I've been laboring under the misconception that the rise of Donald Trump says something new about our Presidential election process and the Republican party itself. But in retrospect, the fact that Trump ran hard right in the primaries and will try to move to the center in the general election does not seem to be a structural change in the Republican party or the behavior of its registered voters. True, Trump is extreme, but the fact that he is more intense does not negate the fact that he extended trend lines well established by his forebears.

Trump's verbalization of minority and immigrant views and taunts was on trend line---extending the inherent racism of many Republican candidates and voters. Same thoughts. Now expressed openly. That's not a structural change in the Republican party, but a fulfillment. And if anyone believes that Ryan will not pimp for Trump---well, I think we're talking career strategy in this faux standoff, not new political dynamics. Ryan will pimp lazily.Trump will lose.The Republican party principles of time in grade and hierarchy will prevail and Ryan will be the 2020 nominee, business as usual.

Michael Wolraich has launched a Dagblog theme for Trump for this election in his recent piece, "Tit for Trump". The offshoots are endless---Fit for Trump, Grits for Trump, Sit on Trump, Grit hits Trump, Tax tips from Trump---infinite possibilities. I like "Pimps for Trump" because "pimping" well describes how close Ryan and Trump are--not how much they are at odds. More importantly, if you look at the qualities of a pimp, you can better understand the behavior of these two Republicans.

Trump's MO for everyone around him is like a pimp keeping his girls in line. The first time you meet a pimp he tells you what he is. "I'm a tough guy.You perform for me and I'll protect you." Then he slaps you, just to see if you are game. If you walk away he doesn't give a shit. In other words, if you walk away, you're not Fit for Trump. Someone else will step up  I have found it to be true in life that people will tell you right up front who they are. If it smells bad, and you choose not to walk away, you've made a choice. Trump uses a kind of "forced choice" method to collect people and apprentices. I think we've seen this Republican behavior before. I hate to quote GWB, but "you're either for us or against us".

As for Ryan, well, he's been pimping for the Peterson Institute since puberty.

There's an underlying psychology to Trump's appeal to Republican voters that I find disturbing because it's a first cousin of pimping. Consciously, the slogan for the Republican base might well be, "Trump---when you need a spanking." Or, "this hurts me more than it hurts you"---Trump's going to continue "trickle down economics" (which is the quid pro quo of getting establishment campaign money)---but this time, of course, it's going to be good for working class whites. Let me know when something changes in the behavior of those folks who repeatedly vote against their own economic interests in turn for a pull on the slot machine---but, hey, it's a freedom slot. Get enough spankings and slaps in the face and you could make some real money.

So Trump is the head pimp and Ryan will pimp for Trump---regardless of this week's news cycle which is attempting to beef up the illusion that Trump and the rest of the Republicans have somehow changed---that there's a big fight going on inside the party----did I miss something?

Republican politicians and elites haven't changed. They will raise the money to keep Trump competitive. They will decry the big bad debt. Republican voters will turn out. We just have to hope that we can outnumber them.