I hate the CNN debate format. Jake Tapper or Anderson Cooper on one side of the stage, and Hugh Hewitt and Dana Bash on the other, brought in occasionally.
Just have one central desk with all 3 and do it properly.
Trump really just talks pie in the sky stuff. No problem with aging population, we just make America Great Again...But Mr Trump even if you cut out fraud, there is still a gap of $140 odd billion....we police the world...huh..
Cruz: Trump is right about problems, his solutions are wrong, different number, no massive tarrifs, tarrifts= great depresion, trade war, inflation, my tax plan, no price raises.
Trump: the 45% is a threat, it's not free trade it\s stupid trade, china, we cant get into china, if they not behave we will atx them, deals, jobs are going to hell.
Cruz: you are paying the tax not china, how can it helps you, it's a tax on you, it hurts you, China is good not bad, hurt jobs.
Trump: we will put a tax, and people will buy products from here not from china, we will make our own products, we are in a serious trouble.
Trump: I mean a lot of them, I was watching the debate and they were talking about radical islam, i'm sticking to what i said.
Rubio: presidents cant say just what they want, a met a couple from banghladesh, friendly muslims, a mission, leading figures are under thread, because they say that america is against islam, uniform, united states.
Trump: marco calls about consequences, 9/11, you can be politically correct, there is tremendous heat, large portions, women are treated horribly by islam, there is hatred, we better solve it before its too late.
Rubio: i'm not interested to be pollitically correct, just to be correct, planes, shia, radicals, work together with, saudis, jordan, egypt, defeat isis, work with people.
Kasich: I don't think islam hates us, there is no question, WMD's, egypt, arab muslims, Sadam, Kuweit, egypt, saudis, jordan, Turkey, Turkey should be in the EU, they can't believe those things, in th end of theday, civilized work, fence, civilization, equality.
Trump: In large mosques, death to america they say, not friendly, waterboarding, they have no laws, they chop off heads, mass murder, we have to obey the laws, we have to change them, equal footing, we are suckers.
Rubio: I will not target terrorist families, when i'm president, i will get the best intelligence in the world, Obama, smallest army in history, we can capture them, Guantanamo bay.
Cruz: we will never target civilians, we faced terrorist attacks, china bad muslims bad is not the answer, millions of radicals islamists, Trump has incidiary language, Iran wants to murder us, I will not be neutral, palestinians are terrorists, no neutrality.
Watching one of these debates in full for the first time, I understand how Trump has won some of these. Why other candidates try to put forward some sort of sensible policy, Trump just speaks unrealistic nonsense, and all these professional politics are totally thrown by this.
It is like Cameron trying to debate with the leader of the Monster Raving Loony party, whose answer to every question is Free Owls.
Trump: There is no one who is more pro isreal, i was on a parade, i gave money to isreal, i have a jewish son in law, isrealis want peace, i will negotiate it, maybe get a deal, touch negotiation, the Iran deal is the worst, I will be tough, they have to behave or else.
Cruz: Israel is a liberal democrat, billions and billions, the palestinians are all terrorists, hamas, terrorists, the palestinian authority are terrorists, now all muslims abad, egypt dictator good.
Rubio: the palestinian authority are terrorists, Trump is anti isreal, there is no peace possible, there is no one to discuss, hamas, jewish state, no territory concessions, in 30 years maybe possible, negotiations are bad for israel.
Trump: protection for israel, tough negotiation, i will like to try, i have isreali friends, everyone of them wants to see peace in israel.
Kasich: Palestinians are terrorists, iron dome, miami shoots missiles, they are coming from up down, peace is the wrong thing to do, weapons, security.
Cruz: We need to do anything to defeat ISIS, military experts, we are only using a fraction, arming the kurds, arm power needed, rules of engagement, arms tied behind back, kill the enemy, sailor, son daughter, mother father end in Jan 2017.
Kasich: 55% of policy experts recommend me, Donald Rumsfield, arabs, europeans, air and ground, shock and aw, settles down and come home, territorial changes.
Trump: knock Isis, and them come back, knock them out fast, we are not knocking the oil fr the carbon footprint, we used to fight for some reason, now we don't know why.
Rubio: 1 out 4 are vets calling me, USA Today suicide hotline, voicemail, people need to held accountable, jeff miller, bernie sanders , VA secretary, the law i passed, they should be held accountable, no one is held accountable, if im president you are fired.
Kasich: I havent seen that bill, no, healthcare for all vets, downsized and spread out, pentagon needs to share information, veteran that comes home, golden employees, no unemployed.
Rubio: I would love relationship with cuba, only if its a democracy, hundreds of millions to castro, they will entrench them, not a single chance, repressive apparatus, burma, democratic opening, democratic opening, he asked nothing, antiamerican communists, medicare money for nothing.
Trump: I will agree with Obama, i want to make a better deal, reparations threat, he would be sued for a trillion, after 50 years it's enough time, here we go we make a deal and we get sued, a good deal, i want to make a good solid deal, iran deal, we give we give I will probably keep the embassy closed until a new deal.
Rubio: cuba is going to lose the suit, cuba has free elections, free press, kicks the russians and the chinese, cuba gets rid of n.korea, get rid of terrorists, that's a good deal.
Cruz: I would get rid of diplomatic relations, do you want to continue this path, kerry and hillary, Trump supports hillary, Trump things that he should make better deals, no deals, iran and cuba are tried to murder us.
Trump: we will not make the deal until it's very good for us, many people know, great deal, not bad deal, it's a bad deal, it's a disaster, worst deal.
Cruz: Trump supported Kerry and Hillary, if only someone was smarter, we don't need smart people in government, you do not understand, iran wants to murder us.
Trump: I was against giving the money, take the prisoners back first, give us the prisoners, the deal is a disaster, the money is already gone.
Kasich: No business with cuba, what is america doing, why you wont arm ukraine, red lines in syria, egypt, netaniuahu, it's better with your enemies that's a mistakes, negotiate tough deals, the chinsese, hacking, we will attack the chinese, we will arm the ukraine, are you with us or against us, were is america, we are coming back.
Rubio: The climate is changing by itself, south florida was a swamp, do it through mitigation efforts, we can't change the weather, clean power is bad coal is good, costs to consumer, working family, business, zero impact on the environment, china, india, i live in S.Florida, it will devastate the economy if we do something about it. There is nothing we can do, there will be no change, america is a country not a planet, china and india, the mayor is a friend but, the electric bill is going up, costs working families.
Kasich: we do contribute to climate chance, but no strick environmental rules, all sources of energy, coal, gas nuclear, solar, wind, renewables, battery technology, strong economic growth.
Cruz: of course i care about the image of america, Obama, obama and churchil, apology tour, america can not be counted anymore, america, weak democratic president, jimmy carter, reagan , change overnight, iran hostages, stand with allies, strengh, rip to shreds iran deal.
Trump: I was not endorsing the tianamen square, but it did show strengh, putin is a strong leader compared with obama, i used to think merkel was a good leader until she destroyed germany , strong doesn't mean good, i say that as a fact.
Kasich: the people were heroes, china is not an enemy, but we must put heat on them, they don't own the s.china sea, cyberattacks, we will defend ourselves, we will attack china, we wont allow to manipulate their currency.
Trump once again is the only reasonable person on foreign policy, others may scream "they are all going to kill us and we should kill them first" but Trump looks at it as a businessman not a fanatic.
So far I give Trump high marks as he sounds and looks presidential.
This has been a relatively dull debate. Cruz is combative but his religious zeal is more frightening than Trump's wackiness/flakiness/obvious flaws. Rubio is almost invisible. Kasich is probably the only one of the 4 I could see myself voting for. Though, to be honest, I would be very hard pressed not to want a Republican win if Sanders is running for the Democrats. Even the worst Republican would be better than the loon from Vermont.
Trump: I hope not, i will say this, we have 35k people, when they see protesters, they have anger, they love their country, they dont like their jobs lost, there is anger, there is love for the country, but i dont condone violence. We have some protesters that are bad and dangerous, big strong guys, damage to people, the police, we fill up stadiums, pay tribute to the police, they are incredible.
Cruz: Everyone needs to show respect for the people, we've seen, for 7 years obama, obama is an emperor, how many feel disrespected by washington, people are not listened too, they need to work for the people, it's backwards, we are pledging our support to the people, on 2017 i will raise my hand on the bible to protect the constitution.
Trump: hey do me a favour, can you raise your right hand, we have fun at our rallies, the today show, they equate it to nazi germany, it was a disgrace.
Kasich: elections are important but unity is important, people may be worried about jobs, trade, college, seniors social security, you can be negative or it can be fixed, if we can come together we can solve everything.
Rubio: i'm concerned about violence, people are angry, leadership is not anger but motivation, my grandfather lived in miami, he was born in 1899, in 1969 he said americans can do anything, embrace principals.
Kasich: Math doesn't tell the story, if you went to school in ohio you got a B, you want a majority, in 1976 reagan, Ford served the country well, he pardoned Nixon, we don't know what will happen.
Trump: I think what should happen, i think i will have the delegates, only 2 can have the delegates, it's math, i would say this, if they had more delegates than me that person should win.
Cruz: Donald you are welcome to be president of the smithsoniam, people in washington wants to overturn the will of the voters, that is wrong, only 2 of us can win, me and Trump, I have beaten Trump from alaska to maine, if we nominate Trump Hillary wins, come and join us, carly fiorina, mike lee, lets beat hillary.
Trump: I beat him in 13 contests, i have 1.6 million votes more than cruz, i beat hillary in the polls, i havent even started yet.
Rubio: this election is not about me, a guy came out of a surgery and hold a sign marco rubio, that guy hasn't given up on me, i believe in the end, god , god , god.
Trump: i have not made a decision about that, i have turned 270 million down, i'm self founding, it's not a large amount, i was on the other side, i made large contributions, people control special interests, i don't want anyone to control me but the people.
Cruz: absolutely, corruption, career politicians, for 40 years Trump funded hillary, he funded the crushing of the tea party, hillary, tonight he is not pointing, wall street, ethanol, my campaign 62$ on tedcruz.org.
Trump: superpacks , ted has superpacks look at the people who give there, i know the system, i know it's broken, i was on the other side, i know the system and i will fix it.
Rubio: You can be flexible about ideas but not principles, student loans, ideas are all about education, VA, sanctions, girls scout act, obamacare, tax cuts, cut spending, fundamental issues, no tax raises or defence cuts.
Trump: it depends what comes up, reagan and tip'o neil, no one is complaning, we need to have people work and make good deals, no executive orders, brilliant authors of constitution.
Kasich: my record speaks on it's self, i reformed the pentagon, i balanced the budget, i did welfare reform, ohio was a basketcase, when i balanced the budget, ohio, ohio, conservatives will work, social security with democrats, i know how to do it.
Kasich: i have run a positive campaign, my record, my accomplishments, kids you can run for president, being positive, my family, positive, i can fix problems, american people, fighting drugs and poverty, i can take federal issues, you take the rest, illinois, ohio.
Rubio: back in my home in miami, my father was a bartender, opportunity, america is a special country, they solved problems, for 2 centuries, the moments has arrived, when i;m president, our children will inherit america.
Cruz: what an incredible nation, the son of a bartender, a mailman, a dishwasher and a businessman, defend your values, i say to hillary, you asked a third term, wages low, steel workers, we can do better, obamacare, irs, religious liberty, soldiers, firefighters.
Trump: The GOP has a great chance to embrace millions, these are great people, their love our country, supreme court, if we lose it will take centuries to recover, these love the republican party, be smart and unify.
This was a very good debate. It was very civilized, it was very quiet, i didn't even notice how fast the time pasted. Although I missed most of the first half hour, due to those ads on the youtube feed getting stuck on a loop, I can declare this debate one of the best for Trump.
Trump was very calm, very reasonable, he's channeling Ben Carson when making outrageous statements and making them sound reasonable and if it worked for Carson it works for Trump. Especially on foreign policy he showed that he is not a fanatic but a businessman.
Cruz and Rubio were doing the usual attacks that Trump is not conservative enough but those attacks fell flat, the civilized nature of the debate made those attacks very very weak and with a lack of passion.
Cruz was doing his conservative thing, nothing unusual, the interesting thing is that Cruz turned from protectionist in Michigan to a passionate free trader in Florida. Rubio was doing his old "my father was a bartender", it was pretty boring. Kasich did not attack any one like usual, and did his Ohio thing like usual.
Basically it's was a show we have seen many many times before, but without the vitriol and the energy of past debates.
My ratings.
Trump 8/10 Kasich 7/10 Cruz 7/10 Rubio 5/10
This was one of the best debates for the Republicans, everyone was better than usual, but more boring without the vitriolic infighting.
Also the only news that came out of the debate was Trump's position that who ever has the most delegates, even if it's not a majority should win the nomination.
Speedy, giving Andrew Sparrow a run for his money. - Cheers for the commentary.
Thanks. The most difficult part is trying to write down what they are saying as fast as possible in order to keep up, it results in some very amusing debate summaries.
Really some newspapers should hire me to make those live commentaries of debates, it can give you both a sense of what they are saying and be amused by the obvious absurdity of what I'm writing.
For example, Kasich was saying that Donald Rumsfeld and 55% of foreign policy experts endorsed him on foreign policy, and talked about the G.W.Bush era themes of "shock and awe" and "with us or against us", you can really understand from my live commentary that Kasich is a dangerous extremist on foreign policy and be amused by reading it.
Comments
Expect American Samoa to go Ted Cruz.
http://www.amazon.com/Chaos-Outsiders-Contested-Republican-Convention/dp/0692630163/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1455969142&sr=8-2&keywords=convention+chaos
Noone knows the rules like the Paulites.
Welcome to the 12th or 18th GOP debate for this season, in this episode.... it's more of the same.
Spoke too soon, the debate doesn't start for another half hour, that CNN clock lied again.
- or as CNN puts it @RobD - moments away
Furry from Wyoming - https://twitter.com/Tek_Roo
"BREAKING NEWS, THE CNN DEBATE IS JUST 25 MINUTES AWAY, stay tuned."
Just have one central desk with all 3 and do it properly.
I knew the other three were for it, didn't realise Kasich was.
He's not compelling at all when it comes to detail. We knew that anyway, though.
He's playing for a 0-0 draw tonight.
Cruz: Trump is right about problems, his solutions are wrong, different number, no massive tarrifs, tarrifts= great depresion, trade war, inflation, my tax plan, no price raises.
Trump: the 45% is a threat, it's not free trade it\s stupid trade, china, we cant get into china, if they not behave we will atx them, deals, jobs are going to hell.
Cruz: you are paying the tax not china, how can it helps you, it's a tax on you, it hurts you, China is good not bad, hurt jobs.
Trump: we will put a tax, and people will buy products from here not from china, we will make our own products, we are in a serious trouble.
I don't mind.
I got no clue due to those youtube ads.
Trump: I mean a lot of them, I was watching the debate and they were talking about radical islam, i'm sticking to what i said.
Rubio: presidents cant say just what they want, a met a couple from banghladesh, friendly muslims, a mission, leading figures are under thread, because they say that america is against islam, uniform, united states.
Trump: marco calls about consequences, 9/11, you can be politically correct, there is tremendous heat, large portions, women are treated horribly by islam, there is hatred, we better solve it before its too late.
Rubio: i'm not interested to be pollitically correct, just to be correct, planes, shia, radicals, work together with, saudis, jordan, egypt, defeat isis, work with people.
Kasich: I don't think islam hates us, there is no question, WMD's, egypt, arab muslims, Sadam, Kuweit, egypt, saudis, jordan, Turkey, Turkey should be in the EU, they can't believe those things, in th end of theday, civilized work, fence, civilization, equality.
Trump: In large mosques, death to america they say, not friendly, waterboarding, they have no laws, they chop off heads, mass murder, we have to obey the laws, we have to change them, equal footing, we are suckers.
Rubio: I will not target terrorist families, when i'm president, i will get the best intelligence in the world, Obama, smallest army in history, we can capture them, Guantanamo bay.
Cruz: we will never target civilians, we faced terrorist attacks, china bad muslims bad is not the answer, millions of radicals islamists, Trump has incidiary language, Iran wants to murder us, I will not be neutral, palestinians are terrorists, no neutrality.
Well thats one way of doing it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Yggw5zPfOA
I get no ads on this stream.
It is like Cameron trying to debate with the leader of the Monster Raving Loony party, whose answer to every question is Free Owls.
Cruz: Israel is a liberal democrat, billions and billions, the palestinians are all terrorists, hamas, terrorists, the palestinian authority are terrorists, now all muslims abad, egypt dictator good.
Rubio: the palestinian authority are terrorists, Trump is anti isreal, there is no peace possible, there is no one to discuss, hamas, jewish state, no territory concessions, in 30 years maybe possible, negotiations are bad for israel.
Trump: protection for israel, tough negotiation, i will like to try, i have isreali friends, everyone of them wants to see peace in israel.
Kasich: Palestinians are terrorists, iron dome, miami shoots missiles, they are coming from up down, peace is the wrong thing to do, weapons, security.
Kasich: 55% of policy experts recommend me, Donald Rumsfield, arabs, europeans, air and ground, shock and aw, settles down and come home, territorial changes.
Trump: knock Isis, and them come back, knock them out fast, we are not knocking the oil fr the carbon footprint, we used to fight for some reason, now we don't know why.
I've got Cruz ahead on points, but no big blows landed on Trump so far.
Kasich: I havent seen that bill, no, healthcare for all vets, downsized and spread out, pentagon needs to share information, veteran that comes home, golden employees, no unemployed.
Rubio: I would love relationship with cuba, only if its a democracy, hundreds of millions to castro, they will entrench them, not a single chance, repressive apparatus, burma, democratic opening, democratic opening, he asked nothing, antiamerican communists, medicare money for nothing.
Trump: I will agree with Obama, i want to make a better deal, reparations threat, he would be sued for a trillion, after 50 years it's enough time, here we go we make a deal and we get sued, a good deal, i want to make a good solid deal, iran deal, we give we give I will probably keep the embassy closed until a new deal.
Rubio: cuba is going to lose the suit, cuba has free elections, free press, kicks the russians and the chinese, cuba gets rid of n.korea, get rid of terrorists, that's a good deal.
Cruz: I would get rid of diplomatic relations, do you want to continue this path, kerry and hillary, Trump supports hillary, Trump things that he should make better deals, no deals, iran and cuba are tried to murder us.
Trump: we will not make the deal until it's very good for us, many people know, great deal, not bad deal, it's a bad deal, it's a disaster, worst deal.
Cruz: Trump supported Kerry and Hillary, if only someone was smarter, we don't need smart people in government, you do not understand, iran wants to murder us.
Trump: I was against giving the money, take the prisoners back first, give us the prisoners, the deal is a disaster, the money is already gone.
Cruz doing well too. Which is fine
Rubio: The climate is changing by itself, south florida was a swamp, do it through mitigation efforts, we can't change the weather, clean power is bad coal is good, costs to consumer, working family, business, zero impact on the environment, china, india, i live in S.Florida, it will devastate the economy if we do something about it.
There is nothing we can do, there will be no change, america is a country not a planet, china and india, the mayor is a friend but, the electric bill is going up, costs working families.
Kasich: we do contribute to climate chance, but no strick environmental rules, all sources of energy, coal, gas nuclear, solar, wind, renewables, battery technology, strong economic growth.
Cruz: of course i care about the image of america, Obama, obama and churchil, apology tour, america can not be counted anymore, america, weak democratic president, jimmy carter, reagan , change overnight, iran hostages, stand with allies, strengh, rip to shreds iran deal.
Trump: I was not endorsing the tianamen square, but it did show strengh, putin is a strong leader compared with obama, i used to think merkel was a good leader until she destroyed germany , strong doesn't mean good, i say that as a fact.
Kasich: the people were heroes, china is not an enemy, but we must put heat on them, they don't own the s.china sea, cyberattacks, we will defend ourselves, we will attack china, we wont allow to manipulate their currency.
Trump once again is the only reasonable person on foreign policy, others may scream "they are all going to kill us and we should kill them first" but Trump looks at it as a businessman not a fanatic.
So far I give Trump high marks as he sounds and looks presidential.
Over his Trump protesters.
Trump: I hope not, i will say this, we have 35k people, when they see protesters, they have anger, they love their country, they dont like their jobs lost, there is anger, there is love for the country, but i dont condone violence.
We have some protesters that are bad and dangerous, big strong guys, damage to people, the police, we fill up stadiums, pay tribute to the police, they are incredible.
Cruz: Everyone needs to show respect for the people, we've seen, for 7 years obama, obama is an emperor, how many feel disrespected by washington, people are not listened too, they need to work for the people, it's backwards, we are pledging our support to the people, on 2017 i will raise my hand on the bible to protect the constitution.
Trump: hey do me a favour, can you raise your right hand, we have fun at our rallies, the today show, they equate it to nazi germany, it was a disgrace.
Kasich: elections are important but unity is important, people may be worried about jobs, trade, college, seniors social security, you can be negative or it can be fixed, if we can come together we can solve everything.
Rubio: i'm concerned about violence, people are angry, leadership is not anger but motivation, my grandfather lived in miami, he was born in 1899, in 1969 he said americans can do anything, embrace principals.
Kasich: Math doesn't tell the story, if you went to school in ohio you got a B, you want a majority, in 1976 reagan, Ford served the country well, he pardoned Nixon, we don't know what will happen.
Trump: I think what should happen, i think i will have the delegates, only 2 can have the delegates, it's math, i would say this, if they had more delegates than me that person should win.
Cruz: Donald you are welcome to be president of the smithsoniam, people in washington wants to overturn the will of the voters, that is wrong, only 2 of us can win, me and Trump, I have beaten Trump from alaska to maine, if we nominate Trump Hillary wins, come and join us, carly fiorina, mike lee, lets beat hillary.
Trump: I beat him in 13 contests, i have 1.6 million votes more than cruz, i beat hillary in the polls, i havent even started yet.
Rubio: this election is not about me, a guy came out of a surgery and hold a sign marco rubio, that guy hasn't given up on me, i believe in the end, god , god , god.
Trump: i have not made a decision about that, i have turned 270 million down, i'm self founding, it's not a large amount, i was on the other side, i made large contributions, people control special interests, i don't want anyone to control me but the people.
Cruz: absolutely, corruption, career politicians, for 40 years Trump funded hillary, he funded the crushing of the tea party, hillary, tonight he is not pointing, wall street, ethanol, my campaign 62$ on tedcruz.org.
Trump: superpacks , ted has superpacks look at the people who give there, i know the system, i know it's broken, i was on the other side, i know the system and i will fix it.
Rubio: You can be flexible about ideas but not principles, student loans, ideas are all about education, VA, sanctions, girls scout act, obamacare, tax cuts, cut spending, fundamental issues, no tax raises or defence cuts.
Trump: it depends what comes up, reagan and tip'o neil, no one is complaning, we need to have people work and make good deals, no executive orders, brilliant authors of constitution.
Kasich: my record speaks on it's self, i reformed the pentagon, i balanced the budget, i did welfare reform, ohio was a basketcase, when i balanced the budget, ohio, ohio, conservatives will work, social security with democrats, i know how to do it.
This is very quiet, compared with the Fox debate this is very civilized.
Trump is doing great, the attacks on him fall flat due to lack of energy.
Kasich is in Ohio mode like always, but since Ohio is actually voting this time it matters.
Cruz and Rubio are struggling to contrast themselves with Trump due to the civilized nature of the debate so far.
Closing statements.
Kasich: i have run a positive campaign, my record, my accomplishments, kids you can run for president, being positive, my family, positive, i can fix problems, american people, fighting drugs and poverty, i can take federal issues, you take the rest, illinois, ohio.
Rubio: back in my home in miami, my father was a bartender, opportunity, america is a special country, they solved problems, for 2 centuries, the moments has arrived, when i;m president, our children will inherit america.
Cruz: what an incredible nation, the son of a bartender, a mailman, a dishwasher and a businessman, defend your values, i say to hillary, you asked a third term, wages low, steel workers, we can do better, obamacare, irs, religious liberty, soldiers, firefighters.
Trump: The GOP has a great chance to embrace millions, these are great people, their love our country, supreme court, if we lose it will take centuries to recover, these love the republican party, be smart and unify.
This was a very good debate.
It was very civilized, it was very quiet, i didn't even notice how fast the time pasted.
Although I missed most of the first half hour, due to those ads on the youtube feed getting stuck on a loop, I can declare this debate one of the best for Trump.
Trump was very calm, very reasonable, he's channeling Ben Carson when making outrageous statements and making them sound reasonable and if it worked for Carson it works for Trump.
Especially on foreign policy he showed that he is not a fanatic but a businessman.
Cruz and Rubio were doing the usual attacks that Trump is not conservative enough but those attacks fell flat, the civilized nature of the debate made those attacks very very weak and with a lack of passion.
Cruz was doing his conservative thing, nothing unusual, the interesting thing is that Cruz turned from protectionist in Michigan to a passionate free trader in Florida.
Rubio was doing his old "my father was a bartender", it was pretty boring.
Kasich did not attack any one like usual, and did his Ohio thing like usual.
Basically it's was a show we have seen many many times before, but without the vitriol and the energy of past debates.
My ratings.
Trump 8/10
Kasich 7/10
Cruz 7/10
Rubio 5/10
This was one of the best debates for the Republicans, everyone was better than usual, but more boring without the vitriolic infighting.
Also the only news that came out of the debate was Trump's position that who ever has the most delegates, even if it's not a majority should win the nomination.
Goodnight.
https://twitter.com/daveweigel/status/708120387490619393
https://twitter.com/chucktodd/status/708145695455363073
Even the Lutz focus groups that usually hate Trump agree:
https://twitter.com/FrankLuntz/status/708143535409618945
Trump's enemies are livid and demoralized:
https://twitter.com/jmgehrke/status/708141581078020097
https://twitter.com/DouthatNYT/status/708146639458979840
Speedy, giving Andrew Sparrow a run for his money. - Cheers for the commentary.
The most difficult part is trying to write down what they are saying as fast as possible in order to keep up, it results in some very amusing debate summaries.
Really some newspapers should hire me to make those live commentaries of debates, it can give you both a sense of what they are saying and be amused by the obvious absurdity of what I'm writing.
For example, Kasich was saying that Donald Rumsfeld and 55% of foreign policy experts endorsed him on foreign policy, and talked about the G.W.Bush era themes of "shock and awe" and "with us or against us", you can really understand from my live commentary that Kasich is a dangerous extremist on foreign policy and be amused by reading it.
Goodnight.