Trump Has The GOP Establishment's Number

[UCmeNdc]

The problems that bother us most are the ones we bring on ourselves. This is why Republicans are so out of sorts with Donald Trump. The party created the rough beast it is now trying to slay.

When Trump gave out Lindsey Graham's cellphone number on Tuesday at an event in the South Carolina senator's home state, he did it to show he wasn't backing down after his outlandish attacks on Sen. John McCain's status as a war hero. But he was also making clear to the Republicans assailing him that he really does have their number.

Graham had called Trump a "jackass" for dissing McCain's sacrifice. The Donald wanted to document that Republicans now so horrified by his bombast once fell all over themselves to pander to him in quests for his help and seal of approval.

"Hey, didn't this guy call me, like, four years ago?" he asked about Graham. According to the Republicans' provocateur-in-chief, Graham wanted a "good reference" to "Fox & Friends," a show on the network that conservatives revere, and then whether "he could come and see me for some campaign contribution."

Trump claimed he still had the card on which he had scribbled down Graham's cell number and read it out. It was Trump's evidence that Graham had cozied up to him.

We can't know exactly what was said in that friendly chat, but Trump's story rings true because Republican politicians have been more than happy to seek his help and overlook every kooky and appalling thing he said - as long as the celebrity put his fame and dollars to work to elect Republicans other than himself.

Trump struck again on Wednesday, tweeting a picture with another of his Donald-come-lately critics, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, "in my office last cycle playing nice and begging for my support and money. Hypocrite!"

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/07/trump-has-gop-establishments-number

[HFRN]

1. i think i know the secret to his appeal

he just doesn't back down from anyone - we'd risk nuclear war having the guy as president, but as a candidate, it is kind of fun watching him punch back at a media/political system that has us all in a stranglehold

[Warpy]

2. He's the Angry White Male's Angry White Male

Uhnh, nobody gonna push him around! He's Archie Bunker with unlimited funds and a rear end full of steroids. He's the champion of every Rugged Individualist out there who has been forced by life circumstances to knuckle under to college boys and eat shit just to survive.

He's very dangerous.

He has absolutely no idea how to do the job, nor does he particularly want to. He's like Romney, it's just another bauble to add to his collection. He would delegate it and we all know who he'd delegate it to and they are not our friends.

[HFRN]

3. correct - a backlash to 'political correctness' nt

[Warpy]

4. No, it's much more than that.