Quote :

"My expectations for tonight’s Republican debate: Donald Trump will say dumb things loudly. Jeb Bush will say dumb things in a garbled way and then try to retract them. Scott Walker will mention Ronald Reagan at least twice, and attack unions. Mike Huckabee will attack liberals and Obama, and talk about God. Marco Rubio will talk about the American Dream and try not to drink from the glass of water on his podium. Ben Carson will say progressive taxation is socialism. Ted Cruz will say climate change isn't happening and then praise Donald Trump, which will be the two dumbest moment in tonight’s debate. Rand Paul will attack the NSA and the Iran nuclear deal, and try to sound more intelligent than he is. Chris Christie will try not to talk about the George Washington Bridge or Hurricane Sandy or anything else."

[Edited on August 6, 2015 at 12:16 PM. Reason : robert reich]

8/6/2015 12:15:37 PM

Quote :

"Ted Cruz will say climate change isn't happening and then praise Donald Trump, which will be the two dumbest moment in tonight’s debate. "

Don't forget to add in Jesus and speading Christian Values and bashing Obama as a muslim communist

8/6/2015 12:25:57 PM

Sen. Ted Cruz is an award winning debater. You may disagree with him, but to suggest he'll be responsible for the "two dumbest moments" in the debate is just silly.

8/6/2015 1:15:48 PM

lol

what time will this shit-show start?

8/6/2015 1:22:09 PM

it's not like it's a requirement to be bad at debating in order to have a dumb moment in a debate

you can be an expert at debating and be great at making asinine arguments

[Edited on August 6, 2015 at 1:35 PM. Reason : the two things aren't mutually exclusive]

8/6/2015 1:22:19 PM

Quote :

"Sen. Ted Cruz is an award winning debater. You may disagree with him, but to suggest he'll be responsible for the "two dumbest moments" in the debate is just silly."

Well, he's managed to isolate himself as a lone voice with no friends around to back him up in the Republican Senate Caucus.

8/6/2015 2:47:01 PM

I predict Trump will do better than people think. He won't come off as any more as a clown than anyone else.

[Edited on August 6, 2015 at 2:47 PM. Reason : ]

8/6/2015 2:47:29 PM

Quote :

"I'm pro-ACA but I am also pro giving people the boot from the ER if they are suffering from NON life-threatening health issues unless they can provide proof of means to pay."

Private hospitals can do that now. Public/non-profit hospitals are required to take everyone.

8/6/2015 3:00:42 PM

^^ But will that hurt him with the same folks who have fostered his rise? His popularity climbed when he was deriding immigrants and attacking other Republicans. If he looks like a regular guy, then what else does he have to lean on other than knowing how to work a camera?

8/6/2015 3:09:10 PM

good article from Politico: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/08/gop-2016-debate-jeb-bush-donald-trump-121076.html?hp=t2_r#.VcOz5k3D-Uk

The slant the other candidates should take with Trump is to attack him directly in addition to saying he only became a Republican very recently for the purposes of running for President. The only reason they're not in my opinion is because they're scared of his wit which doesn't say much for them and how coached they are. He's on the record saying "yes, I was a campaign donor to Hillary Clinton". Shouldn't that be a slam dunk to attack? Imagine the flip happening of a person in a Democratic presidential primary saying "I gave money to George W. Bush".

I don't understand why he's not running as an independent. With his money he'd be like Perot and have ballot access everywhere.

[Edited on August 6, 2015 at 3:33 PM. Reason : .]

8/6/2015 3:23:22 PM

^^ i think a lot of Trump's appeal is not what he says, but how he says it. He calls people "stupid" he uses simple and brash language, he laughs off personal attacks, he's not afraid to say "if you don't like it, i don't care". He's like a WWE political candidate. Most people can't understand political issues anyway, and trump doesn't really bother to explain things (I don't know if trump himself really follows things too closely-- i'm curious to know who his confidantes are).

The GOP picks the candidate and they can easily pick however they want, but I can see Trump appealing to a lot of people. And if Trump stands by what he said earlier this week about universal healthcare and amnesty for dreamers and fast track for immigrants who are productive, i can see him pulling in independent voters too.

From a game theory perspective even, let's assume Trump does win and becomes president, Congress may shift again to Democrats, and Trump, being friends with the Clintons, might be more willing to negotiate with a democratic congress. I can maybe see Jeb being good with this, but not really any other candidate. Trump is a long shot, he's an idiot, but I honestly don't think he'd be the worst president of the Republican candidates, mostly because of what it would mean for how congress might react to him.

[Edited on August 6, 2015 at 4:32 PM. Reason : ]

8/6/2015 4:30:15 PM

8/6/2015 4:34:43 PM

8/6/2015 4:36:43 PM

the guy nobody has ever heard of cited being the governor of Virginia on 9/11 as a qualification to be President

this is amazing

8/6/2015 5:16:56 PM

this race to the bottom is fascinating to watch

nice primer for the big debate

8/6/2015 6:07:27 PM

I feel dumber having watched that.

I like how they framed the PP thing like it is actually a given they were doing something wrong or illegal from the videos. I like how they talk about the past 7 years like we haven't gone through a massive recovery, but no one brought up inequality or stagnant wages for the middle class.

Santorum's gay marriage position has to be a liability for him too. Not sure what's gotten into Graham too, he just seems like a loon.

I feel bad for Pataki, he seemed like he wanted to point out the nuttiness around him but was trying hard to keep himself reeled in.

8/6/2015 8:23:36 PM

LOL can't even login to foxnewsgo to watch the dumpster fire

8/6/2015 8:59:40 PM

Just give Trump as much mic time as possible

8/6/2015 9:01:31 PM

The intro was painful to watch and the candidates didn't even talk. And sounds like foxnews is backing fiorinna which starts the cycle of media -> polls -> media -> this is lady is stupid.

[Edited on August 6, 2015 at 9:05 PM. Reason : lol foxnews gotta protect the rnc from trump]

8/6/2015 9:05:18 PM

Looks like Fox News has picked their candidate. Everyone is getting harsh, negative reviews before having the questions asked. Jeb is the only one they've been easy on so far.

You know what, scratch that. The one getting positive attention is Hillary. Fox News is attacking their own party.

[Edited on August 6, 2015 at 9:16 PM. Reason : -]

8/6/2015 9:14:44 PM

^ I actually appreciate this opening round. Its basically been "your record is absolute garbage, why would anyone want to vote for you?" Some have gotten softer balls than others, but still some ok opening questions.

8/6/2015 9:19:52 PM

Quote :

"Earlier I suggested it’d be interesting to see how aggressively the Republican candidates go after President Obama (and Hillary Clinton) for the anemic income growth that’s been a hallmark of the economy in recent years. Sure enough, Rubio comes right out with a comment on how the economy isn’t working for middle-income Americans. Inequality — not just an issue for Democrats."

http://53eig.ht/1hmoYXv

8/6/2015 9:23:14 PM

Uh oh some people might realize that trump is a broken record.

8/6/2015 9:30:20 PM

FNC gunning for Trump with some immigration questions (as expected IMO). He's getting both raucous applause and boos from the crowd. Kasich is defending him now. and now Rubio and now Walker and now Cruz lol. Building a fence/no amnesty is obviously a litmus test for the republican nomination.

Also, as someone that NEVER watches FNC, I'm loving the commercials, random lottery plugs, club for growth, ... (the best is yet to come I think)

[Edited on August 6, 2015 at 9:38 PM. Reason : Christie pulling a Giuliani 9/11 spiel?? Fuck me]

8/6/2015 9:37:37 PM

Trump is fucking amazing

8/6/2015 9:49:27 PM

Holy god damn shit. Trump admitting that giving money to politicians means you can call in favors at some later point. Admits its a broken system but none on stage seem to suggest it should be fixed in any way

lol, this debate, and especially Trump, has been more telling than I ever thought.

8/6/2015 9:54:14 PM

Quote :

" Most promising sign of a healthy economy: There's no appetite for talking economics in the… http://53eig.ht/1UrEnDU"

8/6/2015 10:02:01 PM

I'll watch the highlights on SNL

8/6/2015 10:08:27 PM

^You're better off that way



DIS HERE IRAN DEAL IS BAD, REMEMBER WHEN YOU WAS A KID AND THEY HAD DEM HOSTAGES? REMEMBER WHEN REAGAN NEGOTIATED WITH THE SOVIETS? (ignore of course when Reagan sold them weapons and financed drug dealing terrorists in South America). I UPPOSE THIS DEAL. IRAN'S GUN IS TO OUR HEAD AND WE NEED A BUTTER DEAL [insert here what a better deal actually entails, because no specifics were given, nor any detailed alternatives given]

8/6/2015 10:21:59 PM

These debates couldn't exist if they were fact checked in real time.

8/6/2015 10:24:01 PM

Quote :

" http://53eig.ht/1JPIRkF Republicans love to claim the Affordable Care Act – you know, “Obamacare” – is killing full-time jobs. There’s precious little evidence to support that claim. The quick version of the argument is that under Obamacare, companies with at least 50 employees will have to start offering health insurance to anyone working at least 30 hours a week. In theory, that incentivizes companies to limit the number of employees working 30 hours or more. There’s lots of anecdotal evidence of that happening and, as I wrote earlier this year, some limited evidence in the jobs data, too. But let’s be clear: If Obamacare is having an effect, it’s a small one. The vast majority of hiring during the recovery has been in full-time jobs, as the chart below shows. (The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines full-time as 35 hours, not 30, so the chart isn’t a perfect measure of the law’s effect. But the big picture is clear.) click for graph: https://espnfivethirtyeight.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/casselman-datalab-debate-obamacare.png"

[Edited on August 6, 2015 at 10:28 PM. Reason : ]

8/6/2015 10:28:14 PM

or even just a decent moderator who could call them out. the moderators almost never ask follow-up questions, so the debate is really just a set of teeing up talking points

Someone should have called out Bush about the Terri Schaivo when he started talking about the culture of life (but maybe Republicans all thought the Terri Schaivo case was okay)

8/6/2015 10:28:49 PM

Carol Fox asked: What will you do to ensure that Christians are not prosecuted for speaking out against gay marriage...

it's kind of sad that idiot Republicans think that's a real concern

8/6/2015 10:33:03 PM

if Trump doesn't back out before it's too late like he did in Atlantic City, I think he wins the nomination. Because the general public doesn't fact check or give a shit about digging for details. They go for the charismatic candidate. Name me a single President in our lifetimes whose ultimate opponent had more charisma than them.

[Edited on August 6, 2015 at 10:49 PM. Reason : ultimate opponent, not 'candidate']

8/6/2015 10:38:58 PM

^ before tonight I wouldnt have agreed with that statement.

as of now it doesn't seem farfetched

8/6/2015 10:44:30 PM

personally i think Paul would do a good job, but the best candidate seldom wins

Ben Carson seems levelheaded but he has no shot. too calm and bland sounding

Trump's closing statement was kinda weak though

[Edited on August 6, 2015 at 11:04 PM. Reason : .]

8/6/2015 10:59:57 PM

If I had to pick, i'd pick Rubio.

8/6/2015 11:08:37 PM

^as for the lesser of 10 evils that you could deal with? or who you think has a legit shot of winning? i dont think he has a prayer of getting the nomination

8/6/2015 11:11:07 PM

^ of the repubs, he wouldn't win the general though, that's true. He's pretty young and comes off as a little unsure, if ambitious. Hillary would chew him up.

8/6/2015 11:13:09 PM

Some quick thoughts before the pundits tell me what to think about what I just watched.

- No major gaffe by any candidate that I noted.
- Carson exceeded expectations.
- Trump's lack of substance was evident.
- Bush appeared tentative and lacking confidence most of the night.
- Cruz did well but didn't get enough face time, deftly handled the "did God tell you to run" condescending question.
- Christie making the appeal to 9/11 in his exchange with Sen. Paul was weak.
- Sen. Paul was probably too "aggressive" for your average Republican viewer tonight.
- Kasich would have gotten crickets for most of his remarks but for the debate being in Ohio.
- How soon after dropping out of the race will Huckabee become a reverse mortgage spokesman?
- No real memorable lines/moments for either Rubio or Walker

8/6/2015 11:17:38 PM

I didn't see much of the debate and I didn't know much at all about Kasich but the answers I heard him give sounded pretty reasonable and level headed. I guess that means he has no chance.

8/6/2015 11:32:24 PM

I seriously doubt we see another Bush in the WH, he's not his brother or dad, as far as standing out in the crowd at least

[Edited on August 6, 2015 at 11:42 PM. Reason : Dubya probably lost a bet about it and owes Slick Willy a case of beer]

8/6/2015 11:41:30 PM

8/6/2015 11:59:58 PM

If it's a Senior, Religious vote that has the majority...like has been said in the past...Huckabee wins.

It really just depends on who turns out to vote. The youth vote is Rand, the Christian vote is Huckabee and the it's entertainment who gives a shit about america vote is Trump.

Rubio isn't experienced enough to match Clinton.

Cruz...potential with him has faded.

and Bush is this odd man out...he could get the nod but...something about him doesn't strike me well, although i feel bad for the fella.

8/7/2015 12:22:29 AM

a smart Republican would give all of their money to Kasich if they wanted to have a shot at beating Hillary

sadly, not enough of those wealthy donors are into what he's saying

he's the Huntsman of 2016

Quote :

" No major gaffe by any candidate that I noted."

Rubio stated that he was against abortions in cases of rape/incest

[Edited on August 7, 2015 at 12:31 AM. Reason : .]

8/7/2015 12:29:22 AM

This clown car of republicans has no chance against Hillary. The only way they sniff 270 is if Hillary isn't the democratic candidate.

8/7/2015 12:31:27 AM

Fox seems to be afraid of Trump.


That constant bullshit "panel" of bullshit Trump supporters who all of the sudden post-debate don't support Trump anymore.

The already dead Charles Krauthammer asshole continuing the anti-Trump narrative.

The further BS from the suddenly anti-Trump panel fellating Cruz and Huckabee.

All the Fox talking heads continuing their anti-trump narrative.

8/7/2015 12:53:54 AM

Quote :

"“The questions to me were not nice,” Trump said. “I didn’t think they were appropriate.” Trump especially took issue with Megyn Kelly, the Fox News host who began her first question to Trump by listing the derogatory remarks he’s made about women he doesn’t like. “I think Megyn behaved very nasty to me,” he said. Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/republican-debate-donald-trump-megyn-kelly-121132.html#ixzz3i6NYm2KM"

Almost seems like Trump is reclusing himself from the race. Not sure what he thinks he can gain by attacking the entire GOP's propaganda arm.

[Edited on August 7, 2015 at 1:14 AM. Reason : ]

8/7/2015 12:55:03 AM

[Edited on August 7, 2015 at 1:13 AM. Reason : ]

8/7/2015 1:01:49 AM

Quote :

"a smart Republican would give all of their money to Kasich if they wanted to have a shot at beating Hillary "

in my limited viewing of the debate, I thought Kasich had substance, but not enough flash to have a shot in hell at getting the nomination

8/7/2015 1:18:00 AM