Russian leader Vladimir Putin must be laughing at the prospect of Donald Trump being our next POTUS. His performance at last night’s presidential debate proves one thing for me — he’s a contemptible candidate who I could never support. He reduced the debate to a disgraceful reality show. The only candidates who managed to help themselves in some shape or form last night were Marco Rubio and John Kasich, who I could very easily support over Hillary Clinton, if he gets the nomination.

Donald Trump says he didn’t get a fair shake.

Speaking in the spin room behind the debate stage, Trump said the questions he received from the moderators Thursday night “were far tougher” than those asked of the other candidates.

“The questions to me were not nice,” Trump said. “I didn’t think they were appropriate.”

Trump especially took issue with Megyn Kelly, the Fox News host who began her first question to Trump by listing the derogatory remarks he’s made about women he doesn’t like.

“I think Megyn behaved very nasty to me,” he said.

Asked if he was going to call Roger Ailes, the Fox News chairman and CEO, to complain about it, he said, “No.” Source: Politico

Megyn Kelly  asked Donald Trump about misogynistic comments he made about women, including that they were pigs, dogs, animals and slobs. He pointed out that he had only said that about Rosie O’Donnell, who clapped back on Twitter. If you ask me, that exchange alone should cost him any women’s votes he thought he would receive. Latinos and black voters will also not poll for Trump, so clearly, the demographics are not on his side.

Trump also said he wouldn’t rule out running as an independent. He was roundly booed for taking such a stance. Um, how do you stand on the stage at a GOP debate and say that? Is this guy a plant for the Clintons? He’s using bully tactics to get to GOP presidential nomination.

In terms of the other candidates….

Jeb Bush — Very beatable by Hillary Clinton. I stand corrected in my long-held view that he was the smarter brother, next to George W. Bush. The fact is, there is no way he could have handled Dick Cheney had he been the president. Not even his brother could pull that off.

Rand Paul — A goner. That’s putting it mildly. He was clearly unhinged and just plain nutty.

Scott Walker — Won’t be the GOP presidential nominee. His one-liners were laughable at best. He also claimed that he’s against abortion, even if a woman’s life is at risk. Gee, I wonder how Republican women voters feel about him throwing them under a bus?

Dr. Ben Carson — sounded like he took a sniff of Propofol. He lost me a few times and proved he’s not credible for national political office.

Chris Christie — another bully who won’t be the nominee.

Ted Cruz — It’s amazing the birthers aren’t circling around him, but then again, their beef with Obama was all about race. Cruz has made too many enemies in Congressional leadership to be the party’s nominee. Further, he’s on the fringe and won’t appeal to black, Latino, gay and women voters. Enough said…no dice.

Mike Huckabee — A certifiable lunatic who gave child molester Josh Duggar a pass…right wing evangelical hypocrite who wants to give fetuses Constitutional rights. His views are really scary.

If you ask me, Hillary Clinton and the Democrats were the clearest winners in last night’s debate.

Political news cross-posted from The Hinterland Gazette.