[Hoot Gibson]

Oh there's no question in my mind you think you're smarter than I, and humble. And you already suggested you think you're smarter than the 15 million or so that voted for Trump in the primaries and caucuses. Trump is not a particularly articulate guy; I have not liked how he has run his campaign and I said I couldn't defend his crudeness. But what we saw this election season was a reaction by the voter.

Trump could have worn Elisha's mantle and the media would have been just as vicious to him. A lot of this stuff was manufactured by them anyway. Romney was eloquent and articulate. Added to that was his very good record as Governor of Massachusetts, and the fact that he served in that capacity without taking any money for his pay. He left a bunch of money in the various funds and slam dunked the Al Smith Memorial Dinner. The media still crucified him. And need I point out yet again the fact that I predicted Trump would be slimed in epic fashion by all concerned? Ted Cruz would have fared no better with the media and the debates would have been just as skewed.

It's to late for false modesty, TRT. You are the one who claimed that your tomes about Trump go over my head. I do not engage in false modesty. I will take credit where it is due. You were wrong about Trump being a worthy candidate and I was not. It really is that simple.

Nominating Trump made it easy for the media to "slime" Trump because Trump has slimed himself for years. Unlike Romney, McCain, and Bob Dole, Trump is running against the weakest Democratic candidate in history and he trails badly because of his own character flaws. In Trump, the media was presented with a sitting duck. Any other Republican candidate would have made a more challenging target.

You were not among those of us who warned of what a monumentally weak opponent Trump would make in the general campaign. You may continue to blame everybody but Trump for his desperate situation, but the truth is Democrats have never run any candidate besides Hillary Clinton who Trump would have stood any chance of beating. As candidates, not even Mondale, Dukakis, or McGovern were as weak. Both Trump and Hillary are products of a dumbed down electorate.