Trump cheats at golf - the ONE and ONLY politics thread

With the news that Donald Trump would be bowing out of Thursday night's Fox News debate, MSNBC's Chris Matthews seemed dubious at best over the network's ratings without Trump.

“Who’s going to watch a debate between the two Cuban guys?" he asked during Tuesday night's episode of "Hardball." "Who’s gonna watch a debate between Rubio, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz? Who cares?

Chris Matthews: 'Who’s going to watch a debate between the two Cuban guys?'

 

I bet the ratings bear his judgement out.

 

If not his racism.

 

He probably should have said "Between the Cuban-American guy and the Canadian-American guy" instead.

 

If the two Cubans were Luis Tiant and Desi Arnaz Jr., I'd certainly watch.

 

Babaloo!!!!!!

 

"Megyn, you have some 'splainin' to do ...."

 

"Mr. Tiant, some say that you balk every time you pitch. What is your response to that?"

 

He was leading in two polls in Iowa this morning, with Cruz fading a bit. I wonder if Cruz has peaked. If he has, that's bad for Trump.

 

I'm not going to do the whole, "skipping the debate is going to lead to his demise," but I do think it's a mistake on his part.

But, he's unbelievable.

The "he's a Canadian" attack is unfair, but it's also been devastating. What Trump has done to Cruz in two weeks is incredible. He's beaten the hell out of him.

Iowa being a caucus state still add a layer to this, though I understand that a Republican caucus takes much less time/commitment than attending a Democrat caucus.

I do think there's a question of whether or not Trump's supporters come out, but I think he may very well win Iowa, and if he wins Iowa, he's the likely nominee.

 

I think he needs Cruz to remain viable, though, because once Cruz is gone, the other candidates will almost certainly rally around Rubio. None of them want the son of a bitch Cruz to win this.

 

Cruz is his best foil, for the reasons you mention.

But, the Bush strategy of carpet bombing everyone but Trump, to set up an eventual Trump/Bush fight isn't working.

Trump is at 40% or so. Cruz's votes aren't going to Bush. There doesn't seem to be 50% of the vote for the establishment lane, even if they could consolidate around one candidate.

Kasich and Christie will both do OK in New Hampshire. Bush's Super PAC has been running attack ads in NH going after Kasich! LOL.

It's unclear who gets knocked out after Iowa and New Hampshire.

Even if we assume that Huck, Paul, Santorum, and Fiorina drop out, the establishment lane is still packed.

Rubio probably is the one guy who could unite the "outsider" and "establishment" voters, but Bush has dropped $20 million in negative ads on him.

It's a shit show.