Trump Is Putting the Establishment Out of Business. That's Why They Hate Him

This article first appeared on the Thoughtful Ideas blog.

The political election industry is a multibillion dollar enterprise. Its ranks include the following:

Pollsters.

Consultants.

Coaches.

Handlers.

Ad Producers.

Focus Groups.

Media Pundits.

Donors.

Lobbyists.

The industry is used to dominating presidential elections. It is the go-to crowd that determines who deserves to be a candidate, win each party's nomination and ultimately secure the presidency. The industry regards itself as uniquely qualified to determine who is qualified to participate in the political process.

Now you understand why Trump has come under a withering barrage of criticism. How dare he intrude in the "club?"

How dare he campaign for the presidency without the blessing of the "club?" How dare he use his own money without super-PACs?

How dare he expose his critics? How dare he use social media to bypass the political industry?

How dare he draw large, enthusiastic crowds? How dare he speak the language of the American people instead of the prepped, canned language of the political class?

You see, it's not so much that he is running as a Republican that frightens the political establishment. It fears that if he wins, others could seek office in the same way. A Trump victory threatens to put the political industry out of business as it is now.

How did Claudius become emperor of Rome? After the assassination of Caligula, the Praetorian Guard anointed Claudius emperor. "Why," asked Claudius? "Because," said the head of the Guard," without an emperor, there is no need for the Praetorian Guard.

Without traditional candidates like Clinton, Bush, Kasich, Huckabee, Christie, Santorum, Pataki and others, there is no need for the Political Establishment's Praetorian Guard. Trump threatens to undermine the political establishment order of things.

Alvin Rabushka is the David and Joan Traitel Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution.