Deflection is always the tactic when the arrow hits home, isn't it. Nobody's saying they like Obama or Hillary. What they are noting is that they're not particularly impressed with Trump. He has to stand on his own merits - not the same tired old comparison. You can say you'd rather step in old turd than new turd because one sticks to your shoe more, but it doesn't change the fact that they're both still turd.

As an old American dino who voted for Cruz in the primary due to his principled Constitutional conservatism, I enthusiastically agree with this reply.

"Mopst likely not."

Pure speculation. You're attributing Trump's narcissism and thin skin to others.

One thing I think many are overlooking is that the convention is not only to vote on a nominee, but also to craft the party platform. Cruz still holds a Senate seat and the second largest block of Republican voters to Trump. Whether or not Trump likes it, he needs those votes to win. He only risks alienating more Republicans by rejecting Cruz and Kasich from speaking to their respective contingencies. Many people are justifiably concerned with Trump's historical support for Democratic values, including gun control (the Brady Bill), marriage, etc. Trump could do much to offer the olive branch.

The other thing to consider is that no candidate is obligated to endorse another candidate - even from their own party. Given Trump's over-the-top personal attacks against Cruz' family, that's a bridge burned by Trump's own actions. I don't fault Cruz one bit for refusing to endorse Trump. But one should not confuse a missing endorsement with open opposition. I don't see Cruz speaking at the convention about anything other than the values he campaigned on all along and the need to get American on the right track through fewer regulations, lower taxes, and more opportunities. If Donald Trump is smart, he'll echo that call.

I would say that what got Trump as far as he got is "anti-establishment" ideas- which is why the media and his own party hate him so much. They are afraid that he will remove their special crony treatment.

Trump gets support from the people who bear the brunt of the cronyism through taxes to support wars that benefit the rich, federal reserve actions that benefit the rich and make everyday people pay for it, etc. etc. etc.

In a way, Trump hijacked the republican party right out from under the bosses. They were so complacent they didnt see it coming. Now they are pissed off. Same with BREXIT. The people spoke in the quiet of the voting booth and threw off their chains of oppression.

Trump didnt say they shouldnt come to the convention, but if they did they should support him as the nominee. That makes sense if you want to have a party that can hope to elect its nominee.

As to the party platform, parties seem to talk and promise a lot and then when their nominees are elected, all bets are off.

A good party platform would be to oppose cronyism at all levels in government. Unfortunately, the only one who even hints at that is Trump and to an extent Cruz and Sanders.

Hillary IS the posterchild for cronyism

Not hypocritical at all. I already said if Sanders was going to go to the demo convention and drag down hillary, I would stick up for Hillary saying the same thing as Trump.

It just has no class to do that. If Cruz was the candidate, I really doubt Trump would even go to the convention and drag Cruz down, but if he did, I wouldnt think it was a good idea. All it would do is help elect Hillary.

The purpose of the convention is not only to elect a nominee, but also to craft the party platform. You don't do that by leaving out a huge portion of your voting base - whom you desperately need in the general election. Ask the Democrats how that played out in the last couple of elections.

Trump would be incredibly foolish to throw a fit about Cruz and Kasich speaking. If he does, it will only emphasize in many Republicans' minds the #NeverTrump mentality because it will emphasize Trump's own narcissism. If Trump is the great deal-maker he proclaims himself to be, this is a prime opportunity to prove it!

True. But I don't think what has developed into the current "republican ideals" are what got Trump the nomination, and perhaps the people who make a career out of exploiting them (like Kasich) wouldn't and shouldn't be welcome.

It's 100% hypocritical to accuse another candidate for something your own candidate started! If Trump had lost to Cruz you'd be taking the other side supporting Trump's right to disagree with Cruz. Be consistent.

The only thing the dump trump movement will get is hillary elected.

Exactly.

Cruz can have a say, but its NOT the place to continue the "dump Trump" attacks he was so famous for in the primary season. It just has no class if you drag down the very party you want to win in November. If he is a republican and wants to stay one, and someone else won the primary process, he should support the nominee.
If he cant, thats ok, but he should either shut up or quit the party.

They already have...but still have a say in how the party and America moves forward...trumpet doesn't get that...like most things.

It's a pretty logical statement of concern from Trump. No different than how David Cameron resigned after he was rejected on the Brexit vote so should Cruz and Kasich.

That's exactly the way I observed it.

Well it is a preemptive boo hoo sniff sniff cause he has always felt threatened by someone's suggestions or disagreements with him...to begin the discussions we need to have is not a ditch to trumpet. Cruz quit because of the divide getting larger and potentially more dangerous...I don't think he would cause any problems. He carried the second most delegates and deserves to have a say.

The first reasonable comment on the subject. Thank you.

Have fun with Hillary then. She will enjoy running your life. Perhaps after a while you will loathe her even more.

So if Trump is a petulant ass, what is Obama or Hillary? I am so tired of people knocking Trump all the time. It smacks of ignorance and hatred.

They can go and support "republican" ideals (whatever they are???), but if they do not support the party's primary winner, they should just shut up or the just hurt the party they claim to be a member of.

The whole point of say, Cruz speaking, (with the most delegates next to trump) would be to re-emphasize the things we need to do and the right way to do them.

Its not a stupid comment at all. Its a convention that is supposed to unite under a candidate. If you say you are a republican, you should either support the candidate that won by your rules, OR just dont go to the convention at all. If these guys spoke and tore down the nominee, there would be no point to their going to the convention at all.

If Hildebeast herself said the same thing about Sanders coming to their convention and talking bad about her, I would stick up for her on that point. If he is going to go, he has to either support the democratic candidate OR go independent.

The purpose of the convention is to bring the party together and elect a nominee, as I understand it. If Trump won by their own rules, they should abide by them at least. Coming to the convention to denigrate the party's primary winner seems a bit stupid to me. Either dont go at all, or support the primary winner. Otherwise, you are only going to make the party you say you are a member of- weaker.

So its not a stupid comment at all. Do these guys want Hillary to win? If not, Trump is the only other candidate that has a chance to resist her campaign.

I think DT is right on here. It is a personal choice to be a NeverTrumper. But starting at the convention the "Official" Republican party stance needs to be NeverClinton. The convention needs to move forward as promoting the Republican candidate. Any prominent Republican who is not going to vote for DT needs to step aside and just say they have no comment until November 9th.

Oh come on. Why would he want the career politicians there? Maybe Cruz, but if he did want the talking empty head Kasich there, I'd be very disappointed in him.