[C. Edmund Wright]

This is another aspect of The Trump Effect - it's putting talk host v talk host into focus...I happen to think the truth of Trump's candidacy is somewhere between Rush's take and Erickson's take - but this piece addresses the building tensions and not Trump per se.

[miss marmelstein]

Erick Erickson threatening Rush? A midget taking on Godzilla.

As I’ve already said, I saw Trump yesterday eating lunch in his own restaurant. No handlers, very little security and waiters and busboys who were telling the tourists watching him to vote for him. It speaks well of a candidate that his busboys love him.

[Servant of the Cross]

Fine. And I had promised myself that I was going to take a hiatus from posting about Trump ...

I see this as Erickson doubling down on his dumb decision to disinvite Trump. And what a double down! He is not only fighting Trump, but he now dares Rush to pick a side too?! SRSLY?! There is no mystery as to how this will end up.

Clearly Rush will not 'apologize' for his treatment of "Trump phenomenon" or change his treatment of Trump on his program. Anything else would be like Trump apologizing for something he said. Erickson will find himself on an island. Trump and his supporters (this includes not only folks who will vote for him but also includes folks who favor others but who love how Trump has unapologetically defined the narratives for this election and shown that the eventual primary winner will come from the "fighter caucus") outnumber him greatly. If Trump won a spat with Megyn Kelly, a bout with Erickson will be a complete annihilation. The Trump phenomenon is anti-politician, anti-Establishment ... anti-Jeb/McConnell/Boehner/DC cabal (and this backlash 'phenomenon' is in fact their own creation/fault, a movement so sickened by their fecklessness, they dedicated to their removal from leadership) ... and fighting against it for 2016 is fruitless. The more you attack Trump, the stronger you make him.

If someone (Erickson or whomever) wants a different candidate than Trump to represent the "fighter caucus", they best figure out how to illustrate that their guy will be better than Trump without resorting to attacking Trump in the process. Treat it as a 'Shark Tank' competition ... beat him with better ideas, methods, marketing.

Or possibly ... even turn Trump into your biggest fan, investor and backer.

[onona]

Pissing matches between pundits don’t interest me at all.

[LS]

Funny for EE to claim Rush isn't a conservative. That's all you need to read to know this is REALLY sour grapes that EE lost his little one-upsmanship with Trump over the Atlanta event. Yes, it was well attended---but we have no way of knowing how many were there for Trump.

But I'm fine with EE going away. Didn't think he was that great a fill-in on Rush anyway.

[bankwalker]

Don Trump, like Sarah Palin before him, is a winnowing fork.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Erick Erickson finally gets religion. Good for him.

It’s a TOS violation on Redstate to support any but Republican candidates. If Trump should (God forbid) get the nomination, it’s going to be interesting over there.

[Lazamataz]

TRUMP EFFECT: IS ERICK ERICKSON THROWING DOWN GAUNTLET TO RUSH LIMBAUGH?

Good luck getting on his show, Erick.

[Helen]

I think Trump and Cruz are playing some very smart chess, while EE is playing checkers.

Trump is drawing the fire and saying what needs to be said, and doing it Trump-style well. Cruz is pacing his campaign and staying steady and visible, Cruzing at precisely the level he needs to be.

And I think this is a planned, cooperative campaign from both of them and being executed by both of them.

I can’t imagine Trump operating within the restrictions of the office of the President.

[GOPJ]

We've ALL voted for enough 'Republicans' who know the exact right things to say to get elected. Then they go to Washington and don't do a damn thing expect feather their own nest.

If Trump can protect the border, get rid of large portions of illegals, STOP Sanctuary cities for existing, and DO sane treaties with other countries I'll vote for him.

I don't care if he's calls women names. I don't care if he's doesn't know the "in" 'republican PC crap'.

I don't care if Trump doesn't know the formal 'apology style' of DC crooks. DC lowlifes (democrat and republican) have turned 'apologies' into an art form - and they don't mean a damn thing. It's not elegant - it's stupid. That Megyn would buy into that phoniness is shameful.

WE want TRUMP to SECURE THE BORDER. MAKE SANE TRADE DEALS. SHUT DOWN SANCTUARY CITIES. PROTECT VETS. BRING JOBS BACK...

Trump doesn't need to 'say the right things' - that's what Republicans have been doing for years.. then they get to DC and do nothing but live high on the hog on our dime.

[tennmountainman]

Erickson, who has a well documented history regarding his comments
about women is a hypocrite for calling out Trump.

Erickson is a fraud for many reasons.

[Leep]

Isn’t the reality, every presidential election in recent years, we are stuck with the GOPe because they have the money and the infastructure?
hold your nose and vote for Mr GOPe 20o8! Hold your nose and vote for Mr GOPe 2012! and hold your nose and vote for Mr GOPe 2016!

Well, this time around things are a little different.
Cruz has the infastucture and Trump definitely has the $$$.
If Trump would back Cruz there would be no stopping Cruz.
In my not so humble opinion.
Offer Trump DHS?

[A CA Guy]

Erickson’s drip drip drip.

[Hot Tabasco]

This is another aspect of The Trump Effect - it's putting talk host v talk host into focus

I would disagree, they're (the MSM) creating the narrative and it's the typical MSM throwing crap on the wall and seeing how much will stick and who will fall for the bait...

They'll love nothing better than to see our side of the aisle ravage ourselves...........

[RitaOK]

Just back in time to see your piece! Very nice work and you did ring the bell with your sharp observations! Maybe my favorite piece. Of course, I agree with it from start to finish.

In my travels this week I listened to Rush. A young caller, eighteen years old, called in complaining that Rush was giving a pass to Trump above all others by failing to criticize him. Rush explained that he is after one thing— beating the Democrat nominee. He believes as most do, that our worst candidate is better than giving our nation’s future to another Democrat. (None are of the Romney type, so I also agree with that.)

Rush rather assured his listeners he has no intention of banging away on our candidates and that he has actually criticized none of them, including Trump.

Eric could learn from Rush on how to win a war and not to fuss over appearances. Erickson disappointed me by dissing the Trumpster, thereby shining the light on his own glaring self righteousness in these treacherous times that are crazy scary and no time for journalistic prima donnas.

Eric will be rewarded by the Establishment for this isolation tactic against Trump, but he will lose some foot soldiers.

[McGruff]

Erick Erickson isn’t even in the same league as Rush. Or anyone else in the same business.