Posted on 02/24/2016 5:44:12 PM PST by Kaslin
Despite Marco Rubio’s assertion that you don't win the nomination by how many states you win, the candidates are going to be racking up points wherever they can. Unfortunately for pretty much everyone but The Donald, those points have been slowly stacking up in Trump’s column through the first four contests. While it’s still early, there are some nearly panic level entreaties making their way around conservative circles these days, sending out the call for some way – any way – to stop Trump before he just walks away with the whole shooting match. Jonathan Bernstein at Bloomberg insists that Trump Must Be Stopped, and suggests a line of attack.
A myth has evolved that negative ads don’t work against Trump, but in the two states where they were tried at least to some extent — Iowa and South Carolina — they did seem to have some results. We’re not talking about someone with 70 percent of the vote and an insurmountable lead. Trump should be easy to take on, and given how much money should be available, not every hit needs to be effective for an overall campaign to succeed.
Dan Drezner suggested on Tuesday, perhaps a little tongue in cheek, that Republican party actors may have chosen to leave Trump alone because they believed political scientists who said that such a candidate could never win a party’s presidential nomination. Of course, a careful read of political scientists who believe that party actors choose their nominees — myself very much included — would tell those Republicans that party actors usually win because they care passionately about party politics and fight hard to retain their influence over party proceedings.
It’s an interesting take and worth a look, but there are other plans afoot in case things go all the way to Cleveland. There has already been more than a little speculation about the possibility of an open convention. Under current party rules, if Donald Trump goes into Cleveland with the most delegates, but not enough to win the nomination outright, it’s conceivable that a back room deal could be struck to hand the nomination to somebody else. As I’ve opined here before, that will very likely shatter the Republican Party as we know it for a decade or a generation, but it’s theoretically possible.
But what if Trump arrives with 1,237 delegates or more who are bound to him? Is the party over for the Anybody But Trump (ABT) contingent? I only bring this up because I get all sorts of interesting theories sent to me. One of the more recent ones was a chain discussion of the possibility of a revolt in Cleveland. The thinking goes along these lines: If the delegate count is close, but Trump is over the required limit, the outcome could be changed if a sufficient number of delegates could be persuaded to follow their conscience “for the good of the party and America” and either change their vote or stand mute, refusing to cast their votes for the business mogul. This theory leads to a situation similar to an open convention and we proceed to the next round.
That’s certainly some creative thinking, but it comes with one minor impediment: It won’t work. The reason is the pesky RNC rules which govern the big show. If you look at rule 16 (a) (2) you’ll find the following nugget.
(2) The Secretary of the Convention shall faithfully announce and record each delegate's vote in accordance with the delegate's obligation under these rules, state law or state party rule. If any delegate bound by these rules, state party rule or state law to vote for a residential candidate at the national convention demonstrates support under Rule 40 for any person other than the candidate to whom he or she is bound, such support shall not be recognized. Except as provided for by state law or state party rule, no presidential candidate shall have the power to remove a delegate.
I checked with someone far more experienced in these rules and found that standing mute won’t work either. On the first round, the votes of the bound delegates are largely cosmetic when they are read off. If someone fails to vote as bound, the votes will be recorded in the proper order anyway. So if the ABT army wants to “stop Trump” they’re going to have to do it the old fashion way.
Get more voters behind another candidate and do so quickly.
1 million Trump supporters should surround the convention.
Very interesting.
It shouldn’t be decided that way but it’s a possibility.
And we all know it would be Rubio.
As for Trump people surrounding the Convention, I see a Zombie horde.
Rubio showed what an idiot he is, a candidate must win 8 states to even have his name entered into nomination.
Why would zombies be looking where there are no brains to be found?
“There won’t be a revolt on the GOP convention floor”
That’s funny, I find them revolting already.
CC
But Trump - who is almost certain to win in November - is set to be the catalyst for a civil war across the Republican party.
And that can only be a good thing.
Trump supporters will be revolting with torches and pitchforks if the GOPe tries to steal the nomination from him.
I think the GOP leaders all wear wristbands with “WWTWHD” on it.
... “What Would The Whigs Have Done?”
And not to forget to even be considered a nominee a candidate has to win the majority of delegates in at least 8 states. So far Cruz has 1 state and trump has 3. Nobody else has any. Super Tuesday will show us all what the future holds but as it looks now maybe Cruz will get Texas. But where after that is anyone’s guess. Rubio may not get any states.
Rubio showed what an idiot he is, a candidate must win 8 states to even have his name entered into nomination. by more than 50% of the vote in those states. Trump isn’t there yet
And not to forget to even be considered a nominee a candidate has to win the majority of delegates in at least 8 states. So far Cruz has 1 state and trump has 3. Nobody else has any. Super Tuesday will show us all what the future holds but as it looks now maybe Cruz will get Texas. But where after that is anyone’s guess. Rubio may not get any states.>>> i thot the 8 majority was +50%. i think i read it in the rules. Trump hasn’t done that yet.
Let me get this straight. You’ll be staying home on Election Day, along with the other tantrumers, thereby handing the election to Hillary. This sets just fine with your ‘conscience’?
“As for Trump people surrounding the Convention, I see a Zombie horde.”
That’s the problem with you. You see things that don’t exist. For example, when you look at Ted Cruz you see a principled conservative.
Trump has had the majority of the delegates in NH, SC and Nevada if I'm reading this rule right. If by "majority" they mean more then 50% then no. But I just researched it a bit and it may be moot..basically they can change the rule before the nomination. So even if Trump DOES get 8 and nobody else does it's likely they'll change the rule to screw him.
By not voting for any Republican candidate are you saying that you are thus voting for Hillary or Bernie?
I'm in.
Nope. I vote for the person who I believe most represents my concepts of limited government, judicial restraint, secure borders, a strong military but self-discipline to not abuse that military (I'm looking at you W and Cheney), lower taxes and in fact no income tax at all, and above all else adherence to the Constitution.
None of the present candidates have gained my confidence in those things.
I also have a personal rule: I never vote for any candidate who runs even a single negative ad or otherwise attacks a fellow candidate. Attack IDEAS? Absolutely. Attack the person? Nope. That's just a candidate admitting that he/she can't stand on the merits of his or her beliefs.
I'm not beholden to any party. Why should I be anyway? Republicans and Democrats both are self-destructing.
I know that Trump is going to win in November. No Democrat candidate is going to win or was ever even remotely poised to win. The Democrats are completely spent as a party. Only a few extremist factions are holding it together and even there it won't be long before the Democrats disintegrate. The Republicans are coming apart at the seams.
Someone like Trump was inevitable. He's proving to be the catalyst for the Republican party's demise.
Regardless of who wins in November, whether it's Trump or (God forbid) Hillary, the nation has become rotted and corrupt. It will collapse in upon itself sooner than later. No one person can stop that now. One way or another we've proxied our beliefs and our values out to partisan politicians and the parties for sake of parties.
Trump is going to win in November. I accept that. But I can't vote for him, for the reasons I gave.
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