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It's the home stretch in the presidential campaign before people actually start voting in less than three weeks — and that raises the stakes for Thursday night's Republican presidential debate in Charleston, S.C. (After this debate, there will be just one more before the Iowa caucuses.)
Donald Trump has been the great disruptor of the 2016 presidential campaign. He's been the focus, whether Republicans have wanted him to be or not. And Thursday night, all the other candidates (except perhaps Ben Carson) will likely have him in their sights.
That's especially true after Trump and Ted Cruz finally dropped the niceties with each other. Trump continued to raise questions about Cruz's eligibility to be president — even playing "Born in the U.S.A." at his rallies. (Cruz was born in Canada to an American mother.) Cruz hit back, saying Trump should play "New York, New York" at his rallies because he "embodies New York values." Cruz accused Trump of being "rattled."
Well now that Trump and Cruz have stopped playing nice with each other this might be an entertaining debate to watch. The key phrase of course is "might be."
But I swear if I don't see any blood drawn in the first half hour I might have to tune out early.
I'm especially cranky because I had to look through the listings to even find the Fox Business channel. I swear if they are going to hide the debates in the no man's land of preferred cable plans they should not expect a large number of viewers.
Of course I will watch most of it since this is the job that I chose for myself, because apparently the crash test dummy position was filled.
Anyhow as always I will be drunkenly tweeting the debate here, and occasionally posting updates here at IM and leaving comments as well.
Now where is that corkscrew?
Update:
@tedcruz just went after @realDonaldTrump 's mother. Oooh, things are getting UGLY! #GOPDebate
— Gryphen 2009 (@Gryphen2009) January 15, 2016
Thank you for watching so we don't have to. And in return, here's a little nugget I ran across: Newsmax has published a list of the 20 Most Influential Republicans Under 30. Guess who is listed at #5? Bristol Palin. Is it April 1st already?
ReplyDeleteI'm looking at that as good news! For us, that is.
DeleteMildred
The goal was accomplished with her blog with the help of her mother linking to it.
DeleteI doubt she is actually capable of conversing on a topic except anti abortion.
Remember, it is Newsmax. Paid attention to like OANN was with $arah's "really big shoe."
DeleteWhat has she influenced other than the birth rate?
DeleteI suppose they meant Brancy's blog. What else has Brissy done for the GOP? Have babies without a baby daddy? Have plastic surgery before her 21st birthday? Disses her finance MOH? Has a foul mouth?
DeleteWhat has Brissy done for anybody but herself...and her awful mom.
O/T
DeleteSpeaking of the birth rate, it's rumored that Anna Duggar may be pregnant again. Apparently she had a conjugal visit with Josh at Jeezus rehab. She believes it's a "sign" that God has forgiven Josh for his sins. What a group of stupid idiots!
They have a pretty low bar.
DeleteTodd should be SO proud, and who wouldn't be? His first born won fifth place without breaking any mirrors.
DeleteYes, strap it on! Time for more Rhetoric . Brought to you by the dumbest, most egotistical,
ReplyDeleteNarcissistic, blowhard brotherhood.
Have at it boys. Imbeciles.
Someone just told the "boys" to "have at it".
DeleteBristol, you still haven't learned, have you?
Lies, lies, and more lies. That is all the GOP debate consists of. The rapt right wing ignorati ('informed' by the usual culprits)suck it all up without the faintest clue it is all made up nonsense.
ReplyDeleteThe alcohol hasn't been invented yet that makes Trump OR Cruz tolerable even for a short time. I don't find them amusing and I don't hate myself, so include me out. I'll be in the kitchen. Don't touch anything that's cooling.
ReplyDeleteI just realized that Rachel Maddow is doing a rather in depth interview with Hillary Clinton right now.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I saw there are no softballs in her equipment bag.
It was a great interview on both of their parts.
DeleteDoes any one of them know they aren't running against Obama?.I was just watching Rubio and he must have said Obama's name about ten times.Fucking moron.
ReplyDeleteI detest Rubio. He is too wet behind the ears to serve in Washington. He doesn't answer questions asked. Instead, he gives a speech about the topics he has prepared for.
DeleteAnon. 5:37, Rubio (my former state house speaker) seemed to manage fine in the smaller pond of Florida, but is apparently way out of his depth - not by running for senator, but by running for president. I know he and his campaign say "But ... Obama had the same exact experience as I had, I can be President too!" except it's not exactly true. Rubio did not have other non-government working experience before being elected to the FL state legislature. He went straight from college to work for Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and then a local seat, and then up to Tallahassee. The guy is textbook career politician.
DeleteWhat's interesting is Rubio was seen as practically being Jeb Bush's godson. Jeb! even gave him a sword once as a symbolic gesture. For reals. Now Jeb! is smacking Rubio in is latest ad. I really do think the two have had a falling out over this.
Awww. I'd feel worse if I thought either one of them would actually become president over the other.
How many times did Rubio have to swig water?
DeleteI'm surprised he knows Obama is still president since he's no longer doing the job for which he was elected.
Putz.
How did Jeb! make the cut? Aren't his polling numbers in the gutter? Was Rubio wearing his Cuban heeled boots? I do not have the stomach for these shout fests. Just read some GOOD news. Bull O;Really said if Bernie wins, he will flee to Ireland!! This gives the Irish plenty of time to get a petition going to ban him from their shores.
DeleteBOR will flee to Ireland like Ted Nugent promised to flee or kill himself if President Obama won a second term.
DeleteI did a reload of my TV's channel settings, and nope, don't get Fox Business Channel. I'm only wondering, will Bush get out before he's demoted to the 'kid table' like others...?
ReplyDeleteSo I'm watching Hillz (who looks great tonight) with Rach (who looks good every night).
Bush has too much money to get demoted, although he truly deserves to be.
DeleteThe interview with Hillary Clinton was very good. She contrasted her health plan with Bernie's. I like to think that I am pretty well-informed on everything political but I did not know what Bernie's health plan/policy was. I think you would be better served to watch Rachel rather than the Klowns.
ReplyDeleteI think you should learn what Bernie says his health plan is before being too quick to take Hillary's word for it. They are freaking out that 2008 could happen again and her attacks are reminding a lot of voters what they don't like about her.
DeleteAh,the birther question. Funny how the tables have turned.
ReplyDeleteIOKIYAR!
DeleteHas Trump produced his own birth certificate? He seems to be obsessed with the birth certificates of others.
DeletePersonally, I want to see Cruz's Mother's Canadian citizenship papers. I want to know what date is on them. Like was she a Canadian before Cruz was born? It would be such Karma for Cruz to end up being an illegal alien.
Trump is getting boos as he goes after Cruz.
ReplyDeleteCruz is a man of Jeebus and Trump had better realize it before the christers crucify him.
DeleteEnough, turned off the debate going to watch The Real Housewives of Somewhere.
ReplyDeleteRJ in BBistan
I root for both Hillary Clinton and Rachel Maddow. Never miss her show! And, Hillary Clinton assuredly has my vote. Can hardly wait to cast it!
ReplyDeleteThis is complete bullshit.Don't know how much more I can take.
ReplyDeleteI can't take it anymore either. Kasich is just so perfect (according to him), Rubio is an ignorant asshole, Ben Carson thinks he is a real card tonight (heehaw), Trump is a buffoon, Christie is a bully, that's enough for me.
DeleteAndy Borowitz
ReplyDelete2 mins ·
I have to stop watching the debate now because I found I was losing brain cells at an alarming rate. #GOPDebate
I'm done, I feel like I'm losing brain cells by the minute listening to these moronic clowns. Thanks G, for hanging in there!`
ReplyDeleteMe? I'm playing Galaga.
DeleteWhat did I miss?
Haha, very smart!!
Delete
Delete"Is Hillary Clinton an enabler od sexual conduct?"
WTF???? That is a real question from the female moderator???
OMG I LOVE Galaga! Countless hours of my teenaged life were spent at the arcade feeding quarters into the Galaga machine.
DeleteThanks to everyone for debate updates, I've been watching re-runs of Tosh.0 rather than suffer the debate. Much more stimulating!
This debate will be yuge I tell you YUGE. The highest rating Fox Business Network has every or will ever have. Don't forget to boycott the sponsor..
ReplyDeleteSeems to me they're articulating reasons not to vote for them.Christie was just bragging about not banning .50 cal machine guns and 30 round clips.
ReplyDeleteMan these assigned just don't get it.Obama is done. Christie just said they were going to kick him out of the white house.
ReplyDelete5. Christie hurls insults at Obama
DeleteNew Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has long aimed memorably nasty barbs at the president, and he continued Thursday, calling him a "petulant child" for pursuing executive actions to implement his favored policies. But he ratcheted up the schoolyard language in the debate.
"We are going to kick your rear end out of the white house come this fall,"
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/the-5-biggest-moments-of-the-gop-debate-217773#ixzz3xHUAu7fH
Right, "kick him out of the White House." What idiotic grandstanding. Who's the "petulant child" here, exactly?
DeleteLet's see what the Bridgegate trial brings us, shall we Mr. Christie...? Asshat.
Whenever Christie appears on TV, the photo of him in his baseball uniform should be shown. He looked like Humpty Dumpty. I think many of them are jealous that President Obama is so athletic, and handsome. It just galls them.
DeleteWhat word shall we use to drink from these wussihiedbinbreds?
ReplyDeleteTake a swig every time they say Obama. Because apparently he is running for a third term according to them.
DeleteI'm done. I'm absolutely terrified of leaving the military and world affairs in these idiots hands. Forget jobs/economy stuff, any one of them would have us knocked off the planet before their first term is up.
ReplyDeleteWho ever thought Bush would beat Gore?
Mildred
The "handing chads," Supreme Court, and Jeb Bush as governor of Florida, Mildred, and we are where we are.
DeleteI sure am glad I didn't foolishly save up and plan for my retirement, considering the planet won't survive 4 years with one of these idiots in control.
DeleteQ
He didn't Mildred. Remember? Jeb rigged Florida for his brother.
DeleteI never thought I'd see the day when I was hoping Karl Rove rigs the machines and Jeb! wins the nomination.
DeleteTrump, Cruz, Rubio will destroy us and the planet with WWIII, Christie will be in prison, Carson will nap for 4 years.
I don't want any of them on the ticket next November.
Jeb rigged Florida for his brother.
Delete-----------
Exactly!
Mildred
I'm with you Mildred. "absolutely terrified."
DeleteIMO Bush stole the election and capitalized on 911. We are paying for the Bush/Chaney abuses to this day. More of the same? You bet I'm worried.
what a waste of time. Carson, save your reputation and withdraw.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad he's down to four, and I hope he keeps going. They're all scary, but that portrait with Christ chilled my blood. Even if you remain any kind of believer, what sort of personality commissions such an idea?
Deletehttp://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2015/11/if-you-think-ben-carson-man-is-kind-of.html
First of all, I don't understand how anyone who makes a living in any field of science reconciles that with a belief in an unprovable deity. More pointedly, there was nothing in the picture that suggested the supplication of one figure to the other. Carson and Christ are represented as peers and contemporaries. A visitor from another galaxy, with no knowledge of human history, could be forgiven inquiring, 'which one is the god...?'
Every time I see Christie, I imagine him in bed, with his cpap mask on and begging Mary Pat to turn it to the highest setting, then poor Mary Pat has to go on an expedition to find "mini me" I have no idea what happens next, but it's gotta be one big pile of fugly. Chris "Sit Down and Shut Up I got a bridge to sell ya Christie as president? No way.
DeleteHeaven help the USA if any of these knuckleheads sets foot in the White House.
ReplyDeleteEight years down the drain. Middle ages here we come.
Trump just had a rant about how China is stealing our jobs.Guess that must be why he had his shitty ties made there.
ReplyDeleteThat's only because American workers won't work for less than Chinese prisoners and American laws won't allow him to pay slaves wages.
DeleteYes, Donald, why don't you look in the mirror (if you can stand the pain!)
DeleteIt's business owners JUST LIKE YOU who hire Chinese workers willing to work for 50 cents an hour, as opposed to American ones who expect at least minimum wage plus benefits.
It's business owners JUST LIKE YOU who hire illegal immigrants, for the same reason.
So why aren't you going after the owners who hire non-Americans in the first place?
Rhetorical question, obviously.
Oh the irony! And Mitt thought they locked the factories because too many people WANTED to work in them.
Delete
ReplyDeleteWho ever thought Bush would beat Gore?
He didn't.
The 7 biggest moments of the GOP debate so far
ReplyDelete.....6. Carson gets apocalyptic
Ben Carson criticized Barack Obama for being naive on foreign policy, but in doing so outlined a terrifying scenario in which a nuclear blast takes out America's electric grid while they're also using dirty bombs to attack and using cyber attacks to take down American computer systems.
"Can you imagine the chaos that would ensue at that point?" he wondered.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/the-5-biggest-moments-of-the-gop-debate-217773#ixzz3xHTB9UY7
------------
OMG !! I am speechless.
Our enemies don't need a nuclear bomb to take out our electrical grid.
DeleteAll they need is a laptop and an internet connection.
Seriously, which one of these Brain Trusts, when someone wins the Republican nomination, will even come close to making a good showing against either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders in the General debates? Perhaps even more fun to think about: Who will be pitted against whom in the VP debate? Nikki Haley vs. Julian Castro? John Kasich vs. Elizabeth Warren? Liz Cheney vs. Al Franken? What other math-ups could there be?
ReplyDeleteI'm still hoping for both Bernie and Hillary on the ticket. The GOP would never have a chance.
DeleteOK. I really am worried now. Seriously. Not only because I see none of these candidates has the breadth of experience, education, or wisdom to see the big picture. But also because of the rabid following they have.
ReplyDeleteIt's the ugly under belly of the xenophobic fear mongering the GOP has been courting since Reagan in 1980 - the Sagebrush Rebellion and the Southern Stratigy.
Meanwhile, Rand Paul is on the Daily Show's Debate Singles Night, playing a debate drinking game with Trevor Noah. Much saner, if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteFrom Wonkette:
ReplyDeleteJesus, that debate was longer than those sailors were held captive...fuck, Bristol Palin was only knocked up twice during that time* and wingnuts are fucking that chicken with the force of 99 9/11s
*Bonus Bristol joke
The Bristol joke was in the undercard debate where Santorum said that single moms were no good.
TheBidenator • 2 hours ago
ixnay on the onusbay around Brisdull, she takes it as a challenge
I watched a taped show called "Frontline" about Benji Netanyahoo, and how he's been pushing Presidents around, since Reagan.
ReplyDeleteThe scene of a room full of people watching Bibi just puke bullshit all over Obama, had them all holding their hands over their mouths, eyes open as wide as they'd go...
All expecting Obama to stand up, kick the fat bastard over in his chair, and yell, "Who's the superpower in this room, huh? YOU? Get up and get the fuck out of my White House, you sniveling piece of shit!"
Instead, as we have come to expect, he pulled his cool and his calm under pressure, from his very toes, and just showed Bibi out, politely--reporters and staffers audibly sighing in relief.
NONE of the dolts who debated tonight would be able to stand up to either Yahoo, nor Putin...they'd stand there and get bitchslapped.
HILLARY, on the other hand, scares the crap out of both those two bullies.
Words of advice for the young-how to do good at the job. This little poem helps you remember that your boss always makes more than you do!
ReplyDeleteThe boss makes a dollar, I make a dime. That's why I poop on company time!
There was a great article on Huffington Post today about how Donald Trump isn't himself a fascist but that he encourages fascism in his supporters. Also an updated definition of fascism.
ReplyDeletewww.huffingtonpost.com/david-neiwert/trump-may-not-be-a-fascist-but_b_8973768.html
"America, thanks to Trump, has now reached that fork in the road where it must choose down which path its future lies - with democracy and its often fumbling ministrations, or with the appealing rule of plutocratic authoritarianism, ushered in on a tide of fascistic populism. For myself, I remain confident that Americans will choose the former and demolish the latter - that Trump's candidacy will founder, and the tide of right-wing populism will reach its high-water mark under him and then recede with him.
What is most troubling, though, is the momentum that Trump's candidacy has given that tide. He may not himself lack any real ideological footing, but he has laid the groundwork for a fascist groundswell that could someday be ridden to power by a similarly charismatic successor who is himself more in the mold of an ideological fascist. And it doesn't take a very long look down the roll of 2016 Republican candidates to find a couple of candidates who might fit that mold.
Trump may not be fascist, but he is empowering their existing elements in American society; even more dangerously, his Tea Party brand of right-wing populism is helping them grow their ranks, along with their potential to recruit, by leaps and bounds. Not only that, he is making all this thuggery and ugliness seem normal. And that IS a serious problem."
And on a side note, Planned Parenthood is kicking major ass. They are suing all those responsible for the doctored videos. Kudos to them. I am so pleased they are fighting back.
www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/planned-parenthood-lawsuit-videos-center-medical-progress_5697ead3e4b0b4eb759d9a61
"The civil suit accuses the defendants -- the anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress and a fake fetal tissue procurement company called "BioMax"-- of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and committing fraud, invasion of privacy, illegal secret recording and trespassing. The accused conspirators, David Daleiden, Troy Newman and four other activists, used fake government IDs to gain entry into private medical conferences, secretly taped conversations with Planned Parenthood staffers, and sliced up those interviews into a series of inflammatory videos that accuse the family planning provider of selling fetal tissue for profit.
Planned Parenthood said the videos, which have been viewed by millions of people since the first one came out in July, "created a poisonous environment" that has deeply threatened the security of its employees and providers. "Planned Parenthood staff has been demonized, the providers have been threatened with death, picketed at their homes, bombarded with hate mail, and forced to move or go into hiding," Beth Parker, chief legal counsel for Planned Parenthood's California affiliates, told reporters on Thursday. "
I'm not a lawyer, but I sure hope that the survivors of Robert Dear's victims could sue these people for wrongful death.
DeleteIf there is a direct connection between these videos and Robert Dear, I surely hope so. If during his trail Dear admits he saw and believed the videos and that was his motivation, then all of the parties should be accountable and suing for wrongful death would be an outcome.
DeleteBut face it. After Planned Parenthood gets done with these assholes, there will be no money left to pay out for wrongful death. But it would be worth it for it to be added to their criminal records. I would go through with a lawsuit just for that.
It was apparently QUITE special: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/15/opinion/campaign-stops/trump-and-cruz-set-an-ugly-nasty-tone.html
ReplyDeleteGee, I feel badly that I missed it. Love to see the veins in their necks pop out whenever Obama, the ACA or Hillary's names get mentioned, especially Donald Bedbugs Trump.
ReplyDelete