# Who do you think will do well in the debate tonight (8/6/15)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 6, 2015, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146 "2015-08-06T12:28:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146/81 "2015-08-07T04:38:13Z")
Sure, if they are over 18, a citizen, not a felon, and mentally competent. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146/82 "2015-08-07T04:47:55Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Sure, if they are over 18, a citizen, not a felon, and mentally competent. The last isn’t even a requirement to be a leading Presidential contender. Why should it be one to vote? ---
**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:** [August 7, 2015, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146/83 "2015-08-07T04:49:46Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Sure, if they are over 18, a citizen, not a felon, and mentally competent. “not a felon”? That rule varies by state. In Texas, felons who’ve completed their sentences (including parole & probation) regain the right to vote. Also, who judges the “mental competence” thing? What’s the law where you live? ---
**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:** [August 7, 2015, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146/84 "2015-08-07T04:59:05Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I saw that part. Does it include the right to vote? > [@adaher](#): > > Sure, if they are over 18, a citizen, not a felon, and mentally competent. So, no ID needed, then? ---
**Author:** ![camille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@camille](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/camille)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146/85 "2015-08-07T05:02:58Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Before anyone says anything about the Republicans and the Iran deal they’ve been talking about: Chuck Schumer just announced he will not support the deal. No one is surprised. He already knows they won’t need his vote, and it’s better for him - and his valuable fundraising abilities - to avoid having to explain a vote that would be unpopular with his constituency. ---
**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:** [August 7, 2015, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146/86 "2015-08-07T05:04:44Z")
I think the A group did well, the B group did so-so, and the C group was weak. Nobody killed their campaign tonight. In no particular order within each group: A Jeb Bush, FL Governor Marco Rubio, FL Senator Scott Walker, WI Governor B Chris Christie, NJ Governor John Kasich, OH Governor Donald Trump, Real estate magnate C Ben Carson, retired neurosurgeon Ted Cruz, TX Senator Mike Huckabee, AR Governor Rand Paul, KY Senator ---
**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:** [August 7, 2015, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146/87 "2015-08-07T05:05:47Z")
> [@camille](#): > > No one is surprised. > > He already knows they won’t need his vote, and it’s better for him - and his valuable fundraising abilities - to avoid having to explain a vote that would be unpopular with his constituency. It’s a terrible deal for the US. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146/88 "2015-08-07T05:18:20Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > “not a felon”? That rule varies by state. In Texas, felons who’ve completed their sentences (including parole & probation) regain the right to vote. > > Also, who judges the “mental competence” thing? What’s the law where you live? Judges judge the mental competence thing. If you are declared mentally incompetent by a court, and require a guardian, you cannot vote in many states. This is only sensible. If such people can vote, what is the rationale for not allowing children to vote? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146/89 "2015-08-07T07:33:24Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Sure, if they are over 18, a citizen, not a felon, and **mentally competent.** > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > So, no ID needed, then? Looks like. It _would_ appear to exclude Republicans, though. Okay, Tea Partiers. ---
**Author:** ![camille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@camille](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/camille)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146/90 "2015-08-07T07:51:23Z")
Trump is already tweeting insults about Megyn Kelly and Frank Luntz: > [@](#): > > I’m getting a lot of @MegynKelly hatemail tonight. 😆 #GOPDebate" She is totally overrated and angry. She really bombed tonite > [@](#): > > @FrankLuntz is a low class slob who came to my office looking for consulting work and I had zero interest. Now he picks anti-Trump panels! ---
**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:** [August 7, 2015, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146/91 "2015-08-07T07:57:38Z")
> [@camille](#): > > Trump is already tweeting insults about Megyn Kelly and Frank Luntz: The liberal media is picking on him? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146/92 "2015-08-07T08:41:08Z")
Here in the UK, the Telegraph and the Guardian both say Rubio did well. The Telegraph called Walker boring, but the Guardian says he did well. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146/93 "2015-08-07T08:51:17Z")
I grant that I’m not the target audience for any of this at all, but is that all Ben Carson usually has to offer? Is there some magic that I missed by prejudging the whole affair as a freak show? ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146/94 "2015-08-07T09:38:03Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > I grant that I’m not the target audience for any of this at all, but is that all Ben Carson usually has to offer? It’s his first debate, in his first campaign, less than a year after the first time he declared himself for any party… who the fuck knows?!? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146/95 "2015-08-07T10:32:32Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > The winner of the night was actually one of the Kiddie Table performers: Carly Fiorina. I chose to follow the debate via Twitter using an assortment of news sources, pundits and assorted snarkers, and 538 since watching it live wasn’t an option, plus it was more entertaining. The consensus of the selected Twitterati was indeed that Fiorina was the clear winner of the first debate, much to my surprise. Second debate seems to have gone to Kasich, although a few thought Rubio stood out as well. Controversy of the night was Trump being an asshole to Megyn Kelly, a move that will hearten those who already support him and continue to alienate everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146/96 "2015-08-07T10:56:33Z")
The conventional wisdom seems to be that Carly Fiorina easily won the first debate. I agree. Everyone in that debate EXCEPT Carly should bow out and stop wasting money. Of course, hardly anybody but political junkies watched that debate, so it may not help her much. Marco Rubio looked to me like the winner of the main debate. He and John Kasich (??) were definitely the men who helped themselves most. It’s always tough to judge Trump’s performance because things that strike ME (or most reasonable people) as jerky may actually be APPEALING to people already inclined to like him. I give him this: he was admirably pugnacious, occasionally funny, and was absolutely right about one big thing. Without him, nobody would be talking about immigration. On substance? Trump was awful, and showed more clearly than ever that he’s a blowhard who has no real policies and no idea what he’d do as President. But I’m not sure if the public at large sees him as I do. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146/97 "2015-08-07T11:10:19Z")
Early reports are that Trump was not hurt by his performance. In fact, voter reaction appears to be that he was “railroaded” by Fox news. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146/98 "2015-08-07T11:14:47Z")
If you take out “I’ll unwind everything Barack Obama did” and “more military!” as policy positions, everyone was short on detail. ---
**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:** [August 7, 2015, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146/99 "2015-08-07T11:31:21Z")
I only saw bits and pieces last night. I had to figure out Fox’s channel number and now can sprinkle the remote with holy water and not have to find Fox again till 2019. I was watching Chris Matthews et al with the in-game analysis, which I found more interesting. Who are we talking about today? Trump. Now he gets to play media victim. Plus for him. Kasich’s comments on gays may have won some cheers in his home crowd, but it ain’t gonna fly with the primary voters. It’s safe to say Walker and Christie had weak nights and Carson was a disaster. My winner was Megyn Kelly. She had the guts to ask some tough questions and even pointed out to Trump that he had hateful things to say about women other than Rosie. Will other debate moderators be as tough on the Democrats? I suppose, but I don’t think there’s a need to ask any of them if they’re misogynistic. Nor will they ask them the silly “what’s your relationship with God like?” question. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146/100 "2015-08-07T11:43:52Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > “It’s complex” is the standard excuse for failure. Smart leaders embrace complexity and succeed anyway. Weak ones complain about how complicated things are as an excuse for failure. > > Democrats should show a little maturity and take their lumps on Obama’s ISIS policy like grownups. He’s got a bad policy, you all know he has a bad policy. You may think Republican ideas are worse,and they may very well be worse, but so far your ideas aren’t doing any good either, so cut them some slack. I’m unwilling to cut slack to anyone who advocates for more American deaths and a weaker America overall by advocating for more involvement and more troops in the region. I’m saying no to more dead Americans and a weaker America. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-will-do-well-in-the-debate-tonight-8-6-15/727146.md?page=6)