Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke take plenty of shots in first debate

[Elderberry]

Houston Chronicle By Jeremy Wallace 9/21/2018

 Democrat Beto O’Rourke has stressed that he is not running against any person or party, but during his first debate with Sen. Ted Cruz, the El Paso Congressman got aggressive, painting Cruz as hyper-partisan and forcefully going after Cruz’s spotty attendance record in the Senate.

“In 2016, he missed one-half of the votes in the United States Senate,” O’Rourke, 45, said. “Could you tell me who can miss half the days at work and then be re-hired for the same job going forward?”

Cruz, a 47-year-old former college debate champion who has been in 20 national debates, was quick to respond.

“Congressman O’Rourke doesn’t seem to understand that representing Texas is not doing a photo op in each county in Texas with reporters in tow,” Cruz said. “But it’s actually standing up and fighting for the people of Texas. And I can tell you in the 6 years I’ve represented Texas, I have been there on the ground.”

During the chemical explosion in West, the mass shootings at Sante Fe High School and a church in Sutherland Springs, and after Hurricane Harvey swamped Houston, Cruz said he’s been on the ground early, doing his job.

For 60 minutes, the two candidates traded blows on issues including immigration, gun control and whether NFL players should stand for the national anthem.

The debate comes at a time where the race between the two appears to be tightening. A half dozen polls released over the last month all show the race in the single digits, though most show Cruz with a lead. Just Friday, the Cook Political Report in Washington, D.C. declared the race a toss-up, a designation no Texas Senate race has seen in four decades.

Texas has not had a U.S. Senate race decided by less than 5 percentage points since 1978 when Sen. John Tower, a Republican, beat then-Democratic Congressman Robert Krueger by less than 1 percent of the vote.

More: https://www.chron.com/news/politics/texas/article/Ted-Cruz-and-Beto-O-Rourke-take-plenty-of-shots-13249165.php

[austingirl]

I thought Cruz was a clear winner. He probably has twice the IQ of O'Rourke. Beatoff looked nervous and stumbled when he had to respond to a point he hadn't been coached on. At one point he said, "We have to protect the lives within our lives."

He looked like a petulant child when he mumbled "true to form" when Cruz nailed him as a socialist like Bernie and Alexandra O-C.

He denied that he tried to leave the scene of his DUI. I don't believe him.

He despises white privilege and mentioned white cops killing unarmed black men numerous times. He's an idiot.

[austingirl]

How could I forget to mention O'Rourke speaking about "weapons of war." He is against having armed protection at schools- he'd rather just take everyone's guns.
He belongs in LA or NYC.

[skeeter]

I thought Cruz was a clear winner. He probably has twice the IQ of O'Rourke. Beatoff looked nervous and stumbled when he had to respond to a point he hadn't been coached on. At one point he said, "We have to protect the lives within our lives."

He looked like a petulant child when he mumbled "true to form" when Cruz nailed him as a socialist like Bernie and Alexandra O-C.

He denied that he tried to leave the scene of his DUI. I don't believe him.

He despises white privilege and mentioned white cops killing unarmed black men numerous times. He's an idiot.

I watched a bit of the debate, hadn't had a chance to see Beto in action yet. Very unimpressive - his mouth moved a lot but it seldom made sense.

[berdie]

I found this interesting...I listened to the first half of the debate on the radio coming home from work and watched the last half on tv. On the radio Beto sounds very unsure of himself and Ted very well spoken and informed.
On tv...I think the physical appearance of both  kicked in and blurred the delivery. Aside from the bs that Beto delivers...he  is very JFKesq...even his mannerisms. I kept waiting for him to say "Ask not what  you can do for your country, ask what your country can do for YOU." Ted is not pretty and comes across like the smartest guy in the class...which he is. So I think some of his "unlikeability" probably stems from that.

Disclaimer: I think Ted wiped the floor with this guy. Beto should move to California, imho.