Who will get 2016 Republican Presidential Nomination?

[Derek 2.0]

Interesting story:

At its winter gathering of major donors a couple weeks ago in Indian Wells, Calif., operatives floated the possibility of launching an anti-Trump campaign, according to sources who attended. They said donors were mostly receptive. The Koch network, which intends to spend $889 million on policy and political advocacy in the run-up to the 2016 election, hasn’t previously ventured aggressively into GOP primaries, and sources familiar with the network say there is an intensive debate about the timing and details of a possible anti-Trump campaign.

And more on the eventual Koch versus Trump war:

Making an enemy of the Koch network is dangerous for any Republican politician. The group, founded by the billionaire industrialist brothers, comprises about 700 donors who give more than $100,000 annually to maintain their membership.

The network has resources and technology rivaling the Republican Party's infrastructure and spent close to $400 million in 2015 on its goals to minimize the role of government in people's lives. But it also intervenes in electoral politics and will play a multimillion-dollar role in the 2016 presidential and Senate races.

The Koch network is holding off on endorsing a 2016 presidential nominee, though has narrowed its preferences down to five acceptable candidates: Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush, Rand Paul and Carly Fiorina.

I'm surprised Cruz is on the list........the question though is if a Koch air war on Trump, pointing out how stupid and lacking in substance reality his slogans are, would work.......or (as pointed out) would it further strengthen Trump and his attacks on special interests?

Edited February 13, 2016 by Derek 2.0

[Derek 2.0]

So Trump might sue Cruz over his Canadian birth/Natural US Citizenship.....unless Cruz stops the negative adds against Trump.

[Derek 2.0]

Trump is imploding in the debate.......The 9/11 tinfoil hat stuff, blaming "W" for 9/11 and suggesting "W" should have been impeached.....He is getting booed by the crowd, attacked by the other candidates and hard questions put to him by the moderators.....if this doesn't finish Trump, nothing else will...other than the general election.

[BC_chick]

Oh wow I wish I'd seen that.

A lot of people said he ran as a joke and became more and more absurd as his unforeseen popularity rose. Maybe there was truth to it.

[bush_cheney2004]

Trump is imploding in the debate.......The 9/11 tinfoil hat stuff, blaming "W" for 9/11 and suggesting "W" should have been impeached...

A lot of "mainstream" people said that Bush should have been impeached for all kinds of things, not just 9/11.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efforts_to_impeach_George_W._Bush

[On Guard for Thee]

A lot of "mainstream" people said that Bush should have been impeached for all kinds of things, not just 9/11.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efforts_to_impeach_George_W._Bush

That was minor crap compared to Trump carrying on to say Bush was lying about WMD. Maybe he is actually working for Hillary.

[Derek 2.0]

A lot of "mainstream" people said that Bush should have been impeached for all kinds of things, not just 9/11.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efforts_to_impeach_George_W._Bush

"Mainstream" as in Micheal Moore.......or Dennis Kucinich........Ron and Rand Paul might have opposed the war, even called it a failure, but to suggest the Bush administration willing lied about it, during a Republican primary race, has entered the realm of tin-foil hats.......I don't see how Trump breaks out of his ceiling of ~30-35%, and of that, doesn't loose support.........Trump's performance wouldn't even have been "mainstream" in a Democratic primary.

His support of Planned Parenthood should cede whatever religious voters he has over to Cruz, Carson and Rubio.....even Bush.

If Trump wins the nomination, somehow, start planning for President Clinton......

[bush_cheney2004]

"Mainstream" as in Micheal Moore.......or Dennis Kucinich........Ron and Rand Paul might have opposed the war, even called it a failure, but to suggest the Bush administration willing lied about it, during a Republican primary race, has entered the realm of tin-foil hats....

I'm sure I could find identical accusations from the 2004 campaign. I recall that Dan Rather and his producer committed professional suicide trying to go after George W. Bush's service record. Trump has lots of tin-foil company.

[Derek 2.0]

Oh wow I wish I'd seen that.

A lot of people said he ran as a joke and became more and more absurd as his unforeseen popularity rose. Maybe there was truth to it.

What is funny, not ha-ha funny, is that Trump has moderated his tone the last couple of weeks, and even started out alright in tonight's debate......but completely lost his noodle.....some much so, you even had Rubio defending the Bush family and Kasich mocking in Trump........

George W Bush is still immensely popular among Republicans, even more so in the South........It will be interesting to see George W Bush's speech in support of his brother this Monday.......SNL will need to sign Will Ferrell to a retainer for next week and beyond....

Edited February 14, 2016 by Derek 2.0

[Derek 2.0]

Trump has lots of tin-foil company.

After tonight, Trump owns the market on tin-foil........

[bush_cheney2004]

After tonight, Trump owns the market on tin-foil........

It's a big market. Trump is going to do things the Trump way...win or lose.

[Derek 2.0]

It's a big market. Trump is going to do things the Trump way...win or lose.

Big is subjective, Trumps already at his ceiling, after tonight, I don't know how that ceiling doesn't start dropping in on him.

[bush_cheney2004]

Big is subjective, Trumps already at his ceiling, after tonight, I don't know how that ceiling doesn't start dropping in on him.

Then he wouldn't be any worse off than Jeb's or Rubio's numbers.

[On Guard for Thee]

Trump accused the majority of his competitors as being liars, and then went after Bush Jr. as being a liar about WMD, so it turns out he was telling the truth about at least one thing for sure. However that didn't go over well in SC.

[Derek 2.0]

Then he wouldn't be any worse off than Jeb's or Rubio's numbers.

After tonight, I look forward to seeing both Bush and Rubio's numbers........

[bush_cheney2004]

After tonight, I look forward to seeing both Bush and Rubio's numbers........

If they don't improve after this, then it's over for them. Trump's tantrum is consistent with rejecting and moving forward from the entire Bush family presidential legacy and party politics. Democrats have the same issue with the Clintons.

[On Guard for Thee]

If they don't improve after this, then it's over for them. Trump's tantrum is consistent with rejecting and moving forward from the entire Bush family presidential legacy and party politics. Democrats have the same issue with the Clintons.

That's good, because we want Trump to stay in there so he can assure the GOP defeat in November. Yay Trump.

[Topaz]

Could Trump as president do any worse than the past presidents? Since the former governor of Ohio was part of the GW gang, I say no to him and Jeb, bad choice for the WH. Trump, Carson and Rubio stand a better chance BUT I sure somehow, Bush will succeed with the help of his friends, so to speak. Debate last night was very interesting.

[kimmy]

Much has been made of the Democrats "putting their finger on the scale" to stack the odds against the "insurgent" candidate.

The Republicans may not be completely innocent of that either. It seems that the audience last night was heavily stacked with Party people. Of 1900 seats available, the vast majority were given to Party officials and workers. That may have something to do with why people were booing Trump as soon as he started talking.

I only caught some of the tail end of the debate, but it seemed like a not-very-good format. Posing a new unrelated question to each candidate in turn left candidates simultaneously reaching back to address points from previous questions, while also either missing the opportunity to address key issues, or depending on the topic, letting them duck key issues.

"Dr Carson, do you think financial executives should be prosecuted for bad behavior?"

"Well first I want to address that topic from two questions ago. Read my immigration policy at BenCarsonDotCom. On the financial thing, I think we just need to get rid of all these regulations."

"Ok. Now to Senator Rubio: if you could talk to any former President, who would it be, and what would you ask Mr Reagan?"

Wait, what? First off what a stupid softball question, and second, why couldn't we hear what other candidates had to say about that previous question, which matters a lot more than some hypothetical seance with the ghost of Ronald Reagan.

-k

[Derek 2.0]

The Republicans may not be completely innocent of that either. It seems that the audience last night was heavily stacked with Party people. Of 1900 seats available, the vast majority were given to Party officials and workers. That may have something to do with why people were booing Trump as soon as he started talking.

Sounds like a Trump talking point.......per the RNC:

The RNC reportedly hit back at Trump's claim, saying that only 75 donors were in attendance in an audience of 1,000.

Should it really be a surprise that Trump gets booed (in a Republican function) when he states George W Bush lied about WMD in Iraq, and that 9/11 was his fault?

[Big Guy]

It looks like the Republicans may finally start to look for a adult as their rep.

Kasich is looking better every debate.

[kimmy]

Sounds like a Trump talking point.......per the RNC:

That refutes Trump's claim about donors, but doesn't do anything to dispute the fact that the audience was heavily stacked with party officials and party workers.

Should it really be a surprise that Trump gets booed (in a Republican function) when he states George W Bush lied about WMD in Iraq, and that 9/11 was his fault?

I guess the truth hurts.

-k

[Derek 2.0]

That refutes Trump's claim about donors, but doesn't do anything to dispute the fact that the audience was heavily stacked with party officials and party workers.

Who would it be filled with? Its hardly a surprise that the majority of GOP supporters don't like Trump...

I guess the truth hurts.

When was it established that George Walker Bush lied? That would suggest that he knew there were no WMDs in Iraq and said there were regardless........

Trump's version of the truth seems the sort spread by the Micheal Moore, Oliver Stone, Alex Jones types.......even mainstream Democrats don't suggest that the Bush Administration lied......

[bush_cheney2004]

Trump's version of the truth seems the sort spread by the Micheal Moore, Oliver Stone, Alex Jones types.......even mainstream Democrats don't suggest that the Bush Administration lied......

Even Hillary Clinton voted for the war in Iraq. So did many other Democrats. The Bush family can rest easy, as Clinton's husband bombed Iraq for the exact same "lies". But that does not mean Jeb gets the nomination over the others, including Trump.

[Big Guy]

Oh wow I wish I'd seen that.

A lot of people said he ran as a joke and became more and more absurd as his unforeseen popularity rose. Maybe there was truth to it.

You can see it at:

http://www.uspresidentialelectionnews.com/2016/02/full-video-cbs-republican-debate-from-south-carolina/

Suggest you fast forward through it and stop at those places where Trumps gums are flapping.

Edited February 14, 2016 by Big Guy