Official 2016 GOP thread: Is it really going to be Donald Trump?? (3 Viewers)

[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.

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.

Apparently they define them in your eyes.

 

[timschochet]

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.

I don't find him particularly honest.

 

[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.

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.

There is nothing losing about abortion and immigration. There's nothing grown-up or immature about hashing out these positions anymore. The left has dominated the debate and has lost it in the eyes of the public. There's no other reason R's have to have the debate about it.

If anything, those two issues -- abortion and immigration -- are on the upswing again. I know you don't like paleos, but paleos form coalitions, and have influence.

 

[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.

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.

He's going to give a helluva speech at the Convention next summer.

 

[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.

Seriously?

Absolutely. There is more to do of course but except for a couple of brief remarks on Social Security and Medicare reform nothing said would held. Well maybe the FairTax, but Huckabee's "pimps and drug dealer" ruined that for me.

 

[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.

I don't find him particularly honest.

Do you think he is shtick?

 

[jwb]

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.

This is exactly me too - they'd have a good shot at my vote if they backed off those issues.

 

[Loan Sharks]

They did railroad Trump with those loaded questions. Seemed like every question they asked him focused on something he did or said in the past that would embarrass him when they brought it up. A couple others were asked one tough question about their record but every question Trump got asked was meant to put him on the defensive. I almost felt bad for him.

Going to be interesting to see how Donalds ego takes this. He may just jump to the third party now.

Absolutely, he feels outcast, treated unfairly, and he can't control the message in these debates. GOP in 2016 is dead if he does this, even 5% kills them.

That is Trumps appeal he is a Republican without being a Republican. There are lots of people like me who WANT to vote R this time but the R anti gay,abortion,jesus freak we hate hispanics thing is quite embarrassing.

Trump is a R without the religious nut factor.

For example I love Rubio, but all this "baby murder" #### isn't cool. So basically if you think abortion should be legal you are a murderer? Letting a guy be in charge who thinks you are a murderer is poor form.

 

[NorvilleBarnes]

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.

Love the crowds reaction to the wording of the question. Everyone knows it's a question designed to put Trump on the spot.

 

[Galileo]

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.

Well, the abortion and gay rights issues really are extensions of the prevailing religious ideology so I am not sure there are really 4 issues here.

 

[rockaction]

They did railroad Trump with those loaded questions. Seemed like every question they asked him focused on something he did or said in the past that would embarrass him when they brought it up. A couple others were asked one tough question about their record but every question Trump got asked was meant to put him on the defensive. I almost felt bad for him.

Going to be interesting to see how Donalds ego takes this. He may just jump to the third party now.

Absolutely, he feels outcast, treated unfairly, and he can't control the message in these debates. GOP in 2016 is dead if he does this, even 5% kills them.

That is Trumps appeal he is a Republican without being a Republican. There are lots of people like me who WANT to vote R this time but the R anti gay,abortion,jesus freak we hate hispanics thing is quite embarrassing.

This is stunning. Trump's appeal was based on the illegal immigration issue. Trump's problem is that he's Trump.

Holy ####.

 

[Ilov80s]

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.

Agreed. Everyone I know well is empoyed and doing well. Housing market has roared back. Trump and a few others talk like it is 2008 all over again.

 

[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.

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.

This is exactly me too - they'd have a good shot at my vote if they backed off those issues.

So which GOP positions do you guys actually agree with?

 

[RBM]

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.

This is exactly me too - they'd have a good shot at my vote if they backed off those issues.

What do you mean by "back off"? Change the way they feel or just sweep them under the rug and try to avoid talking about them?

 

[Ilov80s]

They did railroad Trump with those loaded questions. Seemed like every question they asked him focused on something he did or said in the past that would embarrass him when they brought it up. A couple others were asked one tough question about their record but every question Trump got asked was meant to put him on the defensive. I almost felt bad for him.

Going to be interesting to see how Donalds ego takes this. He may just jump to the third party now.

Absolutely, he feels outcast, treated unfairly, and he can't control the message in these debates. GOP in 2016 is dead if he does this, even 5% kills them.

That is Trumps appeal he is a Republican without being a Republican. There are lots of people like me who WANT to vote R this time but the R anti gay,abortion,jesus freak we hate hispanics thing is quite embarrassing.

Trump is a R without the religious nut factor.

For example I love Rubio, but all this "baby murder" #### isn't cool. So basically if you think abortion should be legal you are a murderer? Letting a guy be in charge who thinks you are a murderer is poor form.

In a primary, you have to play to the base. He sponsored a bill with incest and rape exceptions. He seemed to BS that question. I am pro-choice, but like Trump, I do hate abortion. If you think that at conception it is a human life, then abortion is straight up murder. I believe in a woman's right to choose, but I don't fault a person for being pro-life like Rubio.

 

[Galileo]

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?

According to Wiki...

Kasich served on the board of directors for several corporations, including Invacare Corporation and the Chicago-based Norvax Inc. In 2001, Kasich joined Lehman Brothers'investment banking division as a managing director.[44] He remained at Lehman Brothers until it declared bankruptcy in 2008. Lehman Brothers paid Kasich a $182,692 salary and $432,200 bonus in 2008. Kasich stated that the bonus was for work performed in 2007.[45]

 

[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.

There is nothing losing about abortion and immigration. There's nothing grown-up or immature about hashing out these positions anymore. The left has dominated the debate and has lost it in the eyes of the public. There's no other reason R's have to have the debate about it.

If anything, those two issues -- abortion and immigration -- are on the upswing again. I know you don't like paleos, but paleos form coalitions, and have influence.

Abortion is a loser issue. It might fire up the extreme right and the religious nuts, but it alienates the middle and many women.

Immigration is an important topic, but "build a taller wall" and "deport all the illegals" are really dumb positions, even if they are exactly what the mouth-breather contingent would like to hear.

 

[Mr. Pickles]

That Frank Luntz panel was money.

 

[TripItUp]

Republicans would be smart to dump gay rights and abortion. They will not beat the Dems until they give up on these.

Like I stated earlier in the thread, it feels like they are starting to give on gay rights....HUGE moment for the party IMHO and a step in the right direction for us fiscal conservatives.

 

[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.

Agreed. Everyone I know well is empoyed and doing well. Housing market has roared back. Trump and a few others talk like it is 2008 all over again.

Take a look at government debt to GDP. Not good.

The economy is "doing so well", yet the Fed is terrified to move off the zero interest rate policy for fear doing so will cause the economy to stall, not to mention pop all the asset bubbles that have re-inflated.

The economy is doing so well that you have a growing, vocal minority of people who are interested in the crap that people like Bernie Sanders are selling: namely European-style socialism. Never mind that it has worked so badly in Europe that most of the countries have massive debt problems of their own, to go with their structural unemployment issues.

 

[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.

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.

I am Republican on economic issues and Democrat on social issues. Economy always wins, $$$$.

But I will say the R economic platform has degraded badly so that is getting close to even. The R stuff is reactionary and so anti Obama that is has strayed from some fiscal and monetary policies just to be contrarian.

 

[Zegras11]

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.

Agreed. Everyone I know well is empoyed and doing well. Housing market has roared back. Trump and a few others talk like it is 2008 all over again.

Take a look at government dept to GDP. Not good.

The economy is "doing so well", yet the Fed is terrified to move off the zero interest rate policy for fear doing so will cause the economy to stall, not to mention pop all the asset bubbles that have re-inflated.

The economy is doing so well that you have a growing, vocal minority of people who are interested in the crap that people like Bernie Sanders are selling: namely European-style socialism. Never mind that it has worked so badly in Europe that most of the countries have massive debt problems of their own, to go with their structural unemployment issues.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Replay is on. Carson didn't know that the major parties in Israel were Labor and Likud? Seriously. That's way worse than when Cain didn't know about Uzbekibekistan.

-QG

 

[rockaction]

Immigration is an important topic, but "build a taller wall" and "deport all the illegals" are really dumb positions, even if they are exactly what the mouth-breather contingent would like to hear.

It's really a sad position. Trump is only functioning because of this sort of idiocy. But the S. Ct. and state courts and other political positions in vogue haven't helped by expanding rights to those that are not here legally. There are certain questions that need to be asked, yet admittedly, asked well.

I disagree with your position about the alienation of voting blocs regarding abortion; weird polling work with women is being done. They're a lot more morally sympathetic to the pro-life position than one would think; they just resent the intrusion. I happen to be to the left of most R's on both issues, so defending this is like I normally wind up. Just a counter-counter-narrative.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

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.

I don't find him particularly honest.

Really. Honesty is a big factor in politicians for you, is it?

 

[timschochet]

It's not an emphasis, no.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

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.

I thought that question to Trump was fine. Each moderator opened with one very challenging question, the first went to Trump, but then similar questions went to Christie, Kasich, Bush.

The GOP has got to think. I get the point about PC'ness for him but for god's sake think at least somewhat politically, he could have said something positive about American women OR he could have listened to Megyn's question and realized it was pointed at Hillary and he could have pointed out that Bill Clinton is the biggest misogynist in the world who has a 40 year track record of harassment and assault. He should have flipped that issue on its head. Instead 'war on women ' gets another sound bite in addition to the 'GOP civil war' bs that the DNC will be pushing tomorrow morning. And any of the candidates could have chimed in with that too without attacking Trump.

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

They're a lot more morally sympathetic to the pro-life position than one would think; they just resent the intrusion.

I understand that. I don't like it when people talk about abortions like they would talk about getting a mole removed or something like that. That bothers me to hear it trivialized in that way. And I do understand that for people who believe life starts at conception, they are obsessive because they believe it is tantamount to sanctioned murder. But they are also a small minority (<20% oppose abortion under any circumstances, according to Gallup data that has been very consistent for about 40 years) nationally, even if they are disproportionately represented within the GOP base.

 

[whoknew]

Fox News gets a lot of TOTALLY justified ####. They almost always suck.

They did a great job tonight. Those questions were tough and interesting. Great job, Fox News.

 

[rockaction]

Fox News gets a lot of TOTALLY justified ####. They almost always suck.

They did a great job tonight. Those questions were tough and interesting. Great job, Fox News.

That was the sharpest political debate I've ever seen.

Good work for THE NEWS. They branded excellently tonight.

 

[whoknew]

I don't understand why everyone is so down on Paul.

Granted I didn't pay attention to social media while watching the debate - but he CLEARLY dominated Christie in their exchange - it was embarrassing for Christie.

And then I go on social media and people though Christie won that exchange. That's really sad. Paul actually made points. Christie was ... absurd. If he'd said that when he was a US Attorney he should be fired immediately. Ridiculous.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

In our final moments here together, we’re going to allow the candidates to offer their final thoughts. But first, we want to ask them an interesting closing question from Chase Norton on Facebook, who wants to know this of the candidates: “I want to know if any of them have received a word from God on what they should do and take care of first.”

Neato

 

[rockaction]

Paul has bad hair. You heard it here first.

 

[rockaction]

In our final moments here together, we’re going to allow the candidates to offer their final thoughts. But first, we want to ask them an interesting closing question from Chase Norton on Facebook, who wants to know this of the candidates: “I want to know if any of them have received a word from God on what they should do and take care of first.”

Neato

Why not? That's a fine question. Every word in that is important. Hell, King v. Burwell was an internet commenter, too.

It sounds ridiculous. We deconstruct. But how much of life can be deconstructed? We live. We die. What's your first act as God? That's a brutally hard question given the audience.

Modern life is ridiculous. I can put up with it if you can.

 

[rockaction]

My first act as God is to decree that every 22-year-old supermodel in the world loves me.

That's my first act.

 

[skol asylum]

I don't understand why everyone is so down on Paul.

Granted I didn't pay attention to social media while watching the debate - but he CLEARLY dominated Christie in their exchange - it was embarrassing for Christie.

And then I go on social media and people though Christie won that exchange. That's really sad. Paul actually made points. Christie was ... absurd. If he'd said that when he was a US Attorney he should be fired immediately. Ridiculous.

Disagree. I think Christie destroyed Rand in that exchange.

 

[skol asylum]

Rubio may be the GOP version of Obama as a rising young star, but he doesn't seem ready for prime time to me. And he totally blew it with the abortion question.

Kasich came across as a reasonable lovable guy. I doubt hardcore red meat conservatives are looking for that though unfortunately.

 

[Billy Bats]

Trump face(s):

https://mobile.twitter.com/WorldofIsaac/status/629476411863105536

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Trump was unpresidential, didn't know the issues, offered nothing new and nothing specific, and largely avoided questions.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

I don't think any of them have a shot in the general save Kasich. Maybe Rubio, who I sort of liked tonight, but I think he will overly pander to the base too much and be damaged for the general. He seemed to do that at times tonight.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Jeb seemed way more like his brother than his father tonight. Very disappointing.

I thought Christie faired ok and won that scuffle w Paul who came off as a lunatic.

Other lunatics include Cruz, Walker, and Huck.

Carson seems smart but a little nutty and not somebody who should run any government.

I think there are plenty of democrats and independents who are looking for a reason not to vote for Hillary. Rs can win this if they play it right, but I'm not so sure that they will. Still too much crazy.

 

[jamny]

I think Walker was the biggest loser of the debate. You knew what to expect from most of the candidates and for the most part, you got it. Walker needed to do something to stand out from the crowd and he basically was a non-entity. No one is even mentioning him, good or bad.

 

[Mister CIA]

Paul has bad hair. You heard it here first.

He and Trump could revitalize the ... Whig party.

 

[rockaction]

Paul has bad hair. You heard it here first.

He and Trump could revitalize the ... Whig party.

Oooh Wee

 

[Thunderlips]

I don't understand why everyone is so down on Paul.

Granted I didn't pay attention to social media while watching the debate - but he CLEARLY dominated Christie in their exchange - it was embarrassing for Christie.

And then I go on social media and people though Christie won that exchange. That's really sad. Paul actually made points. Christie was ... absurd. If he'd said that when he was a US Attorney he should be fired immediately. Ridiculous.

He's boring...he doesn't convey much of a personality or emotion. He's like a CONSTITUTION-BOT; spewing off facts and political musings without any iota of humanity. I think he'd destroy just about everyone on that stage in a one on one or small round table debate......but I don't think he can play to the three ring circus format; although his "giving hugs to Obama" line was pretty good.

 

[Amused to Death]

I don't understand why everyone is so down on Paul.

Granted I didn't pay attention to social media while watching the debate - but he CLEARLY dominated Christie in their exchange - it was embarrassing for Christie.

And then I go on social media and people though Christie won that exchange. That's really sad. Paul actually made points. Christie was ... absurd. If he'd said that when he was a US Attorney he should be fired immediately. Ridiculous.

Because people don't care about the 4th amendment. Only the 2nd.

Oh, and I thought Paul hit the nail on the head when he rebutted Christie by telling him he had a warrant every time he prosecuted. CC didn't respond to that.

Any one else hear CC say the 9/11 attacks happened in his state? Hey Chris, you're from NJ, not NY. What attack happened in NJ again?

 

[satch]

With regard to addressing national security threats from nations and groups who seek to do us harm, which Republican candidate would be most likely to make leaders of those nations and groups think twice before doing so?

Imagine you are the leader of a nation/group who is considering an attack of some kind against the USA is n 2017. Which candidate on that stage last night would you least like to see in charge of our nation's response?

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

It has been like 9 hours since the debate ended and I can't stop thinking about how awesome it was. Are debates eligible to win Emmy Awards?

 

[rockaction]

I don't understand why everyone is so down on Paul.

Granted I didn't pay attention to social media while watching the debate - but he CLEARLY dominated Christie in their exchange - it was embarrassing for Christie.

And then I go on social media and people though Christie won that exchange. That's really sad. Paul actually made points. Christie was ... absurd. If he'd said that when he was a US Attorney he should be fired immediately. Ridiculous.

Because people don't care about the 4th amendment. Only the 2nd.

Oh, and I thought Paul hit the nail on the head when he rebutted Christie by telling him he had a warrant every time he prosecuted. CC didn't respond to that.

Any one else hear CC say the 9/11 attacks happened in his state? Hey Chris, you're from NJ, not NY. What attack happened in NJ again?

I agree with you about the 4th and general warrants. It's, to a degree, a reason for fighting the Revolution. Paul was right. I thought Paul won the exchange, too, but I'm in the bag for Paul.

That said, CC's gaffe was forgivable considering all the people from NJ that probably worked in NY. The coordination it must take between those two states is probably part of his everyday job, and he can be forgiven for a slip like that, unless it becomes a chronic thing.

 

[Apple Jack]

Trump was unpresidential, didn't know the issues, offered nothing new and nothing specific, and largely avoided questions.

So he was himself. I turned it on just as the place was howling with laughter, something about Rosie O'Donnell and then Megan Kelly asked him about the WAR ON WOMEN (I miss Fox speak, should watch it more often). What was said there?