As the Democrats consolidate around Madam Hillary, or reconcile themselves to her, the Republican presidential candidates continue to ramp up the competition with each other for the nomination. Which Republican candidate has the best prospect of beating her in the general election?
Like the knowledge that one is to be hanged in a fortnight, Donald Trump’s disparagement of Hillary for getting “schlonged” in 2008 has concentrated my mind wonderfully. It has concentrated my mind on the single question above.
The three GOP candidates likeliest to emerge from the early proceedings look to be Trump, Cruz, and Rubio. I wish I were as certain as anything as their respective supporters are of their strengths and their virtues. I’m not so sure.
Since he emerged as the dominant candidate, Trump has seemed to me the likeliest candidate to lead Republicans to defeat and take the Republican majorities in Congress down with him. But I may be wrong. If he is the nominee, I hope I am wrong. I certainly prefer him to Hillary.
On the plus side, Trump has established himself as a genius of mockery. I never thought Jeb Bush was a strong candidate for the GOP nomination, but Trump’s mockery of him accelerated his decline. As Trump begins to turn his mockery against Hillary, I’m enjoying it more. We would always have that to look forward to, sort of. But I think Hillary would have the last laugh. Trump would endure the ultimate humiliation. Trump would get schlonged by Hillary. That’s what I think.
Trump’s dominance in the polls to date leads me to believe that the GOP candidate, whoever he (or she) is, will have a tough sledding in the general election. It shouldn’t be that way. It’s not just that Trump is uniquely “yuge.” The other candidates haven’t found the veins into which Trump has tapped.
Hillary is not a strong candidate. She has many weaknesses. She can be beaten. She should be beaten. Maybe another one of the candidates will emerge from the pack in Iowa, New Hampshire, or South Carolina, but as between Cruz and Rubio, who would be the strongest candidate? Let’s leave that question for a later day.
In the meantime, Twitter continues to compile tweets under #schlonged. The one below has also concentrated my mind wonderfully.
I have to thank @realDonaldTrump for making me laugh today. He is off the rails #PoliticallyIncorrect #Schlonged pic.twitter.com/f3PRFKZetA
— Angelo Georgiou (@AngeloGeorgiou) December 22, 2015
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