Frontrunner Donald Trump won the fifth GOP debate. He spoke directly to his base-whether you liked what he was saying or not. He revisited his usual talking points — building the wall, proposed temporary Muslim ban and that he wants to shut down the internet in parts of the Middle East. I didn’t realize the U.S. owns the internet. But, why bother correcting him? Trump also refrained from attacking Ben Carson. Well, I think that has a lot to do with appealing to black voters, which he won’t get. To use a line from the 2008 presidential campaign, “if you put lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig.” In other words, if Donald Trump is the GOP presidential nominee, he will not get a majority of the black vote.

Sen. Rand Paul also had a great night as well, particularly when he went after Chris Christie mouthing off that he would shoot down Russian planes if they violated the no-fly zone over Syria. Paul responded, “If you’re favor of World War III, you have your candidate.” He slammed Christie as irresponsible and having “reckless” judgment. He invoked Bridgegate, saying that’s the kind of policy that would be pushed by someone who “might shut down a bridge because they don’t like their friends.” Rand Paul sounded like the grown-up on the stage.

Paul also questioned whether Trump was a serious candidate. He said, “The reason I ask this is, if you are going to close the Internet, realize America what that entails. That entails getting rid of the First Amendment. Okay. No small feat.” Paul also said some of Trump’s proposals on fighting terrorism “would defy every norm that is America.”

Jeb Bush managed to get under Trump’s skin somewhat, particularly when he said, “you can’t insult your way to the presidency.” It was also memorable when Trump pledged to moderator Hugh Hewitt that he would not run as an independent should he not get the GOP presidential nominee.

I also found it interesting that they attacked President Obama for all the terrorist attacks but ignored the mother of all attacks that happened on George W. Bush’s watch. Christie and Cruz also unfairly blamed Obama for San Bernardino terrorist Tashfeen Malik’s social media activity not being detected by immigration officials. They aren’t telling the American people the true story — the pro-ISIS post was a private message she sent to someone. Further, her Facebook page wasn’t under her name but an alias. So, how could authorities know that was her? The Republicans expect Obama to literally walk on water to do the impossible.

John Kasich and Carly Fiorina were forgettable. I chuckled to myself when Fiorina implied, with a straight face, that she somehow stopped a terror attack. Um, whatever. She also pulled the gender card when she invoked former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, saying the best person for the job is a woman. Er, given Thatcher’s stance on apartheid in South African, she had better find another woman to align herself with. Further, can you imagine if Hillary Clinton said that?

Lastly Ben Carson….Where do I begin? He complained about not getting any questions, but when Wolf Blitzer asked one, he didn’t want to answer. The other comments that emanated from his lips were just incomprehensible. He has a lot of nerve to think he could beat Hillary Clinton, despite what a few polls are saying. Donkeys will fly first.

One uncomfortable moment for Trump came after the debate when MSNBC’s Chris Matthews asked him if he was “honest when he says that Barack Obama isn’t a legitimate president?” As usual, Trump danced around the issue. Matthews’ response is an indication that this issue will be revisited again: “I think it’s a blemish––I think it’s your original sin. I’m an American, I think the president should be respected! I think there’s a little ethnic aspect to it, I don’t like it!”

Presidential election news cross-posted from The Hinterland Gazette.