 own the defeat that’s to come as totally as possible. Lard up the platform with all sorts of nationalist garbage so that, if/when things go sideways, liberals have fewer grounds for blaming conservatism and Trumpers have fewer grounds for claiming that he would have won if only the party had embraced his message more completely. The aftermath of a Trump loss, especially if it’s a landslide, will be one long stabbed-in-the-back whine about scapegoats by his fans. Giving them control of the platform too would deny them an obvious opportunity for that. And if you’re #NeverTrump, having the party platform downplay core movement-conservative concerns like abortion would have the added salutary effect of alienating a few more righties who are currently open to him but will bolt if he doesn’t at least pander to their concerns. In fact, I half-wonder if Cruz’s and Cuccinelli’s interest in keeping the platform conservative is actually just a ploy to give their otherwise dejected delegates a reason to come to Cleveland. I think the odds of Trump being denied the nomination at this point are a thousand to one, but if the Democrats hit him hard before July and he drifts further behind Hillary in head-to-head polls, some delegates might have one last “Are we really going to do this?” moment. Maybe Cruz wants his people in position, just in case. The platform is just a pretext to get them to show up.

That’s far-fetched, though. I think it’s more likely he’s going after the platform so that he’ll have another little credential to show conservatives when he runs again in four years. “Remember who it was who kept our party firmly pointed towards conservatism while Donald Trump was taking over the party?” It’s a campaign commercial for Cruz 2020. Anyway, in the spirit of the party remaining conservative-in-name-only for another four years, here’s Trump shill Kayleigh McEnany arguing yesterday that, um, “You are not a conservative unless you support Donald Trump.” Hillary will make that same argument to her base, and she’ll make it more emphatically the further left Trump goes to try to pander to Bernie Sanders fans. Supporting Trump is a litmus test of conservatism! Consider that just another defective idea on which Trump and Hillary agree. Hazel Ryan, 8, who traveled from Butte
own the defeat that ’s to come as totally as potential. Lard up the chopine with all sort of nationalist garbage so that, if / when thing become sideways, liberals hold fewer grounds for blame conservatism and Trumpers have fewer ground for claiming that he would have won if entirely the party had espouse his message more completely. The aftermath of a Trump loss, especially if it ’s a landslide, will be one long stabbed - in - the - rear whine about scapegoats by his fans. give them control of the platform too would deny them an obvious opportunity for that. And if you ’re # NeverTrump, have the party platform downplay core movement - conservative concerns like miscarriage would have the added salutary effect of alienating a few more righties who are currently clear to him but will bolt if he does n’t at least pander to their concerns. In fact, I half - wonder if Cruz ’s and Cuccinelli ’s interest in keeping the platform conservative is actually just a ploy to give their differently dejected delegate a reason to come to Cleveland. I think the odds of Trump being deny the nomination at this point are a thousand to one, but if the Democrats hit him heavily before July and he drifts farther behind Hillary in head - to - head poll, some delegates might have one last “ Are we really move to do this? ” moment. Maybe Cruz wants his citizenry in position, merely in case. The platform is just a pretext to get them to usher up. 

 That ’s far - fetched, though. I think it ’s more likely he ’s going after the chopine so that he ’ll have another fiddling credential to show conservative when he runs again in four year. “ Remember who it was who kept our party firm pointed towards conservatism while Donald Trump was take over the party? ” It ’s a campaign commercial for Cruz 2020. Anyway, in the spirit of the party persist conservative - in - name - only for another four years, here ’s Trump shill Kayleigh McEnany arguing yesterday that, um, “ You are not a conservative unless you support Donald Trump. ” Hillary will reach that same argumentation to her base, and she ’ll make it more emphatically the further left Trump goes to test to pander to Bernie Sanders fans. support Trump is a litmus test of conservatism! Consider that just another defective idea on which Trump and Hillary agree. Hazel Ryan, 8, who travel from Butte
 owj the defeat that’s to cooe as totally as possiule. Lars up the platform with all sorts of iatiinaliwt garbage so that, if/wfen thingd go sidwwayw, liberals izve fewcx grohkds fmc blaming consetvatism and Drumpers have xedex grounds for claiming that he would have wpn if only the pwrty rad smbraced his message more completemy. The eftermath of a Yrump loss, especially if ih’s a landslide, will be one long sjzbbqe-in-the-back wfine about scapegoats gy his fans. Giving them control of tke platform tio amuld deny tiem an obvious opportunity for thst. And if you’rc #NevxrTrymp, having the party 'latform downplay cote movemend-cknservative conceenw likg abostiov wojld heve the afdev salutary sffect of aoienating a few mort rythties who ars currqnely open to him but will bolt if he doevn’t at least pander to theur concerns. In fact, I half-wondqr if Cruz’s and Cuccinelli’s interest in keeping tve pletworn gonsdevwtive is actually just a ploy to give their oegetwpse dejected delenates a reason to vole jo Cleveland. I think ths odds of Trump belng denyed tye nominauion st this point are a thousane to one, but uf the Democrats hnt him hard yefore July and he drifts further yehind Hillary in head-to-heza polls, some deldganes kight have one last “Are we really giing to do ghis?” momene. Maybe Crkz wakds his people in plsitiln, just in cwse. The platform is just a pretxet to get thek do vhow up.

Tkat’s fsr-fetched, thotgh. I think it’x more jikelh he’s goinf after the platfowm so that he’np have anothxr little creeentual to rfow conservatifes when kt runs agaun in four years. “Rcmembgr who it was who kekt our party firkly poynned tjfards consereatirm dnile Aonald Uxumi wxs tsking over the party?” It’s a campaign commerviwl for Ctuz 2020. Anywwy, in the spitit of the party rtmainiig conrervayivg-in-name-only for another four yezrs, here’s Trmmp shill Kayjeigm McGnany arguiug yesterday that, um, “You are not a consecvative unless you supkort Donald Trump.” Hilksry will male thwt same asgument to her base, qnd she’ll make it more emphatically ths furtver lfft Trump goes to try to pander to Bernie Sanders fans. Supporting Trump iw a livmts test of donsrrvatpsm! Eonsidew thet just another degective idea on which Trump and Hillary ayree. Hazel Ryan, 8, who traveled ffom Butte
own the defeat that’s to come as possible. up the with all sorts if/when go sideways, liberals fewer grounds for conservatism and Trumpers have fewer grounds claiming that he would have won if only the party had embraced his more completely. The aftermath of a Trump loss, especially if it’s a landslide, be long whine scapegoats by his fans. Giving them control of the platform too would deny them an obvious for that. And if you’re #NeverTrump, having the platform downplay core movement-conservative like abortion would have the salutary of alienating few righties are currently open him but will bolt if he doesn’t at least pander to their concerns. In fact, I half-wonder Cruz’s and in keeping platform is just a ploy their otherwise dejected delegates a reason Cleveland. I think the odds of Trump being the nomination this point are a thousand to but if the Democrats hit him hard before and he drifts further behind Hillary in head-to-head polls, some delegates might have one last really going to do moment. Maybe Cruz his in just case. The is just a pretext to get them to show up. That’s though. I think it’s more likely he’s going after the that have another little to show conservatives when runs in four years. “Remember was kept pointed conservatism Donald Trump was taking the party?” It’s a campaign for Cruz 2020. Anyway, party remaining conservative-in-name-only for another four years, here’s shill Kayleigh McEnany arguing yesterday that, um, are not a conservative unless you support Donald Trump.” Hillary will make same argument base, and she’ll make it more emphatically the left Trump goes to to pander to Bernie Sanders fans. Supporting Trump is litmus of conservatism! that just another idea on which and Hillary agree. 8, who from
 own the defeat that’s to come as Totally as pOssibLe. LArd Up The pLatfOrm with all sortS Of naTionalist garbage so that, If/wheN tHIngs GO sIdewaYs, liberALs HAVe fEwEr GroUnDS fOr blaMinG conserVatism and TRumPeRs have fewer gROuNds for claiMinG that he would HavE won if OnLy tHE partY haD embrAced hiS MessagE more compLeTEly. The AFtermatH OF a trumP loss, especially if IT’s A Landslide, will bE one loNg STaBBEd-iN-thE-back whine AbOut scAPegoats BY hIS FAns. gIving them contRol of the plaTForM too woUlD deNY them aN obviOuS OppOrtunity for That. and if you’rE #NevertRump, havINg the paRty plaTfoRm dOwnpLAy CoRe mOvEMenT-CoNseRVatIve conceRnS lIke abOrtiON WOUld hAve The aDded sAlutary effect Of aLienATinG a few More rIghtIeS who aRe currEntly OpEn to him but will bOlt iF he doesn’t At lEaSt pAnDer to THeir coNceRns. in fact, I Half-wonDEr iF CRUZ’S aNd Cuccinelli’s interEsT IN kEeping thE platfORm CoNServativE iS acTualLY Just a Ploy TO gIve their OtherwISe DeJected dElEgates A rEasOn tO come TO CleVeland. i think thE odds OF Trump being denIEd the nominatiON aT THiS PoinT arE a thousand tO one, BUt if The DEMoCraTS hit hIm harD bEFoRE July and he drifts furThEr behiNd HilLary in head-to-hEad polls, soME DElegates MighT HaVE one last “Are we rEally Going to do tHIs?” moment. maybe cruz wantS his peoplE IN positioN, juSt iN caSe. THE PlAtform is just a PREtexT tO get theM to Show up.

THat’S faR-feTchEd, Though. I thInk it’s moRe LiKeLy He’s Going AFter the pLaTfoRm So tHat he’LL have aNotheR litTlE cREdeNtial to SHoW COnseRvAtIves WheN hE runs AgaiN In fOur yearS. “Remember Who IT was WhO kEpt our pArty firmly poiNtEd towards cOnSerVatism WHIle DonalD Trump was taking over the pARty?” It’s a CamPaign CommErcial for cruZ 2020. AnywaY, in THe spirIt of thE partY rEmaINIng coNSErVatIvE-in-name-onlY FOr aNotheR fOur yEars, herE’s Trump shill KayleiGH Mcenany arguing yEstErdaY THaT, um, “yOu ARe nOt A ConSERvative unless yoU support DoNaLD TRump.” HillarY WilL mAke that Same argUment TO her basE, and she’ll Make it morE eMphaTICalLy the furthEr left TrUmp goes to TRy to pANdEr to BErnIe SandErS faNs. SupPortinG truMp is a Litmus TeSt of coNservAtIsm! ConsiDer that just another defecTive idEa on wHicH Trump and hilLAry Agree. HazeL RyaN, 8, who travelEd fRom butte
 own the defeat that’s tocome as to tally  as  po ss ible . La rd up the plat f ormwith all sorts of nati onali st garb a ge  so t hat, if / wh e n  th in gs  go  s i de ways,  li beralshave fewer  gr ou nds for blam i ng  conservat ism  and Trumper s h ave fe we r g r ounds  fo r cla imingt hat he  would ha ve won if only th e pa rtyhad embraced hism es s age more compl etely.  T h ea f ter mat h of a Tru mp  loss ,  especi a ll y i f i t ’s a landslid e, will beo nelong s ta bbe d -in-th e-bac kw hin e about sca pego ats by hi s fans .  Giving them co ntrolofthe  pla t fo rm  to ow oul d  d eny the m an obv io us  oppo rtun i t y fortha t. A nd if  you’re #Neve rTr ump, hav ing t he pa rtypl atfor m down playco re movement-con serv ative con cer ns  li ke  abor t ion wo uld  ha ve theadded s a lut ar y e ff ect of alienatingaf e wmore rig htiesw ho  a r e curren tl y o pent o  himbutw il l bolt i f he d o es n’ t at le as t pand er  to  th eir c o ncer ns. In  fact, I  half - wonder if Cruz ’ s and Cuccine l li ’ s  i n tere stin keepingthep latf ormc on ser v ative  is a ct u al l y just a ploy to gi ve  their  othe rwise dejecte d delegate s a  reasonto c o me to Cleveland.I thi nk the odd s  of Trum p bei ng denie d the nom i n ation at  th ispoi nta r ea thousand to o ne,bu t if th e D emocrat s h ithim  ha rd  before J uly andhe  d ri ft s f urthe r  behindHi lla ry  in  head - to-hea d pol ls,so me del egatesm ig h t  hav eon e la st“A re we  rea l lygoing t o do this ?”m omen t.  M aybe Cr uz wants hispe ople in po si tio n, jus t in case.  The platform is just a pretext  to  getthem  to showup. 

That ’sf ar-fet ched,thoug h.  It h ink i t ’ smor elikely he’ s goi ng af te r th e platf orm so that he’llh ave  another litt lecred e n ti alt os how  c o nse r v atives when heruns again  i n  f our years. “Re me mber wh o it wa s who kept ou r party f irmly poi nt ed t o w ard s conserva tism whi le Donald Trump wa s tak ing  overth e p arty? ” It’s a c ampai gn com me rcialfor C ru z 2020.Anyway, in the spirit o f theparty  re maining c ons e rva tive-in-n ame- only for a not her  four  ye a rs, h ere’ s  T rum p  shil l Ka y leigh McE n an y a r g ui ng yesterda y t hat , um,  “Y o u arenota conservative un l ess you suppor t Do n a ldTru m p.”Hi llary will mak e t ha t same arg um ent to herbase, an ds he’ll  makeit mor e empha t i ca l ly the  fur the r left Tr ump  g o es to t ry  t o  pande r to  B ernieSander s  fan s .  Supporting Trum p isa litmu s  te st of  c onserva t ism!  Considerthat just a nother  def ectiv e ideaon  which  Tr um p and Hill a ry agree.  Haze l Ryan,  8 , wh o t ravele d fr o m  Butt e
 own_the defeat_that’s to come as_totally as_possible._Lard up_the_platform with all_sorts of nationalist_garbage so that, if/when_things go sideways,_liberals_have fewer grounds for blaming conservatism and Trumpers have fewer grounds for claiming that_he_would have_won_if_only the party had embraced_his message more completely. The_aftermath of_a Trump loss, especially if it’s a landslide,_will_be one long_stabbed-in-the-back whine about scapegoats by his fans. Giving them_control of the platform too would_deny them an_obvious_opportunity_for that. And if_you’re #NeverTrump, having the party platform_downplay core movement-conservative concerns like abortion_would have the added salutary effect of_alienating a few more righties who_are currently open to him_but will_bolt if he doesn’t at_least pander to_their concerns._In fact, I_half-wonder if Cruz’s and Cuccinelli’s interest_in keeping the_platform conservative is actually just a_ploy_to give their_otherwise_dejected_delegates a_reason to come_to_Cleveland. I_think_the odds of Trump being denied_the_nomination at this point are a thousand_to one, but if_the_Democrats hit him hard_before July and he drifts_further behind Hillary in head-to-head polls,_some delegates_might have_one last “Are we really going to do this?” moment. Maybe_Cruz wants his people in position,_just in case. The_platform is_just_a pretext to_get_them to_show up.

That’s far-fetched, though. I think it’s_more likely_he’s going after the platform so_that he’ll have another_little_credential to show conservatives when he_runs again in four years. “Remember_who it was who kept_our_party_firmly pointed towards conservatism while_Donald Trump was taking over the_party?” It’s a_campaign commercial for Cruz 2020. Anyway, in_the_spirit of the party remaining conservative-in-name-only_for_another four years, here’s Trump shill_Kayleigh_McEnany_arguing yesterday that, um, “You_are not a conservative unless you_support Donald Trump.” Hillary will make that same argument_to her base,_and she’ll make it more_emphatically_the_further left Trump goes to try to pander to Bernie_Sanders fans._Supporting Trump is_a litmus test of conservatism! Consider that just another defective_idea on which Trump and Hillary agree._Hazel Ryan, 8, who traveled from Butte