How the GOP campaign is turning into 'Game of Thrones'

Warning: Some spoilers ahead for Game of Thrones Season 6. 

The election is dark and full of terrors.

With Donald Trump now the presumptive GOP nominee, you'd think the party would coalesce around him as the candidate for the general election. Especially given the fact that the party's opponent in November will almost certainly be Hillary Clinton, subject of much Republican ire for more than two decades.

The party is not uniting behind Trump, however -- a signal that there's way more going on behind the scenes in this ridiculously dramatic race. Indeed, the shenanigans and skullduggery are worthy of America's other major obsession of the moment: Game of Thrones. 

It's particularly appropriate that the latest episode was called "Oathbreaker." Like many characters in the show who either fail to focus on the larger threat, or those who need to show force in order to retain loyalty, Trump is turning his ire on what he sees as Republican oathbreakers who swore fealty to the (then-unknown) GOP nominee like so many members of the Night's Watch.

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In short, this whole election mess is almost as intricate as anything George R.R. Martin could cook up. Here are the clearest comparisons.

King Donald Lannister

Stop me if you've heard this one before: A sandy-haired, tantrum-throwing hellion has unexpectedly ascended to the throne. His orders seem motivated more by spite and sadism than good governance. 

Some courtiers have bent the knee; others are leading an insurrection.

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Like a petulant child king, Trump is temperamental when it comes to policy. He said one thing about taxing the wealthy on Sunday in a round of interviews and then, on Monday, he walked it back.

It's hardly the first time Trump has switched positions or, in the parlance of an election campaign, "clarified" his standing on an issue. 

But it's pretty clear to observers he doesn't know what he's doing; after all, he's already admitted he wings those fire-breathing speeches. 

Never forget that Joffrey could have avoided a ton of strife, prevented war and likely saved his own life if he hadn't winged it with Ned Stark's life. 

Trump is swinging in the dark when it comes to being a major party leader much in the same way Joffrey had no clue how to be king. When rebuffed, Joffrey was quick to turn petulant, not unlike Trump. 

The two seem to handle hecklers in the same way -- and both like to hide behind tall guys prone to questionable behavior.

After six months, we've learned not to underestimate Trump. The same was true of Joffrey.  

But what's next? A GOP in disarray will officially crown Trump (presumably, though more on that in a bit) in Cleveland. 

But then Trump has to compete with the Clinton Machine -- a device that is not infallible, but is capable of acting like Wildfire at the battle of Blackwater. 

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It's starting to feel like the GOP convention will be Trump's own Purple Wedding: A big celebration for a jerk that few are really thrilled to be honoring, and one that may well end in a horrific death (in Trump's case, a metaphorical one some months down the line). 

Then again, Trump could lose his gusto and turn into Tommen, surprising us all. After all, the Lannisters -- despite patricide, debt problems, and religious interference -- have managed to hold on to the Iron Throne (barely, but still). 

Whether the Lannisters have ever filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy is yet to be revealed.

The Small Council

What's truly fascinating in this power play is the way Trump has managed to gather a small number of GOP figures who haven't been alienated by his brash ways; his former opponents are now serving him. 

Unfortunately for Trump, none possess the subtlety of Littlefinger, but rather they channel the bewildered clumsiness of Maester Pycelle.

At Trump's side is Sarah Palin, who's already threatening Paul Ryan with political malice and intrigue. Though Ryan doesn't seem very much bothered -- and who can blame him? Palin hardly has the grace and wit of Cersei or the blunt confidence of Tywin Lannister. 

Neither does Ben Carson, who Trump placed on his VP vetting team -- and is now no longer on that team but still, apparently, trying to wheel and deal for Trump.

Then there's Chris Christie. Poor, sad Chris Christie. We all seem to know instinctively which Thrones character he most resembles.

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The Cleveland Kingsmoot

Talk of a contested convention has largely died down. Still, on Tuesday, Ted Cruz tried to cause a stir by saying he would consider starting his campaign back up if he were to win the Nebraska primary (an unlikely scenario -- but intrigue is intrigue). 

The GOP friction hasn't reached the murderous heights of internal wrangling amongst Greyjoys. Yet there's something similar going on with Balon's death at the hand of his brother Euron.

It says something that the GOP establishment, in particular the entire Bush family, is skipping the convention and turning their collective backs on Trump altogether. That the last two Republican presidents won't get in line with the party's new frontman because of his scorched-earth campaign against their own family isn't that big of a surprise. 

But it shows how little power the GOP establishment really has. The fracturing of the party, which has been deepening for years, brought about its own demise in the midst of a tempest, just like Balon arrogantly striding out onto a rope bridge in a storm. 

Beyond November 2016, power is up for grabs and what happens next is anyone's guess. Though the Republicans may wish they could hold another Kingsmoot as soon as the Donald menace has passed. 

Meanwhile, in Meereen...

Across the narrow sea of partisanship, Hillary Clinton is trying to manage her own path to the White House. 

You may already have seen the meme comparing Hillary Clinton to Daenerys Targaryen. 

Much like Daenerys, she's trying to squash a grassroots uprising. You could also compare the Bernie Bros to the Sons of the Harpy, which is doing its level best to end Dany's rule by rather vicious means. 

That analogy falls apart when it comes to funding. (Sanders' supporters are heralded for their many but small donations, the Sons, as we learned this week, are funded by the high-falutin' masters of enemy cities.) 

Still, Hillary's fate, like that of the Mother of Dragons, is still precarious. There's a fiery general election ahead with plenty of unknowns left to deal with.

And though she's had her own trials, I'm guessing Daenerys never futzed around with a private email server. 

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