I agree.. I wish the dems had more of a contest going.

It is also (or even more than) nice to see some fresh faces in the pack. 

Agreed, but let's not discount the entertainment factor, too! 

Just Fred wrote:

It is also (or even more than) nice to see some fresh faces in the pack. 

Agreed, but let's not discount the entertainment factor, too! 

To be honest, there are only three current GOP candidates that I dismiss out of the gate (Cruz, Santorum, and Huckabee) and I only dismiss Santorum on his social views.  Everyone else who is in I believe deserves a fair opportunity to make his or her case.

Now if Trump gets in, then the party starts!!!

Seriously though, the fact that we're going to see a much larger, much more thorough debate by a huge GOP field, I believe I instinctively follow thier primary closer than the Sanders-Hillary-O'Malley-(Maybe) Chaffee race, which right or wrong will be dominated by Clinton. 
 

Goose wrote:

The large field will pressure candidates to distinguish themselves from each other on policy. This can lead to some interesting and new ideas.
Unfortunately it can also lead to a pandering contest in which the candidates try to one up each other on a hot button issue.

I recall a GOP debate in 2011/2012 where each candidate tried to one up the others on how tough he'd be on immigration. Romney wanted to fence the entire border. Perry wanted troops and predator drones.Bachman wanted barbed wire and requirements to speak English only. And Herman Cain wanted to electrify the fence. He may have made some unfortunate remark about "frying" people. I'm not sure. It got so out of hand that the next day Stephen Colbert was calling for moats of flaming gasoline.

Good times.

The difference is (I think) candidates like Fiorina, Rand Paul, and Rubio are far better, and worthier candidates than Bachmann, Ron Paul, and Cain. I suspect we won't see the same level of outrageousness than we did in 2012.

Time will tell though.
 

Goose wrote:

I'm thinking that Bush, Rubio, Walker, are at the top of the class. Agreed

Paul has a problem with getting angry too easily. - Disagree and I think he'll court a lot of  millenials

Christie has the Paul Problem. He also has little appeal in the states that republicans usually win. - Christie ain't getting in with the past weekend's issues with the Bridge thing

Cruz I just don't see a path for. - Agreed. Rhetoric too high and focus too dismal

Hucabee is a protest candidate. - And a bad one at that

Santorum is just running to keep his profile up so that he can continue on the rubber chicken dinner lecture circuit. - Like his moxie even if I despise his social policies. 

Carly might be interesting. She could offer sharp criticism of Clinton with the appearance of being "anti-woman". - I'm really interested in hearing what she has to say. 

I haven't mentioned Ben Carson,,,,,,,,,, I'm interested in hearing what he has to say, as well as seeing how he stacks up as an outsider.