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Here's the thing about your comment. Let's assume for a moment Trump not only wins the nomination but wins the election. Besides Dem/libs (of course), who will be his biggest enemies in DC? It will be the RINO GOPe establishment---not because they don't share a lot of his values, but because he dared to win an election without kissing their ring.

Therefore, we should ask, who stands to have the MOST power with Trump? Those who support him and move toward him and help shape his policies---the old LBJ "inside the tent pissing out" thing. This is why I think Cruz and Carson in particular have pretty much eliminated any criticism of Trump and why they stand to have a great deal of power if Trump wins.

It is a once in a lifetime chance for conservatives to make sure that on the issues where Trump IS conservative or shares our values, we push THOSE to the fore and push the others off the burners altogether.

I think of what Schwartzenegger might have done in CA had he had any conservatives at all to work with. He didn't do much other than a pension "reform," and CA went much further left. That's the danger. If conservatives turn on Trump and ally with the GOPe, they will not only make sure nothing gets done, but hand the gubment right back to the Dems 4-8 years later.

I agree, your post is an astute one. That was an implicit assumption on my part that you fleshed out. That’s why Cruz and Carson are playing it smart. If he flames out they will benefit, if he doesn’t conservatives like them (Palin as well, she’s clearly doing the same) will have a huge seat at the table.

I think of what Schwartzenegger might have done in CA had he had any conservatives at all to work with.

That's an interesting comparison. California had their Ted Cruz in Tom McClintock, but voted for their Trump in Arnold Schwarzenegger. The biggest problem with Schwarzenegger was that he turned out to be a go-it-alone governor. He extended no coattails to other Republicans to help build a coalition or groom future Republicans in a state that desperately needed it. He wouldn't even endorse McClintock when he ran for Lt. Governor in the next election. When he got his reform amendments slapped down by the unions, he capitulated, and that was the end of the Schwarzenegger phenomenon.

A serious question about Trump's Republicanism (I won't narrow it to conservatism) is whether he will bring along the next generation that is being frozen out today by our Republican leadership, or is he going to disappoint Republicans by giving key positions to Democrats, too?

-PJ