This one isn't as much a diary as a solicitation of your predictions. And as political junkies, we got lots of those!
The excellent diary that synopsizes Frank Rich's newly-expensive column today discusses the Bush family history of cronyism. Many of us have noted that there are new revelations daily about the unqualified being placed in positions based on political considerations.
My question is about what comes next? What becomes of the GOP after the Bush Administration?
My impression is that the cronyism of the Bush family extends to every arena of American politics, whether it's deep into the administration, the legislative branch, potentially the court, the think-tanks and most importantly the fundraising base. Hell, the family has had 17 years (since 1988) to take charge.
The fundraising connection are potentially the most critical since big money can be denied if a prospective GOP reformer (don't laugh at the term; in spite of W's claims to be one, one might actually exist) threatens to dismantle the machinery. In my view, that's part of why John McCain gets smeared so often.
Business contacts have been given huge say-so over policy. Military and quasi-military (Halliburton) contractors steer military policy, drug companies steer health policy, textbook and testing companies steer education policy etc. And the companies seem to be loyal to the Bushes. Why not? They got theirs.
Has the Bush family locked up so much of the GOP fund-raising base that it would be impossible for a 2008 GOP candidate to take charge? Could a determined 2008 GOP'er root out the corruption? Or would a 2008 candidate leave the machinery intact and use it for himself (or herself; sorry Condi)?
IMHO, I think it depends on whether or not Jeb intends to run in the future. If so, the "machine" stays intact until Jeb gets his shot.
But I'd like to hear what you think.