One of the things we need to remember about Trump is that he is not a real conservative and only started to pretend to be one a couple of years ago; he is a situational one only as a way to become POTUS. He acts as one when he wants to trick conservatives. The views and positions are like a new song for him, so he gets most of the words wrong and ideas wrong because he doesn't understand the history or the background for the values and views that real conservatives believe in. Worse still is how he treats real conservatives. He's made clear he has contempt for them and always in a very personal way. Contrast this with Hillary. She knows that when she finally beats Bernie she will need his supporters. Trump and the Trump supporters have directed so much venom at conservatives, their publications, their lifelong supporters, and their leaders, and at many of these lifelong voters that it shows his base that Trump does care about conservatives or conservatism. He sees all of conservatism as an impediment to his ambitions. His vanity is his guiding force.
He has a mini-movement. But it's not going to expand. There are only so many people willing to make this Faustian Pact. There are only so many opportunist willing to ride the coattails of man eager to destroy the conservative brand to get elected. He has made enemies with his demeaning statements and his anger directed at anyone who deigned to question his contradictory policies and considerable ignorance. He has won over those with border concerns but made anti-Latino comments that make the whole group of them collectively guilty of in his overheated rhetoric. His whole divisive campaign and his childish behavior have created an environment that's thrown the Democrats a lifeline when they should have been unable to appeal to the nation. The nation is stuck with a choice that may well come down to a criminal or the hubris of a clownish dilettante. Young voters, Hispanics, blacks, and well educated whites are not going to vote for him. And principled conservatives are not going to want Trump enough to compromise for a transparent mountebank. Reality TV, professional wrestling, and crony capitalism have not prepared him to understand how to lead a political party, let alone a nation. His scorched earth approach has made enemies of potential allies and will lead to a huge number of Republicans being defeated if he is the nominee. The contrast between Trump and how Reagan dealt with intraparty opposition could not be more clear. Cruz smiles and debates opponents. Reagan smiled and stuck to his principles. Trump lashes out with angry non sequiturs and schoolyard taunts. Conservatives used to say words mattered. We said character mattered. Trump says only he matters. Contrast that with Goldwater. His principled approach to the states rights doomed him. Trump's approach is about whatever pops out his mouth, no matter how mistaken or vulgar. If the Republican Party nominates Trump, it will be devastating to the party and to conservatism. Republicans will need to do some real soul searching when this lost opportunity is analyzed.
