It's July 22, 2016. TRUMP.

[Lyin' Steve]

It's July 22, 2016.  Donald Trump has just been designated the Republican party nominee for president of the United States.  Ivanka and Melania both gave surprisingly good speeches, while Trump's went on for almost 45 minutes longer than the hour he'd been given.  His policies and style haven't changed.  Ted Cruz is the VP.  The party did everything it could to try to stop him but in the end rules were rules and the will of 1500 delegates couldn't be denied.

What does the Republican party do now?  Do they throw their full support behind him and try to demonize Hillary as much as possible and play Trump's game?  Do they conspire with disaffected Democrats to push a third party candidate?  Does the establishment disown Trump and simply try to contain the damage?  Do they assassinate Trump and Cruz and pin the blame on Hillary?

[dudeabides]

[Bakersfield Uber Alles]

It would be tough, but Johnson could potentially hit 5%. I might even be inclined to vote for him.

[dudeabides]

It would be tough, but Johnson could potentially hit 5%. I might even be inclined to vote for him.

Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump support government-run health care, protectionism, class warfare, economic "stimulus," higher taxes on the rich, direct talks with terrorists, and more "investments" (i.e. deficit spending.

Gary Johnson would be the only candidate of freedom. I'm not inclined to support him over HRC and Trump, I would!

[Kingpoleon]

[JerryArkansas]

For those running for reelection in swing districts, they really have no choice.  Either abandon him and leave you base, or give some semblance of embracing him, and abandon the Independent swing voters.

[Talleyrand]

In this scenario, he would be in a honeymoon period and probably leading Clinton in the polls.

The current political climate isn't conducive to landslide losses for a Republican candidate, and by the time of the election, in the (fantastical) world where Trump is the nominee, he'd probably not perform much worse than the average "milquetoast" Republican or whatever.

[wolfsblood07]

It won't happen.  The party establishment will never let Trump take over the party.  Trump can't win at the Republican convention unless he has the support of the party insiders, which he does not have.  If necessary, and I doubt it will come to this, they will disqualify his delegates.  Trump may go Reform Party, but will not be a factor in the general election even then.  0 electoral votes, less than 5% of the popular vote.  Trump has absolutely no chance.

[Coolface Sock #42069]

Gary Johnson would get a ton of votes from Republicans. But the party would have to nominally support its nominee.

[OSR stands with Israel]

I would change my Avatar to red if this happens for the rest of election cycle then change it back to independent after the election is over.

[I support Sanders]

Party insiders will sit down with Trump and lay out their ground rules for Trump being the nominee, and how he has to do what the establishment demands. Trump will agree, and then when he gets the votes at the convention call out by name every insider who tried to beat him down and make him a slave to the Party establishment.

[EliteLX]

Party insiders will sit down with Trump and lay out their ground rules for Trump being the nominee, and how he has to do what the establishment demands. Trump will agree, and then when he gets the votes at the convention call out by name every insider who tried to beat him down and make him a slave to the Party establishment.

Can you freaking imagine?! If the Donald somehow made it to the convention and exposed all the establishment insiders games they requested of? It'd turn the election into a damn reality TV show, as if it isn't already.

[ProudModerate2]

It's July 22, 2016. Donald Trump has just been designated the Republican party nominee ...  Ted Cruz is the VP.

In this scenario, Hillary (somewhat easily) wins the election, with about 55% of the popular vote.

[Lief 🗽]

Party insiders will sit down with Trump and lay out their ground rules for Trump being the nominee, and how he has to do what the establishment demands. Trump will agree, and then when he gets the votes at the convention call out by name every insider who tried to beat him down and make him a slave to the Party establishment.

lol TRUMP would never negotiate a deal like that, he only negotiates really great deals.

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

I would vote for Gary Johnson... then rage about how our party has become the party of lunatics then re-register as a Democrat....no joke.

[Figueira]

I would honestly consider voting for Gary Johnson, although in the end Clinton would be my choice.

Why? Would you be voting Republican otherwise?

[BlueSwan]

The establishment would get behind Trump in that scenario. There might be a few defectors, but nothing major. Anything else is wishful thinking on the behalf of democrats and moderate hero republicans.

[Cruzcrew]

I'd be voting constitution party with both evils being too evil for me.

[MATTROSE94]

It would be tough, but Johnson could potentially hit 5%. I might even be inclined to vote for him.

Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump support government-run health care, protectionism, class warfare, economic "stimulus," higher taxes on the rich, direct talks with terrorists, and more "investments" (i.e. deficit spending.

Gary Johnson would be the only candidate of freedom. I'm not inclined to support him over HRC and Trump, I would!

Gary Johnson would have my vote as well in a Clinton vs Trump election. I agree that both Clinton and Trump are very flawed candidates and ones that I would never support in any election.

[I support Sanders]

Party insiders will sit down with Trump and lay out their ground rules for Trump being the nominee, and how he has to do what the establishment demands. Trump will agree, and then when he gets the votes at the convention call out by name every insider who tried to beat him down and make him a slave to the Party establishment.

Can you freaking imagine?! If the Donald somehow made it to the convention and exposed all the establishment insiders games they requested of? It'd turn the election into a damn reality TV show, as if it isn't already.

Actually, I can imagine it, and think it is quite likely if Trump is the nominee.

[Cory]

It won't happen.  The party establishment will never let Trump take over the party.  Trump can't win at the Republican convention unless he has the support of the party insiders, which he does not have.  If necessary, and I doubt it will come to this, they will disqualify his delegates. Trump may go Reform Party, but will not be a factor in the general election even then.  0 electoral votes, less than 5% of the popular vote.  Trump has absolutely no chance.

This would be the end of the GOP as we know it. Trump would run as an independent/write-in and utterly demolish the GOP's chances in 2016. Republican base turnout would plummet and the down-ballot effects would be massive.

The base would never forgive the Republican establishment for this insult. Any GOP elected official who supported this (or was perceived to support this) in any way would be primaried and crushed.

The idea of the establishment blatantly stealing the convention is nonsense.

[ProudModerate2]

The idea of the establishment blatantly stealing the convention is nonsense.

Agree.

[Intell]

It would be tough, but Johnson could potentially hit 5%. I might even be inclined to vote for him.

Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump support government-run health care, protectionism, class warfare, economic "stimulus," higher taxes on the rich, direct talks with terrorists, and more "investments" (i.e. deficit spending.

Gary Johnson would be the only candidate of freedom. I'm not inclined to support him over HRC and Trump, I would!

And like 50% of people in the republican support that, calm down establishementie.