SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:55 P.M. ET:

THE DEBATE – The clear winner of tonight's GOP debate was Zoloft.  It was an ear-ringing affair, with the first serious attacks on Trump that we've seen, and Trump punching back.  From what I've seen thus far, and I concur, Rubio was the most effective debater, landing serious blows on Trump.  The question is, will it matter?  Trump voters have proved to be stubbornly loyal, willing to stay with Trump no matter what sins he commits.  A Bloomberg poll released just before the debate showed Trump leading in Southern, Bible-belt states, with 37% support.  Rubio and Cruz tie at 20% each.  It's now accepted by pundits that Trump will sweep the field next week on Super Tuesday, except for Cruz's home state of Texas.  There'll be another GOP debate next Thursday, from Detroit, if they can get the electricity on.  That debate will reflect Super Tuesday's results.

A REASON TO ELECT TRUMP – From the Washington Examiner:   Rev. Al Sharpton told attendees at a Center for American Progress Action Fund event Thursday he would flee the country if Donald Trump won the election, in order to avoid being deported by Trump.  Sharpton, a Democrat, had positive feedback for many of the Republican presidential candidates until he got to Trump.  "If Donald Trump is the nominee, I'm open to support anyone [else], while I'm also reserving my ticket to get out of here if he wins, only because he'd probably have me deported anyway," Sharpton told attendees, who responded in laughter.  Vote for Trump for a Sharpton-free society. 

WHAT A SCHOLAR – Ms. Hillary forgets some pretty basic history.  From Fox:   Constitution, Declaration of Independence ... whatever.  That seemed to be Hillary Clinton’s take on the nation’s two most important documents during an interview Wednesday, as she confused the texts in making the case for more gun laws.  The Democratic presidential front-runner mistakenly cited a “constitutional right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” during the interview with host Steve Harvey....But the famous “life, liberty” line is, of course, from the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution. It says: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”  Probably the greatest line written in American history, and the foundation of the American creed.  I wouldn't expect Hillary to know its origin, or care really.

GREAT LINE BY DOC – Dr. Ben Carson has a wonderful sense of humor, on display during the debate.  From the Washington Examiner:   Once again, Dr. Ben Carson became fed up with his lack of speaking time during a Republican presidential debate.  During a lengthy exchange between the four other candidates on stage Thursday night, Carson chimed in out of nowhere, asking for someone, anyone to attack him.  "Can somebody attack me, please?" Carson asked the candidates.  In recent debates, Carson has routinely been among the candidates with the least amount of speaking time. Dating back to the first debate in Cleveland, Carson has joked or complained about the lack of questions he's received.  A candidate gets time to respond if someone attacks him.  But no one wanted to attack gentle Ben.

February 25, 2016