Posted on 10/29/2015 6:06:18 AM PDT by xzins
The three winners of the night were pretty obvious: Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and Donald Trump.
Rubio ended Jeb Bush’s campaign with the kind of body shot that buckles your knees. That’s on Bush, who never should have come after Rubio in that spot for a host of strategic and tactical reasons. But what should scare Hillary Clinton is how effortless Rubio is even with throwaway lines, like “I’m against anything that’s bad for my mother.†Most people have no idea how fearsome raw political talent can be. Clinton does know because she’s seen it up close. She sleeps next to it for a contractually-obligated 18 nights per year.
Cruz was tough and canny—no surprise there. He went the full-Gingrich in his assault on CNBC’s ridiculous moderators. He did a better job explaining Social Security reform than Chris Christie, even (which is no mean feat). And managed to look downright personable compared with John Harwood, whose incompetence was matched only by his unpleasantness. If you’re a conservative voter looking for someone who is going to fight for your values, Cruz must have looked awfully attractive.
Then there was Trump. Over the last few weeks, Trump has gotten better on the stump. Well, don’t look now, but he’s getting better at debates, too. Trump was reasonably disciplined. He kept his agro to a medium-high level. And his situational awareness is getting keener, too. Note how he backed John Kasich into such a bad corner on Lehmann Brothers that he protested, “I was a banker, and I was proud of it!†When that’s your answer, you’ve lost the exchange. Even at a Republican debate.
And Trump had a hammer close: “Our country doesn’t win anymore. We used to win. We don’t anymore.†I remain convinced that this line (along with his hardliner on immigration) is the core of Trump’s appeal. But he didn’t just restate this theme in his closing argument. He used it to: (1) beat up CNBC; and (2) argue that his man-handling of these media twits is an example of what he’ll do as president. It was brilliant political theater.
Those were your winners. You also saw tonight several campaigns which are over, even if the candidates don’t know it yet. Kasich was less likable than Rand Paul. Rand Paul was mostly invisible, and petulant when he was visible. Mike Huckabee wasn’t visible enough, except when he was doing his populist defense of Medicare and Social Security. But the effectiveness of this spot was diminished by Cruz’s excellent response, which is what people are apt to remember. There just isn’t enough space for him to make an impact by dint of personality in a field with a bunch of other strong and attractive personalities. And as for Bush? Jeb’s dead, baby. Jeb’s dead.
That leaves us with Chris Christie, Carly Fiorina, and Ben Carson, who, by the way, is actually leading the field in some polls.
Christie was as impressive tonight as he could be, given his position. He had a great opening. His interjection on regulating fantasy football was tremendous. The “Even in New Jersey what you’re doing is called rude†line to Harwood just killed. If the establishment had jumped on Christie early, instead of being scared off by the GW bridge scandal and going for Bush . . . well, this race would probably be different. But they didn’t. That said, we’ll keep Christie in our final grouping because he’s so talented that he’s always going to have a puncher’s chance.
Fiorina had a solid debate, but wasn’t the run-away winner she’d been in the first two debates. If her numbers couldn’t hold when she was the class of the field, I doubt they’ll move much when she’s merely on the high-side of the average. It looks more and more like Fiorina isn’t running to win the nomination.
And what to do about Carson? Gentle Ben was fine—great in some moments; pedestrian in others. I don’t think many people in the media fully grasp the passion for Carson, but that doesn’t make it any less real. And if you look at the history of Iowa, and Carson’s numbers now, it’s not hard to imagine him doing very well there.
So there’s your final six: Trump, Carson, Rubio, Cruz, and maybe—just maybe—Fiorina and Christie
Rubio took the night.
’
Sen. Cruz was the bright light last night, God Bless him!
All the superfluous markings make it hard to read.
Trump, Cruz, Rubio, Carson, Fiorina, Christie
I can live with that. I think Paul outperformed Fiorina last night.
I don’t support Rubio but Hitlery should be scared of any of Trump/Cruz/Rubio in a debate
I’ll never vote for Chuck Schumer’s dummy
WOW! –old Jebbie certainly received much publicity today!!
Was Jeb Bush's debate performance a 'warm kiss' of death?
The Telegraph 10/29/15 | David LawlerBush's lackluster debate showing likely to fuel more doubts
Reuters ^ | 10/29/15 | ReutersBush comeback strategy backfires in GOP debate
WSAV AP ^ | 10/29/15 | WSAV StaffJeb Bush needed a debate touchdown. He didn't come close.
Reading Eagle ^ | 10/29/15 | APOf Course Jeb Bush�s Campaign Is Collapsing
The Daily Caller ^ | October 27, 2015 | Christopher Bedford, Senior EditorBush campaign manager confronts CNBC producer
Politico.com | 10/28/15 10:08 PM EDT | By Alex IsenstadtJeb Swings at Rubio, Misses, and Finds Himself on the Ropes
National Review | 10/29/2015 | Tim AlbertaCNBC Disaster Debate: Full Republican Debate Grades
The Daily Wire ^ | 10/28/2015 | Ben Shapiro
Jeb Bush: F. Bush was plain awful. He couldn’t dent Rubio. He couldn’t dent Trump. He appeared alternatively bewildered and angry. He sided with the members of the media rather than doing the right thing and tearing them apart, like the other more intelligent candidates. He’s toast. Rubio had the unkindest cut of all: his campaign manager said he wouldn’t critique Bush’s performance because it spoke for itself. Ouch.It was not a good night for Jeb Bush
Business Insider ^ | 10/29/15 | Maxwell TaniBush walks into Rubio's trap
Politico ^ | 10/29/15 | ELI STOKOLS and ALEX ISENSTADT
Hey kids...make some room for Jeb!
Rather 8 good remaining candidates:
Trump
Cruz
Carson
Carley
Mike
Christie
Paul
Rubio
Both Gov. John of Ohio and former Gov. Jeb are DONE.
From the 'debate'...
"This is not a cage match," the Texas Republican said. "And you look at the questions " 'Donald Trump, are you a comic-book villain?' 'Ben Carson, can you do math?' 'John Kasich, will you insult two people over here?' 'Marco Rubio, why don't you resign?' 'Jeb Bush, why have your numbers fallen?' How about talking about the substantive issues people care about?" Cruz's media criticism drew loud applause at the University of Colorado Boulder, where the GOP field gathered for the CNBC-hosted event. It was an especially spirited moment compared to his first two debates, during which Cruz hit his talking points but stopped short of delivering breakout performances.
From Frank Luntz focus group...
During a live post-debate "Kelly File," Frank Luntz talked to a focus group of Republican voters about their reaction to the third GOP debate. The participants had an overwhelmingly positive response to Ted Cruz's criticism of the CNBC debate moderators and their "biased" line of questioning."The questions that have been asked so far in this debate illustrate why the American people don't trust the media," Cruz said to applause. "How about talking about the substantive issues?"
On a scale of 0 to 100, both conservative and moderate participants hit as high as a 98 favorable rating to Cruz's statement.
Luntz revealed "that in more than 15 years of focus groups, no line had ever been received so favorably... the highest score we've ever measured. EVER'"
Huckabee just about had the best line of the night
" I've spent my whole career fighting the Clinton machine. Not only fighting them, but winning. Not only winning, but I'm alive to tell about it! "
And Jeb took the bait. Just like in deep-sea fishing, let him run a little, he gets tired out, then haul him in and mount him as a trophy.
Looks good up there on the wall of the den....
Nobody “editsâ things anymoreât€™t
Now, that's funny! I'll bet Bubba is trying to negotiate it down to zero nights.
[Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and Donald Trump]
Interesting how they switched the order of the debate tallies.
It SHOULD read: DONALD TRUMP, TED CRUZ and MARCO RUBIO.
Nope.
Trump, Carson, Rubio and Cruz almost for sure.
Trump, Carson, Rubio, Cruz and, just possibly but probably not, Bush.
Fiorina and Christie are goners.
If we get to the expected group of 4 it will be the champion debaters Cruz and Rubio dueling it out.
Cruz will win that one due to his superior intellect and debating experience. Scoring smooth points and Pretty-Boy image won't be enough for a Rubio win against Cruz. Trump and Carson won't know what hit them.
The problem with Rubio is you have to look beyond the slick talker to the substance. He’s an amnesty pimp to the core and he has basically quit his senate seat but still taking the paycheck. Just because John Kerry did it does not make it OK. I thought his defense of missing 59 votes was weak, weak, weak. Anybody that gets played by Chuckie Schumer is not ready to be President. He’s too young and overly ambitious. I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him.
The only two candidates of any real worth beyond talk are Trump and Rubio.
Too bad nobody watched it. Personally I refused watch CNBC (a station I have never watched) but I was right in my prediction that the questions would all be gotcha questions designed to put the candidates on the defensive or to start a food fight between the candidates.
Whoever approved of these debates being on these leftist cable news shows and moderated by extreme leftist hacks is an idiot of the highest order.
My thoughts are that Donald Trump should purchase two hours of block time on some obscure cable channel and then invite all the viable candidates to join him in a debate moderated by Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Sarah Palin.
The ratings would probably go through the roof.
What do you mean ’>? What about Tha^t’s?
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