Meaning!!

Donald Trump now owns the Republican party. The only question left is whether what’s left of the GOP establishment can winnow the field fast enough to take it back.

What Trump has established, though, cannot and should not be ignored. He has mocked, taunted and threatened the party establishment on his way to his undisputed front-runner status.

He has called his opponents corrupt, unstable, low-energy liars and losers. He said President George W. Bush lied about the Iraq War and called Pope Francis “disgraceful” for questioning his faith.

Despite all that – and maybe because of it – Trump romped in Saturday’s South Carolina primary.

He’s done it by bringing the party along to his positions. Exit polls show three-fourths of South Carolina voters supporting a visas ban entering the United States.

He again managed to split the evangelical vote, despite coming in last among voters who preferred a candidate who “shares my values.” He ran strong across income levels, among independents as well as Republicans, and among voters who saw immigration, jobs and terrorism as the top issues.

Even if Jeb Bush and Ben Carson bow out soon, John Kasich’s staying in through the Midwestern states that vote in early March.   Rubio and Cruz are too busy feuding to think about getting out of the way of the other. In the meantime, Trump will accumulate delegates as the realization grows that, yes, he could actually be the Republican nominee.    [Rick Klein]

Just a thought.