Official Republican Presidential Debate August 23, 2023

[volinbham]

Honestly I think we could use a few more technocrats right now. And he could easily grow into that position. I do like a lot of his positions but I also see the lack of real world experience. He rightfully gets roasts for criticizing Trump in his book and then sounding like the local fan club chapter president for example. He’s smart enough to see that’s gonna happen.

for some reason he has adopted the brash, antagonistic approach of Trump

there's also a relatively fine line between questioning existing policy and being Pollyannaish about policy

 

[NorthDallas40]

for some reason he has adopted the brash, antagonistic approach of Trump

there's also a relatively fine line between questioning existing policy and being Pollyannaish about policy

Absolutely agree on the latter. Last night Haley brutalized him on his naive foreign policy comments.

 

[Septic]

Nikki Haley looks like the only one that could beat Biden decisively in a general.

I don't think America is for a Hindu POTUS quiet yet.

Won't matter - Donny gets the nom.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

There is a difference in what would be better for America against Trump and Biden, vs what people will actually vote for.

I would bet 50% of these candidates, at least, would be better for America, and do a better job than Trump or Biden. Their biggest problem is electability because the Two-party system has the population trained to believe that's the number qualifier for a candidate. People aren't willing to stand out on their own and instead bandwagon for whatever candidate their party gives them. No one is willing to actually stand up for their beliefs, which yes means you take some lumps. The problem is the American voters are the biggest cowards after 250 years of conditioning to follow their leaders.

it will only get worse until the people are willing to break away from their party and ONLY support/vote for those they actually believe in.

we will always get a Trump vs a Biden when people are willing to fall in line. Take your lumps for a few terms, vote only for your guy, even if you lose the election, that will eventually get rid of all the bad candidates, and then you MAY actually see change. Right now its a case of insanity, of doing the exact same thing and expecting different results. Its Stockholm Syndrome to think you HAVE to vote for your party or else the bad guys may win. eff it, stick to your guns, as long as you are willing to follow the party there will never be a course correction, there is no need for the party to change positively because 99% of voters will just do what they are told.

We've also allowed the Federal government to become so powerful in our lives via regulation, subsides, entitlements, etc that Senators and Representatives have become power brokers instead of citizens.

We've allowed government positions to become far more important and lucrative than those who framed the Constitution intended.

Term limits. Walking skeletons like Feinstein, Pelosi, Biden, McConnell shouldn't be serving for decade after decade so they become so powerful.

The Constitution called for citizen representation but we've allowed and created entire families whose "business" is politics.

As you say, in the name of keeping the power in our tribe, we feel we MUST vote for our people.

Term limits. The Federal government should not be anywhere near as intrusive as we've grown accustomed to because we've entrenched these people in the bubble that is DC.

 

[Grand Vol]

Absolutely agree on the latter. Last night Haley brutalized him on his naive foreign policy comments.

You know though, I'm with him on not another ****ing penny for Ukraine. Not when we have need of it here or when politicians are holding our own citizens hostage by putting relief with it.

I'm not pro or anti Russia. Nor am I pro or anti Ukraine. But it is time they sink or swim on their own. Or the rest of Europe takes care of them. We've got enough problems of our own without continuing to funnel money to that place.

 

[Grand Vol]

Nikki Haley looks like the only one that could beat Biden decisively in a general.

I don't think America is for a Hindu POTUS quiet yet.

Won't matter - Donny gets the nom.

What happens if he picks her to be a running mate?

 

[Septic]

What happens if he picks her to be a running mate?

If she accepted, then she was clearly too stupid to be a POTUS to begin with.

 

[headhunter15]

Did Haley do that well last night? Keep seeing Vivek’s name.

 

[Majors]

Biden has been an excellent president. He and the Dems have passed a lot of good legislation that will help America. Trump made an absolute mockery of the presidency. People who just lump Biden with Trump are embarrassing morons. Imaginary thoughts are not facts--duh.

Now we know you’re a Republican trolling.

 

[McDad]

for some reason he has adopted the brash, antagonistic approach of Trump

there's also a relatively fine line between questioning existing policy and being Pollyannaish about policy

I may be the outlier here, but the brash, antagonistic im-gonna-fight-back approach from Trump was one of the few things I liked the man. After decades of squishy, milquetoast types (bush 1 and 2, romney, mccain, dole) as presidential candidates, a fighter has appeal.

 

[NorthDallas40]

You know though, I'm with him on not another ****ing penny for Ukraine. Not when we have need of it here or when politicians are holding our own citizens hostage by putting relief with it.

I'm not pro or anti Russia. Nor am I pro or anti Ukraine. But it is time they sink or swim on their own. Or the rest of Europe takes care of them. We've got enough problems of our own without continuing to funnel money to that place.

I get that. I’ve made plenty of posts saying I believe we have obligations there but I do get the frustrations. We absolutely have a spending problem so any funds leaving the US should get first scrutiny I agree. I don’t think we should be sending financial aid as I do view that as primarily the EU’s problem. And I believe we should be doing a better job of auditing the hell out of all aid given to all recipients not just Ukraine.

 

[McDad]

You know though, I'm with him on not another ****ing penny for Ukraine. Not when we have need of it here or when politicians are holding our own citizens hostage by putting relief with it.

I'm not pro or anti Russia. Nor am I pro or anti Ukraine. But it is time they sink or swim on their own. Or the rest of Europe takes care of them. We've got enough problems of our own without continuing to funnel money to that place.

 

[NorthDallas40]

I may be the outlier here, but the brash, antagonistic im-gonna-fight-back approach from Trump was one of the few things I liked the man. After decades of squishy, milquetoast types (bush 1 and 2, romney, mccain, dole) as presidential candidates, a fighter has appeal.

Brash is fine and can work. Look at Trump. But it’s going to draw fire so be ready to back it up. As my mentor told me a long time ago you can be arrogant or incompetent but not both.

 

[LouderVol]

P.S. My youngest is enjoying ATL!

good! lots of things to do, no matter what your interests.

 

[LouderVol]

We've also allowed the Federal government to become so powerful in our lives via regulation, subsides, entitlements, etc that Senators and Representatives have become power brokers instead of citizens.

We've allowed government positions to become far more important and lucrative than those who framed the Constitution intended.

Term limits. Walking skeletons like Feinstein, Pelosi, Biden, McConnell shouldn't be serving for decade after decade so they become so powerful.

The Constitution called for citizen representation but we've allowed and created entire families whose "business" is politics.

As you say, in the name of keeping the power in our tribe, we feel we MUST vote for our people.

Term limits. The Federal government should not be anywhere near as intrusive as we've grown accustomed to because we've entrenched these people in the bubble that is DC.

term limits wouldn't be an issue if people did their jobs and actually voted their beliefs.

 

[turbovol]

Excellent piece on the deplorable state of the Republican Party and most of the GOP stooges running for president.


What I Saw on That G.O.P. Debate Stage Was Complete and Utter Moral Cowardice

Opinion | What I Saw on That G.O.P. Debate Stage Was Complete and Utter Moral Cowardice

 

[LouderVol]

Excellent piece on the deplorable state of the Republican Party and most of the GOP stooges running for president.


What I Saw on That G.O.P. Debate Stage Was Complete and Utter Moral Cowardice

Opinion | What I Saw on That G.O.P. Debate Stage Was Complete and Utter Moral Cowardice

pay walled opinion piece.

Just curious, when was the last time the author or anyone else, saw any form of moral bravery from a politician?

This article might as well point out that they lied about something and won't keep their promises, or that water is wet.

 

[turbovol]

I may be the outlier here, but the brash, antagonistic im-gonna-fight-back approach from Trump was one of the few things I liked the man. After decades of squishy, milquetoast types (bush 1 and 2, romney, mccain, dole) as presidential candidates, a fighter has appeal.

The gangster is combative because he's always being called out--and rightly so, of course---for his pathological lying, his deep corruption and his general amateurish idiocy and incompetence. He's a dangerous conman/megalomaniac who made a mockery the presidency. And most of the people calling him out are people who know and have worked with him--a fact that seems to escape MAGA, like everything escapes them.

The others you mention of men of character and integrity, though George Dubya lied about Iraq. They're civilized, and thus they have no need to fight with everybody. Am I surprised that rubes like a loud, narcissistic bully and demagogue? I wasn't at first--but that they still pay attention to him shows us that MAGA is full of lowlifes as well. We saw that on Jan. 6.

 

[evillawyer]

I feel bad for Ron. I think he's somewhere on the spectrum and it's showing. He's never going to be natural in situations that require him to be normal or likeable.

 

[volinbham]

I may be the outlier here, but the brash, antagonistic im-gonna-fight-back approach from Trump was one of the few things I liked the man. After decades of squishy, milquetoast types (bush 1 and 2, romney, mccain, dole) as presidential candidates, a fighter has appeal.

I think you can be a fighter without being a dick; until last night VR seemed to have that mentality but he got into personal attacks when sticking to policy would have been better IMHO

 

[turbovol]

pay walled opinion piece.

Just curious, when was the last time the author or anyone else, saw any form of moral bravery from a politician?

This article might as well point out that they lied about something and won't keep their promises, or that water is wet.

We saw a massive example of moral bravery from Liz Chaney, who puts country before party and before the gangster. We've seen it in Romney and those very few Republicans who voted to impeach the gangster--and we see it with Christie. And as the author notes, Pence, after playing the role of weak lackey for four years and even after the insurrection, is very, very slowly trying to grow a spine.

 

[DC_Vol]

pay walled opinion piece.

Just curious, when was the last time the author or anyone else, saw any form of moral bravery from a politician?

This article might as well point out that they lied about something and won't keep their promises, or that water is wet.

I think you’re safe to assume it’s all about Trump. Don’t even need to read it.

 

[Zues1]

Delete

 

[gcbvol]

I think you can be a fighter without being a dick; until last night VR seemed to have that mentality but he got into personal attacks when sticking to policy would have been better IMHO

He's classic all hat, no cattle. He's saying exactly what the Trump base wants to hear, but that's all he has. When you have no substance to draw from, you get dickish. It's a better play than standing there taking your medicine. I'll give that to him.

 

[DC_Vol]

I think you can be a fighter without being a dick; until last night VR seemed to have that mentality but he got into personal attacks when sticking to policy would have been better IMHO

He could have certainly done better, but I didn’t think he was a dick. The knives were out for him last night and he held his own. Nothing wrong with pointing out all his competition are seasoned politicians.

He did seem to enjoy getting in the mud which was a bit surprising. And like you said, he could stand to spend more time on his ideas, but I think his goal last night was to make an impression and look different from the rest of the field. He did that.