The reason that there are so many idiots running for the GOP nomination isn't because there are no smart Republicans, it's because the smart ones know its crazy to run. It's been pretty obvious how everyone of any sense, competence, intelligence and electability has simply refused the crown when offered: Bush, Barbour, Christie, I could go on.

The country is heading into a new phase, one characterized by budget deficits, cutbacks on government benefits, high unemployment, crappy jobs with no worker bennies, protection or rights, shrinkage of the middle class, greater income inequality than ever before, and high taxes for those who can least afford to pay them (no more free ride for the poor no more easy ride for the middle, no sirree, the 'job creators' have been carrying them on their backs far to long). It's time for everybody to take a bath and get a job.

It's not the end of the world, we will stabilize and adjust to the new conditions (which are worldwide, not just here). Eventually we may even prosper, although it may no longer be as a superpower. But it won't happen in my lifetime. This economy is not a consequence of ideology or politics, its an adjustment of the world to new technology, and it is not that much different than what happened after the kickoff of the Industrial Revolution. A hundred years ago Great Britain was in exactly the place we are right now.

The introduction of steam power, mass production, and the factory system caused horrible changes to those societies that undertook them, and it took generations for the benefits of the new technology to catch up with the social problems it introduced. But the early 21st century is going to be remembered as hard times after times of plenty; and Americans aren't used to hard times. They haven't known times like this for over 70 years.

No one in his right mind would want to be President over a declining economy and nation, and no political party wants to be remembered for it or associated with it. The only reason the Republicans are interested in government at all is to make sure the coming hard times affect them and their constituency as little as possible. Romney is perfectly suited for that job. The Tea Party, Libertarians, Objectivists, and other fundowackos will make a great noise, stomp their feet and go into hysterics, but they are just the street toughs that have been temporarily enlisted to provide the muscle. They are now being systematically sidestepped and the grownups are taking over. The power elite has weathered these storms before. They know what they're doing.