They are calling today “Mega Tuesday,” to distinguish it from “Super Tuesday,” and once again some pundits are suggesting Donald Trump, despite a couple of primary losses this past Saturday, could sew up the Republican Presidential nomination with a strong showing. Somehow it seems we have heard this story before.

My daughter asked me if I understood American politics and the American political system. I answered in the affirmative. After all, I have a degree in political science, I’ve studied the subject and I’m a political junkie.

But there’s a huge difference between understanding the system and understanding the people involved. I think that partly is what has many Canadians (and people worldwide) baffled about the 2016 US Presidential election. The Republican Party appears to be determined to self-destruct, and it looks from here like no-one wants to stop that.

There seems to be universal opinion in the highest echelons off the Republican Party that Donald Trump, for all his popularity, isn’t a suitable presidential candidate. The people apparently think otherwise and his campaign is picking up increased momentum. What outsiders don’t understand is, why they don’t do something about that?

In Canada, for example, if you want to be a candidate for a political party you need to first apply. There’s paperwork involved, a questionnaire and a background check. Party authorities have to accept your candidacy. They have, after all, been elected by the membership to be the custodians of the party, to ensure that candidates reflect party values and policy. On a regular basis prospective candidates are told: “Thank you for your interest, but we don’t feel that you are a good fit for us.” That doesn’t prohibit them from running for office, it just means they have to find another party. Or run as an independent.

Which brings us to Donald Trump. Why the Republican National Committee, the Party’s governing body, didn’t tell Trump last year that he wasn’t welcome is easy to understand. They didn’t think he had a hope of winning and they thought the publicity was a good thing for the Republican brand. Now he looks set to be the nominee and party leaders are trying to figure out how to stop him.

I would suggest they borrow a line from former first lady Nancy Reagan, who died earlier this month: “Just say no.”

Admittedly that is easier said than done. There are apparently few rules governing presidential candidacies and party membership. You are what you say you are (which explains why Bernie Sanders is now a Democratic Party candidate after years of elected office as an Independent). That being the case, I see no reason why the RNC, custodians of the party, don’t just announce that Donald Trump will not be allowed to identify himself as a Republican in the presidential election. They own the copyright on the name and logo.

Such a move might not be legal, though I don’t see why not; I haven’t looked closely into it. But by the time the courts ruled the election would be over.

Would that guarantee a Democratic victory in November? Probably, assuming Trump ran as a third-party option and the Republicans chose someone else as their standard bearer. Would it alienate millions of voters who have been backing a Trump candidacy? Definitely.

It boils down to what is more important to those in the Republican leadership.

However I doubt that it is really a matter of principle for them. They oppose Donald Trump not because he is a bombastic blowhard with neo-fascist leanings, but because they don’t think he can beat Hillary Clinton. In that assessment I think they are wrong, though he may indeed be a bombastic blowhard with neo-fascist leanings.

If the Republican leadership really wants to stop Donald Trump they can do so. But they won’t. It’s not about principles, it’s all about power.