Against Trump Fatalism

The Weekly Standard ^ | February 24,2016 | WILLIAM KRISTOL

[Hojczyk]

And so we are now being treated to a wave of Donald Trump fatalism. Yes, he's defied expectations in a pretty remarkable way. Yes, he's won three of the first four GOP contests. Yes, he's ahead in the polls in the states coming up. Yes, he has an easier path to victory than any other candidate.

But only four states about 1.2 million people have actually cast ballots. Trump has won about a third of the votes cast; Cruz and Rubio have each won a bit over a fifth. Trump leads in delegates with 79 out of the 110 selected less than seven percent of those he needs to win the nomination. He trails Cruz in the biggest of the Super Tuesday states, Texas, and while Trump will almost certainly take the most delegates on March 1, it's unclear whether he'll win more like half or two-thirds of them. Even if he wins two-thirds, the March 15 winner-take-all states of Ohio, Florida, and Illinois will be fiercely contested.

And this is all before further debates, before any sustained television advertising assault on Trump, while the other candidates are still (foolishly) sniping at each other instead of taking on Trump. And in a circumstance where the frontrunner has unusual vulnerabilities.

[major-pelham]

He needs to explain why it’s so bad -I find it wonderful were going to have such a strong nominee.

[20yearsofinternet]

Windmills... tilting.... etc...

[reaganaut1]

There is ZERO path to the nomination anymore for Rubio and Cruz and everyone else should have already dropped out by now.

Trump is an undisciplined jerk, and he may yet turn enough people off. I will likely vote for Rubio.

[linear]

It’s 1789 and the ruling class is wondering why the peasants seem so sullen.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Billy seems to forget that the GOPe structured the first primaries to give their boy Jethro an insurmountable lead and Trump basically hijacked their scheme and installed himself as the designated winner.

In other words, the GOPe tried to cheat and stacked the deck against themselves in the process.

[stanne]

Whoa. This is kooky.

Been wondering what people like this, and at The Five, for instance, who think they have control, will be doing once Trump pulls ahead and even wins, will be doing

Cracking up is one option

[Stegall Tx]

Only because the polling says that EVRYONE is a betterc hallenger to Hillary.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Undisciplined?

You seriously believe that someone becomes as successful as Trump without being disciplined.

Methinks you mistake strategic guided missile attacks for a lack of discipline.

[NormsRevenge]

He must be hearing the carpenters song in his head a lot..

We’ve only just begun .. Or sumthin.

D.lusional. its over.

[Lurkinanloomin]

The Cheap Labor Express is running out of ways to block us from electing a President who will stop them flooding the country with foreigners.

Their minions in the Ministry Of Propaganda have tried vainly to talk us out of it.

[stanne]

Ooh. Bad editing there

Well, I liked reading the first two sentences of tgis. Where I quit. Kristol portrays the tone of what goes on in the GOPe They are cracking

[stanne]

Trump is undisciplined? That’s just silly

And compared to whom?

[TTFlyer]

Another GOPe hack destined to slip into obscurity after November.

[dainbramaged]

Billy is just another fake conservative beltway maggot, who when the cameras are off is right there in the hot tub with the rest playing “up periscope” and mocking the rubes in flyover country. Your scam is over, so get on board or get run over.

[kinsman redeemer]

EVRYONE is a betterc hallenger

You betcha!

[utahagen]

I am supporting Ted Cruz, yet I think Kristol et al are in denial when it comes to the Trump juggernaut. There are people who are turning out to vote for him who perhaps usually don't vote; he garnered 46% of the Hispanic vote - in Nevada, in spite of his determination to build a wall along the Mexican border!; and he's getting enthusiastic receptions from crowds that include Dems and independents. In addition, I don't believe for a minute that Trump will back Cruz or Rubio if one of them beats him for the nomination. If Trump doesn't get the Republican nomination, he will make sure the Republican nominee goes down in flames — and he can do that, by directing his enthusiastic supporters to stay home or vote for HRC or a third party candidate.

People who will vote for Trump are much less likely to vote for Cruz or Rubio than Cruz or Rubio’s supporters are to vote for Trump. I'm a case in point: I am a Tea Party activist who doesn't like Trump as a human being and who wants Ted Cruz. However, if Trump is the Republican nominee, he'll get my vote.

If Kristol et al want to derail Trump, they must start by accepting the reality that Trump is wildly popular with disparate groups of voters, many of whom could stay home or vote for HRC if he is not the nominee. Arguing that Trump is about to flame out is just wishful thinking...and if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

[onyx]

Fox News’ punditry are so off the charts rude and nasty that I have started watching CNN and MSNBC instead.

[kinsman redeemer]

Trump is undisciplined? That's just silly
And compared to whom?

A 5^th grader?

[kinsman redeemer]

Now THAT's undisciplined.

[mkjessup]

Kristol and the rest of those establishment-elitist goons are screaming in disbelief just like their designated failed nominee: