# Republican presidential debate tonight 01/28/16 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 28, 2016, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508 "2016-01-28T17:24:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508/61 "2016-01-29T09:00:40Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > We were also told we now have the smallest air force in American history. Even if the many years when we had an infinitely small air force don’t count, how about the day after they bought their first planes? Well, the U.S. Air Force didn’t exist until 1947, and it probably had a lot of leftover WWII planes when it was created. But measuring it by the number of planes is as silly as measuring the Navy by number of ships. If any of the candidates want to boost the numbers by building a bunch of B-17s or P-51s he should say so. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508/62 "2016-01-29T09:46:05Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > What was Ben Carson’s point in reciting the Preamble to the Constitution (and I wasn’t listening all that closely, but didn’t he mess it up at one point?) He dropped the mic like it meant something. Yeah, 1 word I’m pretty sure. Instead of ensure the blessings of liberty, I’m pretty sure he said ensure the benefits of liberty. Schoolhouse Rock comes in handy every once in a while. His delivery was a little halting, like he was almost forgetting some words but then right at very the last second he’d remember them. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508/63 "2016-01-29T11:08:35Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Well, the U.S. Air Force didn’t exist until 1947, and it probably had a lot of leftover WWII planes when it was created. But measuring it by the number of planes is as silly as measuring the Navy by number of ships. If any of the candidates want to boost the numbers by building a bunch of B-17s or P-51s he should say so. Sure, B-17’s are cool. And we could use some new battleships! Or maybe ships of the line… ---
**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:** [January 29, 2016, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508/64 "2016-01-29T11:33:33Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > :o Look, I’m sure I’m not the only liberal dude to whom Megyn Kelly is a guilty pleasure . . . Of course, but her hair made her look 1000x hotter in the first debate than it did last night. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508/65 "2016-01-29T11:46:29Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > They kept talking about how ISIS is the biggest Islamic threat in history. I think that might be a surprise to the countries that were forcibly converted to Islam in the 7th century onwards. Silly **Rick**. History began in 1776, or maybe 1620. The stuff that happened before was just a random jumble of events that only matters insofar as it involves Jesus himself or is being made into fictional entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508/66 "2016-01-29T13:27:34Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Silly **Rick**. History began in 1776, or maybe 1620. The stuff that happened before was just a random jumble of events that only matters insofar as it involves Jesus himself or is being made into fictional entertainment. Actually, history starts in 1492, but after a few years of Spaniards beating up on Aztecs and so forth, history stops again until 1607. (Not 1620 - can’t have American history starting in the People’s Republic of Taxachusetts, you know. :)) ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508/67 "2016-01-29T14:09:17Z")
I didn’t watch the debate, I had to change the air in my car’s tires. I did see a still image thumbnail on Google news this morning, however, and was Marco Rubio front and center on the stage? I thought that position went to the front-runner. Wasn’t that Ted Cruz’ spot? (On a side note, when assigning a possesive quality to a name that ends in a “Z”, does one merely add an apostrophe, or is an apostrophe “S” the deal? “Cruz’s”) ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508/68 "2016-01-29T14:42:16Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > (On a side note, when assigning a possesive quality to a name that ends in a “Z”, does one merely add an apostrophe, or is an apostrophe “S” the deal? “Cruz’s”) I would simply add an apostrophe. I am obsolete, though, I believe. I think the standard today is to add an 's even to names ending in s. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508/69 "2016-01-29T14:47:41Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I didn’t watch the debate, I had to change the air in my car’s tires. I did see a still image thumbnail on Google news this morning, however, and was Marco Rubio front and center on the stage? I thought that position went to the front-runner. Wasn’t that Ted Cruz’ spot? > (On a side note, when assigning a possesive quality to a name that ends in a “Z”, does one merely add an apostrophe, or is an apostrophe “S” the deal? “Cruz’s”) [Cruz was in the center.](https://www.yahoo.com/politics/the-night-the-gop-sobered-up-052500655.html) ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508/70 "2016-01-29T15:10:07Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Paul’s getting the loudest cheers by far, so far. Probably means nothing electorally, but it’s interesting. At the debate I attended in Milwaukee, Paul had a gaggle of fan-boys that were sitting right behind me. They were basically college aged frat-bros that were acting as if they’d just gotten hammered in the parking lot before heading in. Whooping and hollering like they were at a UFC match. So I think he attracts a boisterous following. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508/71 "2016-01-29T15:19:09Z")
[Digby nails it:](http://www.salon.com/2016/01/29/everything_you_need_to_know_about_last_nights_excruciating_gop_debate/) > [@](#): > > Some commenters said afterwards that this was the campaign they’d all been hoping for. Without the vulgarian Trump, these candidates were able to hold a substantive debate. Unfortunately, all it really did was show the entire country that the GOP’s vaunted deep bench was no more serious without Trump than with him. They were just duller. > > \ > > None of the Fox moderators asked any of these contenders why so many GOP voters love a frontrunner who cares not at all about conservative ideology. They undoubtedly know that the answer isn’t something they want to hear. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508/72 "2016-01-29T15:22:58Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Trump is boycotting,](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-says-he-wont-participate-in-gop-debate-on-fox-news/2016/01/26/58fa0b2e-c490-11e5-a4aa-f25866ba0dc6_story.html) on account of that nasty Megyn Kelly being on the panel, of course. That’s one of the something like thirty reasons he gave beforehand. 1. Megyn Kelly=Teh meanies and made the Trumpster cry. ☹ 2. Fox is profiting off him and…profit…bad? 3. Rodger Ailes(sp) hasn’t apologized to him for…stuff… 4. Bias! 5. Trump has better things to do. 6. TRUMP is the one bringing in the ratings and now they’ll ALL be sorry. 7. Veterans are sooper-important which is relevant because…reasons… etc. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508/73 "2016-01-29T15:24:48Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > The video clip thing was interesting. For years Jon Stewart skewered pols and candidates – and Fox News – by playing archived talking-head clips juxtaposed to what they were saying at the moment. **Finally** Fox figures out, “Hey, we can do that too!” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508/74 "2016-01-29T15:30:33Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I would simply add an apostrophe. I am obsolete, though, I believe. I think the standard today is to add an 's even to names ending in s. It depends on the style guide. Chicago Manual of Style recommends apostrophe-s on the possessive of all names, even if they end in “s” (and this is the style I prefer.) Strunk and White do as well. The Associated Press Style guide only adds a bare apostrophe on names ending with “s.” For names that end in the “s” sound but are spelled with a terminal “z,” “x,” or “ce,” they explicitly state use the apostrophe-s, except in a couple of set phrases like “conscience’ sake.” So, in either case, both Associated Press Style and Chicago Manual of Style recommend an apostrophe-s on a name ending with “z.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508/75 "2016-01-29T18:35:59Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Yeah, 1 word I’m pretty sure. Instead of ensure the blessings of liberty, I’m pretty sure he said ensure the benefits of liberty. > > Schoolhouse Rock comes in handy every once in a while. > > His delivery was a little halting, like he was almost forgetting some words but then right at very the last second he’d remember them. That’s just his normal way of speaking. It’s like he falls asleep for a second or two every half minute or so. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508/76 "2016-01-29T20:01:45Z")
The debate started off pretty poorly for candidates and moderators alike. But it picked up pretty well after about 30 minutes and was actually quite good. Ben Carson proves time and time again that he is deep in the weeds. I don’t think he even watched the video of Dulce Candy on which he was called for a response. He rambled on about ISIS. He really needs to get out of the race. Jeb, on the other hand, finally acted like he wanted to be there. He had a great response to Ms. Candy’s video question and his attacks on Rubio packed some punch. It was a good night for him, but probably too little, too late. He benefited most from Trump’s absence. Everyone is saying Cruz had a bad night, and it’s true that without Trump he had the biggest target on his back. But I thought he handled it ok. He’s catching some heat for threatening to leave the stage if they kept being mean to him. Am I only one that thought that was clearly a joke meant to mock Trump? Christie had some good zingers. Rand was fine, Rubio was fine. Kasich, I’m about done with him. He was actually not bad on foreign policy, but you get the sense nobody cares what he’s saying. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > He talks about how Obama has been a “disaster” for the country, and that might play well with Republican Primary voters, but it’s a losing proposition in the general election. He’d be shredded to pieces by Hillary or Bernie in a debate where he tried to pass that off as a fact. Have to disagree with that. If the Republican candidate can’t convince voters to make a change, he’ll lose. Also pretty sure Rubio could hold his own against either Democratic candidate in a debate, especially Clinton. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508/77 "2016-01-29T20:17:05Z")
Nm, my mistake ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508/78 "2016-01-29T20:37:58Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Kasich, I’m about done with him. He was actually not bad on foreign policy, but you get the sense nobody cares what he’s saying. Except he’s apparently running #2 in New Hampshire, enough so that people are [running ads against him](http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/reveling-newfound-relevance-kasich-faces-fire). He’s an “Obama Republican”, whatever that meants. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508/79 "2016-01-29T21:44:57Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Everyone is saying Cruz had a bad night, and it’s true that without Trump he had the biggest target on his back. But I thought he handled it ok. He’s catching some heat for threatening to leave the stage if they kept being mean to him. Am I only one that thought that was clearly a joke meant to mock Trump? No, that’s definitely what it was. I thought it was obvious, but I also snarked to my wife that “GOP primary voters are so dumb, they’ll get whooshed by that”. And from what you are saying, I was right! Too funny. > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Well, the U.S. Air Force didn’t exist until 1947, and it probably had a lot of leftover WWII planes when it was created. I have a relative who was a pilot in WWII (he was spearfishing the morning of 12/7/41 and saw the Zeroes flying overhead; he ran back to the base but his plane had already been destroyed). He gave me his old duffel bag (which I subsequently lost, sadly) that said “Army Air Force” on the side. I would count that as “air force” even if it was not yet its own separate branch at that point. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2016, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508/80 "2016-01-29T22:12:51Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Everyone is saying Cruz had a bad night, and it’s true that without Trump he had the biggest target on his back. But I thought he handled it ok. He’s catching some heat for threatening to leave the stage if they kept being mean to him. Am I only one that thought that was clearly a joke meant to mock Trump? They were having trouble with the concept of Cruz making a joke. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-presidential-debate-tonight-01-28-16/744508.md?page=5)