2015-2016 Republican Primary Season - Trump Courts the Conservatives

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Donald Trump and Mark Cuban would make for an interesting ticket...

Or Charles Barkley.

[miked]

That screeching sound you hear is the brakes on the Trump machine.

[PilotMan]

I don't know about you guys, but I feel entertained.

[Abe Sargent]

Damn Paul/Christie is fire

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by Abe Sargent

Damn Paul/Christie is fire

True Dat


Though I was disappointed with Paul on his last exchange with Trump

[PilotMan]

Cruz, Walker and Carson seem to be falling flat, while Rubio seems to be having a good night.

[SackAttack]

I had to stop watching because I was getting freezes and buffering, but I was impressed with Rubio's intro.

[JPhillips]

I'm seeing Facebook friends that never say anything political falling over themselves to praise Trump.

[PilotMan]

I guess that means Rand supports polygamy then.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Honestly, the biggest thing I took out of this debate is that the Fox personalities have no business running a debate.

Rubio has looked very good and Trump has shown that he's not going to back down to anyone regarding his previous statements (which is great for those people who love him because he doesn't act like a politician).

[JPhillips]

And he quite publicly refused to rule out a third party run. That has to be the scariest moment for the RNC.

[Abe Sargent]

Im moving towards Kasich. I'm interested

[Abe Sargent]

I think Carson would make an interesting Surgeon General

[PilotMan]

Kasich certainly seems to be having a good night.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by Abe Sargent

I think Carson would make an interesting Surgeon General

Heh, I was going to suggest that earlier when it was mentioned that someone should take out Trump for the good of the team in exchange for a spot in the administration.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

2) His lawsuit against the estate of the American Sniper guy will get him in water with the pro military crowd.

This.

That sumbitch is a non-entity.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Abe Sargent

I think Carson would make an interesting Surgeon General

I think he's a very useful guy in some role ... just not president.

Wrong on amnesty, wrong on national security & surveillance. He's too dangerous to let near issues like that. But he's a smart guy & could have value in some role.

[JonInMiddleGA]

And since 99% of you aren't on my facebook, this isn't even a duplicate post.

FWIW, my quick takeaways after hitting the recaps of the debate.

Don't like Christie but happen to see him put Lunatic Jr (aka Paul) in his place. Jeb Bush seems determined to surrender more than the French. Fox surely does seem in attack mode on Trump and, right now, that's looking like a bad play for them. Probably good to take Kelly & Co. down a notch frankly. I'm pro-choice but it isn't a third rail issue for a candidate afaic, but those who make it a centerpiece of their campaign (looking at you Rubio) will lose my interest quickly.

For an FOFC exclusive, I'd figure Trump gets another 5% boost in the next poll(s), Carson gains a little bit. Uncertain about the others.

[lighthousekeeper]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Fox surely does seem in attack mode on Trump

Yeah that was obvious and seemed really weird to me. The debate was not only an opportunity for the candidates, but also an opportunity for Fox News to reach out to a wider audience who wouldn't otherwise watch and potentially gain viewers.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by lighthousekeeper

Yeah that was obvious and seemed really weird to me. The debate was not only an opportunity for the candidates, but also an opportunity for Fox News to reach out to a wider audience.

They seem determined at this point to cater to a rather curious sub-section, those who are allegedly angry but not really all that angry. When all is said & done, if they maintain the same tone that came across in the recaps at least, they could turn out to be the big losers of the whole election season.

I think perhaps they're falling victim to that old saw about absolute power, if a new network wasn't cost prohibitive for entry they might almost be a bit ripe to be chewed on.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Abe Sargent

Im moving towards Kasich. I'm interested

I don't like many republicans, but I can't really hate him. But the compassionate conservative won't actually win ever again.

[stevew]

Who's going to be out by October? Looking at some old electoral history shows that a bunch of people drop out by then.

[BishopMVP]

I thought Rubio killed it tonight. Huckabee, Paul, Christie, Carson (and I guess Trump) all appear genuine, but have no chance. Jeb Bush was pretty brutal, but can bounce back.

[Solecismic]

Some thoughts:

The establishment isn't going to like Donald Trump. He isn't going to make a third-party run, but he likes to threaten it because he perceives it as leverage. Trump won in some respects because Fox made the debate about him in the first minute. But he was vague in other respects. He doesn't have detailed policy ideas. He had a Gore "invented the internet" moment over the immigration issue. His caustic response on the women-bashing question was his worst moment. Bashing Megyn Kelly was not smart. So I think overall he did OK because he was the focus of attention and he didn't completely self-combust.

Rand Paul looked awful. He took on Trump and it didn't work. He took on Chris Christie and got handled.

Christie helped himself, but you can't help feeling he's running for president because he can't win any more in New Jersey. The whole John Edwards thing.

Dr. Ben Carson looked like he might be asleep for a long time. I liked him, and maybe being likable is what's important at this stage. But I don't like his lack of experience, even though he seems more clued in on issues than the other political outsider.

John Kasich needs to stop waving his hands around. He stayed safe, but he seems too anxious to prove his conservative credentials.

Ted Cruz did what he had to do he establish himself as the right-wing choice. I can see him gaining.

Everyone says Marco Rubio was very good. I don't agree. I want to see more from him because he's my closest match on the issues web site. He seemed very nervous and in-and-out of campaign commercial mode.

Mike Huckabee did what he always does. He's relaxed and on message. If you haven't seen him before, you'd think, "wow, a real presence." He's just too right-wing to gain traction.

Scott Walker seemed to fumble his message. I think he missed an opportunity to move forward.

Jeb Bush was stronger than I thought he would be. For a while, I thought he would be the big winner tonight. But he is running against his family, too.

I come away from this more certain that Trump has a ceiling and is just flavor-of-the-day. But there's no one that seems inspiring out there. Maybe if Rubio can relax a little more. It's still so early.

[PilotMan]

I honestly think Trump will lose a lot as people see him for who he is. Maybe they were simply ignoring that earlier, but they can't now. Plus he's now doubling down on Megyn Kelly. General public won't care for that either.

[Butter]

Living in Ohio, I wouldn't HATE Kasich. He hasn't done badly in this state. I also have a hard time seeing how it doesn't end up being Jeb Bush. It's kinda like Hillary on the Dem side. Seems like the safest choice, and a legacy name doesn't hurt. Jeb seems like he is somewhere between his dad and W on the ideological scale.

I'm just going to enjoy the inevitable Trump meltdown, whenever it occurs. And it will.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

Some thoughts:

The establishment isn't going to like Donald Trump. He isn't going to make a third-party run, but he likes to threaten it because he perceives it as leverage. Trump won in some respects because Fox made the debate about him in the first minute. But he was vague in other respects. He doesn't have detailed policy ideas. He had a Gore "invented the internet" moment over the immigration issue. His caustic response on the women-bashing question was his worst moment. Bashing Megyn Kelly was not smart. So I think overall he did OK because he was the focus of attention and he didn't completely self-combust.

Rand Paul looked awful. He took on Trump and it didn't work. He took on Chris Christie and got handled.

Christie helped himself, but you can't help feeling he's running for president because he can't win any more in New Jersey. The whole John Edwards thing.

Dr. Ben Carson looked like he might be asleep for a long time. I liked him, and maybe being likable is what's important at this stage. But I don't like his lack of experience, even though he seems more clued in on issues than the other political outsider.

John Kasich needs to stop waving his hands around. He stayed safe, but he seems too anxious to prove his conservative credentials.

Ted Cruz did what he had to do he establish himself as the right-wing choice. I can see him gaining.

Everyone says Marco Rubio was very good. I don't agree. I want to see more from him because he's my closest match on the issues web site. He seemed very nervous and in-and-out of campaign commercial mode.

Mike Huckabee did what he always does. He's relaxed and on message. If you haven't seen him before, you'd think, "wow, a real presence." He's just too right-wing to gain traction.

Scott Walker seemed to fumble his message. I think he missed an opportunity to move forward.

Jeb Bush was stronger than I thought he would be. For a while, I thought he would be the big winner tonight. But he is running against his family, too.

I come away from this more certain that Trump has a ceiling and is just flavor-of-the-day. But there's no one that seems inspiring out there. Maybe if Rubio can relax a little more. It's still so early.

Agreed on nearly all of this.

I think Rubio accomplished more than you do, though. He's younger and less accomplished than his foes here, and his main goal (I think) had to be to get pat that and sound credible and articulate... just to offer an answer to "why is this guy even running?" (cf Fiorina in the JV event) I'd say he did that, and in doing so without any meaningful gaffe (I'd generally grant your reservations but dismiss them as pretty subtle) I think he may have been among the real winners last night.

I'd also say that I think Rubio was a winner by Walker coming out fairly flat. Not awful, but definitely not exciting.

I thought Kasich had a good debate (though I really wanted him to use a word other than "studying" when talking about his foreign affairs congressional experience) but it's hard to know whether he's got enough kindling there to really make much of it. I guess him making the cut for the big league debate in such short order suggests he does have some appeal and potential.

[digamma]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

I think Rubio accomplished more than you do, though. He's younger and less accomplished than his foes here, and his main goal (I think) had to be to get pat that and sound credible and articulate... just to offer an answer to "why is this guy even running?" (cf Fiorina in the JV event) I'd say he did that, and in doing so without any meaningful gaffe (I'd generally grant your reservations but dismiss them as pretty subtle) I think he may have been among the real winners last night.

I'd also say that I think Rubio was a winner by Walker coming out fairly flat. Not awful, but definitely not exciting.

I think if I had been listening to the debate rather than watching, I'd more fully agree with you. Rubio sounded great, but he looked very jittery and unsteady to me, and well, yeah, young.

Walker was the least impressive of the lot to me, and that's saying something.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

Dr. Ben Carson looked like he might be asleep for a long time. I liked him, and maybe being likable is what's important at this stage. But I don't like his lack of experience, even though he seems more clued in on issues than the other political outsider.

Serious question, how do you square your desire for more civil discussion with Carson? Yesterday he said that secular progressives were purposefully using the debt to destroy America.

[Warhammer]

I can come up with several ways of having a civil discussion with Carson's views. However, it takes two to have a civil discussion, and all it takes is the other side to get hysterical and there goes the civil discussion.

[Warhammer]

I think Kasich will be the one to eventually get the nod. I look at him as an anti-GW, he speaks liberally and governs conservatively vs the other way round.

[JPhillips]

Yeah, the problem is the progressives won't be civil when they're told they're purposefully destroying America.

That's like saying the problem is you got mad when all I wanted to do was have a civil discussion about your mom being a whore.

[Grover]

Originally Posted by Warhammer

I think Kasich will be the one to eventually get the nod. I look at him as an anti-GW, he speaks liberally and governs conservatively vs the other way round.

I would vote Kasich over Hillary.

I'm very liberal and a staunch Bernie supporter, but I cannot and will not bring myself to cast a vote for Hillary Clinton.

[ISiddiqui]

See, I told you there were those Tea-Party like types on the left that say they wouldn't vote for the moderate option.

[Grover]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

See, I told you there were those Tea-Party like types on the left that say they wouldn't vote for the moderate option.

I don't trust her. Plain and simple.

[molson]

A lot of people don't like Hillary. I think that's partly why there's 17 Republicans running. They know their nominee actually has a chance, which they really shouldn't when you see the trends and the state of the country and economy as Obama's term winds up.

[path12]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I'm pro-choice but it isn't a third rail issue for a candidate afaic, but those who make it a centerpiece of their campaign (looking at you Rubio) will lose my interest quickly.

I legit did not know you were pro-choice. I thought many of your views were faith-based?

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by path12

I legit did not know you were pro-choice. I thought many of your views were faith-based?

Ugh, Democrats are not atheists.

[path12]

Originally Posted by Dutch

Ugh, Democrats are not atheists.

I didn't mean it that way, I just thought JimGA was evangelical and was surprised about the pro-choice thing, that's all.

For the record though as a Democrat, I'm Catholic turned agnostic.

[Grover]

Originally Posted by Dutch

Ugh, Democrats are not atheists.

I am!

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Warhammer

I can come up with several ways of having a civil discussion with Carson's views. However, it takes two to have a civil discussion, and all it takes is the other side to get hysterical and there goes the civil discussion.

Sounds like some conversations I have had with my last ex-GF.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Yeah, the problem is the progressives won't be civil when they're told they're purposefully destroying America.

That's like saying the problem is you got mad when all I wanted to do was have a civil discussion about your mom being a whore.

[Coffee Warlord]

Saddens me that pretty much the only pro-privacy / civil liberties candidate completely flopped.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

Saddens me that pretty much the only pro-privacy / civil liberties candidate completely flopped.

In his attempt to double his support and appeal to both libertarians and mainstream Republicans he's instead not enough of either to get anywhere.

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Serious question, how do you square your desire for more civil discussion with Carson? Yesterday he said that secular progressives were purposefully using the debt to destroy America.

By liking him, I meant in the sit down and have a beer sense. He's intelligent and accomplished and has an interest in the country.

But his views on many issues mean that out of the 17, he's near the bottom as far as my own voting will go.

He didn't say that Obama was trying to destroy America, though. He said that if he were trying to destroy America, he would adopt many of Obama's policies.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by path12

I legit did not know you were pro-choice. I thought many of your views were faith-based?

I'm adopted. Given up at birth, adopted around 4 months old give or take (hey, my recollection is a little fuzzy). As I understand the story I was the unexpected bastard product of two divorcees who had mutual rebound encounter that lasted very briefly.

That considerably colors my perception of what becomes a quite personal issue (apparently) irrevocably since my feelings about it have only gotten stronger over the past 20-30 years.

edit: it is not strong enough to be a political third-rail for a candidate with me, but there's no lack of feeling on the subject where I'm concerned either

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Grover

I am!

Mr Grover, are you Arian Foster in disguise?

[Grover]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Mr Grover, are you Arian Foster in disguise?

I wish.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Grover

I would vote Kasich over Hillary.

I'm very liberal and a staunch Bernie supporter, but I cannot and will not bring myself to cast a vote for Hillary Clinton.

Yeah, I'm anyone but Hilary too. I'd probably vote for Kasich or Christie, but other than that I'm tossing my vote away for the Greens again.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by stevew

Yeah, I'm anyone but Hilary too. I'd probably vote for Kasich or Christie, but other than that I'm tossing my vote away for the Greens again.