Last night’s Republican debate in Boulder, Colorado, began as the previous two did, with an “undercard” debate featuring those candidates whose polling numbers are not in the top ten. Interest was somewhat muted:
Are you paying attention to the JV debate?
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) October 28, 2015
Has the undercard one started already? Oh. —
laurakfillault (@laurakfillault) October 28, 2015
But there was some action! As he did last time, Bobby Jindal stood head and shoulders above the group:
I wish Jindal did not have to share the stage with these misfits
— Leon Wolf (@LeonHWolf) October 28, 2015
Well, not literally:
Damn Lindsay Graham looking even smaller than the Indian dude. #GOPDebate
— Aziz Ansari (@azizansari) October 28, 2015
Lindsay Graham, for his part, stuck to his core strength: the military:
I like Lindsey Graham’s innovative strategy of refusing to even pretend to be interested in anything other than foreign policy
— John Tabin (@johntabin) October 28, 2015
The undercard debate, in one gif: https://t.co/e7yPFR78vu pic.twitter.com/E34yojdWBG
— Rebecca Sinderbrand (@sinderbrand) October 28, 2015
Rick Santorum promised to shrink government, then defended the Export-Import Bank:
Santorum says Ex-Im creates a level playing field. Somewhere, Barack Obama smiles, signs another stimulus check to a donor.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) October 28, 2015
George Pataki was also there:
The only thing I have realized from this debate is how tall George Pataki is.
— Cole McNeely (@ColeMcNeely) October 28, 2015
But the real show was the main debate, and the top story there was, as predicted, the moderators:
Senator, how will you solve this thing that literally no one has been able to solve ever? You have 60 seconds
— Online Hippo (@InternetHippo) October 28, 2015
“Smug journalist moderator” doesn’t even play well when you’re smart. It is a really bad look when you’re not.
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) October 29, 2015
You can tell when @BeckyQuick thinks Republicans are making points because she tells them to shut up.
— TheModernMan (@AceofSpadesHQ) October 29, 2015
Even on the Left, no one thought CNBC covered themselves in glory:
oh my god did i just hear Ted Cruz say something awesome that i agree with? Yes. The media is even stupider than the pols. Who’s on first?
— Bill Maher (@billmaher) October 29, 2015
Some of the candidates were quick to use the situation to their advantage:
Even the crowd knew what an absolutely BS question that was, and Carson took their cue and hammered it home. #CNBCGOPDebate
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) October 29, 2015
This could have been predicted, and, in fact, was.
One smart journalist saw this CNBC debate debacle coming. https://t.co/exJd4aJkdX
— Brit Hume (@brithume) October 29, 2015
As to the candidates themselves, Jeb Bush clashed with his one-time protege, Marco Rubio. Bush attacked Rubio for missing votes in the Senate while campaigning. Rubio’s response was impressive:
Marco is batting this question around like a cat with a trapped mouse.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) October 29, 2015
Rubio just destroying Jeb on the stage: the moment when you realize your son can beat you at hoops in the driveway. #GOPDebate
— Nick Morrow (@NRMorrow) October 29, 2015
Rubio just did the political equivalent of the Fredo-kiss to Jeb Bush, live on national television.
— Jeff B@AoSHQDD (@EsotericCD) October 29, 2015
Bush stayed fairly quiet for the rest of the night. His total speaking time was among the lowest of all candidates.
Shorter Jeb Bush pic.twitter.com/y0g9v5oEAv
— Peter Suderman (@petersuderman) October 29, 2015
Jeb always seems to be groping for words, and then he finds the wrong ones.
— Molly Ball (@mollyesque) October 29, 2015
Rubio, on the other hand, went from strength to strength, even when the moderators mischaracterized his positions:
Harwood: Marco, does your plan suck? Marco: No, and I’ll explain wh – Harwood: Yes it does. Shut up while I answer myself. #CNBCGOPDebate
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) October 29, 2015
Donald Trump and Ben Carson, the two frontrunners, were not as prominent as might have been expected. When they did talk, it wasn’t necessarily in response to the moderators’ questions:
Donald Trump and Ben Carson have discovered an effective response to gotcha questions: “These are not the droids you’re looking for.”
— Megan McArdle (@asymmetricinfo) October 29, 2015
Telling moment… CNBC: Where did I read this and come up with this? TRUMP: I don’t know. You people come up with this stuff.
— daveweigel (@daveweigel) October 29, 2015
TRUMP: I’ll build a wall. CARSON: I’ll build a bigger wall. HUCKABEE: I’ll build a wall so big it’s a prison and I’ll call it masculinity.
— Jamie Woodham (@jwoodham) October 29, 2015
Trump again characterized his business experience in Atlantic City as a success, despite his businesses’ bankruptcies and the steep decline of that city’s fortunes:
We need a leader who will run America like an Atlantic City casino. #GOPDebate
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) October 29, 2015
He also created an air of mystery about whether he carries a pistol.
Donald Trump On Carrying His Gun Around New York City: “I Like To Be Unpredictable” https://t.co/4yEsFXhM9s
— Katherine Miller (@katherinemiller) October 29, 2015
But does he have one on him now? Impossible to say:
Donald Trump carries Schroedinger’s Gun.
— metacommentary (@metacommentary) October 29, 2015
John Kasich’s response to Carson and Trump was exasperation:
Literally John Kasich RN #CNBCGOPDebate pic.twitter.com/K64wgbCXgm
— daveweigel (@daveweigel) October 29, 2015
But mostly he behaved like this.
Kasich is like the guy at the farmer's market wearing a jean jacket, trying to tell you his theory about the Kennedy assassination.
— Peter Suderman (@petersuderman) October 29, 2015
Mike Huckabee veered into the absurd, first praising Trump’s clothing line…
When Huckabee says he’s wearing a Trump tie, Kasich asks: “Was it made in China or Mexico?”
— James Hohmann (@jameshohmann) October 29, 2015
…and then getting apocalyptic:
Charred remains is Huckabee talking about the Mets lineup?
— MBD :: deGrominate (@michaelbd) October 29, 2015
Christie put his expertise in yelling to good use, turning on the moderators…
Chris Christie just did what he does best: Tells questioner to go to hell in such a way that the audience wants to wish him a nice trip.
— Charlie Harper (@IcarusPundit) October 29, 2015
…encouraging civility…
man u know ur having a bad night when chris christie calls u rude
— andy levy (@andylevy) October 29, 2015
…and mocking the idea that the federal government should regulate fantasy football:
If Chris Christie doesn’t want to prosecute you for it, then you know it shouldn’t be a crime. He probably favors death penalty 4 jaywalking
— Megan McArdle (@asymmetricinfo) October 29, 2015
Carly Fiorina and Rand Paul got less of the attention, but did themselves no harm:
Fiorina wins the exchange by smiling.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) October 29, 2015
Total clownshow by the moderators. With Paul just now, I believe every candidate has successfully humiliated them.
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) October 29, 2015
Ted Cruz showed his skill as a debater and may have improved his situation, even among those inclined to dislike him:
First Menshiviks and now the Star Chamber? Is Sen. Cruz courting the history teacher vote?
— Mr. Holtzman (@Mr_Holtzman) October 29, 2015
Cruz came in like a wreeeeckkkkeeeeng balllll!!! #GOPdebate
— el Sooper ن (@SooperMexican) October 29, 2015
In the end, Rubio and Cruz appear to have had the best night. Bush and Trump suffered the most among the candidates, but the real losers were the CNBC moderators. Let’s end with a few more tweets about them:
Even the liberal journalists & the progressive activists in my timeline hate these moderators.
— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) October 29, 2015
The people on CNBC are GOOFY. How do they get those jobs?? #GOPdebate
— Herman Cain (@THEHermanCain) October 29, 2015
I love these CNBC anchors. The old dudes are a few drinks from asking if a candidate would let them hunt human game.
— Jamelle Booo-eeee! (@jbouie) October 29, 2015
.@TheJuanWilliams on moderators: “They were so often wrong…the candidates were able to say ‘I didn’t say that.'” pic.twitter.com/aZ6VY6ayiP
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 29, 2015
The moderators even interrupt each other. Have they never broadcast with more than one person before? A joke.
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) October 29, 2015
That moment when a crowd in BOULDER turned on the moderators.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) October 29, 2015
Do you want to punch the CNBC moderators?
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) October 29, 2015
(I voted for pie.)
