[markomalley]

The author is 100% correct in that Trump's ascendancy is fully the fault of the wimpish GOP leadership. They despise the conservative base. The conservative base has officially abandoned them.

[odawg]

“...they are not deterred by the fact that Trump is dangerously unpredictable.”

That is an odd thing to maintain. I have seen Trump on TV over the years saying the same thing that he is saying now. Circumstances usually cause a reasonable person to adjust their thinking.

[100American]

Yes We Have!!

They lead themselves to permanent irrelevancy playing the part of The Comeback Kid who should stay home with his Momma!

[rrrod]

This has been building for years....the DC set, from the consultants to the congressional staffers are beside themselves! Their whole world is falling apart quickly and they just dont get it.

[Diogenesis]

This literature professor from California
is obviously an Obama supporter.

[9YearLurker]

The conservative base knows that the GOP has been an existential traitor on illegal immigration.

That, plus his great communications skills and the party’s perfidy, is the cause of Trump’s success.

[stevem]

The party¹s leaders offer a blanket excuse for their timidity: in any confrontation with Obama, the media will make sure that they get the blame. But this is why it is so important that leaders be articulate enough to make a compelling case for what they are doing. It may well be true that these particular Republican leaders would lose in any confrontation but that¹s because they lack the eloquence and resourcefulness that the task demands

Eloquence? If you can't make the case to stop the Federal Government that has declared war on American Citizens, you can't even qualify as an empty suit.

[Lake Living]

Good article!
“Change throughout the leadership is needed — House, Senate, party — but at the very least, the party must equip itself with a commanding voice and strategic intelligence in its most important national office: the Speakership. Not at the next election, not at the next convenient moment immediately. Then watch the Trump problem begin to diminish.”

While this would be helpful, I personally think it’s too late. The base has all but made their choice. I’m not a Trump fan but if he is nominated and elected, one would hope that there is a real house cleaning afterwards in the House, Senate and the RNC but to me it is doubtful. I have little hope for my country at this point. There is simply too much wrong and too little time to correct it.

[nathanbedford]

If Boehner and McConnell were smart they would shut the government down over virtually any issue, Planned Parenthood comes handily to mind, and bring the matter to a protracted boil. The result would be to remove much of the impetus for Donald Trump but, of course, not all.

The more the GOPe resists Barack Obama now, the more the wind would go out of the sails of the insurrectionists (of whom I count myself one) and the less would be the perceived need for Donald Trump.

This strategy is no doubt one which the Democrats are praying for because they must do something to activate their base and move the discussion away from the appalling record of Barack Obama and onto a false issue, especially one having to do with women's rights. But we all know the Democrats don't pray and, anyway, this prayer will never be answered by the likes of Boehner and McConnell who will never shut the government down as long as they can keep it open.

Not only have Boehner and McConnell undermined the country, undermined their constituents, undermined the Republican Party, they have also effectively wrecked their own Republican establishment. To alter the old joke, it is like watching your country being driven over the cliff with Boehner and McConnell driving and riding shotgun.

[Eddie01]

“Thinker”

You keep using that word... I don’t think it means what you think it means.

[Flintlock]

No.

We really want somebody who will JUST DO THE RIGHT THING.

For a change.

[bert]

that is a great analysis. to carry it one step further, the lack of leadership and apparent direction in the Republican Party is perceived on Free Republic as being Democrat to the point there are no Republicans, just Rinos.

[Lurkinanloomin]

The main problem with the GOP is that it is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Cheap Labor Express.

They have been paid to betray us.

It’s not a matter of incompetence it is a matter of treason against the citizens.

[Tupelo]

One definition of insanity is to continue doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result.

A wise man said, There are three boxes used to change governments;
1) Soap Box
2) Ballot Box
3) Cartridge Box
2016 may be our last chance with number two.

[DungeonMaster]

I didn’t think it was ineptitude, I thought the GOPe was in bed with the same people as the liberals.

[thirst4truth]

Has anyone heard Trump say anything bad or derogatory or anything at all about Obama? I have heard him interview plenty of times, have not heard all his speeches, so has he said one thing about Obama? Anything about his phony fake birth certificate? I think that is the last time i heard Trump say anything about Obama.

[thirst4truth]

Be careful on this forum talking about a candidate that is not the hand picked candidate for the R party. I did not vote for the candidate that the GOP-e and their money masters picked for me to vote for, Romney, and have been blamed for all our problems because of my non vote. Even been blamed for Iran having nukes now, the Christians that did not vote for the Romney are now responsible for the deal with Iran.