First GOP Debate

[time4fun]

Big takeaways so far:

1) Hearing the candidates talk about Pence's refusal to overturn the election results was the first time it felt like Trump made a huge mistake not showing tonight.

2) The audience reactions during that part of the debate were flabbergasting. It was mostly (with one major exception) cheers for people who were calling Trump out for his efforts to overturn the election. It turned into a near consensus from the candidates on the situation. This could conceivably, finally be the turning point in the Republican narrative about what Trump did.

3) This is the first time in 15 years I've seen a group of Republican candidates *not* racing to out-crazy each other. For the most part, there seems to be far less extremism in the responses than we've gotten used to seeing in the GOP. As a Democrat, that's concerning. As an American, I dare say it makes me feel hopeful that maybe the GOP can finally start moving on from that extremism.

Follow up: Nope. We're back to talking about going after trans kids and eliminating the Department of Education. I may have been too generous in my last assessment.

[Parkbandit]

Big takeaways so far:

1) Hearing the candidates talk about Pence's refusal to overturn the election results was the first time it felt like Trump made a huge mistake not showing tonight.

2) The audience reactions during that part of the debate were flabbergasting. It was mostly (with one major exception) cheers for people who were calling Trump out for his efforts to overturn the election. It turned into a near consensus from the candidates on the situation. This could conceivably, finally be the turning point in the Republican narrative about what Trump did.

3) This is the first time in 15 years I've seen a group of Republican candidates *not* racing to out-crazy each other. For the most part, there seems to be far less extremism in the responses than we've gotten used to seeing in the GOP. As a Democrat, that's concerning. As an American, I dare say it makes me feel hopeful that maybe the GOP can finally start moving on from that extremism.

Follow up: Nope. We're back to talking about going after trans kids and eliminating the Department of Education. I may have been too generous in my last assessment.

Trump not showing up last night was probably the best political move he has ever made.