Posted on 03/11/2016 3:39:32 AM PST by Helicondelta
It only benefitted the front-runner.
Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz and Governor John Kasich did their best to underscore their policy acumen and to highlight Donald Trump’s lack of substance.
It backfired.
Neither his opponents on stage nor the debate moderators laid a glove on Trump. When Trump repeatedly called Putin a “strong leader” without refusing to place a value judgment on his leadership, neither moderator Jake Tapper nor his opponents on stage pressed him. When Tapper asked Trump about his violence-inciting rhetoric at rallies, none of Trump’s opponents called him out for refusing to disavow it.
There is no bigger indicator that Trump’s opponents on stage were simply going through the motions. Trump spent the night running down the clock and the remaining candidates spent the night checking the boxes. For at least two of them, this was their last chance to distinguish themselves in advance of what will likely be the most crucial primary day of the cycle next Tuesday.
Rubio, in particular, seemed most chastened by his earlier decision to get in the gutter with Trump. Gone were the snide remarks about genitalia
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
The debate from a liberal’s perspective.
Trump sat on his lead and sought to run out the clock.
He did that masterfully and in all likelihood, closed the sale last night on the Republican nomination.
Every one else was fighting for second place.
No wonder it was a subdued debate.
Rubio’s only chance is to stay in to block Cruz and trade for the veep slot. I think he has good reason to do that to redeem his presence in this campaign.
Trump gets a bit of assurance for Florida’s purple state electors and an Hispanic who was actually born in this country.
I look forward to having an experienced, accomplished businessman in the office of president. I have long thought that businessmen would be better in office than career politicians.
Plus, there is rich material for bad hair jokes. Even though Trump has tamed his wild comb-over (or toupée?) a bit, there is still plenty of fodder for jokes. Joking about hair will be a lot healthier for the country than the obsession with sexual-related mental illness that Obama brought with him.
Cruz try to use the myth/lie that Smoot-Hawley caused the Great Depression. When I saw that I knew he was fished.
fished=finished
Trump has defied CW since the summer and despite a torrent of negative advertising, nothing has budged his numbers.
And last night he made it safe for fence sitters to embrace him.
Usually people have been breaking against Trump when they decide late.
We’re going to be watching carefully to see if that has changed.
Not one of Trump’s first 100 days will be boring! I bet he has more press conferences in those first 100 days than Obama had in eight years.
It will be great to have a man of action in the White House. Just today for instance, Trump has a major presser in Florida and speeches in St. Louis and Chicago in large arenas. I’m just going to NYC today and I’ll be wiped out when I get home tonight.
Folks will remember little of what was said in the debate. Much of it was bureaucratic gobbledygook that might have been about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Only Trump stayed focused on big picture ideas. IMHO.
Rubio won’t go vp, he would have to trade in his GOPe membership card that gets him a free pass to the foam parties
Besides I think that Trump wants an adult and a real political partner for a vp, someone to handle the details of the political process and ram through the agenda America needs - he needs a “ Cheney” like GWB needed one
No lightweights or past losers need apply
| Average | Time | Wash. Times |
NJ.com | Syracuse .com |
Heavy .com |
Blaze | Drudge | |
| Trump | 76% | 80% | 87% | 80% | 87% | 81% | 62% | 52% |
| Cruz | 14% | 5% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 6% | 29% | 41% |
| Rubio | 7% | 9% | 6% | 8% | 6% | 9% | 7% | 4% |
| Kasich | 4% | 6% | 2% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 3% |
However, we know that Blaze and Drudge have a hard-core bias toward Cruz.
As far as I know, none of the other sites have a strong bias.
So... without Blaze and Drudge, the average rating was...
| Average | |
| Trump | 83% |
| Rubio | 8% |
| Cruz | 5% |
| Kasich | 4% |
Wow, from Faux news.
Cruz, a skilled debater, played DEFENSE in the debate. Normally a player in his position would play offense.
Both offense and defense have their appropriate time.
But why choose defense on March 10?
You are certainly right that specifics will be forgotten, but overall appearances are remembered. I didn’t see it but all but the most partisan Cruzers here admit Trump looked presidential last night.
Drudge has revised numbers, it’s 66% to 22% Trump/Cruz. Look to Twitter for his explanation of bot attacks to the poll.
Gezz I might win thay title from him
Trump gets a bit of assurance for Florida’s purple state electors and an Hispanic who was actually born in this country.
This far in, I'm soured on either one of the Cubans being VP. But politically for the ticket, Rubio has more to offer than Cruz of the two.
We agree.
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