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The GOP Should Steal the Nomination from Trump
National Review ^ | March 18, 2016 | David Harsanyi

Posted on 03/18/2016 5:37:44 AM PDT by reaganaut1

...

The Republican party is not a direct democracy. It crafts its own rules, and it can change them. Here are questions that Republican delegates should be asking themselves: Is it worth upsetting a bunch of angry, marginally conservative voters who often have a minor fidelity to the doctrines of your party? Or are you prepared to put your political infrastructure and full weight behind a cartoonish George Wallace–like character who’ll probably inflict more damage than you could ever hope to repair?

RNC chairman Reince Priebus says that he expects every GOP presidential candidate to uphold a pledge to support the eventual nominee. Considering what we heard in Senator Marco Rubio’s concession speech, I find this difficult to believe. At best, Priebus is going to have a bunch of politicians tiptoeing around Trump in tacit nonsupport. And if enough big-name Republicans end up supporting Trump, it only accentuates the need for a new party.

An ABC exit poll — with all the usual caveats about the unreliability of exit polls — said that six in ten non-Trump-supporters say they would “seriously consider a third party if he became the GOP’s nominee.” The more disgust his big-government positioning and ugly rhetoric generate, the higher that number rises. And there are a number of rational reasons to support such a run.

For starters, Trump supporters are already very angry about everything. It’s not as if they could be any angrier with the establishment. Once Trump is gone (and he’ll leave with no coherent movement), these voters will either have to come back and look for alternative candidates with compelling messages, or leave the party altogether.

In the short run, a third-party candidate might insulate down-ballot candidates from Trumpism. You do remember Todd Akin, I’m sure?

(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections; US: New York; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 2016election; cruz; cruzers; davidharsanyi; election2016; gope; marklevin; nationalreview; newyork; tedcruz; texas; trump
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To: reaganaut1

Another question for the delegates to ask themselves:

If they vote to steal the nomination from Trump, do they have the resources to fight the lawsuits that Trump will file against them, and whatever else Trump’s people might do?

(not a threat...just stating the obvious - which is that Trump fights back)


41 posted on 03/18/2016 6:03:28 AM PDT by BobL (Who cares? He's going to build a wall and stop this invasion.)
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To: reaganaut1

It appears that the lords and ladies at NR will tolerate the kitchen staff’s revolt no longer.


42 posted on 03/18/2016 6:04:04 AM PDT by Madame Dufarge
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To: cincinnati65

Electing a corrupt Democrat Obama did indeed unite congress to act as a uniparty to give Obama willingly everything he asked for and more. Anyone from the uniparty will continue that trend.


43 posted on 03/18/2016 6:07:10 AM PDT by nclaurel
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To: reaganaut1

C’mon Harsanyi.. you’re better than this.


44 posted on 03/18/2016 6:07:51 AM PDT by ScottinVA (Breathe, Donald.... Breathe.)
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To: reaganaut1

All the masks are coming off. We are all seeing which media “conservatives” are truly phonies. Which ones’ careers we need to end.


45 posted on 03/18/2016 6:07:52 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: reaganaut1
From the article: Is it worth upsetting a bunch of angry, marginally conservative voters who often have a minor fidelity to the doctrines of your party?

Excuse me? "marginally conservative"?

I am NOT "marginally" anything! I worked for the local RNC for Dole, Bush, McCain and Harrisburg's Gekas. I was a co-organizer for the anti-Sore Loserman (W 1) rallies in South Central PA. I defended the Constitution by serving as my voting precinct's Judge of Elections.

I, sir, have never been "marginally" anything!

The reality is: I've worked very hard for my Conservative principles and have been handed nothing but insults.

It's time to blow this thing wide open.

46 posted on 03/18/2016 6:10:58 AM PDT by LoveUSA (God employs Man's strength; Satan exploits Man's weakness.)
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To: reaganaut1
What's funny here is this guy talks about the GOP "principles".

What principles? They're nothing but wh*res.

47 posted on 03/18/2016 6:14:36 AM PDT by Pietro
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To: FunkyZero

“I can’t believe someone would openly suggest this. “
_________________

On the other hand, the headline is blatantly honest. Think about it. Trump has driven these people to an insane brand of honest. No more bloviating about the sanctity of the vote and the necessity to appeal to voters of all diversities in a “Big Tent” party. Nope. It’ just F the voters and do what we want.

IOW, we don’t need no stinking elections. We totalitarians will decide who the dictators will be around here.

Actually, pretty amazing, the things this article (and all NRO pieces of late) confess to.


48 posted on 03/18/2016 6:16:31 AM PDT by StAntKnee (Add your own danged sarc tag)
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To: Buckeye McFrog

Yes! This nomination process is having the effect of flushing all of the rats out of floorboards for everyone to see. The party has already been transmuted by the Trump/Cruz effect. If Trump wins the election the National Review types will probably form a third party and then hopefully wither away and die in obscurity. They cannot stay in the party after having revealed their true colors.


49 posted on 03/18/2016 6:18:01 AM PDT by Al Gore Vidal
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To: Buckeye McFrog

One step closer to having Trump and Cruz join forces like JFK and LBJ. Unstoppable when that happens.

Trump knows how to negotiate - he’ll tell Cruz that if he doesn’t submit, then Trump will go to Kasich with the VP offer. Kasich’s denials are amusing. It’s fine with Trump if Cruz satisfies his ego with upcoming primaries - as a showman, Trump likes to build the suspense and, as a bonus, this deal will put more egg on the faces of the pundits. No convention floor drama to give the media idiots a woody.

Of course, if Trump gets to 1,237 all by himself, this scenario is unnecessary.


50 posted on 03/18/2016 6:25:03 AM PDT by FirstFlaBn
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To: reaganaut1

Largest primary turnouts in the history of the GOP, and these idiots want to show the people that their votes don’t matter.


51 posted on 03/18/2016 6:25:34 AM PDT by vmivol00 (I won't be reconstructed.)
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To: StAntKnee

For all of my opinions regarding Trump (I’ll keep the rest to myself), he HAS forced a lot, and I mean a LOT of topics into the communication stream that media and party elites have squashed for so many years and dared us to talk about. This one, although not new (look back at Ron Paul), is already stirring a loud voice among the republicans. I said earlier that they know better but I think I was too fast on the draw. After thinking about their history, I wouldn’t put it past them to do it, but I know they are probably real gun shy about it right now listening to the swell of voices coming from every direction. They are getting some serious stink-eye right now from the voters who have historically “held their noses”. I sure hope they make the right decision and don’t play around here. It could be their final move if they do.


52 posted on 03/18/2016 6:27:36 AM PDT by FunkyZero (... I've got a Grand Piano to prop up my mortal remains)
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To: reaganaut1


53 posted on 03/18/2016 6:28:09 AM PDT by Donglalinger
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To: 20yearsofinternet

Amazing. They’re not even attempting to hide their bias and hate, any longer.

Trump unmasks yet another faux conservative outfit.


54 posted on 03/18/2016 6:30:26 AM PDT by Jane Long (Go Trump, go! Make America Safe Again :)
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To: reaganaut1
Well, if the GOPe should do this, then that is the end of them as a viable political party. They will go the way of the Whig Party that they replaced. And, this extinction will be solely self induced suicide. In their quest to maintain their power and perks and offices and political cabal, they have alienated their voters. You dinosaurs will either listen to your supporters or you will become extinct. The RNC interviewee that stated to the Media (paraphrased): "It isn't the voters to say who is the Party's nominee. The Party decides who is the nominee.” That is exactly the attitude that will make the Republicans extinct as a party.
55 posted on 03/18/2016 6:36:58 AM PDT by MasterGunner01 ( To err is human, to forgive is not our policy. -- SEAL Team SIX)
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To: Dahoser

With the exception of two terms, the Republicans have controlled the House for the past 20 years. AKA, the branch of Congress that controls the purse strings for the ENTIRE federal government.

Have they “united against weakened and corrupt Democrats” in that time span?

/hears crickets


56 posted on 03/18/2016 6:41:39 AM PDT by Ultra Sonic 007 (Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.)
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To: reaganaut1

Why does this rag keep getting airtime here on FR?


57 posted on 03/18/2016 6:46:14 AM PDT by faucetman ( Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts)
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To: reaganaut1

The neocons are SERIOUSLY stirred up.

They are all in with globalism and transnational institutions, and Trump is a mortal threat.


58 posted on 03/18/2016 6:51:55 AM PDT by Jim Noble (Diseases desperate grown, are by desperate appliance relieved, or not at all)
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To: cincinnati65
"...that Republicans would unite against in Congress....."

I swear I'll never take another drink if you just...

Hey, I'd love to see you again! I'll call you in the morning...

I promise I'll pay you back, next month...

59 posted on 03/18/2016 6:57:32 AM PDT by Jim Noble (Diseases desperate grown, are by desperate appliance relieved, or not at all)
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To: cincinnati65

They hate him because he hasn’t kissed their ring.


60 posted on 03/18/2016 7:06:20 AM PDT by ironman
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