Would a narrow Trump loss make the survivor a better candidate?

[Spicoli]

Trump can be a master manipulator tossing chum in the water. He says he worries about Rubio being sued over citizenship giving Dems ammo. Then he threatens to sue him over same and threatens to sue Cruz because his adds are "unfair" . He blames Sanders for thug like behavior of protesters and that there is no violence at Trump rallies, then he mentions that any attempt to refuse him the nomination once delegates are reached "could result in riots". Some asshole sucker punches a protester and goes on camera saying next time we might have to kill him...next day Trump is doing interview suggesting he'll pay his legal fees. More and more though it seems the 'movement-anger-mistrust' of politicians leading him rather than other way around. He will certainly be the Republican candidate at which time we'll possibly get a definitive plan or policy on something and less double speak and emotional red meat. Shit, the guy is more of a politician than many are willing to admit.

[TitoFan]

There's things to like about Trump... and there's things that scare the hell out of me. Where to start.... For starters, nothing is lukewarm with the guy. You either like something a hell of a lot, or you despise it. Trump is obviously a smart guy. No way he would have been as successful as he's been if he wasn't. It's his business smarts that appeal to a lot of people, maybe hoping that he can run the government the way a good business is run. He's also extremely assertive. Another quality I believe appeals to a lot of people. People who feel the U.S. has lost some of its global clout for some reason or another. He shoots from the hip. That's not necessarily a good thing, especially for a POTUS.... but yet many people also like that, because they equate it with not talking the political double-speak that politicians are known for. As far as Trump being a racist, I'm not totally convinced that he is in fact a racist. Fiercely protective of the U.S. way of life, maybe. To the point of saying less-than-intelligent things he'll never be able to deliver.... most definitely. But I don't think he's racist. It'll be interesting to see how he transforms himself (if he does at all) as it becomes more and more apparent that he'll be the Republican nominee (barring some sort of coup). Will he reach out for the expertise and assessment he should know he needs in areas not in his wheelhouse? Will he be adept at choosing people to surround himself with? Will he tone down some of his outrageous comments? Who the hell knows. I will say this: The prospect of a Hillary presidency scares me. And from the looks of it so far, Sanders has zero chance. So it'll be some Republican against Hillary. If it's Trump, look out. I'm tempted to say the country would be better off with Donald than Hillary. But Donald can be dangerous, especially in areas such as foreign policy. He'd be better served by choosing the right people to surround himself with. And why shouldn't he be good at that? It's what a savvy businessman does. It's what Reagan did during his own presidency. Regardless, I can't shake the feeling that it's not like the good ol' days, when you could look up at the Presidential candidates with honest to goodness respect.

[Kirkland Laing]

Trump can be a master manipulator tossing chum in the water. He says he worries about Rubio being sued over citizenship giving Dems ammo. Then he threatens to sue him over same and threatens to sue Cruz because his adds are "unfair" . He blames Sanders for thug like behavior of protesters and that there is no violence at Trump rallies, then he mentions that any attempt to refuse him the nomination once delegates are reached "could result in riots". Some asshole sucker punches a protester and goes on camera saying next time we might have to kill him...next day Trump is doing interview suggesting he'll pay his legal fees. More and more though it seems the 'movement-anger-mistrust' of politicians leading him rather than other way around. He will certainly be the Republican candidate at which time we'll possibly get a definitive plan or policy on something and less double speak and emotional red meat. Shit, the guy is more of a politician than many are willing to admit.

You're making the fantastic assumption that GOP candidates eventually come up with plans and policies.

Other than massive tax cuts, deregulation of business and the financial industry and making government smaller none of them ever have plans or policies. They're a party that believe that government doesn't work and when they get elected they set about proving it.

Voters in this election have the choice between an extreme nominee (Trump, Cruz) or voting for a moderate Republican (Hillary). Everybody except Trump is a more of the same politician (free trade, no regulation of Wall Street, immigrant/cheap labour-friendly corporate servant government) but at least Trump is offering something a little different with the trade and the wall. That could attract a lot of voters.

More to say on this.

[SlimTrae]

Just when I think the Anti-Trump movement has found a wedge between he and potential supporters...the next article is about the unbelievable disdain Republicans has for Ted Cruz.

Republicans have shouted down Ted Cruz on the Senate floor (several) times and remind him often that he called fellow Republican, McConnell a liar...on the senate floor. Hard to imagine Trump could lose narrowly, when his Republican rivals are loathed by Republican voters, like they are Democrats or something...