It has been an article of faith in this shebeen almost since we opened it in 2011 that there is no actual Republican party in any real sense any more. Ever since the Supreme Court legalized influence-peddling in its Citizens United and McCutcheon decisions, there only has been a loosely held group of independent franchises who are doing business for themselves under the Republican Party brand. This is why the suits belonging to obvious anagram Reince Preibus are so very empty. If you needed more evidence, there are now some interesting poll numbers from Quinnipiac and from our pals at CNN.

Before discussing them, it's important to remember that, ever since he announced his "candidacy," Donald Trump has proceeded against all possible odds to make an even bigger jackass of himself. He went full Coulter on Mexicans. This has cost him his gig with NBC. Macy's has dumped him like a bad habit. However, knowing what I know about The Base, I'm beginning to believe that corporate America is pursuing a crafty strategy of making Trump just enough of a victim to be president.And it's coming at the expense of Scott Walker, who hasn't formally announced his candidacy yet, and hasn't done much of anything except tell whoppers about how he's ruined Wisconsin.

Walker has 18 percent of likely GOP caucus participants, compared to 25 percent in a February 25 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University and 21 percent in a May 6 survey. Jostling for second place are Donald Trump and Ben Carson, at 10 percent each, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas at 9 percent each, former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida at 8 percent and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida at 7 percent. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has 5 percent. No other candidate is above 4 percent and 5 percent are undecided.

Trump -- who, if he were the candidate, would lose 59 of the 50 states -- has done nothing but become more of a public embarrassment, and he's rising in the polls practically everywhere.

Bush stands at 19%, up from 13% in May -- and his best showing in CNN/ORC polling since December. Trump follows at 12%, up from 3% before his announcement. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (8%), neurosurgeon Ben Carson (7%) and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (7%) round out the top five. Notably absent from this top five -- though statistically speaking not far behind -- are Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (6%, down from 14% in May) and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (6%, down slightly from 10%). Both had been top five candidates in each of the last two CNN/ORC polls, and Walker had been in the top five since February. The poll, conducted just before New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie formally launched his campaign with a rally in Livingston, New Jersey, on Tuesday, also finds that Christie begins his push for the presidency with just 3% support.

Again, you see Walker sinking, along with Marco Rubio. You don't have to be Mark Hanna to see what's coming here. Let us assume that Jeb (!) is on his way to becoming the de facto frontrunner in the Republican primary processes. That leaves Trump with no serious political purpose except to rip on Jeb (!) every chance he gets, in front of whatever camera will have him which, alas for the republic, is quite a few. If the Republican party were still an actual political party, with institutions capable of exercising actual party discipline, Trump's "candidacy" would die a quick and silent death. But there's nobody left with enough clout to wield the knife. All have money. All must have prizes.

Charles P. Pierce Charles P Pierce is the author of four books, most recently Idiot America, and has been a working journalist since 1976.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io