So, I watched about 3/4 of the debate last night, and none of the happy hour debate that preceded it. I really didn't see much that surprised me. I think Megan scored a dent in Trump's armor when she asked Trump about disgusting things he has said about women. Trump immediately tried to play victim and redirect, and that went flat, IMO. Ben Carson, to me, was a complete dud and did nothing but speak in platitudes while never really answering any question; I tend to think Fiorina will replace him next time around.
I thought some of the more interesting exchanges were between Rand Paul and Trump and Paul and Christie. In honesty, I kind of felt for Paul in that it seemed to me like he was trying to introduce some reality into the discussion, and people weren't hearing it. Christie and Trump, to me, both are giving the people what they want, which is a candidate who has the bluster to say, "I don't care what it looks like, I'm gonna FORCE people to accept my solution because I'm right." That is still selling very well. I think Paul had a plan to go on the offensive against Trump for sure, and used Christie as a prop to tout the constitution.
In general, I thought the governors did pretty well, except for Walker. Admittedly, I see him as nothing but a bitch of the Koch's but I don't think he really did anything all that impressive. Christie, I thought, answered a few questions pretty well. Bush did well enough to keep his campaign going, and I thought Kasich had one of the better responses of the night by acknowledging that Trump has "hit a nerve" with the American people and that people would be foolish to discount him. It was less a suck up to Trump and more a pronouncement that Trump is the messenger.
As for Trump, he was more of the same. Most of what he said, I think, could be summed up as, "I am HUGE and America will be HUGE if I am elected." When asked about his bankruptcies, Trump to make the distinction that he personally had never gone bankrupt, and that was acknowledged and when the issue was pressed, Trump basically said, "Hey, these guys that lent me money are not nice people. They are sharks." He also kept saying over and over, "I used the rules to my advantage", and I think he opened the door to really make the point that the rules are vastly different for people with wealth than they are for average people. I think he also kind of insuated that he might do the same with our debt.
Overall, Trump was Trump and though his descent may not have started, I'm kind of thinking he has reached his peak altitude and will be nothing more than the messenger at this point that Republican primary voters are pissed off. This is not anything new. Kasich, Christie and Bush, IMO, did what they needed to stay relevant. The rest, to me, did not really move the meter all that much.
Your thoughts?
I thought that Trump was shockingly honest when he admitted that he had bought politicians from both parties, not because he agreed with their politics but because he wanted "favors" from them. He seemed to be saying he knows how to correct influence peddling because he was one of the consumers. Otherwise I found the debate to be rather dull, most participants just repeated the party mantras. Except that Obamacare seemed to be nearly absent.
ReplyDeleteI keyed in on Trumps alleged ownership as well. I think after he said it, he realized he might want to tread a little lighter on that one. Not sure he did himself many favors afterward with his tweets.
DeleteI thought the "illegal alien" topic got the the most air time. It is clearly going to be an issue. Iran is too, Obama and Kerry fucked us and and they know it. We need to get after Iran, no matter what it takes.
ReplyDeleteGood to see you TD. Well, Schumer looks to have jumped ship, and thank God. We can now get the next useless war that accomplishes nothing underway.
DeleteHope all is well!
Why would it necessarily lead to a war?
DeleteAn interesting perspective.
Maybe that should be it's own thread question.
DeleteIllegal aliens and Iran will certainly be big. I liked it when Trump said he had even contributed to the campaigns of (i.e. bought) some of the there debaters on the stage and several raised their hands and announced "not me".
ReplyDeleteI don't think Rand Paul denied it, which I thought was interesting.
DeleteI like Max didn't have any epiphanies while I watched. Ben Carson is clearly out of his league. He may be ready in another 4 to 8 years but he has an enormous load of homework to get to the level of the others. I thought though that Rubio probably shined the most. I think he gave good honest answers, or the best he could at this time. The experience at these things embodied in Bush and Christie was apparent as they talked with confidence and conciseness. Rand Paul as expected was combative and flamboyant. And Mr Haney ( remember him from green acres) oops I mean the senator from Texas, is as expected full of shit. You can't do the things he spouts and cut taxes and budgets at the same time.
ReplyDeleteFrom the other side of the world.
ReplyDeleteHere in Aussie of course we were treated to a few minutes of the debate which simply showed the candidates lining uo and taking shots at each other. Trump of course, in the middle of the row with all the attention lavished on him. Is there something in America where money dictates the amount of attention one receives/. The surprising thing to us was Trump being asked if he would rule out running as an independent if he failed to win the nomination as a Repub. Why should that question be necessary? surely the man has already positioned himself behind the Repub flag. Not sure but was not a bloke called Ross Perot the last viable independent candidate? I seem to remember he fell dismally short of the support required. I noticed Ben Carson floundering a little, a disappointment for me as I believe he has something substantial to offer the nation.` From the little we saw, my original viewpoint was upheld. The thumper is a bag of wind; the sooner he is deflated the better off your great nation will be.
This race has the potential to be interesting with Trump and Cruz. We may finally have a couple of politicians who have nothing to lose so they can speak the truth. Americans need to hear that their political system has let them down. This is not a democrat or republican issue. It is not a liberal or conservative issue. This is a graft and corruption issue. We are sold a pile of dung versus a heap of feces as dividing points in ideology when in reality the politicians are enriching themselves by being bought by both sides. Maybe there is hope, but there is going to be a concerted effort by the status quo to maintain the course.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThe time has come for the Republican Party to return to the conservatism of Barry Goldwater. Here is one of his many quotes worth reading:
DeleteMark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem.
Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise.
I know, I've tried to deal with them.
I'm not entirely sure they are all acting in the name of God. Some believe they are acting in the name of the constitution, and others just believe it's time to just start kicking ass and taking names. Rand Paul, I thought, had a very interesting exchange with Christie wherein Christie claimed it's okay for Paul to blow smoke in a senate chamber about the constitution, but guys like Christie, who know all about ass kicking, don't have time for such nonsense. THIS is what I think so many find appealing. Goldwater, compared to today's bunch, would probably be considered a pussy, just like Reagan would.
DeleteI'm a great fan of our secular government. Our politicians worship at the feet of the money donators. It is a shame that we aren't secular when it comes to that. The pisser is that the people have the ability to change it. We are satisfied with bitching about it because we are just comfortable enough with our living conditions. Great job DC!!!
DeleteMarco Rubio claims that God speaks to him every day. Most folks who claim that are in a mental institution or on heavy drugs.
DeleteThe Soviets didn't care for those who believed in God either. Their stalag's were full of belivers.
DeleteChrist comes under assault here and across America every day. Mick's animus is sorely misplaced. His lack of spirituality is evidence of the degradation spreading across our land. He states his distaste for abortion yet would hardly raise a finger to vote for someone who would legislate against the tissue merchants.
These series of debates will be messy, like democracy itself. No longer considering myself a member of the Republican party I admire the various viewpoints being expressed.
Buttons are being pushed that need pushing. The Bush - Clinton cartel is facing their end days.
First of all you know nothing about my spirituality. Second of all, I would not oppose a law that disallowed abortion except in the cases of incest, rape and danger to the mother's life. Saying that one would allow a woman to die rather than get an abortion to save her life is creepy, and profoundly anti Christian. Thirdly, here is a good quote from a paragon of conservatism that you might enjoy:
ReplyDeleteMorning Quote: Barry Goldwater on Abortion “Today’s so-called ‘conservatives’ don’t even know what the word means. They think I’ve turned liberal because I believe a woman has a right to an abortion. That’s a decision that’s up to the pregnant woman, not up to the pope or some do-gooders or the Religious Right. It’s not a conservative issue at all.”
I respect Barry Goldwater. But Barry Goldwater lost to LBJ in a landslide. One facet of the Trump surge is that people on the right are sick and tired of losing elections to the likes of BO and the Clintons. Shallow as it may sound Donald Trump represents a winner in their eyes.
DeleteRick meanwhile predictably demeans Cruz and Carson who happen to be running second and third in NBC's post debate poll.
Goldwater lost to Johnson because of his perceived hawkishness. Johnson raised fears with TV ads featuring images of nuclear clouds, implying that Goldwater would start a nuclear war. Johnson then turned around and got us mired in Vietnam. There are some more Goldwater quotes where he states that the GOP must avoid the Evangelicals for to let them influence national policy would doom the Republican Party. Smart man.
ReplyDelete