[Mozilla]

Take the comment in number 11 with a slight grain of salt. I ger the point but Rush and Adams were not the only two people in media backing Trump early on or acknowledging he could win but it was generally very few people. But there were five groups of Republicans back then. 1. Those wait and see before picking a candidate types. 2. Those on the fence for Trump that either once he seemed likely ti be nominated began supporting and defending or after he won the nomination came around. 3. Large group of that were those who wanted Ted Cruz or originally Scott Walker. 4. Never Trumpers made up of both rinos who wanted people like Jeb or later bandwagoned Cruz even Gary Johnson and Evan McMillan or whatever. 5. Republicans who were undecided or supporting other candidates and moved to Trump.

[LS]

Agree. My point was that only Rush and Scott among the big public persona were on Trump’s side. No one on Fox was. Beck hated Trump. Hannity was middle of the road until it was clear Trump would win. Erick Erickson hated Trump, as did all of NRO and the Weakly Standard.

So citing those two is important.

[nicollo]

But there were five groups of Republicans back then...

I'd add to your list:

1. Never Bushers.

In 2016, I'd have crawled back naked over all that broken glass I walked over barefoot to elect G.W. over Gore, and then eaten it like corn flakes to get rid of Jeb.

The establishment never more disconnected from the base over Jeb. And I think we can almost say -- perhaps even say it -- that Trump would not have won the nomination if Jeb was not running. If so, go Jeb, you dumfar ignorant.

Btw, not sure that Walker and Cruz supporters were like-minded.