Thursday’s GOP CNN debate

GOP Thursday Debate Characters 2-25-2016First, let’s see if the GOP candidates can even enter the stage without messing up their guidance from the CNN stage director.  Okay.  Seems as though they finally deduced how to enter a debate stage under clear instruction.  That could bode well.

On Thursday night, the debate was hosted by CNN and featured the moderation team of Hugh Hewitt (he of Salem Broadcasting, who is leaving Fornicalia, the traitor, and moving to DC for a new AM radio slot), Dana Bash and María Celeste Arrarás in order to draw in the Mexican Telemundo crowd, illegals and all.  George HW Bush, 91, was in the audience along with his wife Barbara.

[About Hewitt: “Hugh’s first morning broadcast will be Monday, April 4th. Soon SRN will announce a star performer who will join the lineup replacing Hugh in the all-important 6pm-9pm ET day part.”]

This is the last GOP debate before March 1st’s Super Tuesday, where voters in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Virginia will hit the polls. In addition, Alaska Republicans and American Samoa Democrats will caucus that Tuesday.

A nice explanation of Super Tuesday is here:

The five candidates appearing on the University of Houston, TX stage were Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Donald Trump and John Kasich.

The last GOP debate was a devolving farce.  Let’s see if they do better.

Ben Carson started out the Uniter, Kasich still continues to piss me off (Kasich broadcasts the “I shouldn’t trust him” vibe to me), Rubio speaks well but I still can’t help but think he’d do a 180 on immigration if installed in the White House, Cruz welcomed everyone to Texas and, I have to tell you, I believe Cruz would attempt to do everything from DC he says he will.  Trump started off a bit muted and with his standard bullet points of “winning again and a lot.”

Immigration was the first topic right off the bat.

Cruz brought up the point of Arizona, where illegal Mexicans fled, business owners complained about rising resulting wages, but dollars spent by Arizona on prisons, education and welfare went down by hundreds of millions of dollars.  Unemployment dropped and wages rose.  Rubio is still of concern to me about his Gang of 8.  Then Rubio and Cruz made numerous points with Trump at the crux.  Kasich hit the “practical path to legalization” for illegal Mexicans.  Kasich acted as though there weren’t and aren’t fiscal and societal consequences for allowing illegals to flood the country.  Carson wants a back tax penalty and future taxes on illegals.

Let me pause.  That won’t happen, Carson.  Illegals won’t pay back taxes.  That’s an ignorant pie-in-the-sky point — and in particular since about 45% of Americans don’t pay taxes anyway.  Roughly half of Americans pay no federal income tax because they have no taxable income, and the other roughly half get enough tax breaks to erase their tax liability,

Fact: the top 1 percent of taxpayers pay a higher effective income tax rate than any other group (around 23 percent, according to a report released by the Tax Policy Center in 2014) — nearly seven times higher than those in the bottom 50 percent.

Offhand, it sounds to me like those of us who are stupid enough to actually pay taxes — we are the morons.

Trump still has not dealt in specifics with regard to how he believes Mexico is going to pay for a wall at the southern border.

The Telemundo entree, María Celeste Arrarás, then accused Cruz of insufficient pandering to illegal Mexicans — make no mistake, this bimbette was present on the CNN stage to ensure her racist and nationalist bias comes through — because Cruz makes illegal immigration a point and, instead, should “go along to get along” with other Hispanics who want America’s immigration laws to be ignored and/or rescinded.  The implication is that Cruz, as a Cuban/Hispanic, should be falling all over MCA in order to support “his own.”

Let’s stop right here.  This racist María Celeste Arrarás wants breaks just for Mexicans and everyone else in the US can shut the hell up and pay for it all, simultaneously watching the country become more like Mexico and knowing it will then turn into the nation from which Mexicans currently flee.

What the fuck?

What part of that makes sense to people who believe in sovereign nations?

In a nice way, though, Cruz told the racist María Celeste Arrarás to buzz off.

The racist María Celeste Arrarás then worked on the weak link inhabiting the stage, John Kasich, who enjoys pandering to Mexicans, because she knows Kasich is the weak GOWP illegal Mexican link.  He’d love him some amnesty, a big bag of it, for Mexican votes.

The racist María Celeste Arrarás finally brought up to Dr Ben Carson that “a report” (which remained unspecified) indicated that in order to approach Hispanics and “bring them to vote for the Republican Party, certain things needed to happen, and one of them was that they shouldn’t feel like they gonna get kicked out of the United States.”

Translated: law breaking Mexicans want not only preferential treatment, but they should be above the laws of the United States because they can provide votes to those who allow illegal Mexicans to break those same laws.

More prodding for preferential treatment for Mexicans from the racist María Celeste Arrarás.

“Or otherwise they wouldn’t pay attention to one more sentence from candidates.”

Translated: REPUBLICAN candidates who won’t kneel down to fellate the State of Mexico shaft.

Dr Ben Carson didn’t bite.  You could clearly see the resulting look of pissedness on the face of the racist María Celeste Arrarás.

Hey Mexico, why don’t you just be clear and say what you want?  You want to put a gun to the head of the American Taxpayer — the 54.7% of US citizens who actually pay taxes — and force them to send money directly to Mexico City?

After that little show, I immediately got tired of what the racist bint María Celeste Arrarás had to say.

Hugh Hewitt asked the first questions about SCOTUS and religious freedoms.  Carson nailed it:  “The Constitution protects all of our rights.  It gives people who believe in same-sex marriage the same rights as everybody else.  But what we have to remember is, even though everybody has the same rights, nobody gets extra rights.”

Thank you sir.

“Nobody gets to redefine things for everybody else and then have them have to conform to it.  That’s unfair.  It’s the responsibility of Congress to come back and correct what the Supreme Court has done.”

Let’s be plain.  Trump still can’t be specific.  He crafts his points in generalities.

And no one has brought up the debt crisis and emphasized it like Rubio.  The debt crisis needs infinitely more focus and attention.

I got tired early of the tax return release issue.  Move on.

One note: it was clear that the racist María Celeste Arrarás liked John Kasich.  She smiled at him twice and no one else.  Ever.  Why?  Because of Kasich’s support of illegal Mexicans.

Yes, there was backbiting in this debate but, thankfully, not to the extent of the last one.  There was more focus on various issues this time around.  Mostly.  Sort of.

Who won?

First, I don’t care for Kasich.  Period.  Dr Ben Carson is a nice man but over his head.  Yes, he is better coached but his forte is not the presidential seat.

Carson: “could someone attack me please?”

Yes, that’s how desperate the debates have become.  I don’t really watch them for insight anymore; most people are way beyond that now.

At this point absent a severed trend, it appears Trump will continue with his numbers, Cruz will continue as number two and Rubio as number three.

The GOP debates aren’t for insight or an informational exchange any more.  They simply provide a modicum of entertainment for me.

But the ultimate question?

Who in the GOP can beat Hillary Clinton or, if she implodes, Bernie Sanders or in extremis a farm team player like Joe Biden?

Who?

BZ

 

Carly Fiorina out, Chris Christie out

Carly Fiorina Out of CandidacyI 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.

But now she’s out.

Chris Christie is going next.

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.

Sad.

But after all, politics is a blood sport.

BZ

 

Saturday’s ABC GOP debate

Samsung Note 4, 2-6-2016 201For the first time ever, all the Republican candidates for president are gathered upon one stage in New Hampshire, including Donald Trump.  He eschewed Iowa now decides to partake of New Hampshire.  Did his loss to Ted Cruz possibly have something to do with it?

You can see by the above photograph who is where in terms of the New Hampshire polls.

Seven candidates appeared on stage, to include Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, John Kasich, Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Chris Christie and Jeb Bush.  Carly Fiorina was not included.

The Debate Begins.

What was the deal with Ben Carson and Donald Trump waiting behind for everyone else?  The introduction procedure was terrible and uncoordinated.

Ted Cruz is humble with regard to faux pas regarding Ben Carson and apologized then explained.

Rubio was asked to explain his accomplishments as senator, then charged off with vigor and focused on Barack Obama.

Christie came out swinging for Marco Rubio as senator and accused him of truancy.  Christie was making the difference between a senator and a governor in terms of critical decisions.  A nice dust-up between the two.

Cruz made a nice point about North Korea and a potential orbiting satellite kicking off an EMP over the United States.  I’m glad to see that the EMP issue is on the table in public.

John Kasich stepped in on North Korea, and Bush said he’d consider a preemptive strike against a North Korean missile launch.

Rubio nailed it with regard to Obama believing that the US is an arrogant global power that needs to be cut down to size, is too powerful, and creates problems for the rest of the world.  That Obama thinks if we create separation from Israel it will help our relations in the Islamic world.  And the same with the Asia-Pacific region with concessions to North Korea.

Christie understands the paradigm between hostage and paying ransom as in, you don’t do it.  At all.  Ever.

Kasich thinks it is, however, okay for 11.5 million illegals to “pay back taxes and a fine,” and be left in place.  Illegals will not pay back taxes nor will they pay a fine nor will courts hold them to that.  That is why Kasich is wrong on illegal immigration.

Like Cruz said, you build a wall, end sanctuary cities, build a wall and stop business from being able to employ illegals.  That is only logical.

Standard Trump: “let me talk, quiet.”  Boos for Trump.  And eminent domain.

Rubio brought up essentially the 10th Amendment with regard to enumerated powers and all other areas of power belonging to the states.  I like and want to hear that.

Christie made an excellent point about raising taxes on millionaires and people then fleeing New Jersey, taking their money with them.  As in: it won’t work.

Cruz espoused my ideals with waging war: kill people, break shit, don’t nation-build and then get out.  Yes.  Precisely, Ted.

Rubio showed a good understanding of the war in the Middle East, ISIS, and the differences between Sunni and Shia.

Frankly, I’m tired of Carson’s “underdog” shtick.  “I’m not up here just to add beauty to the stage.”  If you want to make a point, Carson, step in.  Bully in.  Show some huevos.  You can’t complain about no recognition and not be assertive.  That speaks much about you, Dr Carson.  You’re a nice man and a good man but you are not cut out for the presidency.

Points to Rubio about Guantanamo.

To this point ABC News is presenting the debate as the Rise of the Governors.  I have to admit that it appeared Kasich was doing better.  Christie made good points as he normally does, in my estimation.

A side note.  I very much dislike Martha Radish and her condescending smirk.

An interesting notation: “none of you on stage tonight have served in the military.”  Excellent point.  I hadn’t realized that.

Once again the Leftist panel tried to trap Republicans with the “ransom” question, such as involved James and Diane Foley,  They wish to portray Republicans as cold and cruel.  Luckily Cruz and Trump stuck to their ransom guns.

So who won?

Kasich sounded a bit better but his immigration stance is wrong.  I always enjoy Christie, who did very well tonight.  Carson was completely unimpressive.  Jeb Bush was likewise unimpressive.  Too little too late.  There were no real flame wars as expected.  Trump was Trump, much generality but little detail.  “We will win, we will win and we will win.”  Rubio came off well and Cruz not so abrasive.  The boos tonight, I noted, were for Trump.  I’d still go:

  1. Cruz
  2. Rubio
  3. Christie
  4. Trump

This, I do not believe, was much of a game-changer for any single political candidate.

BZ

GOP Debate 2-6-2016 New Hampshire

Ted Cruz gets stupid

Ted Cruz VOTER VIOLATIONAnd trust me, this post is coming from a Ted Cruz advocate.  A fan.  Ted Cruz is “my guy.”  That said, I’m starting to seriously question his tactics.

This most recent action leaves me confused and, had I been an Iowa recipient, I would have been, yes, confused, and then red hot.

Look at the photos above and below sent to an Iowan voter.  Those other names are neighbors of the person listed at the top.

Ted Cruz Voting ViolationThe mailer said:

RECIPIENT COPY, OFFICIAL PUBLIC RECORD

VOTING VIOLATION

You are receiving this election notice because of low expected voter turnout in your area. Your individual voting history as well as your neighbors’ are public record. Their scores are published below, and many of them will see your score as well. CAUCUS ON MONDAY TO IMPROVE YOUR SCORE and please encourage your neighbors to caucus as well. A follow-up notice may be issued following Monday’s caucuses.

If you look at the photo you can see that those persons listed — real persons whose names were acquired from voter rolls — had their voting habits “graded,” ranging from F to C.

The Cruz campaign has confirmed the existence of these flyers and that they are theirs.  Moreover, Ted Cruz says he will apologize to no one for his flyers.

The mailers resemble some kind of official government document and, frankly, they are meant to.  Look at the top photo.

It would appear that Iowa’s secretary of state, Paul Pate, is in a tizzy about the mailer, saying that “there is no such thing as an election violation related to frequency of voting.”  And correct he is.

I was not a recipient of such a mailer from Ted Cruz.  But I can tell you quite honestly what I would have done had I been so.  It would be on the order of what I did when the RNC sent me three consecutive envelopes marked on the outside with large red letters indicating FIRST NOTICE, SECOND NOTICE and FINAL NOTICE.

“Notice” for what?  Not sending them money, of course.  Something I’d done before receiving those rude and disparaging envelopes.

That was the last time I wrote a check to the RNC.  With tactics like that they can go to hell.

My first reaction to finding a mailer like that at my house would be roughly the same: blow me.  You too can go to hell.  No donations, no vote.

You want to insult me — and in my estimation an insult is what you mailed — then you must be sitting in the catbird seat and don’t require my vote.  You want to send me a “voting violation“?  Eh, not in this life.

You just made it personal.  You just named namesMine.  I vote in every election.  I do my duty.  Though frankly, it’s none of your business how frequently I vote or not.

That’s what I would be thinking had I received such a flyer.  And some Iowans do too.  We don’t respond very well to threats and embarrassment.

If this is something you, Ted Cruz, think is a spectacular tactic for voter motivation, you apparently don’t know how people function very well.

Let me blunt, because that’s my nature.

Another major cock-up like that, Mr Cruz, and I’ll be saying.  .  .

THAT'S ALL FOLKS

.  .  . to you.

BZ

P.S.

I’d better not be seeing one of those things in my mailbox.

 

Thursday GOP debates: who “won”?

GOP Debate, Fox, 1-28-20161. Small Table Debate:

The small table debate, held first, was moderated by Bill Hemmer and Martha MacCallum and consisted of Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, and Jim Gilmore.

There is only one clear winner: Carly Fiorina.  Period.  The three others simply need to go away as rapidly as possible.  I think that may be a self-fulfilling prophecy within, say, two weeks max.  None of them are going to pull Iowa.

2. Main Debate:

In the second debate, Bret Baier, Chris Wallace and Megyn Kelly moderated, and the big table cast included Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, John Kasich, Rand Paul and Jim Gilmore.  Who?

As expected, Gilmore was entirely unimpressive.  One must also question his sanity as, at this late stage, he somehow thinks he has a chance at becoming the GOP nominee for president.

Kasich was acidic and unlikeable.  Carson was likeable but vastly over his pate.  Paul is going nowhere.  His fans are even more annoying than he is.  All three need to go away.

Christie was the healing assembler he’s tended to be in the past.  I could live with Christie.  “The days of the Clintons in public housing are over.”  “That is why you need the Washinton-to-English converter.”

The focus this time around revolved around the nascent sorting-out of Cruz and Rubio.  Both made points.  Both were confronted by Megyn Kelly with prior statements in conflict with their current positions.  Both stammered and both came through. Conventional wisdom is that Rubio is ascending.  I go along with that.

Jeb Bush did well overall; certainly better than previous debates.  But Bush is still who he is, a squish.  I will not put another Bush in the White House as I will never put another Clinton in the White House.

I am biased.  I just like Cruz.  He’s extremely smart and even pisses off Republicans because he is single-minded.  Yes, Cruz got bopped, Cruz got testy, Cruz got booed.  Cruz had his opportunity to shine more, but didn’t quite pull that off.  Call me wacky.  I am biased.

My top three descend in this order:

  1. Cruz
  2. Rubio
  3. Christie

Statistics from a current Drudge Report poll post-debate.

Drudge Report GOP PollCruz #2, Rubio #3.

Finally, did Trump leaving the debate affect the results?  In terms of the debaters themselves, not so much.  Ted Cruz got the insults out of the way early.  However, for Fox News, they now state Thursday’s FNC debate was the second highest rated telecast in the channel’s history with 12.5 million viewers.  Conventional wisdom said this wouldn’t occur.  Though not present, the moderators and debaters still mentioned him.  And people say the “entertainment” factor of Trump was missed.

But one thing most definitely: Trump would not have cared for the way Megyn Kelly would have gone after him, if her tenacity with Rubio and Cruz was any indicator.  Megyn Kelly can indeed shred.

Did Trump pull off his tactic?  In a word, yes.  I don’t think he “lost” anything by not attending.  But I still enjoyed the debate because it was substantial and topic-driven for the most part.

BZ