# How will the GOP establishment try to kill the Trump nomination? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 11, 2016, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-gop-establishment-try-to-kill-the-trump-nomination/745812 "2016-02-11T13:39:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-gop-establishment-try-to-kill-the-trump-nomination/745812/161 "2016-03-04T00:18:53Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > 1. The establishment is incompetent. [Aaron Barlow writes](http://www.salon.com/2016/03/03/how_donald_trump_blindsided_the_gop_inside_the_uprising_the_establishment_never_imagined_and_didnt_see_coming/) that the Establishment is **oblivious.** So blinded by the meritocratic mythology they have been peddling for years that they really did not understand their non-elite constituents at all and could never have imagined the way Trump would appeal to them. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-gop-establishment-try-to-kill-the-trump-nomination/745812/162 "2016-03-04T00:24:37Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Also, BG: we need to dust off our voting reform advocacy. Yes . . . maybe we’ve finally reached a point where the Pub Establishment, at least, can see the appeal in a system where third parties need not be frozen out and need not be spoilers. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-gop-establishment-try-to-kill-the-trump-nomination/745812/163 "2016-03-04T00:52:21Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Even if Trump loses in Nov he’ll have given a big leg up to the idea that there’s a big rejectionist voter base out there free for the taking. > > You’re probably right that Trump isn’t the guy who runs that ball forward in 2018 & 2020 & beyond. But \*somebody \*will see the Rs have fumbled the ball; they’ll pick it up & start running it downfield. Fizzled out fast in the case of Perot’s “Reform Party” (although I have always believed Buchanan purposely destroyed the party on a secret GOP-backed mission). ---
**Author:** ![kurtisokc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kurtisokc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kurtisokc)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-gop-establishment-try-to-kill-the-trump-nomination/745812/164 "2016-03-04T22:46:10Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Of course they will. It’s a no brainer. They are smart enough to know that either Trump or Hilary will win, and they would rather have Trump than Hilary, especially since throwing the election to her will mean an open civil war within their party. I wouldn’t be so sure. The GOP establishment isn’t as dumb as you think. They understand that Trump is way too unacceptable to moderate voters to be electable in November and are afraid the Republican brand is being tarnished by its association with his style of politics. I think at this point they have pretty much written off this years general election, and are looking ahead to 2020. For right now they want to deny him the nomination if they can, and minimize any damage he might do down-ticket. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-gop-establishment-try-to-kill-the-trump-nomination/745812/165 "2016-03-04T22:53:00Z")
> [@kurtisokc](#): > > I wouldn’t be so sure. The GOP establishment isn’t as dumb as you think. They understand that Trump is way too unacceptable to moderate voters to be electable in November and are afraid the Republican brand is being tarnished by its association with his style of politics. I think at this point they have pretty much written off this years general election, and are looking ahead to 2020. For right now they want to deny him the nomination if they can, and minimize any damage he might do down-ticket. I don’t think they’re that stupid, which is why they won’t disavow Trump if he wins the nomination. To do otherwise would be to destroy their party and cause much longer-lasting damage. If they can prevent him from getting the nomination, that’s politics as usual. But if he wins it, then it’s a done deal and they will swallow their bile and support him. ---
**Author:** ![kurtisokc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kurtisokc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kurtisokc)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-gop-establishment-try-to-kill-the-trump-nomination/745812/166 "2016-03-04T23:07:08Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I don’t think they’re that stupid, which is why they won’t disavow Trump if he wins the nomination. To do otherwise would be to destroy their party and cause much longer-lasting damage. > > If they can prevent him from getting the nomination, that’s politics as usual. But if he wins it, then it’s a done deal and they will swallow their bile and support him. I disagree. To allow their party to be pre-empted by the Trump movement would destroy the Republican party. They can afford to loose this election cycle, but to win future elections they will need to appeal to moderate voters who find Trump toxic. And I don’t buy the argument that Trump supporters are somehow representative of the Republican base. The fact that he does much better in open primaries than closed primaries suggests otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-gop-establishment-try-to-kill-the-trump-nomination/745812/167 "2016-03-04T23:39:50Z")
**Boyo Jim** , I’m going to quote some choice parts of Romney’s speech and then ask if you are saying that even _Romney_, specifically, will at some point endorse Drumpf, urge people to vote for him against Hillary, if he is the nominee? I just don’t think he has given himself any wiggle room to do that. To wit: > [@](#): > > Dishonesty is Trump’s hallmark[…]His imagination must not be married to real power. > […] > This is the very brand of anger that has led other nations into the abyss. > Here’s what I know. Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud. His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. He’s playing the American public for suckers: He gets a free ride to the White House and all we get is a lousy hat. > His domestic policies would lead to recession. His foreign policies would make America and the world less safe. He has neither the temperament nor the judgment to be president. And his personal qualities would mean that America would cease to be a shining city on a hill. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-gop-establishment-try-to-kill-the-trump-nomination/745812/168 "2016-03-04T23:52:53Z")
Finally we have… a hard hitting attack ad about the so-called Trump University and a $1 million ad buy. It’s really not enough though: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnCGwdyiIuA) Round up of this week’s campaign ads: > **[Hitting Donald Trump Where It Just Might Hurt](https://newrepublic.com/article/131043/hitting-donald-trump-just-might-hurt?utm_content=buffer8ee25&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer)** > > Outside groups tried attacking the GOP frontrunner as insufficiently conservative. Now they're going for the gut. Plus: this week's Ad Wars round-up. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-gop-establishment-try-to-kill-the-trump-nomination/745812/169 "2016-03-05T01:19:19Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I don’t think they’re that stupid, which is why they won’t disavow Trump if he wins the nomination. To do otherwise would be to destroy their party and cause much longer-lasting damage. > > If they can prevent him from getting the nomination, that’s politics as usual. But if he wins it, then it’s a done deal and they will swallow their bile and support him. If they are smart they will hope he loses and loses big. Otherwise they are out of their jobs - even it is close. If it is a Hillary blowout, Trump and his movement will be discredited and it will be business as usual. Some will of course give pro-forma support. I don’t expect many will be enthusiastic, especially given the backlash at Christie. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2016, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-gop-establishment-try-to-kill-the-trump-nomination/745812/170 "2016-03-05T01:42:14Z")
I understand that Trump clothing is made in China and or Mexico. I have to wonder if his fans are aware of that. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2016, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-gop-establishment-try-to-kill-the-trump-nomination/745812/171 "2016-03-05T01:48:00Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > I understand that Trump clothing is made in China and or Mexico. I have to wonder if his fans are aware of that. It was brought up in the debate. He claims he’s working to find a U.S. manufacturer. [Article from 2011.](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trump-admits-gear-made-china-labels/story?id=13472355) And he blames China. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-gop-establishment-try-to-kill-the-trump-nomination/745812/172 "2016-03-06T07:25:51Z")
I don’t know, but I am not starting yet another Trump thread, so I’m linking this [mightygodking.com](http://mightygodking.com) piece here: [http://mightygodking.com/2016/03/03/political-deliberation/](http://mightygodking.com/2016/03/03/political-deliberation/) ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-gop-establishment-try-to-kill-the-trump-nomination/745812/173 "2016-03-06T10:57:15Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > **Boyo Jim** , I’m going to quote some choice parts of Romney’s speech and then ask if you are saying that even _Romney_, specifically, will at some point endorse Drumpf, urge people to vote for him against Hillary, if he is the nominee? I just don’t think he has given himself any wiggle room to do that. To wit: If you’ve seen _The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo_, you’ll remember the conspirators brought in an old member with cancer and nothing more left to lose, to kill off the Russian defector. Romney is their old man with cancer. I can’t predict for him individually, but anyone who is currently an elected official or has further aspirations within the party, like Ryan for instance, will fall in line to kiss Trump’s ass. But at best guess, Romney will too, proclaiming “the people have spoken.” ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-gop-establishment-try-to-kill-the-trump-nomination/745812/174 "2016-03-06T11:02:51Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > I understand that Trump clothing is made in China and or Mexico. I have to wonder if his fans are aware of that. Mexicans aren’t illegal immigrants if they’re still in Mexico, are they? ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-gop-establishment-try-to-kill-the-trump-nomination/745812/175 "2016-03-06T12:29:45Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > [aside] > IMO only, but misstating the guy’s name does nothing to enhance your argument’s credibility. The candidate talked about the size of his penis during a televised Presidential candidate debate. His name is the least of everyone’s worries. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-gop-establishment-try-to-kill-the-trump-nomination/745812/176 "2016-03-06T13:02:01Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > Mexicans aren’t illegal immigrants if they’re still in Mexico, are they? That’s not the objection. Outsourcing American jobs to foreign countries is a central Trump rant, and he promises to bring those jobs home. Perhaps he should start with his own brand. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-gop-establishment-try-to-kill-the-trump-nomination/745812/177 "2016-03-06T16:58:48Z")
Louis CK gets in on it: > [@](#): > > Trump is a messed up guy with a hole in his heart that he tries to fill with money and attention. He can never ever have enough of either and he’ll never stop trying. He’s sick. Which makes him really really interesting. And he pulls you towards him which somehow feels good or fascinatingly bad. He’s not a monster. He’s a sad man. But all this makes him horribly dangerous if he becomes president. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-gop-establishment-try-to-kill-the-trump-nomination/745812.md?page=8)