RUSH: I have to tell you, this is what makes it tough for me to... You know what? Let me put it this way. One of the most, I think, relevant things that was said in one of these episodes -- and I just found this. It was a question that Mark Halperin asked these guys. He said, "How do you feel about the fact that the Republican nominee may be someone that none of you know?" Bingo! There it is. "What do you mean, Rush? What do you mean?" It's a club. Everybody in the club knows everybody else.
RICK HOHLT: Everybody around this table that I know, we've been in every presidential campaign probably since 1980 in various degrees. And in Trump's problem, he doesn't have a co -- you don't know what his compass is.
VIN WEBER: I talk to people all the time, as I'm sure everybody around the table does, they say, "Why didn't you Republicans do something about this guy?" I'm sorry. This is not the Soviet Union. We can't call a meeting and decide Trump is out.
RON KAUFMAN: And we hate that. (laughter) Denying dictatorship. Who's for it? Trump is doing well for one reason: He understands the -- the -- the climate and the culture of America today better than anybody at this table.
ED ROGERS:Shell-shocked, bewildered. Republicans are hierarchical, respectful of authority. We fall in line. And Trump has interrupted that cycle.
VIN WEBER: Donald Trump, nobody thought of him as any kind of political leader until six months ago.
ED ROGERS: He's not articulate. He's not poised. He's not informed. All he has going for him is a lot of votes. Why hasn't any of that hit home? Here we are. Here we are.
RUSH: There are favors passed out. There are special considerations based on seniority. It's like any other club. It's like any other private, enclosed existence. There are rules. And knowing who and what and where and when and why is the power. Who to know or when to whatever. And if you don't know the nominee, what can he do for you? If you don't know the nominee, what can he do for you? If you don't know the nominee, how the hell are you gonna have any power with the guy? Do not doubt me, folks.