Republican Debates

[Nick1911]

I didn't watch it.  Or any political debate.   Not a one of these people are worthy of my attention, let alone to lead the country.

[RoadKingLarry]

My prediction for 2016-

Trump does not get the nomination. Either Bush or Christie does.
Trump runs as a third party candidate.
Whichever POS the democrats put up gets elected.
The US goes full throttle into what is already an unrecoverable death spiral.
Fun and games ensue, sooner rather than later.

[Scout26]

When push comes to shove, what did they do?  Did they stick with their principles or compromise?  I am not sure how a debate really tests for that.

The only two that have actually done that are Rand Paul and Ted Cruz.  Both have filibustered (Patriot act and Obamacare), Cruz came out on the senate floor and call McConnell a liar.  Both have stood on principle and have pushed to kill bad legislation (Ex-Im bank, executive amnesty, obamacare, etc.) and worked to pass good legislation (Kate's Law, defund Planned Parenthood, repeal the CFPB, etc.)

Again, Ted Cruz has stood on principle and against the Washington Cartel as he calls it.  He's pissed off the establishment more time then I can count, and has taken the R leadership to task.  Smart, principled, and willing to put his money where his mouth is.   He's the only candidate that I have given money to, because I truly believe that he has the intestinal fortitude to reverse the decline of America.

ANd given what I've seen of Carly Fiorina, she would be an excellent VP (the VP is supposed to be the attack dog), she's also smart, principled, and can out-Trump the Donald when it comes to going after the press.

The rest of the field would make an excellent Cabinet for a Cruz/Fiorina ticket.  (Carson as Surgeon General, Christie as AG, Perry-DHS or Defense, Paul- Treasury,  Jindal- State, Trump- DHS, etc.) 

[charby]

The rest of the field would make an excellent Cabinet for a Cruz/Fiorina ticket.  (Carson as Surgeon General, Christie Charby as AG, Perry-DHS or Defense, Paul- Treasury,  Jindal- State, Trump- DHS, etc.) 

FIFY

[SADShooter]

I don't know that this has been mentioned before. Charles Gasparino, a Fox Business contributor (and IMO a rude, bloviating gasbag), is asserting that Trump is deliberately acting as a spoiler for the Clintons. He bases his argument on Trump's history with the Clintons and  his having a phone conversation with Bill shortly before announcing. He claims Trump's motivation may be expectation of major quid pro quo if Hillary is elected. This makes sense if his real intention is to mount a superficial independent campaign to siphon votes like a Perot or Nader candidacy.

[AJ Dual]

The only two that have actually done that are Rand Paul and Ted Cruz.  Both have filibustered (Patriot act and Obamacare), Cruz came out on the senate floor and call McConnell a liar.  Both have stood on principle and have pushed to kill bad legislation (Ex-Im bank, executive amnesty, obamacare, etc.) and worked to pass good legislation (Kate's Law, defund Planned Parenthood, repeal the CFPB, etc.)

Again, Ted Cruz has stood on principle and against the Washington Cartel as he calls it.  He's pissed off the establishment more time then I can count, and has taken the R leadership to task.  Smart, principled, and willing to put his money where his mouth is.   He's the only candidate that I have given money to, because I truly believe that he has the intestinal fortitude to reverse the decline of America.

ANd given what I've seen of Carly Fiorina, she would be an excellent VP (the VP is supposed to be the attack dog), she's also smart, principled, and can out-Trump the Donald when it comes to going after the press.

The rest of the field would make an excellent Cabinet for a Cruz/Fiorina ticket.  (Carson as Surgeon General, Christie as AG, Perry-DHS or Defense, Paul- Treasury,  Jindal- State, Trump- DHS, etc.)  

This standard of "deeds not words" here completely overlooks Walker. He went through YEARS of hell, the protest mobs, the media coverage, people seeking out and following his family around, and blocking streets in front of his family's personal residence. And the entire national union and Democratic operative establishment went gunning for him, plus the years of the rogue Milwaukee DA doing four years of John Doe (WI's version of a Grand Jury) investigation on him.

He (with the state GOP legislature of course) took a look at the HEART of the statist liberal government serpent, the unionized bureaucracy and leveled a spear and ran straight down it's throat, and won.

In terms of actually DOING something to look the Left square in the eye, and kick it right in the balls, he's operating in terms of action and Honeybadger at the level level Donald Trump so far only does in words.

Honestly, I'm worried about losing him as governor to the GOP nomination, with the feckless GOP Congress, I'm worried he'll be stymied and wasted potential as POTUS, unlike the WI state legislature with whom he's got a good working relationship.

[Scout26]

This standard of "deeds not words" here completely overlooks Walker. He went through YEARS of hell, the protest mobs, the media coverage, people seeking out and following his family around, and blocking streets in front of his family's personal residence. And the entire national union and Democratic operative establishment went gunning for him, plus the years of the rogue Milwaukee DA doing four years of John Doe (WI's version of a Grand Jury) investigation on him.

He (with the state GOP legislature of course) took a look at the HEART of the statist liberal government serpent, the unionized bureaucracy and leveled a spear and ran straight down it's throat, and won.

In terms of actually DOING something to look the Left square in the eye, and kick it right in the balls, he's operating in terms of action and Honeybadger at the level level Donald Trump so far only does in words.

I totally agree, but as you've said several times, he'd be better staying on as WI Governor, then in the Oval Office.  I also thinks he'd be a good Pres or VP, should Cruz not be the one to get the nod.  I'd put him at Labor or HHS or Agriculture (yes it's a replay of Tommy Thompson for Bush) and appoint the rest to begin dismantling HHS, DHS, Labor, HUD, Education, Energy, etc.

[Ben]

I don't know that this has been mentioned before. Charles Gasparino, a Fox Business contributor (and IMO a rude, bloviating gasbag), is asserting that Trump is deliberately acting as a spoiler for the Clintons.

I heard this as well (and also agree with you on Gasparino). My thought all along has been that Trump has been in this for Trump and the Trump money machine, and his stupid non-answers last night only confirm it more for me. The Clinton angle (putting my tinfoil on) is certainly interesting - especially given his past associations with them.

[KD5NRH]

I still just want to be Secretary of the Interior so I can have an excuse to spend all my time in National Parks and get paid for it.

[Ron]

It's a shame Trump is mostly the only one showing any alpha traits out of such a large field.

Cruz has had some moments and I mostly agree with him.

Walker has disappeared into the woodwork. Maybe it's his strategy to lay low early on. He does seem to be a leader by the way he has conducted himself in Wisconsin. Yes I know he sucks on illegal immigration but he's pretty good on most everything else.

The others just aren't viable or in my mind have already disqualified themselves.

[Scout26]

Found this:  http://2016.republican-candidates.org/

Looks like some of the Candidates weren't invited to the debates.  I think a debate of just third tier candidates would have been great theater. 

[lee n. field]

Need input from the history buffs -

When was the last debate between presidential candidates that came to blows?  And who won?

Then I'll open the question up to all candidates for any office.  (please cite)

Which is how I think being picked as the way for political parties to select their candidates from among all the folks lining up, and then between the political parties for the office up for election.

The bureaucrats are going to keep the country running pretty much as it has always run regardless of who sits in the big chair.

Jaded?  Who, me?

stay safe.

"Presidential Candidate Meelee Knife Fight"

[roo_ster]

I don't think it is hard to win as a Republican in Texas especially if no one more conservative challenges.  I was trying to remember if he ever had any interesting challengers and none come to mind.  The state was in transition when W. Bush was Gov, but by the time Perry ran, the state was pretty solid Republican. 

Perry was only a sure thing in retrospect.  Dems ran all types against him and he beat them like a drum.

I disagree with perry on some serious issues but he is a serious campaigner and he did some serious and signif8cant things for texas.

His 2012 run was impaired.  Do not campaign after major back surgery while on heavy pain meds.

[Perd Hapley]

I am surprised he hasn't played up his personal record more, though; his life is as nearly the perfect Conservative as anyone could ask for.  Eagle Scout and father of another Eagle, high school quarterback, USAF Captain...

Wrong. A real conservative would have served in the military at some point.

[KD5NRH]

His 2012 run was impaired.  Do not campaign after major back surgery while on heavy pain meds.

You're talking about a guy who combines a morning jog with a coyote hunt, and only takes an LCP along.  Pretty sure he likes a challenge.

[KD5NRH]

Wrong. A real conservative would have served in the military at some point.

Your close air support is going to be getting a little closer than you like soon...

[TommyGunn]

My prediction for 2016-

Trump does not get the nomination. Either Bush or Christie does.
Trump runs as a third party candidate.
Whichever POS the democrats put up gets elected.
The US goes full throttle into what is already an unrecoverable death spiral.
Fun and games ensue, sooner rather than later.

 
Gawd, I hope not!!
But I'm buying more ammunition (again) just in case.

[JN01]

Need input from the history buffs -

When was the last debate between presidential candidates that came to blows?  And who won?

It was Bill Clinton.  Oh, wait, that wasn't during a debate.

[Tallpine]

It was Bill Clinton.  Oh, wait, that wasn't during a debate.

That's hard to swallow 

[JN01]

Kasich: Lied - again! - about balancing the Federal budget. (National debt increased every year the budget was "balanced" . . . you just can't have a "balanced budget" let alone a surplus when you finish the year deeper in the hole than you started. And . . . didn't he vote for the Clinton AWB?)

He did vote for the AWB but has been a staunch supporter of gun rights in Ohio.  He is still an arrogant, my way or the highway kind of guy- like Obama.

[Hawkmoon]

Obama proved that with his campaign of smoke and mirrors... I mean hope and change. Few specifics (and what specifics he offered were lies) but lots of hokum and feel-goodism.

And phones. Don't forget the Obamaphones.

[RocketMan]

My prediction for 2016-

Trump does not get the nomination. Either Bush or Christie does.
Trump runs as a third party candidate.
Whichever POS the democrats put up gets elected.
The US goes continues at full throttle into what is already an unrecoverable death spiral.
Fun and games ensue, sooner rather than later.

Fixed

[lee n. field]

My brother had a good line, talking about the de-bates on the book of faces

The only reason I can think of would be to watch Christie and Trump go at it mano-a-mano. I would watch if Christie promised to swallow Trump's head in one gulp.

Made my incision area hurt.

[Boomhauer]

Whichever POS the democrats put up gets elected.
The US goes full throttle into what is already an unrecoverable death spiral.
Fun and games ensue, sooner rather than later.

After declaring that the "Republican candidates are all a bunch of goody two shoes", my *expletive deleted*ing moronic sister then  said that she really wants to to vote for Joe "Fire Two Rounds Into The Air" Biden.*

"Because, like, the Democrats are all about the Little People, Womyn's Rights, and Education!"...right, so that makes you want to vote for the guy that makes Obama look good. The same guy who is a worse candidate than a potato.

And she's going to be a teacher so that she can poison every class that she teaches with her liberal bullshit that she reads all the time in Huffpo/Salon and on clickbait bullshit websites...with logic like hers widespread there is only one way this country is headed, and it ain't for prosperity...


*not that he's got a chance in hell should he run but whichever Dem gets the nomination she will vote for. She just favors him as the first choice.

[Angel Eyes]

(this is NOT an endorsement)