Posted on 01/15/2016 5:05:36 AM PST by Helicondelta
Ted Cruz's debating skills are overrated. There. I said it.
Over. Rated.
...
There are three main reasons Trump came out on top against Cruz.
Poll positions
First: ad hominem (I'm a winner and you're a loser) combined with ad populum (I'm ahead in the race, so I must be the best). Trump initially mentioned how Cruz was losing by "going down in the polls" and that Trump was indeed winning as he boasted "In Iowa now...Ted, in the last three polls, I'm beating you. So you shouldn't misrepresent how well you're doing with the polls." Cruz had no response, as do few of the debaters when Trump mentions the success of his campaign. You'd think that Cruz would have an easy answer to this attack, especially since it's Trump's "go to" answer. But it worked, and even though it's a logical fallacy, it's successful for Trump, so I'm sure he'll keep using it in the future. As the saying goes...if it ain't broke...then Trump won't need to blame an immigrant for not fixing it.
Second, humor: Trump was pretty funny. This softens a debater's stance and makes that person's positions more palatable. Trump said he'd "take Cruz along for the ride" as his running mate, drawing chuckles. Finally, he said Cruz has improved in the polls, giving him "maybe a 4 or 5% chance" to win. Again, said with tongue in cheek.
Finally, it's about picking battles properly. The two times they fought were both on Trump's ground. First, on Cruz's citizenship, Trump was able to play the "it's not me, it's them" game. His argument, deflecting away from himself as the bad guy, was that the Democrats would take Cruz to court if he was nominated and this would hurt the Republican Party.
Cruz's rookie response wasn't
(Excerpt) Read more at edition.cnn.com ...
Well said sir and I agree completely.
Except for “a$$munch.”
Another debate fallacy: ad hominem. attack the person instead of the argument.
You called it right. Cruz may have won debate points , but he was insulting, sarcastic and downright unlikeable. Trump handled him well. The only thing I wish Trump had said was that Cruz should have known he had a birthplace issue, and it showed lack of attention to detail in a business sense to not get a legal opinion before he declared his candidacy. Surprising since he’s supposedly such a smart lawyer.
Before last night, I never knew New Yorkers were so thin skinned.
911 was kinda of a big deal to them. Who knew?
A multitude of Trump concern trolls joined FR the second week of August.
“I was a Cruz supporter when he first announced. But last night he showed his true colors. He’s a snake. He’s finished.”
Why do you say that? Not looking for a fight, just wondering what he did or said that leads you to those conclusions.
“I often admit that I’m primarily a Cruz guy BUT that I also like Trump.
I’m tired of BOTH sides trying to throw mud at each other.”
I think the most odious agitators are Peewee Priebus’ lil arsonists. The only way the party hacks hold on this year is if Trump and Cruz destroy each other.
Except for "a$$munch."
Here was my reasoning...
I mean, please go right ahead and lie and say they don't.
To me, he was implying that I don't have a problem lying. That pissed me off.
It would have been one thing just to mention that Cruz supporters, in general, often use those sites. Then it's just a general statement about Cruz supporters.
Bravo!!
——He was much improved——
or, outside circumstance provided him fantastic avenues for attack.
One must wonder, did the concept of “yes I am angry” develop at the moment needed in the debate or did he some how dredge it up from his list of preconceived debate points to be extracted at the proper moment?
I don’t think he was improved so much as he was as always, there in front of out eves, able make delicious lemonade.
I was ready to back Cruz. I’ve liked the guy for years, and I was worried that maybe Trump was just taking positions to win. After last night I’m all in for Trump. He’s proved he can handle the crowd, the press, and other politicians with ease, and he’s as consistent as any politician in recent memory if not more so. He’s also skilled enough to be blunt, provocative, and abrasive without being insulting. Cruz really needs to learn that last one.
Understood.
Helicondelta, digging up every Cruz negative article and posting in first
thing in the AM just like a loyal little mindless Trump worshipper.
************
I believe that can be applied to some on both sides of the support fence. It’s to be
expected from strong supporters who want to be vocal for their candidate.
I see the 2 very much different enough, that a combined ticket wouldn't be overly overlapping followers.
The one thing that really bothered me about the whole New York exchange came right at the end when Cruz turned back to the camera with a smirk on his face.
Not really, the crowd was against Cruz and the moderators would not allow him sufficient rebuttal time when he did get serious attacks. They literally cut his legs out from under him on the Rubio attack.
Trumps modus operandi to a T.
Cruz made a huge mistake no doubt.
But it was Trump who was interviewed and stated he was from Manhattan and that Nyers values were different.
Cruz made that statement in Iowa jokingly to use Trump’s own words against him. But the media will never tell the truth on this and most of the country never saw Trump’s initial interview so Cruz will hurt from it. Donald knows the truth.
I would vote for either one as long as their running mate is not a liberal GOPe mannequin.
“911 was kinda of a big deal to them. Who knew?”
Trump brought up 911 to try to defend against the Cruz zinger “ not many conservatives come out of New York, I’m just saying” which was a play on Trump’s earlier statement about not many evangelicals coming out of Cuba. Cruise did not bring up 911. That said, are you trying to say that post 911 New York City is a conservative place?
I like both Trump and Cruz. Cruz skewered Trump with that line, but Trumps ability to control the discussions emotional content due to his experience in television has, for the time being, overshadowed the fact that Cruz slayed him with that line. Maybe even more than the time being.
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