I find commentators beginning to propound both possibilities if Trump continues his meteoric rise in the polls and turns that into election victories (or pluralities that are almost victories).
In this regard, Trump's "policies" or "agenda" (both pretty amorphous at the moment) are essentially beside the point. He's a GOP-wrecker, not because of what he's for, but because of what he's against. He's attracting wide support in a disaffected electorate, not because of who he is (though he is entertaining!), but because of who he is not. Trump is the catalyst for wrecking things in the current GOP china shop.
I don't think conservatives like Cruz will ever have a chance in the current GOP. It's been a wet blanket that has smothered true conservatives since Reagan, and Reagan had lots of people in his own party throwing wet blankets on him and everything he tried to do.
If you start to think like a winner, you'll act like a winner, then pretty soon, you'll BE a winner. And if he only "wins" at 2-3 things like the Wall, a moratorium on Muslim immigration, national concealed carry---that would be ten thousand times what we've "won" at since 2001.
People say, "What about his views on eminent domain?" Well, I don't like 'em. But I haven't seen that as even remotely near his agenda. I happen to agree with most of his stated agenda---guns, taxes, trade, and security. If we get to the point where we disagree over things four years down the line, well, thank GOD. Because we will have made it four years down the line and lived to disagree about it.
See Chris McDaniel as a case in point.
The Hatchling is out to get Mike Lee.
etc.