# 12/15/15 The final Republican Debate. **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 15, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529 "2015-12-15T14:05:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529/161 "2015-12-16T20:49:03Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Cruz may have leaked clasified information during debate. > [http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2015/12/16/cruz-rubio-richard-burr-classified-information-senate/77420022/](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2015/12/16/cruz-rubio-richard-burr-classified-information-senate/77420022/) > > Oh, please, please, please. šŸ˜ƒ Love this from Richard Burr: > [@](#): > > Burr noted that he had not actually seen the exchange in question. ā€œThe Voice was on. It was the final episode,ā€ he said. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529/162 "2015-12-16T20:51:45Z")
[Top ten lies from last nightā€™s debate](http://www.rawstory.com/2015/12/the-internet-scare-tactics-and-big-fat-juicy-lies-here-are-the-top-10-bullsht-moments-of-the-gop-debate/) ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529/163 "2015-12-16T21:17:46Z")
[Lupe Fiasco rates the candidates on their flag pin game.](http://cheezburger.com/701189/funny-list-twitter-lupe-fiascos-sharp-analysis-of-the-gop-debate?ref=mosaicthumb2) ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529/164 "2015-12-16T21:28:35Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Hahaha fat jokes. So funny. King Hussein thought they were funnyā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529/165 "2015-12-16T21:38:16Z")
Math post. Feel free to ignore. > [@wolfpup](#): > > Those prices seem very volatile. Thatā€™s a good point so I performed a regression analysis on the prices a PredictIt for the last 24 hours for Bush, Cruz, Rubio, and Trump. I also computed the 95% confidence interval for the slope of the trendline for each candidate to see if we could confidently pick out a signal from the noise. ```auto Candidate Trend CI lower CI upper Bush -0.021 -0.051 0.008 Cruz -0.145 -0.189 -0.102 Rubio -0.094 -0.161 -0.027 Trump 0.210 0.145 0.275 ``` It looks like Trump is really trending up, Bush is staying even, and both Cruz and Rubio are trending down. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529/166 "2015-12-16T22:08:48Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [Top ten lies from last nightā€™s debate](http://www.rawstory.com/2015/12/the-internet-scare-tactics-and-big-fat-juicy-lies-here-are-the-top-10-bullsht-moments-of-the-gop-debate/) Those are great, thank you! Itā€™s hard to pick a favorite, what with Cruz promising precision carpet bombing and Trump ā€œclosing down parts of the Internet,ā€ but for sheer simple cluelessness it probably has to be this one: CHRISTIE: ā€œWhen I stand across from King Hussein of Jordan and I say to him, ā€˜You have a friend again, sir, who will stand with you to fight this fight,ā€™ heā€™ll change his mind.ā€ Heā€™s been dead for 16 years, so thatā€™s going to be an interesting meeting. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529/167 "2015-12-16T22:41:59Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Did anyone else cringe a little when Christie, in his open statement, talked about _moms_ dropping their kids off at school and _dads_ going to work? Heā€™s young enough not to be making stupid mistakes like that, not to mention heā€™s got a staff to help him with prepared speeches. I caught this and yes, I also cringed. I told a friend that I couldnā€™t believe Christie displayed 1950s-style sexism in his first 4 sentences of the night. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529/168 "2015-12-16T22:43:52Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Cruz may have leaked clasified information during debate. > [http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2015/12/16/cruz-rubio-richard-burr-classified-information-senate/77420022/](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2015/12/16/cruz-rubio-richard-burr-classified-information-senate/77420022/) > > Oh, please, please, please. šŸ˜ƒ That story has been updated to show that the leaders of the committee said there would be no investigation. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529/169 "2015-12-16T22:52:57Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [Top ten lies from last nightā€™s debate](http://www.rawstory.com/2015/12/the-internet-scare-tactics-and-big-fat-juicy-lies-here-are-the-top-10-bullsht-moments-of-the-gop-debate/) That was an excellent set of rebuttals; thanks for posting that. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529/170 "2015-12-16T22:53:23Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > That story has been updated to show that the leaders of the committee said there would be no investigation. Any news on the next Benghazi investigation? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529/171 "2015-12-16T22:59:34Z")
I thought Bush seemed the least insane, followed by Rubio. The rest of the lot seemed focused more on developing an amorphous emotional appeal to certain elements of the electorate and less on appearing competentā€“they seem to be under the impression the majority of the Republican base is incapable of reason. Assuming there is any sanity left in the GOP, I will be surprised if the nom doesnā€™t go to Bush or Rubio. Bush seemed to me to be the wiser adult in the room, and I think he actually did as good a job as can be done with Trump. Responding to Bushā€™s criticisms with prepubescent grimaces and smirks doesnā€™t mean Bush was wrong, it just means Trump is cool with coming off as a smug child. Rubio seemed to have his wits about him as well, but was on the sane side of the line between confident and maniacal. They all pandered a bit, but at least some of what Bush & Rubio said seemed to have been their own thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529/172 "2015-12-16T23:13:40Z")
Carly Fiorina. Swearing up and down, even after being directly debunkified, that this General named Keane was forced into retirement by Obama. Only problem being, he resigned in 2003. Wait a sec, Iā€™ll bring Rubio in to explain the math. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529/173 "2015-12-16T23:16:01Z")
Thereā€™s a rumor floating about that Carly Fiorina has a detachable vagina, and she removes it at night to soak in vinegar. I donā€™t know how these things get started, ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529/174 "2015-12-16T23:55:32Z")
Did you hear about Carly Fiorinaā€™s detachable vagina? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529/175 "2015-12-16T23:58:09Z")
> [@The Great Sun Jester](#): > > Bush seemed to me to be the wiser adult in the room, and I think he actually did as good a job as can be done with Trump. Responding to Bushā€™s criticisms with prepubescent grimaces and smirks doesnā€™t mean Bush was wrong, it just means Trump is cool with coming off as a smug child. Huh. Iā€™ve never really pondered this before, but: consider a weird counterfactual where itā€™s _George W._ Bush on the same debate stage with Trump; remember that guy, back when he was running for President? Come at him and heā€™d get confrontational _fast,_ but in an upbeat and confident manner ā€“ and all with a regular-guy vibe, and a sense of humor, like he was amiably dishing out common-sense replies. Yeah, we know _now_ how that worked out ā€“ but Iā€™m just talking about what he did in the debates; how would he have done, in real time, against Trump? ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529/176 "2015-12-17T00:00:22Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Hugh Hewitt asked Trump that exact same question in an earlier interview, so itā€™s not as if Trump hasnā€™t encountered it before. Sure, my point isnā€™t that it was a gotcha question, or unfair to Trump. My point is that a) debating details about how to prioritize legs of the nuclear triad is pointless in a Presidential context, but b) it was still scary that Trump seemed to have no idea what the Triad was. It was sort of a weird moment that I honestly think Rubio handled pretty well (even if itā€™s not going to help him with Republican primary voters.) Hewitt asked a question that required the answerer to explain the terms he used to the audience. Why would he do this? Either he somehow forgot that his question needs to makes sense to the entire national audience, not just the person heā€™s asking the question to, he somehow doesnā€™t have a good sense of what knowledge his audience is likely to have, or he thinks this is an opportunity to show off how smart he is (I know what the nuclear triad is! I know what the Quds force is! Good for you, Hugh. No one gives a fuck.) ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529/177 "2015-12-17T00:27:29Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Carly Fiorina. Swearing up and down, even after being directly debunkified, that this General named Keane was forced into retirement by Obama. Only problem being, he resigned in 2003. Wait a sec, Iā€™ll bring Rubio in to explain the math. Yeah, but you gotta cut her some slack, after the terrific job she did at HP! Fiorina is the best thing to happen to women in American politics since Meg Whitman. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529/178 "2015-12-17T00:27:40Z")
First debate where I saw a bit of it on TV. Kasich is just a goofy guy. Go back and watch him as he comes out, if I didnā€™t know what he looked like, I would have thought a disabled individual had strolled out there, grinning ear to ear. He also has some of the strangest hand motions Iā€™ve ever seen in a public speaker. Heā€™s like Will Ferrell playing in the sequel to Step Brothers where his character runs for president. Heā€™s also annoying as shit, he babbles on endlessly and nearly zero people care about what he says. Rubio was taken out last night. Heā€™s done. He just isnā€™t a bright individual, and Cruz was finally able to bring that out. Heā€™ll hang around because he is the Neoconservative favorite, but he just doesnā€™t have it. Christie just reinforced my opinion of him being an all-around disgusting individual. Bush and Carson were complete nonentities. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529/179 "2015-12-17T00:47:19Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > Kasich is just a goofy guy. Go back and watch him as he comes out Wait, Kasich came out? I donā€™t think even that would convince me to vote for him. ---
**Author:** ![betair4u](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@betair4u](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betair4u)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529/180 "2015-12-17T00:52:13Z")
I watched the GOP debate. I listened as they talked about fear, and how much danger we are in, and how weak and bad our country and government is??? To protect us the candidates proposed to incarcerate US citizens with out due process, eavesdropping on everybody, shutting down the border, shutting down the internet, killing entire families, carpet bombing countries, mas deportations interment of people and becoming a walled society where we shut out the rest of the world!.. This sounds like a case where the cure is much worse than the disease!!!.. For over two hundred years America has fought against countries who adopted the very same policies that these leaders are proposing!!! After last night I do not consider Isis as Americaā€™s biggest threat, I see the leaders of this great country is Americaā€™s biggest threat and the fear mongering men they have become to leadā€¦ Strength leads by examples not by fear, watching these guys insult each other and the democrats, I wonder where these madmen and their followers are leading our country??? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-15-15-the-final-republican-debate/740529.md?page=10)