In today's edition of Donald Trump pivots to general election mode, we learn that Republicans are beginning to worry that Donald Trump does not know how to pivot to general election mode. Instead, the remainder of the summer looks like it will be dedicated to a season-long Airing of Grievances.
During his first big campaign swing since locking up the Republican presidential nomination, Trump went after an odd and seemingly random group of people — Democrats and Republicans, famous and obscure. There seemed little to gain politically from the attacks, and his targets were linked by just one thing: Trump felt they had all done him wrong.
From Republicans like New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and ex-presidential-contender Mitt Romney to a district judge hearing a lawsuit against him, it appears that Donald Trump merely wanted to become the Republican nominee so that he would be given a bigger stage for shouting about people who had wronged him in his life.
The attack on [Martinez] stunned many Republicans, who are not accustomed to a nominee who will throw one of their own to an angry mob.
It’s very hard to believe there is something Republicans aren't accustomed to, these days. But it seems they'll have many future opportunities to get used to it. Donald Trump isn't just a winner—he's a sore winner. A very, very, very, very sore winner.
Trump brought up additional grudges Wednesday at a rally in Anaheim, Calif. He hit Romney for refusing his help in 2012 and then losing the general election. And [Gov. Nikki Haley] for refusing to endorse him ahead of the South Carolina primary.
There is no using your indoor voice when you are Donald Trump, and bygones are never bygoned. And this is just from his first little taste of victory: By the time the convention comes around he'll probably have moved on to demanding his supporters prank call all the kids who didn't like him in elementary school. Take that, Billy! Who's nouveau riche now, you ascot-wearing little snot?
Still, Trump continued to carry that chip on his shoulder. At a rally hours later in Billings, Mont., he listed people who said he would never be his party’s nominee.
Oh, he has a full list, yes he does. His convention speech will consist of him reading that full list, in alphabetical order, with ad-libbed commentary on why each one of them is a terrible person and decidedly unattractive besides. There will be a slide show as well.
Well, there you go. It turns out Donald Trump may or may not be interested in turning his attention to the general election even a little bit. Not while his Republican enemies still live and breathe, anyway.