Mitch Blood Green said:

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Rawhide said:

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Mitch Blood Green said:

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Mothra said:

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Mitch Blood Green said:

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RD2WINAGNBEAR86 said:

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1. Ron DeSantis was rock solid tonight. He needs to fine tune his position on abortion. His answer to the last divisive question was beautiful. Said he was not willing to vote any individual on the stage off the island. Doing so would be disrespectful.

2. Chris Christie made his disdain for Trump very clear tonight. But he also was great on policy questions. I think his stock went up greatly tonight. He said he would vote Donald Trump off the island! Most improved from previous debate.

3. Tim Scott was more decisive tonight. Love his answers regarding slavery and racism. He is truly inspiring. He showed a little bit of a fighting to win "mean streak" tonight.

4. Nikki Haley , in my opinion, took a few steps back tonight. Agree with bear2be2. She seemed to want to fight everybody on stage. Not a good look for her. I was disappointed.

5. Vivek Ramaswamy said all the right things but I still don't trust him. Can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe it is the Millennial thing. Perhaps I am biased.

6. Doug Burgum has great ideas and is very likeable. Just don't think he has enough of a national following to be a serious contender.

7. Mike Pence was uninspiring. As a pundit said on FoxNews a couple of weeks back, "Mike Pence has put more people to sleep than Mike Lindell".

Overall, not sure tonight moved the needle much for anyone vs. Trump. We really need at least 3 or 4 of these candidates to bow out for this to happen. We shall see.

---

I didn't watch but based on your assessment, why would Trump participate?

What worked for Dems is after SC, they cleared the table for Biden. If they can afford it, they should all continue through NH. If after 3 election, there's 4 candidates and Trump with the high at 16 and the 4 combined at 34, it's Trump again.

---

Yup.

In other words, we're ****ed.

---

We're looking at the real possibility that the Republicans could nominate a convicted felon for president.

---

We're looking at the real possibility that Democrats will nominate a dementia patient for president (again), who's facing their own criminal charges.

---

Yep. But some of us live in the real world. A conviction is real. "He may have dementia" isn't proof he has dementia. It's equally possible Trump has dementia.

It I'm not opposed Republican presenting proof that Biden committed a crime. Lots of weak sauce so far.

---

There's evidence everywhere, liberals will never admit it.

You could have Biden on tap incriminating himself and you still wouldn't believe it, oh wait...

Johnny Bear said:

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Frank Galvin said:

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EatMoreSalmon said:

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When is anyone just going to say it out loud? This is not a race against Biden, even if his name is on the ticket. This is a battle against an unelected Democrat apparatus plus left leaning bureaucrats who don't care what the citizens really want.

This is a party of more independent thinkers vs. a party that uses an iron fist to keep its ideology pure.
This is a party of free will vs. a party in control of what should be our laboratories of thought - major media, higher education, the majority of "news" outlets, science publications, and major professional organizations (some of which no longer truly speak for the professionals they represent.

---

That's rich, given that the GOP has become Donald Trump's personal cult.

---

I'd say the post you're responding to is right on the money - regardless of what anyone thinks of Trump.

---

You would be wrong. The post is a comparison of the parties. If the post is right about the Democrats it is still wrong about the GOP. "Free thinkers" generally do not belong to cults.

Frank Galvin said:

---

Johnny Bear said:

---

Frank Galvin said:

---

EatMoreSalmon said:

---

When is anyone just going to say it out loud? This is not a race against Biden, even if his name is on the ticket. This is a battle against an unelected Democrat apparatus plus left leaning bureaucrats who don't care what the citizens really want.

This is a party of more independent thinkers vs. a party that uses an iron fist to keep its ideology pure.
This is a party of free will vs. a party in control of what should be our laboratories of thought - major media, higher education, the majority of "news" outlets, science publications, and major professional organizations (some of which no longer truly speak for the professionals they represent.

---

That's rich, given that the GOP has become Donald Trump's personal cult.

---

I'd say the post you're responding to is right on the money - regardless of what anyone thinks of Trump.

---

You would be wrong. The post is a comparison of the parties. If the post is right about the Democrats it is still wrong about the GOP. "Free thinkers" generally do not belong to cults.

---

And you would be wrong about the premise that Trump voters are a "cult". Continually *****ing about how bad life is under dimcrat rule while continuing to vote for dimcrats (which is what by and large their voters do) is a whole lot more "cult like" in addition to just being stupid.

Frank Galvin said:

---

Johnny Bear said:

---

Frank Galvin said:

---

EatMoreSalmon said:

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When is anyone just going to say it out loud? This is not a race against Biden, even if his name is on the ticket. This is a battle against an unelected Democrat apparatus plus left leaning bureaucrats who don't care what the citizens really want.

This is a party of more independent thinkers vs. a party that uses an iron fist to keep its ideology pure.
This is a party of free will vs. a party in control of what should be our laboratories of thought - major media, higher education, the majority of "news" outlets, science publications, and major professional organizations (some of which no longer truly speak for the professionals they represent.

---

That's rich, given that the GOP has become Donald Trump's personal cult.

---

I'd say the post you're responding to is right on the money - regardless of what anyone thinks of Trump.

---

You would be wrong. The post is a comparison of the parties. If the post is right about the Democrats it is still wrong about the GOP. "Free thinkers" generally do not belong to cults.

---

Free thinkers refers to the candidates actually able to run a campaign. You read wrong. Both parties have voters who are not open minded.

Frank Galvin said:

---

Johnny Bear said:

---

Frank Galvin said:

---

EatMoreSalmon said:

---

When is anyone just going to say it out loud? This is not a race against Biden, even if his name is on the ticket. This is a battle against an unelected Democrat apparatus plus left leaning bureaucrats who don't care what the citizens really want.

This is a party of more independent thinkers vs. a party that uses an iron fist to keep its ideology pure.
This is a party of free will vs. a party in control of what should be our laboratories of thought - major media, higher education, the majority of "news" outlets, science publications, and major professional organizations (some of which no longer truly speak for the professionals they represent.

---

That's rich, given that the GOP has become Donald Trump's personal cult.

---

I'd say the post you're responding to is right on the money - regardless of what anyone thinks of Trump.

---

You would be wrong. The post is a comparison of the parties. If the post is right about the Democrats it is still wrong about the GOP. "Free thinkers" generally do not belong to cults.

---

Nah, he's right.

There are more Republicans not voting for Trump in the primary than there are Democrats that will admit men can't get pregnant, speaking of cults.

Nicki Haley playing the woman card from the bottom up.

Imagine the feminists if Vivek told her "Everytime you speak I get dumber".

Or when she said "'If you want something done, ask a woman'"
What an absolutely stupid statement.

Jack Bauer said:

---

Nicki Haley playing the woman card from the bottom up.

Imagine the feminists if Vivek told her "Everytime you speak I get dumber".

Or when she said "'If you want something done, ask a woman'"
What an absolutely stupid statement.

---

In fairness, Vivek says a lot of really stupid things about foreign policy. I'm sure it would be frustrating for someone with as much foreign policy experience as Haley has to listen to Ramaswamy speak so confidently -- and frankly, obnoxiously -- on things he has no idea about.

Jack Bauer said:

---

Nicki Haley playing the woman card from the bottom up.

Imagine the feminists if Vivek told her "Everytime you speak I get dumber".

Or when she said "'If you want something done, ask a woman'"
What an absolutely stupid statement.

---

Nicki Haley is a woman and she has made statements directed at womanhood. I perceive this as compensation to show she is capable and not weak ,as some people would have a bias against a woman. I do not have any issue with that behavior.

Vivek is a bit arrogant. He started the first debate stating all the other candidates were owned by donors. Vivek has often been wrong on some issues and Haley has corrected him, and demonstrated an experienced grasp of the topic being discussed. The fact Vivek is tied to several Chinese business dealings and was plugging TicTok in the debate deserved some frank correction and Haley was the only one who corrected him.

Guy Noir said:

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Jack Bauer said:

---

Nicki Haley playing the woman card from the bottom up.

Imagine the feminists if Vivek told her "Everytime you speak I get dumber".

Or when she said "'If you want something done, ask a woman'"
What an absolutely stupid statement.

---

Nicki Haley is a woman and she has made statements directed at womanhood. I perceive this as compensation to show she is capable and not weak ,as some people would have a bias against a woman. I do not have any issue with that behavior.

Vivek is a bit arrogant. He started the first debate stating all the other candidates were owned by donors. Vivek has often been wrong on some issues and Haley has corrected him, and demonstrated an experienced grasp of the topic being discussed. The fact Vivek is tied to several Chinese business dealings and was plugging TicTok in the debate deserved some frank correction and Haley was the only one who corrected him.

---

I would vote for Nikki Haley... Not so much for Vivek.

FLBear5630 said:

---

Guy Noir said:

---

Jack Bauer said:

---

Nicki Haley playing the woman card from the bottom up.

Imagine the feminists if Vivek told her "Everytime you speak I get dumber".

Or when she said "'If you want something done, ask a woman'"
What an absolutely stupid statement.

---

Nicki Haley is a woman and she has made statements directed at womanhood. I perceive this as compensation to show she is capable and not weak ,as some people would have a bias against a woman. I do not have any issue with that behavior.

Vivek is a bit arrogant. He started the first debate stating all the other candidates were owned by donors. Vivek has often been wrong on some issues and Haley has corrected him, and demonstrated an experienced grasp of the topic being discussed. The fact Vivek is tied to several Chinese business dealings and was plugging TicTok in the debate deserved some frank correction and Haley was the only one who corrected him.

---

I would vote for Nikki Haley... Not so much for Vivek.

---

Same.

Nikki Haley thinks TikTok is so evil she is cool with her daughter having it...

Nikki Haley spent a long time screaming at Vivek Ramaswamy for using TikTok, and the dangers the CCP app represents for kids.

Anyway, here's Nikki Haley's own daughter on TikTok... pic.twitter.com/GYwIRjMMXM

— Raheem. (@RaheemKassam) September 28, 2023

Is Vivek’s hair going to get taller with every debate? #GOPDebate #VivekRamaswamy pic.twitter.com/z4BT9bXNaG

— Jules ❄️💖 (@jules_is_ok) September 28, 2023

Jack Bauer said:

---

Nikki Haley thinks TikTok is so evil she is cool with her daughter having it...

Nikki Haley spent a long time screaming at Vivek Ramaswamy for using TikTok, and the dangers the CCP app represents for kids.

Anyway, here's Nikki Haley's own daughter on TikTok... pic.twitter.com/GYwIRjMMXM

— Raheem. (@RaheemKassam) September 28, 2023

---

OUCH!!!!!

FLBear5630 said:

---

Guy Noir said:

---

Jack Bauer said:

---

Nicki Haley playing the woman card from the bottom up.

Imagine the feminists if Vivek told her "Everytime you speak I get dumber".

Or when she said "'If you want something done, ask a woman'"
What an absolutely stupid statement.

---

Nicki Haley is a woman and she has made statements directed at womanhood. I perceive this as compensation to show she is capable and not weak ,as some people would have a bias against a woman. I do not have any issue with that behavior.

Vivek is a bit arrogant. He started the first debate stating all the other candidates were owned by donors. Vivek has often been wrong on some issues and Haley has corrected him, and demonstrated an experienced grasp of the topic being discussed. The fact Vivek is tied to several Chinese business dealings and was plugging TicTok in the debate deserved some frank correction and Haley was the only one who corrected him.

---

I would vote for Nikki Haley... Not so much for Vivek.

---

Agreed

Jack Bauer said:

---

Is Vivek’s hair going to get taller with every debate? #GOPDebate #VivekRamaswamy pic.twitter.com/z4BT9bXNaG

— Jules ❄️💖 (@jules_is_ok) September 28, 2023

---

bear2be2 said:

---

Fre3dombear said:

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Rawhide said:

---

Cobretti said:

---

This second debate descended into the same quagmire of the first debate:

1) The candidate who was polling anywhere from 30-40 percent ahead of the pack was not on the stage and that made it hard for the other candidates to attack their front-running rival in absentia—and almost…

— Victor Davis Hanson (@VDHanson) September 28, 2023

Quote:

---

This second debate descended into the same quagmire of the first debate:


1) The candidate who was polling anywhere from 30-40 percent ahead of the pack was not on the stage and that made it hard for the other candidates to attack their front-running rival in absentiaand almost ensured a nihilistic, cannibalistic fight for second and third place and fourth and fifth place and sixth…

That fragmentation is exactly how Trump outsmarted the 2016 field that in toto outnumbered Trump's support but never united behind one or two candidates and thus all were picked off one by one. No candidate, oddly, tried to make the case that Trump is facing 91 indictments and he/she would be in a better position to help Trump and reform a corrupt justice system than a tied-down Trump himself.

2) So there are still too many candidates who are not viable contenders, (Christie, Pence, Scott, Burden) that have little or no chance. Their shouting matches are rhetorical exercises without political consequenceexcept to dilute further the top rivals to Trump. Whatever one might say about the Democratic cabal of March 2020, when the Left realized that a fragmented field might elect Bernie Sanders with a minority of the primary votes, then almost magically after the South Carolina primary the field began to thin and Biden, the only viable candidate in that pathetically weak field, eliminated Sanders. So if Trump does not join, debates will not matter much until perhaps DeSantis debates Haley on the MAGA agenda vs. doctrinaire Republicanism.

3) The shouting one-on-one psychodramas become irrelevant. Oddly Halley was the most guilty, provoking perceived rivals about trivia in their backgrounds and then engaging in a barking match.

Moderators? Why cannot Univision anchor Ilia Caldern pose one or two questions that transcend her own Latino interests, rather than playing to script with same old/same old predictable loaded questions that ignore all other issues like Ukraine, crime, the economy, inflation, etc.?

Why did Dana Perino intervene in Candy Crowley style to remind the audience that Haley's husband served aboard? And why do a "Survivor" schtick of candidates voting others off the stage? In general, the moderators could not control the cross-talk and did not ask the candidates what they thought of the front-runner's positions on the issues.

---

---

Starting to look like a smart political move to avoid the chaos that's disguised as debates

---

Pretty genius

Btw w t f was that last question? That's why the Republican debates are such jokes. They'd never do that **** during the Democrat debate.

Amazingly republicans are the only things standing between us and new slavery to the government.

So many voting their own destruction. Even from beyond the grave. I'm sure that extra $1500 a month they spending with little to no nominal pay raise in 3 years doesn't bother them given at least trump is going to prison

Weird lot them peeps

---

The Republicans aren't so normal themselves. They've got a host of candidates -- several of them downright decent -- who would bring the conservative fiscal platform they desire, and they're insistent on running the twice impeached and now four-time indicted cult of personality who's already lost to the current geriatric president once.

Neither of our major parties have a particularly good track record when it comes to picking general election candidates or governing once elected. Our electorate just ping pongs between the two, hoping to limit the damage each can do while in power.

---

I'm no fan of Trump the person but you realize a whole Fk ton of people don't believe any of that "twice impeached and 4 times indicted" is in any way real

No one objectively could agree with that.

Jack Bauer said:

---

Nicki Haley playing the woman card from the bottom up.

Imagine the feminists if Vivek told her "Everytime you speak I get dumber".

Or when she said "'If you want something done, ask a woman'"
What an absolutely stupid statement.

---

And that's why I'd never vote for Nikki

She's a deic dreamboat though

bear2be2 said:

---

Jack Bauer said:

---

Nicki Haley playing the woman card from the bottom up.

Imagine the feminists if Vivek told her "Everytime you speak I get dumber".

Or when she said "'If you want something done, ask a woman'"
What an absolutely stupid statement.

---

In fairness, Vivek says a lot of really stupid things about foreign policy. I'm sure it would be frustrating for someone with as much foreign policy experience as Haley has to listen to Ramaswamy speak so confidently -- and frankly, obnoxiously -- on things he has no idea about.

---

Obama 2.0. Thing is Vivek can public speak while Barry can read

Jack Bauer said:

---

Is Vivek’s hair going to get taller with every debate? #GOPDebate #VivekRamaswamy pic.twitter.com/z4BT9bXNaG

— Jules ❄️💖 (@jules_is_ok) September 28, 2023

---

Yes, because it grows like Pinocchio's nose when he lies.

Fre3dombear said:

---

bear2be2 said:

---

Fre3dombear said:

---

Rawhide said:

---

Cobretti said:

---

This second debate descended into the same quagmire of the first debate:

1) The candidate who was polling anywhere from 30-40 percent ahead of the pack was not on the stage and that made it hard for the other candidates to attack their front-running rival in absentia—and almost…

— Victor Davis Hanson (@VDHanson) September 28, 2023

Quote:

---

This second debate descended into the same quagmire of the first debate:


1) The candidate who was polling anywhere from 30-40 percent ahead of the pack was not on the stage and that made it hard for the other candidates to attack their front-running rival in absentiaand almost ensured a nihilistic, cannibalistic fight for second and third place and fourth and fifth place and sixth…

That fragmentation is exactly how Trump outsmarted the 2016 field that in toto outnumbered Trump's support but never united behind one or two candidates and thus all were picked off one by one. No candidate, oddly, tried to make the case that Trump is facing 91 indictments and he/she would be in a better position to help Trump and reform a corrupt justice system than a tied-down Trump himself.

2) So there are still too many candidates who are not viable contenders, (Christie, Pence, Scott, Burden) that have little or no chance. Their shouting matches are rhetorical exercises without political consequenceexcept to dilute further the top rivals to Trump. Whatever one might say about the Democratic cabal of March 2020, when the Left realized that a fragmented field might elect Bernie Sanders with a minority of the primary votes, then almost magically after the South Carolina primary the field began to thin and Biden, the only viable candidate in that pathetically weak field, eliminated Sanders. So if Trump does not join, debates will not matter much until perhaps DeSantis debates Haley on the MAGA agenda vs. doctrinaire Republicanism.

3) The shouting one-on-one psychodramas become irrelevant. Oddly Halley was the most guilty, provoking perceived rivals about trivia in their backgrounds and then engaging in a barking match.

Moderators? Why cannot Univision anchor Ilia Caldern pose one or two questions that transcend her own Latino interests, rather than playing to script with same old/same old predictable loaded questions that ignore all other issues like Ukraine, crime, the economy, inflation, etc.?

Why did Dana Perino intervene in Candy Crowley style to remind the audience that Haley's husband served aboard? And why do a "Survivor" schtick of candidates voting others off the stage? In general, the moderators could not control the cross-talk and did not ask the candidates what they thought of the front-runner's positions on the issues.

---

---

Starting to look like a smart political move to avoid the chaos that's disguised as debates

---

Pretty genius

Btw w t f was that last question? That's why the Republican debates are such jokes. They'd never do that **** during the Democrat debate.

Amazingly republicans are the only things standing between us and new slavery to the government.

So many voting their own destruction. Even from beyond the grave. I'm sure that extra $1500 a month they spending with little to no nominal pay raise in 3 years doesn't bother them given at least trump is going to prison

Weird lot them peeps

---

The Republicans aren't so normal themselves. They've got a host of candidates -- several of them downright decent -- who would bring the conservative fiscal platform they desire, and they're insistent on running the twice impeached and now four-time indicted cult of personality who's already lost to the current geriatric president once.

Neither of our major parties have a particularly good track record when it comes to picking general election candidates or governing once elected. Our electorate just ping pongs between the two, hoping to limit the damage each can do while in power.

---

I'm no fan of Trump the person but you realize a whole Fk ton of people don't believe any of that "twice impeached and 4 times indicted" is in any way real

No one objectively could agree with that.

---

Not real? He was impeached and acquited. It was real. He has been 4 times indicted. So far, he has lost on his valuation of property and is going to trial for the others. Don't be ridiculous with the "it is not real".

He is either guilty of what they say or the BEST case is he is such a lightning rod he will continually draw indictments and impeachments. Either way, he should not be in a public office. If for no other reason, it will be 4 more years on nothing getting done but Trump being attacked and defended.

The Dems LOVE Trump, he distracts from everything they are doing. Because it is all about Donald. Trump is easily the most destructive person in modern American political history. Shame he has good policies, too bad he is such an ******* that nothing permanent can get done becuase he is the one championing it...

Give me Haley or DeSantis any day.

Johnny Bear said:

---

Frank Galvin said:

---

Johnny Bear said:

---

Frank Galvin said:

---

EatMoreSalmon said:

---

When is anyone just going to say it out loud? This is not a race against Biden, even if his name is on the ticket. This is a battle against an unelected Democrat apparatus plus left leaning bureaucrats who don't care what the citizens really want.

This is a party of more independent thinkers vs. a party that uses an iron fist to keep its ideology pure.
This is a party of free will vs. a party in control of what should be our laboratories of thought - major media, higher education, the majority of "news" outlets, science publications, and major professional organizations (some of which no longer truly speak for the professionals they represent.

---

That's rich, given that the GOP has become Donald Trump's personal cult.

---

I'd say the post you're responding to is right on the money - regardless of what anyone thinks of Trump.

---

You would be wrong. The post is a comparison of the parties. If the post is right about the Democrats it is still wrong about the GOP. "Free thinkers" generally do not belong to cults.

---

And you would be wrong about the premise that Trump voters are a "cult". Continually *****ing about how bad life is under dimcrat rule while continuing to vote for dimcrats (which is what by and large their voters do) is a whole lot more "cult like" in addition to just being stupid.

---

Trumpers and MAGA is a freaking cult.

Fre3dombear said:

---

bear2be2 said:

---

Fre3dombear said:

---

Rawhide said:

---

Cobretti said:

---

This second debate descended into the same quagmire of the first debate:

1) The candidate who was polling anywhere from 30-40 percent ahead of the pack was not on the stage and that made it hard for the other candidates to attack their front-running rival in absentia—and almost…

— Victor Davis Hanson (@VDHanson) September 28, 2023

Quote:

---

This second debate descended into the same quagmire of the first debate:


1) The candidate who was polling anywhere from 30-40 percent ahead of the pack was not on the stage and that made it hard for the other candidates to attack their front-running rival in absentiaand almost ensured a nihilistic, cannibalistic fight for second and third place and fourth and fifth place and sixth…

That fragmentation is exactly how Trump outsmarted the 2016 field that in toto outnumbered Trump's support but never united behind one or two candidates and thus all were picked off one by one. No candidate, oddly, tried to make the case that Trump is facing 91 indictments and he/she would be in a better position to help Trump and reform a corrupt justice system than a tied-down Trump himself.

2) So there are still too many candidates who are not viable contenders, (Christie, Pence, Scott, Burden) that have little or no chance. Their shouting matches are rhetorical exercises without political consequenceexcept to dilute further the top rivals to Trump. Whatever one might say about the Democratic cabal of March 2020, when the Left realized that a fragmented field might elect Bernie Sanders with a minority of the primary votes, then almost magically after the South Carolina primary the field began to thin and Biden, the only viable candidate in that pathetically weak field, eliminated Sanders. So if Trump does not join, debates will not matter much until perhaps DeSantis debates Haley on the MAGA agenda vs. doctrinaire Republicanism.

3) The shouting one-on-one psychodramas become irrelevant. Oddly Halley was the most guilty, provoking perceived rivals about trivia in their backgrounds and then engaging in a barking match.

Moderators? Why cannot Univision anchor Ilia Caldern pose one or two questions that transcend her own Latino interests, rather than playing to script with same old/same old predictable loaded questions that ignore all other issues like Ukraine, crime, the economy, inflation, etc.?

Why did Dana Perino intervene in Candy Crowley style to remind the audience that Haley's husband served aboard? And why do a "Survivor" schtick of candidates voting others off the stage? In general, the moderators could not control the cross-talk and did not ask the candidates what they thought of the front-runner's positions on the issues.

---

---

Starting to look like a smart political move to avoid the chaos that's disguised as debates

---

Pretty genius

Btw w t f was that last question? That's why the Republican debates are such jokes. They'd never do that **** during the Democrat debate.

Amazingly republicans are the only things standing between us and new slavery to the government.

So many voting their own destruction. Even from beyond the grave. I'm sure that extra $1500 a month they spending with little to no nominal pay raise in 3 years doesn't bother them given at least trump is going to prison

Weird lot them peeps

---

The Republicans aren't so normal themselves. They've got a host of candidates -- several of them downright decent -- who would bring the conservative fiscal platform they desire, and they're insistent on running the twice impeached and now four-time indicted cult of personality who's already lost to the current geriatric president once.

Neither of our major parties have a particularly good track record when it comes to picking general election candidates or governing once elected. Our electorate just ping pongs between the two, hoping to limit the damage each can do while in power.

---

I'm no fan of Trump the person but you realize a whole Fk ton of people don't believe any of that "twice impeached and 4 times indicted" is in any way real

No one objectively could agree with that.

---

Facts are facts. if they don't believe it, then they can't read. Figures don't lie, liar figure!

I watched about 5 minutes of the debate. I discovered something that I knew was off. How DeSantis tries to smile. Just for a second I knew who he looks like when he smiles. Alfred E. Neumann

Fre3dombear said:

---

bear2be2 said:

---

Fre3dombear said:

---

Rawhide said:

---

Cobretti said:

---

This second debate descended into the same quagmire of the first debate:

1) The candidate who was polling anywhere from 30-40 percent ahead of the pack was not on the stage and that made it hard for the other candidates to attack their front-running rival in absentia—and almost…

— Victor Davis Hanson (@VDHanson) September 28, 2023

Quote:

---

This second debate descended into the same quagmire of the first debate:


1) The candidate who was polling anywhere from 30-40 percent ahead of the pack was not on the stage and that made it hard for the other candidates to attack their front-running rival in absentiaand almost ensured a nihilistic, cannibalistic fight for second and third place and fourth and fifth place and sixth…

That fragmentation is exactly how Trump outsmarted the 2016 field that in toto outnumbered Trump's support but never united behind one or two candidates and thus all were picked off one by one. No candidate, oddly, tried to make the case that Trump is facing 91 indictments and he/she would be in a better position to help Trump and reform a corrupt justice system than a tied-down Trump himself.

2) So there are still too many candidates who are not viable contenders, (Christie, Pence, Scott, Burden) that have little or no chance. Their shouting matches are rhetorical exercises without political consequenceexcept to dilute further the top rivals to Trump. Whatever one might say about the Democratic cabal of March 2020, when the Left realized that a fragmented field might elect Bernie Sanders with a minority of the primary votes, then almost magically after the South Carolina primary the field began to thin and Biden, the only viable candidate in that pathetically weak field, eliminated Sanders. So if Trump does not join, debates will not matter much until perhaps DeSantis debates Haley on the MAGA agenda vs. doctrinaire Republicanism.

3) The shouting one-on-one psychodramas become irrelevant. Oddly Halley was the most guilty, provoking perceived rivals about trivia in their backgrounds and then engaging in a barking match.

Moderators? Why cannot Univision anchor Ilia Caldern pose one or two questions that transcend her own Latino interests, rather than playing to script with same old/same old predictable loaded questions that ignore all other issues like Ukraine, crime, the economy, inflation, etc.?

Why did Dana Perino intervene in Candy Crowley style to remind the audience that Haley's husband served aboard? And why do a "Survivor" schtick of candidates voting others off the stage? In general, the moderators could not control the cross-talk and did not ask the candidates what they thought of the front-runner's positions on the issues.

---

---

Starting to look like a smart political move to avoid the chaos that's disguised as debates

---

Pretty genius

Btw w t f was that last question? That's why the Republican debates are such jokes. They'd never do that **** during the Democrat debate.

Amazingly republicans are the only things standing between us and new slavery to the government.

So many voting their own destruction. Even from beyond the grave. I'm sure that extra $1500 a month they spending with little to no nominal pay raise in 3 years doesn't bother them given at least trump is going to prison

Weird lot them peeps

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The Republicans aren't so normal themselves. They've got a host of candidates -- several of them downright decent -- who would bring the conservative fiscal platform they desire, and they're insistent on running the twice impeached and now four-time indicted cult of personality who's already lost to the current geriatric president once.

Neither of our major parties have a particularly good track record when it comes to picking general election candidates or governing once elected. Our electorate just ping pongs between the two, hoping to limit the damage each can do while in power.

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I'm no fan of Trump the person but you realize a whole Fk ton of people don't believe any of that "twice impeached and 4 times indicted" is in any way real

No one objectively could agree with that.

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I am waiting for the courts to decide if he is guilty.

Old Guy said:

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I watched about 5 minutes of the debate. I discovered something that I knew was off. How DeSantis tries to smile. Just for a second I knew who he looks like when he smiles. Alfred E. Neumann

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DeSantis is all business and is a serious person. I kinda like that quality in a President.

Guy Noir said:

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Fre3dombear said:

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bear2be2 said:

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Fre3dombear said:

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Rawhide said:

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Cobretti said:

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This second debate descended into the same quagmire of the first debate:

1) The candidate who was polling anywhere from 30-40 percent ahead of the pack was not on the stage and that made it hard for the other candidates to attack their front-running rival in absentia—and almost…

— Victor Davis Hanson (@VDHanson) September 28, 2023

Quote:

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This second debate descended into the same quagmire of the first debate:


1) The candidate who was polling anywhere from 30-40 percent ahead of the pack was not on the stage and that made it hard for the other candidates to attack their front-running rival in absentiaand almost ensured a nihilistic, cannibalistic fight for second and third place and fourth and fifth place and sixth…

That fragmentation is exactly how Trump outsmarted the 2016 field that in toto outnumbered Trump's support but never united behind one or two candidates and thus all were picked off one by one. No candidate, oddly, tried to make the case that Trump is facing 91 indictments and he/she would be in a better position to help Trump and reform a corrupt justice system than a tied-down Trump himself.

2) So there are still too many candidates who are not viable contenders, (Christie, Pence, Scott, Burden) that have little or no chance. Their shouting matches are rhetorical exercises without political consequenceexcept to dilute further the top rivals to Trump. Whatever one might say about the Democratic cabal of March 2020, when the Left realized that a fragmented field might elect Bernie Sanders with a minority of the primary votes, then almost magically after the South Carolina primary the field began to thin and Biden, the only viable candidate in that pathetically weak field, eliminated Sanders. So if Trump does not join, debates will not matter much until perhaps DeSantis debates Haley on the MAGA agenda vs. doctrinaire Republicanism.

3) The shouting one-on-one psychodramas become irrelevant. Oddly Halley was the most guilty, provoking perceived rivals about trivia in their backgrounds and then engaging in a barking match.

Moderators? Why cannot Univision anchor Ilia Caldern pose one or two questions that transcend her own Latino interests, rather than playing to script with same old/same old predictable loaded questions that ignore all other issues like Ukraine, crime, the economy, inflation, etc.?

Why did Dana Perino intervene in Candy Crowley style to remind the audience that Haley's husband served aboard? And why do a "Survivor" schtick of candidates voting others off the stage? In general, the moderators could not control the cross-talk and did not ask the candidates what they thought of the front-runner's positions on the issues.

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Starting to look like a smart political move to avoid the chaos that's disguised as debates

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Pretty genius

Btw w t f was that last question? That's why the Republican debates are such jokes. They'd never do that **** during the Democrat debate.

Amazingly republicans are the only things standing between us and new slavery to the government.

So many voting their own destruction. Even from beyond the grave. I'm sure that extra $1500 a month they spending with little to no nominal pay raise in 3 years doesn't bother them given at least trump is going to prison

Weird lot them peeps

---

The Republicans aren't so normal themselves. They've got a host of candidates -- several of them downright decent -- who would bring the conservative fiscal platform they desire, and they're insistent on running the twice impeached and now four-time indicted cult of personality who's already lost to the current geriatric president once.

Neither of our major parties have a particularly good track record when it comes to picking general election candidates or governing once elected. Our electorate just ping pongs between the two, hoping to limit the damage each can do while in power.

---

I'm no fan of Trump the person but you realize a whole Fk ton of people don't believe any of that "twice impeached and 4 times indicted" is in any way real

No one objectively could agree with that.

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I am waiting for the courts to decide if he is guilty.

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I am with you. Let the process play out. He was indicted, got to let the process finish. If there is no case, Judge can dismiss. I am good with what the Courts decide.