Clashes over national security mark 5th Republican debate

Trump will once again be standing at center stage, reflecting the billionaire businessman’s surprising dominance in the Republican primary campaign.

Which is awesome, if you want a better America. Because the damage has been done. Every single Republican operative and analyst has given up trying to take the White House! Its all about damage control now, and preserving down ticket offices.

The GOP's Christmas crackpot special.

You'd better watch out

You'd better not cry

You'd better not think

I'm telling you why

The Taliban is coming to town

Tonight's debate theme: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

And I don't mean that as a joke. Expect to hear lots of tough talk, lots of fear of those who are different from the GOP base, lots of hysterical victimization, and of course lots of outright lies.

The Republican bumper car competition continues, note, for two more months more after this Las Vegas Ouroboros.

Ted Cruz, likely will be extra angry at Donald J. Trump's inexplicable claims that Cruz is a manic as he (Trump) was the real manic, and could prove it, and had.

"I am giving them a chance for them to make total fools of themselves in front of millions of people" said television personality Trump, forgetting that he had already accomplished this goal many times in the past months.

Conservative “truth-teller,” a contradiction in terms, will define the continued battle these candidates have delivered.

With two more months of unexceptionalism before any primaries, the Republican Party promised this debate would be forgotten in less time than the past thirty, so it didn't matter what any of them said as most Americans had become too frightened at the thought of a Republican in the White House no matter how large their egos had become.

We will see.

Insult all you wish folks.....where's the Democrat debates? I'll give the GOP a thumbs up for being in the spotlight with 3 times as many debates and not cloaked in obscure time slots as the DNC selected.

The Republican bumper car competition continues, note for two more months after this Las Vegas stage show.

With two more months of unexceptionalism before any primaries, the Republican Party promised this debate would be forgotten in less time than the past thirty.

It may not matter what any of them say as most Americans have become too frightened at the thought of a Republican in the White House no matter how large their egos had become.

We will see.

My predictions:

First, Wolf Blitzer is a tool. But he's savvy and gots chutzpah and will not allow any of the Clown Car to deflect pointed questions by blaming the librul media. Expect to see a real struggle between Blitzer and Cruz. Cruz may be an unlikeable, opportunistic right-wing nut job, but he is very smart and a gifted debater. I think he'll be able to hold out against Blitzer's pressure/

Second, Cruz is gonna be busy. Now that retired brain surgeon and part time Ambien promotor Ben Carson is tanking (thanks to his opening his mouth) Cruz has picked up most evangelical wackos and has a strong upward trend in his polling numbers. Trump still leads, which means Cruz is going after Trump big time. If Cruz does well, which he probably will, 'cause, like I says above, he is really smart and a gifted debater, expect to see Cruz rise in the polls in the wake of this final 2015 debate

Third, Trump is gonna be busy. He's in the lead, and the Establishment is crapping its pants. It hates Trump just a little more than it hates Cruz (Recall Cruz is personally a jerk that no one, and I mean, no one likes after getting to know him). So, sInce Jeb!, after all, can't fix S&^T, now the Establishment choice is Marco Rubio.

Rubio is going to go after Trump as well. Problem is, Rubio is not that good of a debater, and gets lost when he is not reading from his stump speech. He can deliver when prepped, though. Recall his very effective slamming Jeb!!!! a few debates ago.

Other than that, Trump is the big mystery. If he is smart, he'll go full bombast and revel in all the hate directed toward him. That is what his white, old angry and crass supporters like about him: "He tells it like it is!" Meaning, he says all the terrible things I want to be true, but aren't.

Which one is the lesser of two evils? It's hard to decide.

Trump is the most evil, as it were. Which is why his getting the nomination from the party of hate would be the best thing for America. See above.

:)

The people voting for any of these extremist Republican crazies don't really care or really understand exactly what they are saying. These right wing icons give vent to the hatred and frustration cultivated by the GOP against Obama as a black president and now against Latinos and Muslims. The low information blue collar voters and religious fundamentalists don't even realize that The GOP is first and foremost the party of the ultra-rich. This rich GOP Oligarchy that controls the votes of these angry blue collar types uses the hatred of these lower classes as a cover for their greedy quest to cut taxes for the super wealthy and eliminate social services that service their own misguided electorate. Trump, Cruz, Carson, Bush, Fiorina are all willing tools of this racist, hate-filled deception.

The people voting for any of these extremist Republican crazies don't really care or really understand exactly what they are saying.

Yes, they do. See, that is what you must understand: they are bad people. They are angry, willful and spoiled.

I'm afraid this will degenerate into a simple pissing contest of rhetorical brutality completely divorced from the real challenges America faces. But then again, that would benefit the Republican brand, wouldn't it?.

a simple pissing contest

Heh. Cruz is to smart for that. He's in it for the long haul.

"I am giving them a chance for them to make total fools of themselves in front of millions of people" said television personality Trump

The constant cudgel of Donald J. Trump shows most Republicans nothing of what they admired most in Ronald Reagan. If the debate can inspire any value it might be a return to actual ideas instead of Trump's reality show as he relives some frat party.

The debate will likely not cover his program to humiliate low income workers.

Trump detests his fan base to the degree he has proposed a "shaming statement" as reported in The Washington Post, "Individuals who are single and earn less than $25,000 per year will not owe any federal income taxes, These workers will still need to send a one-page form to the IRS stating: "I win."

source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/09/28/heres-whats-in-donald-trumps-tax-plan/

It is unclear what Trump believes Americans "win" on less than $500 a week. Maybe a chance to have Trump kick them in the teeth.

How Trump can detest his fellow Republican candidates, his fan base and continue his "Americans are Losers" campaign likely won't be raised either.

The American voter will have that to think on eleven months ahead long after Las Vegas confirms Trump's complete lack of electability and bizarre corrosive malevolence towards everything except hearing his own name.

kcJapan

Again, wonderful Stuff!!! Keep it comin.

I wouldn't put all your eggs in one basket kc like the DNC did with Hillary.

Her credibility and judgement concerning the servers are very damaging in thinking Americans. Of course the less intelligent will vote for her "because it's time for a woman president". As if gender is an important factor.

I wouldn't put all your eggs in one basket kc like the DNC did with Hillary.

Amazing how people disregard Sanders. Must be that MainStream Media the republicans keep bleating about.

Go TRUMP!

I'll give the GOP a thumbs up for being in the spotlight

Because no news is good news, we all do!

@Stranger.....what chance does Sanders have if the press and networks do minimum to expose? Trump is playing a game, if you don't see it your blind. Trump knows exposure is popularity. He's no bigot, he is playing on weaknesses and the results are evident.

Back to Sanders, unless Hillary is endighted with top secret emails in the next several months she's the nominee. And the indightment in the next several months is unlikely. Careful who her running mate is, he could end up as president.

Opening comments . . .

Rand: Another moderate and intelligent pitch

Kisaich: Can't make it out, something about loud and his daughter

Christie: Betrayed, really?

Fiorina: Angry, take our country back and cancer and loss of child. Oh, brother.

Bush: America Under water Leadership and Winning like my brother did.

Rubio: I love LV, grand daddy smoked, traditional values? tossing those Muslims out?

Cruz: America is at War, keep America safe, hunt down kill terrorists and forget PC

Carson: Silence in memory of Cali slaughter, the existence of America can be destroyed by radicals.

Trump: My journey, building military, make sure Japan doesn't take advantage of us, opened discussion

Any guesses which 'keep fear alive' meme will be repeated most after the debates?

Will any of the candidates admit 'we're only in MENA for the petroleum'?

Will Jeb? say he wants to continue his daddy's and brother's wars for petroleum?

Opening specific question . . .

Trump: I will build a Great Wall.

Bush: Need our troops embedded in Iraq. Trump is all about chaos. :04

Trump: Jeb has failed a disaster and no one cares about Jeb doesn't care.

Bush: We need to engage with the Arab world. :05

Rubio: Radical Islam most sophisticated threat.

Cruz: Disagree with Trump? The President is at fault. Three year block on refugees where ISIS exists. :07

Fiorina: What GOP stands for, solving problems, Patriot Act needs revamp.

Christie: New normal, fear paralyzes America, President and Clinton's fault. :09

Over all tone is calmer, sounds like the GOP got the message and containment of Trump has been baked right in.

Carson speaks. And his eyes are open!!

Going Deeper . . .

Cruz: NSA Freedom Act, ending bulk collection of phone calls replaced with wider coverage, President at fault

Rubio: NSA Freedom Act, ISIS means more tools of surveillance

Cruz: Rubio is wrong, NSAFA is better :15

Rubio: Debates aren't the place to discuss classified matters

Rand: Surveillance? We're less safe by collecting every and communication. Working hard on Rubio as wanting open border. :18

Rubio: Meta-data is a real tool

Rand: battling on, minutia no one can follow

Christie: If your eyes are glazed over . . . pointing up tedium. Point, Christie. :20

Carson: monitoring? places of radicalism can't be surveilled because of PC

Bush: Destroy ISIS in Iraq.

Fiorina: Why did we miss Boston and Cali? We used wrong tools and government is failing at technology :25

Oh boy. Carly and Rubio doing well.

Deeper still . . .

Trump: Closing internet? So easy to answer, get private sector in the mix, block ISIS access to internet :28

Kisaich: Encryption is Achilles' heal to safety

Cruz: "Carpet bomb"? Civilian cost? Air power solution in civilian areas, arming Kurds, PC is the enemy :31

Rubio: Critical of Cruz? We have to understand ISIS. Sunni v ISIS. More military spending across the board picky containment budget,

Cruz: is voting against NDAA, (defense authorization)? ISIS won't get past me, Rubio supports Dems don't get stuck in Middle East wars :35

Rubio: Cruz won't lead

Trump: War on ISIS, FB Qs: kill families of ISIS? Be much tougher, families knew, Saudis flew home, they knew :37

Bush: We're at war, idea that killing family members is wrong, Trump is not serious candidate :38

Trump: Bush isn't tough, chit chat tough me, tough you :39

Bush: Leadership is not about personally attacking people

Carson: Neurosurgeon? Could you order air strikes? Big picture tells you finish job, death of civilians ok? Tough :42

Paul: Hawks fueled ISIS? Is Trump serious? Close internet? 1st Amend. Kill families? UN Will Trump change Constitution :44

Trump: Smartest and best should fight ISIS on the internet.

Paul: Hawks and ISIS? Battle on Assad opened opportunity for ISIS, regime change is failure :45

Republican are all about 'keeping our country safe."

First, when it comes to that, Democrats keep our country self.

Second, and this is really the point: The first thing is about the US, about America, is

IT IS NOT ABOUT BEING SAFE. It is about being free. It is about liberty. FREEDOM IS NOT THE SAFEST PATH!!! it is the right path. The American way!!

Republicans have forgotten that. And that is why

The Republican party must be destroyed.

Pushing in . . .

Rubio: Strategy? Ground forces composed of Arabs? Arabs won't work with Obama. Arabs want to dethrone King of Jordan, President led from behind :48

Fiorina: Strategy? I would bring back warrior class, Petraeus, ref. Thatcher

Christie: Faults on stage Senators who created sequestration that weaken military. Responsible and accountable. Pres. not trusted in Jordan and Saudi. :50

Carson: Strategy? ISIS Caliphate must be destroyed and their oil wealth 'we' have phobia about boots on the ground :52

Cruz: Preserve dictatorship? Obama/Clinton failed, Libya, Egypt, topple Assad, ISIS takes over :57

Rubio: Regret Libya? It was people's rebellion and Kaddafi was despicable

Cruz: Toppling governments wrong, radicals fill vacuum :59

Kisaich: Assad must go 1:00

Trump: Dictators? Should have spent the four trillion on USA, (protester shouts) total mess result, four trillion wasted 1:01

Fiorina: Clinton got everything wrong, amazed to hear Trump say four trillion wasted

Trump: Three Trillion spent nothing to show for it, Carson was right on oil

Carson: Dictators? need for American people to solve the world's problems is foolish 1:04

Bush: Saddam removed good deal? Obama wrong. Clinton wrong.

Paul: Saddam good deal? Régime change is wrong, neo-cons had it wrong = chaos 1:05

Cruz: Dictatorship bullies through to rule note

Trump: Winning vs Assad? Assad bad guy, rebels who are they? One thing at a time 1:07

Fiorina shining as a VP. Hitting all the talking points, and she's got a vagina!

Rand Paul is the most balanced, sensible person in the whole debate, makes you wonder if he is in the wrong party.

Rand Paul is the most balanced, sensible person in the whole debate, makes you wonder if he is in the wrong party.

For the most part, he's what the party should be.

Mod. You dipsh(t. "Vagina" is not vulgar. It is a medical term.

So, please, go f(ck yourself. In the ass. With cucumber, That is frozen. Now that is "vulgar"

Cool beans. I see everyone is enthusiastic watching, posting and digging into their popcorn. Got to love american politics, best in the world.

@Jimizo. Neat, catchy lil' tune there.

Rand Paul is an idiot.

Strangerland: Nha, just an idiot.

Second hour . . .

Christie: Iran deal empowered ISIS, Clinton wrong on missing Iran threat

Paul: Assad must go? Régime change wrong. Better we did not remove Assad two years ago, chemical weapons

Kasich: Syria? Assad must go, punch Russian in nose and in Eastern Europe 1:10

FB Qs Negotiation with Putin?

Fiorina: Putin lied, no dialogue until Iran deal flipped, rebuild sixth fleet, rebuild missile defense in Poland, Obama abandoned Iraq 1:12

Christie: No fly? Yes, Putin would be shot down if they violated no fly 1:13

Paul: No Fly? If you're in favor of WWIII, Christie your man. Reckless. 1:14

Christie: Reckless is Ukraine violation, Obama/Clinton reckless

Bush: Trump not Qualified? I know what I don't know. Policy of rebuilding military, we fly Truman's B-52 1:16

Trump: Sad CNN is posing Bush v. Trump in order to get ratings, unprofessional 1:17

Bush: If Trump thinks this is tough

Trump: mocks Bush 1:18

Kasich: this fighting doesn't work, fence? our economy is too weak to take on challenges

Carson: Command troops? False narrative, political class can be military leader, experience counts say less do more 1:20

Rubio: Immigration? path to citizenship? Yes, I know better, I lived it. Gov. needs 7000 agents and fence 750 miles Government is failing 1:22

Cruz: Difference? Rubio gave blanket authority to let anyone in, build a wall and Trump will pay for it. 1:25

Rubio: Ted will legalize illegals

@Strangerland. Now ur talkin'!

I've watched Rand Paul speak a few times, and more than once I find myself nodding my head in agreement. Not on everything mind you, but more than with any of the other candidates.

Rand Paul is an idiot.

Sure if you say so.

Would have been better if you revealed the thought process involved in the brilliant conclusion.

I do say so.

Jeb!!!BTW is largely making sense. Not that I agree with all that he says. But, hey, he's trying to get the Republican nomination. So, good luck with that!

As for Carson, Hurayy!! He just pronounced a Kurdiash/Arab/Middle Eastern name!! He went abroad!!!

THese are the provincials that make up the Iowan Republican caucus.,

Once again, more evidence that the R party is broken,

And therefore, ergo sum cumulas ad ignoratum, must be destroyed!

Hour and a half . . .

Cruz: I'm more against illegal immigration than Rubio 1:26

Chaos in debate, three at once

Cruz: Carry out the law, stop Obama

Trump: Hard line, illegals must go, walls work, I know how to build

Bush: Tone? Immigration tone wins or loses minority support? Omnibus troubles because border is porous Obama has done nothing 1:30

Carson: Refugee Camps? No, they want efforts for safety for where they are, an area as big as Lebanon, all we need to do is give Kurds weapons 1:31

Paul: Gang of Eight Bill was failure (Rubio)

Rubio: Government failed to execute tools, one person wrong on entry and problem is serious

Paul: Send Syrians home? I haven't said that, we should take care of the world's refugees

FB Qs: Bible justifies allowing refugees

Christie: Job of Government is enforcing laws, vetting means security, dysfunctional Government, so no Syrian referees 1:36

Kasich: Administration placed refugees in Ohio and no one told the Governor 1:37

BREAK

And therefore, ergo sum cumulas ad ignoratum, must be destroyed!

Isn't that similar to Trump's argument, some Muslims are terrorists, so we need to blame all Muslims. He doesn't go far enough to ask for its destruction.

Extreme liberal????? Or tea party liberal????????

Last thirty minutes of Las Vegas . . .

Pretty good control so far, more discipline on the part of the candidates

Fiorina: Kim Jong Un, Hydrogen bomb? China must help, we must retaliate on cyber attack, South China Sea, China containment then ask for help on Un 1:43

Carson: China has more influence than we, Putin and energy and box Putin in, we USA military, lists

Christie: Cyber warfare? China needs to be pushed back on, the Chinese Government is corrupt and we need to tell the Chinese people, Obama has failed 1:46

Bush: Obama/Clinton private server, personnel management dept. attacked, China must know adverse reslt if they pursue Cyber attacks. 1:47

Trump: Command and Control of Nuclear, we need someone to trust, knowledgeable, I opposed Iraq 2004, Nuclear changes the whole ballgame, global warming isn't the issue, Nuclear proliferation is number one. 1:49

Rubio: Explain tri-ad Nuclear, silos, subs, air delivery 1:50

Trump: temperament "maniac" issue on Nuclear, Cruz is just fine don't worry about him

Cruz: Trump is ok? Who has the experience, judgement to lead? Foreign policy, my daughter came tonight 7-5 year olds, Reagan set out global program to defeat Communism, Obama/Clinton aren't focused, I won't judge Trump, everyone on this stage is better than Obama ISIS/Iran war on US 1:53

Trump: Independent run? No, I respect for the Republican leadership, I'm committed to the GOP

Carson: Independent? The party has acted with subterfuge. I want the will of the people to be heard. 1:55

Closing: Explain why you should be the Presidential candidate of the GOP

Isn't that similar to Trump's argument

Well, yeah, Only if you don't know the difference between, well, in the end, right from wrong.

Only if you don't know the difference between, well, in the end, right from wrong.

Got it now, when I destroy something its right, when you destroy something its wrong.

Many great leaders have set-off greater events based on that logic.

Las Vegas: Closing: Explain why you should be the Presidential candidate of the GOP

17 mins left in program block

Paul: National Debt is greatest threat, power in bankruptcy? No

Kasich: Ohio, perform, hope, home, security, heart, beat Clinton and fix America

Christie: I was there 9/11, I know the losses, radicalism is the threat I will answer

Fiorina: I put company security in place 170 countries, we need to keep Clinton out, our government is corrupt, beat Clinton, we will take our country back

Bush: Safer Stronger Freer Clinton is Obama, I deliver real results

Rubio: Important election in a generation, economic vibrancy, stronger military, rebuild the country

Cruz: Judgement, strength, clarity, trust Obama doesn't believe this, Reagan did it right, cut taxes, defeat ISIS

Carson: The most exceptionally exceptionalism I believe PC bad

Trump: We don't win any more, trade, military, veterans, ISIS, healthcare disaster implodes 2017, nothing works in the country and we will be great again

Anderson Cooper 1:06pm JST

Got it now, when I destroy something its right, when you destroy something its wrong

Well, like I said: Only if you don't know the difference between, well, in the end, right from wrong.

Destroying that which causes wrong is good is good. Destroying that which causes good is bad.

In short: there is nothing wrong with my formulation. With my injunction.

Your burden is to show that the Republican party does not cause bad. My burden is to show the Republican party does cause godd.

In reverse chronology: Trump, Bush and Reagan. I believe I have made the point.

@KCJ thanks for the running scorecard.

Trump has backed down tactically and in tone.

His handlers played the drama to his advantage.

No other candidate came to the fore, but, the overall discipline helped make a more coherent presentation.

Maybe everyone got the message, these are supposed to Presidential candidates, not kids calling names in a school yard. We'll return to that tomorrow?

To everyone's relief, maybe, the last debate won't decide the nomination but now the real hard part begins, life in the trenches.

There's been so much ammunition dropped on the battlefield it will be more a match of memory and temperament.

Trump's not a shoe in, but when he gets off his crazy horse he knows better than anyone how to sell sane, still no one's sure who believes who here and in the end promises are just that. The bizarre wall story is just plain scary, price tag that and flush healthcare?

The foreign policy debate isn't suited to these environments.

Threats aren't the path to international cooperation.

More threats than sense although Paul did push sense and nearly everyone threw George W. Bush under the bus, Trump especially, 'four trillion and nothing to show for it'.

His number is way low but it shows the GOP is trying desperately to dump the Bush disaster in the past and weirdly march back to the Gulf. The biggest disaster in American history needs an end game, thirty eight years from now when the bill is paid?

Trump also hit the failure on Americans too hard. Too many have suffered too long, worked too hard to be told they are losers. Poor salesmanship.

Plenty of good stuff and as Trump said in the wrap interview, they're all better at the game, and now the game is over, boo hoo.

WOW! Watching the debate right now. Trying to follow youtubes Part 1, part 2, part 3, bullshit. It skips around, leaves parts out....geee...it's like some people are trying to keep us uniformed. Anyway, all I've heard so far is just a bunch of ISIS BS. Beam me up Scotty!

Just think about that question for a minute: "Who can keep us safe?" Are we hiding under the table or something? Nutters with guns kill people in America all the time. Is it somehow more threatening because some of them are Muslim terrorists?

I worry about a debate whose premise is that Americans are fearful, presumably cowardly, and reassured by a lot of hot air and tough talk. Whatever your partisan affiliation, it's a weak question to pose to a free people.

it's a weak question to pose to a free people.

I totally agree Joe. But it's posed by the corporate media.

But it's posed by the corporate media

You might want to wonder why - it is fodder weak-minded people cannot resist.

it is fodder weak-minded people cannot resist

Agree. Everyone except for the JT crowd.

Trump "In my opinion, we've spent 4 trillion dollars trying to topple various people, and frankly, if we could have spent 4 trillion to fix our roads, our bridges, and all of the other problems, our airports, we would have been a lot better off, I can tell you that right now."

GO TRUMP!

Trump "In my opinion, we've spent 4 trillion dollars trying to topple various people, and frankly, if we could have spent 4 trillion to fix our roads, our bridges, and all of the other problems, our airports, we would have been a lot better off, I can tell you that right now."

Sure. Only the Republican party screamed for those invasions. And the people now supporting Trump screamed for those invasions. That they Denied being Republicans for an election cycle surely does not absolve the insanity of the destruction both foreign and domestic caused by the Republicans.

Trump has obviously been to China though, who instead of bombing and invading countries to enrich the elite few actually have taken their infrastructure and future seriously, while lending the cash-strapped US funds for adventures she could not afford. And since Trump is part of the rotten American elites, I wouldn't trust a thing that came from his mouth.

My money is on Bush vs. Clinton at the end of the primaries insanities, as impossible as that looks right now.

WOW. It's like many here started paying attention to US politics only 10 months ago. Trump is NOT a republican party apparatchik. Saying it on here kinda shows they are just knee-jerk comments.

Thankfully we have your admonishing, divine insight to set us straight, Fizz.

First and foremost you're going to have to convince me Trump isn't running as a favour to his friends the Clinton's.

As far as my memory goes, Trump is a pro-choice Democrat. But since his followers are by and large insane, sho cares anyway?

"Cool beans. I see everyone is enthusiastic watching, posting and digging into their popcorn. Got to love american politics, best in the world"

The GOP are certainly up there with the most entertaining and cracked. I don't know about the best. About 50% of Americans can't be bothered to vote for either party.

And I don't mean that as a joke. Expect to hear lots of tough talk, lots of fear of those who are different from the GOP base, lots of hysterical victimization, and of course lots of outright lies.

Actually, I think it's great! At least it's candidates that are concerned and take the people and voters seriously about the topic that concerns them the most, if liberals want to live in a unicorn utopia where jihadist hold hands with liberals and smoke reefers and kick it, while watching PBS they should dream about that. Let Obama keep peddling lies that NO ONE at this point is listening to anymore. His final days in office can't come soon enough.

The GOP are certainly up there with the most entertaining and cracked.

They can be funny, but nothing on this planet is more entertaining then a politically misguided liberal. hilarious!

I don't know about the best. About 50% of Americans can't be bothered to vote for either party.

Yeah, keep telling yourself that. By the way, heard from Hillary recently?

But since his followers are by and large insane, sho cares anyway?

Well thanks. Glad to know I'm insane. You have opened my eyes. Oh thanks again. Because I'm sure Hillary is going to address the Federal Reserve and the Petrodollar. Oh wait! We can't talk about that! Back to ISIS because thats what that the masses want to hear.

@blacksabbath

Well, like I said: Only if you don't know the difference between, well, in the end, right from wrong.

So who decides right and wrong, who has given you the right to decide that republicans are evil and democrats are honorable knights.

Your burden is to show that the Republican party does not cause bad.

I am not a republican supporter so I have no obligation to prove either way, but my question again is who has given you the right to decide who is good and who is bad.

If you think about it the ISIS also believes in a similar ideology, everything is back and white for them. Either you are with them or against them.

Trump, Bush and Reagan

Since Bill Clinton admitted to an affair when he was President , does that make all democrats adulterers?

Destroying that which causes wrong is good is good.

Must be wonderful that fantasy world of absolutes.

Did they mention that much of this has been increased by the US removing Saddam, etc.?

I think bringing up the lesson of Reagan would go a long way to bringing logic to the ISIS and other middle east threats and frame a different path to security.

The sablerattlers of the time convinced Reagan to send Marines to Lebanon as "peacekeepers" in 1982. In 1983, the Maraine barracks and French barracks were hit by suicide truck bombers.

262 people were killed at the Marine barracks and 58 French soldiers died.

Reagan asked the question, "Why did they do it?" The answer was the same answer as why the 9/11 attack occured: because the US was over there in their country.

Reagan pulled the Marines out of Lebanon and no other US service members have been killed there since. I think that is the real lesson of Reagan. Stop being a target.

If someone wants to keep the US safe by building a wall, I think it should be built around the middle east to keep the US out and middle east people in to solve their problems on their own. I don't think it's worth the life or limb of any servicemember to be over there.

Actually, I think it's great! At least it's candidates that are concerned and take the people and voters seriously about the topic that concerns them the most, if liberals want to live in a unicorn utopia where jihadist hold hands with liberals and smoke reefers and kick it, while watching PBS they should dream about that. Let Obama keep peddling lies that NO ONE at this point is listening to anymore. His final days in office can't come soon enough.

Please, if we're going to talk lying, there was a whole bunch going on last night.......on the other hand it could also be just pure ignorance.

<.http://news.yahoo.com/ap-fact-check-republican-debaters-astray-032810526--election.html>

Fizz,

Well thanks. Glad to know I'm insane. You have opened my eyes.

I said "by and large insane" - so seem to have fessed up on your own. To be honest I'm not sure that people who are insane actually comprehend their status anyhoo.

Please do keep up your lesson-giving to the rest of us, I love the smell of sanctimonious in the morning xx

"banning Muslims from the United States"

Heck, how about banning Democrats from the United States? heh heh

I bet the Trumpster gets a bounce from this debate.

Sure. Only the Republican party screamed for those invasions. And the people now supporting Trump screamed for those invasions.

Clinton for one voted for the Iraq resolution, just off the top of my head. On infrastructure spending Trump has been talking about that his entire career. He and his dad built their fortunes on government. It’s pretty hard to make a living constructing large buildings in New York if you can’t stomach public involvement in private enterprise.

I bet the Trumpster gets a bounce from this debate.

He might well, or he may fall behind others who were more Apocalypsey - hard to parse who's going to die in greater numbers more grotesquely at the hands of which nefarious foreigners at this point, but there's still eight weeks until the Iowa caucus. Still, Serrano, you're talking about a bounce on Republican opinion polls; the rest of America cringes.

"Still, Serrano, you're talking about a bounce on Republican opinion polls; the rest of America cringes."

I dunno, Laguna, the latest national Huffpost poll shows Hillary with 49% to Trump's 42%...

IMO, any of the Republicans would make an absolutely disastrous President. Thank goodness we have a Democrat in the office, instead of any of the incompetents from the GOP.

Right. The same polls show Clinton trailing Rubio and tied with Carson. Wait until a Republican is nominated - there will be buyers remorse on the GOP side and a ton of baggage for the Dems to expose no matter who the nominee.

I agree that it is not a slam-dunk - after eight years of a Democrat, it never would be - but the Republicans are doing themselves no favors.

Lizz,

Clinton for one voted for the Iraq resolution, just off the top of my head

Yeah the Republican party led by Karl Rove's Slime Machine had every one taping up their windows and buying chemical suits - in preparation for "mushroom clouds over NYC". Dissent was branded unpatriotic. There was even a shrieking match about tie pins.

But you got your war Lizz. The shining Republican diamond in the desert. The democracy domino effect throughout the middle east east. Heh, you'd have to be insane to start this argument. Oh, yeah - nevermind.

Clinton BTW has admitted to her mistake...

Best Quotes from the Debate:

"Tens of thousands of (refugees) people having cell phones with ISIS flags, I don't think so Wolf B"

"They're not coming to this country. And if I'm president, if Obama has brought some into this country, they're leaving, they're going, they're gone."

-Trump.

Don't be afraid, Wc. You are far more likely to be killed by a gun owner and you seem to sleep at night with a smile on your face on that issue. Just stay indoors and avoid Muslims and you should feel better, you never know which one of them has that ISIS flag on their phone. Plus you can watch the coverage of whatever school shooting happened that day.

It's easy to see Trump changed up his approach playing easy conciliator and peace maker after the debate.

Sadly, we read this in the Times about how Trump prepared for his brand of peace making.

"On Monday, in Las Vegas, where Mr. Trump held a rally ahead of Tuesday’s Republican debate, Trump supporters attacked and cursed protesters while Mr. Trump’s security thugs dragged them out of the room. Cell-phone video taken by a BuzzFeed reporter recorded a Trump supporter urging the security guards to set fire to one of the protesters" - New York Times, Andrew Rosenthal

While Trump-luddites have been blaming the manipulation of a "liberal media", what they missed is the first person documentation of Donald J. Trump's "silent majority".

Documented on witness video, the link below provides what Trump has called on his Facebook: “There is something special happening out there, and the silent majority — is silent no more!”

see how special at source published in The New York Times: https://twitter.com/mckaycoppins/status/676611661487190018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Trump's tactic now, after playing 'golly, shucks, this political stuff is all new to me', is going to be a wink to his racist grass roots and harvesting the public's taxes to build his Great Wall of profiteers along the Mexican border.

A word of caution, Trump's a chameleon and his fan base are racists that thank him for giving them a voice at his rallies for hate.

And this is the Republican Party? They may not care if Trump runs as an independent, which he promised not to do at the debate.

After seeing the video, the stink of racism isn't worth victory at any price except to the GOP Shia-Tea. What does Ben Carson say now about Trump-luddites? Rand Paul looks better and better.

Clinton BTW has admitted to her mistake...

When and what for? Mistake?? NOT "mistakes?" Well, will let the FBI make that announcement, then we will see if she is really telling the truth or is it just the same usual lies she tells.

Don't be afraid, Wc. You are far more likely to be killed by a gun owner and you seem to sleep at night with a smile on your face on that issue. Just stay indoors and avoid Muslims and you should feel better, you never know which one of them has that ISIS flag on their phone. Plus you can watch the coverage of whatever school shooting happened that day.

You are missing the point entirely. No one thinks ISIS is going to waltz into someone else's house. This is more about Obama not taking the terrorist attack seriously and possibly will try to implement some measure to stop the sales of firearms like go after the gun dealers or manufactures that make the guns instead of the gun owner. Either way, it won't work in the long run. Because people will find a way, even if they have to go underground.

More interesting, not one word was mentioned about gun control at the Las Vegas debate last night in America.

Obviously, that's not a topic the Republican'ts want to discuss. They may have already decided, they'll take gun control to the grave and they don't care whose.

More interesting, not one word was mentioned about gun control at the Las Vegas debate last night in America.

Because they're Republicans, they care about freedom and the 2nd amendment. Now you know you walked right into that one.

Obviously, that's not a topic the Republican'ts want to discuss.

Nor should they.

They may have already decided, they'll take gun control to the grave and they don't care whose.

Most Decent Americans don't have to worry about breaking any gun laws, doesn't affect them. So why should they care?

They can be funny, but nothing on this planet is more entertaining then a politically misguided liberal. hilarious!

You don't sound very entertained, you just can't stop ranting, whining and moaning about them.

Because they're Republicans, they care about freedom and the 2nd amendment. Now you know you walked right into that one.

Well, can’t let that one pass – everyone knows that all the Republican candidates, and a few Democratic ones, don’t go anywhere near gun control because of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and its threats and intimidation – come on now, you really walked into that one……..

Nor should they.

Well, that’s true if you don’t care about Sandy Hook, Charleston, Aurora, etc., etc......

Most Decent Americans don't have to worry about breaking any gun laws, doesn't affect them. So why should they care?

Most Americans are more scared that they are going to be shot standing in line at the theater, in their workplace or in their classrooms by some disenfranchised, unhinged US citizen who has been permitted to build an arsenal of weapons at his house due to weak gun control laws, than by any refugee from Syria.

Most Decent Americans don't have to worry about breaking any gun laws, doesn't affect them. So why should they care?

Twenty, five and six year old children and six of their teachers slaughtered in Newtown, Connecticut?

Because they're Republicans, they care about freedom and the 2nd amendment.

And making midnight phone calls to grieving families to taunt them that their slaughtered five year old was a conspiracy?

"Obviously, that's not a topic the Republican'ts want to discuss."

"Nor should they."

That's a very disturbing idea of freedom. Everyone needs a hero. The Republicans have the NRA.

"Thank goodness we have a Democrat in the office ( as president )"

Yeah, and thanks for that $18 trillion debt, lol.

Yeah, and thanks for that $18 trillion debt, lol.

Facts - they're just so irritating when you're trying to use inaccurate slights to justify a false narrative......

The most common flaw of such analyses is that they assign debt to presidents while completely ignoring the effects of Congress. This is ironic given that the Constitution vests Congress with the powers to tax, spend, and pay the debts of the federal government. Bills passed by Congress to carry out these functions must either be approved by the President, or in the case of a veto, the bills must be passed by two-thirds of both houses of Congress. Thus, it typically takes three to tango on the national debt: the House, Senate, and President. Nevertheless, Republicans point the growth in national debt under Obama without mentioning that they have controlled the House of Representatives since 2010 and both Houses of Congress since 2014..........

Heard Trump's response to a very simple question from a conservative moderator about the nuclear triad?

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/donald-trump-has-no-idea-what-americas-nuclear-triad-is-1748283463

Makes me glad I'm not a conservative. I'd be feeling very depressed right about now.

i dunno why but any post that has to do with trump... The comment section is so amusing.

"Facts - they're just so irritating when you're trying to use inaccurate slights to justify a false narrative...... "

The quotation hasn't a citation, and desperately deserves one. Recap: "the Constitution vests Congress with the powers to tax, spend, and pay the debts of the federal government."

Why is an education so important? It helps to recognize a lie and the lying liars who tell them.