US Republicans to take debate stage in race reshaped by attacks

[webfact]

Republicans to take debate stage in race reshaped by attacks
By JULIE PACE and JULIE BYKOWICZ

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Republican presidential candidates take the debate stage Tuesday night for the first time in a month, their race reshaped by national security threats but still dominated by outsider contenders. Now it's Ted Cruz challenging front-runner Donald Trump.

Trump will once again be standing at center stage, reflecting the billionaire businessman's surprising dominance in the GOP primary campaign. His newest test, at least in the leadoff Iowa caucus, comes from Texas Sen. Cruz, a chief antagonist of Republican leaders in Washington.

The debate will be the first for Republicans since the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California, that increased concerns about terrorism in the United States. Hours before the debate was to begin, officials in Los Angeles closed all schools after an emailed threat.

Trump's response to the terror attacks was to call for a total ban on Muslims entering the U.S. The proposal was roundly criticized by his rivals but appears to be resonating with some of his supporters.

With less than two months until voting begins, Cruz is trying to pitch himself as a more electable alternative to Trump. The Texas senator has a robust campaign infrastructure and conservative appeal, though some Republican leaders believe his hardline positions and prickly demeanor would put him at a disadvantage in a general election contest against Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.

Trump and Cruz have maintained a friendly relationship for months, but signs of a split have emerged in recent days, with Cruz appearing to question Trump's judgment at a private fundraiser, according to audio obtained by The New York Times, and Trump calling Cruz "a little bit of a maniac."

Trump didn't go after Cruz by name during a Las Vegas rally on the eve of the debate, but said the prime-time faceoff could turn messy.

"I am giving them a chance for them to make total fools of themselves in front of millions of people," Trump said, adding that he was expecting to be attacked. "This will not be like an evening in paradise for me. Do we agree?" he asked.

Another dynamic in Tuesday's debate involves Cruz and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, another first-term senator and Cuban-American.

Cruz and Rubio have been sparring from afar, particularly over national security. Rubio has tried to brand Cruz as an isolationist and has criticized his support for ending the bulk collection of Americans' phone records, saying it weakens the government's ability to identify potential terrorists.

"There are some differences in policy," Rubio said of Cruz in an interview Monday with The Associated Press. "I think we need to be the national security party, the party of strong national security, committed to ensuring we have the strongest military force in the world."

More broadly, Rubio's campaign is eager to cast Cruz, who prides himself on being a conservative "truth-teller," as a politically expedient flip-flopper who is willing to say whatever is necessary to win an election. Rubio's campaign has raised questions about Cruz's position on sending troops to the Middle East as well as whether he would allow immigrants living in the U.S. illegally to stay here.

Cruz's campaign has dismissed the criticism, with spokesman Rick Tyler saying, "Nobody believes Senator Cruz is weak on national defense and security."

The debate was being held at the Venetian Hotel, which is owned by casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, one of the GOP's prolific donors, and he and Trump were to meet beforehand.

"They are longtime friends," said Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks, via email. "Mr. Trump would be happy to have Mr. Adelson's support but doesn't want or need his money."

The debate is particularly crucial for some of the more experienced GOP politicians who have struggled to gain traction in a crowded field.

That's particularly true for Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the former front-runner and elite fundraiser who has been languishing for months. While Bush's advisers have brushed aside suggestions he should drop out of the race before voting begins, a weak performance would increase those calls.

One establishment candidate who does appear to be gaining ground is New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. He's hanging his White House hopes on a strong finish in New Hampshire, where he's winning important endorsements and climbing in preference polls.

"I've been making executive decisions for 13 years and been held accountable for them," Christie told the AP Monday. "There's no other way to get ready for the presidency than that; you have to have executive experience to be successful."

Also on the main stage Tuesday night will be retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, whose campaign is on the decline after a surge in early fall; former business executive Carly Fiorina; Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul. Four lower-polling candidates will appear at an earlier event: former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, former New York Gov. George Pataki and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham.
___

Pace reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, Kathleen Ronayne in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, and Michelle Rindels in Las Vegas contributed to this report.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-12-16

[sirineou]

Trump will tell everyone that he is very very smart while looking very very stupid and he will tell as that he won't tell as how he will fix everything because he does not want to give his hand away. And his supporters will cheer.

[Thaidream]

What a bunch of losers. Not one of them has a program to help the poor or middle class. The Democrats are not much better. There are no leaders left in America. Everyone bought for and paid by the wealthy. I will probably vote Libertarian.

[stevenl]

What a bunch of losers. Not one of them has a program to help the poor or middle class. The Democrats are not much better. There are no leaders left in America. Everyone bought for and paid by the wealthy. I will probably vote Libertarian.

Looking at their programs I think Bernie Sanders is helping the poor and middle class.

[webfact]

Trump defends call for banning Muslims from United States
By JULIE PACE and JULIE BYKOWICZ

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Republican front-runner Donald Trump defended his provocative call for banning Muslims from the United States in Tuesday night's presidential debate as the candidates pushed their own plans for fighting Islamic State militants. Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz clashed over government access to Americans' communications.

The debate was dominated by national security, reflecting the reshaping of the 2016 contest by the recent attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California. Hours before the debate began, officials in Los Angeles closed all schools after an emailed threat that was later deemed a hoax.

Trump insisted his proposal, which was roundly condemned by his rivals, wasn't an attempt to discriminate.

"We are not talking about isolation, we're talking about security," he said. "We are not talking about religion, we are talking about security."

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the one-time front-runner who has struggled throughout the campaign, was among the most aggressive of the candidates in seeking to discredit Trump. "Donald is great at the one-liners, but he's a chaos candidate and he'd be a chaos president," Bush said. He later told Trump he wouldn't be able to "insult your way to the presidency."

In contrast, Cruz and Rubio said they understood why Trump had raised the idea of banning Muslims and avoided directly criticizing the front-runner. Instead, they focused on each other, engaging in lengthy debates over their differences on national security.

Rubio accused Cruz of weakening the government's ability to track terrorists because he voted in favor of legislation to eliminate the National Security Agency's bulk phone-records collection program and replace it with a more restrictive effort to keep the records in phone companies' hands.

Cruz insisted the new law gives the government more access to cellphones and other technology terrorists are more likely to use — a contention Rubio disputed.

"There is nothing we are allowed to do under this bill that we were not allowed to do before," Rubio said.

Beginning after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, the NSA secretly collected the daily calling records - but not contents of conversations - for most Americans, including people never suspected of any crime.

A new law, called the USA Freedom Act, passed in June with broad, bipartisan support. It ordered the NSA to end bulk collection after a six-month transition that expired last week.

Cruz and Rubio have been sparring from afar over national security for weeks. The Texas senator is on the rise, particularly in Iowa's kickoff caucuses, where he's challenging Trump's months-long lead.

The senators — both Cuban-Americans in their 40s — also displayed differences in their strategies for targeting the Islamic State. The extremist group claimed responsibility for the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris, and one of the shooters in California pledged allegiance to the group on Facebook shortly before she and her husband shot and killed 14 people at a holiday party.

Cruz called for using "overwhelming air power" to destroy the Islamic State, while Rubio said airstrikes would have to be supplemented by ground troops, including American special operations forces.

President Barack Obama has largely relied on airstrikes to target the militants in Iraq and Syria. However, he's also sent troops to Iraq to help train and assist local forces and recently approved sending special operations forces into Syria.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-12-16

[Pinot]

HRC is going to be the leader and she'll be a great one. She has the Presidential election in her pant suit pocket.

This Republican cluster (you know) is just periphery noise.

Edited December 16, 2015 by Pinot

[FangFerang]

The republican contenders for the US presidential race are the Insane Clown Posse.

[stevenl]

How can they get away with hardly any questions on the execution of their ideas?

[bendejo]

Scary clowns, as opposed to happy clowns.

"The greatest threat to America is ..." these guys.

Maybe it's time to consider outsourcing the presidency.

[chuckd]

Talking about the insane clown posse...it seems we have a few in our midst and they are right on cue.

[JHolmesJr]

This is the most civil Ive ever seen them….someone must of had a word.

This whole debate thing is shit though….dumb format….why on earth would you go on camera telling the whole world what your plans are…just to give your enemies a headstart?

[Emster23]

"The greatest threat to America is..... America"

I wonder if current background checks and vetting had been done when these sons of Cuban parents came to USA, would they have been admitted? Was it Cruz's father who fought with Castro? At least that is what he said in some speech, although said fought against dictator, not with Castro. That would get immediate blacklist.

[h90]

Trump will tell everyone that he is very very smart while looking very very stupid and he will tell as that he won't tell as how he will fix everything because he does not want to give his hand away. And his supporters will cheer.

But tell me which of the others look smarter? That bunch of candidates on both sides can't be the best USA has to offer.

[howbri]

Scary clowns, as opposed to happy clowns.

"The greatest threat to America is ..." these guys.

Maybe it's time to consider outsourcing the presidency.

The greatest threat to America is the Kenyan/muslim/commie sitting in the oval office now.

[connda]

HRC is going to be the leader and she'll be a great one. She has the Presidential election in her pant suit pocket.

This Republican cluster (you know) is just periphery noise.

I don't for a minute disagree with you. HRC was 'anointed' well before this pack of idiots started bantering for position to become the losing RNC candidate. However, with that said, the White House will be occupied in 2016 by a couple who have all the morals of Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un. Actually, the aforementioned father and son may actually have more of a moral compass than the wife and husband pair who are pre-destined to inherit the White House.

So be it: The sheeple speak - "Baaaaaa. Baaaaaah."

[klauskunkel]

Trump insisted his proposal, which was roundly condemned by his rivals, wasn't an attempt to discriminate.

"We are not talking about isolation, we're talking about security," he said. "We are not talking about religion, we are talking about security."

Who is "we", King Trump?

[CMNightRider]

On this site, I have read an endless stream of idiotic and immature comments against Trumps proposal banning Muslims from entering the U.S. There are over a thousand ongoing investigations of ISIS in all 50 states. Common sense would make one wonder, why not just stop bringing these people in.

If someone (Obama or Hillary) wanted to destroy America, one of the first things they would do is erode America's ability to control their borders and determine who will be permitted to live in the U.S., and ultimately become voting citizens there.

Think about the devastation caused by only two Muslims in San Bernardino, the eight Muslims in Paris, the two at the Boston Marathon, one at a Chattanooga military recrusent center, one at Fort Hood, 19 on 9/11, and on and on...........it's irrelevant if the majority of Muslim immigrants are peaceful. It's crystal clear, it dosen't take many of these people to create havoc.

[AZBill]

If national security continues to be the issue we Americans care about no liberal will have a chance in the election.

[spidermike007]

HRC is going to be the leader and she'll be a great one. She has the Presidential election in her pant suit pocket.

This Republican cluster (you know) is just periphery noise.

I don't for a minute disagree with you. HRC was 'anointed' well before this pack of idiots started bantering for position to become the losing RNC candidate. However, with that said, the White House will be occupied in 2016 by a couple who have all the morals of Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un. Actually, the aforementioned father and son may actually have more of a moral compass than the wife and husband pair who are pre-destined to inherit the White House.

So be it: The sheeple speak - "Baaaaaa. Baaaaaah."

Yes, it is well known the Clinton family regularly murders any rival and especially their relatives, denies their people food and health care, and maintains one of the darkest and least open countries in the world.

Do you hear yourself? I don't care how you feel about the Clintons. They are not the Kims. And don't forget. The last time the US had a balanced budget was with Bill Clinton. The last two have shown no talent in running an economy. Neither would Trump. He has no skill running a company, having bankrupted four, so far. The US might be his fifth.

Edited December 16, 2015 by spidermike007

[spidermike007]

How can they get away with hardly any questions on the execution of their ideas?

The two most popular candidates do not have platforms. Build a huge wall. Send all immigrants home. Outlaw Islam. All of our problems are created by Mexico or Muslims.

Politics in the US is a degenerative disease. The lack of intelligence and talent is stunning. This last debate was a debacle. None are discussing issues. It is an hour or so, of stupidity and sloganeering. And the average American tolerates this inane behavior.

[sirineou]

Trump will tell everyone that he is very very smart while looking very very stupid and he will tell as that he won't tell as how he will fix everything because he does not want to give his hand away. And his supporters will cheer.

But tell me which of the others look smarter? That bunch of candidates on both sides can't be the best USA has to offer.

compared to Trump my beagle looks smarter,

the only ones more stupid than Trump are his supporters. That of course does not say much for the rest of the Republican muttley crew.

Unfortunately things dont look much better on the Democratic side

You are right , with about 320 million people , this is the best we can come up with??

There are plenty of good people on both sides of the isle, unfortunately the system is rigged, and we will never see many of them.

Unless a third party candidate emerges,that I can support, I am afraid I am staying out of this one.

[Nobb]

I agree with and will vote for Trump. It is not about not liking a race or a religion. It is about trying to keep America safe from terrorist. Trump for President!

[JHolmesJr]

I agree with and will vote for Trump. It is not about not liking a race or a religion. It is about trying to keep America safe from terrorist. Trump for President!

Vladimir Putin agrees with you…he has just been shown on CNN describing Donald as the leader by far in the presidential race….with the talent to lead the country.

LOL…I am not sure what that means, coming from Putin….it might mean he really wants Trump to be the guy he gets to negotiate with.

Or else, he just likes his men to be hard ass.

[Linzz]

HRC is going to be the leader and she'll be a great one. She has the Presidential election in her pant suit pocket.

This Republican cluster (you know) is just periphery noise.

God help the world. You got shares in a NYC bank? She's in the banker's suit pockets who fund her campaign. Bush/ Clinton, Bush/ Clinton, can we have a break in the hierarchy please

Edited December 23, 2015 by Linzz