A lot has happened to the Republicans within the last few weeks, including a debate. So, let’s see where we are at in the great American process known as elections. First, let’s get one thing out of the way…Jake Tapper and CNN put on one of the cattiest debates in recent history where all of the questions were geared towards tearing one another apart.
Although, in CNN’s defense, that’s probably all the candidates were planning to do anyway. Here are some of the things I wanted to briefly touch on based on some of the candidates in no particular order.
Scott Walker
Wisconsin governor Scott Walker dropped out of the race on Monday, citing that the field was too big and that Americans needed to see more of Donald Trump so that they could see what a horrible candidate he would really be.
I actually kind of want to give Walker props for his sentiments about Trump and the race in general. It’s far too crowded with too many people talking at once. Let’s also be real for a second. I don’t think Walker had a snowball’s chance in Hell of getting elected. He was too middle of the pack and too anti-union.
Donald Trump
Trump found himself at a loss for points in the polls this week. (Those polled must have read my column last week.) The Donald was taken down eight points after a few set backs. Many people polled cited that Carly Fiorina outdid Trump in the debates last Wednesday.
Trump also hit a snag this week when he didn’t immediately shut down a questioner at a rally who coarsely stated a false belief that President Barack Obama is a Muslim and an immigrant.
Trump should have taken the John McCain route and set the man straight, but instead smiled that smug smile of his and simply said affirmatively, “We need this question.” What a treasure this guy is.
Consider all of this then consider that he is still number one in the GOP polls….Then hang your head and silently weep.
Carly Fiorina
She’s the new number two in this race. Why? She came across authoritative and strong in the last debate. When challenged by Trump in particular on her business record, she didn’t roll over.
She instead recounted a story about the late Steve Jobs calling her and telling her she was ahead of her time. I also give Fiorina points for the best burn of the night. When Tapper brought up the burn that Trump made on Fiorina’s appearance, she simply responded by saying, “I think women all over this country heard what Mr. Trump said.”
Cue thunderous applause from the women in the audience. To be fair, she was the only person next to John Kasich who looked even remotely presidential on that stage.
Ben Carson
Easily the quietest guy in the room and at least the most thoughtful looking guy in the room, Carson took a dive this week likely due to a soft performance at the debate. Every answer seemed to revolve around the formula: “[Issue at hand] is very important.
What I would do is look at the issue and listen to the experts.” Believe it or not, this does not constitute a concrete answer to any question. Carson also had a major setback this week when he said he believes a Muslim should never be POTUS.
Mike Huckabee
I hate Mike Huckabee. That’s not hyperbole. I really hate Mike Huckabee. I hate everything he represents. He’s exactly what’s wrong with the GOP today. He plays it too close to the religious right. He has no tolerance for secularism and doesn’t seem to understand that our country should have a distinct separation between church and state.
Look at his championing of Kim Davis. He holds up a woman who sneers at the laws to which a government employee of her position should be beholden. Huckabee is just there to play to the crowd.
He spouts on and on about how he would change abortion laws and dismantle laws on marriage equality despite the fact that there is no evidence that our system of checks and balances would ever allow him to do that.
He’s a relic who won a caucus in 2008 and has been sorely mislead to believe that he has a legitimate shot at being the Commander-in-Chief.
Jeb Bush
Jeb. Jeb, Jeb, Jeb. What are we going to do with you? Jeb Bush strikes me as a decent guy. He seems like a genuine politician with real goals and a sturdy (although still flawed) political record to rely on. That being said, he’s a terrible debater.
When confronted with his own stance on Kim Davis, saying initially that she should have to uphold the law no matter what her religion, he flip-flopped when he said that special accommodations should be made for those whose faiths conflict with the law. What? Make up your mind, Jeb.
Bush generally looked like he was on shaky ground the whole evening. He tried to dodge attacks on all night and even tried to get a few weak jabs in. He just came across looking foolish.
Rand Paul
I want to like Rand Paul. Really. I do. He seems like an honest guy who is not afraid to admit that compromise is necessary to the political process and that Republicans and Democrats are going to have to learn how to work together.
That being said, there are two things that bother me about him. The first is that I disagree with his assessment of marriage equality legislation. The second is rather superficial: he looks like he has constant bedhead. You’re running for president. Run a comb through your hair.
Ted Cruz
Cruz just runs through talking points. He’s never seemed like a real candidate to me. He looks like he’s there to just spout phrases and talking points.
Such as, that if he were elected on the first day of office he would repeal Obamacare, despite New Jersey governor Chris Christie saying not a minute before that no candidate could possibly repeal it on the first day.
I think most people recognize Cruz as a joke. At least I hope they do.
Chris Christie
Do you like New Jersey? Chris Christie does. He likes it so much that the combination of “New” and “Jersey” is never far away even when the candidates are talking about international matters. I also haven’t forgotten Bridgegate and how ticky-tacky a political hack Chris Christie can really be.
John Kasich
John Kasich is maybe my favorite person in this race. His refusal to badmouth any candidate – Republican or Democrat – and instead deciding to focus on himself and his own policies. While we may not agree on some policies, I really respect Kasich and his fair and even-tempered tone.
Marco Rubio
I suppose I should talk about Marco Rubio, but much like Ted Cruz I think he’s just a revolving door of talking points. He’s fixated on Hilary Clinton, badmouthing Obama and congratulating himself.
I don’t take him seriously and I don’t think many Republican voters do either. At least I hope they don’t.
Brian Laughran
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