Republicans knew very well what “the Donald” was. The primary campaign exposed without any doubt how completely unfit this con man was to be President of the United States. Yet, they saw an opening. Clinton’s lackluster campaign was faltering. If the Republicans could only combine their traditional base with Trump’s crowds, then add the Tea Party, and the legions of Clinton-haters, they would have a shot at the big prize. To Republicans, this was Nirvana, the Holy Grail they had coveted since Ronald Reagan gave them that taste of power in the 80s, (they were almost able to grab it again after Obama screwed up so badly in his first two years in office). The devil offered a deal they simply could not refuse: abandon “never trump”; accept “the Donald” as America’s Savior, and pour all your resources into getting him elected. If you do this, I will give you absolute power for generations to come. That was simply too good. They dropped “never trump” like the hottest potato, and the rest is history. We are now watching the historic dismantling of virtually everything good our elected government has done for the country for the past 70 years.