printOverall assessment of the 11th GOP candidates’ debate in Detroit, 3/3/2016: Megyn Kelly was well-behaved; she had the sense to cut the snide comments and the flirty crap. Donald Trump did well except for serious pitfalls on the foreign, skilled-worker visa front, his university, Edward Snowden (100% hero), and other odds and ends. Ted Cruz cruised; no highs no lows. That’s the thing. One expects more from Cruz but one is forever disappointed. Marco Rubio was a robotic mess, if that oxymoron makes sense. He does, however, have a knack for the quick quip. John Kasich surprised in his critique of Hillary Clinton’s war in Libya, but as is always the case with the Republicans, they apply different criteria to Bush’s war crimes. In other words, you can’t trust them. Essentially, if Republicans launch an unwarranted war it’s considered a good thing; if the Dems do the same it’s bad.
TWEETS:
MOST IMPORTANT:
#Trump adopts the talking points of the Biz Lobby; wants more foreign worker visas. He known 0 about H-1B mill. Ask the #IEEE #GOPDebate
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
#TedCruz introduced amendments to increase the annual #H1B visa cap from 65,000 to between 300K & 325K https://t.co/ICmAThoWLX
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
#Trump seems ignorant of #H1B visa glut & dispossession of American workers. #GOPDebate moves on too quickly https://t.co/WxephWdBiY
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
Conveniently, everybody @ the #GOPDebate ignores the racial politics that have also helped destroy #Detroit https://t.co/2CGewbAQRx
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
#Cruz closing: 'I will have your back.' Trump closing: 'I'll bring jobs back.'https://t.co/Xk44PdjvVw. #GOPDebate
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
UPDATE: My politcal instincts are GOOD. Trump is already responding to the H-1B missteps I highlighted:
MY POSITION ON VISAS#MakeAmericaGreatAgain #Trump2016https://t.co/JGmOd5gr5z pic.twitter.com/OLg6N3Ug9U
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 4, 2016
HUMDRUM:
Awkward, but par for the course: @ 10:59 minutes watch #Rubio snub #Trump & reject latter's outstretched hand. https://t.co/JlqmdLpRPt
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
Q: Will you all support the #Republican nominee, even if he's #RealDonaldTrump ? Yes, yes and Yes. Trump says yes too. #GOPDebate
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
#JohnKasich is a buffoon who'll arm #Ukrainians and read Putin the riot act, while #Trump will get the Europeans to protect their borders.
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
#Cruz recommends deep breathing 2 Trump. #MarcoRubio cracks joke: when Cruz & #Trump are done with the Yoga, he'll jump in. #GOPDebate
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
#JohnKasich, aka here come the water works, will lend a shoulder to cry on and an ear to bend for the people, Joy! #GOPDebate
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
#MegynKelly asks about #Trump's core his changing positions: Trump replies, 'I have a strong core, but you have to be flexible.' #GOPDebate
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
#RealDonaldTrump rattles off a list of army brass he may hire, mentions Colonel Jack H. Jacobs, an honorable man, indeed. @ColJackJacobs
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
Half-time assessment: #MegynKelly is well behaved. #Marcobot is in a sweat. #Trump is commanding, nailing it. Cruz is cruising. #GOPDebate
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
#Trump: You need a tug-and-pull in negotiations + flexibility 2 make deals. Expresses admiration for #Cruz tenacity. https://t.co/qiyEeeynlk
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
Did #Trump tell the editorial board of the #NewYorkTimes that he'd be flexible with respect to promises on immigration? #GOPDebate
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
#DepOfEducation will be cut, says #Trump, the #EPA will be trimmed, except for small tit-bits, IRS too + waste, fraud & abuse. #GOPDebate
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
Little #MarcoRubio touts https://t.co/BMpkeGkDRD for the swag he sell; it's all made in the USA. Marco the job creator. #GOPDebate
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
"This little guy": #RealDonaldTrump's moniker for #MarcoRubio. Very apt! Light weight works too. #GOPDebate
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
#MarcoRubio is asked, 'How many jobs have you created, as compared to #Trump'? Is this #FoxNews? #GOPDebate https://t.co/JlqmdLpRPt
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
#JohnKasich is touting his Democrat credentials—the Dems tell him he's The One. So does the #NewYorkTimes. #GOPDebate
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
Where is #ChrisChristie when u need him? Robo- #Rubio has just launched into his bot routine. https://t.co/JlqmdLpRPt #GOPDebate
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
#TedCruz is reminded by #Trump that he Trump has earned a million votes over and above #Cruz https://t.co/JlqmdLHte3 #GOPDebate
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016
Little #Rubio is playing to a friendly crowd @ the #GOPDebate https://t.co/JlqmdLpRPt
— Ilana Mercer (@IlanaMercer) March 4, 2016