Since entering the presidential race last June, Trump shook things up like no other US aspirant in memory—turning an otherwise dull political season into a memorable one, for better or worse.
Republican Party bosses want anyone but him. So do media scoundrels, becoming anti-Trump cheerleaders, going all-out to undermine his campaign, another reason to avoid them altogether.
On February 6, failed presidential aspirant, vulture capital predator Mitt Romney said, “I’ve had my turn . . . I’m not running for president.”
Will he or won’t he enter the race? In desperation, will party bosses choose him to challenge Trump, other aspirants too far behind to catch up?
Some political analysts believe he’ll jump in at this July’s convention if Trump fails to win a majority of delegates.
A brokered convention could choose another candidate, the usual practice before primary elections became the standard.
Republican Thomas Dewey (1948) and Democrat Adlai Stevenson (1952) were the most recent brokered convention candidates.
The last winning brokered convention nominee was Franklin Roosevelt in 1932. A Romney Facebook page says he’s “currently running for president.”
Trump calls him a “choke artist.” Republicans are frantic to back anyone but him, even Clinton is a preferred alternative.
Trump said if Republicans undermine his candidacy, he’ll consider an independent run, virtually guaranteeing her triumph.
Maybe it’s what party bosses have in mind—anyone but Trump, even Clinton.
On March 4, The New York Times headlined “Rank and File Republicans Tell Party Elites: We’re Sticking With Donald Trump,” saying:
They repudiate party bosses telling them to reject and defeat Trump, reacting angrily since Romney and neocon John McCain “urged millions of voters to cooperate in a grand strategy to undermine Mr. Trump’s candidacy . . .”
“[E]ven lifelong Republicans . . . rebelled,” expressing disgust. Bashing works to Trump’s advantage. The more he’s derided and scorned, the stronger he gets.
His unique anti-establishment sounding style captured the imagination of millions of voters—fed up with America’s dysfunctional political system, ignoring popular needs and rights entirely.
Hoping a Trump presidency will shake things up for the better is living in a dream world. According to the Times, Conservative Political Action Conference attendees fear they’re witnessing a once-in-a-century event—“the breaking apart of a major American political party.”
They feel impotent “in the face of Mr. Trump’s ascendance.” His supporters “seem profoundly uninterested . . . with the image, expectations or (so-called) traditions of the Republican party.”
Many are openly hostile, furious about party bosses trying to manipulate them.
Longtime establishment figure Trump managed to make millions of supporters think he represents their interests. If elected to succeed Obama, they’ll be sorely disappointed.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.” Visit his blog at sjlendman.blogspot.com . Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.
I think all the attack dogs attacking Trump is inappropriate. The candidates should be doing this on their own.