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Going for Brokered?

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    Chris Stirewalt, Tony Welch and Charles Hurt on the possibility of a brokered Republican National Convention.

  • Duration 10:40
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This transcript is automatically generated

I know.

News com yeah I actually you know I -- saying about boiled egg it's hard to beat.

The the need -- this -- -- are being boiled in this.

In this by boiling.

Water at -- with today ads in the super Paxson and the media beat him up.

That was former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin an appearance on -- -- was Sean Hannity last night.

Saying that in fact they've boiled egg is hard to beat and this is power play Internet welcome -- here on this Ash Wednesday for the some 260 million American Christians if you are one of them.

It is Ash Wednesday and and we wish you the best on that day.

And in Washington though the discussion today is back taxes president's -- tax policy that gasoline prices.

About the Republican 2012 race.

We're going to delve into all of that we are going to get into all of those things -- including the president's tax plan and including the upcoming CNN debate tonight but.

Let's go ahead and give again a little bit I know -- Wednesday and we're not supposed to -- -- give in to our baser instincts but let's go ahead and give in on this question.

A contested or brokered Republican Convention.

It is the the -- -- -- the Washington press -- to the underclass.

And so let's just give him a little bit because it feels so good Tony well she's a former Press Secretary for the Democratic National Committee and Charlie hurt who is a columnist for The Washington Times and man about town and Charlie will be on the real television.

At the top of the hour.

To join -- -- -- third down to join John's got gentle -- to talk about more -- excellence.

Gentlemen I welcome.

So we can't resist talking -- now the last time.

That this happened for the Republicans.

That you had to have a contested or brokered convention those are two different things we'll talk but the difference was 1940 win the Republican establishment.

Gave me the people Wendell Wilkie hey.

A liberal.

Who was that big big international as they thought he was well suited to the moment to go against FDR and they sort of dropped him on.

And the Republicans took him and by the way he did not win the presidency in 1940.

Some free World War II history -- this so let's go ahead and start with this Tony.

The Republicans going to have a contested were brokered convention -- -- great question you know I am convinced of a couple things one thank god loves me.

Yeah -- doesn't -- me that much.

But it.

It and so are they gonna have one you know I dream won and in here's here's the what is the reason -- -- -- for the brokered convention -- everybody says nothing.

Okay so it Friday because -- Black Swan I'll go counter to.

You -- Mitchell was because they've been wrong a lot this camera.

The FBD really -- now.

But he if you -- you the best thing going forward is that everybody says it's not gonna happen everybody finds a way that LeBron is gonna pull this out but it certainly is as Rick Santorum.

These more more money.

Maybe figures out how to run a national campaign.

Then it looks more and more as -- -- like the possibility -- -- and so basically Charlie what do what it takes the beat the magic math.

For the Republicans to get there is that you have to have at least two candidates with a large number of delegates 1144.

Being required number at least two with a big chunk.

But nobody who's right there on the precipice right.

Yes and then and in this case.

You've got it's even more problematic because you have.

Ron Paul who is not ever going anywhere he's never ending up in -- -- have several hundred don't say -- -- which beat -- which simply means that those are going to be hard Hardaway.

From -- the front runner is so that -- are not going to be over get over that that the number needed and then you have.

Newt Gingrich.

Who at this point is server running -- revenge campaign.

And he's going to keep -- can't delegates who he's he's not who knows.

That's that's the great thing about Newt Gingrich he's he's got to -- He's got he's got a list he's got a list against everyone at all especially those voters that after all had a all all all all all know but -- -- that did it but every you know every four years we talk about a brokered convention.

And everybody gets all excited when -- using disputed disaffected.

Supporters but I think I do think this is the one time where you have Democrats and Republicans but good.

In favor okay.

It is don't like their choices and the Democrats you -- -- managed to unified.

Voters across the spectrum in favor of -- brokered convention that is they're just they just cannot -- Let's talk in front let's talk about because we are this is a safe space for us nerds.

Let's talk about the -- brokered convention and contested convention.

So brokered convention Tony is the idea of the smoke filled room in the guy's going back and in those days in 1940 would have been like Henry -- from time magazine -- super influential Republicans get a room and say.

-- this is your meat we had a meeting we decided this is our -- the power plays in network -- where the host for a week.

You've got a -- -- yes so it's fine by the unit of cigarette we have got the cigarettes in the whiskey but.

Would this would more likely be contested convention in the sense that there is not a unifying force inside the Republican Party that could bring everybody to bear.

So would just be -- have multiple ballots to be like the nineteenth century where you would have fourteen ballots going through when people say I wanna put Garfield and dominate.

Back -- -- With well with the brokered in the in this and directed it it would be more confessed enough program not not a smoke filled room but still chaos spread in the big time didn't do that there is -- and do you process for getting -- names into nomination who that might be it introduces a Chris Christie introduces -- she seemed to welcome -- Sarah -- it introduces a huge games it introduces anybody homeland -- those flash into the more people dream the more that dream exists out there the more Sarah Palin never endorses but simply keeps the idea going -- -- -- -- more this goes on the more likely that becomes but.

Make no mistake first and foremost it's contested it is chaos meaning we have no idea how this is going to end up.

And -- and indeed indeed his point about.

The nominee being restricted beautiful lonely being restricted because they won't they won't be able to suit to have a fifty state campaign the fifties the apparatus.

Put in place in time right in the fifties as the twelfth because they just think I'm ready to do you know how the other -- -- -- your name out of balance don't you just think well now you're.

We're encouraging -- -- Okay yeah.

I tell -- how.

How frustrated -- Mitt Romney and your son or even if you Rick Santorum I suppose now or Newt Gingrich.

How frustrating is it that all of this conversation is going outside where will it be cool the other person be my gosh it's like -- I'm standing right here but it's it's like an episode of fathers -- best if you like the eighties early sixties and right where.

-- -- Do you believe that you can't you come back here right now and I think I am your nominee you get -- -- and everybody in people who did this just completely.

You know and walking away from and the thing that is is terrifying for Republicans I think is that when you get every.

Every single company that has come along as shop right.

And then and then and then and then and then they found out that there.

That they did they didn't learn something about the nominee and and they -- -- -- and I think too but they do my one -- did it.

I think they look at this and they say oh my goodness if this is what happens when you go against Michelle Bachmann or or Rick Santorum and Gingrich.

And we welcome when he goes against Morocco.

That's bad and bad news media ideas that don't trust.

That apple won't ever ever let -- It's really lead if you didn't really really leave -- This sort of imagine if -- an area -- as an imaginary behind and didn't actually take -- -- you're right that that pattern is it is.

Very scary because at first we thought well -- did it's -- who's played a fancy it's gonna go away but no it's it's it's more.

Problematic.

-- the thing that I find funny in many ways about all of this is that the people who like the idea -- brokered convention imagine somehow that do.

The result of these 2300.

Republican activists on the floor in Tampa will be to pick a stayed centrist that they will -- or 488 broadly acceptable choice that Jeb Bush will mobile will be there their heart's desire.

Or that Chris Christie or that.

Or Mitch Daniels or these people is that much more likely -- -- populist somebody who could and I'm not saying trauma but somebody who.

Fires up the Republican imagination if you did go into something like this would get the not.

And I think that action would be a positive outcome.

For them in a lot of ways either they lost they would lose sort of is going -- -- yeah but but but I also think that there's a real possibility that that you know Mitt Romney.

He's very very good at organizing these very good at organizing these sorts of closed.

Environments where you don't have like people's actual -- is going on.

You just have you know people that you put -- I think that I want an end and he could very well wind up doing very well and a.

Tony -- Tony last thought from you so if the if though Mitt Romney.

Prevails.

And and gets a preponderance of the delegates.

Next week and in Super Tuesday and then in the Mississippi and Alabama primaries that they're gonna have so in three weeks you have.

Something like 700 delegates that are out there if he gets.

A big swath of those this thing starts to wrap up bright start to wrap up and even if you still get to where he doesn't make sure that virtual -- makes the best case right for being the nominee and I won't be denied -- nomination speech from them.

Saying I like the size of trees in America there.

-- -- -- -- -- The difference -- -- and gentlemen eight -- pleasure and it frolic and we thank you very much we want to guided by the way tell the Internet what it said.

Robert -- June says I think it contested convention being good thing both parties to move very far away from constitutional values maybe it's time to reorganize or restructure or not you.

Mike Carter only the media is excited about a contested convention and the media must realize it's not likely.

And selecting anyone other than those -- been running would disenfranchise all the voters who participated in the primaries in the candidates who worked hard for months and years raising money campaigning getting on ballots and organizing campaign.

-- Carter the voice of reason into the death today gentlemen we thank you very much when we come.

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