There are always power players within the party. The party chair Reince Priebus will have a great influence as will many others including Paul Ryan, Chris Christie, and other long term members. There is no way Trump comes out of a brokered convention. First he would most likely lose the general election, second if his admin was a total disaster, and would be, the party would be badly damaged. Third, and this is really the big one, the party hates him. He has always leaned way to far left and what he is saying now is just an act. Cruz would not stand a chance either, everybody hates him. In the general he would go down in a historic defeat.

A brokered convention is about picking somebody who can win. Who that guy (or gal) would be is a mystery to me but it would be interesting.

I believe that in my life time, providing I live another 20 years, the republican party will split in two. You will have something to the far right similar to the tea party and something centralist that will draw in moderate democrats. I also believe that the Democrat will start moving more towards fiscal conservatism as millennials become more influential.

Sanders, and his brand of socialistic learning is a flash in the pan, although his plans to reign in banking and wall street is probably going to grow into a political movement that will force politicians to act.

SBW, thanks for the explanation. Too put it bluntly somebody told me the other day that I put too much emphasis on things like facts and logic and that voters are just to fucking stupid to care (their words, not mine). I see your point but I hope that after the past 8 years of lack of leadership or ideas form the WH people would want substance over style. I am always the dreamer. I don't think the Hildabeast comes off very well when she attacks and that didn't work for her against Obama. I hope that anyone who opposes her in the general election would benefit from her personality or lack there of. Of course she could get indicted and all my dreams would come true.

SBW, thanks for the explanation. Too put it bluntly somebody told me the other day that I put too much emphasis on things like facts and logic and that voters are just to fucking stupid to care (their words, not mine). I see your point but I hope that after the past 8 years of lack of leadership or ideas form the WH people would want substance over style. I am always the dreamer. I don't think the Hildabeast comes off very well when she attacks and that didn't work for her against Obama. I hope that anyone who opposes her in the general election would benefit from her personality or lack there of. Of course she could get indicted and all my dreams would come true.

I have read a lot of name thrown around as possible VP candidates but there doesn't seem to be a clear front runner. Rubio, Nikki Haley, Brian Sandoval, Rob Portman, Kelly Ayotte. While I have always been able to predict the winner of the Presidential race months beforehand I have never once been able to guess who would be picked as the running mate for either party. If I had to guess who they will pick I would say Haley. Young, conservative, woman (shouldn't matter but it will), good public speaker, minority, and a reputation of being pretty tough.