Gårdagens debatt var ett enormt styrkeprov för Trump. Det är svårt att se vad som skulle kunna stoppa honom nu när motståndarklungan har tappat sin energi (och dessutom är så splittrade).
De andra tre framstod som lydiga skolpojkar som duktigt lärt sig upprepa magister Trumps läxa, och som numer är rädda att ställa till bråk med honom eftersom han tar dem så hårt i örat och det gör så himla ont.
Både Cruz och Kasich låt som Trumps papegojor när de säger "build the wall" (Kasich säger "finishing the wall"

).
Och sen har alla tre plötsligt tagit över Trumps politik för internationell handel, fast ingen av dem tyckte så innan. The three parrots from Trumptown låter numer såhär: "fair trade instead of free trade", "foreign trade is killing us", osv.
Rubio, Cruz, Kasich All Backed Obamatrade, Pretend They Didn’t at Miami Debate:
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At Thursday night’s Republican debate, Sen. Ted Cruz, John Kasich, and Sen. Marco Rubio all parroted talking points about trade that do not seem to match their prior legislative records and statements on the critical issue.
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At tonight’s debate CNN Moderator Jake Tapper asked Rubio: “If elected, will you support free trade deals even if it means the inevitable loss of U.S. jobs?”
In response, Rubio said:
I support free trade deals that are good for America… The problem is we’re a low-tariff country. To import something into the United States is not very expensive, but many of these countries we can’t export to because their tariffs are too high. And so I am in favor of deals that allow us to bring down those tariffs so that America can sell things to all these people around the world.
However, Rubio endorsed President Obama’s trade agenda. Rubio cast the critical 60th and deciding vote for Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) to fast-track President Obama’s Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement — a deal which Sen. Rubio said would be a “pillar” of his hoped-for presidency.
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Jake Tapper then asked Cruz: “You were a supporter of the Pacific trade deal [TPP], but after taking some heat from conservatives, you changed your position. Why should these voters who don’t like these trade deals trust that you will fight for them all the time and not just in election years?”
In response, Cruz said:
Actually that’s incorrect. There are two different agreements. There’s TPA and TPP. I opposed TPP and have always opposed TPP, which is what you asked about. And when it comes to trade, look, free trade, when we open up foreign markets, helps Americans. But we’re getting killed in international trade right now. And we’re getting killed because we have an administration that’s doesn’t look out for American workers and jobs are going overseas. We’re driving jobs overseas.
However, Cruz voted to fast-track the TPP by voting for TPA on the first go-around. When TPA came up again in the Senate, Cruz changed his position to oppose it while under intense scrutiny from conservatives.
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In tonight’s debate, Kasich similarly adopted talking points that seem to contradict his support for Obama’s trade agenda.
Väljarna är inte dumma, de ser igenom det här. Trump står där mäktigare än någonsin och håller i taktpinnen och har skrivit scriptet, och de andra försöker tafatt att dansa efter, medan Trump får ett enkelt jobb i att framstå som "presedential".
Som skaparen av Dilbert sa i sin analys:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYoYi3dwnjk
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He's the only person who's never run for office before who's running effectively as an incumbent
Dvs han för sig som om han redan vore sittande president, och alla andra (media, motkandidater, väljare) faller in i detta. Igår var detta tydligare än någonsin.