Excuse me, I wouldn’t defend either of those things.
The pending debate isn’t between Trump and Bush, (you know, the one who picks his nose) there will be several others on that stage. So, encouraging Cruz and Rubio won’t work as they won’t have claim to the only mics on the stage. I would expect the moderators will direct where the questions will go and THAT may be the way to get at Trump. But, BEWARE, Trump does not take this lightly and DOES respond, with vengeance.