Quin: There’s a fifth tactic that wasn’t available to you in 1991. Back then, the only alternative to the Ayatollah-loving, Jew-hating Klansman who had to be defeated was Edwin Edwards, a criminal himself (“Vote for the crook. It’s important”), but a less malignant one.

But in arguing against Trump, the most effective move would be to address the reasons that so many people want to flip the middle finger to the pusillanimous GOP establishment. And there are 16 candidates other than Trump, plus two houses of Congress run by Republicans, who can do that. There’s a whole range of things they can do or say that could weaken The Donald’s appeal.

For example: Pass an anti-sanctuary city bill with teeth through the House, instead of the limp and limited measures the congressional leadership seems to prefer. Of course Senate Democrats will filibuster – let them.

Ditto with defunding Planned Parenthood.

Don’t try to resurrect the Ex-Im corporate welfare program, as the Senate leadership seems determined to do. In fact, congressional leaders and presidential candidates should publicly demand it be dismantled, and demand it repeatedly.

Scott Walker could try openly calling for cutting legal immigration to help less-skilled American workers, by abolishing the Visa Lottery and the chain migration categories. Santorum’s already done that, but such a call from one of the leading – and well-funded – candidates would send a signal that he’s not in thrall to the anti-borders donor class.

The reason these things are unlikely is that there are powerful interests – dominant interests, really – in the Republican Party that don’t agree. And that’s the problem, isn’t it?

As VDH noted today, our elites have lost all credibility with much of the public, especially those without college degrees, whatever their partisan leanings. Until our rulers do something earn back the voters’ trust, there will be two, three, many Trumps in our future.