A Las Vegas debate on Tuesday night was dominated by national security, reflecting the reshaping of the 2016 presidential contest by the recent attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California.
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Republican presidential candidate former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (right) speaks as businessman Donald Trump (left) gestures and Texas Sen.
Tonight’s GOP debate is the fifth of 2015, but it’s the first in which TV News talking heads have conceded the “unthinkable”: former reality-TV star Donald Trump could well the party’s nominee.
‘You know, you started off over here, Jeb, ‘ Trump said, motioning to his center-stage podium.
I found it amusing that while Jeb Bush was lighting into Trump, the CNN cameras went to split screen, showing Trump making faces and rolling his eyes.
Bush also portrayed himself as more knowledgeable on policy issues, mocking Trump, who once said he gets military advice from watching television shows.
“Leadership is not about attacking people and disparaging people”.
Trump in September held a press conference to rule out a third party run, but has since said he will reconsider if he feels he is not treated fairly by other Republicans. Last week, the governor said he doesn’t “believe he’s hateful and I don’t believe he’s a bigot”.
“Now that he’s been in the lead in the polls for so many months, I think people would say he has a credible chance”, said WMU political science professor Peter Wielhouwer.
Responding to a question about whether he’d be willing to order a strike against ISIS that could result in the deaths of innocent children, Carson pointed to his experience as a neurosurgeon.
“I would be very, very firm with families. But later on, they love me”. “Donald, you’re not going to be able to insult your way to the presidency”, Bush fired back.
Sen. Burr, R-N.C., told a group of reporters Wednesday that his staff would review the debate transcript, according to reports from the Associated Press and others.
He said the next president would need to have strong judgment skills. We’re going to get rid of that.’ What are you going to do, though? “Well let’s see, I am at 42 percent and you’re at 3, so, so far I’m doing better”.
ISIS is the most significant threat facing the United States, said Rubio, and is expanding its grip in the Middle East while plotting in Europe, Jordan and Yemen.
Christie on Wednesday also said he would order Russian planes that violate a no-fly zone in Syria to be shot down.
Despite enticements from the CNN moderators, both Rubio and Cruz pointedly declined to go after Trump – even on his proposed Muslim ban. “I personally don’t think that’s a good idea”.
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“We are at a time when we need more tools in our intelligence toolbox not less”.
