Republican debate

My top three in no particular order are Trump, Cruz and Walker after the first debate.

I did not see the debate with the 11-17 candidates. 

amen to that.  lol

I listened to a good portion of the early debate and listened/watched about 2/3rd of the debate so far.  Rand Paul, policy wise, is my choice and as a libertarian leaning person no other candidate comes close.  His strategy to be aggressive, from the opening bell, was probably the best thing he could do to get back in the spotlight.  I think the attacks on Trump were strong and fairly well timed.  The joust with Christie was diminished with hugging Obama line, Christie's well planned response, and Paul's eye roll - Paul is right on the 4th Amendment NSA surveillance, but I'm not sure his position made it across.

Aside from policy, I suspect Fiorina will move up in the polls, as she had the best performance of the second tier.  Pataki sounded pretty strong as well.  On the main stage, I felt Cruz did well where Bush and Walker fizzled.  I still don't see what people see in Trump and can't imagine that he will stay on top for long.

The debate moderators did a good job of moving the questions around and striking up sparring matches between the candidates.   

I'm certainly not a Trump fanboy, but I felt the moderators were a bit over the top in singling out Trump.  The first question with the poll couldn't have been more obviously directed at him and was fairly hostile.  I'm a Megyn Kelly fan, but I felt she was really going after Trump to the point that it was backfiring.

The interesting thing for me is how Trump is turning his campaign into not only an anti-establishment campaign but also an anti-media campaign.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2015/08/07/trump-wins-post-debate-spin-blasts-frank-luntz-as-low-class-slob/

When I'd listen to the traditional candidates saying the same things that all candidates have said for decades it just seemed really flat.  When Trump gets up there and calls people idiots, I don't understand but for some reason i like it.  haha.  Maybe i've been sucked into reality TV too much and I can't be saved.  
I loved the dialog about Clinton coming to his wedding.  lol  The sad part is how true it is.

At this point I'm willing to wait, since that is one thing we have no option on anyway.  Really though, 17 hats in the ring?!? What is the point? Let's figure out who is here for real, who has more substance than bluster, and who is going to be more than a pompous, arrogant blowhard.

Oh wait, this is politics...

Personally I don't buy into the "he/she can't win in the general nonsense because anyone can win in the general and anything can happen.

Barack Obama could "never win in the general" because he was too liberal, remember.  He had so much baggage and negatives that the Republicans could barely contain themselves and guess what.  He won by a landslide.

So, to answer your question, i personally could give two hoots what the media tells me about somebody being electable.  
If Trump gets the nomination he would likely draw more Democratic voters than any republican in history and he has developed an unexpected amount of republican support.  With the house stacked with career politicians in both parties I think Trump could even win as a third party running a "screw the establishment" message.  

I'm an independent as well, and sort of fascinated by the Republican race right now. It seems that if the Republicans wanted to win, they would choose a candidate that could appeal to more moderate voters to win the independent vote. As it stands, I see a bunch of candidates who are hard-lining on abortion (alienating women), immigration (alienating Hispanics), and railing against the gay marriage decision (alienating younger voters). Yes, this appeals to and validates extremely conservative voters, but those people aren't going to win this election for the Republicans.

I think jmk-brooklyn said it better above than I can. 

Also, I'm not really buying the comparison of Trump to Obama. When Obama first ran, I knew plenty of conservatives who thought he could "never win", but most independents I know took him quite seriously as a candidate. Trump is a joke to democrats and independents right now.

Somebody just posted this on facebook.  lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NsrwH9I9vE

This could be a preview of the next debate.  

I've voted for a Bush in 88, 92, 00, and 04.  The family in general has revealed themselves to be Progressives rather than conservatives.  I also do not trust Jeb to be tough on immigration and I think that is a real security concern.  

There is no chance that any of the Democrats can convince me to vote for them, and quite honestly I hope by election time Ms. Clinton is in jail. 

So with that said I would have little choice but to 1.  not vote(which I refuse) or  2. vote for a 3rd party candidate(either Trump or the Libertarian candidate)

I was just reading this article from The Hollywood Reporter and this is the one thing (quoted below) that really makes Trump stand out to me in a good way.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/donald-trump-murdoch-ailes-nbc-816131

If I weren't a successful person, it wouldn't work as well. Voters have great confidence in me because I really have been successful. I have an income of over $400 million a year. I don't need anybody's money. I was offered $5 million last week by a lobbyist to put in the campaign. I said, "No, I don't need it." He said, "What do you mean, 'I don't need it?' " I said I don't need it. This is a guy that I know well, a good lobbyist, a tough cookie. He's not giving to me because he thinks I have the most beautiful hair he's ever seen. He's giving to me because when he has one of his companies in trouble or needs something, they want to call me and say, "Hey, Don, how you doing? Remember me?" I don't need that stuff. Whereas Jeb Bush, with $114 million that he raised [so far this year], and Hillary with the $60 million [CBS News reports she raised $47 million in the campaign's first quarter] and everyone else with the money they raised, they're going to be called upon, and they're going to have to do those things like little puppets. So people do respect that about me. I don't need it.

I agree 100%.  I think it's possible the guy's train has jumped the tracks......but one thing seems to be for sure, he's not beholding to anybody, not even the big wigs of the GOP.  I like that.  Washington needs it.  Lots of rats will be scurrying if he gets in office.  That's not a bad thing.

At first I was very skeptical, but he has definitely hit a nerve.  His republican support is off the charts in every demographic.  Even the women love him.

However, here's the weird part.  He's the most liberal guy I think I've ever seen run on the republican ticket.  I know everyone likes to bash him as a show boat, but isn't that exactly what every liberal/progressive has been saying for years?  Nominate a more liberal/centrist candidate and the Republicans have a shot.

With Hillary imploding and the other Democratic candidates essentially non-existent there's a real shot that Trump could go all the way.  Ironically as a fiscal conservative libertarian myself I'm really digging what he's got going on.  I haven't ordered a T-shirt yet, but I might have to send one to JMK.