Featured GOP Debate

Rand Paul won this debate on twitter.

 

It was extremely boring. I blame the questions the moderators asked, and the flaccid follow-up questions.

The defense cuts were part of the budget sequestration deal of December 31, 2012. Budget cuts to the military were traded by Republicans to the Democrats for budget cuts to social programs. At that time the House was controlled by Republicans, the Senate by Democrats.

 

Anyway, I put the "winners" (I use the term lightly) as:

1. Rubio. Stayed on the message of hammering Obama and Clinton. Deflected attacks by Cruz and Christie. Deftly confirmed he flip-flopped on immigration by invoking national security. Exposed Cruz's tax scheme as the VAT tax that it really is. Scored by showing Cruz flip-flops on farming issues (and others).

2. Trump. Scored a lot of points on Cruz with the citizenship question. Stood firm on barring Muslim immigration. Had a good point about levying tariffs on China (though it was a bit confusing). Beautifully swatted down Cruz's "New York Values" smear. Wasn't an ass.

3. Cruz. He was the victim of most of the attacks. Stayed calm among the attacks. Had some good counterattacks.

 

These debates aren't for the American people. We'll lose no matter who sits in the Oval office.

These debates are like auditions for the oligarchs. They give the candidates a chance to show the oligarchs how far each one will bend over to get their money and support.

 

I thought the oligarchs owned them from the time they first ran for office. I thought all these candidates were already owned. Please make up your mind.

 

Hillary is owned by Goldman Sachs and George Soros. Ted Cruz is literally sleeping with Goldman Sachs.

Who's gonna win the WH?

Uh, Goldman Sachs?

Ding ding ding . . . We got a winner!

But it ain't the American people.

 

??? ...wishful thinking.

Who won the debate last night? - overwhelmingly (1)Trump (2)Cruz (3)Rubio

I watched the entire (both) show on Fox Business channel. Beyond all the fear mongering and Obama/Clinton bashing It seemed to me there was an underlying unity or amicableness (resignation?) throughout the debate; "I agree with Donald" was heard several times from several candidates, probably the most vicious exchange was between the two establishment neocons Rubio and Bush, Trump sorta hinted Cruz could be considered for VP, and Cruz with an excellent funny comeback.

First Read: Has Trump Already Conquered the GOP?
"Has Trump already conquered the Republican Party?

It's more than a legitimate question to ask, especially after the results from our new NBC/WSJ poll and after last night's GOP debate. Let's start with the poll: Not only has Trump more than doubled his national lead -- from five points to 13 -- two-thirds of GOP primary voters (65%) say they could see themselves supporting him. That's up from just 23% who said this back in March.

What's more, in hypothetical one-on-one match-ups, Trump tops Rubio, 52%-45%, though he loses to Cruz, 51%-43%. And in a three-way race, it's Trump 40%, Cruz 31%, and Rubio 26%. So the combined outsider/insurgent wing is at 71%, while the establishment wing is at 26%. Then at last night's GOP debate, we noticed three developments: 1) Trump has improved as a debater (his response to "New York values"; 2) his antagonists like Jeb Bush have been reduced to asking him to merely "reconsider" (!!!) his Muslim ban proposal; and 3) a cheerful optimist like Marco Rubio has turned much gloomier, suggesting Trump's influence on the race has even trickled down to the Florida senator. Maybe most amazing of all are these recent tweets that New York Magazine's Jonathan Chait compiled from prominent Republicans/conservatives:

• @RichLowry: From my convos, GOP estab mood on Trump moving from fear/loathing to resignation/rationalization,ie he'd run better than cruz & slam Hillary
• @mattlewis: Same source (when I ask what's happening on the ground): "On the ground? Everyone literally is getting resigned to Trump as nominee."
• @AriFleischer: Trump was Trump and that means he had a good night. I give him a 60% shot of being the GOP nominee......"

 

Personally, I don't care who won the debate, I'm merely telling my impressions of who I thought won it. So there is no wishful thinking involved.

However, the whole world can see that you are on Trump's bandwagon. I'd never vote for him. He did have his best debate, though.

 

No, I'm remaining true to Rand Paul in the primary, but expecting Trump to be the nominee, whom I will definitely vote for in the general election.

"The whole world" can see that you support the neocon establishment.

Ah, you might change your mind between now and November.

 

Cruz is a neocon? Huckabee?

 

No, I don't think so. But his readiness to attack Iran in the past concerns me.

Good intentions but thoroughly conned by the neocons.

Rubio, who has appeared to me to be 'your man', is OWNED by the neocons.

 

Meet Marco Rubio’s Far-Right Neocon Donors

 

I would love for Rand to win....but he won't. Not this time anyway.

Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk

 

I just want to know who thought that the whole "New York values" tactic was a good idea. Pretty much set that one on a tee for Trump.