>>24842448
>renly/stannis decision to destroy each other rather than come to some compromise and easily overrun the lannisters, who killed their brother, is the most inexplicable decision in the book by two otherwise (relatively) intelligent characters

This is one of those things I think about a lot regarding the series. You need to remember, Renly up and declares himself king before Robert's body is even cold. Stannis wasn't even on his mind. As far as he was concerned, he was cutting Joffrey and Tommen in line because they were kids (Joffrey, the one taking the throne, a particularly shitty one). Robert was a usuper. As far as Renly saw it, the new mode of succession was might and popularity. Robert took the throne? Cool. I'm basically Robert reborn? Don't mind if I do. Don't forget a freshly spurned Loras Tyrell was riding his dick and telling him what a better king he would make than the others. Renly was riding high and rightly knew he could make his move and win. He would have too if not for blood magic getting in the way. Speaking of.

When Stannis announces the illegitimacy of Cercei's children, he does so once Renly already has half the fucking Reach marching towards King's Landing. So, while you are right, they could have been better of compromising than tearing each other apart, the timing is awkward. Renly's already crowned, he's got a Queen, a new Kingsguard. Politically speaking, Stannis was asking too much in wanting him to stand down when so much was already in place for him. Don't get me wrong, I do like Stannis, his claim is the most legitimate, but if Renly's great flaw was cutting in line, Stannis' mistake was biding his time too long, not telling Renly or even Eddard wtf Cercei was pulling behind Robert's back.