2016 Presidential Debates Thread [2-13-'16 GOP South Carolina]

I despise Trump. FOX was obviously doing the bidding of the GOP higher ups. Not a fan of Kelly either. Not really anything to like about the whole situation to be honest. Really nothing about any of the leading candidates in either party to like.

Sanders for the Ds; Carly, Rubio and Kasich for the Rs are about the best thing going.

Do you agree that FOX set up Trump to say something stupid or controversial so they could keep him out of any future debates they held without looking like the bad guys? Whatever level of scumbag Trump obviously is the one thing he has going for him IMO is that the Repub party bosses can't control him and you know how much they hate that.
 
Do you agree that FOX set up Trump to say something stupid or controversial so they could keep him out of any future debates they held without looking like the bad guys? Whatever level of scumbag Trump obviously is the one thing he has going for him IMO is that the Repub party bosses can't control him and you know how much they hate that.

Who knows what all was involved in it Hawk. I suspect it plays well for them and Trump. The citizenry likes cat fights.
 
Do you agree that FOX set up Trump to say something stupid or controversial so they could keep him out of any future debates they held without looking like the bad guys? Whatever level of scumbag Trump obviously is the one thing he has going for him IMO is that the Repub party bosses can't control him and you know how much they hate that.

The initial question asked about raising your hands was a direct hit at Trump.

The liberals would do the same thing if they had media company as big as Fox News. They'd hold a debate and try to bury Bernie as fast as they could.
 
Do you agree that FOX set up Trump to say something stupid or controversial so they could keep him out of any future debates they held without looking like the bad guys? Whatever level of scumbag Trump obviously is the one thing he has going for him IMO is that the Repub party bosses can't control him and you know how much they hate that.

Fox News clearly wanted Trump to say outrageous things. They asked him tough but fair questions. Why would Fox News want Trump out of the race? He's ratings gold.
 
Fox News clearly wanted Trump to say outrageous things. They asked him tough but fair questions. Why would Fox News want Trump out of the race? He's ratings gold.

Network wise I agree, but it they're trying to help shape the eventual nominee, why not set him up let him hang himself, kick him off, look like the good guys and then let the group with whomever your fave is have more air time, let Trump and his hot air show fizzle out and start about the business of building up you pet cat for 2016? I'm not saying for sure this is what happened but it sure sounds like a good plan.
 
I think Ailes cares more about the ratings.

I personally don't think Trump is hurting the GOP right now. I think he's helping. 24 million folks watched that debate and many actually got to hear people like Kasich, Cruz, Rubio, etc. maybe for the first time.

But I also don't think the questions they asked Trump were unfair. Again, they asked tough questions about everyone. The front runner always gets the most questions. The thing about Trump is that there are a lot of questions that need asking.
 
I think Ailes cares more about the ratings.

I personally don't think Trump is hurting the GOP right now. I think he's helping. 24 million folks watched that debate and many actually got to hear people like Kasich, Cruz, Rubio, etc. maybe for the first time.

But I also don't think the questions they asked Trump were unfair. Again, they asked tough questions about everyone. The front runner always gets the most questions. The thing about Trump is that there are a lot of questions that need asking.

^^^ Well put.
 
^^^ Well put.

I think Ailes cares more about the ratings.

I personally don't think Trump is hurting the GOP right now. I think he's helping. 24 million folks watched that debate and many actually got to hear people like Kasich, Cruz, Rubio, etc. maybe for the first time.

But I also don't think the questions they asked Trump were unfair. Again, they asked tough questions about everyone. The front runner always gets the most questions. The thing about Trump is that there are a lot of questions that need asking.
That's a very rosy assessment of the Trump effect. Let me guess - you're a Republican.

Here's another view: Dems are loving him being on stage AND the high ratings. He's gold for them too. The more people that are watching the more people get to hear him and the other GOP candidates insult women and minorities. Not all of that viewership are people interesting in the actual discussion of issues. Like kids glued to the WWE, many just want to see some action, i.e. what Trump will do. He is not raising the level of discourse, he's lowering it and as long as he's in the conversation the GOP cannot be and will not be taken seriously.
 
The citizenry likes cat fights.
A female reporter asking tough questions equals "a cat fight" to you? An interesting choice of phrase. Just to clarify, Donald painted Megyn Kelly's questions as coming from an out of control woman, boiling over with blood and fury, the clear implication being that she is one who has no business in the grown-up sphere of politics. It's an insult to her and indeed to all women. For the record, she was not angry in the least and from what I've seen has acted much less pissy than Donald himself.

Your dismissive choice of the phrase "a cat fight" makes use of the same coded language. One female reporter doing her job does not equal 2 women fighting.
 
A female reporter asking tough questions equals "a cat fight" to you? An interesting choice of phrase. Just to clarify, Donald painted Megyn Kelly's questions as coming from an out of control woman, boiling over with blood and fury, the clear implication being that she is one who has no business in the grown-up sphere of politics. It's an insult to her and indeed to all women. For the record, she was not angry in the least and from what I've seen has acted much less pissy than Donald himself.

Your dismissive choice of the phrase "a cat fight" makes use of the same coded language. One female reporter doing her job does not equal 2 women fighting.

You are aiming at the wrong person. I think Trump's remark was cheap, crude, and misogynist. I'm not a fan of Kelly - like many of you, but that doesn't mean I approve of his statement.

The "cat-fight" was more aimed at him versus FOX in general. Sorry if it came off otherwise or dismissive of her. If he makes stupid comments, he is fair game for being asked about them.
 
That's a very rosy assessment of the Trump effect. Let me guess - you're a Republican.

Here's another view: Dems are loving him being on stage AND the high ratings. He's gold for them too. The more people that are watching the more people get to hear him and the other GOP candidates insult women and minorities. Not all of that viewership are people interesting in the actual discussion of issues. Like kids glued to the WWE, many just want to see some action, i.e. what Trump will do. He is not raising the level of discourse, he's lowering it and as long as he's in the conversation the GOP cannot be and will not be taken seriously.

I don't really see the other candidates insulting women and minorities. I think you grumped about me being a homer, but I think you're being a homer here. In fact I would argue that the Trump effect is making the other republican candidates seem like relative saints when it comes to women and minorities. I think you really have to spin to take the Hillary Clinton position of well the rest of these guys are just as anti woman as Trump is. It was almost like she was begging to keep the issue relevant. I just don't see it.

I do agree that a lot of folks watching the debate were like kids glued to the tv watching a wwe event. And I admit that I was one of those guys. But I also went in thinking Chris Christie had no chance, but I changed my mind after watching him have a great debate. I think maybe some folks who didn't know about Ted Cruz understood that this guy isn't as extreme as others made him out to be. Or who the hell is Kasich? I like this guy. Also even though Fiorina was in the earlier debate, the carry over was till there in the later debate and people became interested in her. And there is Carson who is a very likeable intelligent person.
 
A female reporter asking tough questions equals "a cat fight" to you? An interesting choice of phrase. Just to clarify, Donald painted Megyn Kelly's questions as coming from an out of control woman, boiling over with blood and fury, the clear implication being that she is one who has no business in the grown-up sphere of politics. It's an insult to her and indeed to all women. For the record, she was not angry in the least and from what I've seen has acted much less pissy than Donald himself.

Your dismissive choice of the phrase "a cat fight" makes use of the same coded language. One female reporter doing her job does not equal 2 women fighting.

Be careful when using the word "female". I'm friends with women who are not happy if you call them a female.
 
I don't really see the other candidates insulting women and minorities. I think you grumped about me being a homer, but I think you're being a homer here. In fact I would argue that the Trump effect is making the other republican candidates seem like relative saints when it comes to women and minorities.
Probably. People do tend to hear and see what they expect to hear and see. I'm no different.

Disclaimer: I've downloaded the debate but haven't watched it yet. Hard to find or get myself in the proper mood for it.
 
Not in my case but honestly there isn't any drink or drug on any market that will make me want to watch a GOP event of any kind.

don't worry, you won't see really anything about any real topics

it's the usual greatest hits over and over

Obamacare needs to go, God, build a wall cause the scary Brown people are coming, and cut taxes

that's pretty much it
 
Back
Top