I respect that view. I am very happy Trump is running and doing what he is doing. The chances of him being the nominee in 16 months I view as about 2%, IMO. If that. I am nevertheless interested in having him “in theater” for as long as possible. Part for entertainment, part for forcing the others to talk about stuff they do no want to talk about.
In the meantime, as you suggest, the GOPe who has the proven track record of attacking its own, IMO >has got to be< developing a strategy of probing Trump to see how he can be provoked. If enough attacks come and he has to respond “in character” to all of them, I believe (they think) it will define him as a loose cannon. They are probably right.
In Trumps’ shoes, I would have responded to this kerfuffle by saying “I like Scott Walker and I think he’s a good guy. But he has some jerks on his staff, as we just found out.”
[implication>> I’m not going to let a little thing like this get me ruffled.] This would be a more calibrated response. This would be like a chess move where a captured pawn is retaken not by bringing out the queen early, but by using a lesser piece.
There are 16 months to go in this. Conserve ammo. Do not expect the other side(s) to keep using tactics that are (up to now) backfiring on them. These things shift over time. The Alinsky tactic of ridicule will become much easier for the other side(s) if Trump gets exercised easily, while the flinger of insult looks weaker if there is no apparent reaction by the insultee. Now, maybe you say “look at the traction Trump got by whacking Linda Graham”. Yes, because Linda is easy to ridicule. And Trump had this whole piece of VERY amusing theater (LG asking Trump to help him get on Fox, Trump came through, and this is the thanks he gets) to pull out. A staffer, nobody knows who he is. He doesn’t merit the full response.
Walker evidently had the chance to turn it back, and has connections with other freaks going after Trump a great deal, all the while staying silent. Walker also denounced Trump previously over the McCain comments.
Walker is a dull looking, zombie of a politician. He will never be President.
Trump and Cruz are better.
“He doesn’t merit the full response.”
I really can’t disagree with anything in your post.