Live Blog: Fox Iowa GOP Debate sans the Strump
Posted: January 28, 2016 Filed under: 2016 elections, Live Blog | Tags: Donald Trump, Fox, Iowa GOP Debate, Megyn Kelly, Roger Ailes 176 Comments
Can the 2016 primaries get any more odd? Tonight’s the final Republican debate prior to the Iowa Caucuses next Monday. Frontrunner Donald Trump will be holding an alternative event that will be attended by other candidates Mike “the Huckster” Huckabee and Rick “the frothy” Santorum. The event will benefit Veterans by sending money to a nonprofit that’s notorious for not spending its money on Veterans. It’s not sure who the Fox Debate will benefit although bets seem to be on Cruz or Rubio. Rand Paul figured out how to get on the main stage. Whine.
Republican presidential candidates will square off Thursday evening at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa. The debate is the final one before next Monday’s Iowa caucuses, and is especially notable for being the first one in which Donald Trump is not present.
Both the undercard and primetime debates will air on Fox News, with a different set of moderators for each. The earlier event, which begins at 7 p.m. ET, will be hosted by America’s Newsroom anchors Martha MacCallum and Bill Hemmer, and will feature four candidates: Rick Santorum, Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, and Jim Gilmore.The primetime event will begin at 9 p.m. ET, and will be moderated by Megyn Kelly, Chris Wallace, and Bret Baier. Participating in the big event are Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, John Kasich, and Rand Paul. Frontrunner Donald Trump qualified for the event but declined to participate because of his ongoing feud with Fox News.
Cruz is chomping at the bit to go one on one with the Strump and has even set up a venue. Trump’s campaign manager has said there’s no point to debating some one that may not even be eligible to be President. (Ouch)
Donald Trump’s campaign manager Corey Lewandowski said on Thursday that his candidate would be “happy” to debate Ted Cruz once the Texas senator gets a federal judge to rule him eligible to run for president.
“Once you’ve gotten that ruling from the federal judge and you’re the last man standing in this presidential contest next to Donald Trump, we’ll be happy to have a debate with you one-on-one, anywhere you want, because that’s the way the system works,” Lewandowski said. “But, as it stands right now, we don’t even know if Ted Cruz is legally eligible to run for president of the United States.”
Trump and his supporters have argued that Cruz, who was born in Canada to a U.S. citizen, is not natural born and therefore ineligible to run for president under the Constitution.
Cruz challenged Trump to debate him one-on-one after Trump announced that he would not be attending the Fox News Republican presidential debate Thursday night because of objections to the presence of anchor Megyn Kelly and a statement Fox issued in response to his complaints.
“What this is, is a publicity stunt by Senator Cruz who is continuing to fall in the polls in the state of Iowa,” Lewandowski told Boston radio host Jeff Kuhner, before unleashing a slew of attacks at Cruz, arguing that he had used “dark money donors” through his super PAC to offer a donation to charity if Trump agreed to the debate.
Pundits are discussing the internecine battles apparent in the Republican Party since Trump has obviously challenged Roger Ailes Kingmaker status and placed the 
party itself in a pretty weird place. Priebus was on MSNBC earlier on the weekday MTP explaining that the party really had nothing to do with the debates other than setting up the venues and times even though it had earlier removed media outlets for participating. This group is not Bob Dole’s Republicans, for sure.
Trump’s rivals view the debate as a chance to get their own messages across without having to compete with Trump’s bomb-throwing rhetoric.
“It gives us more time at the microphone and more time to talk about answers to substantive issues that Iowa voters are demanding right now,” said David Kochel, a senior adviser to Republican candidate Jeb Bush.
“It is undeniable that what he’s doing is denying his opponents a large audience as they make their final arguments to Iowa voters,” said Eric Fehrnstrom, a Republican strategist who advised the party’s 2012 nominee, Mitt Romney.
While it might be tempting for Trump’s rivals to use the debate to criticize him aggressively, some Republican analysts are cautioning against a scorched-earth approach.
“It’s delicate for the candidates because you have to pull back from attacking a man who is not there,” said Ari Fleischer, who was White House press secretary for President George W. Bush. “It will be OK to make a passing reference or two, the fact that he’s not there. But if you try to beat him up, it won’t play well because he’s not there to defend himself.”
Campaigning on Wednesday in West Des Moines, Cruz mocked Trump for skipping the debate, calling him a “fragile soul.” He renewed his offer to Trump to debate him one-on-one.
After ducking the final Republican presidential debate heading into next week’s Iowa caucuses, GOP front-runner Donald Trump announced that he would hold his own pro-veterans event during the debate to raise money for veterans. Trump even set up a special website to solicit donations to help veterans.
“Honor their valor,” the website, donaldtrumpforvets.com, states. “Donate now to help our Veterans.”
The website, which is nothing more than a single page with stock photosand a credit card donation form, claims that “100% of your donations will go directly to Veterans needs.”
There’s only one problem: 100% of the money raised on the site goes directly to Donald Trump’s personal non-profit foundation, according to a disclosure listed at the bottom of the page.
“The Donald J Trump Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization,” the disclosure reads. “An email confirmation with a summary of your donation will be sent to the email address provided above.”
Well, alright then. Guess vets will have to kiss the ring to be considered for the money.
Josh Marshall–while regretting the gender bias in the term–is looking at this as the “bitch slap” theory of politics. He has a few interesting thoughts on the matter of Trump challenging Ailes.
But this driving force of Republican politics has only become more salient and central as the GOP has become increasingly dominated by core constituencies animated by anger and resentment that things to which they believe they are entitled are being taken away from them.
Trump doesn’t apologize. He hurts people and they go away. He says things that would kill a political mortal (ban members of an entire religion from entering the country) and yet he doesn’t get hurt. Virtually everything Trump has done over the last six months, whether it’s a policy proposal or personal attack, has driven home this basic point: Trump is strong. He does things other people can’t.
This is why Trump has so shaken up and so dominated the GOP primary cycle, at least thus far. As I’ve said, this kind of dominance symbolism is pervasive in GOP politics. It’s not new with Trump at all. Most successful Republican politicians speak this language. And yet somehow for most it is nonetheless a second language. But it’s Trump’s native language. I still believe it’s rooted in the mix of the hyper-aggressive New York real estate world, his decades of immersion in the city’s febrile tabloid culture and just being, at the most basic level, a bully. Wherever it comes from, he seems to intuitively get that for this constituency and at this moment just demonstrating that he gets his way, always, is all that really matters. Policy details, protecting the candidate through careful press releases and structured media opportunities … none of that matters. Trump doesn’t kiss babies. Babies kiss him. He doesn’t have a billionaire backer; he is a billionaire. Trump doesn’t ask for support. He just tells you that you need to stop being a loser and get on board.
So this debate power play is all of a piece. He can just take the table, flip it over and walk out of the room. It’s all about him.
There is no question that Trump will completely dominate tomorrow night’s debate by his absence. After all, he’s the one in the lead everywhere. If he’s not there, what is there to talk about? The Rubio v Christie stand off? Jeb? Who cares?
It may be two plus hours of people attacking him without him being there to respond – and the moderators themselves out to get him too. But again, it’s still all about him. He can make it all about him by not even being there. He doesn’t kowtow to Fox News or go on retainer with the network during the off-season. He calls the shots. And there is little question in my mind that in one fashion or another you will have two competing TV shows tomorrow night, Trump’s and everybody else’s. And Trump’s will almost certainly be better.
So, grab a beer or a cuppa, a nice comfy sitting situation, and a bag full of nerfballs to throw at the TV. It’s time to listen to Right Wing Anger and Paranoia.
peej
Carissa
ecocatwoman
mablue2
peggysue22
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Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-35422316
“Some say?”
I might be “some”. Anyone else?
Also, more on the Nevada Union snafu:
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/sanders-campaign-just-crossed-nevadas-most-powerful-union
I think this and the use of the AARP and LCV logos without permission in Iowa is going to cause the campaign some problems. They’re beginning to look really dishonest. Even Time has a piece on it.
Not to mention stealing data of the other campaign…
Here I am. Expecting them to preach about white male superiority.
Here we go with the Trump question.
Cruz doesn’t answer the question and goes off on a weird spiel.
Well, they started off with the Strump Hump.
I told you so, it’s all about Preachers/Churches in the 99 counties in Iowa, and his DADDY is here.
How did Rand Paul get in?
It’s the yo-yo thang.
There’s the man, who wants to turn retirement to 70 years. Not going to work Bush.
Cruz is the most unappetizing candidate on the stage. Oh wait, I forgot about Chris Cristo!
Rand is pretty gross too.
Why does Rubio always sound like he’s talking from cue cards?
He seems to have memorized little speeches on every topic.
He drops them in rather randomly.
Gilmorementum!
I just can’t watch this. I turned it off and will follow the comments here instead.
I turned it off, too. Cruz gives me cooties just by watching him.
Rubio makes my skin crawl.
But we women are supposed to find Marco extremely attractive! How do you manage to be immune from his obvious charms?
Skip a stitch, was off campaigning, and didn’t even show up to vote.
“War, war, war!” So says,Scarlet O’Hara and Marco Rubio.
STFU Kasich. He will go on and on.
Mittens (Romney) used the same argument that Cruz is using on Obama, and Romney got his assed kicked
Cruz thinks he is already POTUS.
Well, he’s already a POS. Just give him a “T” and a “U” and he’s set.
HA!!
The ranting is really getting to me. Maybe it would have been better with Trump there to provide comic relief.
I was thinking anger is boring.
You’re right.
Ted is a WATB.
45 seconds of I’m Great, Great, Great. He sounds like the Jerry Lewis Telethon.
Meanwhile, I’m watching christie the crappile attack Hillary.
I see him too……Just checked again, and Trump is still reading off the donations.
Oh, hell, just turned over to Trump for vets, and the protestors are loud. Looky there, he says, I love protestors…honey, wifey stand up and tell them to go home.
Ick!
WTH is Christie talking about? Hillary did what “for her convenience?”
I don’t know BB, he never but never answers the damn questions. That really pissed Cruz off.
How dare you Cruz, stfu
Wow. Chris Wallace is pissed off.
Oh, stop picking on Cruz, he don’t like it.
Rubio is a fan of bombs away, and Rand wants to just kill Daesh.
Domestic terror. Close down bird sanctuarys, that will do it.
Funny, cause they aren’t talking Oregon, listen they are talking San Bernadino, and Megan is pulling some trick questions. Haaahhhhah
I busted my damn gut…….do you see the look on his face when Megan went to Rubio for the answer? That shit was so funny.
I’m crying, really crying. Did you see that?
I had to mute Rubio. He talks so fast that he gives me a headache. And he makes no sense.
He’s very shallow.
He’s a meth ridden hamster running frantically in his wheel. 🙂
Ralph, you are being too generous in your praise.
If he doesn’t talk fast he’ll forget what he memorized as that response🤔
Yup
I just got on is Rubio getting more play?
What happened is Megan is ignoring Kasick who wanted to talk about foreign policy.
Bird sanctuary terrorists should go to GITMO.
Yup … And planned parenthood ones too
Yep.
Don’t need outside terrorists, they are here and they are us.
My Fairfield police are fine.
Holyland foundation trial? OMG
Carson is back in form.
Riding his own Memory Foam mattress?
Ha.
That’s funny!
Wtf is that BTW?
I don’t know.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Land_Foundation_for_Relief_and_Development
Oh yeah, I remember, I don’t think I heard the name, just HLF.
Megan can kill flies with those damn false eyelashes.
They are impressive.
LOL! I noticed them too. They look like they’ve been laminated.
I’m eating canned cranberries and sour cream in honor of this TV ulcer.
whut………no popcorn?
Lol, it was left over in the fridge and that seems appropriate.
I’m heavily medicated and I still can’t watch.
Understandable. I really wanted to boycott their debates, and screw them.
What is Kasich going to do about the test drilling in his state to see if they can store uranium in the ground? That will help their water, NOT.
That was a fair response to listening to people.
In regards to Bush, I had thought that veterans were already given the choices for access to healthcare, where ever they wanted to go.
I don’t know the ins and outs, but it looks to me they have some of the same lacks as Obamacare;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricare
Here we go, Christie: eliminate Planned Parenthood completely.
As far as NJ women are concerned he’s president of the boys women-haters club
Bush, and P.R. pay us to play.
Cruz’s rant on Obamacare was epic. He blamed every economic problem on it.
He’s unhinged.
Cruz, no government accounts for healthcare……….only PRIVATE accounts.
Rubio no cap and trade. Ok, lets just get rid of fossil fuels altogether.
I think I heard 17 people clapping for Rubio.
He comes from a large family.
Heehee
A friend recommended an article on psychopaths to me earlier today.
Looking at the candidates on the stage earlier, this quote from the article came to mind. I don’t know about their impulse control but the rest fits.
“Psychopathy is not easily defined, but most psychologists view it as a
personality disorder characterized by superficial charm conjoined with
profound dishonesty, callousness, guiltlessness and poor impulse control.”
https://theconversation.com/not-all-psychopaths-are-criminals-some-psychopathic-traits-are-actually-linked-to-success-51282
I think a lot of politicians are probably psychopaths.
Rube, Rube, Rube, your definition of under control, is unworkable.
That’s why Rubio is young, you have to do more than one thing at a time. Not hold off on citizenship until you have illegal immigration under control.
Cruz Arghh Jeff Sessions Arghh Yes I have no political will for you.
Teddy had that look: lady don’t interrupt me, or I am gonna trump you.
Rand, just called Cruz out.
Rubio just called Cruz out.
Ask Limbaugh for the truth!!!!
Rube, to Cruz, now you want to trump Trump.
Hey, I am outside, looking in, and I am the Outlaw Christy from Jersey Whales.
Carson, declare war on the Islamic State.
Bush, celebrate our diversity.
All I can say about the debate is, it’s a really good thing that #WeWontBeErased!!!!!
Agreed!
Yes!
Cruz, if you can’t get a single endorsement from a senator, it sounds to me, like you won’t get a fucking thing done.
Ayup
Everybody hates Ted
Jesus Christ died for our sins, and Hillary Clinton, I can’t wait to get my claws in her.
He’s an ass. I can’t believe he could baldface lie like that.
Oh no, Jersey Whales, the outlaw.
Lol
There are three investigation on me in the state, and they all prove that I KNOW NOTHING.
Can Rubio be sued for slander?
Can Christie be arrested for his bald faced lies?
It’s gonna be Trump again, except for the 2 new people that will listen to Kasich or Bush, I don’t see any change.
Social, Kasich wants to help the mentally ill, stop ignoring them and the drug addicted.
Oh geez, when will the needs of the bigot be unworthy of public discussion?
Davis and ISIS in the same Christie paragraph that’s good!
Rubio.
If Christians really paid more than 2% of the public need we wouldn’t be arguing over things like Right to Rest.
Life at conception federal and state
Do it his way, or else.
Carson want to give weapons to Ukraine and fight Russia. Will we declare war on that one?
Wasn’t that scenario on “Madam Secretary?” A few weeks ago
I hope I never in my life have to listen to Rubio as President.
Kasich is worried about money from corporations going to Iran and wants to be able to slap sanctions. Stop the other countries from drifting away. That is pretty much what Clinton said.
Tell you what, on the first day of office, if Rubio is President, there is going to a run on pens, might even have a “Rubio Ink Crisis”. He’s going to sign more damn bills and repeals than any other president all over the world.
Hmm. Arrggh. He will, too.
Ok, I can tell you are all numb and dead.
Not you Fannie, I see you are still alive.
Hey, roof, you know, I think the person who won is Rand Paul: He didn’t say anything about eliminating SS, or Medicare, and the whole 9 yards. You know, he’s big on privatizing everything, and you just got to look how good they did on privatizing the prisons…… Since he didn’t bring these up, he wins.
He does look sort of sane and speaks thoughtfully. All part of his evil devious plot.
I’m comfortably numb but not dead yet.
Roof and Fannie, I admire your stamina.
Comfortably numb is sounding pretty good, Beata.
I had to walk the dog before I screamed loud enough to scare the tourists.
Lol.
Me too. I couldn’t handle watching it.
Oh, hell, he just lost, blame everything on Hillary, everything, it’s her fault Bill cheated.
I’ll end it on this note, Lord set me free.
That’s from Two Corinthians, isn’t it?
Lol.
That’s a hard to come back on, but think it take one, two, or three.
Tear down the EPA blend wall no subsidies. There goes what remains of holding Iowa lands of production in order to achieve price stability and safe wetlands.
Carson use our natural reserves to send out of country.
How about a little picker-upper?
That helps! Thanks Ralph!
Yay!
Wow, I’m breathing easy, thank you.
The Sanders campaign is behaving so oddly that the poll has to look good compared to the rest of them.
Thanks for that, Ralph, very refreshing!
Is the debate over? I can’t find where I am supposed to be.
This debate should be a nightmare for the GOP. None of those people are anywhere near a credible candidate for president. Hell they’re not credible city councilmen. Trump may be all they’ve got and he’s a disaster.
Imagine any of those ass clowns debating Hillary? That should make you laugh out loud.
I can hear Hill’s laugh now, as whomever gets the GOP nomination tries to answer a question. It may just put her into laughing fits and she might have issues responding because she’ll be laughing so hard. It will be quite the show.
Seriously, the GOP should give some serious thought to vetting thier candidates somehow so they don’t look so foolish in the future. Not one solid thought for the future has come from this bunch.😕
“The Founding Fathers are liberty, and on the freedom, they did the question. I like it. Can it be more? Radishes. Enough said.” – Carson
Anyone have a gibberish to English translator?
Hahah
I have to find mine. Do you suppose the Sarah Palin model translates well?
It might, but I think the Bachman might be closer
I’m done.
Well done, roof. Thank you.
Fannie, you too. Great job.
Thank, Beata. Take care.
One rescued…
Wow.
WooHoo!
Damn. Sorry I missed the show. You all made me laugh, I don’t think that I could have sat through the debate itself. After dealing with the asshole drivers in Atlanta yesterday, makes me realize that is what these gop candidates really are. …those aggressive dickhead asshole drivers you deal with.
Now hear this, Gail Sheehy says boomer women are not warmed up to Hillary. Read the “science” behind her brilliant conclusion…
I didn’t know she was still alive.
I don’t care about it. Anyone who takes a cruise put on by The Nation is not someone you should take seriously. Talk about a demographic unfamiliar with everyday American lives, they would be it.
with 18 million votes, Hillary did not lose that election – it was given away by the DNC who decided they wanted a black man instead of a woman. Hill set a record with votes and I still don’t know how Pelosi could do that, yes, Madelein there is a special place in hell…
Saved my sanity by reading y’all’s comments!