Notations On Our World (weekend edition): On The #GOP Debate

The US Political Scene has been ever so vibrant as the First GOP Debate occurred and the punditry class has been hard at work analyzing it.   We here @ #Outsiders have been assessing the debate the post-debate and the candidate reactions.   We wanted to begin by reporting a "sampling " of the After-Debate onslaught by some of the candidates.

The first one is from Jeb Bush:

Friend –

Here is what I know:

• Dad killed it on Thursday.
• Now is our time to press our advantage and drive forward.
• You still haven't stepped up.

Friend 
Debate Response Fund: Pending

 

I have a limited edition lapel pin sitting here with your name on it. These haven’t been offered before, and they're not going to be around for long. That’s because they're reserved for only our most loyal supporters.

Friend - I think that’s you.  

The second one is from Marco Rubio:

Dear Fellow Conservative, In last night’s first GOP debate, Marco took the stage and presented an energetic, positive vision for the future of our country. He offered ideas to create more good-paying 21st Century jobs and help people get the education and skills they need for those jobs. He discussed the need for American leadership around the world, and the need for a strong national defense. With millions of people watching, Marco shared his family’s American journey: Only in America can the son of a bartender and a maid stand on last night’s debate stage as a candidate for President of the United States. That's what Marco did last night, but we still need your help to continue to get our message across America. Your financial support ensures that Marco is able to build on the momentum coming out of last night’s debate and grow our team in the key early primary states. If you watched the debate last night and agreed with Marco’s message, isn’t it worth every American hearing?   Sincerely, Terry Sullivan Campaign Manager Marco Rubio for President This from Donald Trump that his campaign advertised on the Newsmax Website: Urgent Message from Donald J. Trump Dear Friend, Are you ready to Make America Great Again? Since I announced my candidacy for the Republican nomination for president I have soared to first place in the polls, defying the mainstream media and the GOP establishment. I am rising in the polls because of you – and the fact that I am offering the American people an alternative to the inept career politicians who talk big but never produce results. I have a long track record of producing big results. Very big results. Frankly, I am running for president because I hate seeing what is happening to America – the country I love so much. I am sick and tired of China and Mexico and all other countries beating us at the negotiating table – getting one-sided trade deals from Washington officials. They have been letting these countries rip off our jobs, killing our potential for economic growth. Let’s face it, America is in deep trouble. We are a laughingstock around the globe as our incompetent leaders like Obama and Hillary Clinton get outmaneuvered. Our economy is a disaster. I think the American people are ready for some hard truths. You know I call it the way I see it. Thanks to Obama, the American dream is dead. But I can bring it back – bigger and better and stronger than ever before. A few weeks ago the political establishment went crazy when I pointed out the fact that some illegal aliens from Mexico, being pushed into our country by the Mexican government, are bringing crime, drugs and murder to the United States. The media tried to smear me, claiming I was “racist” and that I attacked the Mexican people. Nothing could be further from the truth. I forced the media to focus on a number of horrific crimes in which U.S. citizens were killed by illegal immigrants who got into the country because our borders are so porous practically anyone can walk into the United States. In the face of this media onslaught, my poll numbers actually went up. I even pulled well ahead of Jeb Bush, the supposed “front-runner.” Bush is a weak and ineffective leader who would merely preside over the continued decline of this country. If he gets the nomination, we lose in 2016. I am very critical of John McCain’s record in the U.S. Senate. He has done little to help veterans. John McCain has been in the Senate for 30 years and worked closely with Senator Bernie Sanders to pass legislation to ensure that no one was held responsible for the scandal at Obama’s Veterans Administration, in which over 1,000 of our veterans died waiting for medical care. Ironically many of these veterans died in the VA hospital in Phoenix, Arizona – McCain’s home state! It’s just like Benghazi – incompetent and pathetic officials screw up, then Americans die . . . and no one in Washington is held responsible. My concern is for all those men and women who served this country. As president, I would build the finest Veterans Hospital system in the world where our veterans would have universal access – and I will do it for far less in tax dollars than we are spending now on our disgraceful broken Veterans Administration health care system. The political establishment is in shock over the way I have taken the lead in the presidential race – and they are scared to death. I am not afraid – I know Americans like you are with me. Because my campaign will be funded mostly with my own money, the Washington insiders know that the lobbyists and special interests will have no influence in a Trump administration. The special interests know you can’t “buy” me. The media, however, wants to claim that I have no grass-roots support. I want to prove them wrong. I am asking you to stand with me and join with me today. I believe so much in this campaign and that we can Make America Great Again, that I will match dollar-for-dollar every dollar donated by people like you. If you will send a contribution of $25, $50, $100, $250 or more I will personally match whatever gift you give. If you can send $500, $1,000 or more, I will also match that. Show your support – Go Here Now I want to show the liberal media that not since the days of Ronald Reagan has there been such a grass-roots movement of people ready to transform our party and our country. My #1 goal is to create the greatest economic boom in American history, to unleash the incredible spirit of free enterprise in this country – get America moving again! I have been tremendously blessed in this country. I want all American families to share in the great economic opportunities this country offers. I am very rich and I created something very special. I want to make you and the American people rich. I have no doubt the liberal media and the GOP establishment will continue to attack me. But, make no mistake, I will never back down or apologize in the fight to make America great again. Stand with me today and send a powerful message to the establishment by supporting my campaign Please rush me your answer today –  Donald J. Trump P.S. I so strongly believe in what I am doing that I am willing to match every dollar you contribute to my campaign. Jeb Bush just raised over $100 million from Washington insiders. His donors are not donating to me because they can’t own me. Show America you want to join me in taking back Washington  Paid for by Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. This was just a sampling of the post-debate outreach efforts being done to raise money.   Our team edited "out" the fundraising efforts--but it underscored the ferocious nature of the competition that is continuing by all the 1st and Second Tier candidates.    For us here @ #outsiders, though, the most perceptive analysis was from the Red State Supremo, Erick Erickson as he also disinvited Donald Trump after some unfortunate remarks he made regarding Fox' Megyn Kelly as she was quite tough on him due to the disparing remarks he has made over the years.    There were a lot of talk on the future v. the Past and attacks on Hillary Clinton. Jeb Bush touted his record as Governor of Florida govenring in what he deemed a "purple state".     It will be quite intreresting to see if anyone will pick up on this article done in the London Review of Books on Jeb Bush and the other candidates.        Scott Walker touted his record in Wisconsin as he was on not having achieved his stated goal.   Chris Christie was called to task over his State's 9 Credi tDowngrades and the challenges with employee pensions.     All were quite adamant on their view that President Obama's Presidency was a failure as they attacked Obamacare and Iraq.   As the debate ensured, Hillary Clinton was at a fundraiser with Kanye West and his wife, Kim Kardashian West and sent this "fundraising appeal": Mike -- Right this minute, ten Republican men are on national TV, arguing over which one will do the best job of dragging our country backwards. I'm not watching, and I don't need to be. Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Marco Rubio -- they all have the same agenda. They are out of step with the kind of country Americans want for themselves and their children. Thanks, Hillary  Of all the discsusoins, two things  stood out:   Ben Carsons' refusal to disavow enhanced interrogation techniques which was outlawed by the President.    The other matter was the keystone pipeline.      What they failed to mention was that the new provincial government has disavowed support for it in Canada.     It was also quite remarkable how Senator Cruz was so dissmissive of General Dempsey's view on Iraq and how he along with Senator Graham advocated a military solution. As we went to press, Red State Gathering sponsored by Red State has been going on which has featured some of the leading candidates.         The Red State's Erick Erickson was quite perceptive and onpointe as he shared his analysis of the debate: The Debate I’d like to say thank you to Fox News. Four years ago we got to see television networks ask Republicans about birth control and global warming constantly. The networks focused on what they wanted, not what Republicans wanted. Tonight, Fox News was kind enough to probe the candidates on issues that matter to the Republican voters. The candidates showed humor and feistiness. The candidates were wise to let the moderators mostly handle Donald Trump. Trump was hilarious, but it seems even the crowd at the RedState Gathering who like Trump thought he lacked some depth where he should have had some. There was a lot of anger toward Trump, even from his supporters at the Gathering, that he'd potentially run third party. People want to beat Hillary. I do not think any of the candidates really shined. There were moments for each of them. But there were not moments that really defined candidates except for perhaps Carly Fiorina in the first debate. I think about the only people who stood out were the Fox moderators who gave us the best debate possible with ten candidates on stage. But in two weeks, this debate will be forgotten, new events will change the polling, and everyone will be wondering when the first debate is having forgotten we’ve already had it. We are a long way from Election Day. But Ben Carson did have the best closing statement.