Live Blog of New Hampshire Republican Debate

Live Blog of New Hampshire Republican Debate February 6, 2016

Reagan mastered the rules of his time.
Reagan mastered the rules of his time.

Usual rules apply: I will post my thoughts as they come, lightly edited, if edited at all.

My call for Iowa held up and my call for New Hampshire has always been: Trump, Rubio, Cruz. Trump must win New Hampshire. Cruz would harm Rubio by coming in second. If Rubio comes in second, then Bush, Kasich, and Christie will drop out of the race. If he comes in a distant third, then there is room for one governor.

Bias Alert: I have given money to Cruz and Jindal (now dropped out) in the past. I have good friends who work for Rubio, Cruz, and Trump. I have not endorsed anyone since Walker dropped out the race. He was my early favorite. I have urged Bush and Carson to drop out of the race.

Trump is here having learned that debates are not optional. New Hampshire is eccentric and I would not trust the polls. GOP voters will be looking tonight and could change their minds. He is a master communicator and needs the “equality” that the stage gives him.

Rubio killed the “bounce” that Cruz might have gotten. The governors are splitting enough vote that if they fade more, either Cruz or Rubio could benefit. In short, this is Trump’s debate to lose, but if he loses it, then the results could be “huge.”

Cokie Roberts is alive! I have not seen here since the 1990’s!

ABC is the 1990’s network. The amount of pro-Clinton and anti-Trump rhetoric is like the 1990’s asking for their politics back. The very look of the set is from the Ghost of Republican Party Past. The appearance of John McCain and Lindsay Graham, who cannot get pizza when together in Iowa, as the crabby old men in the balcony would only have been funny if it had not been so painfully true.

Ben Carson and Donald Trump refused to exit. Something very weird is happening. I think Carson could not hear. I hope so. That was X-Files like.

Trump and Cruz: “Would Trump nuke Denmark?”

Trump: I have the best temperament. He brought up illegal immigration and Islam. “I am not the one with a trigger.” This was a good answer.

Cruz: experience, knowledge. World is more dangerous. Goes after Obama. His podium is too live and so he cannot touch it. Cruz dodges Trump so that he does not give Trump more time.

Why does Trump get to respond? “We are going to win with Trump.” That was a nothing exchange.

Two attempts to stir up the candidates to fight each other. Carson engages in a passive aggressive attack. “Washington ethics” . . . is this an attack?

Cruz may have been humanized by that answer. Carson and Cruz are in a delightful exchange. Cruz is known as “nasty” and so this is good.

Another GOP candidates attack each other question . . .

Marco refuses to attack the GOP . . . and then gives a shout out to Joe Biden (Hillary fuming) as the most experience and then goes positive. Chris Christie says that “you have not been involved in a consequential decision.” Christie goes blisteringly negative . . . and so now a guy we already dislike goes negative.

Christie and Rubio and drive by information and speech. . . “see Marco.”

Chris Christie is a nasty and ugly man. Rubio tended to repeat himself. . . and that was bad, but he also counter-punched well against a man that looked petty and small. Christie cannot leave too soon. Bush is punching Rubio. Everyone is punching Rubio.

Yet another question about how a GOP candidate stinks. . . repeating attacks. Cruz hits this deep out the park. He attaches this to the Clinton administration. Should the US destroy the missile on the ground? Cruz just took out the questioner by pointing out he has intelligence on ISIS and not immediate intelligence on North Korea.

The ABC person engages in the debate. She seems to think she is a participant. Can we get rid of moderators?

Kasich blathers. He is helped by the fact that nobody is going to attack him.

The Rubio backers in my room felt that the pressure caused Rubio to crack . . .and he should stay out of  punching down. Bush is winning this debate currently. Really. He is sane, sensible, and nobody is attacking him.

Red Line: would you consider military action? President Obama doesn’t know what he is doing. Trump shifts to China . . . and is right to relate that to North Korea. “Let China solve the problem.”

Rubio and Trump agree on China and North Korea. That was good move by Rubio.

Bush shows knowledge, energy, clarity. Where has this guy been? Is free knowing things are almost over?

Christie, the Frankenstein monster of the GOP, speaks (again) of being a federal prosecutor. Toughness. Strength. He is a bully boy. Christie is the combination of corrupt mob politics, GOP elite Wall Street opinion, and moral turpitude in the Pillsbury Dough Boy’s body.

Kasich argues for immigration reform.

Cruz: “how to deport?” He has laid a plan. Cruz is on a roll. He suggest Donald Trump should build the wall. Trump looks .  . . adult in his response.

Once again we are asked questions that put the GOP candidates against each other: Christie vs. Rubio again.

Christie now talks about how he has tough.

Trump now tells the truth about insurance. I worked for the industry briefly and it is corrupt. This attack on the current system is good, but does not address exactly what we are going to do. “We are going to take care of those people . . .”

We all agree that nobody should die on the street.

Cruz: “socialized medicine does not work.” He then talks about rationing. Cruz has done well and nobody is attacking him. That tells you all you need to know about the polls.

Dr. Carson, my Eisenhower era Dad, says: “Why was Dr. Carson invited to this debate? He has no chance.” Carson has proposed a “health empowerment account.” I have no idea what that is but it sounds healthy, empowering, and accountable.

Insight: nobody likes the middleman, but that is the job that most of us have.

Trump now talks . . . about eminent domain: we need it. I would use government to build a pipeline, but not a casino.

Jeb Bush is smoking . . . Trump just attacked the audience. This is usually a bad idea . . . but . . . is it true that only donors could get here? If so, then Trump is right.

This is the worst debate yet. They are intrusive, ill informed, and opinionated.

The question: is Christie the designated hit man for the Establishment on Rubio? Bush versus Trump for the first time may have been a draw.

ABC’s white old people say that Rubio got rattled, and he did repeat himself, is that message discipline or dullness? Is ABC the network of tomorrow if tomorrow is 1997?

Kasich is for helping people. He wants all to rise. He is a compassionate conservative. This is a good answer.

Rubio on conservatism: “limited government, free enterprise, (we can make poor people richer), strong defense” No social conservatism.

We are gone in his mind? Post-Iowa?

Trump: jobs back from Mexico. He opposes TTP and monetary manipulation. How? How? Will Christie take on Trump like he did Rubio?

Another attack question for the candidates. “John is a governor.” Things are good in Jersey. Kasich has grown government. Executive experience matters. He passes on Trump.

Christie is the Establishment hitman on Rubio. Chris Christie is the Cthulhu of this race: eating all before him but not for the benefit of even his followers. He will eat you last.

Christie on raising taxes on millionaires . . . it doesn’t work.

Cruz advocates “carpet bombing” on ISIS. Yet another “hit question” . . . Cruz believes Jihadist University should be bombed.

Cruz is not being attacked and so is winning this debate. Trump is doing well.

Christie has shown Rubio’s limits . . . or has he? Rubio needs to show he can pivot.

Rubio gives us some new data. Rubio appeals to Sunni Arabs. This is sound, because he is not getting in the mud and is not repeating talking points.

Rubio has recovered by giving detailed answers to Sunni, Kurd, Shia violence issues. The moderator was intrusive again. She is now debating Rubio again. Rubio wins this round easily.

Trump “hits the oil.” He talks about banking. This is also a good answer. Why is this moderator debating Mr. Trump? What is the point of her being here? She is running for nothing and accountable to no one.BC

And so the ABC moderator speaks more than Carson or Kasich and asks another speech like “question. . . .” ABC.

Waterboarding is “not torture.” says Cruz. Cruz pauses  . . . and says he would not let lower level people use it.

Trump would bring “worse than waterboarding.” I am fairly sure we cannot “out Medieval” ISIS. Of course, since the Middle Ages were not the great age of torture or pain that everyone imagines . . . these are later things (Reformation/Renaissance).

Killing people is not the answer, we should not close Guantanamo. Has the Bush campaign bought all the tickets? He says nothing and gets applause.

Rubio will rule nothing out . . . and turns to the attack on Obama. Good job.

Cruz: Abolish the IRS.

Trump on “making deals.” A good deal maker would make great deals . . . Reagan and Tip O’Neil. This is strong Trump answer.

John Kasich doing well. If I can stay awake . . . OH NO! Americans before party. . . Kasich has gone back to running for homeroom president.

Bush bring up the Tenth Amendment. Jeb Bush is doing well. Christie has disappeared, because he is only here to attack Rubio. Kasich and Bush have teamed up to stay alive.

Another attack question on the Republican frontrunners. . .

Cruz is very human tonight. “This is an epidemic.” This is the most likeable moment that Cruz has ever had. I like this Ted Cruz.

Christie is a former federal attorney! Wow! Who knew. . . pompous assery.

Christie stares at the camera and is freaking us out.

HRC as first woman candidate:

Trump: polls . . . HRC does not want to run against him. We have a toy wall now . . .I hope it is made of Legos. That would be so cool?

Rubio: historic turnout in Iowa. He is uniting here. 2016 is not a choice .. .  it is a referendum on the future of the country.

Carson on the “narrative.” HRC is “deceitful.”

Summary so far:

Chris Christie is an irritating twit.

Rubio got stuck on a talking point, but later on foreign policy showed real chops.

Bush has purchased the audience.

Trump has been calm.

The moderators are horrible. And now ABC is telling us that Kasich is winning. Trump is having a great debate . . . they say.

I promise: internal campaign polls show Trump is in decline and Rubio rising. Watch the candidates.

Rubio good on Islam and down on home grown “violent extremism.” Rubio points that Christian groups are being discriminated against.

Christie gets another question. I will vote for the nominee. If I have to vote for Chris Christie, it will be with the help of Talisker.

Dr. Carson on the virus. Do we quarantine people if there is evidence of infection? Yes. We should.

Dr. Carson has just convinced me that he should be Surgeon General or head of HHS.

Rubio gives a sensible answer to the military question. Bush is rambling a bit . .. but then this was a stupid question.

Is the ABC moderator running for President? If so, I vote “no.”

Christie “our women” . . . does he have them in binders?

Dr Carson for head of VA! Head of HHS! Surgeon General!

Jeb Bush brings up Civil Service Reform . . . James Garfield lives! Bush tells a funny story. Garfield lives again! Bush/Trump: Garfield/Arthur.

Kasich: Ohio is the US. Kasich has sewn up the VP nomination.

Rubio . . . again tells a good story. . . and is able to make the point about the VA. He will let people take VA benefits any where.

Trump: we cannot negotiate with terrorists. We cannot do this. This is also a good answer. “I raised six million dollars for the Vets.”

Rubio: I respect disagreement.

Rubio just won the abortion question by attacking the media. That was lovely Why doesn’t  the media ask this question of HRC?

Bush: “I am in the sweet spot.”

Rubio . . . “I would rather lose an election that be wrong on the issue of life.”

Christie . . . HRC is an extremist. “Rape” or “incest”  . . . self-defense . . . abortion.

Idiotic question about the Super Bowl. . .

So here is the deal: let’s get rid of people who don’t place in the top three in Iowa or New Hampshire. Period. Having candidates with “nothing to lose” in a debate, that on one will attack.

Chris Christie: can we “terminate” his candidacy? If I were in New Jersey, I get voting for him. I have used my free will to avoid New Jersey for years . . . we can do better nationally.

If you say that if you are in New Jersey, I would vote for Christie, I agree. Given that choice I would move to Texas

Kasich: I need to stay alive. See you VP Kasich.

Christie: serving the people. Narcissi of the world unite. You have nothing to lose but your identity.

Bush: Reagan. Proven record. Limited government. Skills. Bush bear. You were good. You were too late.

Carson: “You cannot survive. I am not going anywhere.” Just nothing. Them not “it.”

Rubio: “cute kids” . . . what kid of country?

Cruz: I campaigned against ethanol. Get back to the Constitution. Bipartisan corruption.

Trump: attacks Cruz. This was a bad move I think. We need to win. This is the one misstatement of the debate. Win, win, win.

Bottom line:

Christie annoyed me more than any single Republican in our time.

Rubio was bloodied, but ended unbowed. His prolife answer moved me.

Kasich is the VP choice.

Bush bought the crowd, knew it, and was comfortable.

Trump was in command until his close. I thought that weak.

Caron: He is a good man.

Cruz: had the best debate in a long time. May have run.

ABC was an epic fail. Chris Christie is an overly stuffed suit full of bully boy bluster, bloviating, bluff.

 

 

 

 

 


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