2nd GOP Debate

[George K]

I gave up after about an hour. I should be congratulated for lasting that long.

VDH opines:

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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 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(sic)) that have little or no chance. Their shouting matches are rhetorical exercises without political consequence—except 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 Calderón 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.

[Mik]

It was much worse than the first one. Cannibalistic is a good word. Pence likely looked the best of what I saw, but he just seems a bit smug for me. "I'm the most experienced, so why don't you morons support ME?!".

[George K]

Random comments from Stephen Green:

From my colleague Lincoln Brown in the comments: "At this point, I'm just going to lower the lights in my bathroom light some candles, put on some soft music, and climb in the tub with my wife's hair drier."

So far, the winner of tonight's debate is my corner liquor store for reasons that are far too obvious.

Shock collars for when candidates talk over the person whose turn it is

Here's an idea for the next debate: if a candidate goes over time, he or she falls through a trap door. I'd endorse this suggestion except that there needs to be alligators or lava or lava alligators under the trap door. (paraphrased)

[Mik]

I really like the last two suggestions. Last one might be a little overkill, but maybe not.

[George K]

Re: Shock collars.

Someone added that they should have spikes.

ETA: Or perhaps "Shroud" the person, as in Foundation.

[Axtremus]

Would the nation be better off without this debate?

[Axtremus]

Anyone talked about the looming government shutdown in the debate?

[89th]

If you go over your time you have to spend that amount of time in a small room listening to the Kalama cackle.

[Axtremus]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2023/09/27/republican-debate-exposes-irrelevant-gop-splintered-trump/70981899007/

GOP is no longer a political party. The Republican debate marked its soul leaving its body.

Why can't Republicans do better than Trump? GOP debate had no answers.

[taiwan_girl]

For way too long, other than Gov. Christie, the other candidates continued to kneel before President Trump. I am not sure how they thought that would help their candidacy. "President Trump is a great guy, a great president, and is running again. But, vote for me instead!" Really???

I did not watch the debate but the notes I saw seemed to say that they "attacked" President Trump a little bit. Too little, too late. And the Democrats smiled.

[LuFins Dad]

DeSantis has attacked Trump over his COVID policies, but not strongly enough, IMO.

[Renauda]

@taiwan_girl

For way too long, other than Gov. Christie, the other candidates continued to kneel before President Trump.

I tuned in for about 15 minutes. I couldn’t help but think that Christie outwardly reminded me of a character in a Scorsese film.

He seemed to make sense in what he had to say, but my preference would still be for Haley. If the GOP were to nominate her I think she could win against anyone the Democrats could wheel out in 2024.

[Mik]

@Renauda From your lips to God's ear.

[Renauda]

@Mik

My single concern is how the MAGA factionalists in the GOP would receive her nomination and leadership. I fear many of them, like the Jacobins in the Democrat camp, are so divorced from reality that they are beyond reason and redemption.

[Mik]

Same here. I'd like to get someone in office who didn't have to spend all their time fighting either the other party or their own.

[Renauda]

@Mik

Fighting the other party is one thing and understandable, but to have to fight factionalism in your party is quite another.

[Doctor Phibes]

If everybody could just embrace Donald Trump then there wouldn't be all this factionalism.

[Mik]

@Renauda said in 2nd GOP Debate:

@Mik

Fighting the other party is one thing and understandable, but to have to fight factionalism in your party is quite another.

I'd prefer they spend their time working for the good of the nation.

Yeah, I'm a dreamer.