Ben Carson

[Play Angry]

The field will thin considerably over the next four months as the combination of lack of funds (first and foremost) and establishment pressure causes the flies to drop one by one. Might as well enjoy the circus for now.

[BostonWu]

Like many on here I too like Rubio but why isn't he polling better? It's early but he just seems so far behind.

[tropicalshox]

Worst answer to a question: Jeb Bush on which woman should be on the $10 bill. At least come up with the name of an American. Rosa Parks is a good choice but got the feeling some said her just because she was already mentioned. If somebody would of said Harriet Tubman it would of hinted they are familiar with the canidates instead of saying their mother. I doubt if any would of said their father if the question was what man should be on the new $10.

[tropicalshox]

Starting to see some media believing Fiorina was the winner. I disagree. A canidate cannot look pissed off most the time. After watching her I'm giving Trump a brake on his politically incorrect statement because he's right about her persona. I don't think it's electable.

[wufan]

Starting to see some media believing Fiorina was the winner. I disagree. A canidate cannot look pissed off most the time. After watching her I'm giving Trump a brake on his politically incorrect statement because he's right about her persona. I don't think it's electable.

Well said. Personally I enjoy Trumps non-PC approach. It's his lack of substance that I can't get behind.

[tropicalshox]

Like many on here I too like Rubio but why isn't he polling better? It's early but he just seems so far behind.

He looks too young. He's not, but he appears that way. He should overcome that some by keeping on what he is doing. His intellect shows and his party will start to realize what his background can do for them. My prediction is VP with a future run for President.

[wufan]

He looks too young. He's not, but he appears that way. He should overcome that some by keeping on what he is doing. His intellect shows and his party will start to realize what his background can do for them. My prediction is VP with a future run for President.

I've heard that from a few analysts. He's getting his name out there in hopes that a nominee will pick him up for the ticket and push him to a Repub nominee in 2020 or 2024.

[Play Angry]

First post-debate CNN poll is out.

Trump 24
Fiorina 15
Carson 14
Rubio 11
Bush 9
Cruz 6
Paul 4
Christie 3
Kasich 2
Santorum 1
Walker 0
Everyone Else 0


Pretty much what you'd expect, still a very fluid race.

[shockmonster]

First post-debate CNN poll is out.

Trump 24
Fiorina 15
Carson 14
Rubio 11
Bush 9
Cruz 6
Paul 4
Christie 3
Kasich 2
Santorum 1
Walker 0
Everyone Else 0


Pretty much what you'd expect, still a very fluid race.

I still haven't decided who I'll vote for. However we were discussing who won the debate. From the changes in the polls, it's difficult to argue that anyone but Fiorina won (or at least improved the most) the debate (I think she was at 9 before and Trump was at 32).

[FlyingWheat]

I still haven't decided who I'll vote for. However we were discussing who won the debate. From the changes in the polls, it's difficult to argue that anyone but Fiorina won (or at least improved the most) the debate (I think she was at 9 before and Trump was at 32).

Fiorina won, but Rubio was close behind.

[Play Angry]

I still haven't decided who I'll vote for. However we were discussing who won the debate. From the changes in the polls, it's difficult to argue that anyone but Fiorina won (or at least improved the most) the debate (I think she was at 9 before and Trump was at 32).

Carly definitely got the biggest bump following this debate (at least according to this one poll that we have at this point). The prior CNN poll was from September 10, and it had the candidates as follows:

Trump 32
Carson 19
Bush 9
Cruz 7
Huckabee 5
Walker 5
Rubio 3
Fiorina 3
Paul 3
Kasich 2
Christie 2
Santorum 1
Jindal 1
Graham 1


Trump, Carson, Walker and Huckabee losing market share; Fiorina and Rubio gaining it. Carly will have a much more difficult time if and when she is forced to play defense in debates since there is a fair amount of very substantive ammo to use on her, although she definitely made the most of her chance to gunsling from the underdog role last week.

Still early. FWIW, the overseas wagering websites, which have a pretty good track record on predicting our senate and national elections, still have Jeb as the prohibitive favorite at almost a 40% chance of winning the nom. Trump still stands at just a ~1 in 8 shot, along with Carly. Rubio is the one making big gains lately and seems likely to replace Jeb as the favorite if he can get a few key endorsements in the coming weeks.

[Shock Top]

A Carson/Fiorina ticket could be deadly, although highly unlikely. Both will have cabinet seat, if the Republicans win.

I think a Rubio/Carson ticket would be very solid, and probably who I would select if I was the GOP.

[pogo]

Some great points in this thread regarding religion, politics, tolerance, and science. I'm a scientist by education and profession, and though I identify with Christianity, I don't practice. I believe in an old earth, and that evolution should be taught, but have concerns with evolution that I haven't come to grips with. All the while, I am a fiscal republican that doesn't believe in social/moral legislation. Let science inspire theory, religion govern the soul, and government fulfill the civic duties of all.

What an odd concept...separation of church and state.

[Rlh04d]

It frustrates me that so much of the red meat revolves around social issues which are proven losers.

Secure the borders? You bet, it's almost an inarguable point...specifics on methods for securing it are glossed over quickly though since it's, ummmm, tricky and expensive. It is way more fun to talk about absurdities like blanket deportation and tweaking the 14th amendment and/or case law to eliminate birthright citizenship. That is exactly the kind of pandering that serves to further alienate a large and incredibly fast-growing demographic in purple states. What purpose does lobbing that grenade serve since it is 100% impracticable? Even if your favored candidate did not insert foot in mouth on this issue, the brand continues to suffer when it is handled in this fashion.

Kim Davis? Terrific, if only this were 2002. The GOP has been proven to be on the losing side on this issue and as the older generation continues to pass on, the gap on it will only continue to widen. Pandering to old folks with a foot in the grave seems like a poor investment here since it's almost never single-issue determinant for that age group (unlike say, social security).

John Roberts? Are you serious? That was embarrassing.

Vaccines? In what universe does Carson not go full HULK MODE on Trump when he has the gall to disagree with Carson on this? If his goal was to stay out of the fray and not engage (which I think it was), then he did a mostly fine but snoozeworthy job. But my goodness, do not lend credibility to that kind of crap by refusing to stamp it out emphatically. He should have ripped Trump's spine out a la Predator vs. Carl Weathers right then and there for the world to see. Play your ace of spades doctor.




There are supremely winning arguments to be made on corporate income tax rates, personal income tax rates, foreign policy in SO many areas (touched on many times in an inarticulate way by most, although not all), etc. where the general population absolutely agrees with the republican platform. Hammer on that stuff please! Quit playing the race to the right with completely untenable positions on issues that reinforce the public perception of a party of old white dudes scared of ceding status.

/rant

100% agreed.

This is what kills me about the Republican party right now. There are quite a few points about the direction of this country that need legitimate debate and competent, intelligent assessment. It is truly frightening to me how polarized all of the issues have become -- there are so many points and values from the traditional Republican party that are being buried under the pandering nonsense on losing social issues that no Republican candidate can get out of the primaries without supporting. The Trump crowd is killing the Republican party, but Trump's just a symptom of the self-inflicted gaping wound that's damaging the party right now. Doing that debate in the Reagan Library just further highlights how much the party has distanced itself from the days of his leadership.

Carson should have destroyed Trump on the vaccines and he would have come out of that far better -- and the fact that he didn't really disappointed me, and worries me that he's either afraid of Trump or afraid of Trump's supporters.

Speaking of Trump's ridiculous arguments, Trump accuses Bush's immigration policy of being influenced by his wife being born in Mexico, yet two of Trump's three wives were born in countries allied with the Soviet Union. Thought that was funny given how emphatically he stated he'd get along with Putin.

[Rlh04d]

Worst answer to a question: Jeb Bush on which woman should be on the $10 bill. At least come up with the name of an American. Rosa Parks is a good choice but got the feeling some said her just because she was already mentioned. If somebody would of said Harriet Tubman it would of hinted they are familiar with the canidates instead of saying their mother. I doubt if any would of said their father if the question was what man should be on the new $10.

Exactly. The comments about "my mom" or "my wife" were cluelessly sexist.