WHY CAN'T THE GOP FACTIONS JUST SETTLE THIS OVER DRINKS LIKE TIP AND RONNIE?

The Republican establishment is now firmly on the side of Donald Trump, which wants the convention to go smoothly for him. So it treated dissenting Republicans the way the GOP Congress treats Democrats:

Chaos broke out at the Republican National Convention Monday after Republican leaders successfully blocked a recorded roll call vote on the convention rules.

Critics of Donald Trump had attempted to force a roll call vote by all 2,472 of the convention delegates on the proposed rules, which were written last week by a convention committee.

The groups objected to the proposed rules because they require pledged delegates to vote in accordance with the results of their state’s primaries and caucuses -- a structure that virtually guarantees Trump will claim the party’s presidential nomination.

The “never Trump” movement delegates believed they had the signatures they needed to force the recorded vote. Earlier Monday, they’d submitted to the convention secretary what they said were signatures from a majority of delegates from 9 different states or territories: Colorado, Washington state, Utah, Minnesota, Wyoming, Maine, Iowa, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Majorities from 7 states or territories were thought to be enough to force the roll-call vote. But after a voice vote on the convention rules, the presiding official -- Rep. Steve Womack -- declared the rules approved and attempted to move on.

Chaos erupted on the convention floor, with Trump critics screaming for a recorded vote while Trump supporters chanted “U-S-A” and pro-Trump slogans.

Now, what do we hear every time congressional Republicans shut down their Democratic colleagues and the president? We hear that it's the fault of both sides. We hear that everything would be happy and friendly and convivial if President Obama would just sit down over drinks on a regular basis with Republican leaders, the way Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neill used to. But he won't, because he's too "aloof" or "diffident," or some other word that means "uppity."

Me, I think it's because "my way or the highway" Republicans have become extremely skilled at shutting down any opposition. But what do I know? I'm just a schmuck blogger. The smart insiders say that the responsibility is shared equally between the two parties.

So I guess when establishment Republicans act the very same way toward dissenters from their own party, and shut them down just as ruthlessly, that must be both sides' fault, too -- right? It couldn't possibly be because shutting opponents down is simply what the Republican establishment does. Right?

And this was fairly ruthless:

Womack stated that initially, 9 states had filed petitions, but three withdrew, leaving the motion under the 7 states required for a roll call vote. Therefore, he says, a roll call vote cannot happen.

... It's not clear at this point which three states allegedly withdrew their petitions for a roll call vote, or why. Additionally, the initial reports were that 11 states had filed petitions, not 9. Who knows what pressure was applied by Priebus and/or the Trump campaign to kill the roll call vote, but it appears for now to be well and truly dead.

By the way, if you want a preview of what a Trump presidency would be like, this is it. Assuming his fellow Republicans don't object, Trump will get whatever he wants -- a wall, a Muslim ban, legalized torture, whatever. Don't expect checks and balances to constrain him once he's working in partnership with a GOP Congress and a federal bench he and a GOP Senate get to restock.