The GOP is going to have to deal with Donald Trump this election cycle.  Period.  The issue isn’t whether the Tea Party, or Cruz supporters or Kasich delegates win control over the GOP at the convention.  Even if their wildest dreams come true, they will still have to deal with Trump.  And if Trump wins the nomination, either before or after the convention, their options are bleak.

One, suck it up and support him.  Unify the Republican Party, run a decent campaign, lose to Hilary, regroup, retrench and come back stronger than ever after re-inventing themselves.

Two, form a third party.  That won’t have the legitimacy of the GOP, and will lose big time.  And that leaves the next election wide open with more healing having to be done than they seem capable of.

Third, and most likely, let matters coast, let the GOP stay a loose amalgam of a wide variety of interests and try to pull it together after the election.

There’s no doubt in my mind that the GOP will surface a stronger, more appealing organization after the well-funded think tanks get done with it.  But there will be some rough times before then.