I assume you mean last time (H. Clinton vs Obama), not last year?  Though if you mean the special election primary for Senator for MA, or for those races for senate that had primaries in 2010, my appologies for my confusion.

Reagan’s rule was never attack another Republican and it proved very successful for 30 years, but when Romney went all SuperPacy on Newt’s book tour/ Presidential campaign he broke the rule. Newt is a bully and to maintain his status he had to hit back. So now the gloves are off and the glue that held the wildly divergent strands of the Republican Party together is cracking and crumbling before our eyes. 

The big question now is which of the three factions gets to keep the naming rights of the Republican Party. The authoritarian Christian/Dominionist Southern racist wing of the party has never liked belonging to the Party of Lincoln, what with his war of Northern Aggression and all, but a “Jesus only likes us and the rest of you will rot in hell” party just doesn’t roll off the tongue. 
The Romney/ Rockefeller Northeast liberal republicans already have there man in the White House, so a switch to just going with Obama and putting the final touches of turning the Democratic Party in the corporatist party seems like an easier transition than arguing with the the Tea Party nuts. 
The misguided lefties who support Paul could switch over to the OWS and give force to a new populist/working middle class party yet to be named. ( Paul is just a Southern racist at heart so he will jump with the authoritarian Dominionist.)

Who would of thought Newt’s oversized fragile ego would be the wrecking ball the brings down the House of Reagan.

Interesting theory about the long slog. I tend to view the endless Republican debates as being a form of mass marketing for conservatism. I’m not sure anyone expects anything to be decided by the debates, but it would certainly make sense that all the corporate money freed by the “Citizens United” ruling would be used to spread conservative messaging as widely as possible.

The debates did do one (important) thing—they peeled off the folks who transparently not ready for Prime Time. 

They also did a great job of supporting my talking points, by making Huntsman, who was patently the most qualified and least insane person up there, available and soundly rejected.

I never did understand the acrimony that formed around the D primary in 2008.  The two candidates had nearly the same position for everything.

The CV since Kennedy v Carter has been that a drawn out primary hurts the nominee. But Carter was a sitting President. And he was challenged by a legit contender. Kennedy sent the message: even we Dems think the last 4 years were a failure.

Mitt has no such worries. In retrospect, Clinton’s challenge made Obama stronger. It was better for the American People to hear about Rev Wright, Secret Muslim, Farrakhan, Race-card player, drug-dealer, etc during the Primaries than for them to be surprised in October.

Obama got an opportunity to tweak his retorts. By the time McCain was accusing him of not being ready to be commander in chief, he had already faced down the 3am ad. Newt is vetting Mitt.

To paraphrase, Allahpundit - yes, the PJM conservatard - the difference between this primary and the Democratic primary in 2008 is that the Democrats LIKED both their candidates.

Off-topic but I have to share my WTF?????????????? with someone, and you’re it.  So here goes. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/opinion/sunday/adolescent-girl-hysteria.html
WTF????????????????

That is a pretty good cover of “Big Mess”.

Good enough to reevaluate what what I thought was a “Dork Age” for Devo.

Love New Trad and earlier, and the later reunion stuff. Never liked “Oh No, It;s Devo” or “Smooth Noodle Maps”. I will reconsider this position.

Also gotta add here that the military is pretty pro-Obama. They like the two tap solution. They remember that W said he didn’t care about Osama. They are glad that Obama renewed the hunt for Osama and got him.

I think minitary morale is higher since Obama took office.

I have to agree with PM @ 4 - Huntsman was the most qualified and least insane of the bananas, IMO.