Promises, promises! I would not believe a promise any one of these 17 make at this point in the game so it is useless to even expect to hear any sort of plan yet. The republican party hates Trump and so does Hollywood, the liberal left and just about any others we can think of. That means he is doing something right! We have a long way to go before any real decisions need to be made and we will see a bunch crash and burn along the way.

Communists and Fascists end up at the same place.

I have not had the opportunity to see the earlier debates, but I beg to differ with this posters assessment of the main event.

- Kudos to Fox for somehow making this 10-person format work. It did, the questions were solid (no softballs), and it felt as if everyone had a chance to fully express themselves.
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- My scorecard (on a scale of 1 – 10) and comments on each candidate:
‒ Marco Rubio – really handled himself well, gave good answers, and projected a great “likeability.” 9.5. Watch this clip http://video.foxnews.com/v/4404489371...

‒ Jeb Bush – surprised me with a bit more personality than I have seen before, and does have a good grasp of the issues. 7.5

‒ Ben Carson – for being a rookie, he really distinguished himself, providing good answers and some quiet humor that really resonated. His relatively understated approach projects as quiet confidence. He did give solid proof that he belongs in this race. 8.5

‒ Chris Christie – made some strong points, but allowed himself to get entangled in a nonsensical argument with Rand Paul. Seemed a little more combative that confident. 6.5

‒ Rand Paul – see above relative to an argument with Christie. Did score good points on the budget he has proposed over the past several sessions in the senate and by taking on the NSA issue 7

‒ Donald Trump – was Trump…funny, irreverent, and combative. Spoke too much in generalities, and did not show a really good grasp of the issues. And it really seemed that the Fox panelists were out to get him. 6.5

‒ Mike Huckabee – to me, Huckabee was the surprise star of the debate. He make a good case for his fair tax plan (consumption, not income derived), showed a good command of international issues, and avoided looking too much like a bible thumper. He also came across as confident, and statesman like. 9.5

‒ John Kasich – enjoyed the support of the home crowd, and did a pretty good job promoting his resume and what he has done in Ohio. However, hearing that is father was a postman three times was tedious, and he turned out to be the biggest bible thumper of the group. 4.5

‒ Scott Walker – like Kasich, he did a really good job detailing his accomplishments as Governor of Wisconsin. At the same time, he projected rather poorly (compared to the other candidates). 7

‒ Ted Cruz – he is a great story, and obviously has an amazing intellect and grasp of the issues. His delivery is a little too tight, and he comes off a bit more angry than sure. However, he made some great points, and could very well be a long-term contender. 8

All-in all, other than Kasich, no one really hurt themselves. At the same time, Rubio, Carson, and Huckabee (again, a huge surprise) helped themselves.

By mucking around with Trump and Christie, Rand Paul never got to his own message, and unfortunately guaranteed that in the very remote possibility that he were to win the Republican nomination that Trump would go 3rd party. The other politicians realized that, and that is why they didn't try to take Trump out. Rand Paul is also my favorite out of those declared, but he didn't help himself this time.

I thought that the Fox staff did the best job of conducting the debates that I have seen. Not perfect but PBS, CNN, NBC and other goons set the bar pretty low.
There were three non-politicians in the two debates and I thought Carson and Fiorina did well. Trump is a blow-hard, uncouth, narcissistic nut job but he accomplished two things in drawing a huge audience of comic book reading, video gaming Americans to view the debate and he was so un-PC that others could be more open about their views on delicate issues.
I didn't like the exchanges between Paul, Trump and Christie. I think he has an important message and he wasted his time tangling with louts. I think Rubio is too young this time but unless he screws up, big time, will eventually be President. Carly Fiorina was super and should make future debates very interesting. She impressed me with her knowledge and poise. I thought I liked Walker but can't take his religious rhetoric along with Huckabee, Cruz and Kasich, to some degree.

I listened to the audio while I was doing some admin tasks, and I'm a Democrat by registration, so maybe I have a perspective of someone less engaged picking up only the soundbites.

Rand Paul - Everything he said made me want to find ways to support him. He exposed Christie's argument that the answer to a bad problem is more gov't powers. I like how he said he's the only one who actually has a proposed budget that balances.

Bush - Seemed like he'd be a great chief of staff with Paul setting the vision. He talked about "hope" a lot, which I generally like.

Trump - My expectations were low. He didn't make as much of an ass of himself as he could have. I like that he raises the issue of campaign finance.

Huckabee - I disagreed with every word he said. He seems like the personficiation of everything I disagree with. I can't imagine any Democrats voting for him in the general.

Walker - I find his pro-life stuff and general demeanor embarassing to my state.

Carlson: Couldn't stand him.

There was one person talking with a distinct Southern accent, carrying on about religion. I found that very annoying.

Moderators - They appeared to be trying to goad Trump into wigging out. What bogus questions about the "war on women" and about an entity he owned filing BK. Was the premise that all owners should personally guaranattee debt instruments issued by businesses they own. It doesn't even make sense.

Bush might be the most likely candidate to get swing voters. The trouble is the mention of the name "Bush" causes many Democrats to lose their cool and become idiots, in the same way President Obama or Hillary Clinton does for Republicans.

All this makes me think it's shaping up to be Bush vs Clinton. We already did that in '92, though. So maybe the Republicans will nominate Rand Paul, and it can be a ideas-person vs.old-school establishment Clinton. Many Democrats have an anti-establishment streak, so I could see this leading to a Presidenet Paul.

Carson thought a lesson that should have been learned from 2012 is that Republican candidates should not tear down other candidates, specifically referring to Gov. Christie vs. Sen. Paul.

Objectivist Line of the Night: "I'm looking very forward to demonstrating the fact that the thing that is most important is having a brain". - Ben Carson

Most of them never directly answered the question as asked. That makes the investigator in me wonder what they are hiding. I want more substance and less bashing odipshit and hitlary. We already know how bad they are.

Paul and Cruz were the only ones who mentioned the Constitution or the Bill of Rights, and Huckabee was right about social security, although I don't want him to be prez.
Kasch, Bush and Walker are as exciting as cheap white bread without butter. Christy is a touchy feely bully. Trump a blow hard, but has successfully caused the discussion of some issues. Rubio is a big government guy. Ben Carson is smart, articulate and a thinker, but was a bit deer in the headlights.

I recorded the 1st debate and haven't watched it yet. It's clear the pundits are all pro rino.

Hi OA. Perhaps if we can get a strong and effective President elected and the masses see the difference it makes then maybe they'll take these elections more seriously.

Hello richrobinson,
I like your analysis. Yes a good start; like an introduction... good for first impressions. Now we need some in depth specificity. I know from today's media analysis we are more interested in substance, actual policies and plans than the shallow talking heads and ignorant masses. I am hoping this time around it will be more than a popularity contest... Well I can hope, but I will not hold my breath. Wouldn't it would be nice if more of the electorate thought these decisions through and used reason instead of emotion for such an important decision?
Regards,
O.A.

Hello Zenphamy,
I agree. Too many candidates and not enough time... I look forward to later debates when the candidates are fewer and hope the format changes to allow more elaboration. Not everything can be explained in short soundbites. This "debate" was really just a food fight, with appetizers only. Where's the beef?
It was entertaining, but not very instructive.
Respectfully,
O.A.

Not really. Most of Rand Paul's time was spent trying to take down Trump and Christie, rather than promoting his own brand. Before I read AS back in 2008/2009, I was (perhaps unreasonably) optimistic and much better at selling what I do (and did). I am definitely not as good at that as I used to be, because I don't have as much enthusiasm anymore. With the proper environment, I am sure that enthusiasm would come back quickly. What makes that enthusiasm infectious in a positive way is focusing on what you really are good at and like to do. Promoting oneself is a necessary part of selling your product. Rand Paul may have spent too much time tearing down others instead of promoting himself. The others deserved to be taken down, but the effort taken to do that diminishes the one who does the takedown. It is sort of like wrestling with pigs.

Did he get a chance?

I think anybody who started to abolish the IRS would probably pack their bags, then shoot themselves in the back of the head...if you know what I mean.

To me - I thought Christie flopped like a big balloon of blubber. I really can't stand the guy. Just a blowhard a-hole.

While Fiorina did respectably, nobody did well enough for people to say, "Yes, that is the one." Most of them did OK, but in a field this big, you need people to stand up and take notice.

Paul's tax plan may be his most interesting sales point. Did he mention it?

Paul didn't get much time to explain anything:
--------------------------------------------------
"Paul received just under 5 minutes of talking time, the least of any of the 10 participants in the debate. According to NPR’s Domenico Montanaro, the time totals were as follows:
From Reason: http://reason.com/blog/2015/08/07/ran...
1 Trump 10:30

2 Bush 8:33

3 Huck 6:32

4 Carsn/Crz 6:28

6 Kasch 6:25

7 Rubio 6:22

8 Chrste 6:03

9 Walkr 5:43

10 Paul 4:51"
--------------------------------------------------------
Paul has released a tax plan of a straight 14%(?) and abolish IRS.

Good enough to move on. Not all of them can say that.

Bravo.

I just re-watched Fiorina's answers from the debate. She is poised and convincing.
She is great at selling herself. She pushes all the right patriotic buttons. She has graduated from a failure CEO to a politician. All the answers are simplistic and lacking in realism (albeit the format of the debate doesn't allow much realism.)
One question to ask her at the next debate:
What would you do differently as POTUS to avoid the abject failure that you had at HP?

Yeah, I thought Kasich did ok.

At the end, pointing out that he is a proven, successful businessman, Trump should have summarized that Republican leadership did nothing to stop Obama after Americans in 2014 elected Republican majorities in both Houses to do just that.
Then he should have pointed out the promises of the "professional political class" next to him on stage and asked the audience, "can you, should you, trust anything they have said tonight?"

My impression is that too many of these candidates never should have entered the race. Pataki is Pro Choice so he won't get the nomination. Perry did terrible and I think he should drop out. Lindsay Graham wet himself. Governor Gilmour came in late and is too dull. Chris Christie had his moment and he used it to hug Obama. Ben Carson is a smart guy but couldn't win at this level. Rand Paul got smacked by Trump and it threw him off his game. Rubio did well enough to go on as did Kasich. Walker hurt himself. I didn't think he was well enough prepared. Jeb was the tallest. I hope the field gets wittled down quickly so we can hear more specifics especially on the economy. A good start to the campaign.