Jim — I agree entirely that Trump is having huge knock-on effects on the rest of the field. I may even be starting to change my mind about the damage he’s doing to the GOP brand as a result. He makes the debates entertaining and his competitors look more serious and responsible — what’s so bad about that?
That said, I think the most fascinating dynamic was how — of all people — Rand Paul felt the need to go after Trump first and toughest. On the merits I am entirely with Rand Paul in his criticism of Trump (I’ll get into that in the G-File tomorrow). But I think there’s something more interesting going on.
Rand Paul wildly misread the direction of the country and the party. He bet the GOP was heading into a more dovish period. ISIS screwed that up royally. Conservatives tend to get hawkish when jihadis behead Americans, inspire people to attack the home front, slaughter Christians, and sell children as sex slaves. He’s been trying to play catch-up ever since. And, by the way, he still got tackled by Chris Christie tonight for not catching up quickly enough.
#related#But the more salient point is that Paul calculated that, given his dad’s record, he had to do everything he could to prove he’s a loyal Republican. His branch of the libertarian movement was uneasy with, and hostile to, the GOP establishment years — decades! — before it ever occurred to Ted Cruz to talk about the “Washington cartel.” Ron Paul ran as a third-party candidate in 1988! Rand worked on his dad’s campaign.
And in fairness, Rand Paul has worked very hard to prove he is a loyal Republican. Sure, he supported lots of tea-party guys in the primaries, but the moment there was a winner, he endorsed and campaigned for him or her enthusiastically. I always took his “big tent” talk to be a marker: If and when he won the nomination, he could point out his team spirit and demand the same from his opponents. It was a good strategy, and at least in part a sincere one I’m sure.
But then here comes Trump (and Cruz, but that’s a slightly different story). Trump craps all over the Republicans. He openly refuses to swear fealty to the party. And Republicans eat it up!
I can only imagine Paul’s frustration. He can’t catch a break.