2/13 Republican debate

[Mori Chu]

This one, held in South Carolina on the same night as the NBA's dunk contest and 3-point shootout, was pretty interesting. I thought Kasich looked great; he was the only one up there with a positive moderate message who refused to insult and attack the other candidates. Really looked like a class act. Jeb Bush also had the first debate I'd seen from him where he seemed actually competent and confident, and Trump had IMO his worst debate to date, seeming at times angry, impatient, loud, and out of touch. I thought Trump did a lot of damage to his campaign in that debate.

[Indy]

This one, held in South Carolina on the same night as the NBA's dunk contest and 3-point shootout, was pretty interesting. I thought Kasich looked great; he was the only one up there with a positive moderate message who refused to insult and attack the other candidates. Really looked like a class act. Jeb Bush also had the first debate I'd seen from him where he seemed actually competent and confident, and Trump had IMO his worst debate to date, seeming at times angry, impatient, loud, and out of touch. I thought Trump did a lot of damage to his campaign in that debate.

I missed this one. I think the GOP has the best chance with Kasich. He is the only one I would think about giving my vote to from that side.

[Nodack]

The louder, angrier and impatient Trump becomes the higher he polls.

I don't know about Kasich. Being a moderate in the a Republican Party is the same as announcing you are a liberal.

[Wally_West]

This one, held in South Carolina on the same night as the NBA's dunk contest and 3-point shootout, was pretty interesting. I thought Kasich looked great; he was the only one up there with a positive moderate message who refused to insult and attack the other candidates. Really looked like a class act. Jeb Bush also had the first debate I'd seen from him where he seemed actually competent and confident, and Trump had IMO his worst debate to date, seeming at times angry, impatient, loud, and out of touch. I thought Trump did a lot of damage to his campaign in that debate.

This has been said so many times at this point and not once has it been true. I still don't believe he gets the nomination, but it seems it is going to be a long and ugly fight till then.

[carey]

You know why he didn't damage it? Because the majority of his supporters don't much care exactly what he has to say as long as it isn't the same as what "they" are saying. We know who "they" are to these people.

[Mori Chu]

Well but this time he attacked W Bush's presidency, the Iraq war, and the handling of 9/11 and the aftermath thereof. I think that upset some Republicans. We shall see.

[ShelC]

This debate was awesome. It's so ridiculous what's going on. I know he's not a rational choice but I love what Trump says and brings.

[carey]

This debate was awesome. It's so ridiculous what's going on. I know he's not a rational choice but I love what Trump says and brings.

Like...you appreciate the sheer idiocy? Or you actually love his outsider xenophobic approach?

[Wally_West]

Well but this time he attacked W Bush's presidency, the Iraq war, and the handling of 9/11 and the aftermath thereof. I think that upset some Republicans. We shall see.

Trump has been saying those things since the beginning though. He might be louder about those points than he has before, but he has always been saying those type of things.

[Indy]

This debate was awesome. It's so ridiculous what's going on. I know he's not a rational choice but I love what Trump says and brings.

Like...you appreciate the sheer idiocy? Or you actually love his outsider xenophobic approach?

Yeah, I want to know good, Shel. I've spoken to a few people that I consider very smart, well educated, and fairly moderate, that support Trump. But they are all from NY. And I should say they support Trump if it is him against Hillary. They all have said he isn't their first choice on the GOP side though.

[ShelC]

I wouldn't say I support Trump as far as getting out and voting goes, but I just like the entertainment value he brings and the fact that he's willing to shake things up. You can call it sheer idiocy, but he's once again dominating the headlines.

I agree with some of what he says, knowing that it's bluster and not based on any kind of policy. I actually think he's more moderate/liberal than he's letting on, but that still doesn't think make me think he'd actually be a good President.

[Nodack]

I wouldn't say I support Trump as far as getting out and voting goes, but I just like the entertainment value he brings and the fact that he's willing to shake things up. You can call it sheer idiocy, but he's once again dominating the headlines.

I agree with some of what he says, knowing that it's bluster and not based on any kind of policy. I actually think he's more moderate/liberal than he's letting on, but that still doesn't think make me think he'd actually be a good President.

I agree. I think our politics are broken. It's just a war between two factions now. I don't think that's what George Washington had in mind. I think the election process has been manipulated by big money as much as possible and it keeps growing as "we the people" loose a little more of our voice each day. Big money also manipulates the media and pretty much tells people what they are supposed to think.

John Mayer wrote a song "waiting for the world to change" that describes a lot of young people's views on the world. "It's not that we don't care. We just know that the fight ain't fair". Or, "cause when they own the information they can bend it all they want". "That's why we are waiting, waiting for the world to change". It sounds like John Mayer is saying why bother participating in the process since it's all rigged anyway. To that I say, I haven't seen proof that they don't count each and every vote. They may try and sort of succeed a little sometimes but, for the most part if you vote it's gets counted the same as everybody else's. Complaining about the system and then not voting makes you just as liable as the politicians you complain about imo.

Some people believe the candidates are pretty much decided by the elite of each party and America doesn't really have that much of a say in the matter and that we only get to choose the two people they have decided should be President. I believe that to be mostly true and then there is Trump and Sanders. There is no way they should be leading any polls and yet there they are. The political establishment of each party does not want either of those two elected President and yet there they are.

If that doesn't send a HUGE message to Washington then I don't know what would.

I have been studying Trump through all of this because he is so entertaining and he has turned the "establishment" GOP inside out. I don't think anybody really has a handle on who he is. He has bounced back and forth between the two party's over the years and donated to the Clintons and even invited them to his wedding. He has been for single payer health care in the past, bounced back and forth on abortion. He just called out GWB and said the war was fabricated to a big GWB crowd who booed him. He called Mexicans rapists, wants to bomb Muslim families of terrorists. He pretty much called McCain and any other vets captured pussies. He's insulted women several times. How this guy has survived this long is a miracle and yet he keeps getting more popular.

I think the GOP has brought this on themselves. I think the established Republican plan when a Democrat sits in the WH is to demonize government. With FOX as an ally they have really drove that point under Obama home and their followers do not trust government at all. I think the GOP/FOX made a mistake. Their followers don't trust government, ALL government including their guys now. Like with the Tea Party they have created a monster that they can't control.

On the other hand you have the Democrats. Sanders somehow has become a front runner and he is a Socialist. Democrats aren't against big government, they are against greedy assholes running the government. Democrats are also tired of the same ole same ole but, in a different way. They are a little distrustful of the "establishment". They have seen gridlock for 7+ years and endless fighting. They aren't going to be swayed to vote Republican but, they are pretty sure their side is on the take just as much as their side by big money donors, so there lies the rub. Sanders represents a government for the people by the people attitude and that resonates with a lot of people, especially the John Mayer Millenials who are waiting for the world to change who need to get off their ass and vote instead of whining about things.

Sanders appeals to me because he genuinely seems to want to change America for the better that helps all of us instead of the highest bidders. Like Trump he is bucking the system and the system wants to knock them out of contention. I shudder at the thought of Trump as President but, I, like ShelC think a lot of it is an act and that he is more of a Democrat than a Republican. Republicans would turn on him after about a month once he starts doing his own thing and not theirs. I would actually take Trump over any of the other Republicans except maybe Kasich.

Sanders as President would probably mean the continuation of gridlock too.I would be interested what happens if Sanders is elected and nobody will work with him. How would America respond? Vote the bums out or vote out Sanders? America is sick of the same ole same ole. It will be interesting for sure.

[Nodack]

Watching some of these debates. So embarrassing for America. They have stopped talking about issues altogether and now they just stand there and insult each other like 8 year olds on the playground.

[specialsauce]

So pathetic. Bunch of spoiled brats.

[specialsauce]

I'm starting to think Rubio is the least worrisome of the three stooges. Was really pulling for Kasich to win the nomination but there's no chance.

My preference from the three idiots would be in order:

1. Rubio
2. Trump
3. Cruz

[Indy]

I'm starting to think Rubio is the least worrisome of the three stooges. Was really pulling for Kasich to win the nomination but there's no chance.

My preference from the three idiots would be in order:

1. Rubio
2. Trump
3. Cruz

I'm with you on all 4 points (Kasich, and the order of the 3 stooges).

[Wally_West]

I agree with that order but still wouldn't vote for any of those three.

[Mori Chu]

I think Rubio is the least bad, but I won't vote for any of them. Rubio wants to ban abortion and wants marriage to be between a man and a woman only. They also seem hawkish about invading other countries. I'm kind of out on the whole GOP lately, and I hope they lose big in 2016 to force some soul-searching and an eventual rebrand.

I want the GOP to be a party that is fiscally responsible, non-interventionist in foreign affairs, and socially hands-off/tolerant.

[Indy]

I think Rubio is the least bad, but I won't vote for any of them. Rubio wants to ban abortion and wants marriage to be between a man and a woman only. They also seem hawkish about invading other countries. I'm kind of out on the whole GOP lately, and I hope they lose big in 2016 to force some soul-searching and an eventual rebrand.

I want the GOP to be a party that is fiscally responsible, non-interventionist in foreign affairs, and socially hands-off/tolerant.

So you want them to be the Independent Party?

[specialsauce]

I think Rubio is the least bad, but I won't vote for any of them. Rubio wants to ban abortion and wants marriage to be between a man and a woman only. They also seem hawkish about invading other countries. I'm kind of out on the whole GOP lately, and I hope they lose big in 2016 to force some soul-searching and an eventual rebrand.

I want the GOP to be a party that is fiscally responsible, non-interventionist in foreign affairs, and socially hands-off/tolerant.

Agreed