THE EDITION – AT 10:47 A.M. ET:  Much screaming and yelling this morning about a stunning new edition of National Review, the conservative stalwart publication, called "Against Trump."  A number of conservative writers argue against nomination of the Republican frontrunner.  The Republican National Committee is not amused.  From ABC News:

National Review will no longer be hosting a GOP debate in February after the RNC "disinvited" the conservative publication, the magazine's publisher said.

The news comes on the heels of a harsh cover story from National Review, penned by 21 conservative columnists, calling Donald Trump a “menace to American Conservatism,” to which Trump and the RNC fired back.

"National Review is a dying paper, it’s got -- its circulation is way down. Not very many people read it anymore. I mean, people don’t even think about the National Review, so I guess they want to get a little publicity, but that’s a dying paper,” Trump said Thursday night, speaking at the Outdoor Channel awards show, which includes the annual “Shot Show."

"Donald Trump is a menace to American conservatism who would take the work of generations and trample it underfoot in behalf of a populism as heedless and crude as the Donald himself,” National Review’s cover story out Friday reads.

Trump says, though, that the GOP is beginning to accept him. "I think they are warming up. I want to be honest, I have received so many phone calls from people that you would call 'establishment,' from people -- generally speaking, conservative Republicans that want to come in our team,” Trump added.

And he may be right, as National Review publisher Jack Fowler wrote Thursday that his publication was being stripped of its hosting duties for a GOP debate with CNN in late February.

"Tonight, a top official with the RNC called me to say that National Review was being disinvited. The reason: Our 'Against Trump' editorial and symposium. We expected this was coming. Small price to pay for speaking the truth about The Donald," Fowler wrote.

COMMENT:  I wish someone would remember that we have to run against the Democrats at some point.  The GOP is tearing itself apart again. 

As for "Against Trump," here is the NRO link.  You decide.  Many of the arguments made against Trump, that he's an egotistical opportunist, and no real conservative, ring true.  On the other hand, he's shown himself to be a political master, at least in nailing down his base. 

The National Review edition has the feel of a "stop" movement.  There was "stop Reagan," "stop Romney," stop whoever is ahead.  Those movements rarely work.  However, Trump is a different animal.  He has no real affiliation with the Republican Party, and his negatives, outside his base, are extraordinarily high.  Also, the GOP has alternative nominees with fine records.

With Trump under fire and Hillary possibly under indictment, this is turning into one of the most exciting presidential years of our era.

January 22, 2016