Trump, Cruz, and Beltway Republicans

My new Bloomberg column.

Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. This sound aphorism may have a less pithy political corollary: Never attribute to strategy what can be explained by emotion.

Only this truth can help us understand why Republican officials have started saying they prefer Donald Trump to Senator Ted Cruz as their presidential nominee. Congressional Republicans would supposedly come out ahead with Trump because he would be a stronger nominee and a more cooperative president.

These arguments are so weak that they can be understood only as rationalizations for a passionate hatred of Cruz felt by Republicans whom he has challenged. . . .

(disclosure)