At GOP debate, a clear winner? #tellusatoday

Facebook comments edited for clarity and grammar:

I agree with columnist Steve Deace’s take on the GOP debates: “Jeb dead. Rand wounded. Fiorina shines. Folks fuming at Fox.” And I was rooting for Donald Trump. I’ve voted for Jeb Bush three times. He used to come across as a solid conservative, but sometime between now and the end of his tenure as governor he lost his way.

—Lance Johnson

Ted Cruz, Ben Carson and Scott Walker were essentially ignored and missed air time in favor of Fox News’ determination to push up its ratings by focusing on Trump, Bush and those who would engage Trump. It wasn’t a debate; it was a combination of a media circus event and a bad reality show. Very disappointed in Fox News.

—Kristin Gladstone Thomas

Letter to the editor:

Donald Trump during Thursday’s debate refused to pledge his support for another GOP nominee, which means if he’s not nominated he may run an independent campaign. Trump may seem crude and full of vinegar, but he has fought corporations, banks and politicians and still come out ahead. Few are so capable. This is the guy we need as president to deal with Mexico, China, Russia and our nearly defunct political system. The U.S. has gotten in a real mess over the past few decades, thanks to ineptness and bitter confrontation between both parties. This has got to end now.

John Lemandri; Williamsburg, Va.

We asked what people thought about Thursday night’s GOP debate. Twitter comments edited for clarity and grammar:

Donald Trump showed he isn’t running for president; he’s running for relevance. That is all. Period.

—@mhenderson33

I thought Trump, Ted Cruz, John Kasich, Marco Rubio and Mike Huckabee did well. Moderators need to stick with real-world issues, not personal attacks.

—@MadAsHatterHere

We need to get past the school-yard one-liners. I would like to hear more on education and cyber security.

—@Jaydigital

Ben Carson is the man fit for the job, fit to be America’s president.

—@inionly

The winners were the moderators who asked hard questions and Rubio. The losers were Trump, especially after the debate, Huckabee and Cruz, who was too partisan.

—@JAS0N_B0URNE

Hillary Clinton was the real winner of the debate. But I also think Trump’s poll numbers will go up because Fox News targeted him.

—@NotJesseBrdford

Well it sure wasn’t worth it. With all the issues going on right now, it ended up being the Trump variety show.

—@KpopPat

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