Republicans Who Might Run for President in 2016: The Sane Ones Vs. The Tea Partiers

In a very fascinating well-directed documentary film entitled "Mitt," produced by Netflix, about the presidential campaign on Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee states that it was amazing he got a chance that he got to run against President Barack Obama given that the GOP is now more of a Southern Baptist populist party while Romney was a New Englander Mormon wealthy man.

So, conventional wisdom is that the Republicans will go South in 2016, which may cost them in the general election in swing states, such as Wisconsin, New Mexico and Colorado, but hey I'm no Dan Balz ("Washington Post" reporter who is a veteran at covering politics).

Nevertheless, with CPAC2014 happening over the weekend in Washington, DC, last week, here we offer a look at which possible candidates will run: Some will attract the establishment (Jeb Bush) while other will attract the Yosemite Sam/ Tea Party types (Sen. Ted Cruz) who think every six-year-old boy should carry a Glock (one thing I like about blogging as opposed to reporting is being allowed to be subjective, when it's called for).

Here is the list:

1) Jeb Bush (Florida, pictured top)

2) Sen. Rand Paul (Kentucky, pictured middle) 

3) Gov. Bobby Jindal (Louisiana, pictured bottom)

4) Rick Santorum (Pennsylvania)

5) Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas)

6) Sen. Marco Rubio (Florida)

7) Gov. Nikki Haley (South Carolina)

8) Gov. Chris Christie (New Jersey)

9) Sen. Kelly Ayotte (New Hampshire)

10) Cong. Paul Ryan (Wisconsin)

http://www.c-span.org/

http://www.nationalreview.com/

http://www.thenation.com/#

http://thehill.com/

http://www.netflix.com

Quote of the Day/Week- Nelson Rockefeller

Today, on our two respective blogs ("Politics, Culture and Other Wastes of Time" being the other blog) we are quoting two former American vice presidents who would both be celebrating their respective 104th birthdays if they were alive today within the next few months.

Nelson Rockefeller (1908-1979) was actually just six weeks older than other subject Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) who unlike Rockefeller went on to become president due to the tragic assassination of John F. Kennedy. Rockefeller served as vice president under Gerald Ford from 1974-77. But, he decided not to join the ballot in Ford's failed re-election effort of 1976, and Bob Dole was chosen as Rockefeller's replacement.

Rockefeller was considered a moderate Republican, and the term "Rockefeller Republican" which refers to active politicians, such as Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), who are known for having either more centrist positions than the likes of far-right Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) or more progressive views on social issues, such as abortion and gay marriage, is in reference to Rockefeller.

Ironically, Rockefeller's own great nephew Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WVa) is a high-ranking member of the Democratic delegation in the current U.S. Senate.

Rockefeller was known to prefer problem-solving as opposed to sticking to a political ideology, in a way that reminds one of current New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who was elected mayor as a Republican, but has since become independent (some years prior to his election, Bloomberg was a Democrat).

Both Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan who were right-wing ideologues, though Goldwater might ironically be considered a Rockefeller Republican today since he was pro-choice, were strongly opposed to Rockefeller.

Aside form politics, Rockefeller was known for giving the middle finger to protestors at a rally in Binghamton, NY, which thus lead to the term 'the Rockefeller salute.' According to mentalfloss.com, Rockefeller is also alleged to have died of a heart attack at age 70 while in the company of his assistant Meghan Marshack.

Here is Rockefeller's quote, which actually sounds like something one might connect with liberal folk singer Joan Baez:

"Never forget the most powerful force on earth is love."