This week, Frum and Shrum take a look back at 2015. Biggest surprises? Rising stars and fallen? Best films, books? 2016 predictions? VP picks? Then Bob and David take a look at the rise of Ted Cruz, the steadying of the economy, and how their surges might effect 2016. Happy holidays and all the best in the New Year from all of us at BSN.
This week, Lowry and LaMarche debate how and why Trump is still resonating with his base. Rich gives an easy one word answer: ‘Strength’, while Gara gives some perspective that Bernie has as many supporters as Trump, with little to no media attention. They also differ on Obama’s approach to Syria and ISIS after his address to the nation, and Scalia’s comments on black students during oral arguments on an affirmative action case.
Matalin & Shrum debate different situations in which radicalized terrorists kill with assault weapons – Muslim, Christian, home-grown, foreign-born. The debate is now ‘frozen’, they agree, but would a 2016 Democrat running and winning on overhaul of gun laws be able to shift culture & Congress as the US experienced on smoking, drunk driving? While Mary belittles any gun safety efforts, she acknowledges that Obama is on the right track in confronting ISIS abroad since ground troops would be counter-productive. Bob thinks it crazy for a GOP that’s tough on terrorism to allow suspected terrorists to buy guns.
Reagan & Cooke discuss the new equivalence after Par-isis: – ‘Sure the GOP’s gone overboard in anti-Muslim rhetoric but Obama’s tone is too defensive.” The two reach a consensus that there’s been ugly rhetoric and that there’s likely an evolving Obama-Plus Strategy involving more bombing, special forces, regional troops. Then politically, in short term the attacks boost Republican prospects because people go to Daddy Party but in long term may help Hillary who’s the experienced one on such matters. But all agree it won’t help Jeb to remind people that a person named Bush helped create this mess.
Alter-Christie debate GOP panic at the popularity of Trump-Carson. Consensus: Carson’s a nice man waaay over his head as commander-in-chief and Trump’s not a nice man whose mass deportation plans could destroy Republican chances in 2016. So why their poll numbers? Ron says GOP base is “angry,” Jon says they “ignorant and extreme.” Whatever the reason, the candidates are pretending that the Obama economy is awful despite unemployment at 5% not 10%. Last Mizzou: Ron & Jon agree that while PC is bad, institutional racism at schools is worse. Context counts.
Shrum/Matalin debate how ‘Jeb!’ became ‘Jeb?’ and whether Rubio & Ryan can help revive the GOP. Mary defends Bush as then most talented pol in the family and wrings her hands over his foolish attack on Rubio for poor attendance. Bob thinks that he “was a better candidate when he had joy in his heart and carbs in his stomach.” Mary then sticks up for Ben Carson despite his erratic statement that Jews with guns could have stopped Hitler. Bob thinks that Trump’s numbers will stay steady because of white anger but Carson will decline after evangelical Iowa.
A star turn at the Benghazi Star Chamber? Charles C. W. Cooke thinks the hearing hurt Hillary “because she was on the defensive for 9 hours” while Katrina vanden Heuvel argues that she easily prevailed because of “her relentless calm and the “‘mansplaining’ Republicans.” They agree Biden made the right decision since there was little room to run and win, although they differ about Ryan. Charles is optimistic that as Speaker he’ll help unite the party; Katrina thinks the Tea Party Caucus will have the leverage in future showdowns.
