The Last Republican Debate of 2015
NPR national politics correspondent Mara Liasson and The Atlantic's senior editor David Frum (also a former speechwriter for President George W. Bush) recap 2015's final Republican candidates' debate.
Frum talks about the splintering Republican electorate, saying it's very much divided by class, and those who did not benefit from economic expansion since the end of the recession are angry, pessimistic, and attracted to Trump.
Mara noted that the only candidates who were willing to directly challenge Trump in last night's debate were those in the single-digits in polls: Lindsay Graham, Rand Paul, and Jeb Bush. "They have nothing to lose," she said, adding Graham has "taken on Trump in a way no one else has."
And a tour of candidates' suggestions for how to address ISIS and Putin (Cruz says to "carpet bomb" ISIS to see if "sand glows in the dark;" Trump proposes killing the family members of ISIS terrorists) prompts Brian to ask: "What kind of a Dr. Strangelove world has the mainstream of the [Republican] party entered?"
See Brian's tweets from the night of the debate:
.@BrianLehrer I mean, really. The ONE place to hit a home run.
— jami floyd (@jamifloyd) December 16, 2015
They keep saying "Islamic Terrorism." Why not call it "Unislamic Terrorism" as most Muslims do? BL #RadioTalksGOP #GOPDebate
— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) December 16, 2015
Cruz smiles at his threat to bomb and find out if sand "glows in the dark" Wolf fails to ask if he meant nukes in #GOPDebate #RadioTalksGOP
— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) December 16, 2015
Wait. Is Trump actually saying kill terrorists' family members who weren't part of the plot? Do I misunderstand? #GOPDebate #RadioTalksGOP
— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) December 16, 2015
