When matters are quiet often the winds of change are in the air. A major poll out Wednesday finds Hillary Clinton increasing her lead over Donald Trump by 12%. Even worse, Trump’s unfavorability is now at 70%. Unprecedented. Hillary Clinton’s break out week turned out to be a smash. With the media stream treating it as the coronation of a queen, she was effective. A new tone in her voice. A well put together speech taking apart Donald Trump. Meanwhile, at a conference of Republican leaders and fund raisers, former Presidential candidate Mitt Romney said “Donald Trump represents trickle down racism.” Word is a Hillary Clinton indictment odds are nill. Why? It’s known Obama communicated with Hillary on her home server. An indictment would force Obama into the indictment issue. He will never allow his Justice Dept. to indict her. The FBI report may be very bad. But, it ends there. Dem. “talking points” assuage the news.
What we have here within the Republican Party is pandamodium. Said CNN’s senior political analyst, Ron Brownstine, “We’re in uncharted waters unprecedented in modern American history.” He is correct. Just get a load of GOP leaders comments. Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell says there is no way he will introduce legislation to deport 11-12 million illegal immigrants. Also, same for no admittance for Muslims. Who knows what he thinks about the wall. Major fund raiser, CEO of a major company and former Republican candidate for governor in California, Meg Whitman emphatically compared Trump to a fascist such as Hitler or Mussollini. Nobody has ever seen this elite level of a Party act this way towards a presumptive nominee. As to Trump’s senseless remarks towards a judge in his Trump University lawsuit, House Speaker Paul Ryan said it was the definition of a racist comment.
Thank goodness the election is in November. But consider the current situation. The Democrat’s are running effective anti Trump commercials in all key battle ground States. A war chest of campaigns fund headed to a billion dollars. Endorsements rolling in now from Party Leaders including Obama who has raised his approval level to 50%. Mainly by staying out of the news. More or less, doing nothing. VP Joe Biden, highly effective criticism towards Trump. Also from popular socialist Senator Elizabeth Warren. They have a nationwide campaign set up and organization. They are united. Trump and the Republicans have none of it.
The question is what does the Grand Old Party do now? A multitude do not support nor will they endorse their Presidential candidate. And, let’s face it. Trump is an amateur politician. He’s convinced he can run now the same as he did in the primaries. No he can’t. He thinks he can win even without his Party’s full support. No he can’t. He thinks he can beat Hillary with half the funds she will have. No he can’t. The Party pro’s don’t know how to deal with him. They are trying to find a way to justify Trump’s candidacy. The latest polls show Trump has lost 13-15% support from the critical votes from Independents. Consider this scary item. In this November election, there are 24 Republican Senators up for re-election. Only 10 Democrat’s. And, of those 24, thirteen are in traditional Democrat States. And, seven of those GOP races are in States that Obama won. It’s becoming very possible the Republicans will lose the Senate control with Trump as the head of the ticket.
Here’s the way to look at it. GOP leaders have two choices. One is to shut up and “dance with the guy who brung ya.” Or commit to a different Party candidate. The convention rules committee meets before the main convention and can change the rules anytime. Technically they could suddenly change the rules making more delegates needed than the 1,237. Unlikely. Two thirds of Party delegates are committed and held ONLY BY THE NATIONAL PARTY. The latter is more likely if Trump were to be dropped from the GOP nomination. Yes, it would create havoc. But that risk is better than the Trump risk as many are thinking. A good guess is the wheels of that change are rolling now.
So what should be done? One would like to stay the course and hope for the best. Maybe the Orlando disaster and Trump’s pronouncements will bolster his numbers. Trump may do better now with well written speeches. But, Trump doesn’t come off well on the prompter. He is back to winging it at his rallies. The key element in deciding what to do with Trump is……….he is going to make more grievous mistakes again and again. More petty fights such as his call for banishing the Washington Post from his press detail because they wrote something he didn’t like. Suddenly he is now for certain gun reforms after the huge NRA endorsement. Trump is simply never going to change. He is in flip mode as if he were Hillary Clinton.
It seems the writing is on the wall. Trump must go. Damn the torpedo’s at the convention. Calamity may ensue. But, as famed coach Vince Lombardi said, “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.” The issue of the next President is more important than the saving of Donald Trump. Losing the Presidency is one thing. But, the loss of the Senate would be catastrophic. Very little chance, thanks to all the gerrymandering, but even the loss of the House is possible. The USA is in terrible shape in many ways. Taking the risk with Donald Trump is too much big a risk. True, there could be pandemonium at the convention. But, a solid electable candidate is worth the disruption.
As of this moment it is likely the Republican Party leaders are deciding upon who to get behind with Trump gone. Here are the likely best bets. Gov. John Kasich of Ohio. He’d win critical Ohio, has strong backing with all minorities winning reelection by 70%. He rebuilt his State and has enormous governing experience…D.C. wise and State wise. He is the only primary candidate who easily beats Hillary in all polls. Next would be Marco Rubio or better a bet might be House Speaker Paul Ryan. Ryan will be chairman of the Cleveland convention. And, if there is no consensus, highly unlikely, Mitt Romney could step in again.
If I was the one to say, I would begin a major out pouring of the issue discussed NOW. “All hands on deck ” now! It’s appears inevitable. Beginning now would soften the convention uproar. If all the best known Party leaders are together, there should a ground swell movement soon. The quiet now should end. The old expression cries out….”When you are standing still, you usually end up going backwards.” It’s only the future of America at stake.
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