Trump vs. Megyn Kelly *UPDATE* Trump disinvited from RedState gathering

[Fuzzy Bear]

Frank Luntz does have some pretty stupid people on his panels, but bashing him and Kelly is just not presidential.

As for Megyn Kelly, look, let's get real here. Megyn Kelly is smart, articulate, and very attractive. Trump married a woman who modeled, but really isn't that hot and she's kinda dumb. Trump's wife has no real talent, anyone can pose for photos. Kelly is a talented commentator and news person. So, maybe there is some jealousy going on here.

FOX News is Unfair and Unbalanced.  The way they run their GOP Presidential Debates brings this out into the open.  In 2008, the FOX panel would ask their favored candidates questions about policy to display their greater knowledge of foreign policy, but not all the candidates would get to answer that question.  Then, they'd come to Ron Paul and ask him about whether or not he believed in the doctrines of 9/11 "Truthers" (which Paul called them on).  It was their way of putting a candidate on the defensive with questions that had nothing to do with public policy that served no purpose but to reinforce a negative perception of a candidate FOX didn't like that had nothing to do with public policy or governing.

Megyn Kelly did the same thing with Donald Trump last night, and got called on it by Trump.  Actually, she got exposed as a stooge, which she is.  Trump is, of course, who he is, and he did what he had to do.  He's not the first candidate FOX has deliberately tried to set up to look bad.  And I get it; that's part of the game.  But don't start telling me that Megyn Kelly is a "journalist" or FOX News is "unbiased". 

[Fuzzy Bear]

Frank Luntz does have some pretty stupid people on his panels, but bashing him and Kelly is just not presidential.

As for Megyn Kelly, look, let's get real here. Megyn Kelly is smart, articulate, and very attractive. Trump married a woman who modeled, but really isn't that hot and she's kinda dumb. Trump's wife has no real talent, anyone can pose for photos. Kelly is a talented commentator and news person. So, maybe there is some jealousy going on here.

FOX News is Unfair and Unbalanced.  The way they run their GOP Presidential Debates brings this out into the open.  In 2008, the FOX panel would ask their favored candidates questions about policy to display their greater knowledge of foreign policy, but not all the candidates would get to answer that question.  Then, they'd come to Ron Paul and ask him about whether or not he believed in the doctrines of 9/11 "Truthers" (which Paul called them on).  It was their way of putting a candidate on the defensive with questions that had nothing to do with public policy that served no purpose but to reinforce a negative perception of a candidate FOX didn't like that had nothing to do with public policy or governing.

Megyn Kelly did the same thing with Donald Trump last night, and got called on it by Trump.  Actually, she got exposed as a stooge, which she is.  Trump is, of course, who he is, and he did what he had to do.  He's not the first candidate FOX has deliberately tried to set up to look bad.  And I get it; that's part of the game.  But don't start telling me that Megyn Kelly is a "journalist" or FOX News is "unbiased".  

The reason Fox asked Ron Paul about 9/11 truthers is because conspiracy kooks supported him. Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, and Fred Thompson supporters were mainstream. They asked Paul plenty of policy questions, and he answered them. Donald Trump couldn't answer these questions because he isn't smart and didn't think to at least be briefed before the debate.

Megyn Kelly did a phenomenal job last night. She is smart, attractive, and articulate, to suggest she is a "stooge" is just a ridiculous claim without merit. What happened last night is Fox decided to ask Trump tough questions as opposed to giving him a pass like the rest of the media. Believe me, Trump didn't have to be "set up" to look bad, he did it on his own. He was the only one last night who didn't have a single good moment, even Ben Carson had a decent closing.

Fox News has their bias, but they often report stories no one else will and Kelly has her opinions, but they were in check last night as she asked tough questions to multiple candidates. The fact of the matter is, Trump has issues with female voters no one else has. Trump has four bankruptcies, which no one else has.

Where was the question for Christie on Bridgegate from the moderators?

Where was the question for Rick Perry on being under felony indictment?

Where was the question for Marco Rubio on his relationship with private prison companies that received contracts in Florida where he was speaker, and then donated heavily to his campaign?

Where was the question for Mike Huckabee on his apologia for the Duggar family and what that says about his judgement?

Where was the question for Rand Paul about who HE supported for President in 1988, 2000, 2004, and 2008?

Trump called a stooge on a double standard.  

[Fuzzy Bear]

Frank Luntz does have some pretty stupid people on his panels, but bashing him and Kelly is just not presidential.

As for Megyn Kelly, look, let's get real here. Megyn Kelly is smart, articulate, and very attractive. Trump married a woman who modeled, but really isn't that hot and she's kinda dumb. Trump's wife has no real talent, anyone can pose for photos. Kelly is a talented commentator and news person. So, maybe there is some jealousy going on here.

FOX News is Unfair and Unbalanced.  The way they run their GOP Presidential Debates brings this out into the open.  In 2008, the FOX panel would ask their favored candidates questions about policy to display their greater knowledge of foreign policy, but not all the candidates would get to answer that question.  Then, they'd come to Ron Paul and ask him about whether or not he believed in the doctrines of 9/11 "Truthers" (which Paul called them on).  It was their way of putting a candidate on the defensive with questions that had nothing to do with public policy that served no purpose but to reinforce a negative perception of a candidate FOX didn't like that had nothing to do with public policy or governing.

Megyn Kelly did the same thing with Donald Trump last night, and got called on it by Trump.  Actually, she got exposed as a stooge, which she is.  Trump is, of course, who he is, and he did what he had to do.  He's not the first candidate FOX has deliberately tried to set up to look bad.  And I get it; that's part of the game.  But don't start telling me that Megyn Kelly is a "journalist" or FOX News is "unbiased".  

The reason Fox asked Ron Paul about 9/11 truthers is because conspiracy kooks supported him. Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, and Fred Thompson supporters were mainstream. They asked Paul plenty of policy questions, and he answered them. Donald Trump couldn't answer these questions because he isn't smart and didn't think to at least be briefed before the debate.

Megyn Kelly did a phenomenal job last night. She is smart, attractive, and articulate, to suggest she is a "stooge" is just a ridiculous claim without merit. What happened last night is Fox decided to ask Trump tough questions as opposed to giving him a pass like the rest of the media. Believe me, Trump didn't have to be "set up" to look bad, he did it on his own. He was the only one last night who didn't have a single good moment, even Ben Carson had a decent closing.

Fox News has their bias, but they often report stories no one else will and Kelly has her opinions, but they were in check last night as she asked tough questions to multiple candidates. The fact of the matter is, Trump has issues with female voters no one else has. Trump has four bankruptcies, which no one else has.

Where was the question for Christie on Bridgegate from the moderators?

Where was the question for Rick Perry on being under felony indictment?

Where was the question for Marco Rubio on his relationship with private prison companies that received contracts in Florida where he was speaker, and then donated heavily to his campaign?

Where was the question for Mike Huckabee on his apologia for the Duggar family and what that says about his judgement?

Where was the question for Rand Paul about who HE supported for President in 1988, 2000, 2004, and 2008?

Trump called a stooge on a double standard.  

Chris Christie has answered enough questions on bridgegate. He took responsibility for what happened and fired the people responsible. He stood in front of reporters for 90 minutes or more last year and answered questions on this very topic. Donald Trump couldn't even answer one tough question, he's a coward.

Rick Perry's politically motivated felony indictment is irrelevant to his fitness to be President because he didn't do anything wrong. Perry is unfit to be President because he doesn't know what he's talking about, it has nothing to do with the indictment.

The Rubio prison issue, unfortunately, is not news. It is common for politicians to be in bed with their donors. I'm not saying it's right, but it doesn't necessarily disqualify him from the job.

As far as Huckabee and the Duggar family, that has nothing to do with his ability to win a general election or views he's held.

Guess what? Rand Paul supported Ron Paul in 1988! Paul didn't go on tv in any of those elections and say he agreed with Democrats most.

You accuse me of trolling for Jeb Bush. Guess what? I would take any of these other GOP candidates over Donald Trump, any of them. I don't really care for Rand Paul or Ted Cruz, and I think Ben Carson is only getting support from tea party people who are white and feel guilty about bashing the first black President. George Pataki and Chris Christie are too liberal for my taste, and Christie has not had a successful second term in New Jersey. But if I had to vote for one of them to deny Trump the nomination, I would.

Megyn Kelly and the panel did a superb job. They asked fair questions. Asking Trump why he supported socialized medicine, why he identified with the Democrats, if he'd run third party, and if someone who bashes women like him should be President are all questions that go to his positions and electability.

Trump then showed his usual classless self by tweeting desperately at 3 a.m. and bashing Megyn Kelly and Frank Luntz. He probably was in bed thinking about Kelly, her talent and her beauty, and angry because he was next to his over rated, dumb, and talent-less communist wife.

Chris Christie has answered enough questions . . . because you say so?

Perhaps Hillary Clinton has answered enough questions about Benghazi.  Let's move on.

Oh, that's right.  You don't like Hillary Clinton.  Since she's bad (like Trump), we must save the Republic from their elevation, so anything goes.

Maybe Megyn Kelly needs to ask Trump if he has ever conducted himself in the manner of that great family conservative, Josh Duggar.  Or if he's ever covered up for a family member in the manner of that super Dad Jim Bob Duggar.  Gotta make sure now; can't have no lowlifes in the White House, eh?

It's pretty pathetic when a person can't exercise a minimum of fairness against someone just because they have a major policy disagreement.  And that's what this is about.  Trump has touched the 3rd rail of "Free Trade" and all's fair now.  It wouldn't matter if Trump was a perfect gentleman who taught Sunday School.  FOX News doesn't intend to be fair with him.  And I'm OK with that, because I understand their real game.  It's when ordinary citizens with no skin in the game throw their entire sense of fairness to the wind and justify the worst sort of yellow journalism that I question if perhaps politics isn't a healthy interest for them.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Megyn Kelly is stupid

Regardless of your opinion on Kelly, it's idiotic, crude, insulting, and unpresidential to respond how Trump did.

I might agree to that, but that's something individuals can decide for themselves.  Megan Kelly is a shill and a yellow journalist; that's something I've decided for myself.

Trump gets mileage out of this because people are sick and tired of people cutting off discussion of the issues important to them.  Trump started a blunt discussion on illegal immigration and started a needed discussion on the value of Free Trade agreements, and these discussions are inconvenient to the elites who, through FOX News, get Megyn Kelly to shill for them.  She got called on it, and now all of American can watch the political elites close ranks in the name of "rebuking sexism".  Oddly enough, the folks acting bent out of shape over Trump's comments (which, I agree, I wouldn't have made) would have no problem if he told the President of Iran to "F--- Off!" and plunge us into war; that would be "getting tough".

Is Trump rude and crude?  Very much so.  Over the top?  A bit, yes.  Is that so much better than being screwed in a genteel manner by Bush 41 and Bush 43 over wars and trade?  Not really.  Is Trump's behavior so much less over the top than signing off on Jim Bob Duggar sending Josh to work with a family friend after molesting his sisters, as opposed to responsible therapy?  Is it less over the top than Chris Christie insulting schoolteachers? 

No, the real problem with Trump's behavior is that he's thrown a monkey wrench into the plans of the Political Class's agenda and called out their shills.  Can't have that.  If I were Trump, I would have toned down the sexist part of his retorts, while providing a national teach-in as to just what it means to be a "shill" and a "flunky" and use Megyn Kelly and Frank Luntz as exhibits A and B.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Megyn Kelly is stupid

Regardless of your opinion on Kelly, it's idiotic, crude, insulting, and unpresidential to respond how Trump did.

I might agree to that, but that's something individuals can decide for themselves.  Megan Kelly is a shill and a yellow journalist; that's something I've decided for myself.

Trump gets mileage out of this because people are sick and tired of people cutting off discussion of the issues important to them.  Trump started a blunt discussion on illegal immigration and started a needed discussion on the value of Free Trade agreements, and these discussions are inconvenient to the elites who, through FOX News, get Megyn Kelly to shill for them.  She got called on it, and now all of American can watch the political elites close ranks in the name of "rebuking sexism".  Oddly enough, the folks acting bent out of shape over Trump's comments (which, I agree, I wouldn't have made) would have no problem if he told the President of Iran to "F--- Off!" and plunge us into war; that would be "getting tough".

Is Trump rude and crude?  Very much so.  Over the top?  A bit, yes.  Is that so much better than being screwed in a genteel manner by Bush 41 and Bush 43 over wars and trade?  Not really.  Is Trump's behavior so much less over the top than signing off on Jim Bob Duggar sending Josh to work with a family friend after molesting his sisters, as opposed to responsible therapy?  Is it less over the top than Chris Christie insulting schoolteachers? 

No, the real problem with Trump's behavior is that he's thrown a monkey wrench into the plans of the Political Class's agenda and called out their shills.  Can't have that.  If I were Trump, I would have toned down the sexist part of his retorts, while providing a national teach-in as to just what it means to be a "shill" and a "flunky" and use Megyn Kelly and Frank Luntz as exhibits A and B.

Megyn Kelly is a smart, articulate, and yes very attractive woman. I'm sure you enjoy the attractive part without appreciating the smart and articulate part.

Yes, Donald Trump is a lover of Saddam Hussein. That has been clearly established. Despite Saddam murdering 2 million people, placing his own people in political prison camps, having had lied to weapons inspectors countless times, having sent WMD into Syria possibly, and having definitely had the capacity to acquire WMD, Donald Trump still showed the completely lack of judgement to oppose the war. I get the fact that Jeb Bush has to say his brother was wrong to go into Iraq, but in reality it was the right decision and it still was even knowing what we know now.

Yes, Donald Trump hates brown people. Despite the fact that legal immigration leads to saving or creating jobs, higher home values, and more small businesses, Donald Trump would rather call these illegals "rapists" and "drug dealers." Yes, some are. But not the majority. Also, illegal border crossings are DOWN. We have not built a wall, but we have boots on the ground thanks to a 2004 executive order by George W. Bush.

Yes, Donald Trump hates free markets. Free trade has reduced the cost of certain consumer goods and has enabled people to be able to find bargains at places such as Walmart. Free trade has helped create jobs in sectors dependent on exports. These jobs, on average, pay 15% higher than jobs not related to exports. There are 500,000 unfilled manufacturing jobs in America, it is ridiculous to say that free trade has hurt the U.S.

Donald Trump's comments towards women, the media, his fellow candidates, and John McCain are vile. To compare his conduct to Mike Huckabee's is absolutely absurd. Also, the way Chris Christie handled bridgegate is a testament to his leadership. I've seen the damage of Christie's policies in New Jersey, but he handled bridgegate well and took responsibility. Christie apologized for the illegal actions of staffers he had hired, when was the last time Trump said sorry for anything?

The Republican National Committee is in business to win elections. Donald Trump would absolutely destroy the GOP brand for a decade. Furthermore, if he's such a "non-politician" then how come he flip-flops every chance he gets? How come he dodges questions every chance he gets? The fact is, Trump is acting more like a politician than career politicians in this election.

I really find the last paragraph of this fascinating.  A political party is "a business"?  Really?  What are the implications of this?

[Fuzzy Bear]

Trump picked the wrong target. If he wanted a specific person besides 'Fox' in general he should have gone after Roger Ailes. He should have invoked the GOP insider conspiracy angle, as pushed by Rush. If he had to go after her, he could have even said "I feel sorry for Megyn, but was just following orders..."

It's not just that she is a woman, but it is petty to go after a specific journalist. Go after the head of the beast...Ailes.

Yes, that would have been a better strategy, and it's not too late!

[Fuzzy Bear]

There's a difference between overt political correctness and someone being a jackass and being called out for it. Trump has not just crossed that line, he runs around that line over and over again.

Amen to this. As much as I hate political correctness, not being a chode is a requirement. My only problem is that many people assume that nice behavior means that only certain political ideas are permitted.

And that's my point about Trump; his IDEAS are what's not permitted.  His loutishness is an excuse to preempt his ideas being presented in meaningful forums.

The voters can punish Trump if they believe he's too over the top, not Presidential, etc.  Excluding the front-runner from an event for ANY reason is preemption.  Elitist preemption at that.  Let the voters hear Trump, let them hear Trump alongside all the others, and then let them make up their minds.

[Fuzzy Bear]

There's a difference between overt political correctness and someone being a jackass and being called out for it. Trump has not just crossed that line, he runs around that line over and over again.

Amen to this. As much as I hate political correctness, not being a chode is a requirement. My only problem is that many people assume that nice behavior means that only certain political ideas are permitted.

And that's my point about Trump; his IDEAS are what's not permitted.  His loutishness is an excuse to preempt his ideas being presented in meaningful forums.

The voters can punish Trump if they believe he's too over the top, not Presidential, etc.  Excluding the front-runner from an event for ANY reason is preemption.  Elitist preemption at that.  Let the voters hear Trump, let them hear Trump alongside all the others, and then let them make up their minds.

The last thing Trump should want is for GOP primary voters to know his ideas. Universal health care, a 14% wealth tax, being pro-choice, gun control, and protectionism are all positions he has taken. Those positions are the opposite of Republican positions.

Also, the problem for Trump's supporters isn't that he was excluded from the debates, it's that he completely flopped and was embarrassed in front of 24 million people. He even made Ben Carson look somewhat articulate for crying out loud.

I think Trump's heterodox economic views are less of a hamper to the sectors of the GOP base than you might otherwise think. There's a reason, say, Nigel Farage or Marine Le Pen position themselves with populist approaches to healthcare and tax.

Agreed.  Framing left-wing economic ideas in nationalistic imagery ("Let's make America win again!" rather than "Black lives matter"/"Think of the starving children") can make them popular among the "beer track" of the GOP base.  

I really don't know what Trump's current position on healthcare is.  Needless to say, a single-payor system is not going to pass, period.