In the fifth and final GOP presidential nominee debate deathmatch (from The Ventian in Vegas), all eyes will be on the Cruz and Rubio as they vie for 2nd place to The Teflon Don. It won't be all plain-sailing for Trump (who warned CNN about "fairness" and slammed FOX's Megyn Kelly in the pre-debate tweetfest), who expects "them all to be coming for me," but we suspect Ben Carson will be a little quieter. With the stakes highest so far (and Iowa caucuses just 7 weeks away) for some of the also-rans it is put-up-or-shut-up time which may mean more fireworks and spectacle as Americans are distracted from their fear of terror, stagnant income, pre-Fed last supper.
As RedState.com notes, [8] it’s obvious - the media and the pundits have been waiting for Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) to blow each other up and leave neither man standing. They positively relish the idea of this fight. And it is an obvious one. Wolf Blitzer, at the CNN debate, will no doubt set up questions to draw out that fight.
But don’t look there. That’s not the real fight.
The real fight on stage tonight is going to be Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) vs. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). Rubio needs to hold on to the establishment as Bush fades. Cruz needs to convince the establishment that he is the only guy who can take on Trump. Rubio needs conservatives to give him a second chance after his Gang of Eight deal. Cruz needs to hold conservatives and convince them his mastery of debate and willingness to fight overcomes Rubio’s communication skills.
In the last debate, Cruz took a subtle dig at Rubio on sugar subsidies. Since then, Rubio’s Super PAC has gone after Cruz on national security. Rubio has suggesSen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 100% would be weaker on national security.
Cruz has gone after Rubio as a neocon internationalist who agreed with Barack Obama on Libya and Syria.
That’s where the fight is going to be tonight. Cruz v. Trump will be gravy. Cruz v. Rubio will be the real fight.
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As Vox reports, [10]
This debate (the fifth for the GOP) will feature nine candidates on the primetime stage. Just five of those nine managed to qualify by topping 3.5 percent in an average of national polls — Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, and Jeb Bush. However, CNN also took polling averages in Iowa and New Hampshire into account, so Chris Christie, John Kasich, Carly Fiorina, and Rand Paul also made the cut (though CNN had to bend its rules a bit to get Paul in). For Chris Christie, the main debate marks a moment of redemption. Christie was relegated to the so-called "undercard" debate in November after failing to qualify for the prime-time event.
Four other candidates — Mike Huckabee, Lindsey Graham, Rick Santorum, and George Pataki — will be relegated to the earlier undercard debate.
The other GOP candidate still running, Jim Gilmore, failed to qualify.
Live Feed (due to start at 830ET).. (click image for link to CNN.com feed, no embed)
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Despite all the excitement over Cruz's gains, let's get some context here...
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Caption Contest...
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Trump unleashed a torrent of tweets heading into the debate, taking swipes at everyone...
Isn't it amazing that @CNN [14] paid a fortune for an Iowa Poll, which shows me in first place over Cruz by 13%, 33% to 20% - then doesn't use it
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2015 [15]
I won every debate so far according to all debate polls including @DRUDGE_REPORT [16], @TIME [17] @Slate [18] and more. Too bad dopey @megynkelly [19] lies!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2015 [20]
I am in Trump International Hotel, Las Vegas, getting ready and waiting for the debate tonight. Look forward - hope I get treated fairly!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2015 [21]
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Rolling Stone released probably the best 'drinking game' [22] - please imbibe responsibly - to make the debate bearable...The rules:
DRINK AFTER EVERY VIOLATION OF:
1. The doctor's note rule: Self-explanatory. Drink after any riffing on Trump's latest stunt.
2. The nuke 'em till they glow rule: Drink after any promise to "carpet bomb" the Middle East, or after any attempt to one-up Ted Cruz's recent comments about how, "I don't know if sand can glow in the dark, but we're going to find out."
3. The Obama won't say "terrorism" rule: Candidate complains that the president is afraid to use the words "radical Islam" or "Islamic terrorism."
4. The climate change denial rule: Complaint about the Paris climate change agreement. Shotgun a beer if it comes with a mention of how the nice local weather renders climate change talk meaningless.
5. The War on Christmas rule: Mention of "red cups," nativity controversies, etc.
6. The Reince Priebus rule: Mention of a brokered convention or use of the phrase "Let the people decide" in a discussion of RNC/Reince Priebus controversy. Double shot if the latter's name pronounced incorrectly.
7. The George Lucas rule: Gratuitous mention of Star Wars. Double shot if it comes with an impersonation or a sound effect (e.g., Cruz does a Yoda voice while threatening ISIS).
8. The I'm just a simple caveman rule: A candidate mentions that he/she is not a scientist, or generally derides higher education before proceeding to make a "common sense" point.
9. The wet blanket rule: Attempt by Kasich to implore his fellow candidates to be more realistic, followed by boos/catcalls from the audience.
10. The Hitler had some really good ideas rule: Salutary mention of Japanese internment, religious registries or other similar policies.
11. The I don't just believe in the American dream, I'm a product of it rule: Anyone talks about how they are the son/daughter/husband/wife of a humble bartender/maid/tow truck driver/whatever because dreams and opportunity.
12. The good guy with a gun rule: Self-explanatory.
13. The empty God platitudes rule: An anti gun-control candidate extends "thoughts and prayers" to the victims of Paris, San Bernardino or whatever other mass shooting we'll have in the next ten minutes.
14. The we're not racist rule: A candidate complains that people with "traditional values" are being accused of being bigots. Double shot if it's Rubio.
15. The Carly, interrupted rule: Carly Fiorina interrupts someone and/or uses a bogus statistic. Double shot if it's that "73,000-page tax code" line she continues to send out there at every opportunity.
THE EVERGREEN RULES
ALWAYS drink, in every debate, when:
16. Trump brags about how much money he makes.
17. Anyone says, "I'm the only one on this stage who…"
18. Someone says, "Any one of us onstage is better than Hillary Clinton…"
19. The crowd breaks into uncomfortable applause at a racist/sexist statement.
20. Any candidate evokes Nazis, the Gestapo, Neville Chamberlain, concentration camps, etc.
21. Anyone force-feeds an Israel reference into a question where it doesn't belong. Also known as the Ann Coulter rule.
22. Anyone pledges to "take our country back."
23. The Jim Webb rule: Candidate complains about not getting enough time.
24. Any candidate illustrates the virtue of one of his/her positions by pointing out how not PC it is.
25. Someone invokes St. Reagan. Beware, people, this is an every time rule again.
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Finally a quick summary of the news...
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