Rand Paul debate preview: Hit Donald Trump harder

[CaptUSA]

My prediction? Trump is going to flame out soon. It won't be Rand that does it, but when it happens, many of the GOP voters will remember who it was that warned them. Rand is playing the long game here. This is the type of strategy that the pundits will dismiss and the knee-jerk reactionaries in here will decry, but it will end up paying dividends soon.

When the sheep start getting attacked by the wolf, they will remember the one that tried to pull off the wool early on.

 

[francisco]

Tear him a new asshole Rand! And everyone else on stage.

I'm with phill (and Rand) on this.

Since the Trumpeteers seem to value "plain speaking"--I say it's time for Rand to lay out some real truth bombs about who is for what.

 

[PCKY]

Rand's favorable ratings and poll numbers went down drastically after his performance in his first debate. So now Rand wants to double down on the same losing strategy? How is that smart? He just needs to let voters know what he's for and try to come across as more likable to voters. Voters don't want to vote for someone who does nothing but constantly attack the other candidates. And I say that as someone who despises Trump too, but going out of his way to attack Trump will do nothing but backfire.

I kind of feel the same, but 1) he might have to get in line 2) if he stays quiet and reserved he goes the way of Walker. He'll need to walk a tight rope for sure...just no cheap shots.

 

[ThePaleoLibertarian]

There is Zero proof Rands attack on Trump harmed him as the Trumpsters like to claim. Rand has been going down a long time and what little drop he had after the debate has NOT been traced to attacking trump.

It didn't help him one bit, nor did it hurt Trump and it alienated the anti-establishment GOP voters that Rand will need to take from Trump if he hopes to win. It does nothing to boost his numbers, and it makes him look like another establishment hack. It's already a failed strategy, and he needs to drop it.

 

[phill4paul]

That's aw-ite.

One day people'll learn to listen to me and Jesse.

Trollin'. Neg rep.

 

[BGfree]

?!

 

[JK/SEA]

i suggest Rand just laughs at Trump as soon as he opens his yappa...

 

[klamath]

It didn't help him one bit, nor did it hurt Trump and it alienated the anti-establishment GOP voters that Rand will need to take from Trump if he hopes to win. It does nothing to boost his numbers, and it makes him look like another establishment hack. It's already a failed strategy, and he needs to drop it.

Trump voters are not going to be Rand voters. They are nothing alike. A good 70% of the GOP can't fucking stand Trump and they are the voters rand should be going after. Why should rand try and appease 30% when he has a 70% block to go after.

 

[Patrick Henry]

As folks know, I am pro "attack" Trump. Attack Trump hard on his liberalism and let him put his foot in his mouth. Rand can show that Trump is a leftist.

 

[klamath]

For every Trump supporter Rand appeases and gets, that incredible dump and obnoxious voter would drive two away from Rand. I DON'T want them supporting RAND. They are death to any serious campaign.

 

[phill4paul]

This is local and therefore subjective. I've noticed Trump stickers and window paints on vehicles of late. Most of these individuals like his "Give 'em hell attitude." Doesn't matter that they don't know a single position by him or his support for Democrat candidate when it suited him.
There is nothing wrong with attacking Trump. As long as he attacks others.
I hate to say it but this is the year of the fed up and bombastic. It reaches just about every primary voter.
If you are not seen as a fighter you will lose.
This is Trumps game without substance. Without actual legislative participation.

Rand needs to be able to say to Trump, on X issue, "I have done <this.> What have YOU done. You've done nothing. You had a reality TV show. Just like when you were called to service and received an exemption you've never served the American people. I've been in the trenches in Washington. Fighting the Washington Machine. You've been paying off politicians on both sides for personal gain."

Less than 30 seconds. Kill shot.

 

[klamath]

This is local and therefore subjective. I've noticed Trump stickers and window paints on vehicles of late. Most of these individuals like his "Give 'em hell attitude." Doesn't matter that they don't know a single position by him or his support for Democrat candidate when it suited him.
There is nothing wrong with attacking Trump. As long as he attacks others.
I hate to say it but this is the year of the fed up and bombastic. It reaches just about every primary voter.
If you are not seen as a fighter you will lose.
This is Trumps game without substance. Without actual legislative participation.

Rand needs to be able to say to Trump, on X issue, "I have done <this.> What have YOU done. You've done nothing. You had a reality TV show. Just like when you were called to service and received an exemption you've never served the American people. I've been in the trenches in Washington. Fighting the Washington Machine. You've been paying off politicians on both sides for personal gain."

Less than 30 seconds. Kill shot.

That would be great. +1

 

[ThePaleoLibertarian]

Trump voters are not going to be Rand voters. They are nothing alike. A good 70% of the GOP can't fucking stand Trump and they are the voters rand should be going after. Why should rand try and appease 30% when he has a 70% block to go after.

Other than immigration, Trump supporters don't vote for him because of his positions. They support him because he's viewed as an anti-establishment outsider, speaking truth to power and shattering mainstream narratives. The anti-establishment vote that Trump has monopolized is exactly thevote that Rand needs to court. The voters that can't stand Trump are primarily the neocons and the Republican old guard, who won't vote for Rand in a primary.

 

[Liberty74]

It didn't help him one bit, nor did it hurt Trump and it alienated the anti-establishment GOP voters that Rand will need to take from Trump if he hopes to win. It does nothing to boost his numbers, and it makes him look like another establishment hack. It's already a failed strategy, and he needs to drop it.

There is no evidence it's a failed strategy. There has only been one debate for crying out loud. There will be at least a dozen more. The average Trumpbot doesn't know anything about Trump's true political ties and history, hence a fake. All they know is he owns casinos and wants to make Mexico pay to build a wall.

Give it a few months. Once Trump's numbers start to fall, that's all you will hear on the news and those numbers will fall even faster. Anyone looking for a new home? Please stand up, please stand up?

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Immigration is the ONLY reason anybody is supporting Trump. He's promised to deport all illegals within 2 years. This is the free market at work, Trump is taking a position wildly supported by voters and profiting immensely from it. It's totally bizarre and illogical that no other candidate is on the bandwagon with him. It's suicidal in fact. Instead of going with the will of the people, they are irrationally taking a stance that practically no one supports.

It's like Trump is the one lemming that doesn't jump off the cliff, the only one not removing himself from the gene pool. What I want to know is WHY Rand isn't taking a firm stance against illegal immigration? Why is he bending over backwards to appease Latino groups?

 

[KEEF]

Rand previewing a Trump attack is one of the few ways inwhich he can get some real air time from the moderators. A strategic attack while also showing yourself as anti establishment, as spoken of by phil4paul 0, CaptUSA, & others.

 

[ThePaleoLibertarian]

There is no evidence it's a failed strategy. There has only been one debate for crying out loud. There will be at least a dozen more. The average Trumpbot doesn't know anything about Trump's true political ties and history, hence a fake. All they know is he owns casinos and wants to make Mexico pay to build a wall.

Give it a few months. Once Trump's numbers start to fall, that's all you will hear on the news and those numbers will fall even faster. Anyone looking for a new home? Please stand up, please stand up?

The evidence that it's a bad strategy is that it didn't help Rand's numbers, nor hurt Trump's. I'm not saying attacking Trump will always be a bad idea, but when and how Rand did it was a very poor course of action.

 

[RonPaulMall]

Immigration is the ONLY reason anybody is supporting Trump. He's promised to deport all illegals within 2 years. This is the free market at work, Trump is taking a position wildly supported by voters and profiting immensely from it. It's totally bizarre and illogical that no other candidate is on the bandwagon with him. It's suicidal in fact. Instead of going with the will of the people, they are irrationally taking a stance that practically no one supports.

It's like Trump is the one lemming that doesn't jump off the cliff, the only one not removing himself from the gene pool. What I want to know is WHY Rand isn't taking a firm stance against illegal immigration? Why is he bending over backwards to appease Latino groups?

Walker has all but admitted that Murdoch and the WSJ successfully pressured him to drop the plan to come out strong on immigration. It is not "Latino" groups doing the pressuring. This is a Donor Class vs Voters issue. Trump is the only candidate that stood up to the donor class, and he is reaping the rewards.

 

[ThePaleoLibertarian]

Immigration is the ONLY reason anybody is supporting Trump. He's promised to deport all illegals within 2 years. This is the free market at work, Trump is taking a position wildly supported by voters and profiting immensely from it. It's totally bizarre and illogical that no other candidate is on the bandwagon with him. It's suicidal in fact. Instead of going with the will of the people, they are irrationally taking a stance that practically no one supports.

It's like Trump is the one lemming that doesn't jump off the cliff, the only one not removing himself from the gene pool. What I want to know is WHY Rand isn't taking a firm stance against illegal immigration? Why is he bending over backwards to appease Latino groups?

Rand is absolutely terrified of being called racist, so he's going out of his way to avoid talking about anything that might give the media the opportunity to level that accusation. Anything to avoid that dreaded scarlet R. Of course, that won't be a strategy that gets him the nomination; if anything, it might very well have already doomed his campaign.

 

[klamath]

Other than immigration, Trump supporters don't vote for him because of his positions. They support him because he's viewed as an anti-establishment outsider, speaking truth to power and shattering mainstream narratives. The anti-establishment vote that Trump has monopolized is exactly thevote that Rand needs to court. The voters that can't stand Trump are primarily the neocons and the Republican old guard, who won't vote for Rand in a primary.

Then they should fucking love Rand when he attacks a man that had power handed to him as a kid and never had anyone shove the fact that he is one big liar that has never spoken a word of truth in his life and never been challenged.