Althouse: "Asked who they thought won the debate, the voters overwhelmingly agreed on John Kasich. "

March 4, 2016

"Asked who they thought won the debate, the voters overwhelmingly agreed on John Kasich. "

"He was praised as the 'only adult in the room' and appearing to be more 'mature' than the others.The low point of the night, according to the voters, was a moment when Rubio slammed Trump University, prompting Trump to argue that the senator 'couldn't get elected dog catcher' in Florida. 'We've never tested something so low,' said Luntz, adding that Kasich also scored very high during remarks on foreign policy."

I agree. Kasich came across as clearly the best. For me, the low point — or, I should say, my high alarm point — was something I'm going to put in a separate post.

23 comments:

Tank said...: Kasich = full amnesty and the end of America.

Who cares if he came off well.; 3/4/16, 7:55 AM
Hagar said...: Well, Kasich speaks much better English now than when he ran the last time.

But I think the train has left the station.; 3/4/16, 7:57 AM
Gahrie said...: There is no way, no way, that the Republican base is going to vote for someone like Kasich this cycle.; 3/4/16, 7:59 AM
HT said...: It was a focus group. As much as I'd have liked Kasich to be the winner, to me he didn't come off that way. He was not that presidential, he's more of an insider. I'm probably wrong, but that's the way he looks on television, to me. He 'played' the part of being above it all, which runs the risk of appearing not to care enough.

This is for now the Republican's immediate problem. But this lack of leadership is everywhere and is coming soon to a theater near all of us. Maybe it's just the pain we have to go through when things are re-aligning.; 3/4/16, 8:01 AM
Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...: Reform of entrenched interests is never pretty and the vehicles for reform can be even less pretty, but something has to give. Katich is not reasonable if you look at the arc of the country over the last 30 years. Working people have taken it in the neck while the money-changers have grown rich and powerful beyond any earlier norms.; 3/4/16, 8:02 AM
Bay Area Guy said...: Kasich would easily beat Hillary in the General. But, for many GOP types, winning the General isn't the primary objective. Rather, the primary objective seems to be sending a message to the establishment.; 3/4/16, 8:04 AM
Amexpat said...: This was Kasich's best debate so far. He's getting more polished and focused. However, he needs to drop the "little engine that could" meme.

Things will get interesting, if he wins Ohio and Rubio loses Florida. Rubio would most likely drop out then. I think he'd have a good shot in a three way race with Trump, and Cruz.; 3/4/16, 8:05 AM
Tank said...: AReasonableMan said...

Reform of entrenched interests is never pretty and the vehicles for reform can be even less pretty, but something has to give. Katich is not reasonable if you look at the arc of the country over the last 30 years. Working people have taken it in the neck while the money-changers have grown rich and powerful beyond any earlier norms.

This was God Damn reasonable.; 3/4/16, 8:13 AM
HT said...: This was my first extended exposure to Rubio and Cruz. Cruz is very radical (and probably not experienced enough) and it was difficult for me to figure out what Rubio stands for, and my guess (mine) is that Trump picks on him because of his age and that he sort of still looks young. So while they didn't come off as any great shakes, I was still glad they got their licks in at Donald because that's the only way a whole lot of people will hear of these things. That there is a 'real' Donald Trump that is way more moderate and willing to compromise than his bluster would suggest, that he's lied, that he's not the businessman he says he is, and that he will sell people out in a heart beat. How people could simply buy "they'll do it because I tell them to" is beyond me. I mean, self-confidence and strength are good, but so is thinking for yourself, voters. He did look tired at the end (perhaps he should not have done the earlier rally), and was very very testy. Of course, people were picking on him too.; 3/4/16, 8:23 AM
Hagar said...: Of course, you should never say die.
If Trump falls out for some reason, Kasich would certainly be more palatable than Cruz or Rubio.; 3/4/16, 8:25 AM
mtrobertslaw said...: Kasich's adult foreign policy: boots on the ground in Iraq, boots on the ground in Afghanistan, boots on the ground in Libya, and missiles in Ukraine.

And he knows all these boots and missiles will work like a charm 'cause he balanced a budget and his dad was a mailman.; 3/4/16, 8:31 AM
Phil 314 said...: "Rather, the primary objective seems to be sending a message to the establishment. "

Stickin' it to the man !

(for white folks); 3/4/16, 8:32 AM
Gahrie said...: Rather, the primary objective seems to be sending a message to the establishment.

Finally someone gets it.

Now only if the Establishment itself would....; 3/4/16, 8:34 AM
Holding My Nose said...: Would those be the same voters who don't vote for Kasich?; 3/4/16, 8:49 AM
jr565 said...: Calling out trump on his trump U scam was not in fact acting like a high schooler. That is trumps record. If his business ventures were not above board and if he's facing a class action suit over it, it's relevant. Saying Rubio Couldn't get hired as a dog catcher is nothing but a personal attack.

I think some Trumpbots don't like their candidate being called out for things he may have done or said.and they say that is high school. It's not. The only one acting like he is in high school is Trump.

When Rubio says Trump peed his pants, THATS acting like he's in high school. But if trump persists in fighting in the gutter sometimes that's where you have to fight him. On his level.
Kasich may be the grownup in the room, but how has it impacted his vote count? He routinely gets the lowest numbers. Trump, by acting like a jackass is drawing all the press away form substantive policy questions and instead to the spectacle that is Trump.
And trump revels in it. He thinks the high ratings are a signifies that he's doing well. If he skips a debate he argues that the network suffers low ratings.
CBS says that trump isn't good for the country. But is great for CBS.
So who is the real kid in the room? Trump. But the networks are feeding this for their own benefit. Then turning around and acting shocked about how the debate has escalated to a cock fight.
Total hypocrites.; 3/4/16, 9:02 AM
Gusty Winds said...: Started out rooting for Scott Walker.

Would vote for, and have been completely entertained by Trump.

The more the establishment talks about a brokered convention, the more I want them schlonged by Trump. Bill Krystal and Mitt Romney are douchebags.

All this "adult in the room stuff" is just righteous indignation. We are what we saw on stage last night. There aren't even any adults left on college campuses. What do we expect?

I'd vote for Kasich if Rubio and Cruz were to drop out in order to take down Trump. Kasich is a good guy and he's smart.

I'm absolutely DONE with Rubio. He's a weasel. Cruz can't win the general election. He'd get pummeled.

Hillary is worse that anyone mentioned above.; 3/4/16, 9:12 AM
Gusty Winds said...: I confused as to the quality difference between Trump University and Milwaukee Public Schools?

Can MPS students sue Democrats and the Teachers Union for fraud?; 3/4/16, 9:13 AM
Larvell said...: "Who won the debate?"

"Kasich, clearly -- he was the only adult in the room."

"So who are you going to vote for?"

"Trump."; 3/4/16, 9:46 AM
William said...: Kasich comes across as sane and competent. Sort of like Romney but without the good looks. Of all the candidates I would be most comfortable with him as president, but one notes how Romney fared in his presidential run.; 3/4/16, 9:58 AM
Birkel said...: Kasich has no chance, obviously.
Even less now that Meade has made positive comments.

Meade: Please say something positive about Trump.; 3/4/16, 10:15 AM
Anonymous said...: ARM: Reform of entrenched interests is never pretty and the vehicles for reform can be even less pretty, but something has to give. Katich is not reasonable if you look at the arc of the country over the last 30 years.

"Reasonable" from the point of view of those who look at "the arc of the country [or the world] over the last 30 years" and see a robust system whose stability isn't seriously threatened by anything. Use of phrases like "adult in the room" and "moderate" appears to correlate with confidence that the status quo is going to be maintained, and can be maintained, with a few judicious tweaks here and there.; 3/4/16, 10:17 AM
Oso Negro said...: Cruz! Ha ha ha ha ha!! For President of ALL Americans.; 3/4/16, 1:57 PM
Tom said...: Kasich is the only one in either party who's accomplished anything in politics. Name a Clinton success? How about a Sanders success? Rubio? His biggest success was getting elected to the senate and starting his presidential run. Cruz? Cruz has stood on principle a few times and held back some bad laws. But, really, that's just slowed the progress. He's not changing an an abundance of minds and, if that's the goal, he's trailing Ron and Rand Paul on that category. Kasich has done it. He's done the hard work of actually governing. He's not a perfect candidate for me policy wise. I'd much prefer a libertarian. But he's reasonable, competent, and, if he wins Ohio and Rubio loses Florida, it's a whole new ballgame.

(Oh, and he better get ready for the Lehman Brothers attacks - his "I was a banker" response ain't gonna fly. Hell, make something up but don't say that.); 3/4/16, 2:23 PM