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The Republican establishment sees a Clinton Presidency as less of a threat to the GOP than a Trump Presidency - and they're right, because while she can only oppose the GOP from the outside, he can fundamentally change it from the inside. And that's why, if Trump is the nominee - as he almost certainly will be - there will likely be a conservative third-party candidacy by a mainstream, establishment Republican. Likely candidates? Rick Perry. Mitt Romney. Someone like that.
On one hand, such a move will foreclose whatever little chance the GOP had of winning the Presidency. But it won't be intended to result in a Presidential win. Rather, it will be intended to limit the long-term damage Trump will do to the party. For example, it will likely mitigate losses in the House and Senate by providing a candidate for millions of Republicans who will never vote Trump and would thus otherwise stay hope - instead, they'll come out to vote, and while they're there they'll vote for down-ballot Republicans. Also, post-November, the GOP establishment can blame Trump on the 'rabble' and point to the fact that they help take him down with a right-splitting alternate candidacy.
Desperate move? To be sure. But they're Dr. Frankenstein, and slaying the monster they've created is going to cause a lot of collateral damage.
Quote:
Three influential leaders in the conservative movement have summoned other top conservatives for a closed-door meeting this Thursday in Washington D.C. to talk about how to stop Donald Trump and, should he become the Republican nominee, how to run a third-party “true conservative” challenger in the fall.
The organizers of the meeting include Bill Wichterman, who was President George W. Bush’s liaison to the conservative movement, Bob Fischer, a South Dakota businessman and longtime conservative convener, and Erick Erickson, the outspoken Trump opponent and conservative activist who founded RedState.com.
The Republican establishment sees a Clinton Presidency as less of a threat to the GOP than a Trump Presidency - and they're right, because while she can only oppose the GOP from the outside, he can fundamentally change it from the inside. And that's why, if Trump is the nominee - as he almost certainly will be - there will likely be a conservative third-party candidacy by a mainstream, establishment Republican. Likely candidates? Rick Perry. Mitt Romney. Someone like that.
On one hand, such a move will foreclose whatever little chance the GOP had of winning the Presidency. But it won't be intended to result in a Presidential win. Rather, it will be intended to limit the long-term damage Trump will do to the party. For example, it will likely mitigate losses in the House and Senate by providing a candidate for millions of Republicans who will never vote Trump and would thus otherwise stay hope - instead, they'll come out to vote, and while they're there they'll vote for down-ballot Republicans. Also, post-November, the GOP establishment can blame Trump on the 'rabble' and point to the fact that they help take him down with a right-splitting alternate candidacy.
Desperate move? To be sure. But they're Dr. Frankenstein, and slaying the monster they've created is going to cause a lot of collateral damage.
Hmmm, I was thinking of this today, too, because I have noticed in the last week or so many Republican being on record as #NeverTrump but they all said they will instead vote for a "true conservative." I was thinking, "Huh? Who?" But if the Republicans are willing to basically take the nuclear harakiri option with an independent candidate, this scenario makes most sense to stop Mr. Trump.
Interesting. I must say, I have gained respect for the Republicans during this election. They really are totally willing to seriously hurt the party to do the right thing. I don't think Democrats would have the balls to do that.
Hmmm, I was thinking of this today, too, because I have noticed in the last week or so many Republican being on record as #NeverTrump but they all said they will instead vote for a "true conservative." I was thinking, "Huh? Who?" But if the Republicans are willing to basically take the nuclear harakiri option with an independent candidate, this scenario makes most sense to stop Mr. Trump.
Interesting. I must say, I have gained respect for the Republicans during this election. They really are totally willing to seriously hurt the party to do the right thing. I don't think Democrats would have the balls to do that.
Don't fret, Hillary is basically a Republican.
Mick
The establishment is apoplectic at the thought of Trump being the presumptive head of the Republican Party. They would rather give the WH to the Democrats then lose their party.
Trump was right about one thing, he IS a uniter! So far he's gotten whites, blacks, latinos, asians and middle-easterners to unite and protest his rally in Chicago a few nights back, and now he's getting conservatives and establishment Republicans to work together!
sorry OP but the republican establishment is NOT conservative, if anything they are liberal.
Hardly. The Republican Establishment is basically the Do-Nothing Party.
Cat
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