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I look forward to the expansive review of the cases Hillary took as a lawyer, and the assignment of her clients’ positions as her own.

That is the slime that David Corn is doing here and others are joining him apparently.

Hi. My name is Eric. Calling me a liar and delusional are inappropriate and unwelcome. We probably have a lot more in common than most in this world. Perhaps you’re in some flame-war with other Cruz supporters on other threads or something, but they’re not me.

I’ve been on FR since 1998, very rarely posting for the last few years. I won’t go through your entire summary of current events because I frankly don’t disagree with the entirety of it.

If you’re angry that I credited Cruz with pushing the dialogue rightward, I’m happy to say that on Immigration, Border Control, and National Defense, Trump has also pushed the dialogue right in a substantial and excellent way.

I’ve met lots of nice people on FR, many of whom prayed for me and my family as we went through a very difficult time back in 2007-2008.

I’m a Bible-believing Christian and a Conservative with a “free markets” bent economically. I currently support Cruz but will almost certainly vote for the Republican nominee.

Some of the things Trump says I like. Some I don’t. Cruz’ positions are closer to mine.

Apparently we disagree on a few details, but take the namecalling elsewhere. If Trump wins the nomination, I recommend taking a different tactic to persuade the 50-60% of Republicans who didn’t vote for him in the primaries.

I don’t think it helps Cruz much at all, maybe it opens up some fundraising possibility. I don’t like Jeb Bush much, he was far down the list of candidates I would support. His policies are better than Kasich, I think.

Your turn. Are you fully on board with the Christie and Scott Brown endorsements of Trump? I would assume so, but with your apparent concern on endorsements, I’m not sure.

Sure, taking endorsements from defeated opponents is normal despite disagreements. I expect whoever the R nominee is will recieve a whole bunch of “GOPe” endorsements, and if it is Trump he will welcome them with open arms and a smile.

Trump already has Chris Christie and will supposedly get Rudy Giuliani shortly. He has Scott Brown and Paul LePage too. None of these guys would be confused for holding the firm conservative principles of Jeff Sessions, that’s for sure.

Did you cringe when Chris Christie and Scott Brown endorsed Trump? It probably was a good thing, right?

If Trump gets the nomination, he will inevitably have a wide variety of endorsers. And when someone grabs a bucket of those endorsers and says “see, Trump will never build that wall because of these endorsers who want a pathway to citizenship” then I will call that bunk, assuming Trump continues to hold the same positions.

And trust me, you’ll see that out there if Trump gets the nom. They’ll say “Hey, Trump fans, I told you so! Trump was just saying that stuff about the wall to get your primary vote, but he’s shifting away from that now — look at all the people who stand with Trump who aren’t for the wall. You guys are suckers!”

And as long as Trump is still about building that wall, I’ll know those endorsers are about bringing people on his team and not a lurch away from one of his principles.

The Gov should call the bluff and consider the bill on its own merits and not let Disney and the NFL influence the choices.

I’m suuuurrre Disney is happy to write off the money they make from GA.

Good job by Cruz getting the media focus on him. As we’ve learned in this information cycle, getting “negative media attention” for a position like this does NOT harm.

The media would apparently be fine with “no-go zones” like in Europe.

For any Republican to win any general election, they need fellow Republicans (and non-Republicans) to endorse, donate, and vote for them. This includes people with whom they disagree.

For example, I am sure Donald Trump has or will have many supporters of abortion endorsing and supporting him; or people who favor a “pathway to citizenship” for illegals. I am sure Trump will welcome their support. Will you feel betrayed then?

Heck, his claim to fame is that he will bring Democrats into the fold and vote for him. These voters, supporters, and endorsers will have positions your or I and many conservatives abhor.

But as long as the candidate doesn’t change his or her principles for the endorsement then that’s fine.

The tactic of smearing a candidate by their endorsers is a lamestream media tactic, and I think it is bunk.

This trolling vanity post itself is insulting and offensive, and it appears the only purpose is to be bait for a flame war between supporters of Cruz and supporters of Trump. It certainly unfolds that way throughout.

What purpose does it provide on this forum?

Interesting, thanks. We’re mostly in sync entirely. I’m starting to flag the comments that are out of line.

I’m in CA and will vote Cruz despite the risks he will not win the nomination and that he will get so slimed in the general that he won’t win that either.

I have a lot of like for Rubio because I remember how he arose. But the gang-of-eight was awful and thus I could only vote for him against a Dem and not when a Cruz or Perry would be on the ballot.

I’m in CA so illegal immigration has been a real issue for many, many years here. That many eastern and midwestern Republicans don’t see this as a security issue, a rule-of-law issue, and an economic issue is awful. And the Jeb Bush stuff on this issue was sickening.

It should be an interesting next few months. I am greatly dismayed because I see the potential for Hillary being prez in 2017 as very, very likely.

Should be interesting. I can’t tell what will happen. But it is fun to predict.

Goldberg’s general point has been that if Trump wins the nom, Hillary wins the election, and if Trump fails to win the nom, Hillary still wins the election. In each scenario, no one will unite at the level needed to win. At the moment, I think this is accurate. I hope it changes though.

Anyway, let’s have some fun and guess...

I think that Trump will not get to 1237, and that Cruz and Kasich will stay in until the convention. (Note, I’m probably wrong and starting in NY primary Trump will sweep and CA goes heavy Trump and it’s over. But the below scenario is more interesting to think through for me)

Step 1 at the convention will be to get rid of the rule requiring candidates on the ballot to have won 8 states. That rule is only 4 years old and will be tossed out by a vote, not a conniving cabal, but the same method convention and party rules are done normally.

Then there will be a chase by Trump to get the many unpledged delegates and to make a deal with Kasich about his delegates (some of which apparently can be reassigned, each state is different) and get to 1237.

If Trump gets to 1237 on the first ballot, he is the nominee. (obviously)

If Trump cannot get to 1237 on the first ballot, then the process is wide open (them’s the rules!) and then we’ll see if Trump the dealmaker participates in a negotiation with other candidates like Cruz, Kasich, and Rubio with delegates and some “yugely greeeat deeal” is found and everyone can be happy. My prediction is no, but this would be threading the needle.

Then after that we have a full open convention. It has happened before and the republic survived. Then all bets are off. I have no idea what would happen. Because a majority of the delegates are Trump and Cruz friendly, I cannot imagine a Romney or Bush type winning in an open convention. Maybe Perry or Walker?

Who would have predicted we’d be here? So there are probably many new things to come the next few months.

You’re right. I think Trump really caught fire when he came out with his “Wall” theory and got the commentariat crazy. Then instead of backing down he punched right back. This was a breath of fresh air for all of us who are sick of conservatives apologizing for their positions. Then the attacks in San Bernardino happened and he caught a wave of interest then too.

So that’s when he really surged in my mind at least, facts might prove otherwise.

But recently he is punching wildly and he needs to stop and act more mature. The Megyn Kelly thing is an absolute embarassment to me and others. His new thing about a PAC-ad on his wife is over-the-top too. Maybe it is to distract from the Utah result or something like that? I don’t know.

Several of his speeches and debate performances after Rubio went low were appalling as well. The reference to his “down there” in the debate was unwelcome. The people it appealed to were already pro-Trump. Convince those on the fence that you can be trusted and you have the right positions and the right demeanor.

This act means a bunch of R voters in the burbs who want to vote for someone respectable as President are becoming nevertrumpers. And this especially shows in the current, massive gender gap. To win nationally, an R candidate needs the suburban moms (and many other constituencies). Wild vulgar rants and bullying aren’t helping here.

I support Cruz, but if I were advising Trump I’d try to get him to dial it back and be aggressive on issues that matter and stop the attacks on people and issues that don’t.

Thanks for your advice. Can you name a policy position that Cruz has changed to gain this endorsement? I haven’t read that yet, but perhaps you know.

I am currently supporting Cruz, and Bush was far down the list on my preference list from the original list of candidates. Probably above Graham and Kasich, and that’s it.

Cruz was surely not any of these endorsers first-choice. Trump has pushed the party dialogue to the right on immigration and border control and national defense. Cruz has pushed the party dialogue to the right across the board. THese are good things. I happen to be wary of Trump’s protectionist views on trade, but that’s for another day.

All those people you listed are Republicans. WHile I disagree with each of them about many issues, I recognize that the Republican party is a mix of different factions who unite together to win elections because we have enough in common.

Would Fiorina be my ideal choice for any office? No. Did I vote for her for Senate here in CA? Yes.

Is McCain my ideal choice for any office? No. Did I vote for him instead of Obama? Yes.

Did Cruz promise to change his position on ... pick something ... border enforcement... his tax plan... to get these endorsements? If yes, then I am unhappy. If no, then I recognize that he is helping move the party to the right and I am pleased.

How long until the first suggestion on this thread that Cruz has now moved to the “GOPe” instead of vice-versa? Despite no change in position, and no apology to McConnell.

My guess is before the 50th comment, we’ll get a “See, Cruz was GOPe all along!111!!1!!”

Are we going to take the lamestream media position that presidential candidates are directly in agreement with all endorsers on all policies? If so, just wait until the general election when the Hillary! brigades start the guilt-by-association for whoever the R nominee is.

Thanks for the post, I doubt I would have seen this article anywhere else. I don’t know Wisconsin at all and this was very interesting. I recommend reading the full article at the Journal-Sentinel website.

I was about to give up visiting FR because of some of the wild threads here with gratuitous insults being thrown about. Ghastly.

Then I stumble on this thread and there are good posts from people, even from those who disagree.

If all threads were like this one here, FR would be a much better place.

Thanks to most of you upthread!

This was a very interesting article, thank you for posting.

Goldberg is an often funny writer, though I can’t always agree with him. This article make the massive point that reunification of the Republican party is at huge risk right now.

The way the Republican party wins national elections (when they do), is by having a unified mix of different ideologies that share enough common ground to unite for a common goal.

There are lots of groups in the GOP and any one segment cannot win nationally. The Trump surge seems to be combining the populist section of the Republican party along with the independent types who liked the Perot / Reform Party from the 1990s. Combine that with Republican voters who are setting aside other priorities but are very concerned about illegal immigration and border protection. That’s enough for 40%-55% of the primary/caucus vote and that’s why Trump is winning.

But if Trump wins the nomination but cannot bring the other R groups into the fold this will be a national blowout. Right now, Trump himself occasionally shows a desire to unify and then other times he (or more often a few of his most enthusiastic supporters) are trying the Obama-style “get in their faces” tactic. I’m not sure that’s going to work.

I know the operating thesis of some Trump supporters is that Trumpism itself creates a new coalition of the aforementioned groups plus populist Democrats: Peel off pieces of the union vote, add inner city voters who are economically hurt by illegal immigration, and turn the rust belt into Trump states. I still don’t see the math working unless a whole lot of traditional R voters who are currently adamantly opposed to Trump return.

I can hardly stomach the idea of an Abuela Hillary! presidency, so I hope the situation changes.

From what I’ve read, the rules are clear that one needs to get to 1237. Getting to 1236 doesn’t get the prize.

The elctoral vote has a threshold, too. If Ross Perot somehow kept Bill Clinton under 270 EV in the three-way race in 1992, the winner wouldn’t be whoever got closest. The process would follow from there.

Trump is in the driver’s seat to getting to 1237 and with the statements in this thread about his popularity, he should have no problem getting there.

If he collapses down the stretch and can’t make it to the majority of delegates, then that will be his campaign’s failure and not the doing of some cabal.

The endorsements are coming in and going off the number of frequent posts by Trump-supporters here on FR about his popularity, this should be easy for Trump to gain, so why worry?

When our son was diagnosed, I created a thread on FREE REPUBLIC. Many of you encouraged us and prayed for us. Thank you all so much. This article (after clickthru to chron.com) gives you a little more info about what happened next...