Bill Dog's Journal: a good debate

Very surprisingly, CNN actually put on a pretty darn good GOP debate. (I didn't seen the JV's, earlier in the day.)

Sure, CNN is still a Left-wing network of course, so there were a few questions about things Right-wingers don't recognize or care about, like Global Warming. Which would be fine in a D vs. R candidate debate, but completely doesn't belong in a GOP-only debate.

And of course they're still trashy/sensational like FNC, so it started out with several "so-and-so said this about you, take a moment to react" questions. Which might only be marginally useful to voters, as far as seeing how, both accusor and accusee, cope with aggression and pressure.

But what was fabulous about it is two-fold:
1) The thing was about 3, blessed, hours long. To a political junkie, that's not long, considering there were 11 (why not the "top 10"?!) candidates participating.
2) The moderator(s) did less talking, and there was responses and re-responses and re-re-responses from the candidates (vice just a bunch of interrupting with "we gotta move on"). In fact, the two co-questioners didn't get to ask hardly any questions, so their role was dubious. (Which is fine by me.)

Readily apparent was that everyone came with more energy this time, to the point of making Trump look somewhat demure. He's going to have to start coming out with details now (I think he said he'll have specifics of an economic plan to release in the next couple of weeks) to stay competitive. Everyone has ideas that are cringe-worthy (like Carly's "I won't talk with Putin, I'll just arm up" brinksmanship strategy for foreign policy), so it should be safe for Trump to start getting specific. (That is, I don't think something akin to mere "hope and change" -- his "I'll make America great again" -- will work, for a Republican.)

So what made this debate a gazillion times better than the FNC's is that I actually learned some things about the candidates' positions on things, and a little on how they differ. Unfortunately that's probably the best one there'll ever be.

p.s. It was good to see Rand Paul back to being his thoughtful and articulate self, unlike the prior debate where he didn't talk issues, just got into petty tit-for-tats with Trump and Christie.

p.p.s. I'm absolutely elated to have heard something to the effect that the three "outsiders" in the race are the top three in polling right now for the GOP.

I caught none of it

[smittyoneeach]

I think it's kind of theatrical, and needs to be updated to use modern technology.
What if all the candidates had to do an FPS death match?

Re:

[Bill Dog]

I just heard from a talking head today that the three GOP candidates who've never held office currently have over 50% of the nod in current polls. Sorry if your establishment candidate fave is fizzling, and maybe he'll come back up, but I for one am ecstatic at what's been going on, and wouldn't miss it for the world. Like the Republic Revolution and Christian Coalition years, this is a very exciting time in politics for people who think like me.

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[smittyoneeach]

Hey, if you're entertained, I guess that's what's key. The homo bureaucratus infestation inside the beltway chugs on.

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[Bill Dog]

I'm entertained by the appearance that, at least on the Right, a statistically significant percentage are sick of the homos inside the beltway. Sorry if your guy was the candidate who rode the wambulance home last week. You and Krauthammer and Will still have McJebney, I guess. Good luck with that.

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[smittyoneeach]

You and Krauthammer and Will still have McJebney

Great troll, but I'm sworn to anti-dynasty.

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[Bill Dog]

Doesn't matter that Jeb is a Bush; the whole political class is a dynasty.

Re:

[smittyoneeach]

Cartel, yes: dynasty, no.

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[Bill Dog]

But you're just anti-dynasty; whatever dude. Have fun keeping electing the cartel, and wondering why nothing gets better.

Re:

[smittyoneeach]

I am TOTALLY anti-dynasty. Recall, United States was founded as a reaction to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Hanover [wikipedia.org].

Re:

[Bill Dog]

Not sure on what planet the reaction to "it's so lame that you're merely only anti-x" is the comeback "I'm SOOOO anti-x". Planet smitty, I guess.

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[smittyoneeach]

Step back and admire it from this angle: are you arguing that no nominal conservative whose name does not rhyme with "tush" can win the election? If that's the case, I'm arguing that the election is pointless. That's how I'm rolling. You need not agree. But if JEB wants to impress me with his love of country, let him NOT run.
Or, if JEB is that solid, and I'm just a fringe whacko, then he'll win without my vote. I'll support him in office.

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[Bill Dog]

I have no idea who can win the election. I'm completely out of touch with what's become the average American these days.

All I know is I'm not just anti-dynasty (IOW anti- another Bush for prez), I'm anti-cartel (IOW anti- another member of the political class for prez). I'm completely in touch with the "Sixty-six percent of GOP voters [who] say they are more likely to vote for a candidate who brings new ideas and different approaches to Washington, compared to 29 percent who say experience and a proven re [thehill.com]

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[smittyoneeach]

I favor the Convention of States, because I don't think anything less can amount to more than a fart in a thunderstorm.

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[Bill Dog]

In that other thread (now archived already by the perpetually lame Slashdot):

Git is a graph editor. Once you get your mind around the fact that revision control is just its main entre, possibilities open up.

Of which apparently source code loss is one. I guess I just favor a revision control system that also does branching, over a branching system that also does revision control. To me a source code control application should be like a toaster; insert code, and then push down on the thingie. I want to think about code, not code administration.

Re:

[smittyoneeach]

Of which apparently source code loss is one.

I've never heard of an application-level loss. Are you sure that operator error wasn't involved?