The First GOP Debate

[kalm]

Kasich looked great and was the winner last night.

Trump continues to entertain and will be in it for the long haul now I think. Not taking the pledge to not run third party might be an interesting strategy. If he's one of the final few left in the race the threat of Trump as a third party candidate and impending Clinton victory might swing things in his favor.

Walker was guarded and boring but the money backing him should sustain his campaign for quite awhile.

Paul was grumpy and almost a bit shrill. His Republican unorthodoxies make Trump a huge threat in a battle for conservative voters weary of the establishment.

Bush was boring and a bit clumsy.

I still give Christy an outside shot based solely on his willingness to brawl.

The rest don't matter.

I see the front runners in order as Kasich, Trump, and Walker.

[93henfan]

Debates are cute, but Bush is the nominee. Let's not kid ourselves.

I like Trump. We need a guy with some sack running the country. Trump/Christie, baby! All those southern fairies running are just more of the same. Rubio is so polished he looks fake. Paul is not half the man is father is. Bush is a bumbling idiot, like most of his family. I really liked Carson and Kasich but they stand no chance. Huckabee is old news. Walker is just not likeable and talks like a douche. Cruz anywhere near the White House and the button is frightening - he looks psychopathic to me. I'd like to see Fiorina brought up from Triple A ball for the next debate.

[Pwns]

Kasich looked great and was the winner last night.

Trump continues to entertain and will be in it for the long haul now I think. Not taking the pledge to not run third party might be an interesting strategy. If he's one of the final few left in the race the threat of Trump as a third party candidate and impending Clinton victory might swing things in his favor.

Walker was guarded and boring but the money backing him should sustain his campaign for quite awhile.

Paul was grumpy and almost a bit shrill. His Republican unorthodoxies make Trump a huge threat in a battle for conservative voters weary of the establishment.

Bush was boring and a bit clumsy.

I still give Christy an outside shot based solely on his willingness to brawl.

The rest don't matter.

I see the front runners in order as Kasich, Trump, and Walker.

Kasich, like Christie, might be among the most electable and qualified, but he won't win the nomination.

[89Hen]

Paul was grumpy and almost a bit shrill.

Remember my PM to you?

[89Hen]

Cruz - he looks psychopathic to me.

Glad it wasn't just me.

[CAA Flagship]

I did not like such pointed questions for a first debate. Most of these guys are being seen/heard by the public for the first time, but yet they were being asked to defend a comment made some 10 years ago. They should have just said, "What would you do about __________?", and let them talk. Too many of them avoided the main point of the question because they chose something else in the question to qualify/defend.

That said, I thought Rubio and Carson were great. Carson seems like a great guy, but I think we need a bull in the china shop to get things done, and he's no bull. Rubio spoke very well, but without giving the impression that he had any specific plans.
I thought Christie and Bush gave the impression that they have the most detailed plans at this point. Kasich strength seems to be financial (which is my clear #1 political topic), but he is going to have to disclose his views on other topics to get in the hunt. Paul didn't advance himself last night. Trump just whined about the current situations but didn't give me the impression that he has a clear plan of how he will fix them (i.e. pay for it).

[89Hen]

BTW, not sure why Fox News, if it's as much a GOP channel and people like to say, would have the DNC Chair on live after the debate. It would be like having Houndawg critiquing the debate.

[CID1990]

After last night I am more convinced that the Clintons put Trump up to this. A few days ago that was all spandos talk but now it makes total sense. Every time he opened his mouth I could hear Hillary cackling

Christie confirmed that he is a nanny stater once again

Paul came across like the two old codger muppets in the opera box - but his strategy was sound, he just couldnt pull it off

Walker stayed reserved - all he had to do in this one was not step on his dick, and he achieved that. But he didnt dispel the notion that he is too vanilla

Kasich was a pleasant surprise - he will jump some

Cruz was solid, but he is a good debater so that was to be expected

Ben Carson was good - he called it "tithing" but his tax plan is a 10% flat tax - anyone proposing a simplified or flat tax plan is going to get high marks in my book - that said, none of the candidates proposing it are going to get the nod

Bush was polished and I think he did the only thing he could do - tout Florida, proclaim himself his own man, and not stumble

Carly Fiorina absolutely needs to be at the big kids table - her post-debate flummoxing of Chris Matthews was an absolute gem. She needs to say more about how she would govern rather than just being the anti-Hillary, but right now she's on fire

my grudging top 5 after last night

Bush
Kasich
Fiorina
Walker
Carson-Cruz

[93henfan]

I said this a couple of months back and I'll say it again. Barring Hillary dropping out of the race due to some unforeseen failure of the Teflon forcefield that surrounds her, none of the ten candidates in the main debate beside perhaps Rubio or Carson have a chance to beat Hillary. It's a demographics issue. It used to be the economy, stupid, but the economy has been so bad for so long now that it's almost not an issue anymore. The general public has moved the bar on the American Dream a lot lower and the economy is almost an afterthought to all the petty issues of the day.

If the Republicans really want to win, they nominate Fiorina. She would beat Hillary. She would eviscerate her in a one on one debate, unlike any Republican man could. It would be pure joy to watch.

But nobody listens to me, so we'll get Bush/Walker and an independent Trump.

[ASUG8]

I think Trump is an arrogant douchebag but I'd vote for him over Clinton in a heartbeat, knowing I'd have to turn the sound off on my TV for the next 8 years whenever he's talking. Even though he's hardly my dream candidate, on the one hand I'm glad to see a potentially viable third party candidate who's non-establishment and more centrist. On the other hand, I'm afraid that his lean to the right will fracture any chances of anyone besides a Dem candidate getting in.

I'm not sure what some of these liberals did in a past life to feel guilty enough to vote in the first black guy and blindly follow the first woman as a candidate, but it must have been a doozy.

[Grizalltheway]

I think Trump is an arrogant douchebag but I'd vote for him over Clinton in a heartbeat, knowing I'd have to turn the sound off on my TV for the next 8 years whenever he's talking. Even though he's hardly my dream candidate, on the one hand I'm glad to see a potentially viable third party candidate who's non-establishment and more centrist. On the other hand, I'm afraid that his lean to the right will fracture any chances of anyone besides a Dem candidate getting in.

I'm not sure what some of these liberals did in a past life to feel guilty enough to vote in the first black guy and blindly follow the first woman as a candidate, but it must have been a doozy.

Are you sure it's not wealth envy?

[ASUG8]

I think Trump is an arrogant douchebag but I'd vote for him over Clinton in a heartbeat, knowing I'd have to turn the sound off on my TV for the next 8 years whenever he's talking. Even though he's hardly my dream candidate, on the one hand I'm glad to see a potentially viable third party candidate who's non-establishment and more centrist. On the other hand, I'm afraid that his lean to the right will fracture any chances of anyone besides a Dem candidate getting in.

I'm not sure what some of these liberals did in a past life to feel guilty enough to vote in the first black guy and blindly follow the first woman as a candidate, but it must have been a doozy.

Are you sure it's not wealth envy?

I could care less if he had $10 or $10B, I still wouldn't want to sit down and have a beer with the guy. That said, he's a preferable alternative to the Clinton show pony the Dems are backing. Crazy Uncle Joe Biden would be a better choice on the left, simply for the entertainment factor.

[AZGrizFan]

I said this a couple of months back and I'll say it again. Barring Hillary dropping out of the race due to some unforeseen failure of the Teflon forcefield that surrounds her, none of the ten candidates in the main debate beside perhaps Rubio or Carson have a chance to beat Hillary. It's a demographics issue. It used to be the economy, stupid, but the economy has been so bad for so long now that it's almost not an issue anymore. The general public has moved the bar on the American Dream a lot lower and the economy is almost an afterthought to all the petty issues of the day.

If the Republicans really want to win, they nominate Fiorina. She would beat Hillary. She would eviscerate her in a one on one debate, unlike any Republican man could. It would be pure joy to watch.
But nobody listens to me, so we'll get Bush/Walker and an independent Trump.

That I would do pay-per-view to watch.

[AZGrizFan]

Debates are cute, but Bush is the nominee. Let's not kid ourselves.

I like Trump. We need a guy with some sack running the country. Trump/Christie, baby! All those southern fairies running are just more of the same. Rubio is so polished he looks fake. Paul is not half the man is father is. Bush is a bumbling idiot, like most of his family. I really liked Carson and Kasich but they stand no chance. Huckabee is old news. Walker is just not likeable and talks like a douche. Cruz anywhere near the White House and the button is frightening - he looks psychopathic to me. I'd like to see Fiorina brought up from Triple A ball for the next debate.

Yeah, I know. After 8 years of a president who says "uh" every third word when not reading off a teleprompter, listening to someone who can actually speak the English language intelligently can throw you off a little, can't it?

[Brock Landers]

Chris Christie is the strongest candidate. Too bad he will never get the nomination.

Agreed

[houndawg]

BTW, not sure why Fox News, if it's as much a GOP channel and people like to say, would have the DNC Chair on live after the debate. It would be like having Houndawg critiquing the debate.

Houndawg would stand head and shoulders above that collection of nincompoops.


Sanders/Houndawg in '16

[93henfan]

BTW, not sure why Fox News, if it's as much a GOP channel and people like to say, would have the DNC Chair on live after the debate. It would be like having Houndawg critiquing the debate.

Houndawg would stand head and shoulders above that collection of nincompoops.


Sanders/Houndawg in '16

I would vote Sanders/Houndawg over any ticket with a Clinton or Bush on it.

[AZGrizFan]

Chris Christie is the strongest candidate. Too bad he will never get the nomination.

Agreed

Yeah. According to that brillian strategest Houndawg, that pic of Christie in the baseball uniform did him in.

[Ibanez]

Doesn't matter who wins, GOP or Democrats. America still loses b/c we'd rather pick the next Comedian or talent act than someone worth a damn to run this country.

[SDHornet]

I said this a couple of months back and I'll say it again. Barring Hillary dropping out of the race due to some unforeseen failure of the Teflon forcefield that surrounds her, none of the ten candidates in the main debate beside perhaps Rubio or Carson have a chance to beat Hillary. It's a demographics issue. It used to be the economy, stupid, but the economy has been so bad for so long now that it's almost not an issue anymore. The general public has moved the bar on the American Dream a lot lower and the economy is almost an afterthought to all the petty issues of the day.

If the Republicans really want to win, they nominate Fiorina. She would beat Hillary. She would eviscerate her in a one on one debate, unlike any Republican man could. It would be pure joy to watch.

But nobody listens to me, so we'll get Bush/Walker and an independent Trump.

This, and you hit it with Fiorina. Rubio will be on someone's ticket if the GOP wants any hope to capture the Brown vote.

As of now, none of these candidates have any shot to knock off Hillary. And at Paul schooling a former DA on warrants and the Bill of Rights.

[SDHornet]

Houndawg would stand head and shoulders above that collection of nincompoops.


Sanders/Houndawg in '16

I would vote Sanders/Houndawg over any ticket with a Clinton or Bush on it.

[SDHornet]

BTW, not sure why Fox News, if it's as much a GOP channel and people like to say, would have the DNC Chair on live after the debate. It would be like having Houndawg critiquing the debate.

I thought the same thing. All she did was highlight the war on wimmin tag line the Dems are going to run with Hillary. Also wasn't understanding all the Huckabee love, he is unelectable to the non-rightwingers.

[OL FU]

I said this a couple of months back and I'll say it again. Barring Hillary dropping out of the race due to some unforeseen failure of the Teflon forcefield that surrounds her, none of the ten candidates in the main debate beside perhaps Rubio or Carson have a chance to beat Hillary. It's a demographics issue. It used to be the economy, stupid, but the economy has been so bad for so long now that it's almost not an issue anymore. The general public has moved the bar on the American Dream a lot lower and the economy is almost an afterthought to all the petty issues of the day.

If the Republicans really want to win, they nominate Fiorina. She would beat Hillary. She would eviscerate her in a one on one debate, unlike any Republican man could. It would be pure joy to watch.

But nobody listens to me, so we'll get Bush/Walker and an independent Trump.

This, and you hit it with Fiorina. Rubio will be on someone's ticket if the GOP wants any hope to capture the Brown vote.

As of now, none of these candidates have any shot to knock off Hillary. And at Paul schooling a former DA on warrants and the Bill of Rights.

The former DA needed schooling (not sure Paul did that good of a job at it). Hell there are quite a few supreme court justices that need a lesson or two

[SDHornet]

This, and you hit it with Fiorina. Rubio will be on someone's ticket if the GOP wants any hope to capture the Brown vote.

As of now, none of these candidates have any shot to knock off Hillary. And at Paul schooling a former DA on warrants and the Bill of Rights.

The former DA needed schooling (not sure Paul did that good of a job at it). Hell there are quite a few supreme court justices that need a lesson or two

Personally I loved the way Paul kneecapped Christie like that. Kinda hard to call out Obama on his fiats and use of his pen and phone when you have no problem rounding up info on citizens without a warrent (i.e. circumventing the Constitution). Win for Paul IMO.

[OL FU]

The former DA needed schooling (not sure Paul did that good of a job at it). Hell there are quite a few supreme court justices that need a lesson or two

Personally I loved the way Paul kneecapped Christie like that. Kinda hard to call out Obama on his fiats and use of his pen and phone when you have no problem rounding up info on citizens without a warrent (i.e. circumventing the Constitution). Win for Paul IMO.

Sorry, I misunderstood the part. Got it now