I‘m passing on this amusing and thought-provoking email from a political junkie friend.
Here’s a jeu d’esprit (and God knows we need some jeu right now): The 2016 GOP race is uncannily like the 2004 Democratic one. Donald Trump = Howard Dean. A bombastic outsider who runs a populist hyperbole-filled campaign. Leads the field until, just as some party leaders start embracing him, actual grass roots party members have to vote. Ted Cruz = Dick Gephardt. Old time party religion evangelist seeks to rebuild long-lost majority coalition. Marco Rubio = John Edwards. Cool young first term Senator, the smoothest speaker, etc. Attractive to dowager donors (male and female). Jeb Bush = John Kerry or Joe Lieberman. Early favorite who fades but then rebounds (or not) when people start voting. Ben Carson = Al Sharpton. African-American candidate who has never held office or been part of the political profession. Viewed as one who speaks the truth. Rand Paul = Dennis Kucinich. Eccentric member of Congress with radical philosophy of isolationism and fear of big brother. John Kasich = Wes Clark. Well credentialed pragmatist who believes that the party will somehow nominate a candidate far more moderate than the party’s voters. Chris Christie = John Kerry or Joe Lieberman. Early favorite who fades but then rebounds (or not) when people start voting. Rick Santorum = Gary Hart. Former Senator who finished second in a previous primary race and hopes to return to glory. Mike Huckabee = Bob Graham. Eccentric former Southern Governor. Carly Fiorina = Carol Mosley Braun. Female candidate hoping to get cabinet spot. So the question is: Is it Bush or Christie who is most like Kerry? Or will both end up like Joe Lieberman? If so, then what happens?
