Under those informal rules, Republicans can be labeled racists with impunity and America can be trashed as irredeemably racist, evil, and shameful. Also Republicans must not fight back in any way, even to the slightest degree. Any resistance will cause an enraged freak-out reaction, which the MSM will amplify.
George W. Bush was a fervent believer in the "informal rules."
The informal rules count Mitt Romney, House Minority Leader McCarthy,Peggy Noonan, Bill Kristol, Jeff Sessions, Paul Ryan, the staff of National Review, Michael Medved, and Meghan McCain as adherents. Trump Derangement Syndrome also infects the likes of Ron Paul, Fred Reed and Anne Coulter, not squishes like the first group but still out to lunch on the current President.
I have to wonder if God has not sent Trump, like Samson, to take down the temple of the wicked.
George W. Bush was a fervent believer in the "informal rules."Or, was one until Trump was elected.
After that, GWB found his backbone and his tongue.