The GOP’s prescription to cure the ills that helped bring on yet another disastrous presidential cycle would revamp its presidential nominating rules in ways to benefit well-funded candidates and hamper insurgents - a move that quickly heated up the already smoldering feud between the Republican establishment and the tea party-inspired base.

Tucked in near the end of the 97-page report, formally known as The Growth and Opportunity Project, are less than four pages that amount to a political bombshell: the five-member panel urges halving the number of presidential primary debates in 2016 from 2012, creating a regional primary cluster after the traditional early states and holding primaries rather than caucuses or conventions.

Each of those steps would benefit a deep-pocketed candidate in the mold of Mitt Romney. That is, someone who doesn’t need the benefit of televised debates to get attention because he or she can afford TV ads; has the cash to air commercials and do other forms of voter contact in multiple big states at one time; and has more appeal with a broader swath of voters than the sort of ideologically-driven activists who typically attend caucuses and conventions.

The recommendations are also a nod to the party’s donor class. Several donors bluntly told RNC Chair Reince Priebus at meetings right after the election that they wanted Iowa, with its more conservative base, to have less of a role in the process.

Reaction was swift. Allies of potential 2016 hopefuls Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and former Sen. Rick Santorum, sensing a power play by the establishment-dominated panel, reacted angrily to recommendations they think are aimed at hurting candidates who do well in caucuses and conventions and need debates to get attention.

politico.com

They have created a monster. By allowing the crazies of the right wing gain so much influence within the party and trying to simultaneously politically benefit their “energy”, the Republican party must now grapple with keeping them within the fold. Now, when the RNC / Establishment Republicans try and dilute the influence of these crazies by changing the rules so that the nomination process is no longer a zoo the crazies freak out.

Rand Paul will now make a strong run for the Republican Candidate in 2016 and, win or loose the nomination, it will be the end of the modern Republican Party. If he wins the nomination he will lose big time as many “mainstream” Republicans will “stay home” so that after the election is over the brand of the Republican Party will be toast and if he looses, he will split from the party, run as a 3rd Party Candidate and the Democrats will win. Again, after the election the rump of the Republican party will be trashed.

There is no way out for them.