Sunday, August 9, 2015

GOP DEBATE #1 A Summary and Commentary

       Spectator sports, baseball, football, tennis or golf? I happen to enjoy them all, but I personally prefer, political debates. A political debate is much like watching a football game, only better. Better in that men are not on a field bashing each other's brains out, they are actually using their brains. What a concept. Watching men and women battle it with their wit, tact, and intellect can be quite entertaining, and I for one am a fan. I along with 24 million other Americans that turned to FOX for Thursday Night's debate.

    Last night was the republican party's first debate, and it was a show stopper. There was  disappointment, wit, humor, animosity, insults, fireworks, and more. The topics were varied, Planned Parenthood, illegal immigration, gay marriage, National security and more, but the question is, who was the winner and was there one? If there were a winner, did he or she stand out, and why? Not only was there a winner, but who was everybody talking about while playing Monday Morning quarterback?

     GOP round one was quite entertaining and at the same time interesting. Donald Trump was the leader going in, and some would say he was the leader coming out. I and many others would tend to disagree. I thought "The Donald" appeared somewhat out of his element as he was in deed. While Trump did not feel he needed coaching or studying to prepare for Thursday night's debate I disagree. For one thing I think Trump should have looked in the mirror and worked on his facial expressions. Throughout the evening Trump had a pout that resembled a spoiled brat that had not gotten his ice-cream cone. I have no doubt that Saturday Night Live will be doing a hilarious skit on "The Donald", and his first debate. To his defense I will say that the night began with an all out attack on Trump, and it began with the night's very first question to all of the candidates.The candidates were asked  to raise their hand if at his time they would not make a pledge to not running as a third party candidate.As Trump had publicly already said he might consider running as a third party candidate, he raised his hand, and the crowd booed. The question was quite obviously targeted for Trump, and putting Trump in a bad light as he answered honestly, and said that no he would not take that pledge at this time. As if that wasn't an awkward moment enough, moderator and FOX news commentator, Megyn Kelly asked Trump the following question, "You've called women you don't like, fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals" at which point, Trump chimed in with, "only Rosie O'Donnell". Megyn Kelly shot back with, "No it wasn't ,for the record it was well beyond Rosie O'Donnell. Your Twitter account has several disparaging comments about women's looks. You once told a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice it would be a pretty picture to see her on her knees. Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as President? And how will you answer the charge when Hillary Clinton who is likely to be the Democratic nominee, that you are part of the war on women?" Trump responded by saying, "The big problem this country has, is being politically
 correct, frankly what I say and often times its fun its kidding, we have a good time, what I say is what I say  and honestly Megyn if you don't like it I'm sorry. I've been very nice to you although I could probably not be, based on the way you have treated me." In my opinion that was not a Presidential moment.  Megyn Kelly. yes she went for the jugular early on in the evening, and unfortunately Trump fell for it, and showed his true colors, and showed his emotions. Trump later recovered with his blunt way with words and conceit as he credited himself for illegal immigration being a now important issue. "So if it weren't for me , you wouldnt even be talking about illegal immigration, Chris."You wouldn't even be talking about it. This was not a subject on anybody's mind until I brought it up at my announcement." "And I said, Mexico is sending, except the reporters because they're not very honest  a lot generally speaking in the world of politics they didn't cover my statement the way I said it. The fact is since many killings, murders, crime , drugs pouring across the border, our money going out and the drugs coming in. And I said, we need to build a wall and it has to be built quickly and I dont mind having a big beautiful door in that wall so people can come into this country legally." And so Trump recovered from  the Megyn kelly incident with the very issue that brought Trump to people's attention, but the night was much more than than long awaited debut of Trump.

   The evening had many moments for the candidates to shine, and some shined more than others. Ohio Governor John Kasich was a surprise as a late comer to the race, and Trump somewhat benefited from his presence. I couldn't help but wonder just how much Trump had paid him prior to the debate. "Donald Trump's hitting a nerve in this country...He's got solutions, some of us have other solutions." Right he was, but who was here there for, himself or Trump? Senator Marco Rubio whose father worked as a bartender and mother a maid can truly relate to a good many struggling Americans today, put on what I thought to be a stellar performance. Rubio began his evening with a slam dunk, "If I'm our nominee, how is Hillary Clinton going to lecture me about living paycheck to paycheck? How is she going to lecture me about student loans? I owed over a hundred thousand dollars just four years ago. If I'm our nominee, we will be the party of the future." Rubio throughout the evening was composed, articulate, and intelligent with facts. When asked about God and Veterans, Rubio was admirably complimentary to his fellow candidates. "God has blessed us, he's blessed the Republican Party with some very good candidates, the democrats can't even find one." The Senator then continued with his plan to reform the Department of Affairs. "When I'm President we are going to have a VA that cares more about the veterans than about the bureaucrats who work at the VA." Rubio has always been impressive to me and he did not disappoint me. While America may not like politicians Rubio is a politician and one that is to be well respected. Not only does Rubio speak well, but he knows his facts on the issues like the back of his hand. If anyone didn't know of Senator Marco Rubio before Thursday night's debate they surely do now as all in all I felt the Senator was clearly the winner.

    Other candidates didn't falter or fail in round one, but didn't set the world on fire either. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush was I thought "flat", a little too easy breezy. Jeb's record as Governor is a good one, and I have no doubt that he'd make a good President, but can he get out the vote? I personally don't think so. Always the perfect gentleman Bush did apologize to Trump for remarks made about Trump that he said he honestly never made. He spoke of his record as governor of Florida, but didn't set the world on fire with words.  He stated that he would abolish every sanctuary city and force illegal immigrants to earn their citizenship legally.I was disappointed in that I felt he threw his brother former President George W. under the bus when asked about the Iraqi war."Knowing what we know now it was a mistake." As WMDs were later found I was surprised to hear Bush say it was a mistake. The truth is we would have been better of had Obama not pulled us out too soon as former President G.W. stated before he left office, that it would be a mistake to leave too soon, and it has shown to be a crucial mistake. All in all Jeb's answer just put a bad taste in my mouth.

   Other candidates were not noticed on their eloquence, but their smart ass remarks and jabs. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Kentucky Senator Rand Ball had a bit of a shouting match where their tempers flared. The squabble between the two was regarding the National Security Agency's domestic spying, which Rand Paul strongly opposes. Christie stated in so many words that America was weaker due to Rand Paul's opposition to domestic spying. Rand Paul's point was that the country needed to collect more records from terrorists, and less from innocent Americans. Senator Paul was quite blunt as he exclaimed, "I don't trust President Obama with our records", and then the Senator shut Christie down with, "I know you gave him (Obama) a big hug, and if you want to give him a big hug again, go right ahead." The "hug" Chris Christie gave Obama while observing the damage of the Jersey Shoreline from Hurricane Sandy may well be Christie's Achilles heel in Election 2016. Republicans are very much like their mascot the elephant, they NEVER forget, and believe you me there isn't a Republican out there that has forgotten "the hug"!

     While some candidates made themselves known for better or for worse, others were just smart and quick with their remarks. One candidate, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker took aim at the Republican's real enemy, Democrat Hillary Clinton. "Probably the Russian and Chinese Government know more about Hillary Clinton's email servers than members of the United States Congress." Ouch, but Walker was not alone in his slamming Hillary Clinton. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee made what I thought to be a clever beginning to his closing statement,"It seems like this election has been a whole lot on a person who has been very high in the polls, who doesn't have a clue about how to govern, a person who has been filled with scandals and could not lead, and of course I'm talking about Hillary Clinton". How very smooth was that? Both the audience and Trump thought it was to be about him, but to every one's chagrin he was speaking of Hillary.

      Senator Ted Cruz From Texas was in my opinion poised, smart, and sophisticated and may not have had as much airtime as others but hit a home run with his closing statement as he spoke of his plans after being sworn in to office. "If I am elected President, let me tell you about my first day in office, the first thing I plan to do is to rescind every illegal and unconstitutional action taken by Barack Obama." "The next thing I intend to do is instruct the Department of Justice to open an investigation into these videos and prosecute Planned Parenthood for any criminal violations." Third, Cruz stated he would direct the Department of Justice and the IRS to put an end to the persecution of religious liberty. I then intend to cancel the Iran deal and finally move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, I will keep my word...I will fight to defend liberty because my family knows what it's like to lose it."

    While Senator Ted Cruz, Rubio, Huckabee, and Trump all gave convincing closing statements, none was as brilliant and clever as Dr. Ben Carson's. Dr. Ben Carson a neurosurgeon is somewhat laid back, extremely intelligent, and surprisingly funny."I haven't said anything about me being the only one to do anything. so let's try that...I'm the only one to separate Siamese twins, the only one to operate on babies while they were still in the mother's womb, and the only one to take out half of a brain." Though, You'd think that is you've gone to Washington, someone had beaten me to it." Carson then turned serious and sounded like a well seasoned politician, "but I'm very hopeful that I'm not the only one who's willing to pick up the baton of freedom, because freedom is not free, and we must fight for it every day. Everyone of us must fight for it every day. Everyone of us must fight for it because we're fighting for our children and for the next generation." Spoken like a true politician.

     GOP Debate number one was in my opinion an action packed debate. I've thought having seventeen candidates to be a bit laughable, but in all honesty America would be a whole better off with any one of them. Marco Rubio in my and many critic's opinion flat out won the debate, however a virtual unknown, Carly Fiorina came pretty close to Marco Rubio if not better. Fiorina may not have been in the prime time debate but she certainly made her mark. Fiorina became the most searched candidate on google after Thursday night's debate. Carly Fiorina a former Hewlett- Packard CEO showed this country that Hillary Clinton is not the only woman in the game, and she was not afraid to attack her female counterpart.“Hillary Clinton lies about Benghazi, she lies about e-mails. She is still defending Planned Parenthood. And she is still her party’s front runner,” “We need a nominee who is going to throw every punch, not pull punches, and someone who cannot stumble before he even gets into the ring.” Two words to describe Clinton? “Not trustworthy. No Accomplishments.” I had to think at that moment if Trump would be as tough on Hillary if he were elected. He's been tough talk on immigration, economy, and terrorism but what about his possible competition and former friend, Hillary Clinton? One has to ask themselves that question prior to making their decision when they vote for the republican nominee. Not only did Carly Fiorina go after Hillary, but she showed viewers that she knew foreign policy. When discussing Iran and Israel ,  she said if elected President, that she would make two calls, one to Netanyahu and the second to the President of Iran.“The first one to my good friend Bibi Netanyahu to reassure him we will stand with Israel. The second phone call to the president of Iran. He might not take my phone call, but he will get the message,” she said.
“And the message is this: Until you open every nuclear and every military facility to full, open, anytime, anywhere for real inspections, we are going to make it as difficult as possible for you to move money around the global financial system.” Not only did Fiorina slam Hillary , but she took aim at Obama as well in his "Iran deal" as she stated that Obama “broke every rule of negotiation.” Yes Carly Fiorina may well have owned the debate. 
     Election 2016 is what I and many Americans feel will be the most important election of our time. America is not what is was. America was once a country of freedom, liberty, and strength. America is no longer that country. Thanks to Obama, we have been losing our freedoms bit by bit,and if Hillary Clinton becomes President, I have no doubt freedom will be all, but a fading memory. As our freedoms have become less and less, so too has our military. Having a strong military is the best defense against war, and Obama has this country in the most vulnerable position since the end of WWII. America needs a President that understands foreign policy, and how best to intimidate as to protect our country. Not only must we protect our country with our military, but we need a candidate that will close our borders. America also needs a President that not only defends this country, but all of it's citizens including the unborn. With the recent footage of Planned Parenthood speaking of selling fetal tissue and body parts we have regressed and become a barbaric society. While we may not be chopping off people's heads like ISIS we're pretty dam close killing the unborn for no good reason other than a child being a mere inconvenience. America needs to wake up, and elect a President that doesn't believe in rewarding the lazy and the drug addicted, wants to rebuild the economy so that American can prosper again and will take every measure necessary to protect this country from ISIS, Iran and illegal immigrants.
GOP GIRL
Sean Bianca









    

      



    















     







1 comment:

my rv guy said...

Donald Trump will save us from Obama's evil reign