A Brokered Convention? As of Next Tuesday's Primaries, It Might Become "Extremely Likely"
Peter Robinson ·
February 24, 2012 at 12:01am
The GOP's very own Machiavelli, Roger Stone, writing on the StoneZone:
If Santorum continues his surge by winning Michigan with the Tea Party-Evangelical-Working Class vote while Romney wins Arizona due to the large Mormon populace and seniors, the brokered convention becomes extremely likely as the GOP primary will turn into a race divided by regional preferences - Santorum carrying the Midwest, Gingrich parts of the South and Romney performing in the Northeast and West which is dominated by moderates and senior voters.
- Comment (43)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (5)
Comments:
Re: A Brokered Convention? As of Next Tuesday's Primaries, It Might Become "Extremely Likely"
Peter, I don't claim to be an expert. But here's my former WH colleague and current WSJ colleague Karl Rove taking the opposite view.
Mar '11
Re: A Brokered Convention? As of Next Tuesday's Primaries, It Might Become "Extremely Likely"
And Stone is no longer a Republican. He registered as a Libertarian after he voted for Ron Paul in the Florida primary. I shed a tear at the news.
Aug '11
Re: A Brokered Convention? As of Next Tuesday's Primaries, It Might Become "Extremely Likely"
Karl Rove is not writing here as an observer, but as the manager and coach of one of the teams.
Jun '10
Re: A Brokered Convention? As of Next Tuesday's Primaries, It Might Become "Extremely Likely"
I agree with Rove on this:
Mar '11
Re: A Brokered Convention? As of Next Tuesday's Primaries, It Might Become "Extremely Likely"
Joseph Stanko: I agree with Rove on this:
3 minutes ago
It seems to me that the party is already divided. Whether that shall constitute a disaster or can be overcome... well we can only wait and see.
May '10
Re: A Brokered Convention? As of Next Tuesday's Primaries, It Might Become "Extremely Likely"
All parties are divided. Show me a unified party and I'll show one that has a faction that rules by force.
Re: A Brokered Convention? As of Next Tuesday's Primaries, It Might Become "Extremely Likely"
Joseph Stanko: I agree with Rove on this:
37 minutes ago
I do not think that anyone much would care at all -- if the final choice was more plausible than the current roster of candidates. Not that I think that this will happen.
Mar '11
Re: A Brokered Convention? As of Next Tuesday's Primaries, It Might Become "Extremely Likely"
I think the 4 candidates should take a pledge not to attack each other, but only go after Obama. Since the object is to beat B.O., hopefully the candidate who does the best job against Obama will win the nomination. I prefer any of the 4 candidates over the current Pres. I hate to see Barack get a pass while we fight over our nomination.
Edited on February 24, 2012 at 1:03amFeb '12
Re: A Brokered Convention? As of Next Tuesday's Primaries, It Might Become "Extremely Likely"
Having a brokered convention would mean two things to me.
#1 My vote in the Wisconsin Primary will mean something vs. not having a say at the time and handing it over to Romney before I get to throw my two cents in.
#2 The GOP will need to make some kind of concession to "The Movement" (akaTea Party which I support). They wont be able to ignore us any more. If it gets handed over to Mitt. They can once again treat us like the family member, no one wants to talks to.
Edited on February 24, 2012 at 1:02amNov '11
Re: A Brokered Convention? As of Next Tuesday's Primaries, It Might Become "Extremely Likely"
Paul A. Rahe
I do not think that anyone much would care at all -- if the final choice was more plausible than the current roster of candidates. Not that I think that this will happen. ยท 4 minutes ago
Just fantasy, but... The front-runner's supporters would have to like the new nominee; everyone else's supporters would only have to consider him preferable to the frontrunner. Assuming Romney is leading the delegate count (without enough to win), there are plenty of people who could fit that bill. But for it to work the nominee would have to offer a convincing rationale for not having run, yet now considering himself qualified to lead. It would probably have to be someone who's been in the middle of a job.
Edited on February 24, 2012 at 1:03amFeb '12
Re: A Brokered Convention? As of Next Tuesday's Primaries, It Might Become "Extremely Likely"
Wrong Wrong Wrong.. it will mean we have a say in the process. He can't have another Bob Dole or McCain. If it ends up being Mitt. I will support, but I want Mitt to know we are out here and we need to be listened to.
Joseph Stanko: I agree with Rove on this:
49 minutes ago
Dec '10
Re: A Brokered Convention? As of Next Tuesday's Primaries, It Might Become "Extremely Likely"
Paul A. Rahe
Joseph Stanko: I agree with Rove on this:
37 minutes ago
I do not think that anyone much would care at all -- if the final choice was more plausible than the current roster of candidates. Not that I think that this will happen. ยท 18 minutes ago
The problem is that there wouldn't be agreement on who's more plausible. For every name put forward - Chris, Mitch, Paul, Sarah, Jeb, Bobby, whoever - there would be a hue and outcry from those who think that person completely implausible for one or more very good reasons.
I agree with Rove that the least bad option is choosing from the people who actually ran, not because I don't think there is anyone better, but because there wouldn't be a consensus on a better candidate.
Mar '11
Re: A Brokered Convention? As of Next Tuesday's Primaries, It Might Become "Extremely Likely"
Stuart Creque
The problem is that there wouldn't be agreement on who's more plausible. For every name put forward - Chris, Mitch, Paul, Sarah, Jeb, Bobby, whoever - there would be a hue and outcry from those who think that person completely implausible for one or more very good reasons.
I agree with Rove that the least bad option is choosing from the people who actually ran, not because I don't think there is anyone better, but because there wouldn't be a consensus on a better candidate. ยท 1 minute ago
I don't know, Stuart. Lincoln didn't emerge until the ABC (Anybody But Chase) people had to find a standard bearer. We are unlikely to find a Lincoln, though, and he had the advantage that the Northern and Southern Democrats were busy beating the tar out of one another.
May '10
Re: A Brokered Convention? As of Next Tuesday's Primaries, It Might Become "Extremely Likely"
Stuart Creque
The problem is that there wouldn't be agreement on who's more plausible. For every name put forward - Chris, Mitch, Paul, Sarah, Jeb, Bobby, whoever - there would be a hue and outcry from those who think that person completely implausible for one or more very good reasons.
I agree with Rove that the least bad option is choosing from the people who actually ran, not because I don't think there is anyone better, but because there wouldn't be a consensus on a better candidate. ยท 10 minutes ago
This is how I see it too--especially considering that there is such a strong anti-establishment mood in the base at the moment. Would we be happy to have them pick our candidate?
And I think the primaries have been useful for weeding out the ones who won't be able to make it in the general, no matter how good they might have seemed on paper. I'm thinking of Perry and Pawlenty mainly.
The ones who have made it this far have all proved themselves in one way or another.
Nov '11
Re: A Brokered Convention? As of Next Tuesday's Primaries, It Might Become "Extremely Likely"
Stuart Creque
Paul A. Rahe
I do not think that anyone much would care at all -- if the final choice was more plausible than the current roster of candidates. Not that I think that this will happen. ยท 18 minutes ago
The problem is that there wouldn't be agreement on who's more plausible. For every name put forward - Chris, Mitch, Paul, Sarah, Jeb, Bobby, whoever - there would be a hue and outcry from those who think that person completely implausible for one or more very good reasons.
For a few days at the convention, yes. But once someone had come out as the nominee -- well, I don't know how typical I am, but my view is that any of those people might make a better president than the current four, except maybe Chris (less conservative). I'd be queasy about Sarah or Jeb (electability); with any of the other three I'd be jumping up and down for joy. And I'd vote for all of them over Obama with no lack of enthusiasm.
I don't think it will ever work, but I can see how it could.
Edited on February 24, 2012 at 1:45amJun '10
Re: A Brokered Convention? As of Next Tuesday's Primaries, It Might Become "Extremely Likely"
If Romney wins, it will be because he won the votes of the majority of GOP primary voters. If a brokered convention picks a candidate only a handful of delegates and party leaders will have a say in the process. How is that more inclusive?
Apr '11
Re: A Brokered Convention? As of Next Tuesday's Primaries, It Might Become "Extremely Likely"
We can dream of a brokered convention where our favorite non-candidate is chosen by popular acclaim. I personally wanted Chris Christie when this all started and for a few days back in in the Fall it looked like he just might...I would be thrilled to have him be the nominee by any strange and improbable means.
It won't happen though...but a man can dream...
Aug '10
Re: A Brokered Convention? As of Next Tuesday's Primaries, It Might Become "Extremely Likely"
muttering in the ranks
anybody see a stonewall jackson in our midst
to inspire the troops, steel them for final conflict ,
calm their nerves and
not get shot by his own ?
Edited on February 24, 2012 at 2:02amRe: A Brokered Convention? As of Next Tuesday's Primaries, It Might Become "Extremely Likely"
Joseph Stanko
If Romney wins, it will be because he won the votes of the majority of GOP primary voters. If a brokered convention picks a candidate only a handful of delegates and party leaders will have a say in the process. How is that more inclusive? ยท 5 minutes ago
I doubt that anyone -- apart from the candidates shouldered aside -- would care how inclusive it was. No one -- apart from a handful of partisans -- is really sold on any of these candidates. Romney has lukewarm but steady support from the country-club set. Outside that world, most Republican primary voters find him lackluster but tolerable. The others come and go, and no one very much mourns their disappearance from the stage. If the convention picked someone else -- Mitch Daniels, Chris Christie, Paul Ryan, for example -- I doubt that anyone apart from the handful of Romney, Gingrich, or Santorum partisans would complain. Most of us regret tht these men stayed out.
May '10
Re: A Brokered Convention? As of Next Tuesday's Primaries, It Might Become "Extremely Likely"
Joesph Stanko, "If a brokered convention picks a candidate only a handful of delegates and party leaders will have a say in the process. How is that more inclusive?"
1. Because they may be representative of the broader party.
2. Because the majority of Republicans aren't sold on ObamneyCare, which makes ABR the "inclusive" POV.