Posted on 02/06/2016 10:46:36 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
What a glum, drab debate. ABC clearly tried to make all the candidates look bad, and the bad blood between the candidates left over from Iowa meant that they just did not care about showing any level of solidarity against the media, as they often do. Christie successfully tore down Marco Rubio for the first hour of the debate, but made himself look like a royal, braying jerk in the process. Normally in these posts, I have three winners and three losers, but I don't think there even were three winners - but there were a whole bunch of losers. Let's go to the scorecard.
WINNERS
1. Ted Cruz - Cruz was nicked by Carson's strong opening on the Carsongate controversy, but I think Cruz's apology on that point came off as sincere and genuine. After that point, Cruz clearly had the strongest night of any of the candidates on stage. Cruz was the first recipient of Martha Raddatz' pointless and dishonest badgering, and handled it well. Cruz did well with the guns trained away from him once again, as everyone focused on Rubio. Cruz's answer on his family member who succumbed to heroin addiction was the most poignant moment of the night and really humanized Cruz in a way that no one has yet seen in this campaign. Cruz was one of the two likeable people on stage tonight.
2. Jeb Bush - Surprisingly strong performance from Bush tonight. He absolutely kneecapped Trump in the exchange on eminent domain. He avoided any meaningful verbal flubs. He appeared wonky but likeable. He was in command of the facts. His story about the guy who died (according to the VA) was charming and humorous. I don't know if it's because the rest of the candidates don't consider him a threat, but Jeb was able to really rise above the fray and be one of the only two positive presences on stage tonight.
LOSERS
1. Marco Rubio - Here's what I don't know: I don't know how much people watch beyond the first 45 minutes of these debates, especially on a Saturday night. If they do, they they saw Rubio really regain his feet after his own Martha Raddatz dishonest badgering session. But the initial exchange with Christie was very bad for him, visually. He was accused by Christie of repeating a pat line, and in response he repeated a pat line, twice. Then after every answer he gave, he was followed by a hounding Chris Christie, who he never brushed back off the plate. Again, Rubio recovered very well for the last two hours of the debate, but the concern for camp Rubio is that people turned off the debate when the clock hit 9pm. Rubio's answer on the life issue was an absolute home run - but who was still watching at 10:15pm?
2. Chris Christie - Christie clearly came to the debate with one goal, which was to trash Marco Rubio. He succeeded to some degree, but made himself look like an especially angry chihuahua in the process. Then, after trashing Rubio for repeating himself, he spent the rest of the night repeating himself over and over and over. I think his victory over Rubio, if it was one, will have to be seen as a pyrrhic one in the end.
3. The RNC, again - It's an absolutely incredible fact that the RNC allowed Martha Raddatz to moderate another debate in which Republicans were on television after her horrible and clearly biased performance in the 2012 Vice Presidential debate. Raddatz is not only a known and vocal critic of Cruz, but she spent the entire night arguing with the candidates about answers they did not give. She repeatedly accused the candidates of not answering questions when the problem actually was that she was not listening. On the other hand, when she asked Trump to answer a question with specifics, and he refused, she never once followed up and pressed the issue.
The entire production of this debate was awful. The lighting was bleak, the pre-debate commentary was geriatric and low energy, former Clinton employee George Stephanopolous was running the show. Bill Kristol had about 15 seconds on air and he was the only thing within sniffing distance of a conservative voice.
This was a worse debate than the CNBC debacle and it had the effect of lowering all the candidates on stage. There were numerous red flags about the entire ABC production that the RNC should have seen coming from a mile away, but did not. What tonight's experience showed was that, in spite of their largely symbolic move to cut NBC out of the debate process, the RNC has actually learned very little about using their negotiating power with the media to ensure a level playing field for Republican candidates. And that's disappointing to all the campaigns.
Also present -
John Kasich - John Kasich pretending to be a happy person is one of the most awkward things you've ever seen. ABC forgot he was there for the first 45 minutes and I remember literally nothing about him being there other than his weird gooberish attempt at being funny when he said "AWWW THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE SO MUCH." Kind of surprised that he was left alone by both Christie and Bush, but I don't think he made any sort of impression in spite of the opportunity.
Donald Trump - Surprisingly low energy performance from Trump. Got stomped by Bush in the only direct confrontation he had in the night. Mostly faded into the background and spewed nonsense. But he wasn't really a loser because of the likelihood that Rubio took a step back. Call it a draw for Trump.
Ben Carson - Ben Carson had a great opening moment of the debate and may have earned himself some sympathy on the Carsongate issue. But then, every question he answered afterwards, he began with a complaint about how long it had been since the last time he got a question. Very off putting. At least he looked awake during this debate, so it was a marked improvement from previous debates.
Here’s my take:
Winners:
Trump, Christie, Kasich, Bush.
Losers:
Rubio
Mixed night:
Cruz, Carson.
I think Cruz did well on many questions but the Carson/Iowa thing is going to haunt him. Carson came off really personable but he’s not presidential material.
The guys with exec experienced shinned tonight, and Rubio just BLEW IT.
Go through Donald Trump’s immigration plan and show me where he’s going to deport 11 million illegals.
https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/immigration-reform
Now go read Ted Cruz’s immigration plan.
https://www.tedcruz.org/cruz-immigration-plan/
Just wanna add that I don’t think Bush or Kasich had GREAT nights, it’s just that Rubio had a poor one so this will help Trump/Christie/Kaisch/Bush in the polls.
Rubio really choked tonight, and the GOPe must be in a full out panic.
Trump exposed debate crowd is hand picked by GOPe and donors. They were loathsome people who thought Jeb Bush was actually good on stage.
I’ve already gone round with folks on this tonight.
A private company is a private company is a private company.
Private companies are using eminent domain. Courts are approving of their access on this. That is the reality of it.
If you want to take it up with the courts, be my guest.
Pretty much. Donald Trump has plenty of paid shills from India who keep attacking Trump's rivals on internet boards including Freerepublic, and who continue to vote countless times in these internet polls. They are utter garbage.
Thanks for your thoughts on them.
Evidently you think the public is idiotically going to these sites and lying. Can you provide a basis that explains why they would?
I understand certain types of polls where people flock to the site and load it, but what would the motive for this in this instance?
I can’t see one.
SmokingJoe, please provide any proof you have that Trump hired people from India to game polls.
I wouldn’t be surprised if you and a few other posters on here are on the Cruz payroll. With Cruz using psyops guys like Dan Gabriel to manipulate social media, it isn’t a stretch to imagine some FReepers joining in on the gravy train for Cruzie. Would explain their irrational and hateful behavior on the forum. Luckily, it has backfired, at least on FR. Trump dominates Freeper caucus, showing Cruzers are an ever shrinking minority.
I guess Trump should have boycotted.
It’s not its physical accessibility but what the pipeline delivers that benefits the general public...far more than a limousine parking lot for the general public of Atlantic City.
Ted was important in Iowa. And Texas.
The paucity of coverage is because his 15 minutes in second place are up.
He was important because the GOPe needed Teump to lose in Iowa. They are done using Ted now.
He will be joining dear Scotty in irrelevance very soon CW. Sorry.
The evidence is that there are no controls.
“you think the public is idiotically going to sites”
More like tactically going to sites.
“Motives”
Pick an unelectable candidate to face the Democrat nominee.
I’ve read both candidates’ plans.
Trump’s plan is clear that he intends to send the illegals back where they came from.
Ted’s plan says only that he’ll deport “criminal” illegals.
The omission is so glaring that David Muir was compelled to ask Ted to clarify it in his interview. Ted’s response was a typical lawyer’s dodge. He purposely didn’t answer the question.
Cut and Paste that "clear" statement from Trump's site.
Honestly, your logic is just child-like.
Cruz says he won’t raise the issue of Bill’s nature in his run against Hillary.
So you think Hillary is more afraid to run against him than against Trump.
If that’s what you want to think, go ahead. I’m not buying it.
Trump will rip her to shreds. Ted will be a gentleman while she dissects him.
Are you being sarcastic , or do you have some proof for such an inane statement ?
Carson could not even find the stage in the beginning. The man is senile and/or burned out on self medication. Rubio is a wind up toy that has the same words coming out of him each time and the words are not always in a coherent order. Christi makes some pretty good arguments now and then. Bush had softball questions. Trump has just about run out of gas (a hot air balloon has only so much hot air. Kasich is still saying the same thing he has said in every debate. Cruz is the only candidate that is sane even though he is hammered every debate by the press that hates him. Cruz should get a medal of honor for standing in the line of fire time after time without faltering. The Carson attack on Cruz was unfounded and absolutely tells me what a piece of dog do-do he is.
Cruz in his own words:
“So, in terms of a practical solution, I’ve laid out the most detailed plan for solving illegal immigration. It’s 11 pages, single-spaced, chapter and verse. It’s on our website, tedcruz.org.
In short, we are going to do, we are going to build a wall. We are going to triple the border patrol. We are going to increase  and actually, since Donald enjoyed that, I will simply say, I’ve got somebody in mind to build it.
We are going to increase four-fold, the fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, so that you have technology monitoring an attempted incursion to direct the boots on the ground where they are occurring. We are going to put in place a strong e-verify system in the workplace, so you can’t get a job without proving you are here legally.
We will put in place a biometric exit-entry system on visas, because 40 percent of illegal immigration comes not over the border illegally, but people coming on visas and overstaying.
We will end sanctuary cities by cutting off taxpayer dollars to any jurisdiction that defies federal immigration law.
After audience applause Cruz added. And we will end welfare benefits for those here illegally.â€
A Medal of Honor?
Cruz should get a Medal of Honor, for running in a political campaign?
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