Posted on 12/16/2015 7:07:34 AM PST by Isara
Ted Cruz won the fifth Republican debate in Las Vegas on Tuesday, but Donald Trump held his own and Chris Christie "helped himself," political strategist Dick Morris told Newsmax TV.
"Cruz was the big winner tonight," Morris said on the "Newsmax TV Post-Debate Special," hosted by Steve Malzberg. "He was terrific in his speeches. He was aggressive, forceful and really hit it out of the park three or four times.
...
"Trump did very well, not as well as Cruz — but he clearly held his own and showed people why he is so popular," he added.
On the other side, Marco Rubio "was the big loser," Morris said. "He got clobbered in the debate with Cruz and in the debate with Rand Paul."
As for Ben Carson, he "did better in showing himself to be more knowledgeable about foreign affairs and somewhat tougher — but he can't make the grade with the ISIS issue."
The issue of destroying the Islamic State "is killing Carson, because people just don't see the strength in him that they want," Morris said.
But that is helping Christie, especially since Jeb Bush did not fare well.
"Christie helped himself tonight," Morris told Malzberg. "And it is possible, given how pathetic Bush's performance was and how Rubio got lost in those debates that Christie could emerge as the establishment alternative to Trump and Cruz."
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
Ted doesn’t need a trus does he?
True, even a blind sow finds an acorn once every so often.
When did he ever suck anyone’s toes?
When Rubio schooled Trump on the Strategic Triad, was that part of “getting clobbered?”
*wry chuckle*
I actually thought that Trump’s performance was pretty bad until two pretty significant events: 1) Trump’s refusal to get into a pissing match with Cruz and 2) Trump’s answer to the question as to whether he’d run as an independent if he’s not the nominee. His initial, thoughtful pause and his somewhat muted, but sincere answer had a very real ring of honesty and just a little bit of humility - something we rarely see in Donald Trump. My 15 year-old daughter said “Wow, that was a great answer!†and Hugh Hewitt applauded, as did almost everyone in the room.
If Morris said it, it can’t be true.
He should stick to pimping questionable investment products.
I agree. I’m no supporter of Rand Paul, but I think he did pretty well last night. Likewise, I can’t stand Chris Christie, but I found myself thinking, “Maybe he’s not as bad as I thought.”
Rubio really should stop lying about Cruz’ record and what he did or didn’t vote for. Using Alinsky like tactics and acting like we’re stupid.
Christie though is really putting on the campaign conservative you have to be very careful with him because his record is pretty RINO and he also was there to help Obama across the finish line in 2012. That’s why Ted Cruz asks, “show me where you stood” with conservatives?
I don’t think Rubio “got clobbered”, but it wasn’t exactly a shining moment for him either. Paraphrased, the question was, “What part of the nuclear triad do you consider to be the most important?” No one - including Rubio - actually answered the question.
See this article by Howard Kurtz that was in the Washington Post on 3 Feb 1999. Here are the pertinent paragraphs, the link to the full article is at the bottom. This incident made the local morning and evening drive talk shows for several days.
“Two and a half years ago, Morris was a national punch line. While serving as chief strategist for Clinton’s 1996 campaign, Morris was fired after the Star tabloid revealed his longtime relationship with prostitute Sherry Rowlands.”
“On the third day of the ‘96 Democratic convention in Chicago, word spread that the supermarket tabloid Star, which had carried the Gennifer Flowers story, was about to reveal Morris’s toe-sucking relationship with Rowlands. Clinton dispatched aide Erskine Bowles to see Morris, who admitted the allegations were true but didn’t see the need to resign.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/morris020399.htm
If Rubio or the interrogator prefer to refer to an "in term," rather than take a few more words, to ask a question that the audience would fully understand, that actually speaks against them. (It is a situation analogous to the old joke, "an expert is someone from out of town.")
Trump did fine last night. Cruz was superb. The Floridians & Kasich were the real losers.
No argument there at all, but he did come across as more of a patriot (albeit misguided) than he has in the past. Christie only comes in a few nanometers above John (I-Can’t-Stand-Still) Kasich in my lineup.
Morris has a dubious record, but I have said all along that the only other player in the Republican race to have a personality and presence or the “it” factor beyond Trump was Christie.
I thought he was too damaged to get anywhere, but there is no denying he is a commanding presence and a personality. With the establishments preferred candidates dropping like flies, if he starts to hit his stride and gets the right support, he may emerge as the preferred establishment candidate. I think I honestly wrote somewhere he could wind up a dark horse, mainly because he, like Trump, has the IT factor.
Jeb never got off the ground, Carly was a joke was laughable watching them try to push her, Rubio was looking like their great hope, but if he truly flopped in the debate, he’ll die too... Its fairly late in the game, but with such a crowded field and no votes yet cast, Christie could wind up a tangible factor which he has not been to date. Its still a dark horse/long shot possibility, but if Rubio winds up dropping Christie may wind up the beneficiary.
It’s the triple agent reverse sow cow
Now- I don't think the establishment is ready to run to Christie because they think Rubio did well landing with the NSA issue, while we all know that is a total loser for Rubio.
THAT!!
You are right. But it is a stupid question, offered by a would be poseur. Obviously, all three parts are important. But the question was intended to show that the questioner was more hip to insider terminology. That is the tactic of a poseur, trying to strut how "with it" he is, rather than actually communicate an idea to those listening.
It did not hurt Trump in the slightest. Those who really understand the psychological aspects, involved, will immediately see the point. It was the way not to ask a question, if you wanted a serious answer.
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