Never say never - Updated

Suddenly I feel less like a lone kook on the fringe edge of the conversation. Nate Silver supports my new pet conspiracy theory saying, "I think there is a small but nontrivial chance that the Republican nominee could be someone like Jeb Bush, Paul Ryan, Mitch Daniels, Tim Pawlenty or Chris Christie."

So far, I'm still way out in left field predicting it would be Christie, but Nate lays out the scenarios that could lead to a brokered convention. So there's that. Meanwhile, Steve B. chronicles the plaintive wailing among the usual wingnuts:

Erick Erickson this week suggested he’s “praying” for a brokered Republican convention, so that some other GOP candidate — as opposed to those currently running — might win the party’s presidential nomination. Joe Scarborough said in response, “I don’t know many Republicans who aren’t praying for a brokered convention right now.” (thanks to F.B. for the tip)

Though he doesn’t specifically reference the brokered possibility, Rhodes Cook argues today that it’s not “too late” for some other “late-starting candidate to emerge” in the new year. Bill Kristol seems excited about the possibility.

Steve doesn't think it's going to happen and Jonathan Bernstein says not a snowball's chance in hell. Me, I'm sticking with, never say never. Unlikely is not the same as impossible.

Update: File under probable idle threat but Ron Paul vows to either win or force a brokered convention. Meanwhile on a more realistic note, Ezra "thinks we'll have a brokered convention before the GOP establishment lets Gingrich take the nomination."

[More posts daily at the Detroit News.]