Ordinary members of the rank and file like you don’t have a clue about high stakes games. You might argue that simple survival is high stakes– making a living, battling illness, flushing life’s many demons. But these challenges are child’s play compared to the Presidential War. Don’t be confused. This Presidential primary is not a contest, a competition or a campaign. And it’s no crusade. It’s a Gang War. Nothing more. Nothing less. It won’t play out exactly like a Mario Puzo novel but the stakes are the same. The GOP organization will marshal all of its loyal soldiers to prevent an Outsider from snatching what they believe is rightfully theirs, just as Michael Corleone conspired to protect his family’s organized crime empire. The tactics may differ. Blood may not flow in restaurants, barber shops and city streets. But don’t underestimate for a second the coercion, threats, bullying and bribes that are hell bent to derail both Trump and Cruz. Inconceivably, should an Outsider become GOP Party Boss, the party’s over for lots of fat cats and loyal soldiers. Should an Outsider inconceivably win the election, both Republican and Democrat Establishments will fiercely denounce the outcome before entering the sniveling phase of their bereavement. Taken at their word, dozens of Entertainment celebrities will then flee the country — a promise, if fulfilled, would gratify millions of thankful citizens. Some will say Cruz is not an Outsider, a declaration based on fact. Despite being branded a “miserable SOB” by a former Party General, he does have certain Congressional alliances and rather robust donor obligations. However, to his credit, he picked an Outsider in Carly Fiorina. In one swift stroke, he placed a CEO and ferocious Hillary Assassin on his ticket, appealing to men and women alike. Meanwhile, Trump truly remains the sole trespasser — a political squatter, a party crasher, a rude, clumsy outlander. Pundits predict either candidate would lose big to Hillary and, in the process, leave Congress and the Supreme Court in control of the Nationalist Socialist Democrats for at least a generation. You have no choice but to agree with that outcome . . . unless . . . unless a dubious coalition falls into place: One, all Conservative ideologues and evangelicals who will put America before their pet issues. Two, all liberal and moderate Republicans — the Establishment — who will put America ahead of their spite and individual ambitions. Three, Democrats who consider themselves integral members of America’s Silent Majority. Four, a majority of American women who this time around will vote with their brains instead of their genitals. Five, a majority of Millennials who are smart enough to realize their future is down a rat hole under Socialism. And six, 30 per cent of African Americans who decide to wake up and escape the plantation in favor of a new birth of Freedom. Inconceivably, a documented criminal, a serial liar and thoroughly corrupt person would be President of the United States — if she’s not indicted for high crimes — or if a New Coalition fails to coalesce. The odds for the Outsider? Not at all good. Consider: Democrats elected Obama — twice. In doing so, American voters proved the definition of insanity. In 2012, millions of Conservatives refused to vote for Romney because he couldn’t measure up to their precious standards — proof that Democrats don’t have a monopoly on lunacy. Now your most recent pessimism rests on a visceral distrust of the political Washington Establishment. The people who occupy the Beltway have little, if any, interest in lofty ideals. Their interest in the American people is primarily influenced by their interest in reelection, not in some sort of heartfelt allegiance to some ethical code. The ultimate driver in politics is money. Not for one second doubt it. The Obamas will leave the WH with untold wealth — unearned wealth — for doing nothing of consequence. Hillary Clinton, unaccomplished, unproductive and ignoble, is wealthy for doing nothing of value during a lifetime of treachery. Congressman who live by special rules are set for life, by dancing the Washington Two-Step. If your leaders cared more for your country and its people than they do for their personal enrichment, America wouldn’t have a $21 trillion debt, wouldn’t have Obamacare, wouldn’t have an immigration crisis, wouldn’t have a bloated bureaucracy, wouldn’t have a corrupt Justice Department, wouldn’t have millions of citizens out of work and wouldn’t be buried under food stamps. Many millions of people finally are getting the message and beginning to understand that corruption is simply a money grab by the very people entrusted with the keys to the vault; and many millions believe only an Outsider can purge the contamination. Many millions. Without total unity, it won’t be enough.

It’s time to state the obvious. The 2016 Presidential primary is in the short rows. if you believe the smart money, Trump and Clinton will face off in November. You have to laugh. Millions of people hate Trump and millions hate Clinton. Your legendary insight concludes, therefore, that millions of people will despise the next POTUS. Guaranteed. You’re not qualified to define the haters — who they are and what makes them tick; but you can venture opinions that are worth — well, you know what they’re worth.

Trump Haters.

Millions of very nice people hate Trump. These are decent, God-loving, honest folks who don’t curse, who believe in the Golden Rule, who don’t appreciate crude, coarse and smutty language and who condemn him because he doesn’t condemn abortion and same-sex marriage.  Millions of African Americans hate Trump because he’s a filthy rich, old, white man who hasn’t promised them a thing and may just end their free lunch. Millions of illegal Hispanics hate Donald because he wants to send them back across the border and millions of legal Hispanics hate him because they think he belittles them. A bunch of corporate fat cats, Washington DC fat cats and Media fat cats hate him because he promises to put an end to cronyism, influence peddling and corruption — essentially, their exclusive livelihood. Washington bureaucrats hate him because he says he would reduce the size of government. Millions of women hate Trump because they judge him a chauvinistic pig — a loutish, tactless oaf. And the LGBT crowd detests the man because they assume he will not pander to their political tactics. All of these people hate Donald Trump for who he is and what he says — not for anything he’s done.

Clinton Haters.

Millions of very nice people hate Clinton. These are decent, God-loving, honest folks who don’t curse, who believe in the Golden Rule, who don’t appreciate crude, coarse and smutty language and who condemn her because she doesn’t condemn abortion and same-sex marriage.  Millions of people who love their country hate Hillary because, as Secretary of State, she indifferently abandoned Americans to die at Benghazi and then lied about it. Millions of others hate the woman because she blatantly broke national security laws, putting individuals and the country at risk, and then lied about it. Millions hate Clinton because she operates a money laundering scheme, posing as a charitable Foundation and lies about it. Millions hate her because she was the enforcer who intimidated the victims of her husband’s sexual abuse, and then lied about it. Millions hate Hillary for her role in numerous scandals and swindles and in the theft of White House furnishings. And people hate Clinton because, under her watch, America’s foreign policy decayed and ISIS flourished. All of these people hate Hillary Clinton for who she is, true — but specifically for what she has done.

In summary, Trump haters have individual special interests. All of them are getting something or hope to get something from the Federal Government in the way of freebies — some type of welfare, subsidy, kickback, influence, etc. They are the poor, rich, uneducated, highly educated, unemployed and employed. In one way or another, the Public Treasury is their lifeline. For them, the November election is about their pocketbooks and lifestyles. Conversely, Clinton haters share only one special interest — the reformation of the U.S. Government — its runaway growth, corruptness, failure  and stifling intrusion —  and for the  restoration of America to those values that encompass individual liberty and personal accountability. They are the poor, rich, uneducated, highly educated, unemployed and employed. For them, the November election is about the health and life of a great nation at great risk.

Millions will never read these opinions.  The vast majority of voters will never read vaunted newspaper commentary, nor listen to vaunted TV and radio pundits. Many millions surfing the Web will choose any subject but politics. True haters never give in. But somewhere out there, millions of practical, unemotional Americans may decide some things are more important than one, or even two, pet issues. You can hope.

This will be a Fodder 1st. This site has never been a depository that debates with specific published opinions of specific political pundits. There are so many. Where to begin. Where to end. So much prognostication. So little time. You vow now it won’t become a habit. One outspoken Conservative Purist is Erick Erickson. In his latest political torrent, he suggests a third party already exists in America. Theoretically, he’s on solid ground. But then, he willingly steps into the muck of journalistic deception to suit his agenda. (Erickson comments below in black; Fodder comments in red).

Many a conservative pundit and elected Republican official has expressed befuddlement at Trump’s success at winning over Republican party voters, in spite of not really standing for many conservative or Republican principles. The last time you checked, Trump’s positions  square with vital GOP principles. Maybe Erick forgot — the GOP hasn’t stood for its own principles. There is ample speculation, not to mention genuine preparation, that if Trump manages to secure the Republican nomination, conservatives will have to run a third party candidate in order to have someone who represents any of their principles on the ballots. Note he jumps from “many principles'”to “any principles.” Bingo. He says Trump doesn’t represent any Conservative principles. Essentially, he’s saying Trump conservatives are not True Conservatives. They don’t pass the test.. What these people miss is that the reason Donald Trump is winning is that a latent third party has long existed in America, (True) and Donald Trump has successfully consolidated it. (True) His next step, which he will attempt in July, is to hijack the existing infrastructure and ballot access of the Republican party and house this third party inside it. Hijack. Erickson chose that precise word. Trump will kidnap the GOP. Not win it, mind you. Steal it. Apparently, Erick doesn’t want anyone else to steal the GOP; he wants True Conservatives to steal and own it. Any country worth its salt will attempt to encourage loyalty to the homeland as a civic virtue. Regardless of the country, you will find many citizens within who will proudly profess that theirs is the greatest country on earth . . . . .As with all good things, some people inevitably take civic pride to excess . . . . some people turn that civic pride into an erroneous belief that any and all problems that plague their great homeland cannot be the fault of the homeland or its citizens, but must somehow be the fault of foreigners or outside influences that the government should be able to control. No one, not even the least informed, thinks that all of America’s problems are the fault of foreign influences. Erick must think ordinary people have zero common sense. But America does have significant foreign entanglements and influences. For starters, America has a foreign President (nothing to do with his birthplace), and he has surrounded himself with like-minded deputies.  Democrats (have) catered to half the concerns of …. voters by assailing free trade as an evil that shipped American jobs to foreign countries. Republicans catered to the other half by assailing illegal immigration as an evil that resulted in the loss of American jobs to foreign workers at home . . . .Enter Donald Trump, who for the first time preached to both of these concerns at once – and capitalized ruthlessly on the betrayal these voters felt at being looked down on by their respective political parties . . . .various polls have indicated that huge portions of his voting base are disaffected Democrats who are horrified at the thought of putting another Clinton in the WH . . . . There it is — the accusation — he capitalized ruthlessly.  As you recall, Trump preached against illegal immigration and its accompanying evils, and suggested the GOP was complicit and did in fact betray the people. You are left to assume that plain talk isn’t nice — in fact, it’s downright ruthless. You must also assume that Erickson believes Trump is hypnotizing millions of brain-dead zombies . . . .Trump has been having his butt handed to him at state party conventions where delegates are selected. . . . It’s just indicative of the fact that the vast majority of Trump’s supporters simply haven’t been involved ( in) the GOP in the way that Ted Cruz’s most dedicated supporters have been. He’s talking about himself, of course. People who support Cruz are much more likely, on average, to have been spending their time the last few years being involved with their state and local party, and getting to know the ins and outs of things. He’s talking about himself, of course. People who support Trump are much more likely, on average, to have been spending their time bitching aimlessly about both parties from their couches. You must admit, he has a point here. A few people — say, about 20 million — haven’t taken an active role in local or State politics. They are just people — working, raising families, paying taxes, aimlessly bitching. God save us, they don’t have the right to be stupid and vote for Trump when some, like Erick, have worked their butts off for True Conservative principles. Ted Cruz’s supporters tend to overwhelmingly be against illegal immigration . . . but for completely different reasons. Whereas Cruz supporters oppose illegal immigration because of an inherently conservative respect for the rule of law . . . Trump’s do so for more openly xenophobic and blame-related reasons. Erick is telling you that you’re xenophobic. You’re so shallow that the only reason you’re opposed to illegal immigration is because Trump has whipped you into a frenzy over illegal immigrant crime and violence. Get the rope. Let’s have a lynching.. . . . .Trump supporters oppose illegal immigration not because of the word “illegal,” but because immigrants make useful scapegoats for virtually every societal ill (including crime). This statement is a blanket assertion that proves Erickson’s determination to further a cause. This is fascist-style, rank propaganda. I have heard from some people within the GOP lately that they are considering just letting Trump have the nomination, in the hopes that he will get destroyed by Hillary in the general, and Trump’s voters will see that their hopes were in vain. Oh, this is an adult thought. You challenge Erick to prove how many people “he heard from.” You guess, maybe two. This is a foolish hope, and it should be abandoned immediately. If Trump loses, his loss will not be blamed on the rejection of his message by American voters, but on shadowy conspiracies . . . . If Trump loses, does Mr. Erickson believe that Ted Cruz and the “True Conservatives” could defeat Clinton The Liar without the mindless rabble that support Trump? You understand Erickson is devout and his hatred of Trump has moral underpinnings. That’s his choice. But, when the rubber meets the road, one thing is flat true — if the GOP establishment and True Conservatives do not join the Trump coalition of conservatives and “new” voters, Clinton will reign. Finally —  . . . .If (Trump) voters really are determined to force this implausible vision onto a political party, the GOP should at least force them to start their own infrastructure and forge their own way in terms of ballot access in all fifty states. Because the alternative is just to allow this latent third party to hijack their existing infrastructure for free, and toss the people who have built the party from the ground up out into the streets – all in the service of a man who a) isn’t conservative and b) will undoubtedly lose in landslide fashion. Mr. Erickson, sir, that says it all. It’s not fair for Trump and his crowd — outsiders — to replace the Establishment when they haven’t paid their dues. How dare they? You did all the work. It’s your Party. Time to take your ball and go home. The irreconcilable GOP is thus left with two losing scenarios. Trump wins nomination and the GOP Establishment stays home — Clinton wins. Cruz (or a white knight) wins nomination, Trump voters stay home — Clinton wins. Nobody blinks. Clinton wins. Nails on the blackboard.