If it's Trump vs. Cruz...

[Mike Thick]

...what does the establishment do? Do they rally behind one of the candidates? Stay out of it? Something else? Discuss.

[Asian Nazi]

They'd support TRUMP

[ProgCon]

They'd support TRUMP

[Coolface Sock #42069]

They'd probably support Trump to keep the real conservative out.

But I'd of course support Ted and vote third-party in the general.

[Leinad]

Trump.

Not because I'm a Trump troll, most of you know I'm not, but because Trump is more moderate and less "principled" than Cruz. He's MUCH more likely to "cut the deal" with the establishment, while Cruz is more likely to stick to his conservative positions without budging.

[Classic Conservative]

The party would support Trump and the voters would probably support Cruz especially Rubio's voters

[Fuzzy Bear]

I think that the Establishment would support Cruz because he is, after all, a sitting Republican Senator.  That makes him something of the Establishment.  I do think, however, that I may be underestimating the hatred the Establishment has for Cruz, and they may feel a need to take the kind of action that will dispel the spawning of future Cruzes.

Going with Cruz will allow the GOP to nominate "the REAL conservative".  Then, when he loses, they can say that they did it the way of the movement conservatives and we ended up with Goldwater Debacle Lite.  The Establishment can manage a Cruz loss to where it doesn't decimate the national party, and there's always 2018 midterms, which the GOP mops up on.

Trump, on the other hand, represents a hostile takeover of the Establishment.  They could never accept his "deal", period.  It's not happening. 

[defe07]

I'm saying they go with Trump but make sure they get a good deal. In other words, either picking the running mate or the most important Cabinet posts.

[yankeesfan]

If it's Cruz versus Trump, Cruz can begin moving to the middle before the general election, positioning himself pretty well.

[Sir Mohamed]

They'd support TRUMP

[Angel of Death]

If it's Trump vs. Cruz, then that means there is no longer an establishment.

[MK]

TRUMP. Because Cruz has a ceiling of support that gets you to 160-190 EV.  Trump if he can display a little more discipline can actually beat Hillary IMO.

[SillyAmerican]

Trump.

Not because I'm a Trump troll, most of you know I'm not, but because Trump is more moderate and less "principled" than Cruz. He's MUCH more likely to "cut the deal" with the establishment, while Cruz is more likely to stick to his conservative positions without budging.

Agreed. Listen to what Jimmy Carter and Bob Dole have said recently. And because Trump is seen as more malleable (and more moderate in terms of social issues), he'd do much better in a general election than would someone like Ted Cruz.

[Fuzzy Bear]

I think that the Establishment would support Cruz because he is, after all, a sitting Republican Senator.  That makes him something of the Establishment.  I do think, however, that I may be underestimating the hatred the Establishment has for Cruz, and they may feel a need to take the kind of action that will dispel the spawning of future Cruzes.

Going with Cruz will allow the GOP to nominate "the REAL conservative".  Then, when he loses, they can say that they did it the way of the movement conservatives and we ended up with Goldwater Debacle Lite.  The Establishment can manage a Cruz loss to where it doesn't decimate the national party, and there's always 2018 midterms, which the GOP mops up on.

Trump, on the other hand, represents a hostile takeover of the Establishment.  They could never accept his "deal", period.  It's not happening. 

Not to brag or anything, but did I nail it or what?