Who might the Independent Republican ticket be? Mitt Romney-Gen. John Kelly? Ben Sasse-Nikki Haley? Clarence Thomas-Mike Pompeo?
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) March 16, 2016
… Assuming one spells ‘cunning’ D-E-S-P-E-R-A-T-E. You’d think even the GOP Establishment would have realized by now that Bill Kristol is not to be trusted with sharp edges or political campaigns, but, per the NYTimes:
Republican leaders adamantly opposed to Donald J. Trump’s candidacy are preparing a 100-day campaign to deny him the presidential nomination, starting with an aggressive battle in Wisconsin’s April 5 primary and extending into the summer, with a delegate-by-delegate lobbying effort that would cast Mr. Trump as a calamitous choice for the general election.
Recognizing that Mr. Trump has seized a formidable advantage in the race, they say that an effort to block him would rely on an array of desperation measures, the political equivalent of guerrilla fighting.
There is no longer room for error or delay, the anti-Trump forces say, and without a flawlessly executed plan of attack, he could well become unstoppable.
But should that effort falter, leading conservatives are prepared to field an independent candidate in the general election, to defend Republican principles and offer traditional conservatives an alternative to Mr. Trump’s hard-edged populism. They described their plans in interviews after Mr. Trump’s victories last Tuesday in Florida and three other states.
The names of a few well-known conservatives have been offered up in recent days as potential third-party standard-bearers, and William Kristol, editor of The Weekly Standard, has circulated a memo to a small number of conservative allies detailing the process by which an independent candidate could get on general-election ballots across the country.
Among the recruits under discussion are Tom Coburn, a former Oklahoma senator who has told associates that he would be open to running, and Rick Perry, the former Texas governor who was suggested as a possible third-party candidate at a meeting of conservative activists on Thursday in Washington….
Because Rick Perry is still hoping for a comeback from his ‘oops’ moment, and Tom Coburn wants to push his much-mocked 2004 comments about lesbianism in Oklahoma high schools a little further down his Google search profile, I guess. More good news for Democrats, from the same article:
… David McIntosh, president of the conservative Club for Growth, which has spent millions on ads attacking Mr. Trump, said his group met on Wednesday and concluded it was still possible to avert Mr. Trump’s nomination. The group plans a comprehensive study of Trump supporters to sharpen a message aimed at driving them away from him.
“This is still a winnable race for a free-market conservative that’s not Donald Trump,” Mr. McIntosh said, adding, “It’s not a layup, but there’s a clear path to victory.”…
Mr. Trump’s hand has been strengthened by disagreements within the stop-Trump forces, which fall along familiar lines: Conservative activists are uneasy with the party establishment and favor Mr. Cruz, while many Republican elites have warmed to Mr. Kasich, recoiling from those they perceive as ideological purists…
Every dollar they throw into taking down the Short-Fingered Shouter is a dollar not spent attacking Democrats. As a lifelong Dem myself, it’s heartwarming to watch a circular firing squad from the outside, for once!
If GOP elite creates a third party to run against Trump, what will it be called
— Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) March 15, 2016
redshirt
Live Macho, amigos!
Yutsano
What could possibly go wrong?
MattF
@Yutsano: Well, there’s that rough beast coming down Bethlehem Avenue.
satby
Anyone but Drumpf will piss off a significant portion of formerly reliable Republican voters. Please proceed, Republicans.
Major Major Major Major
Any Netflix or Hulu recommendations? I need something that isn’t the following:
11/22/63
Jessica Jones
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Sword Art Online
Sleepy Hollow
Daredevil
Anything Tina Fey (seen ’em all)
Something along the lines of Don’t Trust The B*tch, perhaps?
Jim, Foolish Literalist
I think a Judge Smails/Ted Baxter ticket would beat any of those proposed by Wrong Way.
Clarence Thomas as a presidential candidate. The second dumbest thing Kristol ever said will always be an out-of-sight distance behind Everything He Said About Iraq, but this is stiff competition with “Steve, you really ought to think about the Governor of Alaska…” Of course, that is a thing that happened. The Thomas campaign never will.
Then again, if you had asked me about Trump being the nominee even three months ago, I would have said that would never happen.
Peale
So a candidate who the voters already passed up? And a senator probably indistinguishable from Ted Cruz?
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Major Major Major Major: I don’t know if Veep is on Hulu, but it’s worth a look, IMHO. Is the original Briish House of Cards still on Netflix? I think it’s fantastic, if you haven’t seen it.
Peale
Why not run Bill Kristol?
redshirt
@Major Major Major Major: What about Daredevil Season 2?
Yutsano
@MattF: Always room for improvement I say. Bonus infrastructure stimulus!
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: I really would like to think sometimes Kristol is trolling, then I remember he’s still mightily convinced his shit never stinks.
Amir Khalid
This too will fizzle out. I just can’t see it ending any other way.
LAO
@Major Major Major Major: Parks and Recreation?
trollhattan
I’m really liking this Judge Garland fellow. Via the White House.
Am guessing Nino used to visit D.C. area orphanages to play rousing rounds of kick-the-waif.
sad
Regardless of what you are thinking, their actions would stop “the election was stolen” response. And thereby undermine an excuse for an overthrow.
So, mayby they’re trying to save democracy. Not the election.
Peale
Also, too. Wouldn’t a cunning plan be sneaky, or do they not know that if we can hear them, Trump probably can, too?
trollhattan
@Major Major Major Major: “Love” on Netflix has its moments, and I’m smitten by Gillian Jacobs. Paul Rust is an acquired taste, but cringe-worthy is always a challenge. The Aussie roommate has some memorable lines.
trollhattan
@sad:
Whose actions?
Yutsano
@Amir Khalid: Republicans fall in line. Every. Single. Time. Even for Trump. They may not be saying so now, but he has a guaranteed 43-45% floor and just needs to work the margins in key states. It’s the working the margins part I see him struggling with mightily.
MattF
@Yutsano: It’s been true in the past that elections are decided on the margins, but I’m not persuaded that’s true this time. Where are the margins, anyhow?
Mnemosyne
Checking this series of eBooks out from the library was going so well until I ran into yet another one that’s already checked out. Gah. At least I’m next in line for it.
Mingobat f/k/a Karen in GA
@Major Major Major Major: I’m not familiar with Don’t Trust the B*tch, but I’m a Bojack Horseman junkie. The first few episodes are mostly drunk middle-aged has-been humor, but once they’ve shown you enough that you know the characters well, it gets really good.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Yutsano: I can’t remember on whose blog I saw some speculation that Trump could put Georgia in play. I don’t know what numbers they were looking at, but I do remember from 2012 some people saying that GA was much more likely ‘purple’ state than Texas
ETA: by which I mean to say that I agree about Trump’s floor on the popular vote, but I think the electoral votes might have a wider spread.
trollhattan
@Yutsano:
Pretty much, yup. Trump is a challenge to…uh…package and it’s not going to make any difference come November. Christmas ain’t coming early for the Republicans.
Timurid
So…
If people of color are your enemies
If non-Christians are your enemies
If gays are your enemies
If most women are your enemies
And now most straight white males are your enemies
…you’re not a political party anymore. You’re a cabal.
So I guess it’s time to crank up the earthquake machine or the ninja army or whatever.
Because the options you have left within the system are jack and shit.
? Martin
F1 time! Yay!
Major Major Major Major
Thanks for the recs everybody!
inventor
The thing is: A third party run almost guarantees a Democrat will win the Presidency, but may not help down ticket Democrats. Whereas, a Trump nomination, without an “independent Republican” bid, may keep some Republican voters home and give coattails to the Democratic nominee.
MattF
@Timurid: It’s like a game of Musical Chairs where some Unnamed Vulgarian has smashed up the chairs.
Marc
@Major Major Major Major: If you just want something for one night, I’d recommend “Three Days of the Condor’. A movie made in the classic style – what is set up in reel one, pays off in reel two – plus it is still a bit relevant today (unfortunately).
KS in MA
@trollhattan: Good for him!
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@inventor: I would love to see the support they get running on, essentially, the Marco Rubio platform, tax cuts for the rich, ‘pro-life’ absolutism, turning back the clock on SSM, and reinvading Syriana.
Yutsano
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Texas can go purple if the Latino/minority vote starts showing up in numbers relative to their population. The fact that this hasn’t happened yet makes me wonder what all keeps that from happening other than the tangled web of familial relationships that can happen with citizens with family on both sides of the border. There’s other dynamics in Texas keeping that from happening now and I’m not familiar enough with them to figure out why. Some political scientist is probably missing on a PhD goldmine there.
@MattF: There’s always 45% that is a reliable Dem/Rep split. Usually. This race could throw out all the records depending on who the nominees end up being. Except I don’t think Clinton is as weak as others think.
@trollhattan: I’m pretty sure the RNC is looking at President and thinking it’s not gonna happen this year. I am pretty sure R PR BS is gonna be out of a job after this whole cycle is over and that if Trump is the nominee outright the downticket races are in YUUUUUGE trouble.
Major Major Major Major
In honor of Trump rallies, tonight’s Mountain Goats song is “Fire Editorial.”
Amir Khalid
@MattF:
With Trump as Republican nominee, who the fish knows if the party can even reach its usual mid-to-high-forties percentage, let alone get to fight for the margins? I don’t see den Donald convincing Americans that they need him to save them from Hillary. She’s running as the Democratic party’s safe-pair-of-hands candidate, after all, and the other way around looks far more likely.
As for the third-party thing in the NYT story, considering Rick Perry to front a third-party campaign is pretty much the sort of brain fart one expects from Bill Kristol.
Major Major Major Major
@Marc: That seems right up my alley! Noted.
Hobbes
@Major Major Major Major: Similar theme to SAO, but without the death-game aspect: Log Horizon.
NickM
I’m wondering what people here think about the anti-Trump protests. On the one hand, I’m glad that thousands of people are showing they’re not intimidated by fascists showing their true colors. I’m usually in favor of direct actions like strikes or protests. But I wonder in the current atmosphere if it energizes the fascists more, by allowing the chances for real hippie-punching followed by the media on cue doing even more metaphorical hippie-punching.
trollhattan
@? Martin:
I love those goofy, shrieky little deathtrap cars, even if the races themselves aren’t terribly dramatic. Bleeding-edge technology on display, only earthbound (mostly).
Amir Khalid
@NickM:
Bring’em on!
trollhattan
@NickM:
I’m for them, so long as they don’t “go rogue.” High time there was a vocal counter-narrative to the Trump rabble. The bulk of teabaggers were fair-weather shouters that quickly melted into the woodwork once the “fun” ended and the Trumpsters are basically the same folks.
Yutsano
@NickM: My big worry: someone is going to get killed. And the media will turn themselves into the biggest Trump suck-ups you will ever see in your life to not lay the blame squarely with him. And it will STILL get him more votes because that’s what this base wants. I can’t see that ending well. Otherwise I’m squarely on the side of those who feel the need to protest.
GregB
Has anyone bought the domain name for The Shitheel Party?
amk
@sad: what overthrow?
Major Major Major Major
@GregB: Nope.
RaflW
The only thing the GOP can do flawlessly, without error or delay, is fleece people. Since this effort actually requires planning, tactics, cunning, and effort, they are doomed to fail. The GOP hasn’t been able to govern in at least 16 years. Why can nobody in the press be bothered to put that together? (Yeah, I know the answer).
ETA: And considering Rick Perry as the standard-bearer for an I.R., 3rd party run? Bwahahahaa.
Like I said, they are doomed.
Mike J
@? Martin: Ugh. That wreck was the worst looking that I’ve seen in a while. The Mclaren wasn’t identifiable as a car.
Oregon Rose
@Major Major Major Major: The SO and I have been enjoying Elementary on Hulu. Fun crime dramas with a modern Sherlock just as quirky as the original.
? Martin
@Mike J: Yeah, that was pretty ugly. Walks away unharmed – not surprised. F1’s most noble trait is their attention to safety.
This race may have just come to Lewis.
patroclus
I had never seen that Tom Coburn lesbian comment – thanks! What a bigoted douche!
Peaceful protests are good things generally. And when Muslim-banning, millions-deporting, civilian-targeting, warmongering, Hispanic-demonizing, waterboarding, women’s freedom-destroying, immigrant-bashing, crypto-fascist blowhards are serious candidates for high office, it seems downright mandatory. The protestors, though, need to be careful to actually be peaceful and exercise free speech, rather than veering into violence.
? Martin
Oh right, they get to treat this as a stop. Well, Lewis is going to need to dig deep here.
Mike E
@Peale: Bill Kristol is so wrong, it should be spelled rwomg
gene108
@Major Major Major Major:
If you like documentaries “Blue Planet” is great. “History of Maths” is also interesting.
Splitting Image
@inventor:
Depends on how messy things get. If Cruz weren’t in the picture and everyone in the party establishment were coalescing around Kasich, I’d agree with you. If they are still squabbling in August over whether the anti-Trump should be a Real True Christian guy or a Chamber of Commerce guy (or worse, whether they should just fall in behind Trump), the rank and file aren’t going to know who to follow. At that point, conventional wisdom about where the Republican floor is goes out the window.
David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch
@Peale:
Because…. ► https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foeoed-OywE
Keith P.
Bushwood Country Club LOL!
Remember when the GOP decided to front-load the process so their final candidate wouldn’t be mortally wounded going into the general election? Yeah, me too.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Give it up, Hillary, you’ve lost Big Hollywood
? Martin
@Mike J: I think Lewis may be good for 2nd now.
Amir Khalid
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
What’s he done since Joanie Loves Chachi?
David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch
People may not know this, but Kristol is a midget.
He’s tinier than Lil’ Marco.
He just wouldn’t look good on a presidential stage. (photo)
David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch
@Amir Khalid: He won an Academy Award for “Charles in Charge”
BillinGlendaleCA
@Amir Khalid:
Endorsed Trump.
BillinGlendaleCA
@David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch: Watch the short people talk, damn heightist.
Amir Khalid
@David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch:
Charles in Charge was a TV show, not a movie.
CaseyL
Contrariwise, I read another article today, can’t remember where (I got there via a link), that claimed the GOP’s congressional and donor cadres have reached the final stage of grief: talking about coalescing around Trump, not fighting him anymore since fighting him only makes him stronger.
So the Kristol et al. “Republican leaders” are whistling past the graveyard. No one outside their stenographers in the MSM is taking them seriously.
Which is a pity. A GOP bloodbath at the national convention would be the best thing ever.
David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch
I was being snarky.
James E Powell
@trollhattan:
I disagree, with respect. We really don’t need a counter-narrative. Trump isn’t persuading anyone; he’s just rallying the same brigades of bigots that every Republican since Reagan needed in order to compete in national elections.
I think of the public protests as opportunities for bad things to happen.
Llelldorin
@Major Major Major Major:
If you want something about as far in tone from Sword Art Online as humanly possible, there’s always The Devil is a Part-Timer. The subtitling is pretty dubious on Netflix, though, compared to the Funimation stream.
akryan
They must know that what they’re doing is just helping Trump. The more they attack him, the more it makes Trump supporters hunker down against the establishment. Every single attack ad may as well be an endorsement.
sinnedbackwards
@Yutsano: I recall reading that if the eligible Hispanic electorate in Texas had turned out at the same % as in California, Obama would have lost in 2012 by 3 %. Chew on it.
Thankfully, Pete Wilson, to secure a momentary advantage many years ago, secured not only a heavily Democratic Hispanic vote in California, but a highly participating, motivated one.
Trump is Coyote’s gift to Democrats, Progressives, and America.
Robert Sneddon
@Major Major Major Major: If you’re in the mood for anime and you want to see a common trope (the Magical Girl and cute mascot) taken round the corner and given the wall-to-wall beating it so obviously deserves then Magical Madoka should be right up your street.
Comparisons between Trump and a Certain Character in the story are coincidental.
craigie
I honestly have no idea what these “principles” might be, or where they have been hiding them these several decades.
Frank Wilhoit
Anyone who could be put forward would have to be Trump, Now With Less Trump: in other words, all of the issues, less of the personality.
It has to be someone from the Congressional Party, because they are the ones who are really running the show.
So the choice depends on what the Top Issue is imagined to be. If it is immigration, then Steve King. If it is Hillary, then Trey Gowdy. If it is Christian Dominion, then…hmm. I’m not sure who. But I don’t think Christian Dominion is the Top Issue.
But here is one thing for sure. The next time you hear anyone talking about “throwing the election into the House”, do this. Prepare in advance by getting 538 of those little round ornamental aquarium rocks, one for each vote in the Electoral College. Put them in a soft but resilient bag. Now comes the very important part: take out one rock for each electoral vote that Ross Perot got. Then tie the bag medium tight and whoever it was who talked about throwing the election into the House, hit them in the back of the neck with it.
RaflW
@efgoldman:
Sometimes I think Kristol is a Democratic sleeper agent.
Only if by sleeper, you mean this.
TriassicSands
If GOP elite creates a third party to run against Trump, what will it be called?
The Republiklan Party? Or maybe just the Klan. A tight-knit group of like-minded racists.
Or they could look back in history and revive the famous No Nothing Party. A perfect fit. And millions of Americans would immediately identify with that name.
feebog
@sinnedbackwards:
I have a young friend who is quite active in Voto Latino. They work very hard to get young latinos registered and involved. They are aiming to increase the already considerable influence of latinos in the California Democratic Party.
maryQ
I sincerely wish them great luck, and hope that they succeed in splitting off the overt racists from the people that just thought it was fun to feed red meat to the racists for fifty years while restructuring the tax code in their favor and dismantling the New Deal.
President Clinton. This time, without banging the interns. Has a nice ring to it.
arielibra
@maryQ: President Clinton. This time, without banging the interns.
Don’t care if she does.
maryQ
@arielibra: FTW!
karen marie
When I read Kristol’s tweet, I assumed he was trying to be funny. He’s serious? OMG, he (and those who take him seriously) have jumped the shark.
karen marie
@Major Major Major Major: British series with Nick Frost and Miranda Hart called Hyperdrive. Really funny.
StringOnAStick
@Major Major Major Major: Another good British series on Hulu is The Wrong Mans, with James Cordan; part comedy, part spy drama. We found it to be quite entertaining.
maryQ
We do understand, don’t we, that these folks are not in it to win it. They actually know that they are doomed. This Independent Republican nonsense is not about electing the next President. It is about keeping Trump from winning without having to vote for Hilary. After all of the nonsense they have spewed about The Clintons and Democrats in general, even if they don’t believe half of it, they can’t tell people to vote for Clinton. So by running a sacrificial “Independent Republican” who THEY KNOW WILL NOT WIN, they can prevent a Trump presidency without having to admit to anyone that they know damn well that Hilary Clinton will be a good President.
PWhite
Once Trump changes the name of the GOP to the name of the party his platform descends from-the Know Nothings-the new party can just call itself the Republican Party.
Of course, I would prefer that name be held over for philosophical descendants of Lincoln and TR.