The second debate has begun and the candidates introduce themselves. Just as a sophomore movie is rarely as good, I fear a sophomore slump.
The JV candidate has gotten off the stage and the people rejoice. George Pataki argued that the Declaration of Independence is Iranian since it puts the laws of nature and of Nature’s God over the civil laws. Bobby Jindal was very smart and got his record out. Lindsey Graham showed he has learned nothing in the last decade. Rick Santorum was Rick Santorum.
The opening statements were a good snap shot of the candidates. Rand Paul pointed out he is also a doctor! Huckabee is avuncular and funny. He kept his comments Democrat centered. Christie was memorable, Trump blunt. Rubio forgettable . Other people said things.
Carly ducks the question rightly, but calls Donald Trump “an entertainer.” Trump is given a chance to talk about business . . . and he says “we will be respected.” Trump just schooled a child-like Rand Paul. . . who decided to engage in insults with a masterful king of insults.
Scott Walker called out Trump as an “apprentice.” Walker is defending his record and is much more forceful. This is the Walker that many people thought they would see. They are being forceful.
Kasich is now being the smarmy grownup. We need to get the issues and not fighting. John Kasich is the earnest kid running for homeroom monitor. He might get the teacher’s vote.
Carson is the anti-Christie. He is thoughtful, soft-spoken, and I like him. He also sounded competent.
Carly likes the word “fester.” She managed to move through a list of talking points quickly.
Bush: “I am proven leader.” He does look a bit like a muppet and not a puppet by the way. He accuses Trump of lobbying for casino gambling. Trump pushes back on Bush so he is showing more “energy.” This deflates Bush . . . who simply does not know how to push back. Did Trump lobby for gambling? He says not and Bush says he did. What are the facts?
Cruz: he is pushing back on the notion of Iran deal and is now pointing out his great qualifications to talk about this issue. He is more on point.
Kasich keeps point out he is old.
Rand Paul will talk to everyone. Paul is voting against an agreement he will not “cut up.” He is against it before he sees if they are complying with it. If Iran is complying with a bad agreement, then is that good?
Walker does a good job showing he knows some facts about foreign policy.
Bush will help Israel and will not tear up agreements.
Mike Huckabee is on fire on Iran: not just another power but a threat to Western civilization. Is Iran that big? Even with nuclear weapons?
Trump says Obama should have used massive force and then Rubio says he would not give Obama the power to do a “pinprick.”
Rand Paul says both sides in Syria are evil. This is not true if you are a Christian. If you are a Christian, Assad is keeping you alive and overthrowing him will lead to a genocide of Christians. This is naïve.
Cruz is clear on Iran. “Under no circumstances will . . . Iran. . . have a nuclear weapon.” And now Kasich is jumping on the high moral ground as he postures as the only grownup on the stage and manages to be the most tedious person on the stage. He is also getting surly and dislikes Cruz with all his heart.
We now turn to Kim Davis. And Huckabee defends making an accommodation for her beliefs and Bush is articulate in agreeing with him. Nice job on both parties.
Kasich is “very careful.” He doesn’t want to shut down the government.
Cruz is clear on the videos from Planned Parenthood. Christie is awesome on this question . . . and points out he defunded Planned Parenthood. He is much better on this issue.
Carly says force Obama to veto this bill and gets huge applause. She is on fire as well. All the candidates are much better this debate. Bush has the right ideas, but has trouble getting to the point. He is now talking about the Reagan Rule.
Trump will “take care of women.” Well then.
Bush: “Planned Parenthood should not get a penny of government money.” Trump: “You said it.”
Walker: this is a bigger thing. Move money to women’s health.
Carly: “Women all of this country heard what Mr Trump said.”
“I think she has a beautiful face and she is a beautiful woman.” She appeared to be working on a Patronus charm while listening.
At the break, I would say that Trump throws a great counter-punch. Avoid it. The Carly/Trump exchange did not go well for him by conventional standards. Who knows by Trump standards? Cruz and Walker are most improved. Huckabee and Christie are good speakers. Cruz is clear. Everyone else vanished. Bush can’t do angry and he needs anger.
Trump is building a wall and is going to deport everyone “with heart.” This is a hard thing to imagine.
Christie knows how to enforce the law. He says Trump’s plan cannot be done. Carson asks for details.
Bush and Trump discuss the border. Bush will not deport because it is against American values. “We speak English not Spanish.” Rubio talks about his grandfather who could not speak English well. Jen Bush has asked Trump to apologize to his wife. The Bush’s Anglican values do not know how to debate Trump. His height causes him to loom over the Donald, but he cannot seem to get leverage on him.
Cruz talks about his record with a shout out to Trump. Rubio points out that we have three immigration problems. He is a good speaker and again I think he breaks through, but he also seems soft. There is something “gee whiz” about Marco Rubio.
Ben Carson is steady, calm. Do we want fire? He is not fire. He is ice and ice is cool.
Trump opposes “birth right” citizenship. Carly is grinding along . . . and is attacking Democrats. “They don’t want to solve this issue. . . ” She argues sanctuary cities. She is “fire.”
Rand Paul: “Donald Trump is right here.” He is a useless member of this debate . . .the other place Trump has been right for sure.
Carly defends her record as CEO . . . she saved jobs by saving the company. Trump attacks her job as CEO in technology. Christie says nobody cares about Carly and Donald and their careers. We need to talk about the middle class. This is rich. Politicians can talk about their careers? “I have a record. . . ” he said earlier. Christie rule: private careers are off the table, government careers are awesome.
John Kasich continues to be the Good Kid. He is a platitude hiding a snarl.
Huckabee: empower the American people. Change the tax code. Huckabee is good, but he needs more time. This stage is too large. I am not sure that eleven people works at all.
Walker had vanished for a long period of time . . . cutting taxes . . . he is talking about “jobs.” He talks about a plan, but has not gotten around to more than telling us we need “skills.” Does this include nunchuck skills?
Hugh Hewitt . . . a guy I know and like . . .
And Kasich is back to be the nicest guy in the room. He is just earnest, good, and kind . . . political Jesus. He reminds us that he is old. If John Kasich is all we have to give us a sense of hope, then hope has been abandoned.
Mistake by Carly. She referenced Christie.
The second break: Christie is better tonight. Rand Paul is gone. Huckabee cannot break through. Kasich is a snarl wrapped in piety: the unctuous Mr. Kasich. Carly is whip smart, but the attack on her CEO record stung. Trump was more subdued than I have ever seen him, but was himself. Huckabee is great when he has time, but isn’t getting enough. Walker started strong and vanished. Carson is Carson: steady surgeon’s hand?
Trump and Hugh have a friendly exchange: great team, great people.
Rubio: name checks the world. Mr. Rubio knows geography.
I am tired of hearing the most important issue is keeping us safe . . . wouldn’t Lincoln say that the most important job is be worthy of being safe and then being safe? The Rubio and Trump split screen is not good for either man: one looks too young, the other too old.
Bush still cannot explain how he is different from his dad and brother well. Why is that possible? Couldn’t someone give him a snappy answer to this question? Why? Jeb Bush is a good man, but an inarticulate man. He searches for bromides.
Trump was against Iraq.
Trump: your brother gave us Obama.
Bush: my brother kept us safe.
Walker: defends Bush and attacks Obama.
This round is going well for Trump, because at this point the War is not popular. Rand Paul made his career . . . wishing Saddam was back in Iraq?
Bush has won this round if you are a conventional Republican. Are they now a majority of the Republican Party?
Carson argues for intellect and Christie and Rubio argue for muscle. I am not sure Carson is coming across as strong enough but we also don’t just want Bush foreign policy three.
Huckabee hammers at knowing what you don’t know. For some this may be a vast realization.
Walker has a Pentecostals habit of speaking faster and faster.
Rand Paul attacks the House of Saud. Excellent….a kleptocracy of hypocritical Muslims in name only.
Carly makes her point and is appropriately tough.
Jeb wants a track record for judges. He likes Roberts.
Cruz dominates on judges. Bush defends John Roberts and that is mistake. Cruz wins the Platonic vote by denying that the justices are philosopher kings. I wept, so the form of justice, and survived the Great Wave.
Huckabee is great on the justices.
Bush is a dope fiend! This was his most human moment. Rand Paul attacks Bush for privilege! Christie wants to help prisoners and enforce federal law. Dude: Rand Paul.
Too. Much. Time. On. Pot. Carly humanizes the issue.
Trump will not get Social Security… A check that would not buy his sharp suit.
New Jersey is itself …. Contributing to global warming in Christie hot air.
Carson ends the foolish rumor about vaccines. Trump doubles down on vaccines … That can’t be a good idea. Trump and Carson seem friendly and then appear to agree, though Trump still sees an autism and vaccination correlation that Carson denies.
Huckabee declares war on all disease. Newt would agree: government does big projects well.
Stupid change of of money question … Cruz attacks Jackson which is always good. Huckabee loves his wife and Carson loves his Mom. Trump and Bush have fun with a childish question about code names. Helps both.
One word summary of last statements and the Dream:
Rand: peace Hippy Paradise
Huckabee: life Okie Paradise
Rubio: America Fourth of July Paradise
Cruz: costitution Federalist Paradise
Carson: logic Nice Paradise
Trump: great Awesome Paradise
Bush: consensus Leader Paradise
Walker: better Normal Paradise
Fiorina: lady Real Paradise
Kasich: do Ohio Paradise
Christie: you Your Paradise by Me
I don’t see any reason to think this debate changed anything. People who like their guy … Should still. Did Carly hurt Trump? Maybe. Probably not. Wind baggery.
The debate was too long. Winners … Not so much. Losers: Kasich, Christie, Walker. Bottom five, whoever it is must go from next debate.
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