For part of my yute, Chicago had a number of dailies, the trib, the suntimes, and several others covering different issues from a variety of political points of view. There were times when a couple had virtually identical headlines, but with radically different takes on the same story. Most of the papers died, were bought out, or petered out like the urine flow of prostate sufferer. We have two paper left, both of which have been battered, broiled and deep fried by various ownership changes and staff cuts. The Trib, once a respected, but conservative paper with international journalists and a global reach, has become a news - free collection of ads. The Suntimes, also news free, decided to buy into USA Toady for its five solid pages of news squibs. At least it has four crosswords, Sudoku, and KenKen, and probably the best sports reporting in Chicago (ignoring the crime pages - which seem to often involves sports stars). It also has the worst apologist for the GOP outside of the WaPo and the pathetic rag that was once known as New York's Grey Lady.
From the church of ineffable stupidity - today's sAint- Steve Huntley, Chicago Suntimes' gift to the auto-lobotomized.
Today, his mix of daily medications must have been filled incorrectly, as he tried to portray every GOP candidate as worthy and substantial, even presidential.
Still, another simple truth is that there may be 18, 19, 20 or more contenders on the GOP side but only a half dozen or so have any real hope of the nomination. A Rick Santorum or Mike Huckabee might be able to score big in a primary or two but neither is going to be the nominee. Neither will the inspiring Dr. Ben Carson nor the impressive Carly Fiorina — being president requires some political office experience and they don’t have it.
Forecasting in politics is always risky, and surprises do happen. But we do have a pretty good idea of who are the top contenders, the frontrunners if you will. Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and Scott Walker are obvious choices. Ohio Gov. John Kasich, when and if he gets in, likely will move up by virtue of his resounding re-election in a critical competitive state. Rand Paul makes impressive showings in some poll match-ups against Clinton, suggesting his libertarian views have appeal beyond the GOP. Add to those maybe Chris Christie, who appears to be making a comeback from political purgatory with well-reasoned policy positions, or the sharp-witted Ted Cruz. Lindsey Graham, George Pataki or someone else not on our radar might break out.
Crowded GOP field could muffle message.
Steve, the message is not muffled, it is absolutely clear as glass. The problem is not too many messengers, but the content. The positions that the entire Klown Klass Have adopted wholesale are, frankly, insane. There is not one whit of difference between them on an major policy issue.
For example, "the inspiring Dr. Ben Carson nor the impressive Carly Fiorina?" Seriously? You deliberately put those adjectives together with those folks? All that Dr. Ben can inspire is nausea and the only ones impressed by Carly are the state workers doling out unemployment checks.
Every single GOP candidate is seriously, perhaps permanently flawed and in a rational society, they would be laughed off stage, much less selected to be a top tier debate worthy presidential candidate. To prove that psychotropic drugs do affect one's ability to think clearly, Steve Huntley actually suggests that Chris Christie's pathetic pandering and portly demeanor are actually rebounding.
Ah, Steve? That would be a no.
Go ahead and read it, if you wish to weep. But some folks actually believe what he writes, despite all facts to the contrary.
Your descriptions of individuals are so strained, so obviously concocted and inaccurate, that your whole article had the credibility of a new presidential bus campaign by Sarah (who you strongly supported as brilliant, fresh, and sassy).