Donald Trump has never been more popular…….with people who love Donald Trump. It’s everyone else the Trump Campaign is worried about. Of course, if the Trump campaign is worried, it is a fact which is not shared by Trump or his supporters. Completely unconcerned with his recent poll implosion (and there are reasons not to be concerned, as many of these polls are rigged) Trump and his supporters remain on offense – not against Hillary, mind you, but against any Republican who fails to fall in line.
Yesterday, conservative icon Tim Huelskamp, a House Freedom Caucus member out of Kansas, lost his seat to a moderate ally of former Speaker of the House John Boehner. Huelskamp didn’t lose because the establishment out foxed him. He lost because he never got on board the Trump Train; and there is only one way to deal with people who refuse to get on the Trump Train. You take them out.
In response to Represenative Huelskamp’s loss, sitting State Central Committee member, Ron Hedlund quipped on Facebook ,”What happens to nevertrumpers”. Accused of celebrating the loss of one of the most conservative members of Congress, Hedlund argued that he wasn’t celebrating anything, but was simply stating the facts, which is true.
Freddy Burgos, on the same Facebook thread concluded from Huelskamp’s loss, “A clean House is a good House for the next President of the United States, Donald J. Trump”. Again, not quite celebrating, but clearly these gentlemen feel absolutely no regret at the loss of a conservative leader.
This is because the Donald Trump movement is an apolitical movement. It has nothing to do with conservativism or liberalism. It has everything to do with Donald Trump. So long as Trump is Trump the people who love Trump will love Trump and he really could shoot a man in Time’s Square and he wouldn’t lose a single supporter.
Donald Trump plays nice with the establishment when it suits him. He plays rough with the establishment when it suits him too. Remember, this is not about policies or politics.
The RNC is absolutely apoplectic over Trump’s refusal to endorse Paul Ryan and John McCain who are in tight primaries. Trump has also been critical of New Hampshire Senator and TEA Party fraud, Kelly Ayotte, saying, “You have a Kelly Ayotte who doesn’t want to talk about Trump, but I’m beating her in the polls by a lot.” Fox News.
Speaker Ryan must be in shock. The way politicking works, is that when the Speaker of the House endorses your candidacy, you endorse the Speaker of the House. One of the most lovable things about Trump is that he couldn’t care less about how politicking works. Making jokes about Purple Hearts, taking shots at Gold Star families, and bitching about babies are just a handful of Trump’s recent anti-politicking faux pas. Endorsing the leaders of the Party which nominated you for a job as President of the United States simply isn’t how Trump rolls.
Donald Trump and his supporters are a fascinating bunch. Though they merely represent a minority of the country, they wield unbelievable power. The Eye of Trump is still fixed on Frodo (aka. Senator Ted Cruz). When Cruz runs for reelection, Trump and his supporters will be there to see that he’s defeated. The question is, if Donald Trump does take power, how bloody will the purge which follows actually be? Will anyone critical of Donald Trump survive?
I wonder, after the Trump Never Trump War of 2016, will there be much of a Republican Party left to fend off the Democrats, who, in case everyone has forgotten, is also on the ballot in November?
Despite all this, I’m still voting for Trump. I can’t imagine a world where Hillary Clinton is President. I don’t want to discover what that is like.
I figure we get him elected and then piece together coalitions of conservatives and moderates to protect the party from Trump’s supporters. When Trump signals to his people that he wants a good Republican taken out, we rally together to protect them, be they conservative or be they moderate. The only response to an agent of an apolitical purge, is an apolitical defense.
We need to prepare.
42 comments
So much for the big tent. You can’t enter until you profess your personal fealty to Mr. Trump alone. You must accept he has transcended the Party, he is the party. During the Communist era in a number of countries, this was referred to as the “Cult of Personality”.
Yes, because he is the nominee. We are a party that exists to choose and promote a nominee. If you are not comfortable with this, go right through that flap to see the amazing Egress!
In the case of Ryan, it appears it will be a conservative “purge!”
http://www.breitbart.com/2016-presidential-race/2016/08/04/leaders-house-freedom-caucus-decline-endorse-paul-ryan/
I tend to beleive this was an establishment “purge,” not a Trump “purge.”
http://www.wnd.com/2016/08/what-conservatives-are-facing-now-is-a-waterloo/
The only effective preparation at this point will be preparation to launch a new, Constitutional Conservative Party, and launch it now.
Yes! Quite! Indeed! Godspeed!
“I can’t imagine a world where Hillary Clinton is President. I don’t want to discover what that is like.”
I don’t understand this. Clinton is predictable.
Yes, Clinton is predictably corrupt, and will predictably appoint more judges that will predictably devastate constitutional freedoms over the next 40 years.
Trump’s hostile party takeover. Walk in the door. Throw a trash can across the room. Knock the crap out of the biggest guy there. And kick the weak hands out the door. Sounds like the plan is working so far.
Yes, and that bastard used unconventional tactics like voters and votes.
The establishment will find away around those voters, and their little dog too!
Well voting and voters is a change from the ordinary of past conventions. The dog’s name is Manafort so I don’t think messing with the dog is a good idea.
I’m starting to understand your approach ‘badmouth Trump but publicly call for his vote.’
Damning with feint praise, eh?
I’m going to have to blow the whistle on this and deem it more Anti-Trump than Pro-Trump. So because of the sophistry, I’m going to consider you over the line and put you in the purge/torment column. You brought it upon yourself.
Now, in keeping with the spirit of ‘part of the problem if you’re not part of the solution,’ I’m going to ask you if you actually believe your activities are helping Trump or hurting Trump? Please be honest and think about what real outcome you wish to effect.
I’m not thinking about Trump at all. I’m defending conservatives, conservatism, and the Republican Party. I find it odd that his supporters have decided to go to war with those things instead of Hillary Clinton. I honestly want her to lose. I really am going to vote for Trump, but if he continues trying to destroy the party – if his supporters continue to do the same, I’m going to call him out on it. There is still time for him to change.
He can have my vote for nothing. He’s our candidate, but if he wants my respect, or anyone’s respect, then he has to earn it.
Thanks but we’re good, come back after you get a little seasoning and we’ll talk.
Respect… Sigh.
I think that one of the things that Trump supporters really dislike is what I call “being stabbed in the back”. Many of us have worked hard for other GOP candidates – Bush1 and Bush2, Dole, McCain, Romney. We did so even though we had other preferences and through the pain of losses. In other words, we were good and loyal Republicans. Now we see that being good and loyal means nothing, and that a bunch of spoiled brat elitists are more than willing to sabotage someone different than the supposed “gold standard” of gentlemanly losers. Frankly, I am utterly dismayed and angry at this behavior and I suspect that this will have a very lasting impact on the Party and possibly destroy it. Way to go anti-Trumpers, you are going to reap the whirlwind – and I say this as a Cruz supporter who is now full bore Trump.
I am sure you will be happy with Hillary. I am sure your children and grandchildren won’t.
Well said.
So if rallying around a good Republican is insufficient now, what makes you think that tactic will work better if he is elected, consolidates power, and the net number of “good Republicans” left standing diminishes?
I’m using good loosely. Yes, it’s scary what Trump could do to the party as President, which is why we need to organize to protect Cruz or any Republican Trump goes.
My question is more about the prospects for success later if they aren’t working now
If scuttling Trump is the success you seek, prepare to live with failure.
A variety of Trump scenarios are possible. In your extreme above, he disrupts the conservative movement by being election and going on a rampage based purely on the cult of personality. At the other extreme, he disrupts the conservative movement when his campaign implodes
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senior-gop-officials-exploring-options-trump-drops/story?id=41089609
For those two extremes and any scenario between them, the same coalitions proposed above will be necessary to exert effective conservative influence.
I submit that in the broadest sense possible, the answer to all scenarios is a reinvigorated basis for unity. If that effort begins in reaction to the next catastrophe, the assembled coalitions will lack the strength required to win. The effort must begin now, not later, and the unity must be based on what conservatives want, not merely who they want to displace from office.
I completely agree. I’ve told every candidate I’ve talked to who is running in 2017 that I want a positive, a positive, conservative agenda and candidate. I’m not a purist. A slightly moderate record isn’t a deal breaker.
Trump could do what no one else could do – bring us together.
Positive Conservative Agenda and candidate? Good Luck with that.
Donald Trump was the best we could do and still yer bitchin’ about him.
Bring you together to what? The GOP? Not bloody likely.
I have an idea, grab your Positive Conservative Agenda, hold it really tight, and YOU run for office… Any office, any party office. Run and then win (or lose) and then pontificate about how your standards worked out for you.
Summertime soldiers and sunshine patriots.
Ah, so conservatives can’t get elected? So Trump has to target us for elimination and we’re just supposed to keep quite while he does that. You’ve just written off the Republican base. Could that be why he says he doesn’t want our vote?
No, just conservatives that pass your litmus/purity test.
You’re not a Republican and overall in the minus column, so you’re nothing to eliminate.
Trump is the Republican base AND the grassroots — it’s why he won, he united Republicans, Conservatives, the grassroots and forced the establishment to put up or shut up. The nevers and the Anti’s are merely shrill voices in the wilderness becoming softer and softer.
We alll get it, He’s the guy.
Your vote is not worth the dreck you bring to the table, so I’m giving you a pass, do what you want, we don’t care, your third option has ceased to amuse. Ramble on, or don’t, doesn’t matter anymore.
I know there is a deep affection for Trump from his loyalists, so I understand you not valuing or wanting to hear different opinions.
That said, by the time you’re done asking everyone who isn’t 100% excited about the Donald not to bother voting for him, you will have elected Hillary Clinton. Just something to think about.
Different opinions are fine, the same simple one over and over kinda grates.
Not everyone, just the nevers or the anti’s, but you tip the scale that way, so you’re included.
Trump may serve as the wake up call, but as pointed out in an article I read (on TBE?), conservatives have made the mistake of using digital transparency (CSPAN, www, etc.) to pursue single interests without compromise. The base was breaking up before Trump showed up. The new contract can’t begin with big media that is controlled by others, or with unresponsive politicians. It can only begin locally. And the GOP would be wise not to oppose it but instead to promote it enthusiastically. They know Trump will never facilitate conservative interests over the long haul, so efforts like this are their best bet.
It doesn’t — shouldn’t be about Trump or anti-Trump. He’s going to run his course now. Whether his influence ends in an abortive campaign, a failed election run, or a term in the White House does not matter. Conservatives need to coalesce around the right principles, the right ideas, and the right platforms.
This isn’t about the 2016 elections, target should be the 2017 elections. Between now and then, this effort should start with county GOP-sponsorship, then cross-counties, then statewide and on.
Format should be in-person, socially. Guest speakers? Perhaps. Small, friendly, local. In-person, where people speak responsibly, and behave with accountability that can be the basis for trust.
15 months ought to be enough to create some positive effects. Clock’s ticking.
And the place to begin is with a fresh and pure third party, if you start now, beginning with those of you that understand the dangers, those that can see the futures and have correctly anticipated what Trump wrought, you can gather up like-minded party luminaries. Beau and Shak, Ken and the entire Delegate Defense Fund! Ted Cruz can be your Presidential standard bearer and defeat Trump the Tyrant with Dominion Theology, or Xinu and engrams. Quick, go now, Break like the wind!
FYI….Steven called for getting behind Trump immediately after Trump was the presumptive nominee and called for all of us to do the same. I’m sure I’m wasting my time pointing this out given your track of being a naysayer, but what the heck, might as well give it a shot.
Getting behind yes, but not just for a superior position to shove the shiv.
Mr. T’s “support” has shown to be more con than pro, and I’m calling him on it.
And yet again I ask you Anita Hile, are you supporting our Nominee, Donald J. Trump?
And don’t grovel for points, neigh-sayer has been done — and I’m a positive plug!
Good Plan! Use the money from the Delegate Defense Fund, it has protected them in the past!
You wouldn’t know a good Republican if it bit you in the My Aunt Fanny. You are a lousy Republican but at least you are supporting Barbara Comstock and Donald Trump, so you may pass.
It appears the US Chamber of Commerce, the Farm Bureau and the ton of outside money that poured into the race had more to do with Huelskamp’s loss than his lack of support for The Donald. It sounds like it would not have mattered one way or the other if he was riding the Trump Train.
http://cjonline.com/news/2016-08-02/roger-marshall-unseats-rep-tim-huelskamp-bitter-republican-primary#
Considering what Ryan and McCain have done in the past and what they plan to do in the future, their losses would not break my heart one little bit. That sentiment is based solely on what they have been doing to America, not what they think about The Donald.
One thing doesn’t have anything to do with the other. I can’t stand McCain. But the Trump only Trump crowd won’t just stop there. Everyone is a target. That’s the point.
I thought the Trump crowd was only a small minority of the electorate. This sounds about as credible as when Peloser and Dirty Harry were claiming the TEA Party ran the GOP. If they had been, McCain would have been gone a long time ago. As for Ryan, his positions on immigration amnesty, TPP and the way he has been fully funding the Obumbler regime will be be his undoing.
Small and powerful. Also, I’m no fan of Ryan or McCain – but that’s not the point of this article.
The point of this article and all your articles is ‘Trump Bad’ and claiming to be a conservative to justify.
Yet, you use two weak conservatives, three if you include Ayotte, to make your point. In today’s political landscape, where people are tired of those in power that continue to ignore the will of the people, those three certainly have a target on their backs regardless of whether The Donald were to support them or not. They would be in danger of being “fired” no matter who was leading the GOP ticket.
Then again, Cruz probably would have supported these people because he is actually part of the establishment class. That might have helped them a little, I suppose.
I do not support the moderates listed above, but you do not run as the leader of a party while purging that party. Isn’t that what we all hated about Boehner and McConnell? Or is it ok only when Trump does it?
I don’t think The Donald was doing the “purging” in the case of Renee Ellmers, whom he supported wholeheartedly. Certainly not the right move in my opinion. The people of NC did the “purging.” I expect the people of Wisconsin and Arizona will do the same with their establishment incumbents when the time comes. If Ryan gets Cantored, I believe it will be directly tied to how well Paul Nelhen has campaigned, not whether The Donald has endorse anyone.
http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/donald-trump-renee-ellmers-immigration-endorsement/2016/06/07/id/732703/
Yes, everyone is a target, just like Trump was and still is the target.
We are all now Trump only. The targets are just the nevers (and those that net there,) who are deserving of being helped to the next level.