…as opposed to an ideological one; why is Mitt Romney going to be the Republican nominee? If the Tea Party, evangelicals, Libertarians and other conservative zealots are indeed in control of the GOP, how can a “Massachusettts Moderate” with severe flip-flop issues, ideological shortcomings and little party support among the rank and file, who is apparently despised by even his fellow moderates, be traveling toward Tampa in triumph?

We have a long and grueling nomination process, favorable Supreme Court rulings for infinite fund raising, and a lock-step marionette right wing press, cheering on cue, and is this the best they can do? Its pathetic. Granted, the other candidates were ludicrous, but there are highly qualified and capable men in the Republican ranks. Where were they?

There are only two possibilities. Either the GOP is still controlled by the Daddy Warbucks crowd in the smoke-filled back room, the corporate establishment country-club elite; or their elaborate nominating process and Byzantine campaign and debate schedule managed somehow to cancel everybody out perfectly and only the Mittster fit through the holes in the mesh.

How could this happen? If a moneybags establishment runs things, they spent a lot of money and lavished many self-inflicted wounds on themselves to come up with a pretty lackluster candidate. OTOH, if the wackofundos are in charge, how could they possibly have bungled it so badly that the guy they can least live with came out on top.

Either way, it makes you wonder if the Republicans as an organized party are dysfunctional. They can’t run a nominating process, how will they handle a national campaign against a strong incumbent, one who will have four years experience in the Oval Office, and will have a campaign organization that has already won a presidential contest against an experienced and universally respected Senator and war hero?

I realize its still early in the campaign, Obama could be easily crushed by unexpected events, such as a military reversal or an economic relapse. But as things stand now, Romney doesn’t have a chance in November. In fact, it appears the only thing he has going for him is that he’s probably the only Republican most moderates could tolerate if he did win.

That alone should have disqualified him with the GOP.