I just still cannot fathom that possibility.

but it's looking more and more possible.

Apparently it's hard for them to imagine too, even as it is more and more possible -- up to a point. I think it's clear that for a critical number that point would be well short of electing him President.

Of course, I thought they'd never vote for such an outstandingly incompetent buffoon like W...

resentment of "having been had" one too many times by the power structure coming from both sides of the political spectrum.

of expecting an asshole like Trump to deliver them to the promised land.

Has he even outlined any policy proposals yet? His typical 'speech' that I've heard is a somewhat more intellectual version of Palinese.

He's Hector Comacho in an ill-fitting suit and bad hairpiece.

But they are of the northeastern variety and are turned off by the extremism of Cruz and (to a lesser extent) Trump.

I still think there are a lot of Republicans out there who really want a Mitt Romney type of candidate.

and actually resides more within the Democratic party under the guise of Third Way so-called "new" Democrats.

The way I see it, there are the Born-Again Christian Republicans, who, along with their other Tea Party compatriots represents a wing of the party who have as much antipathy for Republicans that they don't like as they do Democrats. The nominal Republicans who are not in that camp are not going to support someone like Trump or Cruz. But they also have been conditioned to hate Hillary and to think Bernie is crazy. Thus, where do those voters go? Maybe Bloomberg?

my dad's republicons will have 3 choices: vote for Trump, vote for Bernie, or sit this one out. If sitting this one out wins (and I think the chances are very good here), the Dems retake the Senate and, possibly (if Sanders is the nominee), the House too.

If it does end up being Trump vs. Bernie, do you think Bloomberg entering the race would have any impact? If so, whom does it help?

the Donald. Put my hunch down to 3rd wayers taking more rational perspectives than panicked republicons.

run. He might capture the Independents, as well as those that fled the republican party, as well as some democrats that might erroneously think Bernie is some-kind of socialistic communist or whatever.

IMHO historical empirical evidence tells me Trump could actually win the deep blue state of California in 2016 the way Gov. Terminator did, twice.
Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was not just "elected" in Blue California, he was "re-elected", after we knew what a failure he was too.

Cruz, the other GOP candidates, and most Democrats don't yet realize we will be running a candidate against the most powerful force of nature in the USA: Celebrity.

This is a nation of star-fuckers who think fame and riches will rub off onto them by association.

You're running against the Man on the TeeVee.

It will take every vote in every state to win.
God help us if we lose.

by another californian who was appalled that gropenator was elected so easily by some of the rubes here.

it could definitely happen again.

that the TeaParty monster that the RNC spent all that time and energy coddling WILL not be controlled...and it wont be a pretty election for them.
Without the full-throated and PUBLIC support of the Republican Establishment, it wont even be close. It will be a fuckin' BLUE LANDSLIDE and then the GOP will go to war with itself, and stock up on popcorn.

I think he'll take the nomination in landslide form as the voters prove that we are in the time of the new dumb. Idiocracy will rise from the repukes.

Or, less likely, Jeb.

Remember that there hasn't been a single vote cast yet.

Perhaps I will need to re-evaluate after Iowa/NH, but I just think that there are powerful forces in the Republican party doing everything they can to stop Trump or Cruz from getting the nomination.

and Cruz to a lesser extent, because neither will win the GE. They desperately want an establishment candidate to get the nomination, but they are limited in what they can do because there are so many candidates. They have to a) coalesce around a "sane" alternative, and b) prop them up at the expense of others. In a two- or three-person race, this might be possible. With a dozen or so people (none of which are really sane), I don't see how it can be done. They might be at stage a) with Rubio. However, with their limited influence this time, I believe they would settle for Cruz.

He has a major national organization and a lot of money. Besides, Rubio has come across like a total clown.

And if the voters are fine with nominating a clown, there is no reason not to stick with Trump. Certainly the GOP wouldn't refrain from voting for him based on his racism and demagoguery.

He has certainly had his opportunities. He seems to be his own worst enemy.

Not saying they can, but Trump would be a loose cannon for 4 years. I can't see him ending up being the nominee.

He seems to easiest to manipulate of them all. And he also presents a more middle-of-the-road personae when he feels like it.

Never count Rubio out imo.

I would love to see that scenario play out. It could possibly mean the end of the Republican party as we know it.

My biggest concern is the election being rigged again in favor of an establishment candidate. If that happens, then we will know that democracy in this country is really f***ed.

somewhat rigged. We left being a democracy a long time ago. Often "we the people" and what we want does not figure into the equation, but rather the super-wealthy are pulling all of the strings.

Before realization sets in that he will be the nominee

Let's see how things look after they do.

And that counts Carson's flare up

Right up until a few days before Iowa.

And not one of them has left a scratch

This campaign is not comparable to any others

but I've been saying Trump is the nominee since around Thanksgiving. The other dwarfs have way too much ego to band together to stop him.

People are enraged at the establishment and they are not going to take it, anymore.

The question is where that rage is directed.

Or at least, that's what I was certain of a month ago.

Though I still think this is how it will play out.

"Ozzy the Presidential Picking Octopus" to make his pick.