If you have spent any amount of time watching television, listening to talk radio, or even browsing social media, you will find that the one inescapable subject appears to be Donald Trump and his candidacy for the GOP presidential nomination. Even the official GOP-sponsored debates consisted mainly of moderators asking each of the other candidates vying for the nomination to react to something that Donald Trump has said.

About the only thing that appears to be honest about Donald Trump is that he is a wealthy celebrity showman that knows how to manipulate and mold public opinion through the use of a media device known as astroturfing – creating what appears to be a grassroots movement where no such movement really exists. How else can you explain the candidacy of someone with “through the roof” negatives who is so afraid to debate a knowledgeable candidate one-on-one?

Trump's Negative Image

Most political and media commentators have at this point installed Donald Trump as the GOP front-runner on the eve of the first actual voting set to begin on Monday in Iowa. But this narrative tends to obscure the fact that Trump is the most unpopular candidate of either party when the entire U.S. population is taken into account -- and that he has a higher unfavorable rating than any nominated candidate from either of the two major parties going back to the 1992 election when we began to track favorability using the current format.

At this point (two-week average through Jan. 27), 33% of Americans view Trump favorably and 60% unfavorably. It's that 60% unfavorable figure that I can focus on here.

Hillary Clinton currently has a 52% unfavorable rating among all Americans, while Jeb Bush is at 45%, Chris Christie 38%, Ted Cruz 37%, Marco Rubio 33%, Bernie Sanders 31% and Ben Carson 30%. Trump's 60% is clearly well above all of these. Putting his favorable and unfavorable ratings together yields a net favorable of -27 for Trump, far above the -10 for Clinton and for Bush, the next lowest among the major candidates. <Source>

That poll was taken at the beginning of the year and not much has changed. All of The Donald’s wins were aided by a deeply divided GOP field and Trump never once won a majority of the votes; settling for a plurality as the frontrunner. And, most likely as the second place candidate in a reduced field of two. In fact, polling suggests that Trump would lose to Ted Cruz if the other prominent candidates, Marco Rubio and John Kasich, would have fallen by the wayside.

So how does Trump continue on?

There is little or no doubt in my mind that Donald Trump is intellectually, morally, and temperamentally unsuited to become the next President of the United States. That Trump, using easily recognizable astroturfing methods has managed to trick many Americans into believing that he is the one anti-establishment candidate that can resolve many of America’s ills; mostly by talking tough, being a superior negotiator, and sending forth the “very best people” whom he appears to know intimately.

Of course, Donald Trump is not anti-establishment. He is the establishment; having paid off politicians for political favors for years. He is a known quantity to the establishment and is preferred, not by much, over Ted Cruz because he is “malleable” and can be counted on to make a deal with the devil in order to accomplish his goals. There is nothing in Donald Trump’s past that indicates that he would be willing to put our national interests over his own agenda and ego. And, unfortunately, everything to indicate that he would continue being a loud, obnoxious, billionaire bully-boy – this time with the armed services at hi disposal and the idea that he can bend countries to his will by manipulating trade tariffs.

So how does he do it …

Primarily Trump distracts from the facts and his unwillingness to debate by astroturfing. Using the media, especially the social media, to controversialize the uncontroversial and to attack people personally while labeling his opponents as losers, jerks, fools, and so forth.

Consider the picture of his model wife, Melania, who posed for a semi-nude picture aboard Donald Trump’s aircraft for the cover picture on GQ (formerly Gentlemen’s Quarterly) magazine. The stylistic picture was used in a campaign ad by a PAC (Political Action Committee) unconnected to Ted Cruz that was established to help defeat the Trump candidacy.  

Trump went on a social media rampage using Twitter. Blaming Ted Cruz and his campaign for the little-seen ad and demanding Cruz intervene with the PAC– full well knowing that it would be a federal crime if Cruz took any action to influence the actions of the PAC. Continuing to refer to Cruz as “Lying Cruz” as he pointed out that his campaign does not have a PAC and is self-funding. His PAC, owned and operated by others, was threatened with one of those famous Trump lawsuits if they continued to use his name and diminish his brand. But, he does take contributions (over $7 million) and has not refused or refunded the money. And, it appears that his campaign was funded by loans – possibly to be paid back by special interests after he wins the election.

But even worse, Trump outrageously and wantonly attacked Cruz’s wife who is not a supermodel. His campaign hinted at revenge and destruction if Cruz did not disavow the Melania ad. And, then talk surfaced of Cruz’s wife’s depression and Cruz’s alleged infidelities which was a smear job by pro-Trump media.

Why? – all to dominate the news cycle and keep the pot boiling. Anything to avoid debating Ted Cruz mano-a-mano where Trump’s lack of knowledge would standout like a lighthouse beacon on a clear night.

All you need to know about Trump is on display …

It appears that Trump’s campaign manager forcefully grabbed a reporter. The campaign manager said it never happened. And, then The Donald started his dirt machine attacking the reporter. The story radically changed to the campaign manager was protecting Trump – even though surrounded by Secret Service agents – when audio and video surfaced. Even now, Trump cannot bring himself to admit he was wrong and apologize on behalf of the campaign. Can you imagine telling a lie, then lying about the lie, and then lying about lying about the lie? That is who Trump appears to be: Hillary Clinton, above the law, above reproach, and above us all. His favorite lines are "people tell me" and "all I did was re-Tweet."

Bottom line …

Truth be told, Donald Trump is an establishment RINO (Republican In Name Only) who has claimed more affinity with the progressive socialist democrats than the republicans, especially conservative republicans. Calling himself a “commonsense conservative” as if that means anything in his twisted political mind.

Look at those who do Trump’s bidding. Campaign manager Cory Lewandowski, National Media Spokesperson Katrina Pierson, Trump attorney Michael Cohen, and confidante Roger Stone -- all have something in common besides not being the “best people,” they all exhibit the same type of nastiness and combativeness as they mirror their employer. Apparently willing to lie with the same type of impunity that is exhibited every day by their boss.

Donald Trump has more in common with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders than he does with a conservative Ted Cruz who not only has fought the establishment and his own leadership, but who is a man of deeply-held core convictions and a wealth of constitutional knowledge.

For years the republicans have claimed to want a principled man in the presidency. A man who put the nation above his self-interest. A man that was virtually incorruptible. And, when given the chance with Ted Cruz, they turned their back and ran away – as if such a man might affect their political power, their profits, and their perks and privileges as he cleaned up the cesspool that is Washington.

We are so screwed. Please consider voting for Ted Cruz. Open your eyes to what Trump is doing. This is not the Political Apprentice. This is real life and it is our lives and future that is at stake.

We tried a person just like Trump in California – Arnold Schwarzenegger (coincidently now the head of the Celebrity Apprentice) – a man too rich to be bought, a liberal disguised as a conservative republican. And we got record taxes, more regulations, and a corrupt, philandering fool as a Governor. A man who unashamedly reduced the sentence of a murderous thug hours before he left office because the thug was the son of a prominent democrat politician. That’s who Trump really is!  

What does it say about a man who takes to "Twitter" to bully people?

In the final analysis, this election is not about Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, or John Kasich. It is about our country, our future, and how we will live under our constitution and the rule of law. Whether or not there will be a ruling elite telling us how to live our lives. Telling seniors that they no longer are entitled to certain types of medical care. Telling us that we can't use our cars and that unrestricted freedom is bad. Where special interests buy politicians and "We the People" have no place at the table. Yes, folks, it is about US ... not those who are running. And, from that perspective there is only one choice: Ted Cruz. Unless you believe a life-long abuser of the political system can change his spots and tamp down his massive ego. Only one constitutional conservative comes along in a life time and in the mold of Ronald Reagan. Choose wisely.

-- steve