GOP Debate --thoughts as it moves into the home stretch

[81usaf92]

I agree with this completely. The response was to Cruz saying he would tear it up.

I think Fiorina's best moment (including her well done answer to question responding to Trump's statement), was the list of things she could and would do to address Putin without talking to him. It was right along these lines. One can make statements without saying anything.

I know why people like her answer to that statement, but the problem is Putin will win that fight. What she fails to see is that our military has been cut in half since 2008 and Russia has increased their military since then. While she can talk about sending the 6th fleet to the Baltic all she wants to, Russia wont blink and will continue business as usual. Putin must be negotiated with at this point to win anything because sending ships into to Baltic only plays into his favor. Trump was right with his method although his procedure must be far more indepth of what he would discuss with Vlad must be outlined. The point is unless we use nukes, Russia's numbers would overwhelm us in any land or sea conflict or would result in a pyric victory that would drop us from being a super power. Carly was more playing to the crowd in attempting to be a strong leader since that was the number 1 quality republican voters are looking for

 

[TRUTIDE]

Maybe this is wise advice...maybe it isn't. Nevertheless, the next president can take actions outside the agreement. The next president can seek an authorization to use force in the event the agreement is violated by Iran. The next president can significantly arm and finance the Israelis. The next president can put forces on the ground in the Middle East. It seems like the next president can do a lot to undo any damage from the agreement without violating its terms.

I don't know. This agreement is pretty awful. If this gets through Congress (little doubt it will) we would need to take some decisive steps to make it right. Why not get rid of it and start fresh with a legitimate treaty? There is little doubt that Iran will break the terms. They probably already have. I do not think the other nations will be too quick to punish them. Too much money changing hands.

 

[mittman]

I know why people like her answer to that statement, but the problem is Putin will win that fight. What she fails to see is that our military has been cut in half since 2008 and Russia has increased their military since then. While she can talk about sending the 6th fleet to the Baltic all she wants to, Russia wont blink and will continue business as usual. Putin must be negotiated with at this point to win anything because sending ships into to Baltic only plays into his favor. Trump was right with his method although his procedure must be far more indepth of what he would discuss with Vlad must be outlined. The point is unless we use nukes, Russia's numbers would overwhelm us in any land or sea conflict or would result in a pyric victory that would drop us from being a super power. Carly was more playing to the crowd in attempting to be a strong leader since that was the number 1 quality republican voters are looking for

Maybe they will not blink. For the sake of argument using the 6th fleet in the Baltic one example. Just moving the pieces around makes a statement to some very nervous allies in the region. Just moving them in and out of there would make a much bigger statement than saying "If you try to do what you did in Ukraine to Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania we will not stand for it!"

I think that was well done of her drawing a contrast between how Obama has been working and how she would.

 

[alabama mike1]

Kasich could very well end up as the VP candidate because he is the governor of Ohio, a huge swing state.

I was not impressed with Sanders last night.

Rubio had the fire and passion but I think he is too far to the right for the majority of Republicans.

Bush 3... enough said.

I want to hear more specifics from The Donald before writing him off.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

Kasich could very well end up as the VP candidate because he is the governor of Ohio, a huge swing state.

I was not impressed with Sanders last night.

Rubio had the fire and passion but I think he is too far to the right for the majority of Republicans.

Bush 3... enough said.

I want to hear more specifics from The Donald before writing him off.

I didn't watch the debate, but am I missing something here?

 

[Al A Bama]

I thought there were a lot of hard ball questions asked in the first two Republican debates. One of the problems is that it's just tough to deal with ten or eleven candidates in a debate and do an effective job.

Now, will hard ball questions be asked in the Socialist Democratic debates? Or will they ask candidates what their favorite color is or what they had for dinner or what do you think about the Donald's HAIR?

 

[81usaf92]

Maybe they will not blink. For the sake of argument using the 6th fleet in the Baltic one example. Just moving the pieces around makes a statement to some very nervous allies in the region. Just moving them in and out of there would make a much bigger statement than saying "If you try to do what you did in Ukraine to Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania we will not stand for it!"

I think that was well done of her drawing a contrast between how Obama has been working and how she would.

Ok but what will happen if they don't. We have two options 1) attack 2) retreat. If we attack we will be fighting both Iran and Russia, if we retreat we are in the same situation as we were when Obama said "don't cross this line". Military force is not as simple as moving pawns on a chess board there are bigger consequences. I hope she is playing big in order to gain appeal because a potential war with Russia is not a good idea.

Also the old allies are not as reliable as they once were. Most are pacifists that would stay out of the conflict.

 

[OreBama]

I didn't watch the debate, but am I missing something here?

I think he's referring to Colonel Sanders as in the KFC commercials. Must not be a Norm MacDonald fan. I am.

 

[CajunCrimson]

So the moderates and the lefties like Kasich, Rubio, and Christie.

And hate Cruz, Paul and Walker.....

Sounds about right....

 

[MOAN]

All this discussion of what all those candidates would do in the debate last night and not one word about what the former 1st Lady and future elect President Hillary Clinton will do!!

 

[TRUTIDE]

All this discussion of what all those candidates would do in the debate last night and not one word about what the former 1st Lady and future elect President Hillary Clinton will do!!

She will more than likely be doing time. This could be another historical election.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

All this discussion of what all those candidates would do in the debate last night and not one word about what the former 1st Lady and future elect President Hillary Clinton will do!!

Oh Lord, who woke him up?

 

[Al A Bama]

All this discussion of what all those candidates would do in the debate last night and not one word about what the former 1st Lady and future elect President Hillary Clinton will do!!

Now, I'll VOTE for that.

In a debate, she needs to be asked, since she believes/said all women raped should be believed, do you feel the same about Juanita Broaddrick?

 

[mittman]

Ok but what will happen if they don't. We have two options 1) attack 2) retreat. If we attack we will be fighting both Iran and Russia, if we retreat we are in the same situation as we were when Obama said "don't cross this line". Military force is not as simple as moving pawns on a chess board there are bigger consequences. I hope she is playing big in order to gain appeal because a potential war with Russia is not a good idea.

Also the old allies are not as reliable as they once were. Most are pacifists that would stay out of the conflict.

Don't what? We are just tooling around in the Baltic. The only difference really is that we are in a better position to respond if we want to.

I don't disagree with any of what you said. I just think properly developing and positioning ourselves without blustering is a better approach than false bluster.

Those that were debating her were saying how tough they would talk. That most certainly is not going to work with Putin. Her approach for that specific issue IMO has a much better chance of being effective.

 

[jthomas666]

Don't what? We are just tooling around in the Baltic. The only difference really is that we are in a better position to respond if we want to.

I don't disagree with any of what you said. I just think properly developing and positioning ourselves without blustering is a better approach than false bluster.

Those that were debating her were saying how tough they would talk. That most certainly is not going to work with Putin. Her approach for that specific issue IMO has a much better chance of being effective.

I agree to an extent. I know I'm viewed as a pinko-commie-leftie in these parts, but there is no substitute for a strong military presence to calm troubled waters. If you have a carrier group in the region--along with more than just a few missile subs--then a potential opponent has to consider what you might do in response. And that's where perception of will comes into play--which was at the core of what Fiorina was saying.

Trump really came across as an empty windbag on that point. "I'll sit down and talk with him"? Who does he think he is, Vito Corleone?

 

[mittman]

Oh Lord, who woke him up?

Aliens :wink:

 

[alabama mike1]

I didn't watch the debate, but am I missing something here?

It appeared to me that he did not respond well to the questions. He did not seem comfortable.

 

[MOAN]

Oh Lord, who woke him up?

LOL!!! I hope it was a nightmare only!!! Mittman my alien telepathic connections tell me Obama won't go away silently and lightly!!

If Donald Trump is the Republican nominee then the Republicans are in trouble!! If what I think happens it will be a Bush-Clinton battle with the Donald running as an independent which will insure Hillary as the next POTUS. Just better pray Hillary is not the Democratic nominee!!!

 

[selmaborntidefan]

It appeared to me that he did not respond well to the questions. He did not seem comfortable.

Was SANDERS in this debate?

That's the part I'm confused about.....

 

[81usaf92]

Don't what? We are just tooling around in the Baltic. The only difference really is that we are in a better position to respond if we want to.

I don't disagree with any of what you said. I just think properly developing and positioning ourselves without blustering is a better approach than false bluster.

Those that were debating her were saying how tough they would talk. That most certainly is not going to work with Putin. Her approach for that specific issue IMO has a much better chance of being effective.

The Russian people are actually divided on Putin even though his approval is up, but the problem with putting ships in the Baltic is that st Petersburg sits in the Baltic. St Petersburg is a more important city to Russia than Moscow and it is very dear to the Russian people in a historical and cultural sense. By doing that will undoubtably unite the Russian and other Slavic people. You aren't just talking about Russia you are also talking about the Bulgarians, Moldavians, Belorussians, and Serbians. So you are talking about the Balkans united against the Anglos, Aryans, and Muslims in that event. Also consider that Putin, if he takes our threat legit, would almost undoubtably send an overwhelming force into Kyrgyzstan with an overwhelming force to take our transit hub to Afghanistan and centcom out at manis. So a force of action without a formidable foothold and the force necessary to challenge them is ill advised. Trump claiming a diplomatic solution is a better option, but he didn't offer a good explanation on how and what he would accomplish.

I would be all for her point if we had the numbers but we just don't and neither does Britain. This scenario has a real potential to be a ww3 scenario with Iran and Assad being undoubtably involved. You can probably throw reagen and bush's run ins with Russia as a bases to support Carly's views but they had 5 to 6 years to develop adequate speed bump and military forces to challenge them.