Trump truly is unstoppable.

[Chichiri]

http://www.salon.com/2016/02/16/donald_trump_is_unstoppable_after_crossing_the_911_line_at_saturdays_debate_his_lead_in_south_carolina_remains_yuuuge/

Donald Trump popped this bubble on Saturday night, crossing the 9/11 line and saying what the rest of the world already understands: Besides not keeping us safe, George W. Bush left the planet considerably more dangerous than he found it. Trump was booed by the audience, most of which were establishment-friendly implants. And he was castigated by virtually every other candidate on stage, particularly Rubio and Bush.

(...)

Trump also made the obvious point that the “World Trade Center came down during your [Jeb’s] brother’s reign.” In addition to being right, Trump’s outburst was pure blasphemy as far as Republicans are concerned. That he said this in South Carolina, a pro-military state where, oddly enough, George W. Bush remains popular, is all the more shocking. Trump’s remarks undermine the false Republican narrative about George W. and Obama, which is why no one else on that stage would dare say what he said.

A Republican strategist told Politico the day after the debate that if Trump’s comments don’t “backfire, then it will be official; nothing can stop him.” Well, it appears they haven’t backfired, and that’s awfully bad news for the GOP. According to a new poll by Public Policy Polling, Trump’s wide lead remains firmly intact after the debate. Trump is currently at 35 percent, with Cruz and Rubio tied for second at 18 percent. Perhaps more surprising, Jeb, who held his own in the debate, is now polling at 7 percent, which means he’s tied with Carson for last place.

There are no sacred cows left for Trump to slay. He’s crossed every line imaginable. And his popularity among Republican primary voters continues to rise. He’s going to win South Carolina and very likely sweep the South. After that it’s hard to see how or where the establishment can stop him. This isn’t exactly news, but if these numbers hold and Trump wins despite his blasphemous remarks, the party will have to resign itself to the reality of a Trump nomination. The electoral map, after all, sets up nicely for Trump. And he’s demonstrated that his appeal among the base transcends every known political law of nature. The man is unstoppable, and the sooner the GOP accepts that, the better off they’ll be.

[Katashi_itto]

1. Imagine if he goes against Hillary. She will get destroyed.

[Chichiri]

3. Yes, and even Sanders would stand a decent chance against him, I think. nt

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

19. Except for the fact 60% of Republicans will still hate him

He's a heel celebrity in a five to six person race. It won't work out as well in a two person field.

Besides, if you don't think he'll have some zingers for Bernie, and the shallow kind of person who supports him won't eat it up, you're crazy.

[Xipe Totec]

2. He's unstopperable nt

[lancer78]

4. They view him as a great leader

And maybe the republicans truly know that Iraq was one massive cluster-f, and that is why "Bush the turd" is not doing so well.

[exboyfil]

8. He is the Bush exorcism

We got close to it in 2012 when Romney basically disavowed Iraq (that is over).

I am here because of Iraq. I went further than most. My dad, a lifelong republican, detested what Bush did to the military. He would have voted for Trump in a heart beat.

I don't see Trump losing any of Romney's states, and he has a real shot at Ohio, Florida, Iowa, Wisconsin, even Pennsylvania.

All the old sins of the Republican Party are washed away. Trump has little baggage when appealing to the moderates.

I look at what he did in the debate as throwing a Hail Mary. If it succeeds he has already positioned himself to claim voters like my dad in the general election. He was a heck of a strategic move.

[lame54]

5. Go Trump Go...

the repugs are spinning out of control and it's beautiful

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

6. msnbc now has a countdown clock for Trump's townhall on Wed

[winstars]

13. Wow! Just like CNN... I just can't decide who is cooler??? All the hip kids have a countdown clock.

Jerks.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

14. Speaking of jerks...

Joe and Mika are going to moderate it!

[WDIM]

7. Only 30% of repugs support him

If repugs make up 50% of the voting population that is less than 20% that support trump. Sanders has around 30% of the voting population. He beats trump easy..

[Chichiri]

9. You mean 60% of Dems?

What's that based on?

[rockfordfile]

11. yeah that made no sense.

[Octafish]

10. Maybe none of those GOP tools can stop him.

What will it take to stop him?

The Truth about Trump.

Then, all bets are off.

[rockfordfile]

12. two right wing idiots hosting a racist right wing idiot.

[RichGirl]

15. Nobody can stop him....

His own ignorance, ego will stop him. He says whatever he thinks people want to hear often contradicting himself. If he is the nominee, he will have to get dem votes to win. He'll have to get black votes, latino, etc. Since he always exaggerates, he'll say things that will insult his "voters".

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

16. "Blacks LOVE me! Mexicans LOVE me! ..."

"... I have scads of them cleaning toilets in my casinos, and pushing wheelbarrows at my construction sites!"

We have to have candidates and issues in November that will bring voters to the polls. If they "stay home in droves", we lose.

[trotsky]

17. Yes, hearing him say that made me do a double-take.

The writer of this article makes a good case.

[LAGC]

18. "And I think Hillary is going to take it. And I think Hillary is very, very capable."

[Odin2005]

20. He is running to the LEFT of the Dem Establishment on many issues.

Which is why nominating Hillary would be a disaster.