CNBC loses debate, GOP stands tall

Louisvillepolitics.com – After sitting through an agonizing two hours last night on the latest GOP debate debacle, two things became very clear. CNBC had an agenda to try and force the establishment on the voters, and CNBC’s plan backfired miserably.

There is no way last night’s fiasco could be considered a debate between the candidates. 

It looked more like a Democratic attack ad designed to ignore the front runners and push the establishment candidates Bush, Rubio, and yes even John Kasich, into contention. Every poll for months now has shown time and time again that the conservative voters are sick and tired of the establishment, so why are these guys still being pushed?

So they can continue the uni party platform to aid the political elite at the expense of real Americans. CNBC clearly was acting as a Democratic Party shill in trying to aid and abet the machine at work.

It was obvious from the outset that CNBC was not interested in any substantial discussion on economic policies. The very first question, if you can call it that, was not substantive. It was an attack ad seemingly written by the DNC.

Seriously, this is how John Hardwood began the debate:

“Mr. Trump, you’ve done very well in this campaign so far by promising to build a wall and make another country pay for it, send 11 million people out of the country, cut taxes $10 trillion without increasing the deficit, and make Americans better off because your greatness would replace the stupidity and incompetence of others,” Harwood said. 

“Let’s be honest,” he added. “Is this a comic-book version of a presidential campaign?”

He then followed up with this gem:

“I talked to economic advisers who have served presidents of both parties. They said that you have as much chance of cutting taxes that much without increasing the deficit as you would of flying away from that podium by flapping your arms,” he told Trump.

And that folks is basically how the whole night went. It was a disgusting display of crony journalism. A display that in a better world would have had someone fired immediately after. Deservedly so. It was a discredit to we the people and the integrity of Presidential elections themselves.

In a perfect world all 10 candidates would have looked at each other and then left the stage in unison.

CNBC’s plan backfired because the candidates themselves stood up to them. They refused, for the most part, to be goaded into this pathetic display of partisan politics by a supposedly non partisan media. The crowd even booed the moderators.

CNBC even accomplished what many would have thought was probably impossible. FOX and CNN both agreed that it was shameful. Who would have thought that?

There were some moments.

First, it was nice to see that all the candidates, spare Jeb Bush for the most part, really Jeb leave now, stood together against the clear agenda these so called “moderators” didn’t even try to hide.

Second, there was actually some substance that got through despite the idiocy of the moderator’s panel. Though limited in scope, we did actually get to hear some of the tax plans, we did get some talk about social security and medicare, and we did get some talk about illegal immigration. 

There was plenty to look at and absorb if you looked through the charade CNBC wanted to project. The largest of which is simple. 

We can finally see a clear indication of just how badly this field needs to be narrowed down. Simply put, at least half of these candidates need to go. Now.

Who should stay?

Donald Trump has led all major polls for over 100 days. Last night Trump showed what some said had been lacking in his campaign. He actually looked and acted Presidential especially in the post interviews. He allowed CNBC to embarrass themselves and shared the stage with everyone instead of allowing himself to be the focus. Smart move.

Ben Carson did not harm himself at all. Carson has overtaken Trump in at least one national poll but the real test will be the next one as Carson, who admitted to trying to stab a friend when he was 14, has not had a full polling cycle to see if there is any fallout from that admission.

Ted Cruz may be the most underrated candidate in this field while also being the most intelligent and constitutional. Cruz stood up against the moderators and called them on their agenda. He was the first to really do so.

Marco Rubio had a great night. I’m no fan of Rubio admittedly, but for those who have not seen Rubio, or know about Rubio, they would have come out with a GOP version dream of the “Camelot” days, as the Kennedy administration was known. Young, boy scout looks, cares about his mom, it was a great show. The reality is much different but most don’t know that yet. They will.

Rand Paul has to stay in. Many have decided to throw Rand Paul out. I am not one of them. They greatly underestimate the power of the grassroots organization that Paul has at his disposal. Paul is finally back to his roots, and speaking on the issues, instead of attacking his fellow candidates. That is the Rand Paul that people have been waiting to see and will flock to.  

Who should go?

Everyone else. Seriously.

The lower tier that includes Lindsay Graham, Rick Santorum, Bobby Jindal, and George Pataki are a waste of time and space, that no one will ever vote for. Why are they still getting time? 

It amazes me that any of the networks have allowed a separate debate for this group of people who have absolutely nothing to offer that we the people are listening to. They are nothing more than a sideshow distraction and none of them can overcome that.

Three strikes and your out is the baseball term. It applies here.

Time to let the real field take shape.

Mike Huckabee has no chance. He is a good orator and fluent in speaking in soundbites, but nothing else. 

John Kasich seems so fixated on Ohio that I wonder if he even knows anymore that there is an entire Country out in the real world. Trump was right and bested Kasich last night when he told the truth about him and Ohio. Ohio has prospered because of fracking and Kasich is just lucky he is in Ohio. he has done absolutely nothing to make any major changes there. It is a smokescreen. Kasich also is in perpetual anger mode, a sure sign of a desperate candidate. Trump also pointed out Kasich’s failure as a managing director of Lehman Bros.

Carly Fiorina blew the initial surge she had after the last debate. Fiorina’s negatives are finally playing out but she is a good debater. Again, a great orator but no substance. She is posturing for a VP run and cannot be considered a serious challenger for the top job.

Chris Christie? Heck even New Jersey doesn’t like him why would any of the rest of us? His approval rating in his home state is around 35%. That tells us much.

Jeb Bush needs to go now. America simply does not want another Bush and Jeb has given no one any reason to. If it wasn’t for the Bush name he would not even poll as high as Lindsay Graham. That is saying something. He proves time and time again that he isn’t ready, or capable, of running this Country. 

Bush actually allowed himself to answer a question about fantasy football. Are you kidding me? he knew more about his stats on that then he does about anything else. Bush is showing desperation more and more each time we see him. He resorted to attacking Rubio last night in order to claim the establishment leadership. 

It failed. Miserably. Against his own protege.

Finally

Reince Priebus should resign. He has failed in this election cycle by not involving himself and narrowing the field. He has failed by allowing these hit piece debates to even happen. He should pull out of all debates that are not moderated by conservative likely primary voters. He has failed as the GOP leader. 

Hey Reince here is a freebie for you.

Cancel the remaining debates, rent a venue somewhere and hold your own debate. Ted Cruz suggested, on the Hannity after debate show, that perhaps Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin moderate. Why not all three? With your own debate they can do that. 

And they are conservative voters. Who can do a better job at making candidates discuss the issues conservatives care about? This is the GOP primary election not a general election.

Don’t worry about TV. 

Sell tickets to cover the cost of the venue and let the TV media bid for the rights to air it. They will. Trust me it will be a great fundraiser for the GOP at that. If they don’t, no problem. Host it online and we the people will make sure it is a success.

Why have you not thought of that?  

CNBC just proved why most Americans do not trust mainstream media. EVERY CNBC “moderator” last night has destroyed whatever positive thoughts anyone had left regarding so called journalists.

They single handedly just proved there is no such thing as the “fifth estate” anymore.  

They should be ashamed and embarrassed at how they handled last night, but sadly they won’t be as they accomplished exactly what they wanted. There was never any intention by CNBC to allow the candidates to debate the issues so we did not get that. CNBC was too busy interjecting themselves into the debate with hyperbole and cheap shots. 

That is not journalism.

They made this into a Jerry Springer reality TV show. 

On second thought, maybe the real losers were we the people who sat through that disgusting display………