Official 2016 GOP thread: Is it really going to be Donald Trump?? (4 Viewers)

[Doctor Detroit]

The focus group favorites are Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee

And there is what is wrong with the country in one fell swoop.

Huckabee, from what I saw, gave great answers and is an evangelist of epic proportions.

Underestimate him in debates at your own risk, really.

I have a better chance at being president, sorry. I mean....I'd be pretty great and all. Legalizing prostitution and weed would be my first executive order.

Where can I send my donation?

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530-0001

 

[Rirruto]

The focus group favorites are Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee

And there is what is wrong with the country in one fell swoop.

Huckabee, from what I saw, gave great answers and is an evangelist of epic proportions.

Underestimate him in debates at your own risk, really.

The moderators were straight up laughing at him.

Great. Laugh at him with the rest of the country when he places in Iowa. I'm not talking about who I like; I'm talking about the debate as a spectacle.

He said we should disregard the Supreme Court regarding abortion. Every time the Hucksters face is out there, the Rs lose general election votes.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

The focus group favorites are Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee

And there is what is wrong with the country in one fell swoop.

It's ridiculous what people latch onto when picking a candidate. "Huckabee was so eloquent". The dude is a borderline lunatic who would do irreparable damage to the party , but he speaks eloquently so I guess I'll vote for him.

 

[General Tso]

Rand Paul called it right on Trump though...

https://grabien.com/file.php?id=53987

...nailed it. That's what he's doing. He's going to either win the nom and destroy the GOP or run as 3rd party and destroy them that way and either way he gains big with the Clintons.

I said this in the other thread, but I don't believe for one minute that Trump would run as an Independent. At the start of the campaign he was asked this directly on one of the Sunday morning shows and he dismissed it out of hand, saying that he knows it would only help the Democrats and that "we can't have that happen".He is just showing everything that he is serious and in it to win it. Most of all he wants to maximize his leverage when it comes time to cash it in. I could be wrong, but that's the way I read it.

 

[Smack Tripper]

Huck is a great debater... but his day has come and gone... and he's unelectable...

I dont' see one guy up there that is really someone that America would cozy to voting for.

I guess Rubio, but I don't think he'll survive the GOP. Walker too, but he could never in his wildest dreams win ohio, and would be uphill in PA. Thats tough math to start with

 

[QuizGuy66]

I want to see a single photo of Christie hugging a family after 9/11.... these guys call that a good comeback to Paul SMASHING Christie on Hugging Obama, which on the merits is a stupid point but one that he has to live with.

The Christie that was Governor on 9/11 was Christie Whitman.

During the Sandy aftermath Chris Christie was an almost pathological hugger.

-QG

 

[rockaction]

The focus group favorites are Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee

And there is what is wrong with the country in one fell swoop.

Huckabee, from what I saw, gave great answers and is an evangelist of epic proportions.

Underestimate him in debates at your own risk, really.

The moderators were straight up laughing at him.

Great. Laugh at him with the rest of the country when he places in Iowa. I'm not talking about who I like; I'm talking about the debate as a spectacle.

He said we should disregard the Supreme Court regarding abortion. Every time the Hucksters face is out there, the Rs lose general election votes.

Or tap into a weird Midwestern and Southern economic and social populist sentiment that people ignore. It's not that easy, though I agree that he's a lousy candidate.

He did well tonight. It's clear from the results and I suspected it from all my years of watching this garbage.

 

[Tiger Fan]

Why are people saying Trump got crushed? Didn't he do exactly what everyone expected him to do...and what he's been doing so far?

 

[rockaction]

The format was pointed, and Trump was bluster.

 

[timschochet]

Rand Paul called it right on Trump though...

https://grabien.com/file.php?id=53987

...nailed it. That's what he's doing. He's going to either win the nom and destroy the GOP or run as 3rd party and destroy them that way and either way he gains big with the Clintons.

It's not him. It's the party.

Look, there is a disconnect between the base of the party and the bulk of the American people, and there's your problem. If the GOP ends up nominating Bush or Kasich, then there WILL be a 3rd party guy, whether it's Trump or somebody else, and at least some conservatives will either vote for him or stay home, and Hillary wins.

If, on the other hand, the GOP nominates some guy more pleasing to the base, then there won't be a 3rd party candidate, but that won't matter because the general public won't vote for the GOP guy. So Hillary wins.

Until the Republican party is willing to move away from the social and immigration issues that the base is demanding, this is the way it's going to be. The Democrat is going to win the national election.

 

[BustedKnuckles]

The focus group favorites are Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee

And there is what is wrong with the country in one fell swoop.

Huckabee, from what I saw, gave great answers and is an evangelist of epic proportions.

Underestimate him in debates at your own risk, really.

The moderators were straight up laughing at him.

Great. Laugh at him with the rest of the country when he places in Iowa. I'm not talking about who I like; I'm talking about the debate as a spectacle.

He said we should disregard the Supreme Court regarding abortion. Every time the Hucksters face is out there, the Rs lose general election votes.

Or tap into a weird Midwestern and Southern economic and social populist sentiment that people ignore. It's not that easy, though I agree that he's a lousy candidate.

He did well tonight. It's clear from the results and I suspected it from all my years of watching this garbage.

He'll rule this country with fire and brimstone !!!!!!!!

 

[Smack Tripper]

I want to see a single photo of Christie hugging a family after 9/11.... these guys call that a good comeback to Paul SMASHING Christie on Hugging Obama, which on the merits is a stupid point but one that he has to live with.

The Christie that was Governor on 9/11 was Christie Whitman.

During the Sandy aftermath Chris Christie was an almost pathological hugger.

-QG

Exactly... and the long view of the sandy work has been spotty but I'll credit him for being visible and I don't think him hugging obama is a big deal but I know it was toxic in GOP circles

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Tao you may be right but that is a really high stakes game being played.

 

[Smack Tripper]

Why are people saying Trump got crushed? Didn't he do exactly what everyone expected him to do...and what he's been doing so far?

I don't hear any PEOPLE saying it, or at least not on my social media... if anything they were surprised... Fox is making the facts fit the narrative,

All you need to know is msNBC and Fox both came out swinging on Trump... I'm almost tempted to say he HAS to be doing something right

 

[General Tso]

Huck is a great debater... but his day has come and gone... and he's unelectable...

I dont' see one guy up there that is really someone that America would cozy to voting for.

I guess Rubio, but I don't think he'll survive the GOP. Walker too, but he could never in his wildest dreams win ohio, and would be uphill in PA. Thats tough math to start with

In my mind Rubio is the only one I can see winning. His statement tonight that he is the future would resonate in an election against 68 year old Hillary. He's got the Hispanic vote, he strikes a nice balance on the important immigration issue (parents were immigrants, but he is tough on the issue), he would likely win Florida...He is exactly what the party needs right now. Fresh young face. Smart. Multi-cultural. Honest. He just needs to overcome the youthful vibe, which can easily be accomplished with the right coaching.

 

[rockaction]

The focus group favorites are Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee

And there is what is wrong with the country in one fell swoop.

Huckabee, from what I saw, gave great answers and is an evangelist of epic proportions.

Underestimate him in debates at your own risk, really.

The moderators were straight up laughing at him.

Great. Laugh at him with the rest of the country when he places in Iowa. I'm not talking about who I like; I'm talking about the debate as a spectacle.

He said we should disregard the Supreme Court regarding abortion. Every time the Hucksters face is out there, the Rs lose general election votes.

Or tap into a weird Midwestern and Southern economic and social populist sentiment that people ignore. It's not that easy, though I agree that he's a lousy candidate.

He did well tonight. It's clear from the results and I suspected it from all my years of watching this garbage.

He'll rule this country with fire and brimstone !!!!!!!!

I get the laughter. But the guy is a ten-year governor of a big state and hosts a television show on a famous network. Rube accusations aside...

he's not a guy to take lightly in a ten-person debate. He'll clean your clock with an answer.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Trump didn't get crushed, but there are a few better politicians than him in this race. Narrow this down to three with Trump and he;s toast IMO. Unless the other two are candidates of the "focus group."

 

[Ilov80s]

Cruz just seems slimy to me. Looking and listening to him just makes me cringe.

Looks like he walked off the set of Boardwalk Empire.

 

[Smack Tripper]

Huck is a great debater... but his day has come and gone... and he's unelectable...

I dont' see one guy up there that is really someone that America would cozy to voting for.

I guess Rubio, but I don't think he'll survive the GOP. Walker too, but he could never in his wildest dreams win ohio, and would be uphill in PA. Thats tough math to start with

In my mind Rubio is the only one I can see winning. His statement tonight that he is the future would resonate in an election against 68 year old Hillary. He's got the Hispanic vote, he strikes a nice balance on the important immigration issue (parents were immigrants, but he is tough on the issue), he would likely win Florida...He is exactly what the party needs right now. Fresh young face. Smart. Multi-cultural. Honest. He just needs to overcome the youthful vibe, which can easily be accomplished with the right coaching.

I just can't see much of the GOP base voting for a minority when they are alone in the booth.

 

[rockaction]

When did I start defending Mike Huckabee as a candidate for the Presidency of the United States?

Holy ####, I need somebody to wipe me off.

 

[General Tso]

Tao you may be right but that is a really high stakes game being played.

Trump is t in this to win the Presidency. He's in it to gain influence, and to cash in on it.

 

[timschochet]

Huck is a great debater... but his day has come and gone... and he's unelectable...

I dont' see one guy up there that is really someone that America would cozy to voting for.

I guess Rubio, but I don't think he'll survive the GOP. Walker too, but he could never in his wildest dreams win ohio, and would be uphill in PA. Thats tough math to start with

In my mind Rubio is the only one I can see winning. His statement tonight that he is the future would resonate in an election against 68 year old Hillary. He's got the Hispanic vote, he strikes a nice balance on the important immigration issue (parents were immigrants, but he is tough on the issue), he would likely win Florida...He is exactly what the party needs right now. Fresh young face. Smart. Multi-cultural. Honest. He just needs to overcome the youthful vibe, which can easily be accomplished with the right coaching.

Regarding the bolded, it's just not true. He may have it in Florida (perhaps) but certainly not nationwide.

I also think that Rubio's answer tonight about abortion is going to kill him nationwide with women. Just kill him. I used to think he had a shot, but Hillary wins in a landslide against him.

 

[Willie Neslon]

Huck is a great debater... but his day has come and gone... and he's unelectable...

I dont' see one guy up there that is really someone that America would cozy to voting for.

I guess Rubio, but I don't think he'll survive the GOP. Walker too, but he could never in his wildest dreams win ohio, and would be uphill in PA. Thats tough math to start with

In my mind Rubio is the only one I can see winning. His statement tonight that he is the future would resonate in an election against 68 year old Hillary. He's got the Hispanic vote, he strikes a nice balance on the important immigration issue (parents were immigrants, but he is tough on the issue), he would likely win Florida...He is exactly what the party needs right now. Fresh young face. Smart. Multi-cultural. Honest. He just needs to overcome the youthful vibe, which can easily be accomplished with the right coaching.

I think he's done just that with the comb over.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

When did I start defending Mike Huckabee as a candidate for the Presidency of the United States?

Holy ####, I need somebody to wipe me off.

Yeah, you can do better. Huckabee is the homeless guy selling Washington Post papers candidate.

 

[General Tso]

Huck is a great debater... but his day has come and gone... and he's unelectable...

I dont' see one guy up there that is really someone that America would cozy to voting for.

I guess Rubio, but I don't think he'll survive the GOP. Walker too, but he could never in his wildest dreams win ohio, and would be uphill in PA. Thats tough math to start with

In my mind Rubio is the only one I can see winning. His statement tonight that he is the future would resonate in an election against 68 year old Hillary. He's got the Hispanic vote, he strikes a nice balance on the important immigration issue (parents were immigrants, but he is tough on the issue), he would likely win Florida...He is exactly what the party needs right now. Fresh young face. Smart. Multi-cultural. Honest. He just needs to overcome the youthful vibe, which can easily be accomplished with the right coaching.

I just can't see much of the GOP base voting for a minority when they are alone in the booth.

A bunch of them did in the last two elections. And I was one of them. (Almost ashamed to admit that now)

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Tim I agree with your second point but not your first one, Trump is the only one who poses even a remote third party threat.

I will say that someone should have stood up to Trump when he went after Megyn, it was an ugly moment and it's the second bad rap playing into the war on women hash that Hillary will be slinging. Bush especially is a weak fish and not one of those guys acted like a leader with their fellow politics so how could they act like a leader for the people? Same thing when Trump trashed all politicians as stupid, no one stood up and took the reins. Sad really.

I do think on paper the governors of FL, OH, Tx, WI all lead good economies, but all I can remember is social issues talk.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

I saw only a little bit of the second debate (none of the first), but it seems to me that the field of Republican candidates as a whole is significantly stronger this time around than it was four years ago.

 

[Smack Tripper]

Still don't understand how a Canadian is allowed in the presidential race when he attacked Obama for being a Kenyan

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Still don't understand how a Canadian is allowed in the presidential race when he attacked Obama for being a Kenyan

Yep agree.

 

[General Tso]

Huck is a great debater... but his day has come and gone... and he's unelectable...

I dont' see one guy up there that is really someone that America would cozy to voting for.

I guess Rubio, but I don't think he'll survive the GOP. Walker too, but he could never in his wildest dreams win ohio, and would be uphill in PA. Thats tough math to start with

In my mind Rubio is the only one I can see winning. His statement tonight that he is the future would resonate in an election against 68 year old Hillary. He's got the Hispanic vote, he strikes a nice balance on the important immigration issue (parents were immigrants, but he is tough on the issue), he would likely win Florida...He is exactly what the party needs right now. Fresh young face. Smart. Multi-cultural. Honest. He just needs to overcome the youthful vibe, which can easily be accomplished with the right coaching.

Regarding the bolded, it's just not true. He may have it in Florida (perhaps) but certainly not nationwide.I also think that Rubio's answer tonight about abortion is going to kill him nationwide with women. Just kill him. I used to think he had a shot, but Hillary wins in a landslide against him.

I agree with you about the abortion issue. It's his biggest hang up. But I think it is more than offset by his general appeal to women. The chicks dig him. So in a weird way it might be one of those issues that works out for him. It gets him the conservative vote in the Primary and probably doesn't hurt him all that much in the general election. Abortion ain't getting repealed. People aren't threatened by pro-life politicians anymore.

 

[rockaction]

When did I start defending Mike Huckabee as a candidate for the Presidency of the United States?

Holy ####, I need somebody to wipe me off.

Yeah, you can do better. Huckabee is the homeless guy selling Washington Post papers candidate.

At the risk of sounding unfair to the plight of the largely mentally indigent, he's the homeless guy selling papers about the homeless to the homeless.

 

[General Tso]

Trump coming up next on Hannity.

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

Kasich wisely did not mention WHERE he worked in the private sector. That would be Lehman Brothers, just before it went BK.

OMG. He must be responsible for the housing bubble and the European sovereign debt crisis!

 

[Willie Neslon]

I will say that someone should have stood up to Trump when he went after Megyn, it was an ugly moment and it's the second bad rap playing into the war on women hash that Hillary will be slinging.

She didn't really ask him a question. She pointed out that he said bad things about women on the internet and his reality show. He was right to be annoyed by that. All he said was that he was nice to her in the past and she wasn't being nice to him by basically trying to embarrass him with quotes from a tv show. I thought she was awful the entire debate, not as bad as Paul but pretty bad.

 

[General Tso]

I will say that someone should have stood up to Trump when he went after Megyn, it was an ugly moment and it's the second bad rap playing into the war on women hash that Hillary will be slinging.

She didn't really ask him a question. She pointed out that he said bad things about women on the internet and his reality show. He was right to be annoyed by that. All he said was that he was nice to her in the past and she wasn't being nice to him by basically trying to embarrass him with quotes from a tv show. I thought she was awful the entire debate, not as bad as Paul but pretty bad.

I agree. I'm a huge Megyn fan. Absolutely love the lady. But she was out of line tonight with a lot of her questioning.Trump is a fair guy. He very rarely punches first. But he counterpunches like no other. Megyn had it coming.

 

[Voice Of Reason]

Some combination of Rubio or Bush and Walker stand the best chance to win the election. Guessing the party will start to push that combo at some point in the near future.

However, I think the Republicans have really underestimated Trump. The networks love him because of ratings but they actually let him into the room and Trump actually thinks he has a chance. Trump isn't stupid, he very much saw Fox News turn on him. If he feels slighted by the Republican Party and is willing to go down swinging, that is a big problem for the GOP.

 

[Loan Sharks]

God? This is where I have serious problems with the republican party

This.Abortion too.

And the gay rights and the immigration.

It is sad that these 4 topics make me think of the GOP as some sort of political organization that had debates on a black and white tv. If they shed these items it would revitalize the GOP. I just don't understand the pandering to the way right wackos, capture the center what is a right extremist gonna do? vote for Clinton? I think not. The extreme right is a captive audience.

 

[Bottomfeeder Sports]

I must live in a different country than these guys. I thought things have been going pretty well recently. Didn't know that there was so much doom and gloom out there.

 

[General Malaise]

Cannot wait to see a replay tonight. This sounds glorious.

Did it to yourselves, GOP.

 

[Slapdash]

Kasich wisely did not mention WHERE he worked in the private sector. That would be Lehman Brothers, just before it went BK.

OMG. He must be responsible for the housing bubble and the European sovereign debt crisis!

If Kasich is proud of his work with Lehman, why can't he mention the company? What was his role there?

 

[NREC34]

God? This is where I have serious problems with the republican party

This.Abortion too.

And the gay rights and the immigration.

It is sad that these 4 topics make me think of the GOP as some sort of political organization that had debates on a black and white tv. If they shed these items it would revitalize the GOP. I just don't understand the pandering to the way right wackos, capture the center what is a right extremist gonna do? vote for Clinton? I think not. The extreme right is a captive audience.

Let the wackos form an irrelevant third party. Then there's a chance I would vote Republican. Right now there is zero chance for me personally.

 

[GoFishTN]

God? This is where I have serious problems with the republican party

This.Abortion too.

And the gay rights and the immigration.

It is sad that these 4 topics make me think of the GOP as some sort of political organization that had debates on a black and white tv. If they shed these items it would revitalize the GOP. I just don't understand the pandering to the way right wackos, capture the center what is a right extremist gonna do? vote for Clinton? I think not. The extreme right is a captive audience.

There's already a party for you. They're called Democrats.

 

[Slapdash]

Trump coming up next on Hannity.

I hope this guy runs for president every election. Just awesome.

 

[General Tso]

God? This is where I have serious problems with the republican party

This.Abortion too.

And the gay rights and the immigration.

It is sad that these 4 topics make me think of the GOP as some sort of political organization that had debates on a black and white tv. If they shed these items it would revitalize the GOP. I just don't understand the pandering to the way right wackos, capture the center what is a right extremist gonna do? vote for Clinton? I think not. The extreme right is a captive audience.

You're absolutely right. Problem is, you can't reason with religious ideology.

 

[rockaction]

God? This is where I have serious problems with the republican party

This.Abortion too.

And the gay rights and the immigration.

It is sad that these 4 topics make me think of the GOP as some sort of political organization that had debates on a black and white tv. If they shed these items it would revitalize the GOP. I just don't understand the pandering to the way right wackos, capture the center what is a right extremist gonna do? vote for Clinton? I think not. The extreme right is a captive audience.

There's already a party for you. They're called Democrats.

This is pretty righteous. I'd be very surprised if the people that traffic in stock answers like this would ever vote R. You might as well stamp your foot and complain people don't agree with your side.

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

I must live in a different country than these guys. I thought things have been going pretty well recently. Didn't know that there was so much doom and gloom out there.

Seriously?

 

[Bottomfeeder Sports]

I guess my favorite lines were (paraphrasing)-

• thank god that gay marriage is no longer a wedge issue
• we didn't even get 4 hostages out of negotiating with Iran
• Iran released the hostages on the day Reagan was sworn in
• "Lead from behind"

 

[General Tso]

Trump coming up next on Hannity.

I hope this guy runs for president every election. Just awesome.

Keep him in it as long as possible. He's good for the party, if for no other reason than people are tuning in. Can't wait to see the ratings from tonight. Bet it was off the charts.

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

God? This is where I have serious problems with the republican party

This.Abortion too.

And the gay rights and the immigration.

It is sad that these 4 topics make me think of the GOP as some sort of political organization that had debates on a black and white tv. If they shed these items it would revitalize the GOP. I just don't understand the pandering to the way right wackos, capture the center what is a right extremist gonna do? vote for Clinton? I think not. The extreme right is a captive audience.

There's already a party for you. They're called Democrats.

So those four loser issues define the GOP in your eyes?

Hopefully there are some grown-ups with influence within the party who are wiser than that. If not, they should be ready to keep losing every four years.

 

[Slapdash]

Trump coming up next on Hannity.

I hope this guy runs for president every election. Just awesome.

Keep him in it as long as possible. He's good for the party, if for no other reason than people are tuning in. Can't wait to see the ratings from tonight. Bet it was off the charts.

His honesty and lack of political correctness is pretty great to watch. We need both of those, even if it doesn't have the same views I do.