Opinion

The Ninth Republican Debate (Or Was This Just Another Jerry Springer Show?)

GOP 2016 Debate
Republican presidential candidate, businessman Donald Trump speaks about Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, left, as Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., right, during the CBS News Republican presidential debate at the Peace Center, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Republican Presidential Candidates Debate In Greenville, South Carolina
Republican presidential candidates (L-R) Ohio Governor John Kasich, Jeb Bush, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Donald Trump, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ben Carson stand on stage during a CBS News GOP Debate February 13, 2016 at the Peace Center in Greenville, South Carolina. Residents of South Carolina will vote for the Republican candidate at the primary on February 20. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

On Saturday night the ninth Republican debate was held at the Peace Center in Greenville South Carolina, but as the title implies it might as well have been a Jerry Springer show with all the barbs and mudslinging going on between the candidates. The stinging attacks and barbs between Donald Trump, Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz became so hostile I expected at some point  Jerry’s body guards would come out between them.

Ben Carson, John Kaisich and Marco Rubio were more on the side lines and acted more civilized.

The debate started out with a prayer to just recently deceased supreme court justice Anthony Scalia. The debate switched to whether the current administration should appoint a new justice to replace Scalia or wait until the next Administration. Most agreed that you should wait though they agreed  Obama will try to push it through so he appoints  one. MCCONNELL: Vacancy will be filled by NEXT president…

All the candidates agreed there was a lack of leadership in the country which our country sorely needs right now. Jeb Bush stated that Russia is now on the run and he would have a policy to destroy ISIS and reinforce our military. That’s when the sparks began to fly. Trump took that opportunity to attack Jeb’s brother’s plan to go into Iraq.”I was the only one speaking out against going in there,”  Trump  said emphatically, “I told them you would destabilize the whole mid-east and that’s just what’s happening. You can’t fight two wars at the same time.” There were boos in the audience and Trump accused them all of being Bush’s paid lobbyists.

As Jeb slammed back at Bush saying ,”my brother kept us safe.” Trump fired back saying “The twin towers came down under your brother’s watch and I lost a lot of people there.”

At this point I was getting a little upset with Donald as he was sounding too much like the liberals today who still blame Bush. That was almost 15 years ago. Get over saying it was Bush’s fault already. Marco Rubio interjected that the reasons the towers came down was because Bill Clinton failed to get Osama when he had the chance to get him.” Marco was correct there.

The debate switched to immigration reform. Trump said it was he who brought up the immigration problem in the first place and called Jeb the weakest candidate among them.

Ted Cruz said Marco Rubio told the head of Univision in Spanish that he would continue with Obama’s immigration plan to which Rubio shot back, ”How do you know what I said ? You don’t even speak Spanish.” Cruz leaped from his podium speaking fluent Spanish to Rubio. Again I expected Jerry’s body guards to suddenly come between them. 😀

Rubio accused Cruz of being all for amnesty and giving green cards to everyone before being against amnesty. Trump then called Cruz a bigger liar than Jeb.

Rubio said he was all for immigration reform and not amnesty and never suggested amnesty.  Which is not true.   Rubio was all for amnesty with Chuck Schumer’s gang of eight. https://townhall.com/columnists/johnhawkins/2015/12/19/the-ugly-truth-about-marco-rubio-and-his-gangofeight-amnesty-bill-n2095418/page/full

John Kaisich then made a good point by saying they were fixing to lose to Hillary with all these attacks.

I thought the most civil part of the debate came with each of the candidates closing  statements.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz says South Carolina has “a critical choice to make” when it votes in its state primary in one week because “our country literally hangs in the balance.”

Offering his closing argument at Saturday’s debate, Cruz took subtle aim at his chief rival: businessman Donald Trump.

Cruz asked the crowd, “Do you want another Washington deal-maker who’ll do business as usual, cut deals with the Democrats, grow government, grow debt and give up our fundamental liberties.”

Earlier in the debate, he attacked Trump’s record on conservatism.

Trump used his closing argument to note that “politicians are all talk and no action” and says that he’s different because he isn’t controlled by special interest and lobby groups.

He said: “I’m working for you, and I’m not working for anybody else.”

Jeb Bush is using his closing argument at Saturday’s Republican debate to echo what he says South Carolina Republicans want from a president.

It’s a slight twist on his usual argument. Often, the former governor points to his specific conservative accomplishments in Florida. But the presidency, he says, is often about the “unforeseen challenge.”

Marco Rubio is reprising his promise of “a new American century” that he says will be better than today’s “difficult time in our country.” The Florida senator said in his closing debate argument Saturday that South Carolina Republicans can make 2016 “our turning point.”

He also referenced his socially conservative stance on abortion and same-sex marriage, issues that could resonate with conservative Christians in South Carolina.

John Kasich and Ben Carson agree the spirit of America needs to be restored.

Kasich, in his closing remarks, says it’s up to Americans to help their neighbors and contribute to their local schools because the “spirit of America doesnt’ come from the top down.”

Carson, meanwhile, says he’s the candidate who will be “accountable to everyone and beholden to no one.” He says it’s up to “we the people” to stop the decline of America and restore the country’s spiritual life, patriotism and morality.

I like Donald and think a bull in a china shop is what we need in these tough times plus if you attack him he attacks back,but he has to watch his mouth and temper and show a little more finesse.

LOVE YOU NOT: REPUBLICANS RUMBLE IN SC VALENTINE’S DEBATE…

RUBIO: Cruz ‘lying about all sorts of things’…

TRUMP: ‘World Trade Center came down during reign of George Bush’… 

Confronts ‘lobbyists’ in crowd again after boos…

KRAUTHAMMER: Debate Was ‘Thermonuclear War’…

 

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Jim Clayton

I am a retired former newspaper reporter and retail sales person. I'm a politically conservative easy going person from New Jersey. I am married to a wonderful wife and like talking and writing about movies,, concerts I attend and current events all which I write about here. I would enjoy hearing from anyone on my articles and they can write to me here.

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