WISDOM FROM NEWT – AT 10:28 A.M. ET:  The former speaker, and a very astute political observer, warns that it's time to take Donald Trump seriously.  From the Washington Examiner: 

Newt Gingrich has a message for the GOP in Washington:  Start taking Donald Trump seriously.

Appearing on Fox News after Trump's Saturday win in South Carolina, the former speaker of the House argued that "nobody" in the Washington Republican political class "should kid themselves" about Trump's chances any longer.

"It is a huge night for Donald Trump and nobody should kid themselves. Here's a guy who seven months ago for the first time entered electoral politics, has learned at an extraordinary rate," Gingrich said, pointing to his second-place finish in Iowa and victories in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

"By any reasonable standard, this is a decisive victory," Gingrich continued, adding that Trump is likely to win in Nevada on Tuesday. "What people need to get a grip on in the Washington establishment is their job is to understand Trump. His job isn't to understand them. They live in a world of ideas and details and policy programs and long papers and conferences and ideas. This guy lives in a world of making very big decisions, doing very big things, and I think you could start keeping a list."

"It's a very simple rule — if you think Washington is so sick you want someone to kick over the kitchen table, then you like Donald Trump and you frankly don't care about the details," Gingrich added.

COMMENT:  Newt is right, and I worry what happens after Trump kicks over the kitchen table.  Does he have a plan for repairing the kitchen, or is he just a kicker?

We note once again that 68% of the Republican voters in South Carolina did not vote for Trump.  There will be a stop-Trump movement, run by Rubio and Cruz, one of whom will emerge as Trump's logical challenger.  "Stop" movements rarely work.  This one can.  It is going to get very brutal in the weeks ahead.  Expect no kindness from anyone.

February 21,  2016