Can someone explain this logic to me?

[Sam Spade]

Rick never had any chance of winning, Phil.  Never.  Get used to it.  jmfcst was 100% completely right on this one, and he didn't even know that the delegate rules completely f-k Rick moreso than any other candidate running.  Where jmfcst lost his mind was in the concept that some late entry would win it, but no one is perfect.

What I will tell you is that Rick might have stood some chance of being the Prez nominee in 2016 had he dropped out before/after SC, as he would have maintained good will with the establishment/base had Newt won FL and won the nomination (which was a realistic possibility), and might have maintained good will with the establishment/base had Romney won anyway.  Why do you think Romney dropped out right after February 5 last time around?

As it stands now, Rick stayed at the party much too long, much like he stayed too long in 2005-2006 when his goose was completely cooked.  His actions in 2005-2006 killed him with regard to future political office in PA, now his actions in 2012 will kill him with regard to future political office nationally.  You have to know when to hold them and when to fold them.

[Sam Spade]

Jmfcst said Santorum would never get consideration from the base. A spectacularly wrong bit of analysis that was only rendered because he personally dislikes Santorum.

Let me help you out a bit, Rick... I mean Phil.

When you get consideration from the part of the base in a primary that is not Republican for economic reasons after the primary is already over, that consideration is, in effect, a nullity.  That also does not mean that you got consideration from jmfcst part of the Republican base either, as they are Republicans for economic reasons.

In reality, that part of the base was trying Rick out for a test drive in 2016 since he was around and Mitt showcased him a little, and now, after the crappy engineering and handling, is ditching the car.  Don't think that they'll return next time either.  Which is why Rick should have left much earlier - to take the metaphor further, he would have gotten a chance to redesign and rework the car before the actual customers came. 

I mean, Phil, what does Rick think he is, 1976 Reagan or something, where he could lose early primary after early primary and then arise from the dead? (yes I know he won Iowa by a few votes, but in reality that didn't count for anything - as I said at the time, it was a testament to wasting time in a state where people care about you wasting time in their state when the other candidates are awful)  Sometimes, he appears that arrogant, but I'm not going to make that assumption here.  You know personally enough to act like him, so I'm asking for your insight.