Althouse: Here's a place to talk about the GOP debate.

August 23, 2023

Here's a place to talk about the GOP debate.

Are you watching?

Here, my son John is live-blogging at Facebook.

64 comments:

Limited blogger said...: A little chaos on stage as desperation may be setting in early.; 8/23/23, 8:20 PM
rhhardin said...: I saw preliminary remarks from each on some Fox youtube and immediately disliked all of them.; 8/23/23, 8:25 PM
Limited blogger said...: Total chaos.

Nice.; 8/23/23, 8:25 PM
Narr said...: Not watching. None of those weirdos have much of a chance, and it would be a waste of time and energy to pay them any mind. (I'd rather watch Gutfeld!, which has been preempted.)

I was making a last check of the blog before signing out, and just happened to see this.; 8/23/23, 8:26 PM
Limited blogger said...: They seem to be focusing attacks on Vivek.

Guess he is regarded as a 'front runner'.; 8/23/23, 8:28 PM
Inga said...: Ramaswamy, just as I thought, a fast talking smarmy faker and the rest of the candidates up there seem to recognize that, good for them.; 8/23/23, 8:30 PM
Mutaman said...: "Also, whomever thought this Vivek guy was "engaging" and "not an idiot" apparently has never met another human being in his or her life."

The guy is clearly on coke.; 8/23/23, 8:36 PM
Scott Gustafson said...: Listened to the first few minutes. Nothing that I hadn't heard in their stump speeches. So for me, what's the point.; 8/23/23, 8:42 PM
Limited blogger said...: Things have calmed down.

Very boring now.; 8/23/23, 8:46 PM
Milo Minderbinder said...: Chachi?; 8/23/23, 8:46 PM
Limited blogger said...: Interesting that 'you know who' has not been mentioned.; 8/23/23, 8:48 PM
Limited blogger said...: Half time score:

1. DeSantis
1. Vivek
3. Nikki
4. Tim Scott
5. Doug Burgum
6. Asa H.
7. Christie
8. Pence (guy is really grating on me here); 8/23/23, 8:51 PM
Limited blogger said...: Trump discussion after the break!!; 8/23/23, 8:52 PM
Limited blogger said...: DeSantis is doing good job keeping the FOX moderators focused on the issues that matter.; 8/23/23, 9:04 PM
Brian said...: DeSantis is a non-entity

Christie and Pence aren't reading the room. I don't think they will get anywhere.

Tim Scott talks too slow.; 8/23/23, 9:05 PM
Limited blogger said...: Vivek is under everybody's skin.

Guy is moving up quickly.; 8/23/23, 9:20 PM
Brian said...: Viveks getting talked over constantly.; 8/23/23, 9:23 PM
Michael said...: Easy to see who they fear. Eh, Inga?; 8/23/23, 9:26 PM
Dave Begley said...: Ann!

Can you do a poll? You haven’t done one in a long time?; 8/23/23, 9:34 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: I'm passing on that.

My X has an alternative.; 8/23/23, 9:34 PM
jim5301 said...: What an unlikable bunch. Mr eyebrows at the end is close to normal. The rest are clowns; 8/23/23, 9:35 PM
traditionalguy said...: Ramaswamy is drawing fire including from Fox apparatchiks to the point he is being mass shouted down. Who would have thought that Trump 2.0 would be Hindu.; 8/23/23, 9:41 PM
Limited blogger said...: Who appointed Pence to take Vivek down?

Ain't working.; 8/23/23, 9:45 PM
Limited blogger said...: Final standings:

1. Vivek
2. Gov. Ron
3. Nikki
4. Doug Burgum
5. Tim Scott
dnf. Christie
dnf. Asa H.
dnf. Pence (really dragged the proceedings down); 8/23/23, 9:51 PM
Mark said...: That ChatGPT line is going to leave a mark. Trust me, I know about this; 8/23/23, 10:01 PM
Michael K said...: It's just a treat to have the dullard and Mutaman's opinions on the GOP losers.

I'm seeing poll results that suggest even people who don't like Trump are getting pissed at the lawfare and will vote for him.; 8/23/23, 10:03 PM
Dave Begley said...: I like Ron. Great governor, but a tough comp against Vivek. Bad matchup.

Vivek won.; 8/23/23, 10:05 PM
Chuck said...: Tom Nichols on Twitter:

Tom Nichols
@RadioFreeTom
Vivek is not Yang, he's the GOP Marianne Williamson.; 8/23/23, 10:08 PM
Dave Begley said...: Burgum did well.; 8/23/23, 10:08 PM
Maynard said...: It looks like the resident idiot is going after Vivek.

He is definitely a threat to the Soviet Democraticals who fervently believe in their intellectual and moral superiority.

It could not be any funnier.; 8/23/23, 10:11 PM
Eva Marie said...: “smarmy faker” If you don’t like Ramaswamy’s ethnic background why use code words? Fly that flag proudly.; 8/23/23, 10:15 PM
traditionalguy said...: Vivek is suddenly ground zero using nothing but a beautiful mind and a winning personality. I stand amazed.; 8/23/23, 10:17 PM
Drago said...: Obvious points being made online: -
- Sounds like GOP debates from 2004/08/12 except for VR and DeSantis a bit (as predicted since the consultant class wants nothing more than to return to quieter times with their dem allies and the cash flowed like a waterfall)

- GOP donors got the best seats up front and are hooting for the establishment hacks (as predicted)

- Moderators go for climate change and abortion questions before all else...exactly as predicted

An exercise completely disconnected from the republican base and their needs and priorities..per usual from the GOPe and the Murdochs.; 8/23/23, 10:19 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: I think I know where Georgia Congresswoman MTG would rather be.

Link to pic

Thursday Calendar: Google map to Fulton Co Jail ✅

(Busy All Day); 8/23/23, 10:20 PM
Drago said...: Dumb Lefty Mark: "That ChatGPT line is going to leave a mark. Trust me, I know about this"

LOL

Sounds like something you picked up on Threads.; 8/23/23, 10:20 PM
Brian said...: That ChatGPT line is going to leave a mark. Trust me, I know about this
really? it fell flat to me. seemed rehearsed. and what does that even mean?

Are they saying that Vivek is stupid and relies on ChatGPT? Or that Vivek is just another fad like ChatGPT?

Or was it racist, given that Vivek is Indian? At least he didn't work in a slurpee machine in some way.

Pence and Christie seemed to be running for the MSNBC commenting jobs not for the nomination of the party.

The wishy-washy "support Trump if hes the nominee" was a silly question but even a sillier response from Christie (half raising half not).; 8/23/23, 10:21 PM
Drago said...: I will also note that these "respectable" republicans didn't have much in the way of criticism for Biden.

Again, EXACTLY as predicted.; 8/23/23, 10:24 PM
Original Mike said...: They did better than I expected. Any would be so much better than Joe Biden. I expect DeSantis' performance will help him. I thought Ramaswamy was strong.

I am not a fan of cheering sections at a debate.; 8/23/23, 10:24 PM
MikeD said...: I'm paying no attention, waiting for all the grifters to get weeded out.; 8/23/23, 10:30 PM
ga6 said...: Read Inga's first comment so I am going to go with support of Vivek....; 8/23/23, 10:33 PM
Iman said...: I don’t disagree with limited blogger’s final standings @9:51pm.

DeSantis barely got his hair mussed, they were gunning for Ramaswamy… who would do himself a favor if he calmed down a bit. He’s a very intelligent fellow with priorities that I find most agreeable.

The Fox mods were both horrible. What a waste of an opportunity.; 8/23/23, 10:44 PM
Iman said...: Better stick with your lefty comedians, jim5301.; 8/23/23, 10:47 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Jaltcoh- thanks. Nice rundown.

"Tim Scott on the fentanyl crisis: "Let's fire the 87,000 IRS agents and double the number of Border Patrol agents.… I will make the Southern border wall complete."

Amen to that.; 8/23/23, 10:48 PM
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...: The hosts were horrible as expected. After a full day of Fox hosts saying their polls show economics as #1 issue with the border and crime tied for second they chose to pitch abortion and Trump right after a brief free for all on Bidenomics. My rankings for who impressed me tonight are

1. Ramaswamy
2. Burgum

Haley and DeSantis didn’t annoy me as much as the three stooges holding down the left side of the stage. But they had fewer impressive moments than the top two even with ten times the opportunities as Burgum. Dude made the most of his brief shots. Scott had some moments but is as low energy as Jeb! circa 2015. Pence and Christie were insufferable adding nothing to the discussion.

Nice to see the low info left already fearful of Vivek.; 8/23/23, 11:31 PM
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...: Oh yeah I just remembered Haley hurling that “pro-Putin” slur at Ramaswamy when he said that he wouldn’t fund the war without an end goal. It’s not “peace through strength” when we are depleting our arms via a shyster without a plan.; 8/23/23, 11:48 PM
walter said...: But can they ride a bike?; 8/24/23, 12:23 AM
Ralph L said...: Ramaswamy, just as I thought, a fast talking smarmy faker

Normally spelled "fakir," or did you mean phony?; 8/24/23, 2:42 AM
Kate said...: Agree with @Limited blogger. DeSantis had a solid performance and Vivek was a firecracker. Pence constantly interrupted. His Race Bannon stoicism has disappeared.; 8/24/23, 3:55 AM
Tina Trent said...: Chris Christie did the job he always does. He showed up, was substantive and biting, said what needed to be said, and will now return to New Jersey.

I have always wished he had more of a chance, but when you come for New Jersey, you don't have a willing state legislature to do anything but block you. So he's a scrapper in for the long game, from a difficult state. That would make him a good president, and it makes him a good person to observe the other candidates, and he did that well, but he can't point to policy accomplishments from that political cesspool of a state. Respect, though.; 8/24/23, 4:10 AM
Wilbur said...: Pence needs to go somewhere and sit down. And Christie too.; 8/24/23, 4:42 AM
Ryan said...: Vivek FTW; 8/24/23, 6:10 AM
iowan2 said...: Pence:Not sure why Pence is submitting himself this ordeal of running for President. He is not on the list of those seeking an appointment to an R administration, he has no chance of cracking the top three.

Christie: He is not running for elected office. He annoys everybody, has no identifiable super power. The GOPe is paying him big buck, minimum $2 million guarantee. His only job is smear, slam denigrate Trump every single time he opens his mouth. The other dozen R's running can't or wont lie about Trump. So the GOPe was force to hire Christie. I Don't think anyone 'likes' Christie. He is here to do one job...eliminate Trump. (he is failing)

DeSantis: He worked great at the State Level, seems to struggle with the National scene. He is smart, proved himself a fighter, handles the lying media well.

Ramaswamy: I can see him as President...not sure how he will find the 2000 people needed to fill critical roles in DC. That was Tumps downfall. Not enough people he can trust. Ramaswamy is situated even worse. Like Trump, Ramaswamy seeks results, Trump turned DC on its ear, because he focused on results and not narrative.

Haley: Passable. number two to DeSantis, and Ramaswamy tied for first. She has executive experience, smart, adaptable. First Female President of the United States,

Bergum: He's the whole package. Smart and accomplished. Should be in the top tier, but the DC elites need one of their own.

Question that Christie, and all the candidates should answer. How are they going to handle the the IC and DoJ comming after them. How are they handling the paid govt informants already working in their campaigns, and how will they handle the criminal charges filed against them. Because DC has made clear, no outsiders will be allowed.; 8/24/23, 7:13 AM
Eva Marie said...: “Christie . . . said what needed to be said.”
1. It needed to be said that President Trump should respect the rule of law? Really?
2. It was disgusting that Ramaswamy had to defend President Trump in a Republican debate! And he was up to the task. Well done.
3. Christie actually said to Ramaswamy, “You’ve never done anything to advance the interests of government.” That was said by a Republican. Disgraceful.
4. OK, I felt a bit sorry for Christie when the moderator said, “We need to address the elephant not in the room.” No need to fat shame Christie.; 8/24/23, 7:19 AM
gilbar said...: i'm a registered republican... I didn't watch this.. You Know who DID watch this?
Igna, Mark, and Mutaman
tells you everything you need to know.

ps. of course; i Doubt they actually WATCHED it, probably just opened their inboxes and read the memo; 8/24/23, 7:29 AM
Narayanan said...: "Tim Scott on the fentanyl crisis: "Let's fire the 87,000 IRS agents and double the number of Border Patrol agents.… I will make the Southern border wall complete."
========
I have seen reported that Biden has already sold off wall materials supply from Trump.; 8/24/23, 8:26 AM
wildswan said...: Thanks, Limited Blogger, for working on the debate (and thanks to the others who did.) I was too hot and tired to listen to the bunch. It wasn't 101 degrees where I am, near Milwaukee City, but it was very humid and plenty hot. They must have air-conditioned the hell out of the Forum since there was no talk about heat. I get the impression that Ramaswamy made himself known and the others performed as one might expect, knowing them.
DeSantis was a leader and always will be. But no one can run against Trump without being shunned by most of the primary electorate. That's reality. This would all play differently, it would be over, were it not for the wild card of the indictments. They may wake the country up to The Men Behind The Dodder of the White House. Or the indictments may cause suburban women to fall asleep like Snow White. Who knows right now? So then, Republicans see that they need to have the successor picked out just in case. Just in case? - of aliens, of Sasquatch, of SMOD. Or ... "People get ready/There's a train coming/ There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner/Who would hurt all mankind just to save his own/Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner/ For there's no hiding place against the kingdom's throne."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l04yM7-BWbg; 8/24/23, 8:48 AM
Narr said...: The same assholes who wanted to be class president in school.

Hutchinson and Scott are going nowhere (I didn't have to watch to know that).

The R's will not nominate a Hindu, especially one who hasn't spent decades servicing the Imperial Blob like normal pols.; 8/24/23, 8:50 AM
Kirk Parker said...: Christie? Christie???

Ok, I'm willing to open negotiations -- where is the real Tina Trent, and what have you done with your?

Seriously, this seems like such a fantastic departure from your usual levelheaded approach to things that I don't know what to make of it.; 8/24/23, 9:00 AM
Tina Trent said...: I'm OK, currently not kidnapped.

I'm not saying I'm in the Christie camp. I'm saying he plays this particular role in all the primaries, and it's useful. I know his downsides and scandals. I don't particularly mind what he said about Trump in a debate. He's of course going nowhere after saying that, and I don't mind that either. Trump presents a difficulty right now, and we shouldn't just dismiss that, no matter how we see it.

New Jersey is lucky to have Christie as he's the best those voters are going to be willing to elect. I know several realistic conservative New Yorkers who would love to have him as their governor right now -- he's the best they could get, too.

This was just my hat-tip to him. I do believe there is value in having someone in the White House who knows how to deal with a hostile legislature. I wonder what he'd be like if he was Governor of Florida and DeSantis was governor of New Jersey. That would be an interesting measure of both men.

I don't know who I'm supporting yet. I worked very hard for Trump, twice, but I'm with Ann Coulter: he screwed a lot of unnecessary pooches and didn't get the work done. I'll work for him again and would vote for him again anyway, but I think he would lose, fairly or unfairly. And that does matter, though I'm sorry to say so.

I wish I could trust Ramaswamy. I trust DeSantis but worry about his electability too. He's doing a great job in Florida.

The rest of them, of course including Christie, have no chance.; 8/24/23, 9:58 AM
Tina Trent said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/24/23, 10:02 AM
Jupiter said...: "Chris Christie did the job he always does."

So true. Nobody's whole way of thinking is going to get flipped if they put Chris Christie on top of it.; 8/24/23, 10:03 AM
Jupiter said...: DeSantis 2028. Eight more years!; 8/24/23, 10:04 AM
Tina Trent said...: Burgum did do well.; 8/24/23, 10:18 AM
Narayanan said...: to fall asleep like Snow White
========
are snow white and sleeping beauty the same?; 8/24/23, 11:29 AM