HOUSTON, TX – George H.W. Bush (aka “Bush 41”) now 91 and physically frail but with a mind still as sharp as a much younger man’s, wonders why in the world nontraditional presidential candidates like Donald Trump are routing the competition thus far, while establishment politicians like his son Jeb are struggling, the New York Times reported.

Bush Sr. says he doesn’t “get” the Trump appeal. When Trump quipped a few months ago that he doesn’t think John McCain, who was a Vietnam War POW, is a real war hero because he was captured and “I like war heroes who weren’t captured,” the former president fumed. “I can’t understand how somebody could say that and still be taken seriously,” he said at the time.

John Sununu, a partially-Greek-American who was Bush’s Chief of Staff and a longtime advisor, is equally baffled. He told the Times:  that  “Trump supports single-payer federal health care and he loves eminent domain, and the Tea Party hates both of those things. So explain to me how people are voting on issues.” Sununu did acknowledge that “I have no feeling for the electorate anymore.”

Bush and Sununu did not conclude that perhaps the Republican voters haven’t abandoned some of their issues, but have simply shifted priorities. For instance, Trump’s strongest and most vocal positions are about curbing illegal entry and stay in the United States, and flexing America’s muscle abroad to keep the likes of Vladimir Putin, Iran, and ISIS in line.

Nonetheless, the Bushes are not throwing in the towel anytime soon. Georges Senior and Junior are on the campaign trail for Jeb, and even have a routine worked out, the Times reports: The Elder Bush asks: “When’s his inauguration?”

“January 2017,” the younger Bush responds. “I’ll be there,” nonagenarian Poppa says.