What's John Kasich Thinking? And Who Is Merrick Garland?

Listen to Matt Welch, Elizabeth Nolan Brown, Damon Root, and Matt Kibbe on Sirius XM channel 121 at Noon ET

After winning his home state of Ohio last night, Governor John Kasich vowed "We are going all the way to Cleveland!" Leading to the obvious follow-up question, WHY??? The man has no mathematical path to the nomination whatsoever, and front-runner Donald Trump is warning about "riots" should the nomination be snatched from his stubby, authoritarian fingers.

Discussing the Kasich Perplex with me today on SiriusXM's Insight Hour (channel 121), where I am again hosting today at noon ET, is beloved Reasoner and known Ohioan Elizabeth Nolan Brown, plus former Rand Paul SuperPACer-turned Free the People impresario Matt Kibbe. Among the discussion topics: Is there anything the GOP establishment can't screw up?

Then in the second half of the show Brownie and I will be joined by crackerjack Reason legal beagle Damon Root, to talk about the reportedly DOA nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court.

You can join the conversation by calling in at 877-974-7487!

Comments

[Citizen X]

"We are going all the way to Cleveland!"

Can he stay there?

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

In Warty's dungeon?

[Arkansaustrian Economics]

He should go by boat. Maybe take the Cleveland Steamer.

He doesn't want to be associated with radical Republicans, though, so he should probably eject Santorum first.

[AlmightyJB]

Why? Because he is a douchbag?

[Libertarian]

Just what we need. More pundits practicing political punditry polluting general discussions of the current campaign stratagems. Hey, I've got an idea, let's form a libertarian organization to discuss how libertarianism does or does not affect current events, how libertarianism could positively alter future elections and, you know, actually PROMOTE libertarianism.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

He had a show that tried that.

It morphed into a comedy.

[Jerryskids]

Promote libertarianism? You mean the delusion that human beings aren't social animals, tribal animals, herd animals? Human beings are apex predators who band together to protect themselves from the only apex predator that's a threat to them - other human beings. Somehow they can't figure out how other human beings keep sneaking into the herd, but they just know there's safety in numbers. Libertarians are the ones pointing out that the herd mentality is seriously flawed in its premise, but they ain't buying that nonsense - if the herd mentality were seriously flawed in its premise the herd would have figured that out by now, wouldn't they? The herd has spoken, the herd is your only safety from the herd.

[Millennial Hipster Vanguard]

Correct. Human nature prevents the libertarian moment. People love politics. It allows them to exercise violence over other humans without getting their hands dirty.

[some guy]

Just because we were tribal animals in the past doesn't mean we have to be in the future. We're becoming less tribal all the time. Also, people can be social without devaluing individualism.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

You know how you spot the libertarian in the herd?

He's the slow one, getting towed by the lion.

[Swiss Servator]

or receiving a *narrows gaze*

[Mike A.]

He's a complete narcissist

[Irish Breaks Up W/ ESB]

"Donald Trump is warning about "riots" should the nomination be snatched from his stubby, authoritarian fingers."

Oh no! The Trumpsters will burn down all the major, important cities with tons of Trump support!

All 0 of them!

[commodious spittoon]

Yep.

Cut the Trump contingent loose, set it adrift, and light it up like a Viking funeral ship. Fuck 'em.

[You Sound Like a Prog (MJG)]

Appalachia will burn.

[kbolino]

So, it'll be just like every other day?

[The Last American Hero]

He has good support in District 12, maybe district 11, but yes, the folks living in District 1 and District 2 are safe.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

What about the bug people in District 9?

[Agile Cyborg]

Dreams and hallucinations are awesome when reality is either on the shelf momentarily or bites like an asp. Allow the ghastly fuck his little trip, man.

[Drake]

I would actually have more respect for Kasich if he actually has a deal with Trump. Otherwise he's just a narcissist shit-weasel.

[Millennial Hipster Vanguard]

2 individuals working together to invalidate hundreds of thousands of votes. Now I really regret not voting.

[Agile Cyborg]

The drug-hating turdaclese is fucking spaced on GOP mushrooms, Drake.

[Adans smith]

Being humble and self aware are not traits those running for office possess.

[Adans smith]

Why do I think the Republican convention will resemble the Cleveland Browns?

[Citizen X]

Because it will turn out to be just as good a euphemism for taking a dump?

[Adans smith]

As a long time Browns fan I say taking a dump is much more satisfying.

[some guy]

I think it's going to be the most entertaining political convention in recent history.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Matt inviting us to call in?

*maniacal laughter*

[commodious spittoon]

Their screener is well-versed in the customs of H&R's morlocks: they'll quiz callers on who would win in a fist fight, Warty Hugeman or STEVE SMITH? If a caller answer anything other than "Trick question, it would be more like Caber toss melee, using cocks," he gets on.

[RBS]

Everyone should call in and only make references to running jokes on H&R.

[SugarFree]

I do a really good STEVE SMITH voice.

[Citizen X]

I'm thinking sort of like Cookie Monster, but less intelligible.

[Millennial Hipster Vanguard]

Bobcat Goldthwait?

[SugarFree]

Deeper and more growl.

[Millennial Hipster Vanguard]

Christian Bale as batman?

[commodious spittoon]

Anton Chigurh, but loud?

[Citizen X]

CALL IT, FRIENDO.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

A cross between Forrest Gump in mid-coitus with Jenny and a grizzly.

[Crusty Juggler]

"yarp"

[Adans smith]

Talk to a actual person? Are you insane man?

[Irish Breaks Up W/ ESB]

"So Matt, I noticed you kicked off the show with a pretty disgusting masturbation euphemism. This is getting really out of hand."

[commodious spittoon]

"Caller, what did you mean by 'the Tonies of the world'?"

[Irish Breaks Up W/ ESB]

"Be honest - does Nick ever take off the jacket, or is it grafted to his skin by decades of sweat and orphan tears?"

[Citizen X]

If you weren't so busy being racist, you'd already know that Nick won't take The Jacket off - it will take HIM off, when it is done with him.

[some guy]

So The Jacket is a libertarian version of The Hat and Hair? Do they know each other?

[Robby's Hair]

it will take HIM off, when it is done with him.

Yes, that is how it works when a "libertarian writer controlling item" is formulated in the Koch brothers' secret accouterments factory, which is located underneath a dormant volcano.

[commodious spittoon]

Microcilia.

[Free Market Socialist $park?]

Of all the things a person could spend an hour listening to, it surprises me that anyone would choose this. You let a woman in there and the whole show is ruined.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Another Kennedy fan, I see.

[The Last American Hero]

I seriously can't believe it's taken Reince this long to show up at Kasich's headquarters with the manila folder.

[Citizen X]

These masturbation euphemisms are getting pretty abstract.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

That one wasn't abstract, it was just gross.

[Crusty Juggler]

Legal beagle? Brownie? When did Matt morph into a drive time radio personality, and why did it take so long for him to do so?

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Leagle Beagle?

Wasn't that the name of the bar in Three's Company?

[Francisco d'Anconia]

al*

EDIT BUTTON!

[This Machine]

No idea, but it's pretty clear that he missed his calling.

[Drake]

The fact that Kasich is still in the race, still getting funding, and doesn't have every GOP bigwig yelling at him to get out is very telling. Some of them, like Bob Dole, already let the mask slip - they like Trump better than Cruz. They think Trump is less principled, more pliable, and will make their kind of deals.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/c.....-cruz.html

So, they keep Kasich in there to drain away Cruz votes and give Donald those big 40% victories.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Bob Dole is like 120 years old.

[Free Society]

Cleveland Tourism Commercial

[Crusty Juggler]

the Kasich Perplex

While it doesn't hold a candle to The Matarese Circle, it could comfortably be compared withThe Prometheus Deception, or The Icarus Agenda. Not his best work, but not his worst, either.

[CE]

Why wouldn't he go to Cleveland? He is the governor of Ohio, after all.

And Trump may not secure a majority of the delegates before the convention, leaving the nomination wide open to any Establishment neocon like Kasich.

[Free Society]

Kasich is probably the worst candidate on the GOP ticket and that says a lot.

[Free Society]

vying for the GOP ticket*

[AlmightyJB]

I agree

[creech]

Best I can tell, the Stupid Party is putting all its eggs in the "Hope Hillary Gets Indicted" basket.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

The Evil Party's eggs are all in the "Hope Hillary Gets Pardoned" basket.

[Vampire]

Wow, Kasich is such a douchebag.