Posted by Tina
The debate last night was the best I’ve ever seen. All of the Republican candidates outperformed previous performances. The slightly smaller field allowed for a more in depth response from the candidates with excellent questioning by Maria Bartiromo and Neil Cavuto. The candidates took on both President Obama and Hillary Clinton hitting both on substance. There was some contention between the candidates. One moment in particular between Trump and Cruz showed both a bit of thin skin on the part of Trump as well as a very human side when he spoke about his experience of 911 and the response to it by New Yorkers. Rubio performed as a powerful speaker well grounded on certain issues. Both Bush and Christie upped their games but still don’t seem to have gathered enough momentum to make the final push. Kasich just doesn’t come through for me. Carson did alright but I think he will find ways to serve that are more in tune with his social message.Time will tell, Trump and Cruz still outperform the other candidates. I thin the fact that Cruz took on the establishment in the Senate and Trump is an outsider has a lot to do with it. The people are fed up with DC.
So what do you think, guys? What were the defining moments for you?
Crickets
So far, yes. So?
It was the best debate so far. Forina was outstanding in the early debate. She should be on the main stage and hopefully will be next time. I really like her knowledge and connections with the technology field and her ideas of getting the private sector experts more involved with updating our out of date public programs.
We should be down to just a handful of candidates after the New Hampshire caucus. Carson, Kasich, Christie and others should be gone after.
I thought Trump and Cruz tied for first place. Trump played the NY values comment against Cruz like a master. Don’t agree his response addressed Cruz’s intent about the difference between Iowa voters and NY city electing very liberal and even a communist mayor, but he scored big against Cruz and it was a brilliant put down.
I still do not trust that Trump is not a front man for Hillary. His birther issue against Cruz is just too suspect. It was Hillary who started the birther issue against Obama and it was Trump who announced at the debate he knew the democrats were going to file a suit against Cruz on his eligibility. The next day we learned indeed a suit was filed by a Texas attorney. Hum, coincident? I think not. The DNC polls are indicating that Hillary can beat Trump, but not Cruz, so Cruz MUST be eliminated and what better way than to make people believe he isn’t eligible. Even a couple of percentage point drop for the GOP candidate is all Hillary would need to win.
Other thought is I think it’s amusing the DNC is holding their debate this Sunday up against the NFL playoffs. They really do not want voters to see and hear who and what they would be voting for. Just get them to vote the party line and not the fact that for the first time in history children would be forced to pay for their parent’s education instead of parents helping their own kids.
Thanks Peggy. I missed the early debate; glad to hear Fiorina did well.
Trump didn’t start the birther issue but he sure is willing to exploit it. Cruz knows the Constitution and the law. I doubt he’d waste time and money if his ability to be President was in question. It’s still an interesting question that will probably be addressed at some point in Congress and/or the courts if it keeps coming up.
It’s a shame Cruz’s point about New Yorkers being different was lost in the exchange. Ultimately I think Cruz was going to say that this is America. We live in different states with differing views but we can still live together as Americans if we hold to the Constitution. We’ve been operating within the courts when we should be putting things through Congress. The President has misused his authority as well. There are a number of people who think we’ve strayed too far from the founding principles of the republic and that is one reason we’re seeing such division.
I agree it’s telling that the Democrat Party is hiding their candidates.
Mark Levin has some friendly advice for Trump.
Mark Levin to Trump: ‘Cut the crap’ on Ted Cruz:
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/mark-levin-to-trump-cut-the-crap-on-ted-cruz/article/2580707
The best definition I heard of a natural born citizen applies to those who are not naturalized. Case closed.
“The U.S. Constitution requires the President to be a “natural-born citizen”, which most scholars believe means someone who has been a U.S. citizen since birth. Therefore, this means all U.S. citizens who are not naturalized citizens.”
Guess Democrats need to be reminded what Cuomo said about “extreme conservative.” Agree, we have differences in states allowing us to vote with our feet if we choose. Iowans have voted. It’s another thing to be told you’re not wanted and to leave.
“Their problem is not me and the Democrats; their problem is themselves. Who are they? Are they these extreme conservatives who are right-to-life, pro-assault-weapon, anti-gay? Is that who they are? Because if that’s who they are and they’re the extreme conservatives, they have no place in the state of New York, because that’s not who New Yorkers are.”
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/19/gov-cuomo-pro-life-conservatives-have-no-place-new/
Peggy, Hilary did not start the birther issue. A supporter of hers was one of the first to bring it up, but he had no connection to Clinton’s campaign.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/sep/23/donald-trump/hillary-clinton-obama-birther-fact-check/
I think it’s silly to theorize that Trump is a Democratic plant. He’s making everyone look better by comparison, on both the left and right. You could make an equally strong case that he’s there to make all the other Republicans look more electable.
But Trump, for all his faults, is his own man. Trump does what Trump wants. He’s in this for the attention and power, nothing else. To quote the Joker, he’s a dog chasing cars; he wouldn’t know what to do if he was actually elected president, which he won’t be.
I haven’t seen any serious person on the right or left take Trump’s birtherism against Cruz seriously, and I doubt that will be a factor in the election. I’d wager it’s actually helping Cruz, and he’d be my bet for the Republican nominee, even though I like some of the other Republicans better.
Cuomo’s comments about the right were ugly and unethical. He has no right to proclaim that conservatives are unwelcome in New York. At the same time, Cruz’s comments about “New York values” we’re divisive too, and reminded me of Sarah Palin going on about “real America” all the time.
“Are they these extreme conservatives who are right-to-life, pro-assault-weapon, anti-gay? Is that who they are?”
Well two out of three ain’t bad. The hard right are pro-life…but they are pro-second amendment. The constitutionally squishy left love the term “assault rifle” because it sounds scary. They should educate themselves before throwing terms around. Also the hard right are pro-marriage between a man and a woman. We are not “anti-gay.” Once again the left uses the language to destroy rather than communicate. The bums.
“Because if that’s who they are and they’re the extreme conservatives, they have no place in the state of New York, because that’s not who New Yorkers are.”
Too bad big guy…it’s a free country and we do live among you! Also, NYC is not new York the state.