12/15/15 GOP Debate Recap
Opening Statements
Rand Paul — He was lucky to even be on the stage, immediately began attacking Donald Trump and Marco Rubio.
John Kasich — In the last debate he came across as an unhinged lunatic. This time to start out he was calmer, but his opening remarks were bland and unremarkable.
Chris Christie — He immediately went after President Obama and Hillary Clinton. He started with the Los Angeles bomb hoax and said Obama and Hillary were not keeping us safe.
Carly Fiorina — She cited herself as a tested leader who has beaten breast cancer and buried a child.
Jeb Bush — Our freedom is under attack. Our economy is under water. The democrat nominee is under investigation.
Marco Rubio — He described Obama as someone who wants to make America like the rest of the world. He stood up for people who are labeled bigots just because they upheld traditional values.
Ted Cruz — America is at war with Radical Islamic terrorism. All of the GOP candidates will be better at keeping America safe than Obama or Hillary. we will not be prisoners to political correctness. Border security is national security. We will not be admitting Jihadists as refugees.
Ben Carson — As a pediatric neurosurgeon he frequently faced life and death decisions. America is the patient and is in critical condition. The cure is not timidity.
Donald Trump — He mentioned China, Japan and Mexico first and then blasted the Iran deal. He also mentioned radical Islamic terrorism, and spoke in a very calm voice.
DEBATE
Trump was immediately asked if his approaches were isolating America from the rest of the world. Trump said it was a security issue. Security is our top priority. He did not back down an inch but kept himself very sober and cerebral.
Bush as asked why he thought Trump was unhinged. Trump did not take the bait. He spoke about how banning Muslims was not a serious proposal. It would push the Arab world away from us. Trump is a “chaos candidate. He would be a chaos president.”
Trump said Bush is attacking because is failing. Bush did not back down.
Rubio was asked about why Republicans agree with Trump’s proposal. Rubio stayed on message, immediately blaming Obama for the lack of security. The San Bernardino killer was homegrown. Obama’s speech made things worse because what we are doing now is not working.
Cruz was asked how he disagreed with Trump’s proposal. Cruz immediately went after Obama. He lambasted the proposal to bring in refugees cannot be vetted. He understood why “Donald” made his proposal but he has a different proposal. “All horse thieves are Democrats but not all Democrats are horse thieves.” “It’s not a war on a faith, it’s a war on a political ideology that seeks to murder us.”
Asked what the GOP should stand for, Fiorina replied “solutions.” The Patriot Act was signed in 2001 but the I-phone did not exist until 2007. ISIS knows technology but our government does not.
Asked if the current climate of fear was the new normal, Christie said it was under Obama and Hillary. He spoke of his work as a prosecutor after 9/11. We must restore the NSA tools that were taken away.
When asked how he would find homegrown radicals like the San Bernardino killer, Kasich dodged the question and played for the easy laugh by bashing the recent Paris Climate Conference. He went way over time.
Cruz was asked about getting rid of the metadata program. Cruz politely said that the premise of the question was not accurate. He said that he voted for stronger tracking tools where it matters most.
Rubio voted for the metadata program and disagreed with cruz on the issue. The terror threat is “sophisticated.”
Cruz: “Marco knows what he is saying is not true.” Cruz said Mark Levin backs him on the issue. Rubio said that losing the metadata program is a terrible thing.
Paul said Rubio is wrong, we are not any safer with the metadata program. Paul bashed Rubio for being part of the Gang of 8 on immigration and said he favored an open border. Rubio has an allegiance to Chuck Schumer.
Rubio vigorously defended the metadata records program and said we should have had the records of the San Bernardino killer. Paul said every terrorist attack since 9/11 in America has been legal immigration.
Christie criticized navel gazing senators and reminded the audience of his experience. He stopped the Fort Dix Six in New Jersey.
Carson was asked what he considered anti-American behavior or activity in mosques and schools. He did not answer the question. Asked whether Rubio or Cruz was right, Carson said, “You have to ask them.” It was a bad moment.
Bush was asked about his brother’s words about peaceful Muslims were still relevant. Bush said yes.
Fiorina was asked if tech companies should be forced to cooperate with the government efforts on terror. She did not answer the question. She was asked again. she said no, they need to be asked. She insisted they will voluntarily comply, but has nothing to back up that assertion.
Trump was asked if shutting down the Internet makes America likes China and North Korea. He wants to have Silicon Valley figure out ways to block ISIS from using the Internet.
Kasich totally disagreed about shutting down the Internet.
Cruz stood by his comment that we should bomb ISIS until we can see if “sand can glow in the dark.” Collateral damage was the question, and Cruz stood by using as much force as necessary.
Rubio was asked how his voting record differed from Cruz, but Rubio was not biting. We have to reverse the cuts to our military. Pressed further, Rubio said Cruz three times voted against the Defense Authorization Act.
Cruz smiled while Rubio stayed serious with a borderline scowl. Cruz will be as tough as anyone on the bad guys. Cruz compared Rubio to Obama and Hillary.
Rubio fired back that Americans who join ISIS will not get Miranda rights.
Trump said he would absolutely go after the family members of ISIS. As Bush called Trump unserious, Trump made mocking faces similar to what Al Gore did to George W. Bush in their first debate.
Trump and Bush then began sniping at each other as each one accused the other one of interrupting. Trump got in the last word as Bush seethed. Trump got in one last zinger. “With Jeb’s attitude we will never be great again.”
Hugh Hewitt asked Carson: Could you order airstrips that could kill innocent children?
Carson said it was actually merciful to finish the job rather death by a thousand cuts. It is not ruthless, it is toughness. The job is to protect this country.
Dana Bash asked Rand Paul: Do you really believe Republican hawks have fueled the rise of ISIS?
Paul said those who wanted regime change in Libya were not. He attacked Trump’s proposal to close the Internet and said it was against the first Amendment.
Trump again made faces and said, “So they can kill us but we can’t kill them?” The crowd booed Trump and he questioned the crowd.
Paul: “If you believe in regime change, you’re mistaken.”
Kasich said we had to go massive like we did in the First Gulf War. We need a coalition that we lead. He again kept going way over time.
Rubio was asked why he thinks he can get Arab nations to fight against ISIS, Rubio cited Assad’s brutality against fellow Muslims including Sunnis.
Told that Defense Secretary Bob Gates said arabs would not join a coalition, Fiorina launched into platitudes. She would bring back “the warrior class” of Petraeus and McChrystal and others. She then played the gender card by quoting Margaret Thatcher’s line about women getting things done.
Christie criticized the sequester and repeated his line about governors versus senators. He will strengthen the friendship with Jordan’s King Hussein.
Carson: With ISIS, we must take their oil and shut down their finances. Carson was clearly more in command of the material than in past debates. Boots on the ground may have to happen.
Cruz was asked if we should support dictatorships or promote democracy in the Middle East. Cruz criticized the overthrow of dictatorships in Egypt and Libya. He sided with stability over democracy.
Asked if he regretted intervening in Libya, Rubio did not. He reminded everyone that Rubio was behind the Lockerbie bombing and that Khadafi changed after we took down Saddam. He said Assad funds terrorism.
Cruz insisted that Netanyahu does not choose sides between ISIS and Assad.
Kasich: Assad has to go.
Asked if the world was better off with dictators in the Middle East, Trump hesitated. We wasted 4 trillion. “We’ve done a tremendous service to humanity. It’s not like we had victory.”
Fiorina immediately compared Trump to Obama. Fiorina then went after Hillary.
Trump called Carson “one of the finest men” but said he has been saying “take the oil” for three years.
Fiorina tried to interject but Blitzer turned to Carson.
Carson said nobody is better off with dictators but we need to help our own first and the Middle East has been in turmoil for thousands of years.
Bush went after Obama hard and said Obama does not believe American power can be a force for good. Bush supported his brother getting rid of Saddam.
Paul said there were “variations of evil” on both side of the Iraq War. Paul criticized the Neocons. He said they allow terrorism to rise.
Cruz began a long tirade and had to be admonished. He would not stop talking.
Trump said we have to get rid of ISIS first before even thinking about taking down Assad.
Christie, asked if Trump was wrong, focused on Obama and Hillary’s failed approach. We have to focus on Iran.
Paul disagreed with Kasich about getting rid of Assad through regime change. We need a “realistic” foreign policy, not a “utopian” one.
Kasich hedged his bets on Iraq, saying he would not have gone in if Saddam did not have WMD.
Fiorina was asked if not talking to Putin was a side of weakness. Fiorina claimed that she did not say she would cut off all communication. That is not true. In past debates. She did. Now she is saying she will not speak to him until certain conditions are met. She blamed Obama and Hillary Clinton for ISIS.
Christie was asked if he would shoot down a Russian plane if they violated a no fly zone, he said he would absolutely do it. Russia would be stupid to think Christie is the same “feckless weakling” as Obama.
Paul: “If you’re in favor of World War III, you have your candidate.” He called Christie “reckless.” He then drew boos by bringing up Bridgegate.
Christie ignored that attack and kept his focus on Obama and Hillary. He noted that 250k syrians have been murdered.
Bush was asked why he is better than Trump to deal with Putin. “I know what I don’t know.” He can unite people. Trump is too polarizing.
Trump criticized CNN for making every question about him.
Bush pointed out that Trump is too thin-skinned.
Trump unloaded. “I’m at 42 and you’re at 3.”
Kasich tried to play peacemaker but then said nothing. He again kept going over his time limit.
Carson was asked if his medical experience gave him the qualification to be Commander in Chief. He spoke of the false narrative that “only the political class has the wisdom to be CIC.”
Carson hit this one out of the ballpark. “I don’t do a lot of talking. I do a lot of doing.”
Rubio was asked about immigration. He tried to delay answering the citizenship question but said that was way down the road.
Cruz said he and Rubio differed sharply on immigration. Cruz insisted that Rubio supported amnesty. He had the hysterically funny line of the night. “We will build a border that works, and I will get Donald Trump to pay for it.”
Rubio kept insisting that Cruz supported legalization and Cruz quoted a commentator who said a fireman and an arsonist are the same because they are both at the scene. Cruz led the fight against amnesty and said Marco supported it.
Cruz: “I have never supported legalization and I don’t intend to support legalization.”
Fiorina tried to interject and was shot down.
Trump: “We either have a country or we don’t have a country.’” “Speak to the folks in Israel. Walls work. If you know how to build. Believe me, I know how to build.”
Bush was asked if this immigration stance hurts the GOP with Hispanics. Bush said no but the issue was serious. We have so many problems such as increased heroin trafficking from Mexico. Bush blamed Obama.
Carson was asked if a camp he visited in Jordan was a good thing for people. Should Syrians stay in camps? Carson said that people want to be settled in their own nations. They want American support but do not want to leave their own countries. They want their own countries fixed. “We same to be afraid to give the Kurds weaponry.”
Paul was asked if he would send Syrian refugees back. Paul accused Rubio of weakening border security.
Rubio was well prepared and said that Obama screwed up the database. Nobody can guarantee 100% success.
Paul was again asked, and he said his bill only did about refugees going forward. He had not taken a position on the refugees already here. It was a stunning admission.
One Hispanic woman on Facebook says the bible teaches us to accept refugees.
Christie said the job of the President is to protect the American people. When FBI Director Jim Comey says we cannot veto the refugees, that ends the discussion.
Kasich claimed that he kept the people of Ohio safe.
Fiorina was asked what she would do about Kim Jong Un. She blamed both parties for being ineffective. Yet her solution is to “isolate” him, which requires Chinese support.
Carson spoke about using economic power against North Korea but conceded that also requires help from China.
Christie was asked what cyber war against China looks like. Christie we go after what they are hiding and publicize it so we can show how corrupt the Chinese government is.
Bush brought up Hillary’s private server before speaking of adverse impacts if China keeps breaching U.S. security.
Trump said we need somebody who is tough and powerful and knows what they are doing. Trump reiterated his opposition to the Iraq War. He ridiculed Obama on global warming and said the single biggest problem our country faced is nuclear proliferation.
Rubio said the Ohio class submarine and other weapons need to be modernized.
Dana Bash brought up Trump calling Cruz a maniac. Trump shocked everyone by saying, “I’ve gotten to know him over the last 3 or 4 days. He has a wonderful temperament.”
Bash also brought up Cruz criticizing Trump in private. Cruz would not bite. He spoke about a “clarity of focus” without criticizing Trump. He said the voters decide who has the temperament but all 9 are better than Hillary.
Trump insisted he would only run as a Republican, not as an independent. “If I’m so fortunate to be chosen…” It was humble by his standards.
Carson also said he was a Republican, not an independent.
CLOSING STATEMENTS:
Paul criticized both parties on spending. “We are not projecting power from bankruptcy court.” He said he was the only fiscal conservative on stage.
Kasich cited the importance of Ohio. Reform, hope, growth, opportunity, security.
Christie spoke of his 9/11 experience.
Fiorina also spoke of 9/11 and said everything starts with beating Hillary Clinton. “We need to be better than our government.” “We need to be better than our politics.”
Bush offered the contrast between himself and the team of Obama and Hillary.
Rubio spoke of American exceptionalism and how many are being left behind. We must restore “American vibrancy.”
Cruz offered “judgment, strength, clarity and trust.” Cruz would rebuild America the way Reagan did.
Carson mentioned visiting 58 countries and being so thankful he was born and raised in America. “I am not willing to give away American values for the sake of political correctness.”
Trump spoke about how America does not win anymore at anything. He mentioned Obamacare on the verge of exploding in 2017. Elect him and our nation will be greater than ever before.
eric