Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

The fight for our country is always worth it. ~Kamala Harris

“When somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they’re gonna use it.”

Let’s bury these fuckers at the polls 2 years from now.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

Republicans don’t trust women.

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

It’s not hopeless, and we’re not helpless.

Hi god, it’s us. Thanks a heap, you’re having a great week and it’s only Thursday!

T R E 4 5 O N

White supremacy is terrorism.

with the Kraken taking a plea, the Cheese stands alone.

Innocent people don’t delay justice.

They are lying in pursuit of an agenda.

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

He wakes up lying, and he lies all day.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

I desperately hope that, yet again, I am wrong.

Every day Vance writes another chapter in the book called “Worst VP Pick Ever”.

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

Oh FFS you might as well trust a 6-year-old with a flamethrower.

You are here: Home / Politics / Domestic Politics / GOP Debate Open Thread

Reader Interactions

543Comments

  15. 15.

    Arm The Homeless

    Where are the damn holograms? Stahp! I hate southern accents, especially when it’s in the service of jingoistic BS.

    BEER ME!

  20. 20.

    Corner Stone

    Houston is a got damb traffic nightmare this week. Freakin rodeo and now this shit. Oy vey!
    /Cruzin in Hebrew

  27. 27.

    Baud

    Nooooooooooo. Don’t advertise a movie with a black president during the GOP debate. It’ll just make them mad.

  33. 33.

    Arm The Homeless

    I am hoping this ends with Barb Bush sticking a literal shiv in Trump’s gut, then yells, “Thug Life!”

  36. 36.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Baud: This one has a white President. Aaron Eckhardt is playing the President if the trailer made any sense. Which it may not have.

  37. 37.

    Corner Stone

    @Kay: Without a physical altercation there is no way this tops the last one.
    I’ll accept physical assault in the form of pepper spray as well.

  44. 44.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    Whoever decided that every single thing broadcast, every movie, every event, even and especially every documentary now has to have manic thumping drums as a soundtrack should be drummed out of the human race.

    THUMP THUMP THUMPITY THUMP Tonight! THUMP THUMP DRUMMITY DRUM DRUM The Republican debate..

    is bad enough, but I’ve now heard the same thing on Freaking NOVA sometimes. THUMP THUMP BA BOOM The double helix was discovered by THUMP BOOM BAMMITY…

  47. 47.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Gin & Tonic: I’m watching for the blood sport factor. I fully expect Donald Trump to continue to attack Senator Cruz and to start going after Senator Rubio.

  49. 49.

    Heliopause

    Weird that there’s been a huge mass shooting today and all the TV people barely want to talk about it. Just another day in the heartland I guess.

  56. 56.

    Corner Stone

    What the fuck is wrong with these people? They think the R voters want sunshine and light and positivity?

  57. 57.

    muddy

    Those blue silhouettes at the top of the post are way too good looking and shapely to be Republican candidates. False advertisement.

  71. 71.

    Chip Daniels

    What’s with that fake graphic, of the two guys debating?

    If it was a genuine 2016 GOP debate graphic, he would be holding up his middle finger.

  76. 76.

    Tom Levenson

    This thread is the only way this debate should be experienced.

    Also every time I hear Cruz’s voice, I want to scream at him to bwow hid nodse. Sounds like he’s constantly fighting a chronic drip. Which is the appropriate metaphor, I guess.

    My son is riveted to the screen. He’s watching Trump with all the fascination of a 19th century naturalist observing a really fat, hairy spider dismember passing flies. Me, I stick here, in my safe space.

  81. 81.

    Chip Daniels

    @Corner Stone:

    I’ll accept physical assault in the form of pepper spray as well.

    I’d pay good money to watch that cop from UC Davis walk down the row, pepper spraying all the candidates.

  83. 83.

    Calouste

    I have to follow this third hand, because even reading a direct Ben Carson quote kills more of my brain cells than a bottle of Bulgarian vodka.

  84. 84.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    Rubio doesn’t get that half the problem last time was how he so blatantly sidesteps the question and starts reciting something prepackaged.

    Repeating the same exact one fourteen times was only part of the problem, he just sounds awkward pivoting so weirdly.

  86. 86.

    Kropadope

    @Baud:

    Haha. Wolf Blitzer. This will be hilarious.

    They wanted a moderator so stupid he could never possibly call them on facts.

  92. 92.

    Adam L Silverman

    To quote Mr. Pierce: let’s see if young Senator Rubio sees the garden rake? Whap! No, no he did not.

  97. 97.

    Renie

    I usually can’t stand watching these debates because of their bashing of President Obama and the democrats but since they seem to go after each other the most, it is quite entertaining. Hoping for a full knock-out between Trump and Cruz tonight.

  102. 102.

    Keith P.

    Wow, Marco Rubio has discovered oppo research! This is a nice start, and Trump is actually looking more scripted than Rubio, busting out the same, tired phrases and getting called on it.
    EDIT: Cruz has figured out oppo research, too. This is great stuff.

  103. 103.

    Mandalay

    Trump to Prissy-pants: “I’m the only one on the stage that’s hired people! YOU HAVEN’T HIRED ANYBODY!”

    Just a few minutes into the debate and Rubio is already being used as a floor mop.

  105. 105.

    Mike in NC

    Had a colonoscopy today and am prohibited from drinking alcohol for 24 hours, so must pass on the wingnut shitshow tonight.

  109. 109.

    Ohio Mom

    Everyone has been doing their research. This stuff about Donald hiring undocumented workers is good stuff.

  111. 111.

    jl

    @Mary G:

    ” Rubio is speaking a mile a minute. ”

    I noticed he seemed to be practicing speaking slower in news interviews. I guess he has stage fright again.

  115. 115.

    jl

    Does Trump have a dog he can take to DC?

    Edit: This is going to dueling insults?

    Edit2: I suspect both HRC and Sanders will know the statistics on zero or negative net illegal migration into US since the Great Recession, even accounting for evil Mexican government pushing over rapists and murderers.

  118. 118.

    raven

    “Should people be allowed to break the law even if it is no feasible to stop them”? Jesus Fucking Christ.

  119. 119.

    Corner Stone

    I love the first 30+ minutes of this debate is all about immigration.

    Kasich is fucking done. Done!

  124. 124.

    Arm The Homeless

    Kasich looks puffy too. Carson looks sleepy. What the fuck is he still doing up there.

    Fair!? What fucking conservative talks about fairness!?

  125. 125.

    Calouste

    @Ohio Mom: The good thing about these debates is that Democratic super PACs will be able to run ads against the eventual GOP nominee solely consisting of quotes from other GOP candidates.

  129. 129.

    JMG

    If you diehards watching this really want a trip, especially for the lucky ones drinking or doing recreational drugs, check out the debate on Telemundo. The translator is definitely the hardest-working man in show business history and probably the most conflicted. His deep voice and quick delivery actually seems to fit Trump the best.

  133. 133.

    PsiFighter37

    Trump saying the wall now goes 10 feet higher.

    And now he’s complaining that Fox was using vulgarity. WTF?!

  134. 134.

    Mandalay

    @PsiFighter37:

    Kasich sounding mildly reasonable.

    Lovable Grandpa Kasich shows his true colors by calling undocumented immigrants “The illegals” in his folksy way.

  136. 136.

    jl

    @Arm The Homeless: They are all geared up on steroids and adderall.

    Trump has actually given, for him, a detailed plan on how to pay for the wall. It makes no sense, but it is a plan. I mean, lots of words that look like English on paper!

  146. 146.

    Nate Dawg

    There is a woman on a rollercoaster in the audience. She screams everytime Ruboitoy opens its mouth.

  147. 147.

    jl

    @Arm The Homeless:

    ” Kasich looks puffy too. Carson looks sleepy. ”

    All of them are probably geared up on shit. Stupid WP won’t let me speculate on the drugs they are using.
    I suspect Rubio is on the ‘college student study hard’ drug.

  148. 148.

    beltane

    The sound on my computer is not working and my son refuses to stream this on his laptop. Now all this cheap wine is going to waste.

  150. 150.

    Keith P.

    Rubio’s showing some teeth here. I’m impressed. Really going after Trump on illegal aliens. A lot. Then he got in a dig about bankruptcy.
    EDIT: Holy cow, he just took a dig at Trump inheriting his fortune. This is hee-larious.

  153. 153.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    This is too painful. It really is like a love child of Jerry Springer and WWE. I can’t believe anyone is considering voting for any of these idiots. I can’t watch anymore.

  157. 157.

    PsiFighter37

    @Corner Stone: He knows he’s only got one shot left.

    Donald was about to wind up and insult Marco’s (lack of) net worth. I’m sure he will get it later.

  159. 159.

    PaulW

    Trump’s “I’ve hired people” retort is a key sign of the GOP’s greatest flaw: that they worship the “businessman” as “true heroes” who can run government… even though we’ve had businessmen Presidents – Hoover and Bush the Lesser – that proved they can’t run government all that well.

    And Trump is not the best businessman to call up as all that great: his frequent bankruptcies point to that. His only true success is self-promotion, and he’s using that to kill the GOP and the nation.

  160. 160.

    jl

    Hilariously stupid insult contest so far. I like it.
    I swore off these things, but the beginning of this one has been fun.

  161. 161.

    Mary G

    It’s a full-blown cage match now with Rubio and Trump. Shouting over each other. Oh, now they’re unleashed the Telemundo lady on Rubio. Speaking Spanish no less. I need moar popcorn.

  168. 168.

    Ohio Mom

    “We can not violate the Constitution!”.
    Tell that to the Senator who are supposed to consider Supreme Court nominees, Rubio.

  172. 172.

    Steve in the ATL

    @Mandalay:

    Rubio: “It’s a FACT!….go online and google it”. Jesus wept.

    And Google’s PR department is desperately trying to distance the company from Rubio….

  173. 173.

    PsiFighter37

    I hate to admit it, but Rubio is actually doing pretty good so far (by Republican standards).

  183. 183.

    jl

    @PsiFighter37:

    ” I hate to admit it, but Rubio is actually doing pretty good so far (by Republican standards). ”

    Rubio spent time trying to make a logical coherent argument, a pointless effort here.

  184. 184.

    Mobil RoonieRoo

    Grumpy Code Monkey is reading the Red State thread while I read him this one. This is the best entertainment ever.

  186. 186.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @Bill E Pilgrim:

    It really is like a love child of Jerry Springer and WWE.

    It is. I cannot make it a drinking game, however. Treating a shoulder spasm with a relaxing muscles med. So I’m quite calm and this is hilarious in its way.

    Our father who art in Houston does look kind of puffy, but he’s getting oldish.

  187. 187.

    Mai.naem.mobile

    Ted Cruz has always looked like a drag queen to me and it doesn’t help when I switch to Telemundo and the ‘en vivo’ tag fitting just perfectly on his head like a beauty queen crown ain’t helping.

  188. 188.

    Mandalay

    The difference in body language and presentation between Rubio and Trump is incredible.

    Rubio is shuffling around, swigging water and spluttering two hundred words a minute. The Don barely moves, and looks like he is pondering whether to use a blow torch on Rubio before he kills him.

  189. 189.

    PsiFighter37

    Yes, the Republican Party is the party of diversity. Maybe because they will promote any freakin’ Uncle Tom across the spectrum that they can, even if they are stupid assholes like Marco or Ted. The rest of the party is lily white.

  191. 191.

    dr. bloor

    @PaulW:

    And Trump is not the best businessman to call up as all that great: his frequent bankruptcies point to that. His only true success is self-promotion, and he’s using that to kill the GOP and the nation.

    This. The Republican party is getting dismantled by the second-rate, entitled son of a Queens entrepreneur out of a Tom Wolfe novel.

  197. 197.

    PsiFighter37

    Wow, Trump just dissed Telemundo…to the face of the journalist from Telemundo.

    He won’t get more than 10% of the Hispanic vote if he is the nominee.

  200. 200.

    Mai.naem.mobile

    I like this Telemundo lady. I’m guessing Trumpster the Dumpster will be trashing her later.

  209. 209.

    Corner Stone

    Trump just pivoted “the absolute hell” offa Smug Hewitt’s Religious Liberty BS question.

  214. 214.

    jl

    Roberts is a commie.

    In reality, Roberts is a great reactionary asset for winning the long game, but he is far too sophisticated for any of the top three clowns on the podium.

  215. 215.

    PaulW

    @PsiFighter37:

    we keep telling ourselves that “Trump can’t possibly win Hispanics, or the general election” but we keep forgetting how many voters are ill-informed. We can’t take anything for granted… Despite the obvious distaste within the Republican ranks over Trump, I guarantee you if he becomes their nominee with a solid delegate count, the party will delude themselves into thinking they could back him. And then try their damnest to sell him as a “proven leader” with centrist appeal. /insert puking here

  220. 220.

    jl

    Probably debates only have a marginal influence on election, but every swing vote counts, so it is good sign the GOP is wasting its debates with all this BS.

  224. 224.

    Kay

    “Not provide flowers, not provide baked goods, religious liberty..” I know what that means but does anyone outside the GOP base?

  229. 229.

    PsiFighter37

    Trump still (kinda) defending Planned Parenthood. Go figure…even managed to get a little applause.

  230. 230.

    jl

    @beltane: Recent Trump statement (paraphrase): I can change into what I want to change into very quickly, I won’t have a problem with that.

  234. 234.

    Mary G

    None of these guys answered Hewitt’s question. They are trashing the social conservatives even in election season now.

  240. 240.

    jl

    @Renie: Hewitt seems to think that the most fanatically reactionary social conservative mindset is the rule in our country, and it is his job to make sure no one impure shall pass.

    Fine with me, if he wants to damage the GOP.

  246. 246.

    David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch

    This election is, unquestionably, the meme election. And now that Jeb Bush and his made-for-Vine face have dropped out, one meme is ascendant: Ted Cruz Is the Zodiac Killer.

    Public Policy Polling is currently hitting up Floridians with the biggest question of all: Is Ted Cruz the elusive Zodiac Killer?

    PublicPolicyPolling ‎@ppppolls

    We are finding many Floridians can not rule out the possibility, although few are convinced of guilt
    6:09 PM – 24 Feb 2016

    451 Retweets
    514 Favorites

  252. 252.

    p.a.

    I don’t have cable and I won’t stream if it’s available. Does the audience seem stacked like it was said to be last time?

  254. 254.

    Mandalay

    Trump tacks to the center while Cruz and Rubio accusing him of being an unprincipled kind of guy who would work across the aisle, and cut deals to get stuff done.

    A highly persuasive argument to the already converted, but to moderates, independents and the undecided…..not so much.

  263. 263.

    PhoenixRising

    @Mandalay:

    Trump tacks to the center while Cruz and Rubio accusing him of being the kind of guy who would work across the aisle, and cut deals to get stuff done while

    A highly persuasive argument to the already converted, but to moderates, independents and the undecided…..not so much.

    Exactly. They are committing political malpractice. Their donors should sue.

  264. 264.

    jl

    Rubio spewed a bunch of Fiorina style wonky micro detail and he thought he did something.

    Debate is getting really silly now.

  271. 271.

    Renie

    Rubio is setting himself up to be be blasted by Trump. Rubio smirky grin is going to be swatted away by Trump

  274. 274.

    Central Planning

    @jl:

    Problem is that Trump made a shred of sense with his argument, and Rubio did not.

    I only meant about the repeating comment. Crowd loved it. Trump looked thrown off by that.

  275. 275.

    Corner Stone

    Dana Bash, fer cripey’s sake. Could CNN have picked a crew that was more imbued with the freakin’ worst?

  280. 280.

    Arm The Homeless

    Did Kasich just make a heart with his hands?

    “Healthcare is not a right. I also left a sponge in someone’s head. Where am I?”

  283. 283.

    jl

    @Central Planning: Not sure the audience cares whether any of these presidential contestants make a tiny shred of sense. Just thought I would note that Trump made a comprehensible argument that had a kernel of truth to it, what difference that makes, I have no idea.

  285. 285.

    Corner Stone

    I love how they get Robotio and Cruz to…

    Holy Shit. I had to stop this comment to say WTF is Carson talking about Uncle Joe, his smokes and people hiding them??

  286. 286.

    Arm The Homeless

    They’re gonna be interested in uncle Joe’s smoking, until uncle Joe puts a cigarette in your eye

  287. 287.

    Mandalay

    Grandpa Kasich explains how his government will intervene in the health care market to cause lower prices.

    Please proceed Governor – you are giving Bernie a stiffy.

  288. 288.

    Anne Laurie

    @Renie:

    Hewitt is terrible. Is he some kind of RWNJ religious zealot?

    He’s worse than a Talibangelical; he’s a devout “Conservative intellectual” happily pandering to the religious zealots, for their attention.

  298. 298.

    Central Planning

    @Anne Laurie:

    “Conservative intellectual”

    That’s an oxymoron like “pro-life” or “compassionate conservative” or “jumbo shrimp”.

    Sorry for including yummy shrimp in with those other two.

  301. 301.

    Redshift

    @Arm The Homeless:

    Obama-Clinton economy?

    It’s an article of faith among wingnuts that the economy had been a disaster during the Obama administration. So they think tying the Dems to that record is a surefire winner for them.

  307. 307.

    Mandalay

    @Renie:

    Rubio smirky grin is going to be swatted away by Trump

    Over the weekend Rubio’s limbless corpse will be found floating in the Hudson with his cock stuffed down his throat. Trump will tweet his condolences.

    How’s that smirky grinny thingy workin’ out for ya now, Marco?

  309. 309.

    the Conster, la Citoyenne

    @Baud:

    Two shouty old white men vying over who’s going to rip up which part of President Obama’s hard work by the roots first.

  315. 315.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @Baud: They seem to like it, as long as someone picks up the dead bodies before they start to smell too much.

  319. 319.

    Nate Dawg

    The roller-coaster woman just screamed at “waste, fraud, and abuse.”

    Also: DRINK! WASTE, FRAUD & ABUSE!

  320. 320.

    Renie

    I noticed a trend in them asking Trump for particulars. Love how he walks away from the questions. Rubio and Cruz are amateurs dealing with him. This is such a circus!

  325. 325.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @Kay:

    Why do they think the President can “repeal” Obamacare?

    Because they’re idiots? Or panderers, which are not mutually exclusive.

    @Aleta: I’d prefer he show a little less restraint in this specific instance.

  328. 328.

    jl

    Wolfe sounds like he doesn’t understand what he is saying, and reading phonetically

    Why are they picking on Trump balanced budget? Why is his plan any more insane than the others?
    Now he asks Kasich about Trump’s plan? What kind of question is that in a debate? Blitz invited Kasich to attack Trump’s plan.

    This BS questioning a sign that the Trump has to be damaged on his populist themes?
    I think that part of Trump is a horrifying threat to the GOP economic con game.

  329. 329.

    Redshift

    @<a href="#comment-5682378″>David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch:

    This election is, unquestionably, the meme election. And now that Jeb Bush and his made-for-Vine face have dropped out, one meme is ascendant: Ted Cruz Is the Zodiac Killer.

    Cool! I helped pimp that meme! The guy who started it hopes it’ll get big enough that Cruz is forced to answer.

  332. 332.

    Ohio Mom

    Kasich is full of it. He stole a lot of that money that balanced the budget from localities and school districts.

  334. 334.

    Mandalay

    budget…committee…revenue…balance…debt…credit..reform…jobs..regulations…growth…tax…cuts…

    Grandpa Kasich is from a bygone era, or so last year, depending on your point of view. Either way he’s dead meat.

  339. 339.

    Trentrunner

    OMG Trump insulting Hewitt’s small-audience radio show is my favorite thing since ice cream.

  342. 342.

    Keith P.

    Jeeez, Trump’s taking a dig at Hewitt’s radio ratings now! And Hewitt’s “Fuck you” grin says it all. Total scorched earth.

  347. 347.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @Ohio Mom:

    Kasich is full of it. He stole a lot of that money that balanced the budget from localities and school districts.

    Damn straight he did. And we’re all feeling it at the local level. Even those of us in less distressed communities. I can’t point any fingers, because, well – you know.

    But Kasich is a nasty, thin-skinned, self-righteous liar. The rest of the US doesn’t know that yet, but we do.

  349. 349.

    Mary G

    Ooh, Trump just said that Harry Reid bated Mitt Romney beautifully over his tax returns. And he just said that nobody listens to Hugh Hewitt’s radio slow. Then did Marco just say that tomorrow is Saturday?

  351. 351.

    Mai.naem.mobile

    I thought Obamas IRS was auditing every conservative. I guess Marco ain’t a conservative.

  355. 355.

    Kay

    @Ohio Mom:

    He did. He just stole more from schools, in fact.

    I think people know. My state taxes went down 200 and my local taxes went up a 1000. I now get no local funding- nothing- back from what I send to John Kasich. They just keep it all in Columbus.

  359. 359.

    the Conster, la Citoyenne

    Obamacare is so augured in now, that there’s no way it can be repealed. They’re all just talking shit now about it because they all know it too – 20 years from now if there’s a Republican party they’ll be claiming they passed it.

  373. 373.

    Corner Stone

    Can’t wait for Trump to ask Robotio how much he’s worth.

    No idea why they keep mentioning IRS tax returns. No one gives one damn about releasing that paper.

  375. 375.

    Renie

    @Mandalay: LOL Thanks for the laugh but that image you gave. yuck

    I don’t think anyone in the audience cares at all about the issues they just want to see the bullying. Trump has both Rubio and Cruz going after him and they both can’t knock him down.

  379. 379.

    the Conster, la Citoyenne

    Every time Trump looked at Rubio, I imagined him holding up his fingers and thinking “I squish your head”. Click. What awful people.

  384. 384.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Mingobat f/k/a Karen in GA:

    Rubio looks like he was really hoping nobody would call on him.

    So basically like Carson for every question then.

    (Wish I could follow this thread and comment, and watch the debate at the same time, but not possible on iPad apparently. See y’all at the next break.)

  387. 387.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    Round II: Who can kiss Bibi’s butt the best?

    ETA: We might get to talking about nuclear armed North Korea later.

  388. 388.

    jl

    Cruz has shown over and over again tonight why he would be a horrid candidate. What can we do to help him, at least stay in it longer?

  389. 389.

    Corner Stone

    @JPL: “I’m beating him (Cruz) in the polls, badly. If I can’t beat her, how could you possibly be beating her?”

  393. 393.

    Nate Dawg

    Traditionally the pro-Israel stance has played well in the GOP, but Trump’s common sense approach just makes sense.

  395. 395.

    dmsilev

    I sort of feel a bit sorry for Rubio. Repeating the same “zinger” four or five times in a row doesn’t make it any stronger.

  396. 396.

    JPL

    If Trump were smart, he’d ask Rubio what the last deal Israel offered to Palestinians was? Rubio with be dumb founded.

  397. 397.

    Kay

    @jl:

    Marco Rubio is childish, though. You can’t imagine him as President. He doesn’t have any gravity or center. He seems frantic and a little scared.

  407. 407.

    Mandalay

    Grandpa Kasich – the “reasonable moderate” – wants us to give ballistic missiles to South Korea and Japan.

  408. 408.

    jl

    Does Blitzer understand the questions he is reading?

    No, let’s have a regime change policy and keep Kim Jun-un in power?

    Or did Blitzer say Kim Jung-il. So maybe Bltiz meant keep him sick so he couldn’t make any trouble. Or bring back his dead father to rule?

    I ask again, is Wolfe reading the questions phonetically?

  412. 412.

    Aleta

    Wouldn’t it be better to shut them all in an exam room for 3-4 hours with a bunch of essay and multiple choice questions ? (Then indict them for lying if they go back on their word while Pressident.)

  414. 414.

    dmsilev

    Dr. Carson: How would you deal with NK. Answer: “Nobody asks me anything. Let me talk about a question from 30 minutes ago”

  418. 418.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Central Planning: The sad thing is that ultimately it is a real estate deal. Its giving the Palestinians completely claim and title to Gaza and as much of the West Bank as possible with some swap outs for contiguity where settlements are along the Green Line. The currency in the swap is Palestinians securing their new borders and doing everything to prevent and stop terrorism and other forms of political and religious violence directed at the Israelis.

    What makes this a wicked or ill structured problem isn’t the engineering of the deal. We know what the nuts and bolts need to be. Its selling it to all the parties involved.

  420. 420.

    jl

    @Mandalay: Kasich keeps subtly undermining himself. He implied that the US has at least initiated a more effect policy for NK. That implies Obama is not always intentionally trying to destroy America. The audience can do that kind of logic.

  422. 422.

    Mary G

    I don’t know what these people mean when they want to close the IRS. We’ll be on the honor system?

  426. 426.

    Anne Laurie

    @jl:

    Cruz has shown over and over again tonight why he would be a horrid candidate. What can we do to help him, at least stay in it longer?

    Don’t waste your energy. His daddy’s god has CALLED Ted to run for President — you won’t get him out of this race short of confining him to a Supermax cell. And even then he’d paint campaign manifestos on the wall, using his own waste products if necessary.

  432. 432.

    Kay

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    It’s caught on. They all act like that’s a real thing a President can do, even the journalists. Obama always says “when they bring me that I will sign it!” I appreciate that he states this correctly. It’s a small thing but it’s important.

  434. 434.

    Anne Laurie

    @Corner Stone:

    Who gives a shit about NK?

    Strutting bullies who don’t have the balls to challenge a real world power.

    Like St. Reagan invading Grenada, only with even less courage.

  437. 437.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @Kay:

    He seems frantic and a little scared.

    I suspect that’s because Sen. Rubio is frantic and a little scared.

  439. 439.

    dmsilev

    The person I feel most sorry for: The guy who’s getting a repetitive strain injury from pushing that bell button.

  443. 443.

    Nate Dawg

    OMG, Trump just turned them into whining little children. He’s a “choke-artist” and he’s a “liar”.

    Wow. Owned.

  460. 460.

    Anne Laurie

    @Adam L Silverman: Yeah, if any of these Repub clowns could think past their next bathroom break, they’d announce an offer for Trump to be their special Israel-Palestian Ambassador, cuz his soooper deal-making skills would be so much more useful slanging the wogs than in the White House.

  465. 465.

    Texas Dem

    “This guy is a choke arrest and this guy is a liar.” BOOM! Knockout. It’s over, folks. I’m changing the channel.

  470. 470.

    jl

    My impression is that Cruz thinks he is very clever and winning points with his attacks, but I see Cruz walking into roundhouses over and over again.

  476. 476.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @Kay:

    Obama always says “when they bring me that I will sign it!” I appreciate that he states this correctly. It’s a small thing but it’s important.

    That’s because Obama likes to actually observe the constitutional requirements. Which is not really such a small thing (though I understand you point), especially since the great voting public likely doesn’t know these fools can’t just repeal things.

  479. 479.

    Nate Dawg

    Rubio looks like such a little kid when he smiles. Always so proud of his little digs, but then his shit-eating grin ruins it.

  487. 487.

    Texas Dem

    Maybe I missed something, but is there any way after tonight that Trump doesn’t roll over Super Tuesday like a German blitzkrieg?

  489. 489.

    Anne Laurie

    @Central Planning:

    Does Cruz go third party if he doesn’t get the R nomination?

    Long before he got this far, I was predicting Cruz as the Repub most likely to go third-party this time around.

    He doesn’t want to be President, as Americans currently use that title — he wants to be God-King of the Republic of Gilead. And if stupid voters don’t understand their duty to offer him that crown, he’ll go third-party.

    Hell, given his unexpected success this year, I can see him going third-party and calling for the Bible-bashing states to secede!

  490. 490.

    James E Powell

    You guys watch so I don’t have to – Much love to you all.

    I want this thing to come down to Cruz v. Trump. I want the ugliness that is the Republican Party on full display.

  491. 491.

    Nate Dawg

    Ben Carson: I believe, the sky is blue, because that’s, uh, the way it appears to me. *applause*

  492. 492.

    dmsilev

    Umm, guys, Apple isn’t ‘defying’ a court order, they’re appealing a court order. There’s a bit of a difference.

  498. 498.

    mclaren

    @Bill E Pilgrim:

    This is too painful. It really is like a love child of Jerry Springer and WWE.

    Anyone remember the 90s TNT half-hour talk show THE CONSPIRACY ZONE? They had one episode where they invited hollow earthers on to debate. And the debate was whether the earth was hollow and full of reptoids, or whether the earth was hollow and full of Nazis.

    This is the first thing I’ve seen on TV that was crazier than that.

  499. 499.

    Adam L Silverman

    Nice fresh open thread up to get us through the rest of the debate and into the post-debate aftermath.

  504. 504.

    Mandalay

    Cuddly Grandpa Kasich – the “reasonable moderate” – brags that he locks people in rooms until they reach an agreement all the time.

  505. 505.

    Kay

    @Baud:

    We’re lucky though. If GOP base voters weren’t so nuts he would be the nominee and they’ve already crowned him The Moderate.

  507. 507.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    mike murphy ‏@ murphymike 2m2 minutes ago
    This is what GOP losing WH looks like,

    Am I missing something I’m gonna wish I had watched?

    Meh, they piss me off too much in real time. I’ll watch the highlights

  513. 513.

    Texas Dem

    All I can say is that if Bill Clinton really talked Trump into running for president, he’s the political genius of all time. World class.

  518. 518.

    jl

    @mclaren: Those hollow earthers are stupid. Everyone know the hollow earth is full of Nazis riding dinosaur reptoids. I learned that in a movie about Sarah Palin.

  520. 520.

    Adam L Silverman

    @a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q): ahhh, okay. Well, we’re well past 500, so its safe to put up a new one. Also, people are always kvetching that the thread loads/reloads slowly when we get over a couple of hundred comments. So I was trying to be considerate. I’ll endeavor not to do so again.

  525. 525.

    Mandalay

    @Texas Dem:

    he’s the political genius of all time. World class.

    Meh. I suspect history will not be kind to Bill Clinton, and the “comeback kid” and “first black president” bullshit is already starting to become a little cringe inducing.

    Trump will go full-sexual-predator on him if he ends up running against Hillary Clinton.

  528. 528.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Mandalay:

    Meh. I suspect history will not be kind to Bill Clinton, and the “comeback kid” and “first black president” bullshit is already starting to become a little cringe inducing.

    I suspect that you are wrong.

  533. 533.

    opiejeanne

    @Geoduck: I missed that.I stomped out after Ben started talking about his hands. “Have you ever, like, looked at your hands, man? I mean, looked at them?”

    What was Ted planning to do to destroy the Earth?

  539. 539.

    seaboogie

    @Mai.naem.mobile:

    Ted Cruz has always looked like a drag queen to me

    I absolutely get that, but in a reverse Victor/Victoria way – a man pretending to be a woman impersonating a man.

  540. 540.

    seaboogie

    @BillinGlendaleCA:

    Nothing wrong with nose piercing.

    With this, and a few other comments that you’ve shared with me, I’m fairly confident that I could pick you out of the crowd at even the best-attended BJ meet-up ever – ;-) And that’s a good thing, because I’d want to sit next to you!

  541. 541.

    danielx

    @Gin & Tonic:

    It’s reading the BJ ongoing commentary that brings tears to my eyes during these ordeals.

    Although I admit that watching this drivel, my overwhelming reaction is something along the lines of…this is what the so-called democratic process has come to? It’s easy to be snarky about how if you put all these guys in a barrel and rolled it downhill there would always be a doucherocket on top. But it finally dawned on me – the old line about how politics is show biz for ugly people has been modified. It’s just show biz, period, and within that context everything about Trump leading the Republican race falls into place with resounding crashes. The process has nothing to do with reality and everything to do with emotion, and as show biz is intended to, it entertains and produces a lot of money. Trump understands the entertainment business as a business better than any of the other jerkoffs in the Republican race, and gets for free what other candidates have to pay millions.

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