The Tribe Has Spoken...

Last night, Donald Trump became the Republican nominee for President of the United States, for the 2016 election cycle.

Dear Lord!  Even the next day, writing the first sentence seems unreal.  Last night, he was crowned the champion when Ted Cruz was voted out of the tribe by Indiana.  Trump's conquest was greeted with cheers from the racist, dim-witted morons who think they can punch their way into the White House, and gasps from the Republican establishment who are terrified of Trump calling Hillary the "c" word during a debate, while he talks about, in detail, her husband staining a certain blue dress in the 90's.  The non-Trump right is looking around, nervously averting eye contact, trying to put a positive spin on this.  "At least it's not Cruz." Wow...just WOW!

Smart money people know Trump won't win, but even if he did, he's not controllable like W., McCain, or Romney.  This morning, Republicans are coming to grips with this reality; the Presidency in 2016 is lost.  Where I think this dramatically hurts the GOP, it's likely not the end of them, as a game plan is currently being hatched to try to resurrect the party by 2020.

This morning, May 4th, frantic conference calls are taking place.  Conservative wealthy individuals who guide US presidential elections are currently diverting money away from Trump and the Presidential race, and into US House and Senate races, not just campaign donations, but all the PAC, special interest and dark money too.  Like battlefield surgery, they're preparing to cut off limbs to try to save the body.

If the Democrats get control of the White House, the US House and get a filibuster proof majority in the US Senate, an outcome becoming more possible by the day, conservatives will be in big trouble.  After 6 years of GOP nothingness, all in an attempt to rob the first African American President of any legacy, they've unintentionally trapped themselves.  If a Democratic majority passes legislation, even minor bills, they'll be able to claim, "at least we can get things done."  Conservatives only hope for 2016 is to hold enough seats to maintain the logjam.  Then in 2018, they'll insist the Democrats are no better than they were.

The 2016 Senate races are about to become obscene affairs, with spending levels never witnessed.  House seats, like the ones in MN-02 and MN-03, will get massive money dumps too.  The Right is no longer trying to pick up seats in 2016, but is hunkering down, boarding up the windows, allowing Hurricane Trump to pass, hoping their house will stand and they can maintain a majority.

Even in state races, game plans are being rewritten.  In Minnesota, where the Republicans are desperate to hold the MN House, the option of not passing anything this session is now off the table.  They have to figure out a way to pass (at least) a Transportation and a Bonding Bill, just so they have something to campaign on.   If they go into November with Trump at the top of the ticket and nothing to show locally, the Left will run away with Minnesota.

If they win, the Democrats will have a leg up for the next two election cycles.  The GOP could try the 1993/94 strategy, standing up at every bill, screaming how it will destroy the country, but they'll be neutered by the Democrats doing something the GOP has had no interest in doing, passing legislation.  If the GOP can somehow hold just enough, with every Republican voting in unison, it might backfire too, but it at least allows them to prevent the Democrats from looking competent.

Conservative money people are also coming to grips with the 2018 and 2020 election cycles.  They'll have to spend an obscene amount of money in 2018 to take back the House and/or the Senate, and even more two years later.  2020 becomes monumental for the GOP.  With 2020 being a census year election, they'll have to win in state after state to maintain the gerrymandered districts which give them the tilted US House.  2020 will become a referendum on how "the Democrats have failed us and they should be replaced, with Paul Ryan."  With the current dumpster fire which is the nomination process for the Republicans, where the worst of America chooses their standard bearer, good luck with that!

Mark my words, phone calls are being made, conference calls are being scheduled, money is being transferred and ad campaigns are being designed to discourage Democrats from voting, all in a last ditch attempt to prevent the Republican's torch from being permanently extinguished.