Larry Sabato’s revised 2016 presidential field … Jeb moves to top

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The University of Virginia’s Larry Sabato has come out with the latest Crystal Ball analysis of the 2016 presidential lineup for Republicans and, not surprisingly, it centers mostly around the only candidate to (almost) announce so far, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush (who, technically, is surveying the landscape — political code for “he’s running”).

Sabato, long-time director of the U.Va. Center for Politics, noted the turtle mix-up that occurred over the holidays with Jeb Bush’s announcement which shot him to the top of the list, although he did not have far to go because he had been near the top of the list for a while.

Links to the great lineup of weekend posts

By Lynn R. Mitchell

In case you missed the great lineup of weekend posts at LynnRMitchell.com, here they are so you can get caught up on everything you missed:

– Mitch McConnell becomes Senate Majority Leader by guest writer Gregg Hilton

– Faux posturing by anti-Boehner forces dupes their supporters

– Barbara Comstock to be sworn in Tuesday … only woman in Virginia Congressional delegation

– Chris Winslow to run for Chesterfield supervisor

– Mike Huckabee quits Fox show, will explore presidential run

– Kalima Dalton Tate, 92, of Pulaski passes away – with ties to Staunton, she was a first cousin of former Virginia Governor John Dalton

– Obituary: Deceased waitress proud to have served President George W. Bush

– Wintergreen Appreciation Days for neighboring counties and cities – snow skiing deals January 5-7

– VPAP’s top news stories for 2014

– WSJ … ‘Clint Bolick: Jeb Bush’s conservative immigration agenda’

Mike Huckabee quits Fox show, will explore presidential run

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Former Governor Mike Huckabee announced Saturday night on his Fox News Channel show that he would not be back because he planned to form an exploratory committee to consider running for U.S. President.

Republicans most likely to be 2016 GOP nominee

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The Hill has their list of 13 Republicans most likely to be nominees for the Republican presidential nomination for 2016 (see 13 Republicans most likely to win WH). I don’t agree with some of their choices but it makes for interesting speculation.