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So, Why Exactly Did the GOP Originally Reject Kasich?

calamity

calamity

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The guy who most likely would have become president smokes Donald the Birdbrain in a major swing state, a place where he would have trounced Hillary in November if he was at the head of the ticket. But, no one noticed the guy until it was too late. The guy who would have easily won Michigan and Pennsylvania wasn't even on the establishment's radar until about a month ago. And, now, when the evidence of his strength has become apparent, it's too late.

A working-class candidate who, perhaps, with the pre "Little Marco" version of Rubio as his running mate may very well have taken Florida, stolen states like New Jersey and just maybe even New York, and probably would have owned Western swing states like Colorado and Nevada couldn't even buy a question in the first five debates. The party left him starved for cash and gave him no help in setting up an organization. A leader who turned his state around in two short years was persona non grata for months and stuck in the polls were he drew roughly 5% for most of the year.

What gives? Why didn't the establishment get behind this obviously strong candidate sooner?

One possible reason is that Kasich, for all of his conservative positions on issues like abortion and taxes, committed the ultimate act of Republican heresy: He had his state participate in the Affordable Care Act’s expansion of Medicaid.

Making matters even worse, Kasich invoked similar logic when he refused to endorse mass deportations. This may have been the only position more toxic in Republican politics than challenging party orthodoxy on Obamacare -- and, once again, Kasich defended it on moral grounds.

Today, with Bush and Rubio out of the race, and Trump threatening outright to claim the nomination, more Republican leaders might be willing to overlook Kasich’s heresies -- a few weeks too late to do any good.

Maybe The GOP Establishment Should Have Embraced John Kasich Sooner
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Kasich isn't unknown in Michigan, he lost and would have lost no matter what IMO. Kasich has won his own state, that's it, and he's way down in the delegate count. There's a reason he didn't get a lot of exposure early on.
 
calamity said:
The guy who most likely would have become president smokes Donald the Birdbrain in a major swing state, a place where he would have trounced Hillary in November if he was at the head of the ticket. But, no one noticed the guy until it was too late. The guy who would have easily won Michigan and Pennsylvania wasn't even on the establishment's radar until about a month ago. And, now, when the evidence of his strength has become apparent, it's too late.

A working-class candidate who, perhaps, with the pre "Little Marco" version of Rubio as his running mate may very well have taken Florida, stolen states like New Jersey and just maybe even New York, and probably would have owned Western swing states like Colorado and Nevada couldn't even buy a question in the first five debates. The party left him starved for cash and gave him no help in setting up an organization. A leader who turned his state around in two short years was persona non grata for months and stuck in the polls were he drew roughly 5% for most of the year.

What gives? Why didn't the establishment get behind this obviously strong candidate sooner?
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Because he was always (and still is) obviously running for Vice President. A guy who stood with Democrats on banning guns and Obamacare isn't going to sell well in a GOP primary.
 
calamity said:
What gives? Why didn't the establishment get behind this obviously strong candidate sooner?
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Odd man out?

Unsure at this point. But if we can demonstrate that Establishment Republicans are in such disarray over Trump, then it makes sense to question all their decisions for all other candidates in a very large field that ended up leaving Kasich pretty much on his own.

Perhaps by the time they realized what Trump was going to pull off, it was too late to get behind Kasich and make that run more competition for Trump.
 
cpwill said:
Because he was always (and still is) obviously running for Vice President. A guy who stood with Democrats on banning guns and Obamacare isn't going to sell well in a GOP primary.
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Kasich is all over the place on the issues and doesnt have a clear message. Seems a lot like Joe Scarborough to me.
 
They rejected him because they were behind Jeb 1st, and they didn't think(no one did) Trump could last. So they figured Jeb would just wait around, and then jump to the top after Trump fizzled. But Trump never fizzled.

The establishment GOP had no idea just how mad part of their base was at them.
 
SenorXm/Sirius said:
They rejected him because they were behind Jeb 1st, and they didn't think(no one did) Trump could last. So they figured Jeb would just wait around, and then jump to the top after Trump fizzled. But Trump never fizzled.
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There was a lot of denial, as well, about Jeb's chances. He started the race deeply unpopular and well known - a deadly combination.

Like a lot of candidates, there was kind of an Underpants Gnomes aspect to his campaign plan:


First We Spend Lots of Money Attacking the Candidates Republicans Like ---------> [Something Happens] ------------> All The People Who Don't Like Me Change Their Mind!
The establishment GOP had no idea just how mad part of their base was at them.
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Yup.

55% of GOP voters in Florida yesterday wanted a pathway to legalization for illegal immigrants.

And they voted for Trump.


:doh
 
cpwill said:
There was a lot of denial, as well, about Jeb's chances. He started the race deeply unpopular and well known - a deadly combination.

Like a lot of candidates, there was kind of an Underpants Gnomes aspect to his campaign plan:


First We Spend Lots of Money Attacking the Candidates Republicans Like ---------> [Something Happens] ------------> All The People Who Don't Like Me Change Their Mind!




Yup.

55% of GOP voters in Florida yesterday wanted a pathway to legalization for illegal immigrants.

And they voted for Trump.


:doh
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I wrote A PART of the GOP base.. Not all, a part! 45% would be a part. Use to be 30%, but that seems to be growing.

As far as your point about Jeb. That's wrong, we're talking about who the GOP establishment was backing. It was Jeb he had their backing and by far the most money when all this started. He was the establishment GOP's pick.
 
the establishment candidate was NEVER going to be the nominee this year

the writing was on the wall from 2014 but too many people didnt pay attention

Eric Cantor was the first casualty of the establishment....but he wont be the last

The GOP electorate is tired of the same old bull**** coming out of DC year after year....

Trump is the response....and if they dont hear this time, i expect more casualties next cycle....and bigger names

Politicians are elected and sent to Washington to do the bidding of those that sent them....

Not the lobbyists....not the elite rich assholes who spend all the money....the people that vote

This election cycle is all about that change.....

Waiting to see what happens next.....
 
calamity said:
The guy who most likely would have become president smokes Donald the Birdbrain in a major swing state, a place where he would have trounced Hillary in November if he was at the head of the ticket. But, no one noticed the guy until it was too late. The guy who would have easily won Michigan and Pennsylvania wasn't even on the establishment's radar until about a month ago. And, now, when the evidence of his strength has become apparent, it's too late.

A working-class candidate who, perhaps, with the pre "Little Marco" version of Rubio as his running mate may very well have taken Florida, stolen states like New Jersey and just maybe even New York, and probably would have owned Western swing states like Colorado and Nevada couldn't even buy a question in the first five debates. The party left him starved for cash and gave him no help in setting up an organization. A leader who turned his state around in two short years was persona non grata for months and stuck in the polls were he drew roughly 5% for most of the year.

What gives? Why didn't the establishment get behind this obviously strong candidate sooner?
Click to expand...

Kasich emerged as my candidate very early on. I don't know why the GOP didn't get behind him, but he still wasn't able to connect with the voters even after the field got smaller.

He's got recognition now, even if late. He has been more active in the debates, and he gave a great speech after winning his state. If he could turn it on now with great or even good showings for the rest of the primaries, perhaps he could get some serious consideration at the convention. In my opinion, he certainly the best candidate of the 3.

Having said that, I don't think he will, Trump has his locked in supporters, and Cruz has his supporters snowed.

I think Kasich is not connecting with the voters because of his communication style. I think his delivery is somewhat boring, especially compared to the other candidates. He almost has a facial expression and speaking style that makes him appear angry, frustrated or disgusted no matter what he is talking about. Just my opinion! I didn't see that in his last speech.

By the way, I don't think he smoked anyone. A Governor with a good record in his own state getting less than 50% of the vote.

Hey, you never know, with a great finish and a brokered convention, he could win the lottery.
 
Threegoofs said:
Why does this confuse everyone?

Kasich is a sensible candidate.

Today's GOP is not a sensible party.
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I don't think he is. I've heard him interviewed a lot on WJR in Detroit and he's a blatant opportunist.
 
Centrehalf said:
Kasich isn't unknown in Michigan, he lost and would have lost no matter what IMO. Kasich has won his own state, that's it, and he's way down in the delegate count. There's a reason he didn't get a lot of exposure early on.
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Not only was it his own state but there was a push for supporters of other candidates to vote for him to help ensure there could be a brokered convention.
 
SenorXm/Sirius said:
They rejected him because they were behind Jeb 1st, and they didn't think(no one did) Trump could last. So they figured Jeb would just wait around, and then jump to the top after Trump fizzled. But Trump never fizzled.

The establishment GOP had no idea just how mad part of their base was at them.
Click to expand...

That and Jeb turned out to be one of the worst campaigners I've ever seen. This has nothing to do with his policies or accomplishments. I dislike almost everything Obama has done or stands for but the man is an amazing campaigner.
 
gdgyva said:
the establishment candidate was NEVER going to be the nominee this year

the writing was on the wall from 2014 but too many people didnt pay attention

Eric Cantor was the first casualty of the establishment....but he wont be the last

The GOP electorate is tired of the same old bull**** coming out of DC year after year....

Trump is the response....and if they dont hear this time, i expect more casualties next cycle....and bigger names

Politicians are elected and sent to Washington to do the bidding of those that sent them....

Not the lobbyists....not the elite rich assholes who spend all the money....the people that vote

This election cycle is all about that change.....

Waiting to see what happens next.....
Click to expand...

It was on the wall before that. They had to change the rules and cheat to keep Ron Paul from going to the convention in 2012.
 
Fishking said:
That and Jeb turned out to be one of the worst campaigners I've ever seen. This has nothing to do with his policies or accomplishments. I dislike almost everything Obama has done or stands for but the man is an amazing campaigner.
Click to expand...

Trump blindsided them all. I have no idea if Jeb would have been a better campaigner if there was no Trump. But IMO it's impossible to judge him because of Trump. Trump got into the gutter, and when the others tried to get down there with him they looked foolish, and lost. I'm no fan of any of the other GOP candidates, but none of them were prepared to get into a campaign like this one.

I know politics is dirty, and a dog fight. But Trump's taken it to a new low, and that blindsided everyone, including Jeb. .
 
Tonawanda said:
Kasich emerged as my candidate very early on. I don't know why the GOP didn't get behind him, but he still wasn't able to connect with the voters even after the field got smaller.

He's got recognition now, even if late. He has been more active in the debates, and he gave a great speech after winning his state. If he could turn it on now with great or even good showings for the rest of the primaries, perhaps he could get some serious consideration at the convention. In my opinion, he certainly the best candidate of the 3.

Having said that, I don't think he will, Trump has his locked in supporters, and Cruz has his supporters snowed.

I think Kasich is not connecting with the voters because of his communication style. I think his delivery is somewhat boring, especially compared to the other candidates. He almost has a facial expression and speaking style that makes him appear angry, frustrated or disgusted no matter what he is talking about. Just my opinion! I didn't see that in his last speech.

By the way, I don't think he smoked anyone. A Governor with a good record in his own state getting less than 50% of the vote.

Hey, you never know, with a great finish and a brokered convention, he could win the lottery.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking his style pales compared to the preacher and reality star. It's just not his year.
 
Crovax said:
Kasich is all over the place on the issues and doesnt have a clear message. Seems a lot like Joe Scarborough to me.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've said it before. Kasich is only in the race to act as a foil to Trump. His actual policies and positions is lackluster but he tries to hide in the shadows during the debate with occasional quips about "can't we all act like adults". That's why he chickened out of the Salt Lake City debate. He's always whining about not getting enough time but with a lot of scrutiny of his ideas he can't hide anywhere and his ideas would quickly be revealed to be garbage wrapped up in nice words.
 
Velvet Elvis said:
View attachment 67198835
...would like to school you on "worst campaign ever."
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I'm gonna have to disagree. You can't blow the amount of money Bush did and get so little return without being the worst campaigner ever. Speaking of blow, if JEB! videotapped himself going on drug binges he'd probably have polled better. At least some people could say "man I'd like to party with that guy".
 
calamity said:
....................What gives? Why didn't the establishment get behind this obviously strong candidate sooner?
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I agree......IMHO ......Kasich is the only one of the 17 clowns that has the qualities and experience to be President of the United States...........

Could that be the reason why he never caught on?..............over qualified for the position.............
 
SenorXm/Sirius said:
They rejected him because they were behind Jeb 1st, and they didn't think(no one did) Trump could last. So they figured Jeb would just wait around, and then jump to the top after Trump fizzled. But Trump never fizzled.

The establishment GOP had no idea just how mad part of their base was at them.
Click to expand...

And they still don't.
 
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