Fox announces official GOP debate lineup

[zoegirltx]

www.cnn.com/2015/08/04/politics/fox-debate-cleveland-announcement/index.html


Fox News said Tuesday that Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Mike Huckabee, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Chris Christie and John Kasich will all appear on the dais Thursday for the first prime-time debate of the primary season.



The seven other major declared candidates -- Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Bobby Jindal, Carly Fiorina, Lindsey Graham, George Pataki, and Jim Gilmore -- will appear at a debate earlier Thursday evening.



The debate in Cleveland marks the beginning of a new stage in the Republican nominating contest, where candidates will likely sharpen their first contrasts with one another and the field's front-runner, Trump. The debates — which gave new life to presidential candidates like Newt Gingrich in 2012 — are now only open to the heavily splintered party's favorites.



In an unusual move backed by the Republican National Committee, Fox decided to rely on polling data to split the group of contenders in what might have otherwise turned into an unwieldy debate. The decision means Perry, governor of Texas for 14 years, and Santorum, who won the Iowa caucuses in 2012, will be relegated to the lower-tier debate.



For months, GOP hopefuls at the rear of the pack have undertaken aggressive tactics in hopes of finishing in the top ten in national opinion surveys that Fox used to cull the 17-candidate fray.



Candidates like Perry and Graham in recent weeks have pursued increasingly attention-grabbing strategies in hopes of raising their public profiles and polling numbers. Nearly every candidate placed a new emphasis on national media appearances, while criticizing the early national polls that likely say little about which candidates will do well in Iowa and New Hampshire six months later.

[ESF]

For those of you on the west coast, I have confirmed that the debates here start at 6 pm.

This is going to be amazing.

[msmerymac]

I was kind of hoping for Rick Perry, but overall, not disappointed.

[pixy0stix]

This Thursday?

Must suck to find yourself on the B-list.

[eclaires]

Every time I read something about this primary it takes me a minute to realize it's not an SNL skit and is real life.

[josieposy]

For those of us without cable:

www.bustle.com/articles/101287-how-to-watch-the-first-republican-presidential-debate-even-if-you-dont-have-cable

[ESF]

Poor Bobby Jindal. He pandered SO HARD.

[IIOY]

I had no clue George Paraki was in this.

[meshaliuknits]

Aug 4, 2015 17:34:33 GMT -5 ESF said:

For those of you on the west coast, I have confirmed that the debates here start at 6 pm.

This is going to be amazing.

I pray there will be live tweeting.

[NewOrleans]

SHIT. I will be in class.

[IIOY]

Aug 4, 2015 17:52:15 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

Aug 4, 2015 17:34:33 GMT -5 ESF said:

For those of you on the west coast, I have confirmed that the debates here start at 6 pm.

This is going to be amazing.

I pray there will be live tweeting.

Twitter is really the only way to observe a live political event.

[bourbonfan]

I was listening to a show on NPR where they had a few of conservatives discussing Trump. A couple of them actually believe there's a possibility that Trump will bust out with some intelligent policy at some point, because he's a "super smart guy."

[meshaliuknits]

Aug 4, 2015 17:53:50 GMT -5 IIOY said:

Aug 4, 2015 17:52:15 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

I pray there will be live tweeting.

Twitter is really the only way to observe a live political event.

Also, Sharknado.

[vlagrl]

Aug 4, 2015 17:43:44 GMT -5 josieposy said:

For those of us without cable:

www.bustle.com/articles/101287-how-to-watch-the-first-republican-presidential-debate-even-if-you-dont-have-cable

Thank You!  We don't have cable

[pixy0stix]

Aug 4, 2015 17:52:15 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

Aug 4, 2015 17:34:33 GMT -5 ESF said:

For those of you on the west coast, I have confirmed that the debates here start at 6 pm.

This is going to be amazing.

I pray there will be live tweeting.

Please. We'll be live posting it here. We're much more entertaining than twitter.

[pixy0stix]

Yeah, dammit. I'll miss the first round due to work.

[meshaliuknits]

Aug 4, 2015 17:57:57 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Aug 4, 2015 17:52:15 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

I pray there will be live tweeting.

Please. We'll be live posting it here. We're much more entertaining than twitter.

I need both!

[josieposy]

Aug 4, 2015 18:04:36 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

Aug 4, 2015 17:57:57 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Please. We'll be live posting it here. We're much more entertaining than twitter.

I need both!

Phone: check
Tablet: check
Laptop: check
Booze: CHECK!

[ESF]

I can't handle Twitter. It moves way too fast. Plus, between here, Facebook, and my texts with my BFF, it's going to be a struggle to watch the debate, and enjoy uproarious commentary. I can't add anything else into that.

[heyjude]

This will be a day I wish I could drink!!!

Can't wait, in any case!!!

[Alyssa]

Oh I can't wait to see how Trump handles himself out there.

[ttt]

I honestly can't imagine anything better than this board during a debate. We have had some epic debate threads here, and there's no one else I'd rather watch with than you all.  (heart)

[secretlyevil]

::rubs hands together gleefully:: This is going to be so awesome.

[Deleted]

I have been on this board for years. I can't remember a time when any of the libs were excited for an Rs debate - the fact that so many are just goes to show what a party of clowns the Rs have become. None of us here are even thinking its anything to do with politics - its just gonna be like watching accidents on Youtube, only with the undercurrent of fear that one of these prats might end up in the White House.

Its bad when the other side watches your debates for shits and giggles. Its real bad lol.

[jln]

Let's make a BINGO card!

[krystee]

Is it scheduled for Thursday so that Jon Stewart will be done and can no longer skewer them?

I will miss him so much.

[heyjude]

I can't drink but I will help others get toasted:

Official GOP Drinking Game:

- One shot everytime the world "illegal" or "illegals" is used.

- Two shots for each reference to planned parenthood or "women's health." Bonus shot if they actually put women's health in air quotes.

- Take a shot each time "the Iran deal" is spoken of.

- Take a drink of water and step outside each time they bring up Obama. I'm not trying to kill you. Pace yourself.

- Exception to the above: take 3 shots if they bring up Obama's birth certificate.

- Does someone say "all lives matter"? Keg stand time.

- "Repeal and replace Obamacare" you know the drill. One shot.

- Do they bring up HRC? Two sips from your lady glass of win.

[cohmom]

You know the moderators have to be thinking holy hell, how do we handle this.

[MrsAxilla]

Aug 4, 2015 18:55:54 GMT -5 krystee said:

Is it scheduled for Thursday so that Jon Stewart will be done and can no longer skewer them?

I will miss him so much.

WAIT. Is Thursday his last show?!?

[katfco]

Aug 4, 2015 17:57:57 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Aug 4, 2015 17:52:15 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

I pray there will be live tweeting.

Please. We'll be live posting it here. We're much more entertaining than twitter.

Good, because I don't have Twitter. 

Now I have two days to figure out which channel Fox News is on the TV and convince DH that we have to watch this.