The people on that stage aren't uneducated. They're just pandering to the uneducated whites by suggesting that all their problems can be blamed on black and brown people. And there are many people who are eating that up. It's really vile.

Actually, they are all highly educated.

Even Huckabee?

Actually, they are all highly educated. Who blamed blacks?

The people on that stage aren't uneducated. They're just pandering to the uneducated whites by suggesting that all their problems can be blamed on black and brown people. And there are many people who are eating that up. It's really vile.

Crime = blacks
Immigrants = Mexicans

You need to learn the code used by your own party.

Illegal immigration is a problem, no? It isn't just Mexicans coming in illegally.

I am not a legal expert, how many times do I have to say it?

Illegal immigration is a problem, no? It isn't just Mexicans coming in illegally.

It's amazing how voting season comes around and all of a sudden illegal immigration is no big deal. I wonder why...

SH, I am just glad to see all this interest in the Republicans. I find politics to be compelling even if the actual governing part is frustrating. It has to be hard for Liberals to look at the composition of the House or the control of state legislatures and wonder how so many citizens can vote for Republicans.

He may be the smartest of them all. The guy has no chance, but he's standing on the national stage plotting his next book. #money

Our hotel smelled like dead hooker vagina (before you ask I had gotten a detailed description from beardown)

Some of them, I assume, are good people.

I didnt hear crime discussed once last night. Maybe I missed it but I watched it twice.

Illegal immigration is a problem, no? It isn't just Mexicans coming in illegally.

A problem for who? And let's not pretend that when Trump is slamming immigrants that he's talking about anyone but Mexicans. He can throw in all the "It's not just Mexicans, there are illegal Asians here too" that he wants. He's not fooling anyone.

A problem for who? And let's not pretend that when Trump is slamming immigrants that he's talking about anyone but Mexicans. He can throw in all the "It's not just Mexicans, there are illegal Asians here too" that he wants. He's not fooling anyone. Carson wants to build a Berlin Wall style wall. He actually described it- "You've got two walls with a road in between for armed vehicles." And then that goof actually said Mexicans should be allowed in but only as fruit pickers.

It's a problem for all citizens, but especially those who are unemployed or live in poor areas.

Why?

It's a problem for all citizens, but especially those who are unemployed or live in poor areas.

They talked about Global Warming and Income Inequality. You just don't like their approach to the problems. When I watch the Democratic debates, I won't like any of their solutions. It's ok. Like it or not, the Republicans have a political base, and these folks represent different parts of the party. I'd be worried if we all thought the same way. Maybe you think there is one right way of thinking. For my part, I appreciate different ideas to solve problems even though I disagree with many of those ideas.

Well, I think the entire point of the United States was that it was welcoming to those who weren't making it elsewhere for whatever reason. Everyone here came from somewhere else. The "BUT WE DID IT LEGALLY!!!" screed is just a canard.

SH, I am just glad to see all this interest in the Republicans. I find politics to be compelling even if the actual governing part is frustrating. It has to be hard for Liberals to look at the composition of the House or the control of state legislatures and wonder how so many citizens can vote for Republicans.

Republicans truly believe that you need to create a bigger pie and use education and training to lift people out of minimum wage jobs. The left focuses on pushing up the floor, while the Republicans seek to raise the ceiling. They talked at length about ways to grow the economy

Are you saying that uneducated white men have "always been on top?"

That idea seems problematic.

Uneducated white men began to vote increasingly for Republicans in the 80s and 90s when the Democrats adopted a neoliberal economic agenda and thereby betrayed their blue collar constituency. Because both parties failed to serve working class economic interests, cultural politics--abortion, gay rights, affirmative action, etc--replaced economic policy as the main factor in determining political allegiance for this voting bloc.

Well, I take it back.

It's good for the rich people in the country.

Within reason and with logical limits. It's the same reason we aren't taking in 10 million Syrian refugees.

We have unemployment here. We have a terrible minimum wage. We have huge poor areas that are filled, either by causality or correlation, with illegal immigrants. I just hate how it becomes a huge political tool by both sides. The Democrats view illegal immigrants and their friends as votes and that is it. Sure, building a wall is stupid. Deporting them all at once is stupid. There are much better ways to accomplish it.

What are you trying to accomplish specifically? Deporting anyone who is an illegal immigrant? And what would be the better ways to do it?

By almost any estimate, illegal immigrants far outnumber the number of unemployed/low-skill workers. If we deported everyone, gradually or immediately, it wouid be a disaster to several industries. And that's not even getting into the fact that immigration and more open borders help spur economic growth, not deter it.

I am not sure there is much in the realm of new in the political arena. Here is what I liked.

1) I appreciated Kasich's approach to the Iran Agreement. He is willing to give it a chance and only reimpose sanctions if they violated the treaty.
2) I thought Ran Paul was spot on with the 10th Amendment and State's Rights including drug legalization.
3) There are several tax plans on the table to either move to a deduction less flat tax or a consumption based tax.
4) Several folks recognized a few problems in the immigration system. It was stated that 40% of the "illegal" problem is from folks overstaying visas. Clearly we need a new regime for folks coming legally but overstaying.
5) Christie advocated increased use of nuclear and solar as well as cap and trade schemes to reduce power plant pollution. He cited his own state as improving in that area.
6) Many folks agreed that we need to balance the budget and address the ever growing $18T debt problem. Social security fixes were mentioned by Christie.
7) I liked the debate about the role of the courts and the rule of law. Some argued for ignoring the courts, which of course we should not do. Others stood up and basically said issues like gay marriage are now settled law and we should move on. That was nice to see.
Most candidates agreed that we need a new approach to dealing with non violent offenders. That will reduce the amount of people in jail.
9) Everyone recognized our failed approach to ISIS and Syria. I lean toward the approach of having a strong military but rarely using it, meaning dialogue with our enemies while projecting power. I would not want boots on the ground, and lean toward candidates who take a cautious approach to such matters.
10) I do not like the government shutdown idea over "petty" matters. Some want to shut it down again, while others talked about being restrained and pragmatic about budget issues.

There's my top 10. I watch the entirety of both debates.