The Desperation of Republican Party Elites

The lack of a consensus “establishment” candidate has apparently stopped many donors from giving to anyone, and that in turn feeds the overall weakness of the various “establishment” candidates. Republican elites may be on the verge of their biggest repudiation in decades, and they are fast running out of options to stop that from happening.

The American Conservative
The Desperation of Republican Party Elites
Daniel Larison

Another way of putting this is that the political concern is in jeopardy of getting trumped by a basic responsible concern for the welfare of the country. I think we saw some of this back in 2008 when Barack Obama was able to capitalize on a combination of the complete implosion of the Bush administration on every level and concerns about the temperament and suitability of both McCain and Palin to peel off traditionally right-leaning elites. It wasn't just Colin Powell who defected, but William Buckley's son and the offspring of Dwight Eisenhower and many big-name investors and capitalists.

There's a point where folks will actually give up on the GOP and vote for the Democrat, and it's really not that big of a leap to put your trust in the Clintons. You kind of know what you're going to get and they've got a record of basic competence.

Booman Tribune

GOP Elites Could Bolt to Clinton
BooMan

Zachary Werrell helped take down former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Speaker John Boehner. Now he’s taking on the entire Republican establishment.

In These Times
Meet the 24-Year-Old “RINO Hunter” On a Mission To Purge the GOP of Moderates
Waleed Shahid

Josh Kraushaar and Alex Roarty — GOP Poll: Foreign Policy, Not Economy, Voters’ Top Concern

Republican strategists believe a growing body of evidence suggests that national security could play a pivotal role in the next election. 

Fear factor increasing as terrorism is perceived to be rising and the world becomes less stable.

National Journal
GOP Poll: Foreign Policy, Not Economy, Voters’ Top Concern
Josh Kraushaar and Alex Roarty

Brad Friedman — Reagan-Appointed Federal Judge Who Approved First Photo ID Law in 2008 Writes Devastating Dissent AGAINST Photo ID Voting Restrictions

You read that right — Richard Posner — reverses himself.

If you read just one top-to-bottom dismantling of every supposed premise in support of disenfranchising Photo ID voting restrictions laws in your lifetime, let it be this one [PDF]!

Posner is the Milton Friedman of law. This is a big deal. Very bad news for the GOP when one of their heavy-hitters blasts them.

If there was ever evidence that a jurist could change their mind upon review of additional subsequent evidence, this is it. If there was ever a concise and airtight case made against Photo ID laws and the threat they pose to our most basic right to vote, this is it. If there was ever a treatise revealing such laws for the blatantly partisan shell games that they are, this is it. 

His dissent includes a devastating response to virtually every false and/or disingenuous rightwing argument/talking point ever put forth in support of Photo ID voting restrictions, describing them as "a mere fig leaf for efforts to disenfranchise voters likely to vote for the political party that does not control the state government." 

Posner is, by far, the most widely cited legal scholar of the 20th century, according toThe Journal of Legal Studies. His opinions are closely read by the Supreme Court, where the battle over the legality and Constitutionality of Photo ID voting laws will almost certainly wind up at some point in the not too distant future. That's just one of the reasons why this opinion is so important.…

Brad Blog

Reagan-Appointed Federal Judge Who Approved First Photo ID Law in 2008 Writes Devastating Dissent AGAINST Photo ID Voting Restrictions
Brad Friedman

Tim Murphy — Eric Cantor Loses GOP Primary. Wait, What!?

[Eric] Cantor became the first majority leader to lose a primary in 115 years.

So who is [David] Brat?

Mother Jones 
Eric Cantor Loses GOP Primary. Wait, What!?
Tim Murphy