Republican insiders, ignoring the blaring message of Donald Trump leading in the polls, say he's just a flash-in-the-pan, that
he's peaked, maybe.
About three quarters of Republican early-state insiders say they believe Donald Trump has peaked—but many acknowledge that may also be wishful thinking. […]
"The McCain smear and giving out Graham's cellphone? What an asshole," vented a New Hampshire Republican, who says Trump has peaked. "Trumpism does not represent some deeper sentiment within the party, nor has he tapped into something a more conventional candidate can now co-opt. His candidacy has as much substance and meaning as cotton candy. I didn't like him before. Now I loathe him."
An Iowa Republican said, "yes," when asked whether Trump has hit his zenith, but clarified, "I'd like to think so. But who the hell really knows anymore?" […]
"I hope and pray that he has peaked," added another Granite State Republican, who like all participants was granted anonymity in order to speak freely. "The GOP has a chance in 2016 and it diminishes each time Trump increases his poll numbers."
They can hope and pray all they want, but that doesn't diminish the fact that they are in complete denial about how Trump's popularity reflects the devolution of the Republican party. Trump is leading because Trump is appealing to a tea party base that has become increasingly assholish and which wants to see a civil war with the party establishment. You only have to look at which Republicans have won congressional elections in the last three cycles to see that. Trump is giving it to them.
Trump is a monster wholly created by the GOP itself. That's the reality they're going to have to reckon with sooner or later.
