# Republican Debate 2/6/16 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 7, 2016, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376 "2016-02-07T01:37:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376/21 "2016-02-07T03:19:02Z")
As a guy who really likes details of governance from the executive standpoint, Kasich really impresses me. The guy knows the details of governing and can point to little things he’s done to improve the performance of government, and has ideas for how to improve the federal government’s performance. ---
**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:** [February 7, 2016, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376/22 "2016-02-07T03:19:16Z")
Did Kasich just say Ohio gives drivers’ licenses to veterans whether they qualify or not? ---
**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:** [February 7, 2016, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376/23 "2016-02-07T03:23:17Z")
Who is this Mary Katharine woman, and why does she ask questions as if she’s a Republican politician instead of as a journalist? ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376/24 "2016-02-07T03:30:43Z")
Carson just had a Reagan moment, talking about a Hollywood movie as if it were real life. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376/25 "2016-02-07T03:30:45Z")
> [@MacCat](#): > > The moderator gave that explanation but the applause did not seem very loud to me, here at home, I know. thought it would be much louder for Trump and I was surprised it seemed so tepid. It can be kind of deafening back stage; stage managers usually have to wear some pretty hefty headphones to hear what’s on the comm. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376/26 "2016-02-07T03:39:31Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Who is this Mary Katharine woman, and why does she ask questions as if she’s a Republican politician instead of as a journalist? She’s a bit of a rock star in the conservative blogosphere. I’m a big fan. ---
**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:** [February 7, 2016, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376/27 "2016-02-07T03:44:49Z")
Her questions were pissing me off as much as the answers were. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376/28 "2016-02-07T03:45:24Z")
I thought it was all good, actually. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376/29 "2016-02-07T03:55:56Z")
Rubio’s momentum deflated faster than a Tom Brady football. It’s like Christie held out a boxing glove and Rubio repeatedly threw his face into it. This was nearly as comical as his water breaks during his disastrous State of the Union response. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376/30 "2016-02-07T04:03:59Z")
Here’s the video of them piling out of the clown car. [http://bcove.me/bnt39u6k](http://bcove.me/bnt39u6k) ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376/31 "2016-02-07T04:09:55Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Here’s the video of them piling out of the clown car. > [Main Video Player](http://bcove.me/bnt39u6k) Oh, now that was just _sad_… ---
**Author:** ![GloryDays](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@GloryDays](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GloryDays)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376/32 "2016-02-07T04:16:09Z")
Mary Katherine Ham’s questions were tough and no-nonsense. I think Christie won the debate. Will he win N.H.? That is the question. ---
**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:** [February 7, 2016, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376/33 "2016-02-07T04:19:32Z")
> [@GloryDays](#): > > Mary Katherine Ham’s questions were tough and no-nonsense. I think Christie won the debate. Will he win N.H.? That is the question. Right. Throwing softball questions like, “the criticism of your position is just lazy…”, yeah, that’s tough and no-nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![GloryDays](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@GloryDays](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GloryDays)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376/34 "2016-02-07T04:21:21Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Right. Throwing softball questions like, “the criticism of your position is just lazy…”, yeah, that’s tough and no-nonsense. She’s no pushover. Christie won the debate. > **[Chris Christie Won Saturday’s GOP Debate](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2016/02/chris-christie-won-saturdays-gop-debate.html)** > > Chris Christie stepped onto the ABC News stage in New Hampshire with only one goal: Hit Sen. Marco Rubio early and often. The New Jersey governor did... ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376/35 "2016-02-07T04:23:10Z")
> [@GloryDays](#): > > She’s no pushover. Christie won the debate. > > [Chris Christie won Saturday’s GOP debate.](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2016/02/chris_christie_won_saturday_s_gop_debate.html) Yeah, but who do you think won the debate? Also, did you think the moderator was a pushover? ---
**Author:** ![GloryDays](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@GloryDays](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GloryDays)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376/36 "2016-02-07T04:26:07Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Yeah, but who do you think won the debate? Also, did you think the moderator was a pushover? Chris Christie won the debate. I thought Martha Raddatz and David Muir did okay. Muir is a rising star at ABC and journalism in general. He is the anchor of “World News Tonight” 6:30pm on ABC. The same nightly news show that the late Peter Jennings anchored. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376/37 "2016-02-07T04:28:03Z")
> [@GloryDays](#): > > She’s no pushover. Christie won the debate. > > [Chris Christie won Saturday’s GOP debate.](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2016/02/chris_christie_won_saturday_s_gop_debate.html) A lot of people claim that she’s a pushover, but they clearly have a liberal agenda. Those same people might question your beliefs that Christie won the debate. How would you answer them? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376/38 "2016-02-07T04:31:32Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Here’s the video of them piling out of the clown car. > [Main Video Player](http://bcove.me/bnt39u6k) Boy you were not kidding, Carson began the pile up, Rubio then skipped over Trump and Carson; and to finish it off the announcer forgot about Kasich. :smack: Carson is not running now, he is meandering. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376/39 "2016-02-07T04:36:02Z")
I am going to be the contrarian and say I think Trump won the debate. As nonsensical and lacking any specificity as his answers were, he stated them with conviction pretty much throughout. I’d say Christie was a close second. I think the biggest loser was Rubio. Christie pretty much mopped the floor with him. Cruz looked chastened and weak, especially when Trump mentioned him taking Carson’s votes in Iowa. Carson, well, what can you say about the guy? He is such a nonentity in the debates, it is almost painful listening to any response he gives because (a) all I think about is him putting his foot in his mouth again, and (b) does anyone care about anything he has to say anymore? ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376/40 "2016-02-07T05:35:40Z")
Marco Rubio’s repetition of" President Barack Obama not knowing what he is doing", was frankly too scripted and bizarre, verging on creepy. He sounded like a robot or doll in a horror movie who keeps repeating itself. His jab at Joe Biden was weak also, saying he has been a" senator for a thousand years" made him look childish. Chris Christie really bloodied him. Kasich and Bush had good night’s in terms of performance. Donald Trump had a mixed night, good answers on healthcare. The eminent domain was mixed for Trump, his handling of Bush was not good and he left the attack on seizing he old woman’s property was left hanging. Trump should have addressed that and settled it in a way favorable to him. But Donald was smart for pointing out that the audience were donors and not regular caucus voters, which many viewers were aware of. This drove the point that Trump was not beholden to donors like his opponents. I do think his closing statement was weak. Kasich had the best closing statement perhaps. Ben Carson was a non entity. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-debate-2-6-16/745376.md?page=3)