Cogito Ergo Non Serviam

GOP Establishment Turns Fire on Trump

The Republican Party establishment has finally decided to turn their guns on Donald Trump. The proto-fascist front-runner was supposed to have self-destructed by now. Their fear is that Mr. Trump might actually win the nomination and lose the general election so badly that they fail to hold the Senate as well as take back the White House. They have three months to undermine his position. The danger they face is that, if they fail in their efforts, the Republican brand will be damaged not for years but possibly for decades.

The Boston Globe has reported, "Fergus Cullen, former chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party, on Monday filed a formal complaintwith the New Hampshire secretary of state challenging Trump's place on the first-in-the-nation primary ballot, arguing in vain that the billionaire reality TV star did not provide proof he's a Republican." The irony of the great birther having to provide proof that he is a Republican is delicious.

Mr. Cullen's effort failed, but he has explained the establishment's position beautifully. "This is no longer a joke. Donald Trump is a dangerous demagogue. He's doing damage to the Republican brand that will prevent us from running a competitive national election next year." He added, "[Republican Senator] Kelly Ayotte is losing votes every day because of Donald Trump. It's not like Passover where voters make a distinction between good Republicans and bad Republicans. They will throw them all out. Or they will reasonably ask, 'Why didn't you stand up to him? Was your silence consent'?"

Meanwhile, the Club for Growth has started anti-Trump ads in Iowa. The Club has spent $1 million to remind Iowa's voters that Mr. Trump has supported universal healthcare, bank bailouts, tax hikes on the rich, and eminent domain. David MacIntosh, who is president of the Club, stated, "The polls have made it clear: Trump loses when voters know the truth about him. He's not a conservative, and he's really just the worst kind of politician."

There is also a new organization that several GOP consultants have formed, Trump Card LLC. The Wall Street Journal has reported that there is a "guerrilla campaign" mounted by Trump Card supported by secret donors from GOP operative Liz Mair, the former online communications director of the Republican National Committee.

The Globe adds, "A super PAC supporting Ohio Governor John Kasich has committed $2.5 million in ads against Trump in New Hampshire, using his own words against him -- including a clip of him saying that if his daughter weren't his daughter, he'd want to date her. Matt David, chief strategist for New Day For America, the Kasich super PAC, said he thinks the party has gained some ground in fighting back against the idea that the GOP is 'just an old, white party,' but a Trump nomination would 'set the party back another decade'."

The trouble is that this may not work. Thus far, Mr. Trump has actually benefited from attacks from more establishment candidates and party apparatchiks. The voters have declared a plague on all their houses, and they view these attacks as an attempt to keep America out of the hands of "real Americans."

Mr. Trump can win because there is no single candidate from the establishment running against him. His solid 30% support in a two-candidate race would result in a humiliating defeat. In a race of more than a dozen, it's a hefty plurality.

It is not enough for the party to turn its guns on Mr. Trump. It must also cull the herd of candidates down to no more than five before Iowa, and perhaps, down to three right after New Hampshire. If it fails to defeat Mr. Trump, he will lead the party to defeat, and in so doing, will put his own people in positions of power in the GOP. Getting them out will take a long time. During that time, the Republicans will lose -- badly.

© Copyright 2015 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Ubuntu Linux.



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