CNN Republican debate 2/25/2016

[OriZ 3,157]

The fact that so many people just "know" that he's crazy as heck but are voting for him is proof to me about how political correctness has suppressed the public discourse. It's somewhat like the hypocrisy over masturbation. You might do it, but you'll never admit it.

Well you just kind of basically did

I do not personally like Trump, as made evident by my posts. The kind of tyrannical things he wants to do(like the recent stupid comment about making it easier to sue news outlets) I think do not belong in a free country in the 21st century and it seems like he genuinely doesn't get that.

However, I have also said this before and I'll say it again - I'll take any GOP nominee over Clinton or Sanders, so make of that what you will. I trust the checks and balances to prevent any president from really going too far, and in my thread about the market a couple months ago I already gave an example of Trump being the nominee, then beating Clinton and becoming president, and every day that passes that example seems more and more real. It would not surprise me at all to have "President Trump" and the best thing about it will be - all those liberals that claim if he gets elected are going to leave the country - well I can't wait to see all those planes lined up.

[ExPatty 502]

Well you just kind of basically did

I do not personally like Trump, as made evident by my posts. The kind of tyrannical things he wants to do(like the recent stupid comment about making it easier to sue news outlets) I think do not belong in a free country in the 21st century and it seems like he genuinely doesn't get that.

However, I have also said this before and I'll say it again - I'll take any GOP nominee over Clinton or Sanders, so make of that what you will. I trust the checks and balances to prevent any president from really going too far, and in my thread about the market a couple months ago I already gave an example of Trump being the nominee, then beating Clinton and becoming president, and every day that passes that example seems more and more real. It would not surprise me at all to have "President Trump" and the best thing about it will be - all those liberals that claim if he gets elected are going to leave the country - well I can't wait to see all those planes lined up.

Checks and balances can only go so far (see: Dubya), but I agree, there are things he's said that are never going to happen. And some he's said that could. I have been pissed off about huge amounts of illegal immigration for many, many years. I've seen massive swathes of this country complain about it and the politicians ostensibly representing them do nothing. Neither republicans or democrats have taken it seriously. If Trump can actually build a wall (and technically there is nothing stopping it and it is a pretty easy project, to be frank) I'll consider that a big win.

Why would I vote for Clinton? Lately she has been campaigning for only 13% of the country, as if nobody else has any concerns or needs.

[Dakine10 5,452]

Curious: how do you define "idiot" in the intended context?

I defined it as village idiot, ie. someone known for their ignorance or nonsensical views. Also having a high resistance to change and a low tolerance for those who are different.

If you are saying the Cruz you met in person comes across differently than the image he projects and the actions he has taken nationally, then please, ask him to show the brilliant and kind hearted, good listener side more often. I don't think many people have seen that.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

The wall is 'a pretty easy project' is seriously hilarious!

[ExPatty 502]

The wall is 'a pretty easy project' is seriously hilarious!

You know a wall already covers 1/3rd of the southern border, right? Pretty sure a $17 T economy can figure out how to finish the other 1200 miles.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

You know a wall already covers 1/3rd of the southern border, right? Pretty sure a $17 T economy can figure out how to finish the other 1200 miles.

I think a wall is not a terribly difficult thing to build.. I have no doubt it can be done.

I also think tunnels and explosives and battering rams and wire cutters and jet-skis and boats are also easily build-able or obtainable. If the government is serious about controlling immigration they will make it extremely difficult to earn money here if you are not here legally. They do that by having extremely steep penalties for hiring illegal workers, make reporting the activity easy (and offer big rewards for doing so) and quickly following up on any reported activity.

We will have companies whining and using scare tactics talking about prices going up and they will be right - but then if the product they produce isn't worth paying a living wage to produce they should be making something else. Also this is how innovation comes into practice - at the start of the civil war states that had slaves had economies that were on average one tenth the size of states where it was illegal. Free labor did not build anything, it stunted growth everywhere it was. Where labor costs were higher they were an order of magnitude more efficient and pulling away.

I think Sanders has it half right here - by raising tariffs on items made by cheap labor (and basing it on labor costs) he can force other companies in other parts of the world to pay a higher wage and level the playing field not by lowering our standard of living but by forcing others to raise theirs by giving the workers a larger share of the profits... That formula depends on controlling immigration so that cheap labor does not happen on the home soil - neither party is suggesting an even slightly realistic solution on that portion. I don't have faith in a wall to do that - not on its own anyway.

Edit: Sorry it got a bit soapbox-ish

Edited February 27, 2016 by OnMyWayID

[smilesammich 10,727]

i'd rather see money go towards rebuilding public infrastructure. it seems obscenely foolish to build a massive wall when roads, bridges, water...the basics, are in direct need of attention.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

You know a wall already covers 1/3rd of the southern border, right? Pretty sure a $17 T economy can figure out how to finish the other 1200 miles.

Do we mine the waters and beaches on each end of the wall?

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

I agree with the muddy ditch crowd on this one. A wall is populist Hoare dokey

[TBoneTX 45,273]

Far, far easier to build the wall on dry-land border territory than on the riverbank.

[ExPatty 502]

Do we mine the waters and beaches on each end of the wall?

It's called the US coast guard.

As for fixing whatever attracts illegals here, forget it. That is clearly not happening. Many progressives wept this year when it turned out homeland was going to physically deport people who had already ignored deportation orders. Best way to deal with illegals is stop them from coming entirely.

There are also only 20,000 border patrol agents in total in the US. Triple that figure along with a wall and more drones.

[Darnell 8,478]

Watching this now. It's amazing to see the front runner of a major party act as he does. I can't watch without laughing out loud regularly. I have to say I'm looking forward to him and Hillary being on stage. It is going to be an absolute farce and spectacle. He will say things to her nobody else has ever dared to. It will be a treat, the ratings are going to be stratospheric on those debates.

He also just said he's willing to start a trade war with Mexico over the wall if they won't pay for it.

I'm sorta cheesed-off, as the Moore's Opera house can easily seat 5000. only 800 tickets were made available, and then for the 'public' there was a raffle of 25 slots. That's it.

I did have fun watching it in the student center with my house krewe, though - we brought 50 pounds o chinese finger food and just passed it out whilst screaming at the big screen.

[lostinblue 1,989]

Do we mine the waters and beaches on each end of the wall?

The wall will work then except for each end . That can be handled.

[lostinblue 1,989]

Far, far easier to build the wall on dry-land border territory than on the riverbank.

Just move it back a few hundred yards . We build floodwalls along rivers all the time .

No different just build them higher

[Darnell 8,478]

Do we mine the waters and beaches on each end of the wall?

it's been done before, before the wall existed... some gov units did it, then it was refreshed by the locals on the usa side of the border. it was a long long long time ago, and mostly was focused on the stealing of cows.