Jeb Bush isn’t. He hasn’t gotten the message yet. Ben Carson needs to exit the stage as well.
I thought Carly Fiorina did extremely well at the debates. She could hold her own with the bulk of ’em. But I suspect the final blow was being shunned at last Saturday’s GOP debate. In my opinion ABC could easily have made room for her at a podium.
In terms of breaks, it seems Fiorina couldn’t catch even one. She has a name recognition problem, a cash problem and a poor management problem.
Fiorina was the recipient of cheap personal shots from Donald Trump and fielded them professionally and with easy aplomb. Still and all, that wasn’t enough.
Carly says she’ll continue to stump for the GOP and isn’t going away. That’s good to hear. She is much more intelligent and adept than Sarah Palin will ever be, with proven business and economic chops behind her.
I also enjoyed many aspects of Chris Christie. He seemed to be the Unifier and Re-focuser in the GOP debates, reminding the GOP candidates that the real adversaries were not each other but Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.
On the GOP side, the race is down to six candidates: Ben Carson, John Kasich, Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush.
CNN hosted the final Republican debate of 2015, Tuesday, December 15th. Once again Hugh Hewitt was one of the questioners, and Wolf Blitzer was the moderator.
First Debate:
Consisting of George Pataki, Rick Santorum, Lindsay Graham and Mike Huckabee, Huckabee appeared the most relaxed and easily spoken, whilst Graham was the most contentious but most emotive and passionate of the bunch, making some points as well. In my mind, Graham was the winner though I certainly did not agree on all of his points. The bottom line is this: the GOP could do without all of those persons clotting the ranks. They should all move on. They are yesterday’s news.
Second Debate:
The “prime” debate consisted of John Kasich, Carly Fiorina, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie and Ron Paul.
Rand Paul was obnoxious, Trump neither won nor lost and, to my mind, it was a toss-up between Cruz and Rubio. Though, I must say, Christie did in fact score some serious points.
Ben Carson was massively unimpressive; a manikin could have been substituted with equal efficacy. Carson isn’t ready for much of anything political. Yes, no argument, Carson is the quintessential nice and good man. He is not a politician and not ready for a position like this at all. I should submit he’d best stick with his day job and, at most, local politics.
Kasich was also obnoxious. He always has been. There is a certain “something” about Kasich that simply rubs me the wrong way.
Fiorina spoke well but no one seems interested in listening to her. Her campaign appears to be, however, run by morons who have no idea how to market her.
Bush tried massively to be what he is not: overbearing, pushy, contentious — and it doesn’t play well with him because that’s not his nature. Most everyone can tell it’s a FALSE persona, apparently shoved onto him by his handlers. It’s fallacious and duplicitous and even 5-year-olds can see through it. Bush is done, stick a fork in him. He’s not the future of the GOP. This proves Bush will do anything to win the presidency. Things that are so incredibly removed from his comfort factor.
We see you, Jeb. We know who you are and who you aren’t.
Since writing this a few hours ago, I have some further input.
Upon further consideration, Cruz and Rubio disappoint.
It is Christie who, frankly, appears more presidential and not so navel-gazing.
In my mind, Carly Fiorina won them both. (Please see these videos from my Thursday post for reference.)
Overall, Carly Fiorina won the so-called “Happy Hour” debate — and — she managed to overshadow some of the other candidates on the second major debate. Fiorina spoke about Iran along with Rick Perry, and her video was seen in the second debate itself.
Here, directly following the Happy Hour debate, Carly Fiorina eats Chris Matthews’s lunch:
In the first debate on Thursday, some of her quotes included:
“I started as a secretary and became ultimately the chief executive of the largest technology company in the world. I know personally how extraordinary and unique this nation is.”
“We need a leader who will lead the resurgence of this great nation and unlock its great potential once again.”
About Donald Trump: “Well, I don’t know. I didn’t get a phone call from Bill Clinton before I jumped into the race. Did any of you get a phone call from Bill Clinton? I didn’t. Maybe it’s because I hadn’t given money to the foundation or donated to his wife’s Senate campaign.”
“Hillary Clinton lies about Benghazi, she lies about emails. She still defends Planned Parenthood and she’s still her party’s front-runner. 2016 is going to be a fight between conservatism and a Democratic Party that is undermining the very character of this nation.”
Fiorina comes off looking presidential as opposed to Donald Trump, who came off looking the blockhead and with no specifics to support his various ideas. Just how are you going to force Mexico to build a wall, Mr Trump? You refuse to say. I believe it’s because you truly don’t know.
From July 26th, a few days ago, on Fox News Sunday:
Fiorina speaks plainly, clearly, truthfully, quite frankly, with maturity and poise. She is a bit of Trump without the bombast. She is well equipped to handle Hillary Clinton and is useful in pointing out the obvious with regard to Clinton. As “only Nixon could go to China,” only Fiorina can poke Clinton with the least about of feminist blowback.
This is only the second debate of roughly 10 more to come. The schedule is here.
Hugh Hewitt fans please take note:
The next debate is scheduled for September 16th at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, where I visited last Tuesday the 4th (a post will be forthcoming for same). This debate will be moderated by Hugh Hewitt and Jake Tapper. Here, I suspect the questions asked will be much more pointed and likely involve actual policy, past practices, history and facts. CNN will air the debate as well as Salem Radio.
Look, it’s only August. GOP debates are tentatively scheduled, so far, out to March 10th of 2016.
There will be dropouts. Clearly, 17 candidates is an unwieldy number and the crowd will thin.
The first to go should be Lindsay Graham, Jim Gilmore, George Pataki — the crowd of Old Staid GOP members who just won’t change. They’ll glad-hand the Demorats just as John Boehner does now. That’s not what American Conservatives want or need. I wouldn’t piss on any of them if they were on fire, Boehner included. Bobby Jindal just isn’t a strong candidate. Give him time.
In the “top ten,” Huckabee needs to leave, Christie needs to leave, as does Rand Paul and Rick Santorum. Dr Ben Carson means well and has some good ideas, but his persona is too weak; he is not a “presence” and strength, true or perceived, is vital. Carson is steady but not ready for prime time.
Then there is Donald Trump. He continues to entertain and simultaneously prove what a buffoon he truly is. Potentially a dangerous buffoon if he runs a third party. His usefulness is over.
In the meantime, Fiorina’s star will only rise.
BZ
P.S.
Who do you think won the “Happy Hour” debate, and who won the Top 10 debate?
I liked Carly Fiorina and, as she used to say, I would have paid money to see her debate Hillary Clinton just so she could eviscerate the bitch.
