If you put a ripe banana to my head and threatened to smash it unless I picked one Republican candidate to vote for, I'd pick Kasich, governor of Ohio. Maybe it's  because I grew up in Ohio before it was populated with Palin fanatics and I still have memories of how life was when folks were reticent to demean others for their behavior, there were high paying jobs in the mills, the speed limit was 55 and the homecoming girls wore Saddle Oxfords. I don't like Kasich's religious bigotry nor the Republican agenda. But Kasich wouldn't allow Texas to secede nor invade Egypt. He is a sane hard nose conservative who wouldn't destroy the economy. As far as politics and policies go, he is the least unsavory Republican candidate, in my opinion.

Yesterday Kasich unloaded upon his crazy companions in the primary---lambasting the idea of deporting millions of Hispanics, of a flat tax of 10%, of abolishing Medicare and Medicaid, and of screwing people who already have health insurance under Obamacare. Obviously he is setting up a context for tonight's Republican debate. Of course he has to do something outlandish to get attention or his candidacy is over. That's the Trump-era reality. But the reality for the Republican party is that it needs to shift away from this crazy-policy and immigrant-bashing mode if it is ever to win another national presidential election.

Kasich's new tack probably won't win him the nomination, it may sink his candidacy, or it might give him the inside track to go where Republicans need to be when they start weeding out the Tea Party, quit the Southern Strategy once and for all, and stop bashing minorities, women, and science. Republicans need to wash the dumb out of their hair---I'm reminded of a song which was popular when I lived in Ohio. Kasich might be the start of a reform movement. Compared to Rubio he appears to be more mature, and compared to Jeb---well, less baggage. 

In tonight's debate I think we'll see the surface ripples of the invisible establishment hand trying to get the Republican presidential election under control and again pursuing the strategy of recent history---which is to appease an unrly base while picking a candidate who can appeal to a centrist minded electorate. But the base might be so dysfunctional that a Rubio or Bush won't work this time around and a carnival barker or insane former surgeon might win the nomination. If so, the Republicans will lose.

If the Republicans lose this time, it will be a time of reckoning. Kasich might then be seen as the person who didn't mince words about the crazy propositions and proportions in this election. He might then  become the man of the hour for the next national election.

Or, if Kasich can handle Trump, given that Trump has already ripped the kimonos and kilts off the other candidates, Kasich could be the person to rationalize Republican behavior before it drives the party completely off the rails in this general election.

Or, Kasich is just today's Republican standout loudmouth who will continue to fizzle out. It will be interesting to see where his new stance takes him, and this election.