The crazy GOP field

The ever-increasing field of GOP presidential candidates has either become a laughingstock or a display of the diversity and depth within the Republican ranks.

Regardless of your view concerning this rush of GOP candidates, even for die-hards, this early campaign is difficult to follow.

I'm not sure what playbook the Republicans are following, but it's easy to see that at this point, no one is honestly convinced there is a clear front-runner. That lack of a leading contender has opened the race to some unlikely hopefuls whose names don't exactly resonate with the American public.

Or at least not yet.

But the reality is that the large group of Republicans seeking the White House is clearly unmanageable. For that I blame the Republican National Committee leadership.

The diversity within the ranks of the GOP field should be a leading narrative. For the party cartooned as a group of white rednecks and corporate shills, the field seeking the nation's highest office is a lesson in diversity.

And at the same time, the Democratic race is little more than a coronation for a privileged, wealthy woman who is short on trust and long on ambition.

In a normal year, that would be the formula for disaster.

Little is normal any longer.

The national media are having a field day with the size of the GOP field. The arrogance displayed by the national media is glaring as they dismiss each candidate in a cynical and biased fashion that is sad and dangerous.

With a field of Republicans amassed in qualifications and experience, the national networks focus on Donald Trump, who is a colorful character but a long shot at best.

Through a combination of making a mockery of the GOP field and ignoring the holes in the Hillary Clinton campaign, the media display their bias in an open form that is a stain on the political process.

No wonder a new poll shows the massive distrust in the national news media has reached record levels.

Over time the GOP field will diminish, though I suspect it may first grow even larger. The key for the GOP will be to mend fences and organize around one candidate.

That process will have to take place before focus is turned to the Democratic candidate. And that process will take time and money.

It's easy from the outside to ignore the Republican primary field until the crowd dwindles to those who have the message and the money to move forward.

It's not impossible that a front-runner could stumble and someone out of the pack could spark the attention of the American public.

At this point, you may need a score card to know the players on the Republican side, but that may prove to be a strength.

Michael Jensen is the publisher of the Sikeston Standard Democrat.