There Seems No Other Track For the GOP Circus Train to Derail On: The Nominee is Going to Be Marco Rubio (JEB! lite) and Donald Is Going to Run As An Independent

Even before the first vote is cast in South Carolina, the shape of the Republican presidential race has all but settled into its inevitable train wreck finish.

Marco Rubio has to be the last man standing, and the nominee, absent something truly stunning like a Romney convention draft.  JEB! isn't going to sell, and Kasich (who is the only one sufficiently mainstream enough to win a general election) isn't sufficiently neoconservative enough to win a Republican nomination, and the Republican nominee must be a neoconservative unswervingly committed to massive tax cuts on unearned income domestically, and additional unfunded military adventurism abroad. Rubio fills that bill nicely in an package the fat cats find appealing, and one at least superficially "diverse."

Trump is playing for time until he decides when and why to bolt the "corrupt and unfair" Republican Party, and run on his own.  That scenario for Trump seems to be falling into place. First the debates are packed with Bush and Rubio supporters.  Second, once the race dwindles down to two or three candidates, he will no longer be finishing first, as Rubio (mostly likely) starts finishing first in the "winner take all' states.  That will be the point of departure for Trump.

If Hillary survives Sanders and email troubles she will limp to the Democratic nomination. With Trump and Rubio splitting up the anti-Hillary vote, she should win relatively easily in November, and owe Trump many favors.