Just had a friend of mine say with a straight face that after last night's debate, he's convinced that Republicans are only going farther and farther right, then used the ACA as an example of Democrats' willingness to compromise. His next sentence was, "That's why I'm voting for Bernie Sanders."

I don't get it.

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I don't get it.

*meme retracted

 

I think you do get it, or at least get what the joke should be, just refuse to acknowledge that the ACA was far from a compromise, and Sanders is not likely to move any closer to the center than Santorum is.

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If someone wants true entertainment, watch the debate and time it with some of the comments in this thread.  The emotions would run from laughter to pure sadness.

 

I can't really put a finger on a "clear winner" in this debate, but notable performance needs to be acknowledged.  Those that I felt did "well" are as follows (in no particular order).

 

Carly Fiorina - She gave sensible answers and is gaining my favor.  I especially liked her closing remarks.

Ted Cruz - Stood by his message and wasn't afraid of the questions regarding him "betraying" his party.

Marco Rubio - Stayed positive and continued to speak about his message about the future.

Rand Paul - I can agree with most of what he said, but he is not someone that I can really get behind.

Ben Carson - He is very well spoken and clearly an intelligent man.  I'm sure that he will be among the first few that step down, only because he won't get the support ($).

 

Those that I thought did "OK" but I wish would have done a bit better.

 

Scott Walker - I didn't see him really stand out like I would have wanted.  I don't disagree with what he had to say, but he didn't express it well enough to win my support.

Mike Huckabee - I agree with most of what he has to say, but he just strikes me too much as being an "establishment" type of candidate.

John Kasich - My "wish he would have been better" award goes to John Kasich.  I don't disagree with anything that he had to say, but I wish he would have put it better.

 

Those that are "out" as far as I'm concerned.

 

Donald Trump - This guy reminds me of a mob boss.  Yes he says things frank and brash, but I do think that he is perhaps just as corrupt if not more so than the Clintons.

Jeb Bush - Though I like his "message" the "name recognition" turns me off and I view him as "just another establishment" candidate.

Rick Santorum - See my critique regarding Jeb Bush.

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There are 10 kinds of people in this world.  Those who understand binary and those who don't.

By the way, the title of this topic is not really "fair and balanced" (something that should be done whenever politics are discussed).

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There are 10 kinds of people in this world.  Those who understand binary and those who don't.

By the way, the title of this topic is not really "fair and balanced" (something that should be done whenever politics are discussed).

I don't know, I think it's a pretty fair title for any nationally-televised partisan debate. I mean, Trump was there...

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If someone wants true entertainment, watch the debate and time it with some of the comments in this thread. The emotions would run from laughter to pure sadness.


I can't really put a finger on a "clear winner" in this debate, but notable performance needs to be acknowledged. Those that I felt did "well" are as follows (in no particular order).


Carly Fiorina - She gave sensible answers and is gaining my favor. I especially liked her closing remarks.

Ted Cruz - Stood by his message and wasn't afraid of the questions regarding him "betraying" his party.

Marco Rubio - Stayed positive and continued to speak about his message about the future.

Rand Paul - I can agree with most of what he said, but he is not someone that I can really get behind.

Ben Carson - He is very well spoken and clearly an intelligent man. I'm sure that he will be among the first few that step down, only because he won't get the support ($).


Those that I thought did "OK" but I wish would have done a bit better.


Scott Walker - I didn't see him really stand out like I would have wanted. I don't disagree with what he had to say, but he didn't express it well enough to win my support.

Mike Huckabee - I agree with most of what he has to say, but he just strikes me too much as being an "establishment" type of candidate.

John Kasich - My "wish he would have been better" award goes to John Kasich. I don't disagree with anything that he had to say, but I wish he would have put it better.


Those that are "out" as far as I'm concerned.


Donald Trump - This guy reminds me of a mob boss. Yes he says things frank and brash, but I do think that he is perhaps just as corrupt if not more so than the Clintons.

Jeb Bush - Though I like his "message" the "name recognition" turns me off and I view him as "just another establishment" candidate.

Rick Santorum - See my critique regarding Jeb Bush.

Was this supposed to be who you thought did well or who you liked before the debate.

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Was this supposed to be who you thought did well or who you liked before the debate.

 

What did I say in my post?

 

I gave my opinion of what I thought of each candidate after watching the debate(s).  Did you actually watch any of it?

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There are 10 kinds of people in this world.  Those who understand binary and those who don't.

Just had a friend of mine say with a straight face that after last night's debate, he's convinced that Republicans are only going farther and farther right, then used the ACA as an example of Democrats' willingness to compromise. His next sentence was, "That's why I'm voting for Bernie Sanders."

Dems do compromise more than republicans... and the aca was a compromise. Obama took single payer off the table...

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Dems do compromise more than republicans... and the aca was a compromise. Obama took single payer off the table...

 

Dems compromising with Dems. Compromising with Dems is the left's definition of compromise.

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"Why should I give information to you when all you want to do is find something wrong with it?"

Dems do compromise more than republicans... and the aca was a compromise. Obama took single payer off the table...

Yea, plus it was a republican idea to begin with. A very naive Obama reached across the aisle on an issue he thought everyone (republican, dem, business, public) could get behind only to to see the republicans rear back like they were afraid he might rub off on them. The republicans never once tried to negotiate in good faith. Instead it was epic fear-mongering.


I would hope Bernie stays right where he is at. I don't understand why you'd compromise what you believe it just to get elected (unless you really don't hold any true convictions). It's a moot point tho; he won't get the nomination.

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What did I say in my post?


I gave my opinion of what I thought of each candidate after watching the debate(s). Did you actually watch any of it?

Alot of what you said sounded like your views of the candidate beforehand, not actually how they did in the debate.

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By the way, the title of this topic is not really "fair and balanced" (something that should be done whenever politics are discussed).

Oh come on, jagi! Politics can be fun too!


I actually had a blast live posting during the debate. I was trying to be funny more than anything :-)

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1.) another health exchange just went out of business.  

 

2.) I can't tell you how much i hate this format.  I think there are a lot of people who rightly so were looking for a lot more substance and specifics but you get 60 seconds.  By the time you've said high my name is you're halfway through.  I think that the RNC should try to incorporate as many conversational town hall style debates and forums as possible so the people can really get to know who these candidates are.  It's like forcing Gordon Ramsay to cook with a Microwave.  

 

3.) I think the big winner of the night was Fox News.  What do I mean by that?  As most of you know I'm a pretty conservative guy.  I watch Fox and i enjoy it.  One thing you notice over time is that most of the lineup doesn't like being labeled as a rubber stamp for the Republicans or a shill for the Tea Party.  I think that they made a concerted effort to show a record Cable audience that they weren't afraid to ruffle the feathers of the GOP and frankly i think they tried to hand Trump the rope to hang himself with.  I think that for people watching for the first time they saw moderators asking relatively tough questions and not just sucking up to the candidates.  And at the same time, They know that the RNC doesn't have another network that they can count on for fairness so they are probably going to get more than there fair share of future primary debates.

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Post debate thoughts Rand is still my guy. I'm curious about Kasich. I could support Rubio, Cruz or Walker if they win the nomination but there some key issues we disagree on. My drop dead list is Christie, Bush, Trump, and Huckabee. The first 3 are big government corporatist and Huckabee id support as my pastor but he leans to much into theocracy for me to politically support.

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More like Faux Republican Debate, amirite?

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“An empty vessel makes the loudest sound, so they that have the least wit are the greatest babblers.”. - Plato

Post debate thoughts Rand is still my guy. I'm curious about Kasich. I could support Rubio, Cruz or Walker if they win the nomination but there some key issues we disagree on. My drop dead list is Christie, Bush, Trump, and Huckabee. The first 3 are big government corporatist and Huckabee id support as my pastor but he leans to much into theocracy for me to politically support.

 

The interesting thing is, Rubio is leading the polls as "second choice."  People think highly of him, but he's not their first choice.   This could bode well for him as candidates start dropping out. 

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I personally think that Rubio is the dark horse to take the nomination.  He's done this before, this is a marathon not a sprint.  He has a gear that not many of the others on that stage has.  I remember in the election with Crist that he hit this tone where he was able to respond to any attack that Crist made with force but also in a way that let him step above it and remain focused on the positive message. 

 

He's young, the Camera is going to love him, he's articulate, he's got a backbone and he has a decent amount of Charisma.  I think that cruz is mortally wounded because people have just been pounding the "ideological creazy" button for too long on him.  Id vote for him in a second, but I just don't know if the support is there.  I think that Paul is a great senator and his ideas are an important part of the party, but I don't think that's a majority of the party.  I think that Christie will never be able to get over the hug.  Ben Carson is a certified Genius, I just think that he is in his political internship. 

 

In each of these instances, as time goes on and these guys drop out I could see them pushing their chips over to Rubio's side and the final hurdle would be Jeb pushing in his support because I don't think the country is ready for a third Bush (I voted for his brother, but it is what it is!)

 

I think if he wants one he could have a bright political future and he should be education secretary with no questions asked.  I think that Kasich and Fiorina would be my guesses for

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I personally think that Rubio is the dark horse to take the nomination.  He's done this before, this is a marathon not a sprint.  He has a gear that not many of the others on that stage has.  I remember in the election with Crist that he hit this tone where he was able to respond to any attack that Crist made with force but also in a way that let him step above it and remain focused on the positive message. 

 

He's young, the Camera is going to love him, he's articulate, he's got a backbone and he has a decent amount of Charisma.  I think that cruz is mortally wounded because people have just been pounding the "ideological creazy" button for too long on him.  Id vote for him in a second, but I just don't know if the support is there.  I think that Paul is a great senator and his ideas are an important part of the party, but I don't think that's a majority of the party.  I think that Christie will never be able to get over the hug.  Ben Carson is a certified Genius, I just think that he is in his political internship. 

 

In each of these instances, as time goes on and these guys drop out I could see them pushing their chips over to Rubio's side and the final hurdle would be Jeb pushing in his support because I don't think the country is ready for a third Bush (I voted for his brother, but it is what it is!)

 

I think if he wants one he could have a bright political future and he should be education secretary with no questions asked.  I think that Kasich and Fiorina would be my guesses for

 

I watched him in the Florida Senate debate, and was extremely impressed, not so much with his positions on the issues, but with his ability as a politician.   The guy is whip smart, and very quick mentally.   He is the opposite of Sarah Palin.   It's like watching a great basketball player.   The spin, the pivot, and getting the shot off.   Ask him a question, and if it's not the question he wanted, he will do the smoothest pivot into what he wants to say.   He seems to be ready for anything.  He's very well versed on the issues; very well prepared. 

 

Hispanic voters make up 13% of the population, and last election, they voted overwhelmingly for Obama.   Put this good looking young Hispanic guy out there speaking to them in Spanish, telling them how his mother was a maid and his father was a bartender, and they lived paycheck to paycheck, and  I think he'll pull a lot of Hispanic voters over to the republican side.   He has a compelling personal story and he delivers it very well. 

 

 

I'm just saying, as a non-republican, judging political horse-flesh, this is your guy.   He can win.  

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It was sort of a lead in to a flat tax proposition. I could understand what he was getting at, but I don't think it was the best way to explain it. The guy is very religious though, and much MUCH more genuine with his faith than other candidates, so him using the Bible as an analogy isn't that surprising. I could definitely see that being seen as a turn-off though.

 

Thanks for the clarification as I wasn't sure what he was getting at.

 

While I don't doubt Carson's religious sincerity, fwiw I'd rather that politicians leave their religious beliefs back at the house. It's the one human activity most people are the most hypocritical about; add the fact that they are politicians (and Carson now is whether he likes it or not) and I don't know when to believe their sincerity. Besides, faith doesn't help us if your policies are wrong.

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The sun's not yellow, it's chicken.

Thanks for the clarification as I wasn't sure what he was getting at.

 

While I don't doubt Carson's religious sincerity, fwiw I'd rather that politicians leave their religious beliefs back at the house. It's the one human activity most people are the most hypocritical about; add the fact that they are politicians (and Carson now is whether he likes it or not) and I don't know when to believe their sincerity. Besides, faith doesn't help us if your policies are wrong.

 

I agree with you to an extent.  I personally don't mind a politician (or anyone for that matter) expressing themselves in a way that reveals their faith.  As far as I'm concerned, that's just one more factor that goes into determining the person's character (for me personally).  As long as that particular faith is not being "pushed onto me".

 

At the risk of tip-toeing on the CoC of the board I will say this.  I do find it odd that many seem to kind of "shun" people of faith.  From what I know regarding several different religions, the principles taught are not necessarily a bad thing.

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There are 10 kinds of people in this world.  Those who understand binary and those who don't.