Posted on 11/10/2015 11:42:22 PM PST by afraidfortherepublic
Biggest loser on merits: Kasich. He’s done. He came across angry, condescending and unprincipled. By the end of the debate he came across as the drunk, obnoxious, uncle everyone wishes hadn’t accepted the invitation to Thanksgiving dinner.
Biggest loser politically: Jeb Bush. On the substance, I thought his performance during the first half was the best he’s done. But by the second half he started to fade and grew more incoherent. On several occasions he gave passable answers if you could cut through the word clouds, but then Rubio came in and gave essentially the same answer better, both on substance and style.
This was particularly true during the discussion of the bank bailouts. More than anything, Bush needed to outshine Rubio and lay the groundwork for a “Bush comeback†narrative. He simply didn’t do that. He didn’t do what he needed to do stop the slide of donors and voters to Rubio.
The winners are a broader bunch. Rubio was definitely one of them for the reasons I stated above (he was also hugely lucky in staying out of the immigration fight on amnesty).
Cruz, also, had a great night. He solidified his position as the credible “outsider†candidate who can go all the way. He also jointed Kasich on the question of the bank bailouts (though he might have hurt himself with Wall Street donors). One other point about both Cruz and Rubio. During the discussions of their tax plans and national defense, they both tailored their answers in ways that will play well in both Iowa and New Hampshire.
I thought Carly Fiorina had some of the best answers of the night. But she didn’t shine the way she has in past debates in part because her competitors were so much better.
Ben Carson also came out a winner, at least when measured against the expectations working against him. His closing answer was the best of the night. On the substance, I think he was often weak. But he didn’t do anything to lose the support of the people who are for him, and probably won a few more supporters as well.
You could say pretty much the same thing about Trump, though he had more bad moments than Carson did. But he has definitely become a better candidate and he’s still the best at the body language of these debates. His “Let Jeb speak†moment was a very unsubtle way of declaring he was the guy in charge on the stage. So was his peacemaking bit about how all the tax plans are good. Still, I don’t think he gave anyone who’s opposed to him (like me) a reason to change their mind.
Rand Paul, had a good night, but it doesn’t matter. His argument that spending on the military is “liberal†just doesn’t play. His bit on income inequality being highest in Democratic cities and states was great.
In the undercard debate, I thought Christie was the winner and I still think he’s got a non-trivial chance to do very well in New Hampshire. One last huge winner: Fox Business. This was the best debate of them all. One can almost hear the forehead slapping at CNBC. “Oh that’s how it’s done.â€
This was a good debate. I don’t think anyone wants to return to the CNBC fiasco, well, except for the demoncraps.
At least Mr. Goldberg didn’t mention Ted Cruz’s minor slip up — listing the Department of Commerce twice. Other commentators I’ve read treated the gaffe like it was the end of Cruz’s campaign.
Wishful thinking on their part.
Kasich looked like a 3rd grader in a playground fight over his marbles.
Did anyone else notice that the sincer (who was competent, otherwise) repeated one of the lines in the Star spangled Banner?
Oh, say, can you see? By the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming;
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming.
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air.
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there:
Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave?
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
She sang “O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming” twice.
He could have read my post here from an hour or so ago.
I call plagiarism!
Great news! Jeb Junior going the way of Jeb.
Bunch of bombs in the air!
Play ball!
All of the democRAT pundits on the Fox post-debate shows liked Kasich the best. Says it all...
I hope I never see Kasich on a GOP debate stage again. Just go away, John...
Yep the Fox News Business crowd was saying Kasich was one of the winners tonight between him and Rubio.
Then latter on when they saw the polling in the public, perhaps Drudge, then they changed their tune about Kasich.
It really is remarkable how out of touch they are with the general public.
For a guy that only polls 2% at best... Kasich had way too much time compared to Trump who is the leader.
Every time I see an agitated Kasich in debates, he looks like a dog in heat who can’t hump the bitch in heat because a bigger dog has already begun the act.
I noticed that Kasich left the podium a couple of times during the debate. The camera didn’t focus on him, but a long schot of the whole group caught him. Maybe he did have that 12 cups of coffee.
Her grasp and articulation of the issues is second to none. You must know a whole lot more about her than I do.
Kasich was done for me about 15 minutes into Debate #1. He had plants in the crowd cheering for him and he sounded way too liberal on social issues.
Bye John. Back to Ohio, like the Pretenders.
Same here.
She’s obnoxious, and just does not shut up.
Also, the way she gestures every single word she speaks by shaking her head makes me crazy, and not in a good way.
I really do not get why someone moves their head at EVERY WORD spoken. It’s not natural. Someone trained her to do that.
OK. There are others who are far more obnoxiouos than she. But, I’ll grant you your point. LOL
great movie!!!!!
It’s Enrico Pallazzo!!
If you REALLY want to see who is the Alpha Male and who are the Beta Males, put the candidates on stage in a semi-circle, with no moderator or questioners, and just turn on the cameras for two hours.
Plaudits to Neil Cavuto for pointing out immediately that the debate has a SUBJECT—economics.
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