I have just been trying to catch up with this thread and am on your post 348. As I understand the argument to this point:
Cruz can't get to 1237 so he should drop out and no one here should support his continuation to the convention.
Trump is the only one who has a chance to get to 1237 before the convention so everyone should support him although he might not get the magic number.
My question would be: If Trump does not get the 1237, does he have the same obligation to drop out as Cruz. If the threshold for him is reduced to something lower than a majority, does Cruz get a lower threshold also.
Your argument is that the process should be allowed to play out rather than have some last minute rule change to appoint someone who could not put together a majority.
If I understand your argument correctly, I would have to agree with you. When you try to short circuit the process to satisfy one group, you create the very dissension you might seek to avoid. These candidates are big boys and when they have no other choice, they will work it out. To use a sports metaphor, I want to win the super bowl, not the pre season.
An update from http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3418598/posts?page=198#198 from 9Apr2016
Trump has: (was 743) now 846
Cruz has his own: (517) now 563
If Cruz gets all of Kasich and Rubio, then Kasich’s: 143
Plus Rubio’s: 172
Cruz total: (was 832) now 878
Let’s say Trump takes a larger share of those totals.
+ 65% Kasich’s: 143 x .65 = 93
+ 60% Rubio’s: 60% x 172 = 103
Cruz total: 563 + 93 + 103 = 759
Trump Total: (if the remainder) 846 +50 +69 = 965
Another iteration:
Let’s say Cruz takes a larger share of those totals.
+ 85% Kasich’s: 143 x 85% = 121
+ 85% Rubio’s: 85% x 172 = 146
Cruz total: 563 + 121 + 146 = 830
Trump Total: (if the remainder) 846 + 22 + 26 = 894
Split has gotten wider.
Let’s say Cruz gets 95% of those votes.
+ 95% Kasich’s: 143 x 95% = 136
+ 95% Rubio’s: 95% x 172 = 163
Cruz total: 563 + 136 + 163 = 862
Trump Total: (if the remainder) 846 + 7 + 9 = 862
Looks like Cruz will need to take at least 95% of the released delegates if they split the remaining state delegates.
Unless Trump does something which is fundamentally opposed to conservative values, I don’t see Cruz picking up those percentages. I suspect Cruz and Trump numbers will come in around 40%-60%.
Ergo, even with split popular votes, the delegates will most likely still tally for Trump.
So what’s with the recent campaign to attack those who seek to win delegates? That’s the system and the system is still working.
Well, I’m for the process to take it’s course. At some point, I probably thought that Kasich should drop out, but he doesn’t want to & I guess he (as well as Rubio who has suspended his campaign) has the right to be a player & make his deal.