Comments of the GOP Debate

++There was never a Great Recession and President Obama didn't do anything to help out. That escapes the GOP candidates. Also,with the exception of Trump,all still have the same foreign policy that got us into Iraq.

++Now for the last three presidential cycles, all GOP candidates, with the exception of Trump, have advocated the reform of Social Security. 

++Both Rubio and Cruz want to raise the retirement age to 70 and Cruz wants to put Social Security funds in personal accounts. This blog showed how that would ruin the Social Security system and fail seniors.

++Josh Marshall got the moderators' error that Social Security is not running out of money. Bernie Sanders on the Democratic side did a great filibuster on this subject.

++The Donald did not rule out other financing for the general election. Does his accepting large donations neutralize his populist appeal.

++Rubio did the bidding of Peterson his biggest donor by mentioning the debt.

++Only the Donald alluded to the problems with the procurement system of the Pentagon. But all candidates were for more defense spending. 

++There was no connection between the discussion of veteran suicides that the multiple deployments of troops and the wars they fight. It seems to me that war has alot with suicide.

++On Israel,the candidates went down the foxhole. In the last two presidential cycles,the only ally we have is Israel. They took Donald to task for wanting a peace deal. Here Donald is interesting his daughter converted to Judaism and his son-in-law is Orthodox. When the Donald is speaking that Jews want peace and a settlement he is accurate and he is right it reflects the opinion in New York. 

++The candidates ignore what President Obama has done for Israel security and intelligence cooperation. 

++The candidates basically repudiate the world community on the Iran deal and also the normalization with Cuba. There was no discussion about how diplomacy is supposed to work. There positions would leave us isolated in the world. UK Prime Minister Cameron told true US this summer that there was no more will for sanctions against Iran. The entire world community has relations with Cuba and in fact the OAS hailed President Obama who normalized with the assistance of the Pope. 

++Rubio suggestion that Cuba free all political prisoners, hold free election and have freedom of expression have been American demands since the Cuban Revolution. The fact is that they did released hundreds of political prisoners after normalization.  The Republican business community is actually for lifting the embargo.

++Last presidential cycle I commented that the only new idea was Newt Gingrich's view that there should be a massive government effort to tackle Alzheimer's. There has been no such idea this cycle.

++Also,no Republicans ever get sick or disabled. That must be why they want to get rid of Obamacare. This debate has gone on now 12 years.

++The immigration discussion escaped me since PEW Research has showed that net immigration from the South has reversed itself and there actually are 1 million less illegal immigrations, not counting Obama's deportation of two million.

++Josh Marshall thought Rubio was getting interesting as he discussed companies who actually fulfill H-1 visas for American firms but this was too in the weeds.

++I just say amnesty for all in the country now--save social security in one move.

++The Democrats have to be careful in attacking Trump. What we saw in Michigan is that Trump's support is similar to Sanders in the white working class. In a general election, he can pivot and make Hillary the Wall Street candidate and the candidate for the rich while he's for the working class. After debate polling tonight showed that was the case. he was the best candidate to protect the middle class.

++Hillary leads Trump by an average of 8 points but when the firing starts that should narrow. Thank God for African-Americans and Hispanics. And Univision recruiting millions of new voters among Hispanics. 

++The white male anxiety is actually complex. And Trump exploits this masterfully. So watch out.

++Trump actually spoke about his general election strategy to Politico. He is planning to make a big play for the Midwest, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. He claims his support in upstate New York will overwhelm the city vote. That's why he wants Cruz mano-a-mano in these areas.

++The union support, which is solid for Sanders at a rank and file level will switch to Trump. Remember the efforts of Richard Trumpka in 2008 to tamp down the racism in the AFL-CIO so that Obama could win? It's going to be rough to damp down the sexism against Hillary.

++This election does threaten Obama's legacy. He gave us an open future and we have to ride it or be doomed. That's why Sanders' call for political revolution rings hollow with what the GOP has been up to. 

++That's why tonight I think the Donald purposely did not mouth the various Republican pieties about the social welfare system because he knows his supporters support it.

++That's who he says he is bringing into the party. 

++Luckily there is not another GOP debate until March 21. There are just two more. Thank God. Heaven help us that CNN actually said this was a substantial debate.