An interesting UK look at the GOP candidates.

[Galraedia]

I've lost count of the number of times over the Christmas break that people have asked me some variation of that question. Weird, mad or bonkers, whatever word they used their contemptuous dismissal was the same.

Some will call it bias to even point out that this is a common perception, but it is real, and it is important.

There's no doubt that the scorn was more likely to be expressed by people on the left than the right, and more often by the British than Americans.

Of course there is a long, if not honourable, tradition of regarding those you disagree with as off their rockers. And we Brits have a bit of a record of patronisingly shaking our heads at American quirkiness.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16386176

[HipChick]

1. GOP candidates are not crazy... in fact they are brilliant

They know how to work the uninformed and brainwashed American voter....From the comments...

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. "Who can beat Obama?" "A mammal". Then he added sadly: "But they are all reptiles."

And that was "a leading Republican, who was in Congress for more than 10 years".

[FarLeftFist]

3. Glad the writer sees this as well:

After 2008 the Republicans followed a pattern familiar to defeated parties.

Having lost supporters and members from the middle ground, the core who remain were furious with their leaders, and decided the problem was a lack of ideological purity.

That became a more important touchstone than character, skill or electability in a candidate.