You are correct! The Republican party has become a joke and it is now in my opinion, very close to its own demise. They seem to be now as was the case with the Whig party that eventually gave way to the modern Republican party (its a birth/death issue). I want to see just how the establishment "leadership" are going to play this out!

I believe that Trump, with his past being a true representation of his core beliefs and, with nothing to show that his rhetoric today is a true representation of his "real" core beliefs, that he an Rubio are probably now the "preferred" Establishment candidates regardless of the faux bluster that they (the establishment) are spewing.

In addition, I believe Trump (who is already attracting many Democrats) will govern more like the Democrats with their core beliefs rather than all of the supposed conservative, populist tripe that he has been promoting in order to capture the Republican base. This could be the bait and switch of the century!

For what its worth!

"he is focused on making the government work"
Yes, for HRM Donnie Trump and uses looters power against everyone else that gets in his way even his own partners. Trump has little business acumen that can be applied toward the job, and he has shown through his actions and his words that he can not be trusted to limit his actions as president to the original constitutional limits. Character assassination of Trump is not necessary; his actions and words have shown his character and ethics clearly.

Government doesn't "work." And Benito Trump won't make the trains run on time.

You are not "forced" to vote for the Republican nominee. When the choice is between a socialist and a fascist, vote libertarian.

Are you implying David Boaz and Thomas Sowell are "insider statists"? Or that either one would have supported JEB?

I hate to say this, but I feel my fellow Gulchers are buying in to the same media personality assassination that built a false picture of Sarah Palin, when it comes to Trump. I'm skeptical of any vested interest figures when they rabidly attack someone as aggressively as they have Donald Trump, and look behind the public image to draw my own conclusions.

I have yet to see one former Trump employee on camera, bleating about what a cruel, heartless boss he is, and you can bet the media has been feverishly seeking such persons out. His children are productive and without the trainwreck of a life so many offspring of the wealthy inhabit. He's a philanthropist who insists there be no publicity about his gift-giving. His ex-wives insist he's a kind, thoughtful man, with an obsession with his business that made it impossible for them to stay with him.

Is he an ideologue? Absolutely not, but he is focused on making the government work, and understands the office of the President requires a diplomat, not an autocrat, when dealing with Congress (a lesson that totally escapes Obama). The word that he uses constantly is "negotiation," which is an art form most hard-nosed conservatives are sadly lacking.

Ted Cruz, the darling of the conservative crowd, flip-flops as much as any other candidate, but he's a great debater who points with pride that he's impossible for other Senators to work with. That may impress the purists, but getting nothing done isn't what I want in the office of the Executive.

I admit that I sometimes cringe at some of Trump's statements, but when I dissect the statements of other more polished politicians, I find they've mastered the art of saying nothing with great sounds of importance. It's difficult for any public figure to be perfectly flawless and consistent, but are we looking for the best orator (which was what got Obama elected) or someone who's determined to herd the dissonant cats of Congress into the right direction?

It seems the article will give Trump a boost. The National Review is an example of people that think they are the only true conservatives and no one else is conservative enough. BTW, I'm not a conservative although I believe in most conservative ideals.
Some people never learn. If you want to bring Trump down, leave him alone. Instead bring someone else with a chance up. But don't waste your efforts on the one and two percenters.

About a year ago, NR made itself a 501(c)3 organization. That status will certainly be revoked over this.

I ask myself what Trump's core values are and they are even more elusive tha Obama's were. He was for abortion, then he's ProLife. He's for gun control, now "second amendment rights need to be protected". The Clintons were "a wonderful couple, now they are corrupt. Cruz was a "terrific guy", now "he's nasty and no one likes him". The Stimulus Package wasn't big enough. We should have Single Payer Healthcare.
I could go on and on listing the issues he has supposedly changed his views on. He is not only inconsistent, he's a lier. We already have a lier with a huge, but fragile ego, in the Whitehouse.
Another presidential candidate is an even better lier, but she will likely be indicted before the general election. Her primary opponent is probably the most honest candidate running, unfortunately he is wrong on almost every issue.
I stayed home for the last two elections because the choices were two Statists. We may get to choose from two Statists again this year. If this country wants to commit suicide, it would be better to give it a quick death, rather than a slow more painful one.

Who would best defend the Constitution? Ted Cruz. Who's for limited government? Yes, Ted again. Those with Trump are following the same fever that brought us Obama and a weak Republican party.

Right on! I will vote against the Democrats, no matter who their candidate is. I will vote for Trump even thought I don't like him much. He got where he is because the Republicans underestimated the anger of Conservatives and others in the country. The staff of the National Review has only itself to blame.

trump is a battleship and the national review is attacking with pea shooters, it never has worked and certainly this time will not be any different

True but that would most likely have Sanders as the dem candidate which is even worse.

Yesterday I heard on Fox radio that if Clinton is taken out Biden will likely take her place.
My conscience is already forcing me to vote (for whoever the GOP front runner may be) against the continuation of Obama's destructive policies.
As for the policies of Bolshevik Bernie, those would nuke us into a third world country with a double-downed debt..
Sanders would multiply whatever this will grow into http://www.usdebtclock.org/ by 2. Maybe 3 for the ballooning interest

Trump always claims anyone who is accurately critical of him has ulterior motives- of course, any supreme narcissist would. His comment doesn't really make sense though. If they wanted more readers they would be more likely to back the front runner and gain his supporters who are more numerous. Instead of refuting the criticism (an impossible task with the truth against him) he attacks the messenger. As usual trump is full of himself, and his brown eyes show what else he is full of.
The fact is that this is all a side show to distract the voters from the truth: neither the GOP nor the Dems deliver what the voters want because prosperity comes from individual liberty, not from state control which has been the only accomplishment of the fedgov regardless of which party is arguably in power.
The only rational response is for voters to abandon the GOP and the Dems for a third party that has for decades consistently defended individual liberty.

Reagan is attributed for saying, "If you want to be a leader, step in front of a parade." I think that is what Trump has done. He raised issues no professional politician had the stomach for and found a huge parade of anti government folks. For me, the problem with Trump is that he is no different than Obama in his method. I don't want a President that leads by Executive Order and fiat. I want a constitutional government. Because Trump may execute a more populist agenda doesn't make him a better President.
Having said that, if he decided to work with congress and passing legislation that could be signed into law, he "may" have the ability to get cleaner bills and less pork. All of the candidate yearn for the line item veto, so they can strike the pork barrel funding, but that will never happen. Congressmen get re-elected by bringing the federal money home to their constituents.

A tertiary point regarding both Trump and Romney is that both guys made fortunes in the American business environment. I for one, would love to learn from and follow a leader like that. Imagine what Romney may have taught Americans about achievement, charity, and efficiency. I would guess the same is true of Trump. To face challenges and find workable solutions is something we haven't seen in a while and I believe American's need a refresher course. When you have a major group of young people that complain about their situation, spend their money on piercings and tattoos, have enough cash to buy pot and stay stoned, yet still demand what they "need and deserve" from the achievers, they need a lesson. Something along the lines of, "you are only as valuable as the service you provide for others." Or. "You can get everything you want out of life if you just help enough other people get what they want."

If there is a retail politician offering that, please fill me in.

I'm against Trump too.
What to do if the Walmart lemmings get him the republican election? Nasty, executive-power, insider Hillary is the worst thing in a long time. However, an honest, fool-socialist Bernie might actually be better for the US than a completely uninhibited, narcissist Trump as long as there is a republican-controlled congress to beat up the little fairy-tale school boy. Basically a stale-mate for 4 years and government power is in check.
Be careful what you wish for. Trump could do for conservatives what Bush did...ensure an Obama/two house control in the next election, and it is over.

Conservatives have shown their power in 2012 and 2014. The Tea Party has shown that they haven't disappeared and are still a force to be reckoned with. What did they get for it? A group of pretenders with the guts of a chum bucket. Here comes a strong man who owes allegiance to no one. Not only that, he talks off the top of his head and shoots from the hip. He's the Lone Ranger. He takes off his liberal mask and shows up as a conservative underneath. To those whose hopes in the form of elected politicians has been shredded, he seems like -- at last, someone telling it the way we want to hear it. Those of his supporters have yet to stop and take a deep breath. If they ever do they might discover that they backed a new Mussellini. (sp?) They might well be going from the Lone Ranger to the Loan Arranger.

Relax, Jeb Bush is not going to be the candidate regardless! He is even having problems running against the other possible Establishment candidate, Marco Rubio and Rubio is either in 3rd or 4th place at this point.

My guess is that if he wasn't worth billions, he would be a sideshow performer at a circus or a 3 card monte specialist.

However, with that being said, I for one am still going to wait until November to see who I am going to vote for. Cruz is making a intelligent run against Trump, so far!

Relax! With her current problems, she probably will not be the one running! Even the Clinton's have their limitations as do most Americans....

Its a shame! All this hoopla about supporting a guy that has billions, went bankrupt 4 times, married three and has no track record of any conservative values, shows that in America, the "soundbite" is king and we as a nation are willing to risk it all (again) on a bunch of populist soundbites.

"Hope and Change" anyone????

The battle is definitely joined. Trump said--correctly, in my view--that NR did this in a desperate bid to drive circulation. And the Republican National Committee found they could neither ignore nor excuse this breach of etiquette. So they disinvited NR from sponsorship of their February debate.

This might draw disagreement from the rest of you out there but my position is that I will vote for anyone against Clinton. And while I do not support Trump. I am against Clinton.