The Gooper Prime Directive has always been loyalty to the nominee, and although there are typically divisions in the ranks before the Conventions, Republicans are traditionally much better than Democrats at falling in line behind their candidate afterwards, and that's especially true this year with Hillary running.

That's why I think this double game that Cruz, Kasich, Bush, Romney and all the other Big Bank financed party elites are playing will backfire.

They are hoping to sabotage Trump, blame him for the loss, and then run one of their own against Hillary in 2020. But if Hillary wins, the Gooper freakout will be so intense that anyone who is now so proudly not on board the Trump Express will be the ones cowering in the back when the the rank and file blames them afterward.

Kasich certainly should watch out if he's thinking of throwing Ohio Hillary's way, because elephants have long memories and the only thing they hate more than donkeys are other elephants who wander too far from the herd.

had to see that. if you need serious psychological counseling, or a valium scrip, i'm sure the folks here would be happy to pitch a few bucks. i would.

oh..

the speech. you were talking about the speech.

well this is awkward.

Let's review:

1) Trump is not running a serious campaign.

2) Clinton does not have to win more than one swing state.

3) The Repub elites don't like Trump, and the feeling is mutual.

4) The Repubs have a far more successful "third party" alternative (Johnson) than do the Dems (Stein).

5) Trump is a crook, and thus liable to impeachment -- never mind his unpopularity even with Republican Congresses.

6) Trump is not half as bright as Clinton, whose connections may prove useful if the election were to be rigged.

at the 1976 convention, nor at any time thereafter.

Humphrey did not endorse McGovern at the 1972 convention, waiting until mid-October to offer tepid support.

Rockefeller did not endorse Goldwater at the 1964 convention. Far from it.

For Cruz' alleged "middle finger," and the accompanying "thunderous boos," these pale beside Rockefeller's remarks, and the reaction:

Convention organizers had only given the vanquished Rockefeller five minutes to speak to the convention, but his remarks were a concentrated blast against the extremism and racism he said were ruining the party. "These are people who have nothing in common with Americanism," said Rockefeller, standing beneath a portrait of Abraham Lincoln. "The Republican Party must repudiate these people."

The crowd booed. "We want Barry!" they chanted. Then the noisemakers picked up. The Rockefeller haters blew squeeze-horns and toy trumpets and hooters. Someone pounded a giant bass drum. Those with cowbells got busy.

Rockefeller couldn't be heard and stopped talking. Goldwaterites seated in the rafters shouted themselves hoarse. Organizers, who were all in the Goldwater camp, reminded the speaker that he had a time limit. "You control the audience, and I'll make mine five minutes," he snapped. He was exhausted, having been kept up the night before by prank phone calls to his hotel room.

His remarks were interrupted 22 times in five minutes. "This is still a free country, ladies and gentlemen," Rockefeller said, condemning "infiltration and takeover of established political parties by communist and Nazi methods."

"It was as if Rockefeller were poking with a long lance and prodding a den of hungry lions," wrote Theodore White in Making of the President. "They roared back at him."