Howard Kurtz has a new article detailing Donald J. Trump's general election strategy.  As Kurtz describes it, Trump adopted a general election strategy from the beginning.  By taking a hard line on immigration, he was able to triangulate to the middle on issues like Planned Parenthood and entitlement spending.

“Whenever Trump would take a more moderate stance that might alienate that base, he could just pivot back to his tough immigration stance.” 

Astute observers realize that Trump's stance on immigration is far more centrist than it appears.  Of illegal immigrants Donald J. Trump has repeated that the good ones can come back – this is known as “touchback amnesty,” and it is not very far from the position taken by Marco Rubio and Jeb!

The Gang of Eight bill would have permanently deported illegal aliens with three or more misdemeanor convictions or a felony.  Trump hasn't specified who “the good ones” are, but they probably aren’t too different from the ones Marco Rubio and Charles Schumer would consider “the good ones.”

Astute observers will also note that Trump never talks about legal immigration, except to say that we will have it.  The Gang of Eight bill increased legal immigration but gave preferences to high-skill immigrants.  People who are genuinely anti-immigration want lower levels of legal immigration; President Trump would likely increase “high-skill” immigration from South and East Asia (similar to the Gang of Eight bill).

Those paying close attention to Trump's rhetoric will also notice that most of what he wants to do costs money; saving entitlements costs money; rebuilding the military costs money; taking care of our vets costs money, and rebuilding our infrastructure costs money.  Trump also promises huge tax cuts.  Obviously, Trump's math doesn't add up.

Trump supporters often say they want a candidate who “tells it like it is,” when in fact they want a candidate who tells them what they want to hear.  I've taken a lot of heat for supporting John Kasich, but Kasich is the candidate most willing to tell people what they don't want to hear, and Trump is the candidate least willing.

Ultimately, Trump supporters don't care about policy; they like the way Trump makes them feel.  When Trump supporters are interviewed, they usually talk about his “balls,” and his willingness to be politically incorrect.  They’re sick of politicians who refer to illegal aliens as “undocumented workers” and radical Islamic terrorism as “violent extremism.”

Trump is conservative fool’s gold.  He is the Republican candidate least likely to win a general election, and he is the candidate least likely to carry out a conservative agenda.  Conservatives who vote for Trump value bluster and tough talk over substance.