Posted on 08/07/2015 12:08:23 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
CLEVELAND -- The Republican presidential candidates took on the issues, the Democrats, and each other Thursday night, tackling everything from the economy to Iraq to Planned Parenthood – and God.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz may have faired the best in the first GOP debate heading into the 2016 Presidential campaigning.
Fox News insider Frank Luntz reported that both of them saw huge spikes in "reaction meters" for comments on Iran and terrorism.
Huckabee responded to a question about the Iran deal saying in part, "we got nothing." He went on to say, "We couldn't even get four hostages released."
He was referring to American-Iranian Pastor Saeed Abadini who's being helded in an Iranian prison for his faith... as well as at least three other American prisoners there.
Huckabee said that Republican President Ronald Reagan always said "trust but verify," whereas President Barack Obama "trusts and villifies." Huckabee was referring to the president comparing opponents of the Iran nuclear deal with Islamic radicals.
Cruz really connected with voters when he went after the president for his unwillingness to call ISIS and other groups like radical Islamic terrorists. He told the audience the President won't even recognize that in fighting ISIS, "we are fighting radical Islamic terrorists."
The top ten candidates spoke passionately on issues like unemployment, national security, Obamacare and even "took off the gloves" with each other in the Fox News/Facebook sponsored event in Cleveland, Ohio.
The recent videos released exposing Planned Parenthood's practice of selling the body parts of babies also came up. Several of the candidates said they would support and fight for defunding the abortion provider....
(Excerpt) Read more at cbn.com ...
Carly won.
Trump lost.
Christie got the best of Paul.
Cruz, Carson, and Huckabee performed exceptionally well.
IMHO.
I love how all the MSM is saying anybody and everybody but Donald Trump won the debate, whereas the polls are all showing just the opposite, that The Donald did indeed win bigtime. They are trying to convince the sheeple otherwise. Let’s see how much of the power of the press is still operative in shaping public opinion. It worked in the past. Will it still work? Will Main Street America once more be snookered by the MSM? Time will tell.
Frank Luntz has jumped the shark...
Very well said... Carly Fiorina won BOTH debates
I would add that Marco Rubio also scored well on my own personal meter.
Watching the debate I was struck by how effective Ted Cruz would be as a Supreme Court justice.
He couldn’t jump a stepstool.
Yeah that looks about right.
I know they were saying that Cruz surged to the front in web searches, tweets, and facebook postings. He also appeared to be a big favorite with the Luntz focus group.
I liked Marco’s call for repealing Dodd-Frankenstein.
I think Cruz is the smartest up there.
I found Carson most likable.
I found Carly to be the best debator.
I found Trump to be the most obnoxious and thinned skinned.
Cruz stood out. Because so many viewers turned up to watch Trump, many also got to see Cruz and thus he gained exposure.
It’s not hard to beat Perry and Goober.
Had she been with the 10, a much different result would have resulted given the structure and nature of that group relative to hers.
I like her don’t get me wrong, she’s not getting the nomination but a cabinet/adminstration position can be had.
That, and Jeb, as usual, was shown to be ineffective. A TwoFer.
Other than that, IMO, many tuned in just to see Trump crash and burn, and when he didn't, had to fall back on the conspiracy du jour.
Perry and Graham did awful. While Rubio did well, he is Jeb Jr., two politicians I would never trust. Christie should get a different hairstyle.
I do think Carly won the debate last night.
But I am not a Carly supporter. A good debate performance does not automatically win my vote.
I agree her chances for winning the GOP presidential nomination are nil.
Obviously aiming for a cabinet spot. She moved out of CA and now lives in DC. So that makes sense.
You’re all over FR with “Trump lost.” Since every poll today is showing around 50% Trump trumping them all, you’re marching to the beat of your own drum.
Yup, I always have.
Saw a number of polls btw which show Carly won.
Not a Carly supporter myself, but I would agree she hit out of the park and exposed Trump’s close ties to the Clintons.
Rand Paul actually turned into Church Lady with his smirk, he looked like he had just said “Isn’t that special”.
Carly certainly doesn’t give me a head ache. She is amazing and I really appreciate her on the whole Planned Parenthood issue.
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