The Fox News prime time debate starts in about a half hour. This should be quite a show. Join us for a chat during and after the debate. I'll be live blogging after the jump.
I had hoped to stream the debate but it doesn't work on our platform. So grab your device and bring it to the TV or watch it on FoxNews.com in another window.
Then share your thoughts and observations below!
8:59 Here we go. Megyn Kelly gives Carly Fiorina a big shoutout before the debate begins. Fox has been fawning over Fiorina's debate performance all day.
9:05 First question asked candidates to raise hand if they pledge not to run as third party and support the GOP candidate if not them. Trump raised his hand and got a lecture from Bret Baier.
9:08 Marco Rubio: This election is about the future not about the past. (Haven't we heard that before?)
9:10 Jeb Bush: "In Florida, they call me Jeb. ...They call me Veto Corleone... I'm my own man. I applied conservative principles in a purple state the right way."
9:12 Megyn Kelly: You've called women you don't like "fat pigs" (and more)
Trump: Only Rosie O'Donnell... I don't have time to be politically correct. ...It's fun, it's kidding.
9:12 Trump takes a shot at Megyn, saying he's been "very nice" to her, though he didn't have to be based on how "you treated me."
9:16 Megyn Kelly to Walker: Would you really let a mother die rather than have an abortion? Short answer: yes, though says there are ways to save the mother's life other than abortion. Then he changed the subject to Planned Parenthood.
I wonder if Fox has pre-decided who they will declare has won this debate.
9:22 Kasich hits it out of the park running through benefits of Medicaid expansion
Uh-oh, here comes immigration.
9:23 Jeb accuses Obama of using immigration as a wedge issue (gives Trump a pass).
9:25 Chris Wallace challenges Trump to show evidence Mexico is sending criminals to U.S. Trump deflects to boast about bringing subject to our attention and then attacks the media. When re-challenged, Trump says the border patrol told him.
9:30 Wallace now asking Kasich about "the merit" of what Trump said. As if there is any. "Is that an adequate response?"
9:30 Kasich: Donald Trump's hitting a nerve in this country.
In other words, Wallace opened the door for Kasich to whack Trump and Kasich isn't going there.
9:34 Wallace asks about Kate Steinle. How long until "all lives matter?"
9:38 Chris Christie doubles down on blaming Rand Paul for demanding warrants for searches. Paul fighting back and says, "I know you gave President Obama a big hug," says he doesn't trust Obama with private info. Christie hits back saying, he hugged 9/11 families. Kelly broke it up.
9:40 Cruz: We won't defeat ISIS until Obama, or a president, says "radical Islamic terrorism." Maybe he needs to click his ruby slippers together three times while he says it, too.
9:43 Jeb Bush asked whether we should have invaded Iraq - makes it about Obama.
9:44 Finally another question for Carson and he says he was afraid he wasn't going to get another chance to talk.
9:45 Carson complaining about not fighting a "politically correct war" and we need to stop "tying generals' hands behind their back." In other words, torture?
9:48 Trump: With Hillary Clinton, I said be at my wedding! And she came to my wedding."
10:04 Wallace confronts Walker on his poor jobs record in WI. Walker claims "we more than made up for the jobs lost during the recession."
10:07 Now talking "entitlements." Christie says he wants to delay retirement age and means test. Huckabee describes Social Security as government "reaching into" peoples' pockets.
10:11 Wallace: Trump corporations have declared bankruptcy four times. ...Lenders to your companies lost billions. Why should we trust you to run the country? Trump: I have never gone bankrupt. ...Out of hundreds of deals, on four occasions, I've taken advantage of the laws. ...The fact is, I've built a net worth of over $10 billion.
10:15 Here comes the Iran subject.
10:17 Walker: I still remember the Iranian hostages. ...Terminate the deal on day one. ...Put more crippling sanctions in place ...Convince out allies to do the same. (good luck with the allies).
10:17 Paul: I believe in negotiating but this is not a good deal.
10:18 Huckabee: Obama says trust but vilify. He vilifies everyone who disagrees with him. "We got nothing... Iran gets everything they want."
10:27 Donald Trump suggests he was formerly pro life because he lives in New York City. Then he blames Jeb's brother for Obama getting elected.
Jeb responds by saying he does not want divisiveness.
10:29 Trump: We don't have time for tone. We have to go out and get the job done.
Kasich says that just because he opposes gay marriage, if his daughters came out, "Of course I would love them and accept them."
10:32 Kelly asks Walker about #BlackLivesMatter. Walker gives a shoutout to racist Sheriff Clarke, says it's about training.
10:37 Trump asked about Iran and can't say what he'd do, other than to attack Obama.
10:40 Ben Carson asked if we should have used military force in Syria. Carson talking about our weakened military.
10:43 Huckabee blasts transgenders in the military.
10:50 Candidates asked if they have received any word from God as to what to do first (in office, presumably). Cruz says yes, he receives word from God every day. Kasich talks about his father being a mailman and God wants America to lead and succeed. Also, nothing more important than his faith, family and friends. Walker says God has not given him a list but will try to follow His will. Rubio says God has blessed us with so many "very good candidates" and "the Democrats can't even find one."
Why didn't Trump get to answer the "word of God" question?
10:55 Kelly asks Carson what he'd do to help heal racial divide. Carson attacks those who take "every single incident" and use it to make a race war.
10:56 Closing statements, thank God!
Christie just said he started as a Prosecutor 0n 9-10 and the next day the world changed with the attack on 9-11.
Gawker is saying that Christie lied about this…
“Chris Christie (campaign slogan: Telling It Like It Is) repeatedly told it like it factually is not during last night’s GOP debate, twice claiming that President Bush appointed him U.S. attorney one day before 9/11. That didn’t actually happen.”
[…]
“The debate wasn’t the first time Christie’s made that claim. He mentioned it in speeches and interviews in May or June, and as far back as 2011, when Osama bin Laden was killed.
Chris Christie served as U.S. Attorney from 2002-2008, according to Chris Christie’s website. The year 2002 occurred after Sept. 10, 2001, according to the Gregorian calendar.
Christie was rumored for the appointment in early September, pre-9/11, but wasn’t officially nominated for the post until December of that year, and wasn’t confirmed until January 2002. ThinkProgress points out that the New Jersey Star-Ledger and the New York Times back up this version of events, not Christie’s “day before the attacks” narrative."
http://gawker.com/christie-lied-about-being-appointed-u-s-attorney-on-se-1722723371
Hey, Jeb — you checked “Hispanic” on a 2009 voter registration form:
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/jeb-bush-once-claimed-be-hispanic
You sure they don’t call you “Vicente Cortez”?
9:12 Megyn Kelly: You’ve called women you don’t like “fat pigs” (and more)
Trump: Only Rosie O’Donnell… I don’t have time to be politically correct. …It’s fun, it’s kidding.
TRANSLATION: I’m gonna be a BLAST at White House State Dinners!
9:16 Megyn Kelly to Walker: Would you really let a mother die rather than have an abortion? Short answer: yes
The “party of life” strikes again!
9:25 Chris Wallace challenges Trump to show evidence Mexico is sending criminals to U.S. Trump deflects to boast about bringing subject to our attention and then attacks the media.
Riiiight — ’cause, before Donald Trump, NOBODY EVER talked about illegal immigration in HISTORY . . .
9:40 Cruz: We won’t defeat ISIS until Obama, or a president, says “radical Islamic terrorism.” Maybe he needs to click his ruby slippers together three times while he says it, too.
I’d hope Cruz clicking his heels together 3x would transport him, Dorothy-style, back to Canada — or Cuba . . . or wherever the hell he came from . . .
9:43 Jeb Bush asked whether we should have invaded Iraq – makes it about Obama.
Well, of course: I mean, if only Obama had read that 8/6/01 PDB titled BIN LADEN DETERMINED TO STRIKE IN US, and if only Obama had stopped reading “The Pet Goat” to schoolkids on 9/11 . . .
10:11 Wallace: Trump corporations have declared bankruptcy four times. …Lenders to your companies lost billions. Why should we trust you to run the country? Trump: I have never gone bankrupt.
Go home, Donald — you’re drunk . . .
Why didn’t Trump get to answer the “word of God” question?
He was probably too busy getting ready to declare himself the debate winner . . .
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Breitbart is not your friend. Look what they wrote about your moderators. Enjoy http://www.breitbart.com/