The first Democratic debate was a true contest between the candidates. Issues were discussed and tough questions were asked. It was the opposite of the two Republican fiascos which consisted of accusations and attacks. The goal of the GOP failed; Donald Trump remains the leader in the polls.

Hillary Clinton had a great week. According to all polls she won the debate. Thursday she was questioned for eleven hours by a mostly GOP panel about the Benghazi tragedy, and she clearly defeated those who were attempting to derail her campaign.

On the other side of the aisle the GOP is imploding. A small group of extremists who now call themselves the ‘Freedom Caucus,’ and were formerly the TEA Party, continue to blackmail true Republicans. Donald Trump has exposed his party as racists, bigots, and misogynists. John Boehner is resigning as the Speaker of the House and less extreme members of the GOP were forced to beg Paul Ryan to seek the position when no one else wanted it. Ted Cruz, the junior Senator from Texas who wants to live in the White House, is a member of the TEA Party and is at odds with both John Boehner, who called Cruz a ‘jackass,’ and Mitch McConnell. Other than these few problems only one remains; they do not have a qualified presidential candidate.

A surprising turn of events witnessed Jeb Bush, once considered the GOP front runner downsize his Miami staff by 40 percent; and no one is sure about just what that means.

The winner on the GOP side may be Marco Rubio. He has been a quiet observer and has not entered into the tumultuous battle that is the GOP. However, at some point he will be forced to answer the tough questions.

Political prognosticators continue to predict the demise of front-leader Donald Trump. Although it’s true that he knows nothing about politics and never directly answers a single question, he continues to separate himself from everyone but Ben Carson. I believe that last fact is far more telling than Trump’s growing numbers. Carson is the worst campaigner I have ever witnessed but he continues to have double the numbers of all other GOP candidates. This means that two of the three least qualified GOP hopefuls are the probable winners in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada.

For Ms. Clinton, the most satisfying event may have been Thursday’s hearings. She was obviously more prepared than her inquisitors, and said all the right things at the right time without losing her composure. The same could not be said for those who were attempting to discredit her.

“You watch that yesterday and you say this woman should be president of America,” Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said after a Clinton appearance on Friday. “We’ll let the Republicans keep doing what they’re doing.”

The governor pretty much summed it up. Democrats will continue to talk about the issues while the GOP candidates destroy each other.

Time is running out for the GOP. The general election is a little more than one year away, and Trump’s numbers are growing, not declining.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

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