2020.

[Play Angry]

Reince Priebus has to be gone shortly after November 8th doesn't he? Not sure what direction the RNC will take but it may not be a job anyone will covet.

I hope Priebus is gone but am guessing it depends on the Senate/House outcome. Keep the senate and he almost certainly stays. Lose the senate, keep the house and it gets iffy. Lose both and he is toast for sure.

His successor would have a favorable setup with a mid-term bounce likely. 2020 is when the job may become a nightmare again.

[1972Shocker]

I hope Priebus is gone but am guessing it depends on the Senate/House outcome. Keep the senate and he almost certainly stays. Lose the senate, keep the house and it gets iffy. Lose both and he is toast for sure.

His successor would have a favorable setup with a mid-term bounce likely. 2020 is when the job may become a nightmare again.

Maybe. But the Republicans had the election pretty much teed up for them when the Democrats selected such a horrible candidate of their own. Somehow the Republicans managed to totally ignore their 2012 autopsy and find perhaps the one guy who could not mount a credible challenge to a very unpopular and unfit Democrat candidate.

The Republican Party needs to not only take a critical look at their platform but also how they go about qualifying primary candidates for consideration. IMHO their needs to be some vetting and winnowing process before your finalists our put out for public scrutiny in the primaries. And when I say finalists no more than 3 or 4.

[Play Angry]

The Republican Party needs to not only take a critical look at their platform but also how they go about qualifying primary candidates for consideration. IMHO their needs to be some vetting and winnowing process before your finalists our put out for public scrutiny in the primaries. And when I say finalists no more than 3 or 4.

This will be an interesting fight going forward. One of the chief purposes of a party is to act as a filter and "help" its members select from a palatable pool of candidates. This year, Trump showed that a charismatic figure can overcome *limited* opposition from the party apparatus, and what little interference he faced was generally viewed negatively by the public ("listen to the voice of the voters!", etc.) including those who weren't necessarily Trump supporters.

I agree that the primary system needs reforming since it gives disproportionate sway to the far ends of both parties. Not sure how easy it will be to selectively disenfranchise those elements though, especially when they are typically the most vocal contingent in the room.

There can be such a thing as too much democracy in a system of governance, and I think we are nearing that point as a result of decades of generally well-intended moves which are going awry.

[1972Shocker]

Interesting article on how to make more citizens feel like their votes count and doesn't require a consitutional amendment.

The states could adopt the Nebraska/Maine system for allocationg electoral college votes.

http://www.redstate.com/diary/kentucky_dana/2016/10/20/vote-doesnt-count-.-.-./

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

I think Rubio probably was a little inexperienced for this election and wasn't ready for what he was going to be hit with. He will know better next time and will be a much better candidate for 2020.

I couldn't disagree more. He's 45 years old (Obama was 47, Clinton was 46). He spent 6 years in the U.S. Senate (2 more than Obama did) following his role as Speaker of the Florida House of Reps.

Rubio '16 was a god send to the Republican party. Getting beyond just his age, all you had to do was listen to him talk for even 5 minutes and you could tell that he is at an elite level in being able to speak about conservatism eloquently, in great detail, and without being unnecessarily offensive to minority groups. It's sad that the minority group disclaimer is even necessary, but it is.

Despite all this, idiots like Rush, Hannity, and Levin managed to convince a bunch of their listeners that Rubio was a moderate squish RINO. I find those radio guys irritating beyond belief, and find it depressing so many people still follow along with them.

[SB Shock]

Christie made him look like a fool on a national stage right at the time he should have been making his move. he may have been "elite", but it pretty clear he wasn't ready to run a effective campaign:

1. He struggle to get his message out. In retrospect it was to broad and not targeted enough for the people he needed to draw in.

2. Weak ground game and campaign fundamentals. Case in point in kansas. The Kansas delegation was fighting for him but he was late in campaigning in Kansas and chose to not show up. Cruz and trump decided to make a stop here. This was kind of the story for his whole campaign - good enough to be third. He had a great positive message but could not get it out effectively.

3. He took his positive message and then went low on trump and damage his brand. Only people that benifited was Cruz and kasich.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

I hate the "Christie made him look like a fool" line of thinking. He was repeating himself because he was freaking right and his opponents kept on repeating how wrong they were. The only reason he took the hit is because he repeated his correct thoughts using the same word structure, while his opponents repeated themselves with different words and from multiple candidates. Such a perfect example of the crappiness of the voters.

A, B, and C are wrong, but they use different words each time they speak.
Rubio is right, but he keeps repeating himself when he says it.
Let's support A, B, or C. Can't have a guy repeating himself.

Ugghh. I guess that's on Rubio because his job is to sway actual voters, not magical ideal voters from some fantasyland. But still... uggghh.

[1972Shocker]

Yes we (the GOP) certainly took the dumbest avenue available this year and do not reflect a recent history of informed introspection and willingness to adapt. I am expecting a painful tussle for control of the party.

I do not believe Trump will go away quietly if he loses. One of his core beliefs is that if someone hits you, you hit back 10 times harder. He seems to be hyper-vindictive to his very core of being.

Here is an anecdotal example of that.

Unless his kids can somehow convince him otherwise (and I don't see that happening) I think he will go on a vendetta to destroy any and all who did not fully support him. Most likely he will attempt to use a Trump TV media venture as a base for conducting such a vendetta with Steve Bannon and Sean Hannity at his side.

[Play Angry]

I do not believe Trump will go away quietly if he loses. One of hsi core beliefs is that if someone hits you, you hit back 10 times harder. He seems to be hyper-vindictive to his very core of being.

Here is an anecdotal example of that.

Unless his kids can somehow convince him otherwise (and I don't see that happening) I think he will go on a vendetta to destroy any and all who did not fully support him. Most likely he will attempt to use a Trump TV media venture as a base for conducting such a vendetta with Steve Bannon and Sean Hannity at his side.

Sounds about right.

As if on cue, the Trump wing of the Republicans in the House is now reportedly mobilizing votes to remove Paul Ryan as speaker following Election Day, the day after Sean Hannity told the Washington Post that Ryan needs to go.

The Donald's supporters are excellent at finding anyone to blame for this loss but the man himself.

[RoyalShock]

Sounds about right.

As if on cue, the Trump wing of the Republicans in the House is now reportedly mobilizing votes to remove Paul Ryan as speaker following Election Day, the day after Sean Hannity told the Washington Post that Ryan needs to go.

The Donald's supporters are excellent at finding anyone to blame for this loss but the man himself.

We have four years to raise up a new party.

I think the Republican brand is damaged beyond repair.

Now taking suggestions for the name of the new party. "Conservative" doesn't count. That term is damaged goods, as well.

[Play Angry]

Another poll came out yesterday showing McMullin trailing Trump 30-29 (with Hillary at 25) in Utah.