# The Republican Debate of 9/16/15. What are your expectations? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 16, 2015, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473 "2015-09-16T14:35:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**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:** [September 17, 2015, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/181 "2015-09-17T22:10:39Z")
> [@2ManyTacos](#): > > Fiorina did the best, but I didn’t view it as the landslide win the media have striven to portray it as. She’s just really good at _debating_ people, even though she lies through her teeth and objectively [has no idea what she’s talking about.](http://www.vox.com/2015/9/16/9342761/carly-fiorina-debate) People thought it was a landslide for Fiorina? I only caught about the last half of the debate. I must have missed her good parts, and the whole “Lady Liberty and Lady Justice” glurge at the end made me want to spew. ---
**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:** [September 17, 2015, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/182 "2015-09-17T22:32:27Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Reading the comments here, I see that my earlier predicition that Jeb! would do something to stand out from the mob did not appear to happen. > > I simply do not understand his stragety, it must be “I’m a Bush and once the peons finally recognize it they’ll come flocking to me after flirting with the rest of these unelectable people.” and simply stand his ground…or perhaps simply stand. > > Maybe it will work. Somehow I doubt it. > > My thanks to all who bore the burden for the rest of us by watching the 3-hour circus. He stood out by admitting that he smoked weed when he was in high school. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/183 "2015-09-17T22:47:42Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > He really overstepped when he said that he thinks she’s a “beautiful woman”. The look on her face after he said that could cause a nuclear winter. I didn’t get that, myself and actually felt sorry for her. Here she was with a close up of her face on everybody’s television and the focus is on how unattractive she is. I thought she looked like she wanted to crawl into a hole. ---
**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:** [September 17, 2015, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/184 "2015-09-17T22:50:53Z")
What was Trump’s problem with Rand Paul’s looks? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/185 "2015-09-17T23:42:38Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > What was Trump’s problem with Rand Paul’s looks? Probably that stupid perm he has roosting on his noggin. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/186 "2015-09-18T01:09:13Z")
Hey, Lindsey Graham worked for _hours_ over that! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/187 "2015-09-18T01:15:05Z")
> [@2ManyTacos](#): > > As much as I love all of this GOP infighting, my goodness did I feel _dumber_ after watching this debate. > > There was nothing of substance revealed here beyond “Obama sucks, Hillary is incompetent, and Iran is evil!” And the impenetrable border each one is going to build between AMERICA and [sub]mexico[/sub] I liked the mini debate that started with the first four. Lindsey Graham actually seems like a nice guy. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/188 "2015-09-18T01:25:42Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > The shitty thinking and idiocy are richly seasoned with desperation in its attempt to equate the Republican clown-car show with the Democratic contest. As [one commentator put it](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/09/10/1420143/-How-bad-are-things-for-the-GOP-Imagine-if-the-Democratic-primary-looked-like-this#), imagine a world where the Democratic contest actually _was_ a mirror image of the Republican one: > > Bill Maher 32% > Dr. Oz 19% > Ed Rendell 9% > Dennis Kucinich 7% > Keith Olbermann 5% > John Hickenlooper 5% > Wendy Davis 3% > Bernie Sanders 3% > Martin Heinrich 3% > Jay Nixon 2% > Steve Beshear 2% I’ll confess to not getting the knock on Hickenlooper. No, I wouldn’t necessarily vote for him, but at the very least as the Governor of a purple state he’ll be considered for VP. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/189 "2015-09-18T01:55:14Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > The airplane on display at the Reagan Library was used by Presidents from Nixon to George HW Bush. Ooh, its the same one Nixon did his V-sign perp walk into! Now _that_ makes it worth seeing. ---
**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:** [September 18, 2015, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/190 "2015-09-18T02:22:50Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > My take… > > Winner - Fiorina > Other gainers - Kasich, Carson > Maintained - JEB!, Rubio, Trump > Slumped - Paul, Christie > Loser(s) - Walker, Cruz, Huckabee, with the biggest loser being Walker. Turns out I was almost dead-on correct last night on where I placed the performances of the candidates in the debate. [If You’re Wondering Who “Won” the CNN Debate, We’ve Got a Chart for You](http://www.ijreview.com/2015/09/422851-if-youre-wondering-who-won-the-cnn-debate-weve-got-a-chart-for-you/) I called Fiorina the winner and, no surprise to anyone, Independent Journal’s survey came to the same conclusion. I can’t pat myself on the back too much for that one as a deaf and blind person could have called it for Fiorina. I matched their results when it came to the three losers as well, including my calling Walker the biggest loser. Their results show Fiorina, Trump, and Carson as the top 3 in the debate, whereas I said Fiorina, Kasich, and Carson, so I was a little off there. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/191 "2015-09-18T02:52:32Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Wasn’t Secretariat also an underdog (underhorse?) who won in the end? Secretariat won American Horse of the Year honors as a two year old (a rare event). At the '73 Kentucky Derby, he was a 3-2 co-favorite with Angle Light. None of which sounds like an underdog. Were you thinking of Seabiscuit perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/192 "2015-09-18T03:28:06Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Rubio … turns into a loon … > > Paul … turns into a loon … > > Trump sounds like an egotistical douchebag loon … > > Huckabee sounds like a loon … > > Walker sounds like a self-serving loon … > > Fiorina sounds like a delusional loon … > > Christie sounds like a self-serving lying douchebag loon … > > Carson sounds like a semi-confused, non-committal delusional loon … > > Kasich sounds like a typical Republican candidate loon … > > Jeb! sounds like he’s desperate … > > That’s my impression after watching two GOP debates; YMMV. So the Rs have $9 metric – just enough for a snack at Tim Hortons. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/193 "2015-09-18T03:53:21Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > So the Rs have $9 metric – just enough for a snack at Tim Hortons. 😕 Is this a Canadian joke? (I know the Canadian dollar coin, with a picture of a loon on it, is called a “loony”.) ---
**Author:** ![Donald\_Rump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Donald\_Rump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donald_Rump)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/194 "2015-09-18T10:33:27Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > And the impenetrable border each one is going to build between AMERICA and [sub]mexico[/sub] > > I liked the mini debate that started with the first four. Lindsey Graham actually seems like a nice guy. Graham’s foreign policy is nuts and he’s pathologically dishonest on any number of issues, but after watching him choke up talking about Joe Biden, I can’t help thinking of him as a fundamentally nice person. > **[Watch Lindsey Graham Choke Up Talking About Joe Biden](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lindsey-graham-joe-biden_n_7714708)** > > Watch Lindsey Graham Choke Up Talking About Joe Biden ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/195 "2015-09-18T11:17:48Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > He stood out by admitting that he smoked weed when he was in high school. I’m 54 and never smoked weed, ever. And that makes ME stand out, because almost everybody else my age did! ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/196 "2015-09-18T11:20:12Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Wasn’t Secretariat also an underdog (underhorse?) who won in the end? A horse that “looked kinda funny”? That may have been quite meta of her on that answer… Not a serious underdog. NOBODY was really surprised that Secretariat won the 1973 Kentucky Derby, since he was regarded as a very good, very promising colt. But he wasn’t the favorite going into that race- a horse named Sham was. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/197 "2015-09-18T17:03:36Z")
[Paul Krugman writes:](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/18/opinion/paul-krugman-fantasies-and-fictions-at-gop-debate.html?_r=1) > [@](#): > > The real revelation on Wednesday, however, was the way some of the candidates went beyond expounding bad analysis and peddling bad history to making outright false assertions, and probably doing so knowingly, which turns those false assertions into what are technically known as “lies.” > > For example, Chris Christie asserted, as he did in the first G.O.P. debate, that he was named U.S. attorney the day before 9/11. It’s still not true: His selection for the position wasn’t even announced until December. > > Some of Mrs. Fiorina’s fibs involved repeating thoroughly debunked claims about her business record. No, she didn’t preside over huge revenue growth. She made Hewlett-Packard bigger by acquiring other companies, mainly Compaq, and that acquisition was a financial disaster. Oh, and if her life is a story of going from “secretary to C.E.O.,” mine is one of going from mailman to columnist and economist. Sorry, working menial jobs while you’re in school doesn’t make your life a Horatio Alger story. > > But the truly awesome moment came when she asserted that the videos being used to attack Planned Parenthood show “a fully formed fetus on the table, its heart beating, its legs kicking while someone says we have to keep it alive to harvest its brain.” No, they don’t. Anti-abortion activists have claimed that such things happen, but have produced no evidence, just assertions mingled with stock footage of fetuses. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/198 "2015-09-18T17:18:12Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > I’ll confess to not getting the knock on Hickenlooper. No, I wouldn’t necessarily vote for him, but at the very least as the Governor of a purple state he’ll be considered for VP. I think Hickenlooper would be an analogy to Walker. Not a knock on him, just a not-very-widely-known Gov of a purple state that can’t seem to poll over 7% or so. It’s more a comment of "imagine how concerned you would be, as a Democrat, if some of our more serious and competent candidates (Nixon, Hickenlooper, Sanders) were getting trounced by an entertainer and a celebrity doctor. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/199 "2015-09-18T17:44:46Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > 😕 Is this a Canadian joke? yes ---
**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:** [September 18, 2015, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/200 "2015-09-18T18:06:08Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > Secretariat won American Horse of the Year honors as a two year old (a rare event). At the '73 Kentucky Derby, he was a 3-2 co-favorite with Angle Light. None of which sounds like an underdog. Were you thinking of Seabiscuit perhaps? Yes, you’re probably right. Seabiscuit was the ugly duckling underdog. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473.md?page=11)