As of today, the Republican Party has a total of 15 candidates seeking the party’s presidential nomination. If you are convinced, as I am, that Donald Trump will not be the party’s nominee, just who will it be?

One establishment candidate has already called it quits (Walker) and another (Bush) seems to be continually sticking his foot in his mouth. The “stuff happens” gaffe made after the Oregon College gun massacre is just the latest in a steady string of faux pas. (see What’s Wrong With Jeb?)

What was touted as an embarrassment of riches only a few months ago is now just an embarrassment. How could so much equal so little? There doesn’t appear to be an “A” student in the class.

The smart money right now seems to be moving behind Marco Rubio. But at a time when Republican voters are flocking towards candidates with zero political experience, how does the Senator from Florida paint himself as a Washington outsider?

“Four years ago, for the United States Sen­ate, the es­tab­lish­ment was act­ively try­ing to un­der­mine my can­did­acy,” Ru­bio recently told an audience in Davenport, Iowa.

“The truth of the mat­ter is, when I de­cided to run for the pres­id­ency, all the same people that told me not to run for the Sen­ate came out of the wood­work again and said, ‘It’s not your turn; you haven’t been around long enough; we’re all go­ing to line up be­hind some­body else,’” Ru­bio said. “And that’s fine. That’s OK.”

Will this well-calculated stratagem resonate with Republican voters sick of establishment candidates? Probably not. Even the dimmest voter will understand Rubio is talking about four years ago, before the Cuban American defied the odds and made it to Washington; before the outsider became an insider.

Marco Rubio’s profile as a good-looking 43-year-old with just four years of experience in the Senate is awfully reminiscent of Barack Obama’s in 2008. But as Texas Sen. Lloyd Benson said to the young Dan Quayle during the 1988 vice presidential debate, after he defended his inexperience as similar to that of John F. Kennedy, “Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy.”

Senator Rubio, with all due respect, you are no Barack Obama.

Photo | marcorubio.com

In an under-reported news story, billionaire Rupert Murdoch has encouraged fellow billionaire Michael Bloomberg to challenge current billionaire and Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump for the 2016 nomination. Got it?

Murdoch, whose companies own Fox News and the New York Post, tweeted:

With Trump becoming very serious candidate, it’s time for next billionaire candidate, Mike Bloomberg to step into ring. Greatest mayor.

Rupert Murdoch @rupertmurdoch 6:17 PM – 23 Aug 2015

The man whose cable network helped create the menace known as “The Donald” is looking for a dragon slayer to save the day for the Republican establishment. Apparently Murdoch tweeted while on vacation. Maybe the media mogul had sipped one too many martinis as a few hours later he followed up with:

“I did not say I would vote for him! Just a friend I admire.”

Even with a personal fortune of over 37 billion, the odds of Michael Bloomberg ever seeing the inside of the White House, other than as a guest, are as good a Bobby Jindal converting to Judaism.

The independent Bloomberg supports same sex marriage, gun control and regulating the size of your “Big Gulp.” He is not only Jewish but “New York Jewish.” Surely the man small in stature but big in the wallet is flattered by the support of his fellow 1 percenter. But he is way smarter than Trump to throw those hard earned millions down a sink hole.

Photo | telegraph.co.uk

Once again, Sarah has come to the aid of the Republican presidential frontrunner, Donald Trump (Stand By Your Man – Palin Defends Trump.) On her Facebook page, Palin wrote that when a reporter asked Trump to name his favorite Bible verse, after he touted the sacred book as his favorite of all time, it was just another “gotcha question.” So totally unfair! So out of line! This critique, mind you, is coming from the woman who thought Katie Couric’s question, “ which newspapers and magazines do you read” was of the “gotcha” variety.

Thanks to Palin, the term “gotcha question” has come to mean any question a politician can’t, or would rather not, answer. Today, when a reporter asks a politician an unwelcome, difficult or surprising question, it’s instantly labeled a “gotcha.” One thing’s for sure, when you hear a politician talk about a “gotcha question,” the reporter is doing his or her job well!

While Katie Couric’s question of Sarah Palin’s reading materials is perhaps the most famous Palin “gotcha question” (as labeled by Palin herself), here is a list of ten other questions Plain has described as “gotchas” but which never got the same media attention:

1.Can you name your children in chronological order?

2.What was your favorite subject in high school?

3.Is the Earth thousands or billions of years old?

4.Did you frame your college diploma?

5.Do you prefer boxers or briefs?

6.Should we deport all illegal immigrants or just Mexicans?

7.When will you launch your next presidential run?

8.Do you agree with the Pope on global warming?

9,Do you find it unseasonably warm today?

10.Miller Lite … “great taste” or “less filling?”

Yes, Sarah Palin will defend Trump at every opportunity. A reporter recently asked if she was angling to become Trump’s VP pick. The woman known for her “word salads” was only able to mutter, “Oh fiddle-de-dee!” At least she did not call the question a “gotcha!”

Trump- Palin would make an interesting ticket. But, alas, they would be appealing to the same ultra right, low -information base.

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Photo | telegraph.co.uk

More good news out of Iowa for the surging septuagenarian, Bernie Sanders. In a new Des Moines Register/Bloomberg Politics Iowa Poll, the Democratic presidential candidate is only 7 points behind Hillary Clinton in the race for the Iowa caucus. Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner, leads with 37 percent of likely Democratic caucusgoers, while Sanders follows at 30 percent.

A May Quinnipiac University poll showed Hillary’s support at 60 percent and that of Bernie at 15 percent!

The Clinton camp is starting to get worried. Will they have to resort to the “age card” to fend off the spry 73 year old?

Hillary Clinton at the age of 67 is a spring chicken compared to the Vermont Senator. The thinking in the Clinton camp, and among the chattering class, is that Bernie is just too old to become president. If Bernie were to succeed in his bid for the presidency, he would become the oldest person ever to be elected president.

I must admit, at times, I have felt Sanders has passed his presidential expiration date. But then I see and hear Bernie talk! He is so alive, so impassioned in his delivery that it makes one believe in the possibility of his quest. Compare Bernie’s enthusiasm to that of Jeb. That’s right, there is none! It is as if Jebbie is just going through the motions, not really believing in what he is saying. I’m afraid the exciting Jeb! logo has morphed into something new… Jeb?

If you believe Bernie is too old to become president, think of Ruth Bader Ginsberg. At age 82, she perhaps has the sharpest mind of any Supreme Court Justice. Compare her legal acumen to that of the much younger Clarence Thomas at age 67. Fuggetaboutit!

Here’s something else to consider. At age 73, Bernie Sanders is only one year older than Joe Biden. Yet no one’s talking about Joe being long in the tooth. It’s got to be the white hair. Yep, it’s Sanders’ hoary head that makes him look more ancient!

Bernie, Bernie, maybe a little Grecian Formula wouldn’t hoit? Just saying.

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(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

At his Iowa press conference yesterday, Donald Trump deported reporter Jorge Ramos back to his employer, Univision, for asking a question out of turn. “I would have deported him back to Mexico but I heard he was a U. S. citizen,” said Trump.

The flare up started as Trump began to take questions from a room full of reporters. Without being picked by Trump, Ramos arose to ask a series of immigration questions of the leading Republican presidential candidate. “Sit down, “ Trump ordered, “you weren’t called.” When Ramos refused to comply, one of Trump’s bodyguards physically escorted Ramos out.

Jorge Ramos has been called the Walter Cronkite of Hispanic news. His employer, Univision, has been labeled the most important Spanish-language network, with Ramos as the biggest, most-trusted on air personality on Spanish-language TV.

“I just wanted to ask him how he could possibly deport 11 million undocumented immigrants,” said Ramos, “and how he could build a 1900-mile wall. Does he have any idea what that would cost?

While Trump has touted his immigration solution, he has yet to supply any specifics. But that has not bothered his supporters. Apparently they believe Trump is capable of making anything happen. After all, he is very smart and very rich.

Trump was praised by his backers for the way he handled Ramos.

“He was so calm, so presidential!” exclaimed an excited supporter. “He was very dignified in his response. He could have very easily told Ramos to ‘sit the f–k down!”

Photo | dailykos.com

The man is not only still around … he continues to be the people’s choice! Donald Trump is still the overwhelming favorite for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. In a poll tracking 24 of the top pollsters, Trump is leading with 26.1% of the vote, followed by Bush at 10.3% and Carson at 9.7%. Depending on your viewpoint, this is truly wonderful and amazing; or truly shocking and cause for alarm.

The thinking of the political pundits was that Trump would follow the trajectory of a Herman Cain or Michelle Bachmann; shoot to the top quickly and, just as quickly, crash and burn.

How could the pundits, both Republican and Democrat, have gotten it so wrong this time? Why isn’t Trump’s fifteen minutes of fame as presidential candidate over?

Political pundits and analysts believe in logic, history, precedent and the laws of nature. They all convinced themselves they had seen this act before. They remembered that in a 2011 national poll, Herman Cain, the pizza man, lead the eventual nominee, Mitt Romney, 27% to 23%.

What the experts did not figure, nor do they understand, is just how far we as a country have sunk into the abyss of stupidity. Is there any doubt our great country gets dumber by the day? (The New American Majority)

You could say all those years of badmouthing science, knowledge, intellectualism, facts, teachers, and public education has taken a toll. All those years of defunding public education, promoting charter schools and homeschooling hasn’t helped our “national” IQ either.

Yes, a majority of Republicans love their loudmouth, classless Donald. Heck, he tells it like it is; he could care less about being politically correct! One could safely say, Trump is the only Republican presidential candidate who could make George W. Bush look like a statesman by comparison.

Can Trump keep his momentum all the way to the Republican nomination? What seemed preposterous only a few months ago is starting to look like a real, yet still remote, possibility.

“In politics, stupidity is not a handicap.”
― Napoléon Bonaparte

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Another Castro has declared his support for what many still see as the inevitable Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton. No, it is not Raul, Fidel’s younger brother (“Fidel Endorses Hillary For President.) This Castro is Joaquin, U.S. House Representative from Texas; the identical twin brother of Julian who served as Mayor of San Antonio from 2009 to 2014 and is now the 16th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Obama Cabinet.

“There’s no doubt about it: Hillary is the best person to be our 45th president,” Castro declared. “Hillary has always been a tireless advocate for working families — she’s never ceased to make sure everybody has a fair shot at achieving the American Dream.”

Many political analysts are discussing Castro as an excellent VP choice for Clinton. The many benefits of such a vice presidential nominee are obvious. He is young, good-looking, well spoken and one of the more prominent Latino Democrats involved in national politics. In a 2013 Latino Decisions poll, 32% of the Latino voters surveyed said that a Castro bid for vice president would make them more likely to vote for the Democratic ticket in 2016.

In case you’re confused, it is not the Castro who endorsed Hillary people are talking about. It is brother Julian who is attracting all the buzz and excitement!

Don’t shortchange Rep. Castro, however. He is no political slouch. I hear he is every bit as young and good-looking as Julian.

To recap. The Castro who has endorsed Hillary Clinton is not likely to become her running mate. The Castro twin who has not endorsed her is. Go it?

Now wouldn’t a Clinton-Castro ticket be a great choice to go up against a Republican offering of Trump-Rubio? Like the Democratic counter part, Senator Marco Rubio is also young, good-looking, well spoken and one of the more prominent Latinos involved in national politics!

A real Mexican standoff of vice presidential candidates! OK, Rubio is Cuban.

Photo | Texastribune.org

Adding excitement to the thaw in US-Cuban relations after more than a half century of Cold War estrangement, former Cuban dictator, Fidel Castro, has endorsed Hillary Clinton for president. The stunning announcement was made at Castro’s oceanfront retirement home, Casa de Manana. Political observers in both countries are baffled by the 89 year old’s intervention into the 2016 presidential contest.

“I think he’s a little loco,” offered his younger brother (84) and current Cuban dictator, Raul. “He hasn’t been right for a long time. He still thinks the CIA is out to assassinate him. Just last week he asked when Nikita Khrushchev is sending those damn nuclear missiles to the island.”

Many Cuban journalists are reporting that this odd turn of events just confirms what many islanders already think, “que ha perdido la cabeza!” which translates to, “the man has lost his mind!”

But a few old time contemporaries of the frail dictator have proposed a cogent rationale for Castro’s endorsement.

“Chico,” as Castro is known to his closest friends,” always liked the Clintons. He is especially fond of Bubba. He once told me that because of Bill Clinton, our cigar sales jumped 33% in 1998. While we’re communists, that kind of sales increase is still something to be proud of,” said Manny Rubio, who, by the way, insisted there is no family relationship with Republican presidential candidate, Marco Rubio.

“You know Chico,” continued Rubio, “had a good time with all that Clinton imbroglio, you know, impeachment.  El Presidente has a great sense of humor. He kept referring to Bubba’s creative use of a cigar as ‘la segunda crisis de los misiles en Cuba’ which, in your language translates to, ‘the second Cuban missile crisis!”

Bernie Sanders did not take Castro’s endorsement of Clinton well. “If he was going to endorse anyone, it should have been me. I’m the closest thing to a communist in the race!.”

Photo | en.unifrance.org

In the most recent polling of likely Iowa caucus-goers, Donald Trump had the most support at 22%; this in spite of a shaky debate performance, a very public feud with Fox News and host Megyn Kelly and being barred from speaking at the conservative RedState Gathering.

Coming in a healthy second with 14% support, Dr. Ben Carson. Not one other Republican presidential candidate hit double digits.

What do the top two Republican candidates have in common? You are probably thinking not much. One is a bombastic billionaire real estate developer and the other a renowned, but reticent, neurosurgeon. But they do share one important thing … they are not mainstream politicians. Heck they are not, nor have ever been, politicians … period.

What an angry conservative electorate is telling the Republican establishment is they are sick and tired of career politicians … period.

It may be too early to celebrate but what I think we are now witnessing is the death of the Republican Party as we have come to know it. The village folk are angry and in no mood for business as usual. They have their pitchforks out and going after anything that smells of mainstream politics. Even many loyal Fox News followers are turning against the hand that’s been feeding them excrement for so many years.

Today, the wimpy plagiarizer Rand Paul came out with the first Trump attack ad. What a waste of money! He, and the rest of the mainstream field, should know that Trump’s supporters will stick by their man no matter what and for one reason and one reason only; he is not a politician, as are the rest of the sorry lot (Fiorina excluded.)

Rumor has it the Trump’s camp is preparing a counter attack ad. It consists of an unflattering photo of Rand Paul with Trump doing the voice-over, “I am not a career politician like this weasel. I am Donald Trump and I approve this message.”

To the utter dismay of the Republican establishment (Fox News), Trump has hit on a simple, but effective message.

Image courtesy of chrisroll at FreeDigitalPhotos.net