Presidential Debate: Kamala vs Trump

The 2024 Presidential Debate: A Pivotal Moment in American Politics

The recent presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris marked a pivotal moment in the lead-up to the 2024 United States presidential election. The debate, which took place in Philadelphia, was a high-stakes encounter that could significantly shape the trajectory of the race with just weeks to go until Election Day.

The debate was characterized by its intense focus on critical issues such as the economy, immigration, and reproductive rights. Both candidates presented their visions for the country's future, with Vice President Harris showcasing her administration's achievements and future plans, while former President Trump highlighted his previous tenure's successes and criticized the current administration's policies.

One of the most talked-about moments was the 'power move' handshake between Harris and Trump, which became a viral sensation online. This gesture, along with their exchanges on stage, underscored the competitive nature of the debate and the significance of their first face-to-face meeting on the campaign trail.

The debate rules were strict, with each candidate's microphone turned off while the other was speaking, ensuring a more orderly discussion than some past debates. The candidates did not know the questions or topics in advance, adding an element of spontaneity to their responses.

The preparation for the debate was as strategic as the event itself. Reports indicated that Trump's approach was somewhat informal, involving discussions with voters and media engagements, while Harris was said to have undergone rigorous preparation with her team.

The 2024 Presidential Debate: Delineating the Policy Divide

The first presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris was a significant event, highlighting the stark contrasts in their policy positions as they vie for the presidency. The debate covered a broad spectrum of issues, reflecting the candidates' differing approaches to governance and their visions for the future of the United States.

One of the key areas of divergence was economic policy. Vice President Harris emphasized her commitment to what she calls an "opportunity economy," focusing on middle-class and working Americans. She proposed extending a tax cut for families, aiming to alleviate the financial burdens faced by many, especially in housing and childcare. On the other hand, former President Trump defended his record on the economy, advocating for his tariff plans and criticizing the current administration's economic policies.

Immigration was another contentious topic. Trump continued to push for stringent immigration controls, a hallmark of his previous administration, while Harris argued for more compassionate and comprehensive immigration reform, reflecting a more inclusive stance.

On the issue of reproductive rights, the candidates' positions could not be more opposed.

Who do you think won the debate? #PresidentialDebate #Debatenight #DebatePresidencial2024 #ABCDebate #debate #Catholic #Catholics #Catholicx #CatholicTwitter

— ☧✝️Sacerdotus™⚛✡🇻🇦☧ (@Sacerdotus) September 11, 2024

Who will with the #Presidentialdebate tonight?

— ☧✝️Sacerdotus™⚛✡🇻🇦☧ (@Sacerdotus) September 11, 2024

Harris supported the protection of reproductive rights and access to healthcare services, whereas Trump maintained his conservative stance, aligning with his party's call for more restrictive measures.

The debate also touched on environmental policies, where Harris underscored the importance of addressing climate change and promoting sustainable practices. Trump, conversely, questioned the economic impact of such measures and suggested a more cautious approach to environmental regulation.

Leadership style and character were also under scrutiny, with each candidate's demeanor and approach to the debate itself being indicative of their respective leadership philosophies. Harris's background as a prosecutor influenced her methodical and evidence-based debating style, while Trump's more spontaneous and assertive manner was on full display.

The debate was not just about policy; it was also a battle of narratives and visions for America's future. Harris portrayed herself as a pragmatic problem-solver, while Trump positioned himself as a defender of traditional values and economic prosperity.

In conclusion, the Trump-Harris debate was a microcosm of the broader political landscape, with each candidate embodying the ideological pillars of their respective parties. The policy differences discussed during the debate are reflective of the choices facing American voters: a choice between two distinct paths for the nation's future. As the election nears, these policy differences will undoubtedly play a critical role in shaping the decisions of the electorate. For a more detailed breakdown of the candidates' policies, readers can explore specific policy comparisons.

The aftermath of the debate saw a flurry of fact-checking from various news outlets, scrutinizing the claims made by both candidates. This fact-checking process is crucial in providing the electorate with verified information, allowing voters to make informed decisions based on accurate data.

As the race for the White House remains tight, the impact of this debate and the subsequent ones, if any, will be closely watched by pundits and voters alike. The debates are a cornerstone of American democracy, offering a platform for candidates to communicate directly with voters and for the public to assess the contenders for the nation's highest office.

Kamala was asked if things are better off now and she deflected speaking about growing up in the middle class and rambled on.  ABC moderators were clearly biased in favor of Kamala. The follow-up questions were presented to Trump in an attempt to corner him and defend Kamala's statements or allow her leverage from which to build.  She kept saying she had a plan but never shared it. Her arguments were mostly ad hominem attacking Trump while at the same time lecturing Trump on how to be a leader and that name-calling and attacks help no one.  She started out nervous and had condescending body language all throughout.  

Trump looked more toned down and docile in the debate. He fell for the many baits Kamala set up for him and went after each of them following him to every hole, so to speak.  Kamala got him on the defensive.  Like Kamala, Trump kept repeating the same lines over and over about migrants, how he had the economy in a better state, and so on. He did not offer a plan.  As stated, moderators pinned follow-up questions on him and constantly fact-checked him while ignoring false statements made by Kamala and not giving her many follow-ups.  Trump's top moment was most likely when he did to her what she did to Pence in their debate where she smiled in a smug way saying, "I'm speaking now.."  

The debate was better than the last one, but no real substance was presented. Some are claiming Kamala won while others are saying Trump won. It seems to us that the debate was a draw with each candidate having their moment at times. Again, no substance was presented. The moderators were clearly biased in favor of Kamala and both candidates were not always telling the truth.  Trump failed to show Kamala as Biden 2.0 who has not done enough to help Americans and is part of the problem.  Kamala failed to provide any plan and simply relied on attacking Trump and lecturing him on leadership to push her arguments.      

In conclusion, the Trump-Harris debate was more than just a political event; it was a reflection of the vibrant and dynamic nature of American electoral politics. It highlighted the importance of civic engagement and the role of informed discourse in shaping the future of the United States. As the election draws near, the American public is reminded of the power of their vote and the responsibility that comes with it.

Source:

MSN

Trump-Harris Debate Live Updates: Highlights and Fact Check - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Republican strategists are not impressed with Donald Trump’s debate performance - Live Updates - POLITICO

Trump-Harris debate live updates: Candidates go on attack in zinger-filled showdown - ABC News

(1) Presidential debate live updates: Trump and Harris face off for the first time ahead of the 2024 election (nbcnews.com)

Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris following presidential debate (nbcnews.com)

Kamala Harris, Donald Trump in Philadelphia presidential debate tonight | Live Updates from Fox News Digital

Trump-Harris presidential debate live updates and analysis - The Washington Post

Takeaways from the Donald Trump, Kamala Harris presidential debate | CNN Politics

debate - Google Search

Debate replay: Donald Trump, Joe Harris battle in fiery debate (usatoday.com)

5 takeaways from the Trump-Harris presidential debate: Candidates spar on abortion, economics (nbcnews.com)

Trump gets explosive during the presidential debate, just as Harris planned (msnbc.com)

Trump vs Biden: Presidential Debate

The Dynamics of a Presidential Debate: A Closer Look at the 2024 Showdown

Presidential debates are a pivotal aspect of American democracy, offering a platform for candidates to present their policies, challenge their opponents, and persuade undecided voters. The first presidential debate of 2024 has already made headlines, with former President Trump and President Biden facing off in a heated exchange that captivated the nation.

The debate, held in Atlanta, was marked by a series of clashes over key issues such as immigration, the economy, and abortion rights. Trump's performance was perceived as dominant by some, with a CNN flash poll suggesting a majority of viewers considered him the winner. However, the debate was not without controversy, as both candidates engaged in personal attacks and Trump faced criticism for several misleading statements.

One of the most significant moments of the debate was the discussion on immigration, where Trump criticized Biden's policies, claiming they have turned every state into a "border state" and describing the situation as a "rat's nest". Biden, on the other hand, stumbled at times but regained his footing, countering Trump's physical fitness and labeling him a "whiner" and a "loser".

The debate also touched on the sensitive topic of abortion, with Trump stating he would not block abortion medication despite his administration's role in overturning Roe v. Wade. Biden vehemently disagreed with the overturning, promising to reinstate Roe's protections if re-elected.

The exchange between the two leaders was not just a battle of policies but also a display of their contrasting styles and approaches to leadership. The debate's impact on the electorate remains to be seen, but it undoubtedly sets the stage for a fiercely contested election.

As the country moves closer to election day, the importance of these debates in shaping public opinion cannot be overstated. They are a testament to the vibrant political discourse that defines the United States, and their influence on the democratic process is profound.

The 2024 Presidential Debate: Unpacking the Key Moments

The first presidential debate of 2024 was a spectacle of political theater, with President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump engaging in a verbal duel that left the audience both intrigued and concerned about the future of American politics. The debate was rife with significant moments that will likely be dissected and discussed in the days leading up to the election.

One of the most talked-about moments was the candidates' refusal to shake hands at the beginning of the debate, breaking from a long-standing tradition and setting a contentious tone for the evening. This act was symbolic of the deep divisions within American politics and the personal animosity between the two candidates.

The debate took a personal turn when the topic of military service was broached. Biden invoked the memory of his late son, Beau Biden, who served in Iraq, in response to reports that Trump had previously referred to U.S. veterans as "suckers" and "losers." Biden's emotional defense of his son's service and his subsequent labeling of Trump as the "sucker" and "loser" was a poignant moment that resonated with many viewers.

Another key moment was the discussion on the January 6th Capitol riot. Trump refused to accept responsibility for the events of that day, instead attempting to shift the blame to others. Biden, in contrast, held firm in his condemnation of the rioters and Trump's role in inciting them, emphasizing the need for accountability.

The economy was also a central topic, with both candidates sparring over their records and plans to address inflation and job growth. Trump touted his administration's economic achievements, while Biden pointed to his efforts to rebuild the economy post-pandemic.

Abortion rights, a deeply divisive issue, were also front and center. Trump celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade and falsely claimed that Biden's administration supported late-term abortions and infanticide. Biden committed to restoring the protections of Roe v. Wade, highlighting the importance of reproductive rights.

The debate was not without its gaffes. Biden stumbled during a discussion on healthcare, which Trump quickly capitalized on, accusing Biden of planning to "wipe out Medicare". These moments of vulnerability and attack are often what stick in the minds of voters and can sway public opinion.

Climate change, another critical issue, saw Trump boasting about his environmental record, despite having withdrawn from the Paris Climate Accords. Biden countered by emphasizing the urgency of addressing the climate crisis and criticized Trump's lack of action.

The debate showcased the stark contrasts between the two candidates, not only in policy but in demeanor and approach to leadership. As the nation processes the flurry of exchanges from the debate, it is clear that these key moments will play a significant role in shaping the decisions of voters as they head to the polls.

Our take on the Presidential Debate 2024. 

Biden clearly lost. He was disorientated, incoherent, and sounded like Don Corleone from the Godfather franchise (campaign workers claim he has a cold), and his policies were not clear. He looked senile and at many times appealed to pity with his body language.  It is no surprise that his democratic party is in panic mode and there are talks of trying to remove him from the ticket while others are even considering the idea that he should be removed from office now.  This is serious indeed!  The Joe Biden we saw tonight is not the same one we saw in 2020 where words like "malarkey" were thrown around and we saw a feisty candidate animated and confident.  Tonight we saw a frail man who looked out of it. He could hardly be understood prompting Trump to state, "I didn't understand what he said and I don't think he knows what he said."  

Biden looked more like a senile old man in a nursing home who is having trouble collecting his thoughts instead of a viable presidential candidate.  He confirmed to the world what Trump and many others have been stating about his age and fitness to serve. This is why his campaign and party are in panic mode. They do not know what to do.  Biden looked robotic and confused at times. His reactions were slow and he often contradicted himself.  

Trump won, but only in optics and presentation, not content. He deflected a lot, repeated his record, and never gave policies for this term if he wins. It was more narcissistic than anything else. Trump did not give any new ideas or plans. He simply argued from authority highlighting his claims of achievements. Many of the things he said were misinformed or simply just not true. They were embellished statements clearly meant to give an air of confidence and stability. People watching and who know the facts were left shaking their heads in disbelief at the falsehoods and half-truths the former president posited during the debate.

Like typical Trump, he focused on illegal immigrants blaming them for pretty much everything except the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. He deflected on numerous occasions and often took the time to address Biden's previous comments instead of the questions posed by the moderators.  He was composed during the debate, a rarity for him. There were no outbursts or overspeaking on the part of Trump. He followed the rules. 

In closing, both candidates did not do well on the material.  They often deflected, especially Trump. Neither addressed childcare nor explicitly explained anything about their plans regarding addressing climate change.  At times, it looked like two old men arguing and then forgetting what they argued about. At times we felt sorry for Biden who looked like a fish out of water, so to speak. He looked so fragile and aloof that it can almost be said with confidence that his attendance there was abuse on the part of the democratic party and his campaign.  He should not have been there. 

This debate confined for voters many things, among them, that Biden is simply unfit to be president now or in 2024. He simply cannot do this anymore.  He should be retired in Delaware with his wife and pets. His performance or lack thereof brings to question who is really running the White House.  There is no way we can confidently believe that this man we saw tonight is the commander-in-chief.  There has to be a skeleton crew working behind the scenes, so to speak. 

Moreover, voters have confirmation of what we all have been concerned with: there really is no viable candidate. The 2024 election will be one for the history books. On one hand, we have a sitting president who is clearly no fit for office, and on the other, we have a former president recently convicted as a felon who continues the same rhetoric from 2016 without any plans on how to address today's issues.  In regards to abortion, he has also flipped-flop on the issue now claiming he is for "exceptions" when in the past he said otherwise and claimed to be truly pro-life. 

The United States of America is in a pickle, in a word.  It may be time to figure out how to create a better system that vets candidates so we will never repeat this election year again. We cannot have criminals or senile folks run for office. The presidency is an important job.  This is not a school president or president of a club. This is the president and leader of the so-called free world.  

Tonight's debate most likely shifted views but diehard democrats will still vote for their person without considering the consequences. We see this in blue states where despite a Democrat doing a horrible job, he or she has an assured job as long as blind democrats vote on party lines instead of conscience and reason.  Similarly, Republicans will vote for anyone who is strong against illegal immigration and abortion. They do not seem to know there are other issues out there.  

Credit must also be given to the CNN moderators who are softened biased against Trump. They were fair, did not help either candidate, gave both fair time and attention, and did a good job.  Kudos to them despite Dana Bash dressed in the cliche white for women's suffrage.  

An online poll we conducted on X (formerly Twitter) is below the sources. They show a win for Trump. 

 

 Sources:

Live updates: Trump, Biden presidential debate, analysis and reaction | CNN Politics

‘Defcon 1 moment’: Biden’s debate performance sends Democrats into panic | US elections 2024 | The Guardian

Six Takeaways From the First Biden-Trump Presidential Debate - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

These Are The Likely Democratic Presidential Candidates If Biden Drops Out After Debate—From Newsom To Whitmer (forbes.com)

Dems freak out over Biden’s debate performance: ‘Biden is toast’ - POLITICO

A raspy Biden gets off to a halting start against Trump in the first 2024 presidential election debate | Fox News

Should Biden continue election? David Axelrod says there will be talks (usatoday.com)

Time to Go, Joe Biden - The Atlantic

Biden Is Sick With a Cold: Campaign Source (wsj.com)

Could Democrats Replace Biden as their nominee? What to know. - Vox

US presidential debate 2024 updates: Biden struggles, Trump deflects | US Election 2024 News | Al Jazeera

Who won? #PresidentialDebate #PresidentialDebate2024 #Debates2024 #debate

— ☧✝️Sacerdotus™⚛✡🇻🇦☧ (@Sacerdotus) June 28, 2024

CNN #Debate2016: Trump vs Clinton

The day we all have been waiting for finally came. Just about an hour ago, presidential candidates Donald Trump (R) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) squared off in a live televised debate on CNN.  The debate was held at HOFSTRA university. MSNBC's Lester Holt served as moderator. This debate was expected to have over 100 million viewers, a record breaker for televised presidential debates. The format was similar to that of primary debates with the exception that the audience could not applause and interrupt the candidates. There were certain instances where the audience forgot this rule and cheered anyhow.

The debate was well organized, in my opinion.  Donald Trump came out strong in the first half hour or so. He countered Hillary Clinton's points very well.  However, the rest of the way, he seemed to have lost steam.  Clinton spoke eloquently on the economy, jobs and racism.  At times, she brushed off Trump with condescending tone. It was apparently clear that she was trying to bait him to get emotional on stage.  Trump at times did get flustered, kept drinking water but never got into a shouting match like he did against Jeb Bush during the primary debates. Clinton did not get into any shouting match as well, but one could tell that she was holding back.  Both candidates sighed a few times, showing frustration.  On the economy, Trump did very well. He reminded everyone of the situation the nation is in and that he will be the best person to fix the problems regarding jobs and the national debt.  Clinton spoke as a scripted politician and Trump did a good job calling her out on that by stating that politicians are all talk and no action. This fit his narrative well since he is billing himself as the "outsider" against career politicians.

Clinton attacked Trump for not opening up his tax returns. Trumps shot back saying that he will release them when she releases the 30,000 emails she deleted. Clinton accused Trump of hiding that he does not pay taxes. Trump shot back saying, "That makes me smart." This may have harmed him with voters who are not pleased with how the rich often get away without paying taxes. It seems Clinton set him up to say this. Clinton also went after Trump's business record attacking him for going into bankruptcy and not paying contractors. Trump responded that this was business and that he does not pay anyone who does a bad job. Clinton presented herself as having experience. Trump rebuttal saying "She's got experience but it's bad experience."  This drew cheering from the crowd.

The issue of birtherism was brought up. Trump accused Clinton and a staffer of promoting the idea that Obama was not an American citizen. Clinton pushed the view that Trump's request for Obama's birth certificate was offensive to African Americans and bothered president Obama greatly. The topic was mixed with the talk on violence in cities.  Trump stated that stop and frisk must be brought back. He stated that it help reduced crime in New York City dramatically.  An NYPD tweet seemed to have confirmed this.

. @NYPDnews: Stop & frisk has decreased nearly 97% in NYC since '11. Crime, murder, & shootings decreased significantly during same period.

— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) September 27, 2016

Ironically, the wall and immigration were not brought up in the debate. Clinton did jab Trump on his temperament. However, Trump stated that he had a better temperament citing Hillary's recent outburst with a reporter. Clinton said that American cannot have a president who loses it over a tweet controlling nuclear weapons.  Trump replied, "That line is getting old."  The debate was interesting to watch.  I was expecting more of a showdown, but perhaps the candidate held back in order to see how polls responded. Not much in regards to plans were discussed. To me, the debate seemed more like a discussion. Trump did interrupt Clinton a few times which I think was uncalled for. Some in the media are spinning it saying he was trying to speak over a woman. Clinton seemed poised the well measured but obviously scripted.  She did prepare for the debate, one could tell. Trump, I believe, did not prepare well enough and was left looking weak at certain instances.  Lester Holt was also asking Trump more questions than Hillary, which I found unfair. He was clearly protecting Clinton.  She hardly got crossed examined.

Clearly, the moderator Lester, is focusing more on Trump and sparing Clinton. #debatenight #debates #Debates2016

— Sacerdotنs (@Sacerdotus) September 27, 2016

Most people on the media and social media believe Clinton won.  So far, a poll I posted on Twitter shows this same view.  I personally believe it was a tie.  Neither candidate really stood out.

I think the #debatenight was a tie Clinton had good replies and was poised. Trump did good, but seemed lost at times. #Debates2016

— Sacerdotنs (@Sacerdotus) September 27, 2016

Who won the #debatenight ? #Debates2016 #debates #catholic #atheists #tcot #tcot

— Sacerdotنs (@Sacerdotus) September 27, 2016

Earlier in the day, I posted this poll which showed many believed Trump would win.

Who will win tonight's debate?

— Sacerdotنs (@Sacerdotus) September 26, 2016

Source:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/09/26/newspoliticselectionsfact-checking-presidential-debate-between-hillary-clinton-donald-trump/91145368/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/09/27/fact-checking-the-first-clinton-trump-presidential-debate/

http://www.wsj.com/articles/undecided-voters-react-coolly-to-donald-trump-during-debate-1474947738?mod=e2tw

http://abc7.com/politics/clinton-trump-battle-in-presidential-debate-over-taxes-race-terror/1528049/

Brooklyn Brawl: #DemDebate

Last night, another CNN debate took place with democratic candidates for the presidency, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. The debate was held at the Navy Yards in Brooklyn, New York. Brooklyn is the hometown of Bernie Sanders.

This debate was different from previous ones. Both candidates went at it accusing each other of many things, shouting at each other and forcing the moderators to interject to get them to calm down. Bernie attacked Hillary on her connections with Wall Street and called on her to release the transcript of her speaking engagement. He also attacked her on her vote for the Iraq war. Sanders presented himself as the candidate for the people, painting Clinton as the 'establishment' candidate. Clinton attacked back mentioning his interview gaffe with the New York Daily News where Sanders came across as unprepared and called on him to release his taxes which he said he would on today. However, Sanders got Clinton to actually agree with him on social security which got her visibly upset, but she tried to 'smile it away.' She went after him on the NRA and gun control.

Sanders hit her back hard regarding the situation in Israel as well as climate change. The crowd was obviously on the side of Sanders. They cheered the most for him and at several times chanted 'Bernie Bernie Bernie.' Clinton was visibly embarrassed and acknowledged that the crowd was in Sanders' favor in her closing statement. Sanders cast doubt on Clinton's judgement and her ability to handle things. He also called her out on her constant mind changing on what the minimum wage should be.

In my opinion, Bernie Sanders won this debate. He destroyed Clinton on many points, made her look contradictory and got her to lose her temper a few times which she tried to mask with an exaggerated smile. Clinton looked visibly uncomfortable in a city she represented as senator.    













Source:
http://www.nytimes.com/live/democratic-debate-cnn-april-2016/

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/sparks-fly-between-clinton-sanders-heated-brooklyn-debate-n556366

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-debate-brooklyn-article-1.2601821

https://www.yahoo.com/news/sanders-warns-of-drought-and-1407841280679990.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/15/us/politics/who-won-the-debate.html?_r=0

http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/14/politics/democratic-debate-brooklyn-recap/

Post Super Tuesday II CNN #GOPDebate

Another CNN Republican debate just took place with the remaining four candidates.  The debate also took place on the eve of the announcement that former presidential candidate Ben Carson would endorse Trump on Friday.

The debate tonight was much different than previous ones.  It was the first one where there was no bickering or arguing; no vulgar innuendos regarding penis size and so forth.  There was civility and actual points made. Each candidate did extremely well including Donald Trump who came across as with 'little energy' and expounded more on his ideas.

Trump was questioned on the violence in his rallies and his comment that Muslims hate Americans.  He answered the questions by stating that he does not intend his rallies to become violent and says that police are present.  In regards to Muslims, he said that "alot" of Muslims hate American. Regarding Cuba, Rubio gave an excellent response. He also avoided attacking Trump like he did in previous debates.  Cruz also make strong arguments and avoided attacking Trump.  Some pundits say this may be the last debate if the next primaries force the candidates with less delegates to drop out.





Source:

http://www.aol.com/article/2016/03/10/cnns-jake-tapper-to-donald-trump-do-you-think-all-1-6-billion/21326033/?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl1|sec1_lnk2&pLid=987882355

http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/11/politics/republican-debate-takeaways/


https://www.yahoo.com/politics/civility-makes-a-surprise-appearance-at-gop-debate-040000789.html

http://fivethirtyeight.com/live-blog/cnn-republican-debate-presidential-election-2016/

Post Super Tuesday #GOPdebate: FoxNews

The first GOP debate after Super Tuesday took place in Detroit. It was conducted by Fox News. Trump participated despite the presence of Megyn Kelly as a moderator. The participants were Cruz, Trump, Rubio and Kasich.  Ben Carson did not participate and may drop out of the race altogether, though no official statement has been made by his camp.

The debate was similar to the last one by CNN with Rubio going after Trump heavily.  He mocked Trump, questioned him on his inability to truly answer questions being asked by moderators and cornering him on his record and contradictions.  The moderators as well questioned Trump heavily and at one point showed video clips of him contradicting himself.  Cruz joined in the attack on Trump and at one point the debate became a circus between Trump, Cruz and Rubio. Trump defended himself over the 'hand' attack made by Rubio insinuating that he was OK in the 'male department,' if you know what I mean.  Later on, Cruz was telling Trump to break and count to ten prompting Rubio to say that he hopes there is no display of Yoga here. Trump was cornered on 'Trump University,' the hiring of illegal immigrants and even the failed 'Trump steaks' and other businesses led by Trump. Rubio even attacked Trump regarding the products being made in China and Mexico.

While the three (Trump, Cruz, Rubio) went at each other during the debate, nothing was really presented in regards to platform. Kasich I believe won the debate based on his answers and maturity. The others looked like kids arguing with each other on stage.  Many political pundits have stated that tonight's debate made the Republicans look bad.






Source:

http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/03/politics/republican-debate-highlights/

http://www.foxnews.com/live-coverage/fox-news-gop-debate

http://www.foxnews.com/live-coverage/fox-news-gop-debate

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2016/presidential-elections-events-calendar

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/03/03/the-fox-news-gop-debate-transcript-annotated/

#GOPDebate CNN - Super Tuesday

The final CNN debate before 'Super Tuesday' took place and it was a lively one.  It even had CNN's closed caption upset. The participants were front runner Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, John kasich and Ben Carson. Each candidate was asked several questions.  However, things got ugly when Rubio went in on Trump.  He attacked Trump for repeating himself, brought up allegations that Trump was a fraud and was sued for 'Trump University.' He also brought up allegations that Trump hired Polish immigrants to build his buildings.  Rubio was hardly addressed Trump in previous debates took to task in this one to attack Trump.  Cruz joined in as well but was not as aggressive as Rubio.

Trump replied to each by calling Rubio a 'choker' and Cruz a 'liar.'  John Kasick and Ben Carson looked on as the three attacked each other.  It even prompted Carson to jokingly say, "Someone please attack me so that I can talk."  After winning three states, Trump has become a bigger target since he is already getting the delegates. Rubio is seen as the Republican party's preferred candidate and clearly was out to make the case that he is much better than Trump.








Source:

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/26/politics/republican-debate-recap/index.html

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/02/26/in-fresh-attacks-rubio-tries-to-hold-onto-post-debate-bounce.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/26/us/politics/republican-debate.html?_r=0

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/26/us/politics/what-youve-missed.html?_r=0

http://www.salon.com/2016/02/26/unintelligible_yelling_cnns_closed_captioner_is_fed_up_with_tonights_gop_debate_and_doesnt_care_who_knows_it/

GOPDebate - CBS NEWS

The GOP debate took place in South Carolina and it was a heated one.  It also took on a different tone due to the news of the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.  Bush attacked Trump for attacking his family and his personality which he finds unfit for a commander in chief.  Ted Cruz also attacked Trump on his behavior.  Trump shot back at both by calling them liars and describing them as incompetent.  Carson as usual tried to be the peace maker.  Kasick also criticized the debacle between the candidates.

This debate was probably the most liveliest of them all.  As the fight to gain delegates continues, each candidate is becoming more and more desperate.  Marco Rubio is one of them who after the last debate, tried to re-present himself after being attacked by Chris Christie who dropped out of the race along with Carly Fiorina.






Source:


http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/14/us/politics/republican-debate.html

 http://www.businessinsider.com/cbs-debate-live-watch-republican-gop-2016-2

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-candidates-savage-each-other-in-last-debate-before-sc-primary/2016/02/13/cb047fec-d1f1-11e5-abc9-ea152f0b9561_story.html

DemDebate PBS

After losing the primary in New Hampshire, Hillary Clinton took on Bernie Sanders on another debate on PBS.  She went after Bernie before an audience with a big attendance by African Americans.  Clinton tried to paint Bernie Sanders as being anti-Obama and Obamacare.  In response, Sanders countered her claims but at the same time called the president weak. He accused Clinton of simply repeating the failed policies under Obama while elevating his own as real progress. He focused on the problems regarding race and the economy while Clinton came across as defending Obama more than presenting her case.

Sanders attacked Clinton for taking advice from Henry Kissinger, a republican who is not well liked among liberals. Clinton attacked Sanders on his vote against comprehensive immigration reform in 2007.      









Source:

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/12/politics/democratic-debate-takeaways/

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/13/us/politics/hillary-clinton-sharpens-focus-after-democratic-debate-tussles.html?_r=0

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/02/12/466498887/the-6th-democratic-presidential-debate-in-100-words-and-three-videos

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/11/politics/democratic-debate-highlights/

#GOPDebate - ABC News

The ABC GOP debate took place tonight in New Hampshire. This debate was very interesting. It began in an awkward manner with Ben Carson and Donald Trump remaining at the side instead of going to the podium like everyone else.  It is not clear why both remained there.

In this debate, Trump did really well along with Chris Christie. Both spoke strongly with Chris Christie taking on Marco Rubio.  Rubio did poorly. He repeated himself several times and seemed unprepared. The other candidates did well, but not like in previous debates. Ted Cruz was put on the spot regarding the messages stating that Carson dropped out of the race.  








Source:

https://www.yahoo.com/politics/marco-rubio-and-his-team-assess-the-damage-from-062641456.html

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-on-fire-republican-debate_us_56b6b561e4b04f9b57d9e778?

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-backs-down-fox-news-192947516.html

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/republicans-set-begin-final-debate-005334958.html

http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/republican-debate-in-new-hampshire-updates-and-key-moments-february-6-2016-1.11442208

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/republican-candidates-define-conservatism-abc-news-gop-debate-36764052

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/02/06/transcript-of-the-feb-6-gop-debate-annotated/

Fox News - 7th #GopDebate

The 7th GOP debate just took place with someone missing, Donald Trump.  Trump voiced his concerns that Megyn Kelly was a moderator and refused to participate in the debate unless FOX News removed her. They did not, so he did his own event to raise money for veterans. It seems that this action hurt the debate as only 12 million viewed it as opposed to 25 million when Trump was on the debate in August of 2015.

The undercard debate had a new addition, Jim Gilmore. He along with Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee and Carly Fiorina debated. Each repeated their positions on a variety of topics and did not make any new impacts on popularity.  In the main event, Rubio did pretty well along with Rand Paul.  Ted Cruz was attacked by several politicians on his 'amnesty descrepancies.' A video was even played by the moderators showing Cruz's contradictions. Ironically, though not present, Trump was soaring in popularity on social media. He 'won' the debate in that sense.






Source:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/moments-mattered-7th-undercard-republican-debate/story?id=36573955

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/best-lines-seventh-republican-debate/story?id=36574992

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-idUSKCN0V619Q

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/01/28/winners-and-losers-from-the-7th-republican-presidential-de

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/30/us/politics/ted-cruz-republican-debate.html?_r=0bate/

http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/29/media/republican-debate-ratings-donald-trump/

Fourth #DemDebate

The fourth Democratic presidential debate took place last night. Each candidate spoke on healthcare, the economy and social issues.  They argued over healthcare with Sanders pushing for a better healthcare plan that includes all and is more affordable.  Clinton accused Sanders of wanting to start from scratch and said that would be a big mistake.  The arguments, formulations and so forth would further delay universal healthcare for all Americans.

On the economy, each candidate presented their ideas which were very similar. However, Sanders pushed for free college and other ideas that resemble socialism.  He also wants to increase taxes.  O' Malley argued that he has more experience at implementing change due to his terms as an elected official.  At one point of the debate, Sanders became annoyed with the moderator Andrea Mitchell when she asked about Bill Clinton's sex scandal. On social issues,

Sanders stated that he would have police officers made accountable whenever they violate the law or kill unarmed individuals.  He believes that the department of Justice should handle such scenarios, not local prosecutors.  For the most part, the debate showed three candidates who often did not answer the question directly and attacked on another.  Clinton and Sanders often went at it taking on a contrarian role.  At times, O'Malley tried to redirect the debate towards attacking Republicans.  





Source:

http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/17/politics/democratic-debate-2016-highlights/

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/17/463429928/the-fourth-democratic-debate-in-100-words-plus-a-vine-and-2-videos

http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-democratic-debate-20160117-story.html

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/bernie-sanders-goes-off-democratic-041432300.html

Third Democratic Debate

Tonight, ABC News hosted the third Democratic debate with Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley.  The majority of the debate was focused on foreign policy. Each candidate took on different positions but each were united in criticisim their Republican counterparts. However, both O'Malley and Sanders attacke Clinton for her openess on the change of regimes in the Middle East. They argued that this opened the doors to instablity and the rise of ISIS.

 Sanders did a much better job in this debate in regards to foreign policy; however, Clinton showed that she does have a strong hold on it.  Each of the candidate attacked Trump and his suggestion that Muslims be banned from entering the United States.  O'Malley seemed upset and interjected several times claiming he was not getting enough time.  Each candidate differed on medicare and taxes. At one point, Hillary attacked Sanders' plans for medicare saying it will give too much control to Republican governors.





Source:


http://www.npr.org/2015/12/19/460429831/democratic-debate-liveblog-foreign-policy-is-focus-but-data-breach-looms-large


http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/19/politics/democratic-debate-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-updates/

2nd CNN GOP Debate

The last GOP debate on CNN for 2015 just took place.  In the first round, lower rated candidate took the podium.  Santorum, Graham, Huckabee and Pataki were those in this debate.  The debate took on the topic of national security.  Each candidate differed on the approach he would take on national security. Huckabee, Santorum and Pataki did take a strong stance on the surveillance of Muslims. Linsey Graham seemed emotional and came to the defense of Muslims even apologizing for Trump's remarks. Santorum became the target of Pataki and Twitter users after he stated his disagreement with having women in the front lines during battle.  In this debate, Graham clearly won.

The second debate was very active. Bush was more energized in this debate and even make Trump look out to be a cry baby. Trump complained about Bush's remarks, interruptions and CNN's insistence on wording questions around him.  Bush responded that if Trump could not handle this then what makes him think he would handle the presidency and all that it entails. Trump was visibly upset, turning red and holding back. Bush as well seemed to be holding back. Rand Paul also attacked Trump claiming that America needs a president that follows the Constitution in reference to Trump's remarks about banning Muslims.  Chris Christie did pretty well and once again tried to be the peace maker as other candidates were attacking each other.  However, he messed up with the name of the King of Jordan. Rubio and Cruz went at it over their immigration records. Kasick showed he is knowledgeable but hardly participated in the debate when compared to the others.  Carly Fiorina was also not questioned as much as the others, nor did she get caught up in any back and forth with the other candidates. Trump spoke toughly and did not recant on his recent statements.  This debate seemed to have been his weakest so far. Carson did much better in regards to foreign policy but was booed when he was asked if he would bomb innocent children in Raqqa and he did not say that he would not.





Source:

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/12/republican-presidential-debate-las-vegas/420657/

http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/15/politics/lindsey-graham-best-lines-gop-debate/

https://www.yahoo.com/politics/jeb-bush-takes-on-trump-youre-not-going-to-be-035557322.html

http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/trump-triumphs-newsmax-poll-gop-debate/2015/12/15/id/705961/

http://www.redstate.com/2015/12/15/winners-losers-tonights-cnnsalem-debate/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/12/15/winners-and-losers-from-the-5th-republican-presidential-debate/

Second Democratic Debate - CBS

The second Democratic debate just took place in Des Moine, Iowa. The three remaining candidates Clinton, Sanders and O'Malley took the stage.  At the onset of the debate, the events of terrorism in France was the first topic. Each candidate was dressed in dark 'mourning' attired. They debated on the United State's role in the fight against terrorism which Clinton stating that it was not America's fight. She was rebuked by O'Malley while Sander criticized Clinton's support on the war in Iraq. The rest of the debate pretty much was on the economy, income inequality, immigration and healthcare. Sanders defended his views which have been described as socialist by stating, "I'm not that much of a socialist compared to Eisenhower." He said he is for free college, true universal healthcare, the increase of the minimum wage to $15 and an increase of social security.

Clinton wants to better 'Obamacare,' wants a $12 minimum wage federal index allowing each state to decide afterwards whether to increase or not. O'Malley and Sanders agreed that big banks must be allowed to fail while Clinton disagreed stating that she would protect investment banks. O'Malley and Sanders attacked Clinton for defending Wall street.  The debate was a bit different from the previous one where each candidate seemed to support one another.  In this debate, Hillary was attacked by Sanders and O'Malley. She was questioned by them.On immigration, the candidates agreed that those illegal immigrants who are in the nation must have a path to citizenship.

The winner of this debate in my opinion was Bernie Sanders. He spoke articulately about his plans and had great rebuttals when questioned.  Clinton seemed more docile and only got a strong applause when she mentioned her female support.  Martin O'Malley did much better in this debate than in the last.  However, I do not see any big changes in the polls after this debate which was a bit bland.    




Source:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/bernie-sanders-burned-hillary-clinton-023404743.html

https://www.yahoo.com/politics/bernie-sanders-im-not-that-much-of-a-socialist-040238242.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/15/us/politics/democratic-debate-cbs.html?_r=0

http://time.com/4113434/transcript-read-the-full-text-of-the-second-democratic-debate/

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/follow-live-democratic-presidential-debate-cbs-n463586

http://mic.com/articles/128521/2015-cbs-democratic-debate-full-recap-and-highlights-from-saturday-s-debate#.CigxdHJ8U

http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/14/politics/democratic-debate-2015-updates-duplicate-2/index.html

http://mic.com/articles/128521/2015-cbs-democratic-debate-full-recap-and-highlights-from-saturday-s-debate#.CigxdHJ8U

GOP Debate - Fox Business/WSJ

The fourth Republican presidential debate just took place on the Fox Business Channel which teamed up with the Wall Street Journal.  Milwaukee, the birth place of the Republican Party was the physical location. As usual, two debates took place.  The first debate was with candidates who have single digit poll numbers. Chris Christie and Mike Huckabee found themselves in this debate despite being in the major event in previous events. They were accompanied by Rick Santorum and Bobby Jindal. In this undercard debate, Chris Christie clearly won. Jindal was attacking him and how he runs New Jersey while Christie responded by addressing the issues and attacking Clinton.

In the main event, the candidate presented their tax plans and where they stood on other economic issues. Kasick was hogging the microphone in the beginning and attacked Trump.  Trump responded but held back. He was much more reserved in this debate than in previous ones. Some political pundits believe Trump is trying to present himself as more presidential due to criticism of his abrasive approach. Ted Cruz flubbed when asked which agencies he would cut by naming commerce twice. Bush started out well but then faded as the debate took hold.  There was no confrontation between him and Rubio as in the CNBC debate. Rubio spoke articulately and but was attacked by Rand Paul who questioned how he could be conservative if he wants to increase spending.  Carly Fiorina spoke well but failed to address how she would replace 'Obamacare.' Ben Carson addressed the new reports regarding his childhood and other things said of him which he described as lies. As in previous debates, he has not really expressed how he would do things in America if elected.  On immigration, Trump vowed to deport 11 million illegal immigrants which brought the response from Kasick who said the project was impossible and preferred having them pay a fine and seek citizenship. Bush interjected stating that we have to think about the families and how they would be broken apart if illegals were deported.  Regarding minimum wage, the majority of the candidates are against it claiming any increase would be like making people dependent on the government.  Rubio even made a ridiculous statement stating that welders made more money than philosophers and that we need more welders, not philosophers. That comment turned me off and I am sure my philosophy professors. A society with workers who do not think would be devastating for the United States of America.   As for a winner, the candidates did well. I did not see one stand out more than another. Trump was more docile and the others simply repeated what they have done in previous debates.  Overall, I think Christie won if we compare both cards.  This will most likely help him in the polls.  The moderators for this debate did an excellent job in my opinion.



Source:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/live-coverage/fox-business-network-wall-street-journal-gop-debates

http://time.com/4105817/fox-business-debate-live/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/11/10/well-be-annotating-the-gop-debate-here/

https://www.google.com/search?q=debate&oq=debate&aqs=chrome..69i57l3j69i59j69i60j69i61.24868j0j8&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=0&ie=UTF-8#tbm=nws&q=debate+winner

 http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/best-fourth-republican-debate-edition/story?id=35112856

https://www.yahoo.com/politics/trump-kasich-and-bush-clash-1297443436003382.html

Third GOP Debate - CNBC

Tonight was the third GOP debate aired on CNBC and it was an interesting one. First, the earlier debate with Santorum, Jindal, Graham and Pataki was pretty much a repeat of previous performances. Graham used jokes and zingers to keep the audience's attention.  Pataki kept bringin up his record as governor of New York while Jindal and Santorum reminded the audience that their policies worked in their respective states.  The winner of this debate was Lindsey Graham. Rick Santorum did well, but his economic policies were not that clear.

Second, in the main debate, the front runner was not Donald Trump but Ben Carson. Recent polls have Carson ahead of Trump. Many were expecting Trump to attack Carson but the opposite happened. Political pundits believe this was a smart move by Trump. He did not give the Democrats what they wanted to see. Kasick came out on the offensive in this debate attacking the candidates, especially Trump and Carson for having a "fantasy economy."  Trump hit back by calling attention to Kasick's involvement in the Lehman brothers financial company.  Chris Christie kept focusing on his plan to raise the retirement age and cited his background as an attorney and government as evidence that he would make a great president. Both Cruz and Rubio did the best with Rubio winning the debate in my opinion.

Jeb Bush came across as aloof and petulant.  He even went after Rubio on his senate attendance which was shocking. Rubio responded by turning it around and stating that someone told Jeb to attack him and added that he is not running against his fellow republicans but is running for president. Carly Fiorina smiled more in this debate and was put on the defensive by moderators for her record and firing in regards to her time at the HP company.  She did well, but not as strong as the last debate. Carson came across as aloof and unprepared. The crowd booed moderators for asking him about his vetting process in regards to appearing on an ad for Mannatech, a nutritional-supplement company based in Texas which claims to have a cure for autism. Trump was not as strong as previous debates and repeated the same "I will build a wall" rhetoric without giving anymore details. Ted Cruz spoke well, presented his ideas and showed reaffirmed his loyalty to the Constitution but got upset with the CNBC moderators.  He scolded them bringing the audience to erupt with cheers.  The moderators for CNBC were clearly asking questions that were set up to pit Republican against Republican. In one instance, Mike Huckabee was asked if he thought Trump was a moral authority and capable of running the United States.  He responded by defending Trump and attacking Clinton. Rand Paul hardly spoke and was passive during inter-discussions.  

CNBC and Jeb Bush lost this debate. CNBC and its moderators clearly had an agenda to make the Republican candidates look foolish and fight among themselves.  Their questions were set up for "gotcha" moments and most of the time did not reflect the issues at hand.  Some questions were personal attacks as well.  Trump was described as  "comic-villain" in one of them.  In a sense, the moderators seemed to have been part of the actual debate instead of moderating it. The moderators did an unprofessional job bringing the Republican National Committee president Reince Priebus to criticize them in front of the media.  Furthermore, Jeb Bush was not strong. He came across as weak and unable to carry out an attack effectively.

The winner was Marco Rubio with Ted Cruz following, then Christie, Fiorina and Trump. The remaining candidates did poorly.



Source:

http://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/28/gop-presidential-candidates-square-off-in-cnbc-debate.html

http://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/28/republican-debate-heres-who-wonand-who-lost.html

https://www.yahoo.com/politics/cnbc-post-republican-debate-analysis-203708432.html

http://www.aol.com/article/2015/10/28/debate-highlights-gops-2-track-nominating-fight/21255648/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D-583734516

http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-confronted-by-john-harwood-2015-10

http://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/28/best-of-the-cnbc-gop-presidential-debate-undercard.html

http://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/28/gop-presidential-candidates-square-off-in-cnbc-debate.html

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/gop-debate-audience-booed-cnbc-012718439.html

http://hsrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=AkSVvZR1SDO52SJ2xDUHsbCbvZx4;_ylc=X3oDMThsczBsazJhBF9TAzIwMjM1MzgwNzUEYQNCS1QgMTUxMDI4IHBvbGl0aWNzIGdvcCBkZWJhdGUgbWVkaWEgYmxhc3RlZCB2BGFpZANpZC0zNTc5NzYxBGNjb2RlA2dhBGNwb3MDMQRnAzkwZjE0NWEwLTMzNTYtM2IwNS1hNGNhLTdlZjE0ZjViZTAxYgRpbnRsA3VzBGl0YwMwBGx0eHQDTWVkaWFiYXNoZWRkdXJpbmdkZWJhdGUEcGtndgM5BHBvcwMwBHIDRFpodWFzQk5QRjhKUUE9PQRzZWMDdGQtZmVhBHNsawN0aHVtYmxpbmsEdGFyA3d3dy55YWhvby5jb20EdGFyX3VyaQMvcG9saXRpY3MEdGVzdAM0Nzg-/RV=1/RE=1447302778/RH=aHNyZC55YWhvby5jb20-/RO=2/RU=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueWFob28uY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL2NydXotYW5kLXJ1YmlvLXNjb3JlLXBvaW50cy1ieS1iYXNoaW5nLW1lZGlhLTAzMjgwNDE4MC5odG1s/RS=%5EADAXvPa9Z5ItJlwHRYamqyo7qxyqxE-

Democratic Debate (CNN)

Last night CNN aired the first Democratic debate for this presidential seasons.  Candidates Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Martin O' Malley, Jim Webb and Lincoln Chafee.  The debate was watched by many on television and via live stream.  This debate differed greatly from the two Republican debates in that the candidates did not bash each other, were respectful and provided more substance to their answers.  There was no Trump verse Rand Paul episodes or repetition of political slogans without moving past that with an actual platform. At one point, Sanders even defended Clinton when he brought up the issue with her emails stating that Americans had enough with the damn emails.  The debate was clearly won by Hillary Clinton who presented herself as well prepared, poised and consistent.

Bernie Sanders also did well but kept to his area of economics and inequality.  He also came across as a milder Trump by becoming a bit emotional and raising his voice as he answered questions.  Martin O' Malley attacked Clinton on a few points but for the most part did not present himself as strong as her.  Both Jim Webb and Lincoln Chafee were almost like the quiet mice in the room.  They hardly made an impact with their answers and did not engage in discussion with each other like Sanders and Clinton did several times. Clinton did well in appealing to women by defending Planned Parenthood, stating that Republicans are against big government until it involves women's rights when they want to use it to restrict a woman's "right to choose."

Sanders spoke more about inequality in regards to the economy, institutional racism and foreign policy.  The debate was not as lively as the Republican ones, but it was more organized, had more substance and was civil. Many political pundits believe that Clinton may have landed the front runner role for good and that Sanders confirmed to his supporters that he is in fact worthy to be the next president. Interestingly enough, the youth seem to be more supportive of Sanders than Clinton.




Source:

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/10/the-atlantics-liveblog-of-the-democratic-presidential-debate/410413/

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/13/politics/democratic-debate-2015-live-updates/index.html?sr=sl101315debatelivestreamsmartlink

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/13/politics/democratic-debate-updates/

CNN GOP Debate

The CNN GOP debates just took place and they were much better than the FOX ones.  In the first round, I feel that Bobby Jindal and Rick Santorum.  Both answered the questions well and stood faithful to their conservative platforms.  Pataki came across as a fake conservative who at times attacked religious liberty.  Lindsey Graham also came across as a push over politician who does not fight to push his agenda and just accepts the status quo.

In the second round, I felt Carly Fiorina, Donald Trump, Chris Christie and Marco Rubio won. Fiorina went after Trump early on calling him an entertainer. Trump attacked her back on her career as a CEO which ended in termination. Trump told her that he would not want her in charge of his companies.  Jeb Bush also went after Trump but seemed to back down when Trump spoke. Chris Christie came across stronger in this debate and at times tried to be referee between Trump and Fiorina as they discussed the successes and failures of their careers.  Christie also focused more on the American people by asking that the camera be put on them. He also kept mentioning the struggling middle class during his responses. This is ironic because he became known due to his personality, not for his concern for others. The rude and abrasive governor turned into a pacifist here.

Fiorina did not smile and remained stoic. Trump surprisingly smiled a lot and seemed to be more toned down.  Rubio answered well, but he seemed too coached and robotic. Ted Cruz spoke to the Republican base and also did well but did not speak much. Huckabee was articulate but also did not speak as much as the others.  Carson did not come across as strong in this debate. His strongest point was when he spoke on vaccines.  Rand Paul spoke strongly on state rights but was shut down by Fiorina when she addressed marijuana use and how it is being pushed as "drinking beer" when in fact it is dangerous. Her strongest point I believe was when she spoke on the Planned Parenthood videos. Kasich was very weak in this debate and Walker as well. I predict that Carly will see and increase in poll numbers after this debate. CNN did a good job with this debate.  However, they seemed to have been trying to get Trump to fight with Bush and Fiorina at times.  It seemed like the rules regarding time were suspended for these three.    



Source:

https://www.yahoo.com/politics/jeb-bush-puts-donald-trump-on-defense-then-lets-129257872771.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/17/us/politics/candidates-use-second-gop-debate-to-taunt-trump.html

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/republican-presidential-debate/405802/

http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/16/politics/republican-debate-fact-check/index.html

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/09/16/live-republican-presidential-debate-09-16-2015

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/09/16/winners-and-losers-from-the-cnn-debate/

Final Presidential Debate

The final Presidential Debate took place in Boca Raton, Florida at Lynn University.  The debate was moderated by well known news correspondent Bob Schieffer.  The main focus of the debate was on the issue of Foreign Policy.  Foreign policy is a big issue in today's world.

The United States seems to be involved in every nation's business nowadays.  This brings about both good and bad things.  Many see it as the United States helping the rest of the world while some see this as the United States attempting to control the planet.  Nevertheless, many of the roles the United States of America engages on a global scale are due to necessity, not because it wanted to get involved.

Since colonial times, the United States pretty much remained in isolationism.  It wasn't till the world wars that the United States began to take a stronger and leading role in the global stage.  As a result, presidents since that time have made strong efforts to keep America on the forefront.

President Obama and Republican candidate Romney were questioned regarding foreign policy.  These questions would help the public see who is the candidate that has a better grasp of foreign policy.  Moreover, some see this final debate as a way of seeing who is more presidential and can hold the honor of being the Commander in Chief.  This title is one that must be accompanied with great wisdom, strength, courage, determination and astuteness.

CNN polls show Obama as the winner on points; however, CNN as well as other networks say Romney showed he is presidential and can be the Commander in Chief based on his demeanor and responses.

Obama seemed more comfortable in this debate.  Perhaps this was because as sitting president he has more experience in Foreign Policy than Romney.  This position would of course give him an upper hand since he gets daily briefings from all agencies involved in foreign policy.  However, Romney did pretty good despite being an "outsider," so to speak.  He managed to tie Foreign policy with the United State's economy by stressing that a strong economy means the United States will be more respected in the world and therefore have more influence.  Romney also exposed Obama's weak leadership skills.

He shot back at Obama by implicitly mentioning the incident in which Obama's conversation with the President of Russia was recorded:

"I’m not going to wear rose-colored glasses when it comes to Russia or Mr. Putin, and I’m certainly not going to say to him, I’ll give you more flexibility after the election. After the election he’ll get more backbone."

Obama throughout the debate was feisty and more aggressive.  He tried to make Romney look like a liar by quoting Romney and telling him that the American people can check for themselves.  Romney criticized Obama's plan to cut 1 trillion in defense funds citing that the military will be under supplied.  Obama responded by claiming that Romney was out of date in his statistics, he said:

"But I think Governor Romney maybe hasn’t spent enough time looking at how our military works. You — you mentioned the Navy, for example, and that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916. Well, Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets — (laughter) — because the nature of our military’s changed. We have these things called aircraft carriers where planes land on them. We have these ships that go underwater, nuclear submarines."

Some say this hurt Obama because he came across as condescending and presented a tone similar to that of Biden during the Vice Presidential debate.


Some military personnel even tweeted that the military still use bayonets.

Marines still use bayonets #Debate2012@cbsnews @cnn
— M. T. Hlad (@thor1775) October 23, 2012

Obama even insinuated that Romney seems to see the military and its spending as the game "Battleship."  The debate was pretty controlled and I think Bob Shieffer did a great job moderating it despite his "Obama Bin Laden gaffe."

This debate will most likely decide who will be the next President of the United States and in the next few days we will see both candidates take advantage of their funds in a manner that will help their campaigns.  Money will go where its needs - particularly states that can go either way.  

Source:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/22/debate-fact-check_n_2003931.html?1350960142

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/22/mitt-romney-obama-libya-debate_n_2003962.html?1350958406

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/22/obama-horses-bayonets_n_2003948.html?1350957414

http://news.yahoo.com/making-sense-gallup-other-presidential-polls-190212101.html

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-doesn-t-different-ideas-because-doing-exactly-012740952--election.html

http://debate2012.lynn.edu/