Posted on 08/07/2015 12:01:19 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
CNN Opinion asked a range of contributors to give their take on the first Republican Party debate of the 2016 presidential campaign, and to pick their biggest winners and losers from the night. The opinions expressed in these commentaries are solely their own.
Dan Pfeiffer: The debate was Trumped
This was the Donald's debate. He dominated the discussion, he was the focus of the moderators, social media traffic spiked every time he opened his mouth. Other than Rand Paul (who is apparently still running for President), all of his fellow candidates went out of their way to avoid stoking his ire. Two years after the RNC's post-election autopsy declared that the only path to victory is a more inclusive tone, Trump has pushed the party further to the right on immigration than it has ever been before. Smart professionals in the Republican Party cringed at every mention of illegals, deportations and walls being built.
Trump may have hurt himself or helped himself, no one really knows because he defies all the traditional rules of politics (he probably hurt himself a lot). But his effect on the field is clear. This is Donald Trump's party and all the other candidates just seem glad to be invited.
Winner: Marco Rubio. On a night of very uneven performances, Rubio showed flashes of why Democrats fear him most. He has had a tough few months, losing a lot of altitude and momentum, and basically disappearing from the discussion, but he gave Republicans a reason to remember his name tonight.
Loser: Jeb Bush. After several bad weeks, Jeb Bush could really have used a good night. He didn't have it. Bush, like Huntsman in '12 and Dukakis in '88, seems to shrink under the klieg lights. He was nervous, halting, and just painfully inspirational...
(Excerpt) Read more at wyff4.com ...
Rand Paul didn’t win?
What happened to his dad’s fervent fanbase who liked to click online polls?
They finally had to find jobs to pay their “crushing” student loan debt and the payments & insurance on their KIA Soul.
Oh yeah: Cruz. He was excellent, as expected.
Yup. Pointy heads. One could make arguments in the 2nd debate who won depending on what one thinks a win is. Cruz, Huck, or Trump.. Can make a cogent argument for all three. Rubio had his moments, but so did Doc Carson. But the result is muddled by various ways to view the events,including Fox’s obvious anti-Trump bias.. It wasn’t like the first debate, which Carly owned.
Dad says it’s his turn.
Not looking good for Jebby. They say he seems to ‘shrink under all the bright lights’. Being a president, even being a candidate is enormously demanding and taxing. Very few people could do it and do it well. I couldn’t unless I sent myself to a Dale Carngie school for a few years of public speaking. I would have to slowly build up my abilities and confidence.
After all to Jeb’s experience, his hesitancy and amateurish gaffes have people wondering. I personally don’t think Jeb would be doing this at all if his Dad was already deceased.
Such is the pressure of a father’s ambition and expectation.
George Sr. believed he was All That; biting the hand that fed him before his convention was even over.
"Kinder and gentler than who?"
Ass.
For me, he is the best choice, but people won't choose the candidate they don't know. The Trump circus will eclipse Cruz if Ted doesn't get more coverage.
The drugs maybe wasted them all finally.
I agree with you, but the press and establishment that has control of the political game board will not allow Cruz to break out.
He will be given limited time, questions and they will rehash old stuff after redressing what Cruz did with government closing and such as a bad thing.
The establishment is shared by the Democrats and the GOPe. They will do anything to avoid a President Cruz or Trump.
I would love Cruz but he isn’t known enough to get elected yet. I think Trump has a chance, I think Cruz could end up VP and after 4 years of Donald you could get 8 years of Cruz.
That is one possibility.
Another is you get a Trump nomination and a Carly VP to attempt a reach for the woman vote.
I wish he’d quit pulling his punches.
I thought Huckabee did very well. He made good points and looked and sounded confident doing so. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get a bump in the polls.
Jeb was awful. Scott Walker wasted a big opportunity. Christie and Paul hurt each other with no benefit to either. Cruz was solid. Rubio was a dud. Kasich looked vice presidential.
Rubio=no GRAVITAS
I think Kasich came across pretty well. I think Ted Cruz handled his questions well but he didn’t shine as much as I thought he would but I think that’s due to the large number participants; and the number of people goes down he’ll have more questions to answer. I think that there were three losers; Brett Baier, Chris Wallace, and Megyn Kelly. I thought their questions were, for the most part, stupid and shallow. It was not a recommendation that FOX moderate future debates.
Biggest loser: Megan Kelly. She took one too many pills last night and permanently lost it. An anchor no more, she is now Megan the Queen of Snark.
rino rubio is jebbush jr.
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