Trump roars…rules…dictates who wins Republican primaries…that mantra bit the dust last week.

John Bolton and I have been friends for 40 years; one of the last old-fashioned conservatives, he supported Reagan back in 1976, helped me in Jesse’s campaign a year later, left his law practice to serve in Reagan’s administration.

Last February as we talked, catching up, he asked, Do you believe it’s true Trump rules the Republican party?

“Take a poll – numbers don’t lie.”

Half the Republican primary voters – in the poll John took – said Trump’s endorsement didn’t matter to them; the rest split, some for Trump’s candidate, some against. Trump consigliere Jason Miller promptly slammed John on Twitter – John took a second poll; again, half the voters said Trump’s endorsement didn’t matter to them.

Last week, Texas’ Special Election confirmed the numbers didn’t lie: Trump charged into the fray to elect his candidate Susan Wright, roaring, “Susan has my Complete and Total Endorsement.”

Wright lost.

Echoing the old proverb, the day after the election, words flowing up out of his heart, revealing his character, rolled off Trump’s lips.

Trump told a reporter, “This is not a loss…”