Republican Debate
- Thread starter NeekReevers
- Start date
The whole thing is a joke. Priebus should be hung by his toes in the village square for agreeing to this debate.
I think they should all just walk out. It's a joke. All the questions are just personal history questions. Cruz was right to drill the moderators about not talking about issues.
The idiot gets booed for just throwing shit against the wall against Carson and he just giggles as they go to break.
Rubio big winner IMO. Cruz, Trump, christie, Fiorina had pretty good nights. Carson....meh. Bush whiffs again.
Cowboy Phil...here is what Weekly Standard has to say and they agree with you.
Jeb’s Dead: Adiós Amigo
TheBush hit on Rubiowas obviously premeditated, so it wasn’t gaffe or a mistak. It was a revealing measure of his political talent and judgment. Let’s count the ways in which it was strategically ill-conceived and tactically incompetent:
1) He attacked Rubio not from a position of strength, but of weakness. “I’m a constituent and you’re not doing your job for me” is the personal complaint of a whiner. He looked like a disgruntled employee, not a leader.
2) He attacked Rubio on grounds of procedure and not substance. However important they might be, no one actually cares about voting absentee rates—the same way they don’t care about filibuster rules or the nuclear option. To think thatthiswas the angle to blow up Rubio is insane.
3) As I said, Bush’s attack was almost certainly a pre-meditated set piece. Yet he didn’t have the political sense to see that Rubio was in a very good frame coming off of an answer where he beat the snot out of the moderators. Bush had no ability to read the scene and understand that it would have been better in that momentnotto take the shot. He had a plan, so he robotically stuck to it.
4) On top of all of that, Bush didn’t understand that Rubio’s biggest concern at this point is being slotted as a tool of the establishment. Getting attacked bytheestablishment guy is the best luck Rubio could wish for. The only thing Bush accomplished is helping Rubio cross over, which will lift him in the polls, which will increase the donor pressure on Bush to drop out.
In sum: Bush’s attack on Rubio was both a tactical and strategic failure. His campaign is cooked.
Jeb’s Dead: Adiós Amigo
TheBush hit on Rubiowas obviously premeditated, so it wasn’t gaffe or a mistak. It was a revealing measure of his political talent and judgment. Let’s count the ways in which it was strategically ill-conceived and tactically incompetent:
1) He attacked Rubio not from a position of strength, but of weakness. “I’m a constituent and you’re not doing your job for me” is the personal complaint of a whiner. He looked like a disgruntled employee, not a leader.
2) He attacked Rubio on grounds of procedure and not substance. However important they might be, no one actually cares about voting absentee rates—the same way they don’t care about filibuster rules or the nuclear option. To think thatthiswas the angle to blow up Rubio is insane.
3) As I said, Bush’s attack was almost certainly a pre-meditated set piece. Yet he didn’t have the political sense to see that Rubio was in a very good frame coming off of an answer where he beat the snot out of the moderators. Bush had no ability to read the scene and understand that it would have been better in that momentnotto take the shot. He had a plan, so he robotically stuck to it.
4) On top of all of that, Bush didn’t understand that Rubio’s biggest concern at this point is being slotted as a tool of the establishment. Getting attacked bytheestablishment guy is the best luck Rubio could wish for. The only thing Bush accomplished is helping Rubio cross over, which will lift him in the polls, which will increase the donor pressure on Bush to drop out.
In sum: Bush’s attack on Rubio was both a tactical and strategic failure. His campaign is cooked.
All of this is correct, and this may well be the straw that breaks the camel's back, but it's been apparent for some time that Jeb was done.
I agree, except Harwood (especially) and Quintanilla were so ridiculously inane with their questions and so obviously trying to do a hatchet job (Harwood in particular) on Republican candidates that it has probably backfired and redounded to the GOP candidates' advantage.
Except Jeb Bush, of course.
Some clown on Huffington Post wrote a article promising Jeb Bush will be the nominee.
I bet he's out of the race after March 1.
I bet he's out of the race after March 1.
Also the line of attack the Rubio camp probably spent hours preparing for.
I'm starting to feel bad for Bush. This is like McCain on election night 08 only drawn out over the course of months. Excruciating.
It was a joke. Thought the candidates did a good job not letting the moderators off the hook and turning a obvious attack plot in to a win for the republicans as a whole. I thought Cruz stood out. Bush, Trump, and Fiorina should hang it up and let the real candidates be heard by the voters instead of getting obscured by their noise. Trump thought the microphone was going to run away from him all night.
There are 6 candidates with any shot of getting the nomination.
Unless some other person currently not involved in the campaign is picked as a running mate, the most likely GOP ticket is some combination of Rubio/Cruz/Fiorina.
- Rubio
- Cruz
- Trump
- Carson
- Christie (ick)
- Fiorina
Unless some other person currently not involved in the campaign is picked as a running mate, the most likely GOP ticket is some combination of Rubio/Cruz/Fiorina.
I think Christie and Carson have the least chance of any I listed. I personally don't like Christie, but he has some things to recommend him. He has executive experience and is well known and has a good grasp on many issues. He has shown up well in each debate, though last night was his best and he hasn't been overwhelmingly great in any of the 3.
Carson is an intelligent guy with an outsider's appeal. But, he is way too soft spoken and a politcial novice.
Honestly, I think it will be either Rubio or Cruz and Firoina as VP. But, it's a long time to decision time.
Carson is an intelligent guy with an outsider's appeal. But, he is way too soft spoken and a politcial novice.
Honestly, I think it will be either Rubio or Cruz and Firoina as VP. But, it's a long time to decision time.
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As much as i like Fiorina, I really would like to see her as VP initially. So, for a change, i basically agree with MJD. Carson and trump have done a great job bringing some changes to the GOP game (much needed change), but some old habbits are going to win out (party-liners, like Rubio). The establishment will panic and pull great fear tactics to pull enough votes for the establishment, but be forced to take a non-establishment running mate to keep those that have latched on to trump/carson/fiorina from voting another party. Fiorina seems to be the easiest to work with (good and bad) between the three.
My opinion, anyway.
My opinion, anyway.
Couldn't have said it better myself. However, I'm not convinced Cruz has a very good chance; he seems to come off as too angry much of the time.
Granted it's early, and I haven't been able to pay as much attention as most of you all, but a Rubio/Carly ticket (or vice versa) seems like the strongest option
I liked what I heard out of Carly earlier in the campaign - I'm disappointed she hasn't been able to gain more momentum from her first two debate performances.
I forgot about the debate but I just read that Cruz offered to buy Quintanilla some "famous Colorado brownies."
Here are a few of the questions:
I]n 30 seconds, without telling us that you try too hard or that you’re a perfectionist…
(LAUGHTER)
…what is your biggest weakness and what are you doing to address it?
Mr. Trump, you’ve done very well in this campaign so far by promising to build a wall and make another country pay for it. Send 11 million people out of the country. Cut taxes $10 trillion without increasing the deficit. And make Americans better off because your greatness would replace the stupidity and incompetence of others.
Let’s be honest.
(LAUGHTER)
Is this a comic book version of a presidential campaign?
Governor Kasich…you had some very strong words to say yesterday about what’s happening in your party and what you’re hearing from the two gentlemen we’ve just heard from. Would you repeat it?
Well, let’s just get more pointed about it. You said yesterday that you were hearing proposals that were just crazy from your colleagues. Who were you talking about?
This one is for Senator Rubio. You’ve been a young man in a hurry ever since you won your first election in your 20s. You’ve had a big accomplishment in the Senate, an immigration bill providing a path to citizenship the conservatives in your party hate, and even you don’t support anymore. Now, you’re skipping more votes than any senator to run for president. Why not slow down, get a few more things done first or least finish what you start?
[W]e’re moving to Governor Bush. Governor, the fact that you’re at the fifth lectern tonight shows how far your stock has fallen in this race, despite the big investment your donors have made. …
Ben Bernanke, who was appointed Fed chairman by your brother, recently wrote a book in which he said he no longer considers himself a Republican because the Republican Party has given in to know- nothingism. Is that why you’re having a difficult time in this race?
Senator Cruz. Congressional Republicans, Democrats and the White House are about to strike a compromise that would raise the debt limit, prevent a government shutdown and calm financial markets that fear of — another Washington-created crisis is on the way.
Does your opposition to it show that you’re not the kind of problem-solver American voters want?
Governor Christie…Governor Huckabee, who is here on the stage, has said that you and others who think this way are trying to rob seniors of the benefits that they’ve earned. It raises the question: When it is acceptable to break a social compact?
Senator Rubio, you yourself have said that you’ve had issues. You have a lack of bookkeeping skills. You accidentally inter-mingled campaign money with your personal money. You faced foreclosure on a second home that you bought. And just last year, you liquidated a $68,000 retirement fund. That’s something that cost you thousands of dollars in taxes and penalties.
In terms of all of that, it raises the question whether you have the maturity and wisdom to lead this $17 trillion economy. What do you say?
Dr. Carson, we know you as a physician, but we wanted to ask you about your involvement on some corporate boards, including Costco’s. Last year, a marketing study called the warehouse retailer the number one gay-friendly brand in America, partly because of its domestic partner benefits.
Why would you serve on a company whose policies seem to run counter to your views on homosexuality?
Governor Huckabee…The leading Republican candidate, when you look at the average of national polls right now, is Donald Trump. When you look at him, do you see someone with the moral authority to unite the country?
I]n 30 seconds, without telling us that you try too hard or that you’re a perfectionist…
(LAUGHTER)
…what is your biggest weakness and what are you doing to address it?
Mr. Trump, you’ve done very well in this campaign so far by promising to build a wall and make another country pay for it. Send 11 million people out of the country. Cut taxes $10 trillion without increasing the deficit. And make Americans better off because your greatness would replace the stupidity and incompetence of others.
Let’s be honest.
(LAUGHTER)
Is this a comic book version of a presidential campaign?
Governor Kasich…you had some very strong words to say yesterday about what’s happening in your party and what you’re hearing from the two gentlemen we’ve just heard from. Would you repeat it?
Well, let’s just get more pointed about it. You said yesterday that you were hearing proposals that were just crazy from your colleagues. Who were you talking about?
This one is for Senator Rubio. You’ve been a young man in a hurry ever since you won your first election in your 20s. You’ve had a big accomplishment in the Senate, an immigration bill providing a path to citizenship the conservatives in your party hate, and even you don’t support anymore. Now, you’re skipping more votes than any senator to run for president. Why not slow down, get a few more things done first or least finish what you start?
[W]e’re moving to Governor Bush. Governor, the fact that you’re at the fifth lectern tonight shows how far your stock has fallen in this race, despite the big investment your donors have made. …
Ben Bernanke, who was appointed Fed chairman by your brother, recently wrote a book in which he said he no longer considers himself a Republican because the Republican Party has given in to know- nothingism. Is that why you’re having a difficult time in this race?
Senator Cruz. Congressional Republicans, Democrats and the White House are about to strike a compromise that would raise the debt limit, prevent a government shutdown and calm financial markets that fear of — another Washington-created crisis is on the way.
Does your opposition to it show that you’re not the kind of problem-solver American voters want?
Governor Christie…Governor Huckabee, who is here on the stage, has said that you and others who think this way are trying to rob seniors of the benefits that they’ve earned. It raises the question: When it is acceptable to break a social compact?
Senator Rubio, you yourself have said that you’ve had issues. You have a lack of bookkeeping skills. You accidentally inter-mingled campaign money with your personal money. You faced foreclosure on a second home that you bought. And just last year, you liquidated a $68,000 retirement fund. That’s something that cost you thousands of dollars in taxes and penalties.
In terms of all of that, it raises the question whether you have the maturity and wisdom to lead this $17 trillion economy. What do you say?
Dr. Carson, we know you as a physician, but we wanted to ask you about your involvement on some corporate boards, including Costco’s. Last year, a marketing study called the warehouse retailer the number one gay-friendly brand in America, partly because of its domestic partner benefits.
Why would you serve on a company whose policies seem to run counter to your views on homosexuality?
Governor Huckabee…The leading Republican candidate, when you look at the average of national polls right now, is Donald Trump. When you look at him, do you see someone with the moral authority to unite the country?
I'm not surprised in the least. In fact, I've come to expect that the media will do all they can to help the Democratic Party. Well, marginalizing and discrediting all other candidates is a great way to do it.
We also have to include the establishment republicans. They'd rather lose to the democrats than actually do anything which would get them removed from the Christmas party lists.
I also skipped this debate I was boycotting. I was more excited for the Thunder game and from the sound of this thread I didn't miss much but Cruz laying the smack down on those poor excuses for moderators. I just want to know the differences on their policies not watch a TMZ special. I am fed up with the liberal media not focusing on issues and policies but rather what each candidate thinks about the other. I wish they would put a mic in front of Liar Liar pantsuit on fire and ask her about Biden and Sanders.
I read this morning that while pundits declared Rubio the winner the real winner was Cruz. After the debate his name was mentioned positively on social media more than any other candidate. Apparently he ran the kritik with perfection.
Why does it take candidates sooooo long to figure things out.. Quit being a Boehner arse kissing conservative and go for what the people on your side are wanting. Geez, why do they think Trump has been leading? We don't necessarily want Trump, we just don't want a wuss.
Cruz hasn't been kissing anyone's butt.
If anything, he's been the bane of the GOP establishment for a long time now.
Rubio? That's a different story.
I agree on Cruz. I was referring to the professional politicians running. When 1, 2 or all of the the 3 non politicians drop, their supporters are going to go somewhere, and the candidate that gets them imo is the most anti - establishment one. Cruz made a big leap attacking the left in public.
I think Cruz would be a disaster as a general election candidate. Maybe he would prove me wrong but I see him having extremely high appeal to a small group of voters but high negatives amongst independents and moderate Republicans.
He is really smart. He is the only candidate I can think of that can package what GOP primary voters want as something general election voters can palate.
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