Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

How any woman could possibly vote for this smug smarmy piece of misogynistic crap is beyond understanding.

Hey Washington Post, “Democracy Dies in Darkness” was supposed to be a warning, not a mission statement.

Tick tock motherfuckers!

“woke” is the new caravan.

If rights aren’t universal, they are privilege, not rights.

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

You’re just a puppy masquerading as an old coot.

Fear or fury? The choice is ours.

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph how is that election even close?

Someone should tell Republicans that violence is the last refuge of the incompetent, or possibly the first.

Shut up, hissy kitty!

“Facilitate” is an active verb, not a weasel word.

Conservatism: there are people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

Not so fun when the rabbit gets the gun, is it?

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

There is no right way to do the wrong thing.

Stamping your little feets and demanding that they see how important you are? Not working anymore.

We can’t confuse what’s necessary to win elections with the policies that we want to implement when we do.

Lick the third rail, it tastes like chocolate!

Republicans: slavery is when you own me. freedom is when I own you.

The low info voters probably won’t even notice or remember by their next lap around the goldfish bowl.

Our job is not to persuade republicans but to defeat them.

You are here: Home / Elections / Election 2016 / Debate Open Thread

Debate Open Thread

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I watched the JV RNC debate shitshow on CNBC. Smirking douchenozzle / Tea Party Podfather Rick Santelli was one of the moderators. Gyad, what a loathsome prick.

The assembled aspirants were talking over the one-minute time limit, shouting down the moderators and behaving disruptively. I kept hoping a muscular cop from South Carolina would charge in and slam them to the ground, along with their podiums.

After the small-timer show, assembled bloviators, including a toupéed idiot and an old fart from the Reagan admin, insisted the candidates weren’t supportive enough of corporate tax cuts. One of those nitwits was a former Bear Stearns economist, so it was like listening to Captain Hazelwood of the Exxon Valdez opine on oil tanker navigation.

The spectacle made me want to pour a quart of bourbon into a half-gallon container of butter pecan ice cream and spoon the contents down my throat until I pass out or spew projectile vomit across the room to cover the screen and make it stop.

Round 2 will have the blessed distraction of baseball. Go Mets!

Open thread!

PS: World Series open thread downstairs.

Reader Interactions

209Comments

  1. 1.

    SiubhanDuinne

    I want to marry this F/P post. Brava, Betty!

    And yes, re: World Series, go Mets, and re: Debate, go Meteors!

  5. 5.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    Only question is if Bed Carson will share his stash with the rest of the candidates, remember it’s in Colorado.

  9. 9.

    Renie

    I’m already eating halloween candy; every year I say I will buy candy I don’t like but then I always slip in something I like

  14. 14.

    Rising Above

    @cokane:

    Yup yup!

    Jeb will be the candidate from Establishment Street, Cruz the candidate from Insurgent Avenue.

    They will occupy each “lane” of the GOP and duke it out in the Spring.

  15. 15.

    Elizabelle

    When does this shitshow debate start? Tuned in to CNBC and just saw Kudlow bloviating.

    Like any other night on CNBC.

    Ion with Law & Order episodes I’ve never seen (Fred Dalton Thompson!) or the debate. The choices, the choices.

  18. 18.

    Elizabelle

    Also, for non-cable cord cutters: TCM is counterprogramming with Disney cartoons.

    If memory serves, it’s the Three Lil Pigs, The Big Bad Wolf, Mr. Toad and Ichabod, Witch Mountain.

    Those three pigs understand the importance of raising the debt ceiling.

  27. 27.

    Pie Happens (opiejeanne)

    After hearing Lindsay Graham spouting his garbage, my husband looked at me in astonishment and said, “He’s a war monger!” We have missed the minor league debates and Graham hasn’t appeared on his radar before tonight.

  29. 29.

    Betty Cracker

    @CJ: I don’t think you can, at least not legally. There was somewhat of a controversy about that.

  32. 32.

    Rising Above

    @Chris:

    Re-brand.

    Re-launch.

    Re-boot.

    Heard through the grapevine the campaign may even be unveiling a new, “refreshed” Jeb logo next week, with a more 21st-Century look, perhaps a single “J” or “J16” just like his brothers famous “W04” logo. A sleek almost Apple-esque design to connote modernity and streamlined efficiency.

  34. 34.

    GregB

    Sweet Jesus the panel from CNBC reminds me of the moderators of The Hunger Games and the lead creepo from American Psycho.

  35. 35.

    Elizabelle

    @BillinGlendaleCA: @Baud:

    Now they’re running around, bottomless, talking to Little Red Riding Hood. She is adequately dressed.

    We have no idea if Larry Kudlow is wearing pants.

    These pigs. One of them is laying bricks. The others are playing musical instruments. That’s so … French. Socialists.

    The wolf has just appeared. He is wearing pants.

  42. 42.

    Elizabelle

    Ben Carson doesn’t raise his hand much. Christie does not wave at all.

    What’s your biggest weakness? How long do we have?

    Kasich: they’re on the verge of picking someone who cannot do this job. He’s taking on other candidates. Refreshing.

    But: cut taxes? Ummmm….. he’s going to get the country moving again.

    Huckabee: he’s in this race? He lives by the rules.

  44. 44.

    Rising Above

    Jeb: Build up, don’t tear down. It can be morning in America again. We can rise up.

    Veiled shot at Trump!

  45. 45.

    Elizabelle

    Jeb! can’t fake anger. People are rewarded for tearing down this country. (On your side.)

    Jeb said rise up.

  47. 47.

    Fair Economist

    jeb: may get less attention now that he’s so obviously circling the drain. I expect the guns to get trained on Rubio this go-round. Who does CNBC favor?

  50. 50.

    RaflW

    CNBC has done everyone a favor by making the worst pre-game show ever. They’ve probably given the World Series a few extra ratings points.

  54. 54.

    RaflW

    Ted Cruz was passionate about the Constitution when he was a tot.

    He will also DD you when you’re sloshed, I think.

  55. 55.

    Elizabelle

    Trump trusts people too much? Really? And then he never forgives those who deceived them.

    That strikes me as the most honest answer so far.

    Carson: not really seeing himself as prez until hundreds of thousands told him he should do it. Invokes Reagan’s 11th commandment.

    Fiorina: told she didn’t smile enough …. but these are serious times. There she goes with the corruption theme. Fuck Carly. Wrong administration. She’s talking citizen govt.

    Cruz is too agreeable and easygoing. Laughter. He’s a fighter.

    I’d say not getting the point of Green Eggs and Ham, aimed at schoolkids, is a significant weakness.

  59. 59.

    SoupCatcher

    Ted Cruz just volunteered to be the nation’s designated driver.

    Good to know.

    Don’t think I’d ever willingly get into a car with him behind the wheel, drunk or sober.

  63. 63.

    dmsilev

    Rand Paul doesn’t even bother pretending to answer the question, doesn’t like the budget deal.

  66. 66.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Rising Above:

    As promised/threatened in a downstairs thread, and back by popular* demand.

    *(Popular = Elizabelle and efgoldman)

    With apologies to Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II:

    Pore Jeb is dead,
    Pore Jeb Bush is dead,
    He’s lookin’ oh so peaceful and serene.
    He’s such a loser chump,
    Trailing Rubio and Trump,
    Kasich, Carson, Cruz, and Carly Fiorine.

    Pore Jeb is done.
    He said he would run
    Because he bears his family’s famous name.
    It turns out he is toast,
    ‘Cause he thought that he could coast
    And win the nomination by acclaim.

    (Then they’ll get up, all them Foxy Foxes and CNN types, to pay tribute to Jeb. And all them Villagers will be moanin’ and weepin’ because they thought Jeb was the Promised One. Only it turned out he ain’t, and he jes’ cain’t get the poll nummers he needs, not the money he craves, even though everyone in his fam’ly tried their durndest to turn things around fer ‘im.)

    This is the end.
    Jeb had to attend
    A conference with Poppy, Bar and bro.
    He looks like he’s asleep,
    It’s a shame that he won’t keep,
    But it’s autumn and we’re runnin’ out of dough.

    Pore Jeb is dead,
    Quinnipiac said
    (And every other poll that you can cite).
    If he’d give a few more fucks
    He would see those big BRINKS. TRUCKS.
    Dumpin’ money on his doorstep overnight.

    Pore ¡Jeb!
    Pore ¿Jeb?

  69. 69.

    Mike in NC

    “Señor JEB!, the Brinks truck just arrived. But ay caramba only three rolls of pesos!”

  71. 71.

    dedc79

    Oh man, the Clinton campaign is going to have a tough time figuring out what footage not to use in their ads.

  74. 74.

    RaflW

    Oh, petulant Kasich.

    “You can’t do it [balance the budget] with empty promises. Fantasy tax plans.”

    He’s headed for the kiddie table for sure.

  79. 79.

    Rising Above

    Kasich sounds like a whiny midwestern nerd. He’s the kind of dork that organizes his sock drawer for fun.

  83. 83.

    RaflW

    Trump whacks Kasich. Says the only way he balanced Ohio’s budget was fracking revenue.
    Which I suspect has some truth. Haha.

  84. 84.

    Gin & Tonic

    I think I’m way better off watching the game and reading about the debate here than vice versa.

  88. 88.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Ted Cruz hasn’t managed to lose any of that most-likely-to-be-punched-in-the-face affect, has he?

  89. 89.

    Elizabelle

    @Gin & Tonic: The pigs are on a commercial break.

    More Disney animation up on TCM, one of these days.

    I was struck by how black the wolf was. Are there black wolves? I always see pics of grey ones….

  91. 91.

    Elizabelle

    Just looked up. Carly’s hairdo makes her look like sort of a Russian icon. Not an attractive one.

    I have a hard time hearing her talk against the wealthy and the well-connected. Isn’t that her stock in trade?

  92. 92.

    MomSense

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Is it just me or does it seem like his mouth moves about 3.5 times more than necessary for the words that are coming out of it.

    It’s like a badly dubbed film.

  93. 93.

    Mike J

    pourmecoffee ‏@pourmecoffee 45m45 minutes ago
    Ben Carson should come out in scrubs and place an Igloo cooler on his podium but say absolutely nothing about it.

  94. 94.

    SoupCatcher

    Fiorina planning for the moon landing: All we need is one Power Point slide. Get it done, people!

    eta And, Rubio, the kids who were born during the Great Depression would like a word with you.

  95. 95.

    raven

    @Elizabelle:

    The gray wolf or grey wolf (Canis lupus[a]) also known as the timber wolf,[3][4] or western wolf,[b] is a canid native to the wilderness and remote areas of North America and Eurasia. It is the largest extant member of its family, with males averaging 43–45 kg (95–99 lb), and females 36–38.5 kg (79–85 lb).[6] Like the red wolf, it is distinguished from other Canis species by its larger size and less pointed features, particularly on the ears and muzzle.[7] Its winter fur is long and bushy, and predominantly a mottled gray in color, although nearly pure white, red, or brown to black also occur

  96. 96.

    SiubhanDuinne

    I’m watching the debate with the sound off, so presumably I’m not missing anything, but I couldn’t help noticing that Carly’s lips were moving. May I conclude the obvious?

  97. 97.

    Elizabelle

    Rubio: wait in line? Wait for what?

    I love how concerned these critters are for average Americans and small businesses. Not.

  98. 98.

    Rising Above

    Why isn’t Jeb getting any time? He’s had an opening statement and a few lines and that’s been it while these guys filibuster on and on.

    The former Governor of our fourth largest state and the son of a former President deserves more respect than this.

  102. 102.

    Kay

    @dmsilev:

    Kasich has been threatening to “break out” all week with a bold, new maverick persona. This is his big night. He’s taking. his. Party back from the insurgents and giving it to rich people, who are the rightful owners :)

  108. 108.

    Elizabelle

    Rubio’s getting treated shabbily by the MSM. Audience cheers.

    Jeb! gets after Rubio for not showing up to work. Showing up to work. Loving this.

  117. 117.

    NonyNony

    @Kay: Has King John decided he doesn’t want to be president anymore? That certainly doesn’t sound like a plan to win a GOP primary.

  124. 124.

    Pie Happens (opiejeanne)

    Kasich is back to sounding rational again, but we heard what he said the other day and he’s not any more rational than the rest, possibly less sane than the the rest.

  125. 125.

    Mary G

    I can’t watch it for longer than 10 seconds at a time. Carly looks like she had a lot of face work/botox done way too recently. (I don’t approve of criticizing a woman’s appearance, but I can’t resist commenting on the plastic face. Bad Mary.)

  128. 128.

    Betty Cracker

    I’ve been hoping Jeb could pull this off because I’d love to see Hillary crush him like a bug. But he’s just awful. Only an outright donor coup could save his sorry bacon now.

  132. 132.

    Chyron HR

    @Rising Above:

    Why isn’t Jeb getting any time? He’s had an opening statement and a few lines and that’s been it while these guys filibuster on and on.

    Because the people that hate Bush the most aren’t EEEVIL LIBRULS, they’re your fellow Republicans. Deal with it.

  134. 134.

    Elizabelle

    May I say: Hillary looked beautiful and more relaxed at both the Dem debate and the Benghazipalooza! hearing.

    Good question about Tom Perkins and $1 million is 1 million votes. Carly answers well: This is why Tom Perkins and I had trouble in the boardroom.

    I think the questions have been good, actually. The candidates, not.

  135. 135.

    RaflW

    Rand Paul is apparently being punished for not even pretending to answer the opening question. He has not spoken since.

  141. 141.

    GregB

    Senator Cruz, is it true you will go back to sitting on Wayland Flowers lap if you don’t win the Presidency?

  143. 143.

    SoupCatcher

    Cruz: I’ll complain about the critical questions, while reminding everyone in the audience of each of the critiques.

    Slick.

  145. 145.

    Stillwater

    Gotta give some points to Cruz on that one. First time I’ve ever agreed with him, actually.

  146. 146.

    Mike J

    John Scalzi ‏@scalzi 11m11 minutes ago
    To be clear, on my thread right now the left is snarking on the candidates and the right is snarking on the moderators.

  147. 147.

    Elizabelle

    This crew does not have more experience than the Democratic candidates. Outright lie by Cruz.

    Does call them the Bolsheviks vs. the Mensheviks.

    Now they’re all yelling again.

  153. 153.

    Anne Laurie

    @Elizabelle:

    Jeb! looks thin. I’ll give him that.

    Reports from the trail are that he’s complained that his paleo diet leaves him hungry all the time; it’s mooted as one reason he’s so cranky & stumble-tongued.

  158. 158.

    Kay

    @NonyNony:

    Don’t you think the Kasich/state GOP divide is weird? It’s like they ignore him. He’s not one of them. He was re-elected and then they all started running for governor. They don’t even talk about him here, not as President, not as governor, not at all.

  161. 161.

    Elizabelle

    Now the Disney characters are yelling too. What an unpleasant evening.

    McBadger is a “nervous wreck.” And he has a Scottish brogue.

  162. 162.

    PaulW

    @Rising Above:

    Respect works both ways.

    Jeb’s not getting respected because he does NOT respect the voters. Not with effort, not with focus, not with genuine empathy, none of that.

  165. 165.

    PaulW

    And My Heaven Will Be a Big Heaven
    And I Will Walk Through the Front Door
    – every Republican candidate on the CNBC stage tonight

  166. 166.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Elizabelle:

    I agree. I though HRC looked smashing at the Benghazi!!! thing (the Dem debate, too, but especially last Thursday. She needs to put whoever her hairdresser is on permanent retainer for the next 5-9 years).

  167. 167.

    JPL

    For those without cable, what are the others doing while all this yelling is going on? Are Trump and Carson able to get a word in?

  169. 169.

    Elizabelle

    Are the GOP candidates singing, cutting through hedges, and scattering ducks? I ask you. Mr. Toad is speechifying.

  172. 172.

    RaflW

    So, wait, Huckabee is saying we shouldn’t cut SSI? That’s not part of the conservative script.

  173. 173.

    Renie

    HAHAHAHAHAHA ?JEB? has boots on that have his name on them. Does he also have his name on his clothing? What a jerk.

  175. 175.

    RaflW

    @JPL: Trump has been weirdly silent.

    ‏@eliasisquith
    Why is Trump not butting in? He should be all the time. His campaign is a shark; if it goes longer than 3 minutes w/out talking, it dies.

  176. 176.

    NonyNony

    @Kay: I think its at least partly his lame duck status. He’s term limited and has a near zero chance of becoming President so why should they care about him?

    Also – he’s an asshole and nobody likes him personally. I’m sure that doesn’t help him.

  178. 178.

    Anne Laurie

    @Renie:

    HAHAHAHAHAHA ?JEB? has boots on that have his name on them. Does he also have his name on his clothing? What a jerk.

    I think most of us women (among other genders) can attest that choosing to wear high-heeled boots to a debate where you’ll be standing up for two hours straight is not a well-thought-out decision!

  179. 179.

    Rising Above

    @Schlemazel:

    Jeb has an “Ace” up his sleeve. Just wait for it.

    The media is going to look for any excuse to fluff him.

    Jeb will win.

    Not only the debate.

    Not only the nomination.

    But the whole enchilada itself–the White House.

    Do you seriously think he’s going to drop out any time soon? Bush is fucking invincible. He’s a Bush–and the Bushes get the nomination any time they damn well please to have it since Reagan.

  181. 181.

    Stillwater

    @RaflW: So, wait, Huckabee is saying we shouldn’t cut SSI? That’s not part of the conservative script.

    Script is changing apparently.

  191. 191.

    RaflW

    Oh, lord. Jim Cramer is now on the panel.

    He shouts his questions in a halting fashion that suggests he thinks the GOP candidates are hard of hearing children.

  194. 194.

    Elizabelle

    Looked in from TCM. These Republicans (Jeb!) are not acquainted with John Maynard Keynes.

    They know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. It’s horrible small minded cruel people they hope to appeal to.

  195. 195.

    Emma

    @Rising Above: I give you two words: Terry Schiavo. That son of a… privileged family… nearly threw this state into a freaking constitutional crisis just so he could freaking grandstand. Screw him and his horse.

  197. 197.

    RaflW

    @Wonkette
    Jeb Bush is going to do warm kisses to all the Democrats who want to cut taxes. Lots of tongue. Probably a surprise boner too. Jeb!

  198. 198.

    Kay

    @NonyNony:

    nobody likes him personally.

    They’re going to have a really bloody primary for the governor’s race on the R side. I hope Cordray jumps in. He’ll dominate on the Democratic side (and he should). Democrats can’t afford a bloody primary. I went to a dinner where David Pepper was the speaker and I asked him about Cordray after but he obviously and clumsily dodged the question, so I don’t know what that was about. I don’t know why he wouldn’t just answer even if it’s “I don’t know”. They need a really strong candidate and Cordray is the strongest.

  200. 200.

    Schlemazel

    @Emma:
    Now, now, that poor horse hasn’t done anything to deserve that sort of thing! JEB? on the other hand, where is the rusty chainsaw?

  201. 201.

    oldgold

    It really kind of sad that in a country this big and full of talented people, that this group is the best pool of candidates one of the two major political parties can put forth to be our next President.

  202. 202.

    The Very Reverend Crimson Fire of Compassion

    @Renie: Barbara sews them on, so when he gets lost, people can help him find his way back to Kennebunkport.

  204. 204.

    Pie Happens (opiejeanne)

    @Elizabelle: We’ve given up. We’re watching the finale of Worst Cooks; it’s somewhat better than the debates and there’s less yelling and lying.

  205. 205.

    Pie Happens (opiejeanne)

    @PaulW: I always think about Republicans when I hear that song. There’s also :
    When I show them ’round my house, to my bed
    I had it made like a mountain range
    With a snow-white pillow for my big fat head

  206. 206.

    chopper

    @Rising Above:

    Why isn’t Jeb getting any time?

    because he’s a shithead.

    The former Governor of our fourth largest state and the son of a former President deserves more respect than this.

    no, he doesn’t.

  208. 208.

    Bruce Webb

    The spectacle made me want to pour a quart of bourbon into a half-gallon container of butter pecan ice cream and spoon the contents down my throat until I pass out or spew projectile vomit across the room to cover the screen and make it stop.

    I am sure I am not the only person on this thread wondering aloud whether this was a bad thing to want to do. Personally the projectile vomiting is more likely to be some combo of white rum and rocky road ice cream. Which I have to say would provide more screen coverage and stopping ability. But I am still caught on the question of admonition? or advice?

  209. 209.

    someofparts

    With burbon I would have to stick with vanilla.
    Now you’ve got me thinking about Christmas.

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