It’s Trump’s party now, Jeb! just lives in it:the GOP “loyalty pledge” is a win for Trump-Joan Walsh

It’s Donald Trump’s party now, Jeb! just lives in it: Why the GOP “loyalty pledge” is a win for Trump

The arrogant frontrunner’s “loyalty pledge” isn’t a cave-in. It represents his complete takeover of the GOP

JOAN WALSH

Donald Trump’s remarkable Thursday press conference, where he floridly swore a pledge of allegiance to the GOP – “and to the conservative principles for which it stands” – marks a crossroads for the party. Trump didn’t declare his fealty to Republicans; he exacted their fealty to him. It’s Donald Trump’s party now, and good luck getting anything but white votes anytime soon.

Jeb Bush says he’s signing the loyalty pledge, too. That commits him to endorsing Trump, if he’s the nominee, no matter how racist or misogynist he gets. Trump has already insulted Bush’s family, suggesting on Twitter that Bush has to support Mexicans because his wife is a Mexican immigrant (Trump deleted that tweet, in a shocking outbreak of discretion.)

By the way, does anyone else associate those Trump jabs at the “low energy” Bush with the commercials warning older men about “low-T?,” or testosterone? Being “low energy” is a sign of low-T, according to the shysters who peddle T-boosting products on daytime television. It’s a typical grade-school Trump attack on his manhood. It reminds me of Sarah Palin’s needling men about “manning up.”

In signing the loyalty pledge, Trump is giving up nothing, while exacting a guarantee from the GOP that the party won’t sabotage his candidacy. As I wrote yesterday, a man with three wives and four bankruptcies behind him has a proven track record of finding an exit clause from his commitments. He could still pursue an independent run if he doesn’t get the nomination.

The truth is that his threat to challenge a GOP nominee who isn’t named Donald Trump was always questionable. It would be incredibly complicated and expensive; and by definition it would come after he lost the GOP nomination, which might brand him with the ultimate Trump insult: loser.

But Trump doesn’t think he’ll have to make good on that threat; his leads in national and state polls (and, crucially, his favorability numbers) are growing, not shrinking. Now he’s gotten the entire GOP field to promise to support him if he’s the nominee, no matter how noxious his campaign turns out to be.

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http://www.salon.com/2015/09/04/its_donald_trumps_party_now_jeb_just_lives_in_it_why_the_gop_loyalty_pledge_is_a_win_for_trump/