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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Herb Rothschild Jr.: How we treat animals ... Overcoming the odds ... Court tosses ruling ordering BLM to log more in Southern Oregon ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: How we treat animals ... Overcoming the odds ... Court tosses ruling ordering BLM to log more in Southern Oregon ... COMMENTARY Chris Honoré: GOP primaries: Let the games begin Comment By Chris Honoré DailyTidings.com By Chris Honoré Posted Jun. 8, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Chris Honoré Posted Jun. 8, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Granted, the next presidential election is more than a year away. But already there is a growing cohort of Republicans entering their party’s primary, and it will definitely be worth watching. Count on it being pure political theater. Consider that by the end of June there could be some 15-18 GOP candidates, all jockeying for position, each meeting with newly minted advisors, raising huge amounts of money, all while crafting cautious answers to media questions. Jeb Bush, who has been a non-candidate in name only, has already raised mega-millions while insisting he still has not decided to actually run. As an aside, it’s alleged that he has cynically played fast and loose with the Federal Election Commission rules regarding the use and control of his PAC, Right to Rise. The intent of the law is that once an individual announces, there can be no coordination between the PAC and his or her campaign organization. Regarding his much-anticipated announcement, Bush did recently put out a teaser: COMING JUNE 15, 2015. That’s it. Apparently that will be the day when he will either declare his candidacy or gracefully bow out, insisting he wants to spend more time with his family. Even better, Donald Trump — yes, the Donald — will announce sometime in late June that he is yielding to the overwhelming clamor for him to please, please, please run. As a precursor to his candidacy for POTUS, he has promised to disclose a quick and painless solution to ISIS/ISIL (most would rather know the secret to his tonsorial do). Apparently he has called his people back from Hawaii where they have been nailing down President Obama’s country of origin for the last six plus years (they are this close ...). Trump’s people are now in the hunt for any obscure poll that shows him leading the Republican field and declares, “You’re hired!” This is important because the first Republican primary debate will be held Aug. 6, 2015, hosted by Fox News. Of the expanding field, only 10 will be asked to take the stage. To establish who will make the cut, the folks at Fox will look at five recent national polls and, based on the averages, will make their choice. In other words, a third of the field will be dropped. Ditto the CNN debate in September; although CNN will offer a second-tier debate later for those who find themselves suddenly sent down to the minors. To mix a metaphor, this game of musical chairs will be the equivalent of a pick-up game of flag football among sixth-graders, absent refs. There will be lots of arguments about the rules and who gets picked and based on what data. Polls will be described as junk science — a term the Republicans have used only to describe global warming or evolution. This brouhaha is not what the GOP leadership had planned. Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, is not thrilled. He and his cohort of conservative strategists wanted a leader to emerge early and the rest, who have that POTUS glint in their eyes (free housing, spiffy ride, room service, a guy following you with a suitcase handcuffed to his wrist, etc.), will graciously step aside. But Priebus knows that these wannabes will not go gently into that good night. Not a chance. This will be a donnybrook; the dream of the White House doesn’t yield easily. I mean, after all, hundreds of people have stood before warships and campaign airplanes, on chilly tarmacs and in stuffy hangars, waving signs and flags, while insisting that of all those whose hats are now in the ring, it is you, you, the one on the dais, the one soaking up the approbation, you are the one. The chosen. Until you’re not, that is. Then it’s a long, quiet car ride back to political obscurity. And you’re likely driving yourself. The intern who drove you to Iowa and Ohio is now working for a different outfit. Trust me, this primary won’t be over until it’s over and the final score may not be tallied until the GOP convention in Cleveland, summer of 2016. This will be so worth watching. Get out the popcorn and let the games begin. Chris Honoré lives in Ashland. By Chris Honoré DailyTidings.com By Chris Honoré Posted Jun. 8, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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