Posted on 02/13/2016 12:50:30 PM PST by TBBT
Few professional analysts seriously expected six months ago that Donald Trump could win the Republican nomination. But after Tuesday night, it is a clear possibility.
How much of a possibility? To get that answer right, it is important to understand some things about the Trump phenomenon.
Perhaps most important, Trump's campaign is not a Tea Party phenomenon. While there's been a tendency to try to lump Trump in with various G.O.P. insurgencies of the last few years, that role is best filled by Sen. Ted Cruz, who really occupies the "Tea Party lane" of the G.O.P. primary more cleanly.
Instead, Trump is a part of a much older insurgency within the G.O.P., dating back to the 1992 Pat Buchanan campaign and even to some internal debates within the Nixon administration. Candidates in this vein, such as Gov. Mike Huckabee and Sen. Rick Santorum, have argued from varying angles that the economic libertarianism of the G.O.P. is a tough sell, and should be pulled more toward an economic populism that allows for increased redistribution and for helping the "little guy" who has been left behind in the era of globalization. It is because of this confusion that so many of the early attacks on Trump - from questioning his conservative bona fides to making fun of the way he talked - fell flat. Trump's voters simply didn't care about these things.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Because Cruz, author of 80+ SCOTUS briefs, and veteran of 40+ SCOTUS oral arguments (almost entirely dedicated to Conservative causes) is less capable of picking a Constitutionalist justice than a popular and wealthy NYC TV celebrity who only recently decided that he was no longer the typical NYC liberal?
Is every moment of life simply more proof of Trump's perfection for Trumpeters, against all reason and common sense? Even SCOTUS is a losing ground for Cruz against Trump Almighty? Seriously? SMH
No because Ted Cruz has no chance of winning the GOP nomination much less a general election. Cruz will get a vote on confirmation just like every other senator on whoever Trump nominates.
is that really the ceiling braking away there?
Economic populism aka socialism. Donald should NOT want to be compared to goosestepping Buchanan in any way.
Yeah, I still don’t get the appeal.
Just pray that Sanders is the nominee. That will be Trumps only chance at winning.
Yup. Call me superstitious or a tea leave reader, but everyone needs to sit back and close their eyes. Now try to imagine Donald Trump, the shallow empty vessel he is, occupying the Oval Office. I just can’t see it. Scary to say I CAN see Hilary there.
Trump needs to do the right thing to avoid a brokered convention and endorse Cruz.
Indeed, Trump is a rarity. A man occupying a higher class but acting like someone from a project.
Unbelievably sick. That people advocating for Hillary over ANYBODY is not met with an immediate zot just shows the patience of the Free Republic. If I was at the controls any mention of that BS would be terminated. No second chances. I can’t even begin to describe how disgusted that makes me think.
Uh, nowhere did I advocate for Hilary. There is a difference between saying who I THINK will win and who I WANT to win.
Thanks...at least you’re a LEGITIMATE Cruz supporter, rather than a paid shill that is only here to beat up on Trump.
I like them both, but I think that we need Trump to win and clean out the illegals, and then the country will have legitimate enough voting to give Cruz a chance next.
“Trump mentioned that seat last night, and said the MSM would be pointing it out”
That’s pretty funny...I’ve been posting a similar comment for the past few days, as these pictures appear.
Perhaps he’s one of us...
It’s always interesting to see a long-time FReeper backing the filthy, lying commies at the NYT.
That ceiling could be 55% of people who will bother & motivated to vote.
It doesn’t matter if 60% hate him if Clinton or Berndog Sanders is the alternative.
yah, another ceiling for Trump to demo...
Not liking ‘The Donald’ makes you unfit to post on FR.
Trump hits 110% support defying the political establishment once again!
We need Trump now. America is over 18 trillion in debt and he knows how to file bankruptcy.
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