9:16 PM: I think Rubio and Cruz have landed some punches on whatever the Polish worker thing is and the ridiculously crooked Trump University but so far at least, I don’t think it’s nearly enough. Trump is still totally dominating the conversation.
9:20 PM: Yep, totally dominating.
9:21 PM: I’m not sure the moderator is going to win this debate over polling methodology with Donald Trump – not with his core audience.
9:25 PM: It’s amazing that we’re having a debate about Justice Roberts “approving Obamacare.”
9:26 PM: I feel like Ted and Hugh’s Federalist Society-speak conversation here basically goes over the heads or under the concern of the great majority of voters watching.
9:30 PM: “Millions of women are helped by Planned Parenthood.” Moments like that are hard to fully quantify or place with Trump. Cervical or breast cancer surveillance, well, yeah. Good point! But basically unspeakable in Republican debate. So I mean, give Trump some credit. Zero reason to say that in a GOP debate. But there it is.
9:33 PM: What is Ben Carson saying?
9:34 PM: Let’s just say it. Rubio looks nervous and a little scared.
9:37 PM: Trump coasting so effortlessly that he’s doing an impromptu comedy routine.
9:38 PM: Not that it’s going to matter but where did Trump get the idea that allowing people to purchase insurance over state lines was part of Obamacare until the last minute and then it got pulled? I mean, what?
9:42 PM: There’s actual a real policy issue that Kasich is talking about now – having transparency about pricing and outcomes. And one of the things Obamacare does is surface more of that information. It’s a real issue.
8:42 PM: What’s going to create a good deal of tension and perhaps awesomeness tonight is that Cruz and Rubio probably rightly believe that they can only avoid defeat by landing some sort of crushing knock out blow against Trump. Something as shattering as what Christie did to Rubio.
8:44 PM: I feel like the preying on people’s fears train has probably left the station.
8:46 PM: Hearing opening statements reminds me how desperately the GOP needed a solid candidate in this race to go up against Trump. Didn’t happen.
8:50 PM: Not even joking: Rubio’s mouth already dry.
8:53 PM: Rubio actually doing half way decent here.
9:04 PM: In this discussion about the wall, Trump is not only killing it with his core audience but he’s making it hard to remember that the other candidates are even on the stage.
9:06 PM: The Trump University thing is, I think, one thing that could really hurt Trump. But Rubes ain’t the guy to do it.
9:10 PM: Rubes totally dying here.
In desperate, cynical effort to lock down the critical asshole vote in his battle with Donald Trump, Ted Cruz is now personally blocking Flint water deal.
It’s been overshadowed by the Supreme Court fight, but this was the week when Senate Republicans began to realize that Donald Trump is their likely presidential nominee. As Lauren Fox reports, they are befuddled.
No law school! No bar exam! Just get elected to the Missouri General Assembly and after two years you’ll be a bona fide lawyer! No questions asked! You’ll also be automatically eligible to serve as a state judge!
If this cockamamie bill passes.
Despite epic anti-Trump rant, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is going down with the ship:
Asked whether he’d endorse the billionaire businessman if nominated, Graham said, “I’ve got a ticket on the Titanic. So I am like on the team that bought a ticket on the Titanic after we saw the movie. This is what happens if you nominate Trump.”
I’m not sure there’s any better example of how Donald Trump has disemboweled or perhaps lobotomized the GOP than having Mitt Romney be their lead on trying to taunt Trump into releasing his tax returns, warning that he knows about some deep dark secret Trump is hiding.
They don’t know what happened to them, who they are or what to do.
A poll out today shows Ted Cruz beating Donald Trump in Texas by a large margin and Trump beating Marco Rubio in Florida by a comparable margin. So as I understand the rules, this means Cruz is now the Republican nominee.
Grassley explains refusal to meet with nominee, hold hearings or vote: “I’m here to do my job.”
As I said, they need this debate to end immediately. It doesn’t get any better from here.