Pondering Stephen Colbert's remarks, who do we think the "machine" actually wanted? [View all]

[Miles Archer]

I agree with Colbert's observation, so my question for DU is "Who do you think the "machine" actually "wanted?"

I find it hard to believe that they visualized Jeb going the distance. My guess is Cruz. I have more than a few conservative friends who see right past the "crazy," because they choose to believe the crazy doesn't exist. A few like Carson but don't really go deep on him, either.

http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/stephen-colbert-donald-trumps-populism-very-appealing-20151223

"There's a populism to Trump that I found very appealing," Colbert said. "The party elders would like him to go away but the people have decided that he is not going to. I may disagree with anything that he's saying and think that his proposals are a little ... well, more than a little shocking. But there is something really hopeful about the fact that, well, 36 percent of the likely voters want him so the people in the machine don't get to say otherwise. That's the one saving grace, I think, of his candidacy.