# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/101 "2015-09-17T03:07:06Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Seriously, why? Is there a retired Air Force One in every presidential library? The only one I ever visited was Nixon – no planes there. > **[GOP debate: How did Reagan Library get a real Air Force One?](https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/Decoder/2015/0916/GOP-debate-How-did-Reagan-Library-get-a-real-Air-Force-One)** > > Here's one question viewers will have that we can answer ahead of tonight's debate: Yes, that plane behind the debaters is a real Air Force One. ---
**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:** [September 17, 2015, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/102 "2015-09-17T03:14:46Z")
Rubio sounds almost like a reasonable person when he talks about helping working people but he turns into a loon when he talks about a lot of other things. Paul sounds almost like a normal person when he talks about marijuana or the 10th Amendment, or about war, but he turns into a loon when he talks about a lot of other things. Trump sounds like an egotistical douchebag loon, especially when he defends his ignorance or when he makes vague but huge promises, which is all the time. Huckabee sounds like a loon all the time. Walker sounds like a self-serving loon all the time. Fiorina sounds like a delusional loon at least 90% of the time. Christie sounds like a self-serving lying douchebag loon all the time. Carson sounds like a semi-confused, non-committal delusional loon about 90% of the time. Kasich sounds like a typical Republican candidate loon, which is different than just being a loon, I guess. Jeb! sounds like he’s desperate to say anything at all that will be met with approval from his family and then he hopes that anyone else will also reject approvingly. That’s my impression after watching two GOP debates; YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![cutman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@cutman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cutman74)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/103 "2015-09-17T03:16:26Z")
Tell that to the people trying to eat. You can be anything if someone with more money than you will let you. Why don’t you just work hard? you could be anything! As long as you don’t have to flip burgers or do any other menial tasks that we can’t pay those filthy “illegals” for doing something that’s beneath US! ---
**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, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/104 "2015-09-17T03:20:48Z")
I gave up as the party went into its third hour. My blood pressure could not take it any more. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/105 "2015-09-17T03:23:57Z")
What strikes me most about this debate is the differences in style between the professionals and the amateurs. The pros know exactly what points they need to hit and do so, while the amateurs just sorta wing it. I don’t penalize the amateurs for doing that, because frankly it’s not an apples to apples comparison. The pros get coached on what to say. They are just the front end of a hive mind, saying things they memorized that others wrote for them, whereas the amateurs are on their own. ---
**Author:** ![cutman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@cutman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cutman74)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/106 "2015-09-17T03:26:06Z")
That was in response to the idiocy that came out of the delegates mouths. These are the people some of you are planning on handing the country to. Not being facetious, is there a program Where I can become a citizen of Canadia? I’m a hard worker and a better than average carpenter. If you’re full up, I understand, but if one of these assholes gets their turn at the presidential helm, I need somewhere to be human. There are three members of my family who feel the same. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/107 "2015-09-17T03:28:52Z")
Well, first you have to pass the remedial Canuck spelling course… ---
**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:** [September 17, 2015, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/108 "2015-09-17T03:37:02Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Well, first you have to pass the remedial Canuck spelling course… It’s eausy. Just add a randoum “u” heure and theure. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/109 "2015-09-17T03:41:14Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Seriously, why? Is there a retired Air Force One in every presidential library? The only one I ever visited was Nixon – no planes there. The airplane on display at the Reagan Library was used by Presidents from Nixon to George HW Bush. Other planes that have been used as Air Force One are on display at other museums. > **[Air Force One](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_One)** > > Air Force One is the official air traffic control designated call sign for a United States Air Force aircraft carrying the president of the United States. The term is commonly used to denote U.S. Air Force aircraft modified and used to transport the president, and as a metonym for the primary presidential aircraft, VC-25, although it can be used to refer to any Air Force aircraft the president travels on. > The idea of designating specific military aircraft to transport the president arose duri... ---
**Author:** ![cutman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@cutman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cutman74)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/110 "2015-09-17T03:41:59Z")
I’m Just hedging my bets, but… ---
**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 17, 2015, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/111 "2015-09-17T04:08:04Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![RickG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rickg/32/5174_2.png) [@RickG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickG)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/112 "2015-09-17T04:22:24Z")
Only caught the last half hour or so (some foreign policy, Supreme Court, vaccinations (!?), etc.). Mostly found what they were saying to be gibberish. Loved Trump giving medical advice and repeating the vaccine/autism myth. Was completely shocked to find I agree with Cruz on one thing: Jackson should be replaced on the twenty, not Hamilton on the ten. That’s no reason to vote for a guy who is otherwise spouting extremist nonsense, but, y’know, BIPARTISANSHIP! BTW, did Cruz accuse John Roberts of having a thin resume pre-SCOTUS and of being a liberal? Seriously? Didn’t the Chief Justice work in the Reagan Administration and clerk for Rehnquist? That was…stunning. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/113 "2015-09-17T04:43:04Z")
> [@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. I despise Walker, but what made him the biggest loser? Seemed the same as always. I thought Trump slumped. Carson still looks uninspiring to me. Christe and Paul gained ---
**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 17, 2015, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/114 "2015-09-17T04:51:02Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I despise Walker, but what made him the biggest loser? Seemed the same as always. > > I thought Trump slumped. Carson still looks uninspiring to me. Christe and Paul gained Walker might as well have not been there; he made no impact and he really needed to. Trump was his usual bombastic self. No specifics, a big know-nothing, and all over the place, but the base doesn’t care about specifics; they just want a strongman, and that is the persona Trump exuded. Carson did better in this debate (debate, snerk) than in the first one. Christie and Paul did themselves no favors; Trump tossed Paul around like a rag doll near the beginning of the debate, from which I don’t think Paul ever recovered. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/115 "2015-09-17T05:34:25Z")
Carson is kindly, calm, and well mannered. If only he wasn’t nuts… Also, saw the most awkward high five failure evah. When Trump bragged about having been against the Iraq War, claiming he was the only one there who was, and Carson chimed in that he was too, and on the record, and Trump raised his hand for the five, and it spazzed out into a clumsy standard handshake. My son, the Err Apparent, opined that Carson may have thought Trump was about to slap him… ---
**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, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/116 "2015-09-17T06:20:56Z")
If I’d noticed this thread earlier I’d have posted: What are your expectations? I expect one of the candidates, and maybe more, to give Ronald Reagan credit for freeing the Iranian hostages in 1981. I didn’t watch; was I right? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/117 "2015-09-17T09:49:06Z")
I didn’t watch any of it, but I get the impression that Carly Fiorina, a woman whose sole accomplishment of note was to run HP into the ground, was the consensus winner of last night’s debate. You’d think this would cause some people on the GOP side to say, “Houston, we’ve got a problem.” But I’m not holding my breath. Maybe they just want a President who can compete for the Rufus T. Firefly “if you think this country’s bad off now, just wait 'til I get through with it” award. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/118 "2015-09-17T10:55:01Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I didn’t watch any of it, but I get the impression that Carly Fiorina, a woman whose sole accomplishment of note was to run HP into the ground, was the consensus winner of last night’s debate. > > You’d think this would cause some people on the GOP side to say, “Houston, we’ve got a problem.” But I’m not holding my breath. > > Maybe they just want a President who can compete for the Rufus T. Firefly “if you think this country’s bad off now, just wait 'til I get through with it” award. 😃 What’s worse is that her base is probably the “business” wing of the GOP. I put that in quotes because they’re really the “low taxes on the rich” wing, with a little side of “don’t rock the boat”, rather than the “run businesses well” wing. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/119 "2015-09-17T11:18:28Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473/120 "2015-09-17T11:34:53Z")
Fiorina definitely had the best talking points and comebacks. Too bad her politics are so diametrically opposed to mine. Paul impressed me with his sane approach to war and diplomacy. But he’s nuts on everything else. Compared to the rest of 'em, Kasich strikes me as the one I would be least likely to be afraid of if he were to win the presidency. Walker really needs to get those droopy eyes fixed. Cruz might as well have stayed home. Rubio had a couple of shining moments. But just a couple. Trump needs to work on his posture. And stop moving around so much. His shallowness as a candidate was definitely apparent, but I don’t think his fan base will notice. Carson needs to take a 5-hour energy. Soft-spokeness works in the doctor’s office, but it’s a serious snorefest in a presidential debate. If you’re going to be as wrong as he is on so many things, you might as well be loud and wrong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-debate-of-9-16-15-what-are-your-expectations/731473.md?page=7)