Mark Halperin grades the GOP debate

[brooklynite]

Ted Cruz (A-): Seized a place in the center of the action, far more so than in the previous two debates, and used his time well. Heatedly challenged the moderators for focusing on politics rather than on policy (and he was right and the audience enthusiastically agreed). Stood up for his colleagues on the stage and spoke out more forcefully than the rest against Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Tossed in a little bio along the way. The former debating champion finally hit his stride, stepping into the void frequently left by the typically low-key Carson and surprisingly low-key Trump. A steady, nuanced performance filled with many moments of strength likely to swell his support and certain to buttress his already abundant confidence.

Marco Rubio (A-): Delivered uniformly strong answers all night, and showed poise, seriousness, and passion. Got the crowd on his side by sequentially smoking the moderator and Jeb Bush when he was critiqued for missing Senate votes, responding with verve by offering up two rehearsed and effective answers. Was loose and conversational while discussing his family history and middle class struggles. Like Cruz, won the audience over by attacking the “mainstream” media with a killer line. By staying on message and crushing Bush’s first attempt to take him down in person, laid more claim to the job than his former mentor. More bundlers will come his way; will the voters follow?

...snip...

Chris Christie (B+): Showed the exact personality (tough, knowing, aggressive, sharp, funny) he wants to project and broke through early on in the night. On several occasions smartly executed the device of addressing the audience at home, rather than the moderators or studio audience. Always on offense and in character, he scored big when indicting a question about fantasy football and pushing back hard on a moderator’s interruption. By eclipsing Bush and Kasich, he positions himself for a comeback to fill the establishment slot.

...snip

Jeb Bush (D+): Got cut off early by the moderators when he tried to break in and disappeared from the fray for a long spell. Then returned with his first face-to-face pre-planned attack on Marco Rubio and utterly failed. Had trouble sustaining the tone he wanted during his answers, successfully interjecting or grabbing the spotlight (thus ending up with scant stage time), or selling himself as the most qualified to be president. A weak, non-alpha performance in every way that will panic some of his donors and will not win him any new converts.

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-10-29/cruz-and-rubio-shine-at-battle-of-boulder

[villager]

1. Poor deluded Republican Mark

n/t

[mr_liberal]

2. Jeb Bush is probably done.

Rubio is now the clear establishment favorite. Christie did well and will move up.

Cruz did well too and may start taking votes from Trump.

Rubio, Cruz, and Christie move up in the polls. Trump moves down, Jeb Bush collapses.

[left on green only]

3. Marco Polio

He could have really killed the responsible management of money question if he had simply said, "We all have our yachts to bear"

[alcibiades_mystery]

4. Is he still running around calling the president a "dick?" Conservative intellectual!

What a schmuck.

[MADem]

10. Well, his dickish opinion is useful from the perspective of GOP thinking.

We don't have to love him but we can take his assessment as a reflection of GOP thought on the contest tonight.

[BlueStater]

5. This asshole once called the current president a "dick".

His opinion on anything is about as worthwhile as a mouse fart to me.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

7. talk about low energy he makes

Me sick. And to tout rubio who never answered any question straight makes me gag

[MADem]

11. Rubio went from "Fuggedaboutit" to "Maybe the Waterboy can be VP" tonight.

The whole debate was just a mindless shitfling, but Rubio definitely helped himself. I'm no fan of this writer but that assessment is, by every objective measure, accurate.

[Renew Deal]

6. Wow. Last place for Jeb...

I've seen several posts saying that, but now it's official.

[Iliyah]

8. Trump and Carson still front and center

[MADem]

9. I pretty much agree with his grades. I could tweak this one or that, but he's pretty much there.

I think Rand Paul (ewww) did a hair better than he graded him, and i think Fiorina did a bit worse. I agree with his assessment on Bush and Christie--they helped themselves. I think Kasich stumbled short term, but long term he still might recover; there's time.

Carson, though--damn--I realize the guy has a weird Tea Party base, but that guy comes off like a Men In Black alien.

Interesting breakdown, though!

[yuiyoshida]

12. Seriously? How could any Republican candidate

Last edited Thu Oct 29, 2015, 02:21 PM - Edit history (1)

get an "A"??...They should at best, start with a "D".

[brooklynite]

13. I think this is "grading on a curve"

Competition vs each other

[yuiyoshida]

14. one giant grading curve

over the proverbial cliff.

[mvd]

15. Rubio scares me the most

He has the voting record thing and lack of enhusiasm for the Senate, but he was very slick about it in the debate. Also he disguises his positions better than someone like Cruz.

Kasich scares me a little because he is sane compared to the rest.

Fiorina scares me a little because she may sway some female voters.

None of the others scares me.