Thought Christie handled Paul pretty well. Bush didn't hurt himself any either. Carson, Rubio, and Cruz all did fine. End of the day, nothing I saw tonight would lead me to believe that Bush won't get the nomination. Rubio could be a wild card though as he could do some damage if he makes it to the general election.
2016 US Presidential Elections | Trump Wins
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The only ones I didn't hate were Carson and Rubio. As funny as Trump is it's terrifying to think that he's a genuine candidate.
He's not. Certainly entertaining though to neutrals and the left.
Kasich didn't call on God at all 
As for the rest of them God must be
As for the rest of them God must be
I don't agree with the idea that Bush didn't hurt himself today. He definitely showed a lack of energy and propensity to stutter at times and this has been highlighted by several commentators. If anything, Kasich showed some competency today and could possibly take some establishment voters from Bush going forward. Rubio is the candidate with the most upside IMO to win a general election as he's young, a minority candidate (w/e his views are), and is probably the best orator in the Republican field.
Rand Paul was probably the biggest loser of the debate today. He absolutely needed to pick a fight with someone to regain momentum but out of everyone on the stage he picked the one person who loves to get into fights and to have the last word (Christie). This performance won't end his bid because of the steadfast support from the libertarian base but I can't see him outcompeting a Rubio or Cruz to get the votes needed to challenge an establishment candidate.
Finally, Trump. I still don't think the guy is really in this to win the nomination. The conspiracy part of my mind believes that Trump is a Democratic plant and every crazy insult he comes up with only serves to reinforce that notion. Forget about Hillary, if this guy lingers significantly into the primary season the Republicans should start planning for 2020. Everyone is constantly harping about the fact that Trump will never get the nomination (which is true) but they all fail to realize how much of an issue he will be if he maintains a level of support from conservative voters. Look at what Ted Kennedy did to Jimmy Carter; the guy didn't even run a third party campaign but destroyed any chance that Carter had against Reagan by fracturing the base in the primaries. Trump has a celebrity persona that none of Newt, Bachmann, Cain, or Santorum had and more importantly has the resources to fund a third party bid. Trump is not a serious threat for the nomination but he nonetheless needs to be swept aside by the other candidates soon if the Republicans want to mount a proper challenge.
Rand Paul was probably the biggest loser of the debate today. He absolutely needed to pick a fight with someone to regain momentum but out of everyone on the stage he picked the one person who loves to get into fights and to have the last word (Christie). This performance won't end his bid because of the steadfast support from the libertarian base but I can't see him outcompeting a Rubio or Cruz to get the votes needed to challenge an establishment candidate.
Finally, Trump. I still don't think the guy is really in this to win the nomination. The conspiracy part of my mind believes that Trump is a Democratic plant and every crazy insult he comes up with only serves to reinforce that notion. Forget about Hillary, if this guy lingers significantly into the primary season the Republicans should start planning for 2020. Everyone is constantly harping about the fact that Trump will never get the nomination (which is true) but they all fail to realize how much of an issue he will be if he maintains a level of support from conservative voters. Look at what Ted Kennedy did to Jimmy Carter; the guy didn't even run a third party campaign but destroyed any chance that Carter had against Reagan by fracturing the base in the primaries. Trump has a celebrity persona that none of Newt, Bachmann, Cain, or Santorum had and more importantly has the resources to fund a third party bid. Trump is not a serious threat for the nomination but he nonetheless needs to be swept aside by the other candidates soon if the Republicans want to mount a proper challenge.
Rubio came across well. But he has no charisma.
Kasich too. But he is too moderate for the loonies.
Jeb Bush will never break from his idiot brother.
Trump knows the pubahs want him out..and so do his looney supporters.
Expect Trump to gain from last night.
Kasich too. But he is too moderate for the loonies.
Jeb Bush will never break from his idiot brother.
Trump knows the pubahs want him out..and so do his looney supporters.
Expect Trump to gain from last night.
I thought most of the candidates except Cruz and Paul, either held serve or excelled on various questions.
Trump, to his credit, did not waiver one bit from his brash, in yer face style that got him to where he is in the polls. He was savagely blunt on various questions Fox attempted to trip him up with, particularly running as an independent, donating money to the clintons, evolving on abortion, and building a border wall. His best moment (imo) was when he more or less threatened Megan Kelly at the beginning after she raised his record of misogyny on social media.
Bush, I thought also did well. He could've been more assertive with some of his answers, but I get the feeling his strategy coming in was to portray himself as calm, above the fray, and statesmanlike. He quite correctly didn't get into it with Trump and stayed in neutral territory, which left a few pundits scratching their heads because he didn't really move the needle in his favor. But I think in the long run that will benefit him.
Walker was also quite neutral and avoided attempting to score points off Trump. Good call once again. He wisely took his airtime to list his perceived positive accomplishments.
Rubio did better than most expected. He was comparatively articulate and squeezed a lot of good/substantive points into his answers. He did come across a bit as a deer in the headlights schoolboy on the first day of class at times, but he certainly didn't put a step wrong.
Kasich scored a lot of good points, and perhaps did significantly better than most expected. Like Rubio, he was one of the few who actually got into policy substance.
Christie, wasn't particularly effective. Got into a pointless handbags with Rand Paul over NSA bulk data collection. Otherwise didn't really do much to stand out.
Carson, seemed completely out of his depth anytime he was asked a specific question. Always seemed to pivot back to vaguely unrelated talking points. At one point he seemed to make a claim about the US Air Force in 1940, when the Air Force didn't exist until later. Didn't do much to raise his profile.
Cruz, completely flat performance imo. He was obviously there to not make any mistakes and go after Hillary, which he did, but at the same time, he squandered his chance of standing out against the others.
Huckabee, next to worse performance. The questions seemed to pigeon hole him into social conservative themes like transgender people in the military. He rightfully came across as a TV pundit masquerading as a vaguely poor Presidential candidate.
Rand Paul, absolutely calamitous from the start when he interrupted a Trump answer to go after him, then got into it with the likes of Christie and Trump later one as well. He made a weak pivot on the who created ISIS question and basically did little to cast himself as a legitimate contender. If anything, he came across as a bit of a desperate muppet.
Big winner - Trump, Bush, Walker, and Rubio
Big Loser - Huckabee and Paul
Honorable mention - Kasich, who is probably attempting to talk his way into a VP nomination, especially with the importance of Ohio.
Trump, to his credit, did not waiver one bit from his brash, in yer face style that got him to where he is in the polls. He was savagely blunt on various questions Fox attempted to trip him up with, particularly running as an independent, donating money to the clintons, evolving on abortion, and building a border wall. His best moment (imo) was when he more or less threatened Megan Kelly at the beginning after she raised his record of misogyny on social media.
Bush, I thought also did well. He could've been more assertive with some of his answers, but I get the feeling his strategy coming in was to portray himself as calm, above the fray, and statesmanlike. He quite correctly didn't get into it with Trump and stayed in neutral territory, which left a few pundits scratching their heads because he didn't really move the needle in his favor. But I think in the long run that will benefit him.
Walker was also quite neutral and avoided attempting to score points off Trump. Good call once again. He wisely took his airtime to list his perceived positive accomplishments.
Rubio did better than most expected. He was comparatively articulate and squeezed a lot of good/substantive points into his answers. He did come across a bit as a deer in the headlights schoolboy on the first day of class at times, but he certainly didn't put a step wrong.
Kasich scored a lot of good points, and perhaps did significantly better than most expected. Like Rubio, he was one of the few who actually got into policy substance.
Christie, wasn't particularly effective. Got into a pointless handbags with Rand Paul over NSA bulk data collection. Otherwise didn't really do much to stand out.
Carson, seemed completely out of his depth anytime he was asked a specific question. Always seemed to pivot back to vaguely unrelated talking points. At one point he seemed to make a claim about the US Air Force in 1940, when the Air Force didn't exist until later. Didn't do much to raise his profile.
Cruz, completely flat performance imo. He was obviously there to not make any mistakes and go after Hillary, which he did, but at the same time, he squandered his chance of standing out against the others.
Huckabee, next to worse performance. The questions seemed to pigeon hole him into social conservative themes like transgender people in the military. He rightfully came across as a TV pundit masquerading as a vaguely poor Presidential candidate.
Rand Paul, absolutely calamitous from the start when he interrupted a Trump answer to go after him, then got into it with the likes of Christie and Trump later one as well. He made a weak pivot on the who created ISIS question and basically did little to cast himself as a legitimate contender. If anything, he came across as a bit of a desperate muppet.
Big winner - Trump, Bush, Walker, and Rubio
Big Loser - Huckabee and Paul
Honorable mention - Kasich, who is probably attempting to talk his way into a VP nomination, especially with the importance of Ohio.
Cheers for the assessment.
The GOP is in self-destruction mode and they can´t do anything against it. The longer Trump survives, the better for the Dems. Rubio and Walker doing more or less what I expected. I am fairly surprised about Bush. Sometimes I get the feeling, that he doesn´t really care about the presidency. He seems so unmotivated. He needs to show more enthusiasm, if he wants to maintain a shot at winning.
The GOP is in self-destruction mode and they can´t do anything against it. The longer Trump survives, the better for the Dems. Rubio and Walker doing more or less what I expected. I am fairly surprised about Bush. Sometimes I get the feeling, that he doesn´t really care about the presidency. He seems so unmotivated. He needs to show more enthusiasm, if he wants to maintain a shot at winning.
Clinton will become the 1st female president.
Fully expect Fiorina to make the next debate, after which there will be about 5 contenders - Trump, Bush, Walker, Rubio, and Fiorina. Trump will fade at some yet undefined point in the future and leave the remaining 4 to duke it out over the next 9 months.
Jeb Bush
Is Mittens definitely not running? He's much better than most GoP clowns.
Is Mittens definitely not running? He's much better than most GoP clowns.
Rand Paul's hairdo is similar to Medusa
I think Cruz will still have a part to play in the primaries.
Did Trump really call Megyn Kelly a bimbo on twitter. 
It would be a great scenario for Trump to approach this like a ruthless businessman (sort of like he is already) and just say fcuk it to the Republican party and outright threaten them to run as an independent if they don´t elect him as the Republican candidate, thus assuring a Hilary Clinton victory in a three way race. At the very least Trump could be a total twunt and extort something massive out of the Republican party. The Donald sitting there like an arrogant prick holding the trump card over the Republicans.
Ha ha.
Ha ha.
After last night, I actually think he would consider running as an independent. At a minimum, the threat of him doing it will give him enough leverage within the GOP where they will be kissing his ass and playing nice with him until his poll numbers fade.
Nah. Surely he's in it for a bit if publicity. I reckon he will try to go out on a high. He is leading right now but knows he can't win. He's the kind of person that is a nasty loser. He will quit when his poll numbers are fairly respectable and will make it seem like he could've won but decided that it wasn't for him or something.
Serious question - where's a good place to watch coverage of the debate?
I almost completely relied on Stewart for my American news in election season.
I almost completely relied on Stewart for my American news in election season.
Trump is the gift that keeps on giving with his most recent comments about Megyn Kelly (the blood comment). Those have gotten him uninvited from a large conservative gathering today.
Just imagine him negotiating deals with the likes of Putin and XI... Also Merkle... Probably via twitterDid Trump really call Megyn Kelly a bimbo on twitter.
Haha he is brilliant in a weird sort of way. He is pissing all over the other candidates and they can't do much about him. Neither of them can get close to the media tracking Trump is capable of.
Loving Trump!!
Potentially I'm giving him way too much credit, but I actually do believe his defense, that he just meant to say "her... whatever". He's far too stupid to be that snarky.
Not a fan but Kelly did well to go after Trump in the debate. Held her own even after Trump tried to belittle her.Did Trump really call Megyn Kelly a bimbo on twitter.
Megyn Kelly deserves everything she gets. She was supposed to be a moderator, not an attack bitch.
Attack bitch?
I first put attack dog but decided to be literally correct.
Fox are ridiculous. Teabaggers are on to them. The more they attack Trump, the more he gains in the polls.
Chris Wallace's perma-smirk is awful and that Brett Baer is my number one candidate for a lizard person.
Thought Megyn Kelly was great. She asked the tough questions that all good journalists should ask Trump and didn't roll over like some may have expected of Fox News employee. Brilliant stuff and Trump's discomfort merely highlights his bullying narcissism.
A moderator shouldn't make their personal view so obvious. The Fox anchors talked too much anyway.
Fox agenda was clear for all to see....push their 'boy' Bush to the fore. Except Jeb's only asset is he is not an idiot like his brother. Otherwise he is bloody boring.
Her personal views aside, Trump misogynist comments he's made on social media are fair play in a debate and certainly fair play if someone is seeking the Presidency.
It's about time someone in the media actually holds these politicians accountable instead of serving of softballs and waiting for the canned response.
She's shaking her ass every day on Fox News like all the other dolly birds on there and she's moaning about sexism? Give me a break!
Not a big fan of the other gender are you.
Yes, I hate women. What the feck are you on about?
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