The Candidates Debate

It sure was an interesting GOP debate the other evening in South Carolina.

After an initial coming together to express condolences over the tragic passing of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia (perhaps the worst day for freedom loving Americans since Obamacare was passed), things got rather dicey quickly.

This was to be expected, as South Carolina has in recent cycles been where the gloves come off, and winners and loser are separated.

However, it was particularly ugly on Saturday night, with the majority of the altercations coming, not from those initially attacking front runner Donald Trump, but Trump attacking & his challengers.

Trump labeled Cruz nasty and "the single biggest liar, a real nasty guy who does not get along with any of his colleagues. In a news conference today, Trump essentially went scorched earth on Cruz.

"Ted Cruz is a totally unstable individual. He is the single biggest liar I’ve ever come across, in politics or otherwise, and I have seen some of the best of them. His statements are totally untrue and completely outrageous. It is hard to believe a person who proclaims to be a Christian could be so dishonest and lie so much".

Trump is feeling heat from Cruz, and unleashed a major attack, however, the Donald was sadly incorrect in his assertions.

I am not seeking a candidate who gets along with Congressional members who are complicit in the destruction of our nation.  Cruz called Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell a liar on the Senate floor, and Cruz was correct in doing so in my opinion.

Given what CNN reported publicly, Cruz is also correct in the dispute with Ben Carson Trump references. CNN is not a sound news organization,  which Cruz's team should have known, but with the information out, it was not only appropriate, but a responsible and smart course of action to inform voters.  If anyone is to blame, it is Ben Carson for not making his plans known to his supporters to prevent any misconceptions.

And for the record, Cruz is also correct in his ongoing spat with Marco Rubio on immigration.

Then Trump really got going.
 
First, Jeb Bush has a much more favorable assessment of his family than most do.  Most folks think the Bush family are good people, and I certainly do.

As a Floridian, it is my opinion Jeb Bush, whom I voted for, did a great job as governor of the Sunshine State.  I gleefully voted for Bush 41 in 1988 but found his performance weak, but supported him again in 1992 against Bill Clinton.  I enthusiastically supported Bush 43 in 2000 and in 2004, and while I still consider his presidency successful and know he was far superior to his Democrat challengers, the more time went on the more disappointed I became with his administration.  However, my disagreements with 43 are minimal and my admiration for him (particularly as a man of class and honor) is strong.  It would be difficult for anyone to no consider the Bush family as a great principled family who care deeply for the United States of America.

But Trump got loose, calling not only the war with Iraq a mistake, but called George W. Bush a liar, commenting that Bush and his team had lied about weapons of mass destruction while saying under 43 "we were not safe".

After being attacked on 9-11, George W. Bush did in fact keep us safe.  Many can question the steps he took to make that happen, but we were not attacked again on our soil during his administration, unlike the Obama administration.  Argue about the Patriot Act if you please, and I will join you, but to say that Bush did not succeed in keeping America safe while prosecuting a global war on terror war is false.

As far as concluding Bush lied about the weapons of mass destruction being in Iraq, I vehemently challenge that statement as false. There were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and they were moved to Syria and are there as we speak. As I noted in a post in December of 2012:

"No longer politically expedient to admonish George W. Bush for going to war with Iraq on false assumptions of the existence of these weapons, it should come as no surprise that stories shining light on the weapons transfer from Iraq to Syria are emerging in frequency. While many reports are discussing recently discovered pathways of weapon movement from Iraq to Syria, hidden behind the discussion is the transfer during the postponement of the invasion of Iraq that France President Jacque Chirac, a dishonest broker who worked against US interests, bought. The second to none editorial page of Investors Business Daily leads the way as usual in presenting and detailing the truth. IBD, in an editorial yesterday, continues to present the facts even if few Americans are willing to absorb it".

I have always personally liked Donald Trump and admired much of his business accomplishment and while he is not my first choice for the GOP nomination, unlike many, I had felt comfortable in supporting him should he win the nomination.

I am now questioning that assessment.

Donald Trump is not an idiot, so I am sure his attacks are based on some level of methodology. However, defeating opponents on merit and on the battlefield of ideas has often been superior to berating with opponents with name calling, lies and threats.

America is some kind of pissed at the establishment of both parties, and Trump has a very unique opportunity before him.  However, while I may be wrong, his scorched earth ramblings in recent days may not only burn up his opponents, it may engulf his candidacy as well.

Disagree with their policies as you wish, but I conclude neither Ted Cruz nor George W. Bush (and I note that Bush is no fan of Cruz) are liars.  Trump; however, is starting to look as though he may be.

Or maybe this is just South Carolina as usual.