Paul Ryan "Not Ready" to support Donald Trump

Both former Presidents Bush, Mitt Romney, and Bob Dole have either refused to endorse Trump, or said flat out they would not. None may attend the Cleveland convention. McCain hasn't said either way; he seems the closest, but has also said that having Trump at the top of the ticket makes his own re-election more difficult. Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

For those keeping score, that makes ALL living Republican presidential nominees.

And simply saying "I support my party's nominee for President" (and attending the party convention unless unwell) is normally a pro forma, no-brainer thing.

 

Trust me, I am no Trump supporter... I want Bernie, but that tells me that they are giving the proverbial finger to the voters, which frankly, is why Trump made it this far.

 

To those who hate anything that remotely says "establishment," sure this doesn't hurt - probably helps. But Trump's already got those folks locked up.

To those Republicans and moderates - and they definitely exist - who still value experience, an even temperament, civility... it may give them pause.

 

I wonder if we'll see some parliamentary shenanigans with respect to unifying the party. For example, with a wink and a nod, requesting Trump choose an establishment favorite as VP (like Kasich) in return for Republican leadership support. Then impeach Trump following the election. I doubt something that extreme would happen. But then, two years ago, Trump winning the Republican nomination seemed equally as unlikely

 

It really is a time of soul searching for Republicans. They have been on the wrong side of history with depressing regularity, and Trump could well be the pinnacle of decades of pandering to America's right wingin' bitter clingin' proud clingers. His candidacy will also do lasting damage to the GOP brand in unimaginable ways.