Posted by Tina
The Republican field is broad and filled with talent, but it’s time for a few candidates to fall away. The debate last night made it abundantly clear that if we are to move ahead we can’t remain stuck in neutral. There were a few high points in the evening. I’d be happy with any of the candidates over Hillary or Bernie. But we need more depth in the debates and won’t get that until we can choose between two or three candidates. The CNN debate left me with the sense that we witnessed nothing that would shift opinion significantly
My time is limited today but I did find an interesting article that might serve as a starting point for discussion regarding the republican candidates and the party. The editors at Conservative Review believe the party is made up of three tiers exemplified by the camps of Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, and Ted Cruz. They focus on foreign policy and the differences between the three camps concluding that a healthy debate among these three would be healthy for the party. Good read.
Your thoughts?
I was originally thinking there were two tiers, or groups within the GOP. This would be the beltway moderates who tend to get behind Rubio or Bush. Then there’s the traditional conservatives who would be more behind Ted Cruz. But now we have new sets of voters who are clamoring for the outsiders: Trump, Carson, even Fiorina. And yes there is also the Rand Paul grouping of more libertarian republicans. That’s the beauty of a big tent party that brings in different lines of thought about how to improve our great nation. By comparison the democrats are stuck with little choice between a Bolshevik and a Sellout who both think America stinks and needs to suffer more so that we can quit being so high and mighty.
With all that said. I agree the field needs to start shrinking. There are too many voices on the debate stage to have a good discussion with a finding of answers. I would personally cut Bush, Kasich, and Fiorina at this point. I would cut Paul, although I respect that he represents a different line of thinking, he just does not have enough support to go any further. I was ready to cut Christie before last night when he made some very strong statements.
A lot of the press is starting to say this is a Cruz/Rubio battle now. Obviously they’re discounting Trump way early and ignoring his obvious polls. Ben Carson is a wonderful man but likely not coming back at this point.
And finally, any of these candidates would lead our nation better than the Obama/Clinton jokers we have now, if only for the fact that our candidates still believe in this nation and care about its people. Obama/Clinton seem to think we deserve everything bad that ever happens to us. The democrats have painted themselves into a corner with their constant anti-American rhetoric and voters are really starting to see through it.
Very good assessment. I hate to see Carly go, mostly because I’d love to see her take Hillary on, but she like some of the others just isn’t picking up steam. I think the establishment would want Rubio after Bush but they may have to accept Cruz in the end. With Trump leading in the polls I see it coming down to Trump and Cruz with Cruz grabbing most of the other candidates support. It might be wishful thinking on my part however.
Yeah, I hate to see her go too.
I think Rand Paul did better last night. And that made me smile a bit. Bush seems too frustrated by the Ring Master Trump. Carson apeared overwhelmed by the overall topic of national security. Cruz and Rubio…well I just don’t trust them. At this point I don’t think any of the Republicans can get more votes than Clinton. They need to step up their game or even Sanders could beat them. You are right in that it’s time to thin the herd.
Pete I would be very interested, if you care to share, in why you think Hillary would win against any republican and how you think they would have to “step up their game.” Also I’d be interested in why anyone would vote for Hillary since so many people think she’s untrustworthy.
Again, listened to debate while reading Tweets. Not as funny this time around, but some good points made. A couple of times, the questions that were being asked of the debaters smelled like they came from $hrilLIARy. But then, CNN does tilt Left….
Time for Kasich, Paul, and Jebbie to take a hike. Also possibly Carly, although like Tina, I would love to see her take on $hrilLIARy. Suggestion to those departing candidates: Donate leftover campaign $$ to Wounded Warriors or Independence Fund!
Great idea. Looks like it would be legal too. The Federal Election Commission spells out what federal candidates can and can’t do with leftover campaign money; they can’t keep it for personal use. They can donate the funds to charities or political parties, contribute $2,000 per election to other candidates, or save the money for another election bid.
Carly? You realize she blew it in her Generals statement. Even Gen Keane was on Fox stating he never worked for the PBO admin. She was either lying or severely misinformed.
Carly has no qualifications. A failed CEO and the USA is not a Business anyway.
And while polls are a bunch of Crap Hilliary loses to Trump and Bernie wins against Trump, but polls are never a good way to judge.
Message is hate Muslims and increase Military waste. Feed the private contractors. Quite boring.
You even catch the flaws? Sample:
Christie:
Obama allowed Russia into Syria? No they have had a military base there since the 70’s a very important one to them. They were already in Syria!
King of Jordan named as a friend to be is dead and not the current King.
Everybody caught that right? You need to push your candidates to speak intelligently.
“Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.” – Plato
Dewey we’ve caught you in a few flaws. Your candidates are full of flaws.
Can we push you to speak more intelligently?
Tina all candidates have flaws, I mentioned it because any candidate from any party who does not know the same basics most citizens do are not qualified. Whether one likes a candidate is one thing, but when they are not qualified it is another. We do not have the Train the President101 course……..For instance…Carly you are friends with all these Generals and imply they have told you something, and it is not ……true that is just disgusting. Especially When Kene goes on Fox to set the Record straight….I will call out any Democrat who intentially lies as well
Yes, I think it is time to thin the herd. I just listened to the 5th debate 1st round with Huckabee, Santorum, Graham and George Pataki. While I think all had important things to say, and I appreciated all their comments, I kept asking myself, “Why am I listening to this, these good folks do not have a chance to become the nominee.”
Nevertheless, I still think the second tier debate is a good thing. I want to hear from these leaders. Perhaps the way to thin the herd is to bump everyone except four from the highest polling from the main debate — even though I distrust polls.
More of a gut feeling that Hillary would win based on numbers of democratic vs republican voters. (If vote was held today) Yes it’s true that many feel that Hillary is a huge liar, but, I think, just as many, if not more, have the same loathing for the republican candidates.
I haven’t been impressed with the republican candidates and most people I’ve talked to haven’t been thrilled with them either. One of them has got to appear presidential and that’s not happening right now. Even though Romney got spanked by Obama he did appear presidential. Romney would probably trounce Hillary if running. Bottom line is it’s all a guess.
Almost forgot! What have the republican candidates been doing to garner black or latino voters? In my opinion they’ve been pushing them to the Democratic Party.
Thanks for your thoughts, Pete.
I guess most of the people you speak with either don’t know Hillary’s background and record or don’t care. From my perspective finding a moral equivalent with any of the republican candidates requires willful blindness, loyalty, or at the very least a very shallow understanding of the leadership of the Democrat Party.
I would like to add that We have lost control of elections, while we have more choices than China we have them picked for us.
look you really think the media tells you the truth and all Republicans are honest and all Democrats are the devils spawn?
The system has been bought out and they are making some very bad moves, no time for this crap and my way or the highway.
In the spirit of election year fairness, and considering the lack of coverage on Hillary Clinton, equal time is essential. I urge any American of any party reading this blog to read the following bio on Hillary Clinton from Discover the Networks: Hillary Rodham Clinton.
This woman should never be our president.
Other pages of interest would include a list of prominent names in the Leftwing Millionaires Club:
Note, Bernie Sanders makes the list.
The radical left will not stop until this nation is reduced to a fascist model with control over every business either by takeover, destruction, or taxation and regulation and every possible dollar is in their hands for redistribution.
Dinesh D’Souza does an excellent job of explaining how the leftwing elites are stealing American in his new book by the same title.
“What do the Democratic Party and a gang of criminals have in common? Funny you should ask!
D’Souza’s prolonged exposure to the criminal underclass provided an eye-opening education in American realities. In the view of hardened criminals, America is anything but fair and just. Instead, it is a jungle in which various armed gangs face off against one another, with the biggest and most powerful gangs inhabiting the federal government.
Applying this hardboiled perspective to American politics, D’Souza saw that America is becoming less exceedingly exceptional every day. Indeed, it is in danger of becoming just like India and other corrupt third world nations, run by gangs of kleptocrats. As for American liberalism, it is not a movement of ideas at all; it is but a series of scams and cons aimed at nothing less than stealing the wealth of the American people.”
http://www.dineshdsouza.com/books/stealing-america/
Peggy ya think the right wing is not? They all are my friend
Fascist 101 Trump is a Fascist Bernie is not.
1 Nationalism
2 distain for human rights
3 fear mongering into a common enemy
4 Supremacy of the Military
5 Sexism
6 Controlled Mass Media
7 Mass Surveillance
8 Corporate Power is Protected
9 Labor power suppressed, unions busted
10 Distain for intellectuals and the Arts
11 Police have limitless power
12 Rampant corruption and Cronyism
13 Fraudulent Elections
14 Religion and Government intertwined
Tina thanks for saying the people I talk to are either ignorant or careless. One of my friends is a retired Republican politician and he feels the same way I do. Another is a current democratic politician. Many are far right conservative activists and many far left liberal activists. They all enjoy each other’s company and heated political debates, but in the end care deeply for each other and our nation. Point being that they all listen to each other and try to understand the others views. Minds have been changed in both directions.
Pete politicians all disappoint us and confound us at times. I’m glad to hear you and your friends can discuss issues and candidates records with civil good cheer.
What I meant to express was incredulity that anyone would compare the Republican candidates with Hillary and choose Hillary given her long negative moral record: lying, working around the law, refusing to respond when officially questioned, removing, losing or destroying evidence and official documents to cover her tracks, covering for her husband and insulting and intimidating women he abused, failing to adequately serve the people and our diplomats as Secretary of State.
Loathing is a strong word for the republican candidates, in my opinion, when contrasted with Hillary. As I wrote, I doubt if they have scratched the surface very deeply if they can declare a moral equivalency.
“The radical left will not stop until this nation is reduced to a fascist model with control over every business either by takeover, destruction, or taxation and regulation and every possible dollar is in their hands for redistribution.”
Tina, are you every going to learn that this sort of thing is not effective. It just makes you look paranoid, and every time I ask you for some example of this portending catastrophe, you just spout more nonsensical hyperbole, which makes you look even more paranoid.
Just like Cruz. P.J. O’Rourke and lots of others say he’s perfectly capable … but he says extreme things that just make him look like a total nut-bunny.
Of course it never occurs to you that the things Cruz says make sense and you are just unwilling to see the trend line!
Anyone who is willing to consider can look at the last 50-60 years and, if they are honest, see the negative unintended consequences of the governments growing control. The problem is people aren’t willing to think about such things. If someone tells them the benefits that’s good enough.
Nut bunnies are in the eye of the beholder. Your leadership has spent years making sure anyone who speaks about the negative consequences of left policies are considered a nut bunny.
I also have to say that statements made by your candidates haven’t exactly passed the bunny test…and you love them anyway. So I imagine this bunny stuff is partisan/ideological prejudice more than open minded scrutiny.
Rubio is lying about Cruz supporting a pathway for illegal immigrants becoming citizens. Both Steve King and Jeff Sessions supported Cruz’s amendment, plus other conservatives.
“Our ruling
Rubio said Cruz “is a supporter of legalizing people that are in this country illegally.”
Cruz proposed an amendment in 2013 to the immigration bill that would have stripped the citizenship provision. But it would have kept intact the language in the Senate bill that allowed illegal immigrants to still apply for the Registered Provisional Immigrant program in the overall bill, which would have resulted in a work permit and 10 years later application for permanent residency.
But it’s a stretch for Rubio to label Cruz as a supporter of legalization when he was an ardent critic of the overall bill for months and voted against it. Cruz’s amendment appeared to be a legislative tactic.
We rate this statement Mostly False.”
http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2015/dec/16/marco-rubio/marco-rubio-says-ted-cruz-supports-legalizing-peop/
The latest from Ted Cruz. He has my vote.
https://www.facebook.com/tedcruzpage/videos/10153764899572464/?video_source=pages_finch_thumbnail_video&theater
Tina,
Discover the Networks is an excellent resource.
Libby is just a left-wing stooge, a useful idiot manipulated by apparatchiks of the left and the Democrat party.
The “disaster” is not pending, it is in progress, and the current head of operations is Obama.
So true Pie. Obama is the current head, he’s “the one” they’ve been waiting for. He hoped to get even more done so unless someone puts some restraints on him I expect the next year will show us just how radical he is.
Questions come up, even though I already know the answers. Why isn’t Obama blasted for the growing poverty in America? Why isn’t Obama blasted for the gap between the rich and the poor? Why isn’t the mantra that under Obama the rich are getting richer and the rest of us are getting poorer. We all know that this is the truth. Any Republican president would have been shamed to high heaven, day in and day out, with this terrible record…what makes Obama immune to such criticism?
It’s not the ability to think critically, I’ll tell you that.
It Bears Repeating : From Tina’s link to the Leftwing Millionaires Club —
One of the great myths of the left is that socialism is a movement of the people, the working classes, or the poor. In fact — as Frederick Hayek pointed out long ago — all socialist movements are the creation of intellectual elites, liberally pollinated by millionaires. Karl Marx was the kept intellectual of factory owner Frederick Engels; Bill Ayers, a leader of the terrorist cult called the Weatherman, was a scion of the American upper class; Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor of The Nation, is a multi-millionairess; Michael Moore, leftwing propagandist, is a multi-millionaire who has profited handsomely from the “struggle.” The Leftwing Millionaires Club is a very incomplete list designed to illustrate this point and to serve as a reminder that everything is not always what it appears. (Text: Frederick Hayek “The Intellectuals and Socialism,” in Hayek, Socialism and War, University of Chicago Press, 1997)