Forget a third candidate: Instead dump Trump - By Jennifer Rubin

[DonViejo]

Jennifer Rubin writes the Right Turn blog for The Post, offering reported opinion from a conservative perspective.

The #NeverTrump forces have been vindicated. Donald Trump really is an atrocious candidate, and he really is heading for a terrible loss. However, they’ve misjudged the difficulty in fielding a third candidate as an alternative.

It is perhaps not surprising that no Republican of note wants to run against the Republican nominee. Despite the unique circumstances of this race, that kind of run would be a long-shot at best. Moreover, in the mind of many GOP operatives and potential candidates, it risks dividing the conservative vote (even though a third candidate or the Libertarian ticket seems to draw from both major parties). No one wants to get blamed for “electing Hillary Clinton.” With the party apparatus “falling in line” it would be a lonely run, to be sure. Most important for the ever-ambitious pols, it might doom the third candidate’s future, to the extent one thinks the GOP survives as a party.

-snip-

Three issues remain: 1.) Can the delegates unbind themselves? 2.) Why does it make sense to have one or more volunteers lined up? 3.) How can #NeverTrump voices make #1 and #2 more likely?

The bound delegates issue turns out to be less serious than many thought. Jay Cost explains, “The delegates are not technically bound to vote for the winner of the primaries and caucuses. Under the rules of the Republican party, they first have to vote to bind themselves to those results — meaning that they are, in truth, free to do whatever they like.” In other words, they can through the rules committee or through an open vote on the convention floor decide to allow conscience to be their guide. And, as we have argued, the delegates have every right to make Trump’s original promise — to release his tax returns — a condition of placing a name in nomination. If he doesn’t want to keep his promise to the voters and delegates, then they need not feel obligated to stick with him.

There’s a substantial benefit in having in advance one or more volunteers to replace Trump: Delegates don’t want to jump ship without a place to land. Certainly, the other 2016 contenders could say they’d be willing to do it if the delegates decided to dump Trump — or if Trump decided to withdraw over a standoff on his tax returns. If no one from that group raises his or her hand,78 other Republicans who have already refused to endorse Trump (e.g. Sen. Ben Sasse(Neb.)) can certainly say they’ll do it if the delegates decide Trump is an avoidable disaster. Mind you, none of these candidates have to do anything other than announce their availability, unless and until the delegates act.

more
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2016/06/16/forget-a-third-candidate-instead-dump-trump/?wpisrc=nl_popns&wpmm=1

[MFM008]

1. good luck with getting rid of Rump.

If they boot him from the gop, i believe he will run 3rd party.
His ego is to large to do otherwise.

[Vogon_Glory]

2. Too late, too bad, Ha! Ha!

You R's and Connies are stuck with him.