7 things to watch at the CNN Republican debate

[Songcatcher]

Well, tonight’s the big night. Republican debate #2 hosted by CNN.

cnn.com/2015/09/16/politics/gop-debate-wednesday-what-to-watch/

Here’s a summary of the 7 things the article says we should watch for.

What will Trump say this time?
Trump vs. Fiorina
What hand will Carson play?
The Bush reboot
Can Scott Walker salvage his campaign?
A spotlight on foreign policy
Do or die for the undercards

Anything you would add to that list? Anybody planning to watch the first debate with Jindal, Santorum, Pataki and Graham?

 

[Crossbones]

Well, tonight’s the big night. Republican debate #2 hosted by CNN.

cnn.com/2015/09/16/politics/gop-debate-wednesday-what-to-watch/

Here’s a summary of the 7 things the article says we should watch for.

What will Trump say this time?
Trump vs. Fiorina
What hand will Carson play?
The Bush reboot
Can Scott Walker salvage his campaign?
A spotlight on foreign policy
Do or die for the undercards

Anything you would add to that list? Anybody planning to watch the first debate with Jindal, Santorum, Pataki and Graham?

1. “I’m going to make America great again”
2. “I like Carly, but she did a bang up job destroying a great American company”
3. Right. He’s right handed. This isn’t boxing, you don’t switch hands to confuse your opponents.
4. I’m worried about a blue screen of death during the reboot.
5. Maybe. He’s got to hope he’s waiting out a Trump/Carson storm, but I’m not so sure.
6. Which probably means Senator Paul will be saying intelligent things.
7. No, it’s not do or die.

 

[didymus]

Sorry, I’ll be watching the America’s Got Talent finals.
It would be interesting to have a “debate” where the candidate/contestants come out one at a time, do their schtick and get evaluated by a panel of celebrity judges.

 

[Songcatcher]

Sorry, I’ll be watching the America’s Got Talent finals.
It would be interesting to have a “debate” where the candidate/contestants come out one at a time, do their schtick and get evaluated by a panel of celebrity judges.

Ha! Be careful what you wish for. We’re dangerously close to that now.

 

[CaptFun]

CNN Hopes to Capture Candidates’
Combative Spirit in G.O.P. Debate

“My goal is more about: Let’s draw the contrasts between the candidates, and have them fight it out over these policies, over who has the best approach to Putin, over who has the best approach to taxes, over who believes what over immigration reform,” said Jake Tapper, CNN’s chief Washington correspondent, who is moderating Wednesday’s debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. “Have them lay it all out so voters can see it.”

The debates have begun on CNN with Pataki, Santorum, Jindal and Graham for 1 hour and 45 minutes.

It’s at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, CA.

 

[Path_Finder]

Well said by Santorum!

 

[CaptFun]

Well said by Santorum!

Santorum and Jindal both seem Presidential and substantive. Graham and Pataki seem more like the supporting cast … but having just four candidates, you can really see them in action and on many subjects.

In some ways this “early bird special” may outshine the 11 people at the table show later.

 

[Songcatcher]

.
7. No, it’s not do or die.

Well, maybe not do or die but I think Pataki just shot himself in the foot. He came out pretty strongly against Kim Davis and said it was right for her to be jailed. He did get a smattering of applause though, which surprised me.

 

[EmperorNapoleon]

Well, maybe not do or die but I think Pataki just shot himself in the foot. He came out pretty strongly against Kim Davis and said it was right for her to be jailed. He did get a smattering of applause though, which surprised me.

He was 100% right. If everyone can pick and choose which laws they will follow without consequence then where does the madness end? Why bother having any laws at all? He was also right to point out that they’d be foaming at the mouth if Kim Davis were Muslim.

 

[Songcatcher]

He was 100% right. If everyone can pick and choose which laws they will follow without consequence then where does the madness end? Why bother having any laws at all? He was also right to point out that they’d be foaming at the mouth if Kim Davis were Muslim.

Oh, I agree, I was just really surprised to see someone say that at this debate. Now he is doubling down on that. He’s getting a surprising amount of applause for his statements, too. I thought that would be a suicidal statement at a Republican debate but, from the response, I may have been wrong.

I’m confused though, as to why this question was even asked. I thought it was supposed to be a foreign policy debate but the first couple of questions were about Trump, and now, Kim Davis.

 

[iohannes13]

Ha! Be careful what you wish for. We’re dangerously close to that now.

More to that, they should have them compete in different events and the winner takes all. They should incorporate Rick Perry’s challenge to Trump to see who can do the most pull-ups. Then maybe they can do challenges like that game show…what was it called…? Wipeout?

 

[CaptFun]

Sorry, I’ll be watching the America’s Got Talent finals.
It would be interesting to have a “debate” where the candidate/contestants come out one at a time, do their schtick and get evaluated by a panel of celebrity judges.

Watch now. It’s the early debate … but it’s “America’s Got Leaders”. All four of these guys have had chief positions in large states and have been involved in leadership …

… as to your idea that the candidates be allowed to come out and do their schtick … not a bad idea. On this CNN debate the first six questions the four leaders were asked were about Donald Trump … like they’re supposed to do a commercial for the prime time “real debate”.

It might be a “free commercial” of sorts … but answering a neutral question like “Why would you make a good President?” Or "what would your (defense, immigration, jobs, health care, tax) policies be as President … might be illuminating.

 

[Seamus_L]

Rand Paul needs to go back and listen to his father in previous debates. So far he’s run a terrible campaign. He needs to show the public what specificly set’s him a part from the all the other candidates. Instead he’s sounding more and more like another Neo-Con.

 

[Songcatcher]

Rand Paul needs to go back and listen to his father in previous debates. So far he’s run a terrible campaign. He needs to show the public what specificly set’s him a part from the all the other candidates. Instead he’s sounding more and more like another Neo-Con.

You are so right! I have been shocked at how poorly he has done. I honestly thought that he would benefit the most from this large field-that Huckabee, Santorum etc would split the social conservative vote, Bush, Kasich would split the mainstream Repub vote, Trump, Carson, Fiorina the outsider vote and then Paul would have a strong plurality with the Libertarian vote. He has been shockingly bad. I wonder who is getting the Libertarian vote? Trump?

 

[CaptFun]

Rand Paul needs to go back and listen to his father in previous debates. So far he’s run a terrible campaign. He needs to show the public what specificly set’s him a part from the all the other candidates. Instead he’s sounding more and more like another Neo-Con.

There’s not enough of Paul to hang one’s hat on in some ways. He does emphasize his differences with the rest of the field … but I think the main things he suffers from is that his foreign policy looks a little laissez faire in a time where that sort of passive isolationism looks uncomfortably close to what Obama is doing (or not doing) now.

If this were the end of the W Bush years and Paul’s policies would constitute the next gear of disengagement he might be more successful.

Paul does have a sort of niche support that the big GOP field might have given a victory to
in the early primaries. But I think he’d have to pivot and build a coalition from that point to get the GOP nomination … rather than just securing a speaking spot at the convention.

 

[Lily_Bernans]

He was 100% right. If everyone can pick and choose which laws they will follow without consequence then where does the madness end? Why bother having any laws at all? He was also right to point out that they’d be foaming at the mouth if Kim Davis were Muslim.

I agree. I don’t believe in SSM, however, if I found myself in Davis’ position, I would resign my job or expect to go to jail. You are right, one cannot pick and choose what laws to follow. If that were the case, the US would soon devolve into anarchy.

 

[CaptFun]

Quite impressive debate in the early show.

Jindal: Blasted the GOP leadership for doing nothing on the Iran Nuke deal despite being elected to majorities in Congress and the Senate. Called himself a “doer”.

Santorum: On the heels of the other three candidates criticizing Donald Trump, he redirected the criticism to Hillary Clinton’s candidacy, invoking Reagan’s 11th commandment (and saying Trump has a right to a place at the GOP table though he himself has differences with him on policy).

Jindal: Why doesn’t the left just make a list of all the jobs Christians may no longer have. Bakers. Court clerks. etc.

Santorum: Castigated the 2012 GOP convention for having small business owner after small business owner come to the microphones … but no workers from their companies.

Pataki: Touted himself as a Republican who’d won in a very liberal state. Counseled going along with the courts in some of the social decisions they’ve made … in opposition to Santorum who favored Congress and the Senate making specific laws that reassert what was lost per narrow court decisions. Agreed with the ruling against Kentucky court clerk Kim Davis (versus Santorum and Jindal who praised her).

Graham: came out strong for increasing the military. Took issue with Trump as a genuine Republican … and John Kasich’s plan to close more domestic military bases.

Santorum and Jindal I thought were very dynamic and may have benefitted from the small field to get their messages out.

I’m wondering whether there will be a whole different raft of questions than what the four
early birds were asked.

 

[Songcatcher]

Hard to say who won the first debate. Santorum was smart to focus on his pro-life cred. I’ve been surprised that he hasn’t had a higher showing in the polls. I would think anyone who puts abortion as their top issue would be supporting him. This performance may help him in that respect. He’s the only one of the four I can see getting a bump from this.

Second debate: I have to admit, the GOP has a strong field this year. Too bad Trump is sucking all the oxygen from the others. Kasich is my favorite but he hasn’t impressed so far. Oops, he’s speaking now-slightly better than his intro but he seems nervous. Walker’s having a stronger night than the past debate but it probably won’t matter.

Trump doesn’t belong on this stage. All hat, no cattle. Really childish. That may play well when he’s by himself talking to a crowd of fans, but standing among all the others with their serious, thoughtful answers, his zingers and one liners sound infantile.

 

[Path_Finder]

Hard to say who won the first debate. Santorum was smart to focus on his pro-life cred. I’ve been surprised that he hasn’t had a higher showing in the polls. I would think anyone who puts abortion as their top issue would be supporting him. This performance may help him in that respect. He’s the only one of the four I can see getting a bump from this.

Second debate: I have to admit, the GOP has a strong field this year. Too bad Trump is sucking all the oxygen from the others. Kasich is my favorite but he hasn’t impressed so far. Oops, he’s speaking now-slightly better than his intro but he seems nervous. Walker’s having a stronger night than the past debate but it probably won’t matter.

Trump doesn’t belong on this stage. All hat, no cattle. Really childish. That may play well when he’s by himself talking to a crowd of fans, but standing among all the others with their serious, thoughtful answers, his zingers and one liners sound infantile.

If one agrees with Rick Santorum per pro-life credentials, then, I would not forget when Santorum also said that Trump and anyone who wants to run for the Nomination of the Republican party has the right to.

I definitely think some of these governors have more than talk when it comes to the abortion issue and have demonstrably, de-funded planned parenthood. I know Walker and Christie have, I’m sure the other governors have.

 

[Path_Finder]

It seems Doctor Carson has barely spoken tonight, now here he is speaking about immigration.