It bears repeating and repeating and repeating: Donald "Rump" Trump is the Republican brand:
They say he’s [Trump's] trashing the Republic brand. They say he’s “stirring up the crazies,” in the words of Senator John McCain. But Trump is the brand, to a sizable degree. And the crazies have long flourished in the Republican media wing, where any amount of gaseous buffoonery goes unchallenged. [snip]Trump is a byproduct of all the toxic elements Republicans have thrown into their brew over the last decade* or so — from birtherism to race-based hatred of immigrants, from nihilists who shut down government to elected officials who shout “You lie!” at their commander in chief.
It was fine when all this crossing-of-the-line was directed at President Obama or other Democrats. But now that the ugliness is intramural, Trump has forced party leaders to decry something they have not only tolerated, but encouraged. (our emphasis)He's still polling strong among Republicans even after his comments on Sen. John "McAngry" McCain's status as a war hero, and notwithstanding his ongoing attacks on his Republican rivals. "Trumpism" is not going away, because it's the beating heart of the inchoate, angry id of the Republican base, and the fact that he has no filter to soften the ugliness appeals to that base. Because of that (and his "TEN BILLION DOLLARS"), he'll be in the race for the long-run.
For that, Republicans can thank their own toxic, increasingly extremist politics over the past half-century, their right-wing rabble-rousing media, and the "mainstream media" that has been too neutered or co-opted to report honestly on the slow-motion radicalization of the Republican/ New Confederate/ Stupid Party and the conservative movement that drives it. In the meantime, it's important now that Rump continue to have the high profile his poll numbers and ego demand, because he's the most accurate reflection and best spokesperson for a party and movement gone mad than anything else in this election cycle. Let's see how long that fact can be ignored.
* Steve M. points out, as we do above, that it's been a lot longer than a decade.
(Photo: Trumpnado - "Oh hell no!")
