Vote for me. We will win again.

CNN had two main goals tonight: to get a battle going between Rubio and Cruz (CNN succeeded there, and the winner of that battle was Chris Christie, who asked viewers at home if their eyes were glassing over). CNN's second goal was to get Trump and Cruz fighting each other. CNN failed miserably with that one, because neither took the bait.

When I was a little boy I did imaginary play-by-play of basketball games, while shooting baskets in the alley down a few houses from my home. Tonight I shall attempt to give a play-by-play of the GOP debate.

Star Spangled Banner begins the event: Ted Cruz was the only one who put his hand directly on his heart (under his suit coat).

Rand Paul attacks Rubio and Trump right off the bat on the issue of defeating terrorism. He thinks we should wait for Muslims to defeat terrorism.

Kasich's daughter doesn't like politics. I can see why.

Chris Christie gets the focus immediately on Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Christie wants to speak directly to the people of the U.S. He did that well in all the other debates, too.

Carly Fiorina wants to take back our country from the media and the political elites. She refuses to accept no for answer.

Jeb Bush promises to keep us safe. I felt so much safer after hearing that. (Sarcasm from Bob's Blog).

Marco Rubio says Obama has been a disaster (economy, military, allies).

Ted Cruz says we are at war with radical Islamic terrorism. We will not be prisoners to political correctness.

Ben Carson asks for a moment of silence. The United States of America is the patient. He's the doctor. He wants to ask Congress to declare war on ISIS. Like Cruz, he does not like political correctness.

Donald Trump wants to make sure other nations stop taking advantage of America. He says he has opened up a very big discussion that needed to be opened up. Everything Donald Trump does is very big. Have you noticed?

Wolf Blitzer asks Trump about isolating America from the rest of the world. Trump says it is not about isolating, then tells how he will isolate.

Second question goes to Jeb Bush to get him to attack Trump. Jeb Bush says Trump is a chaos candidate.

Trump says nobody cares what Jeb Bush thinks.

Jeb Bush says banning Muslims is a bad idea.

Senator Rubio says Trump's plan isn't going to happen. He admits, though, that ISIS is a very significant threat.

Hugh Hewitt asks Ted Cruz to comment on the Trump proposal. Cruz would suspend all refugees from countries dominated by radical Islam for three years.

Hugh then goes to Fiorina, who says that technology has moved on, and the terrorists have moved on with it. Government is not innovating. We need to ask the private sector for help.

Blitzer asks Governor Christie about the "New Normal" of fear paralyzing Americans. Christie says Hillary Clinton says she would be just like President Obama. Christie asks, Really? Just like him?

Blitzer asks Kasich how he would find the radicalized person? Kasich says the Saudis have organized 34 countries. Instead of having a climate conference, there should have been a conference on dealing with ISIS.

Dana Bash asks Senator Cruz if he made a mistake in voting for the USA Freedom Act. Cruz said it strengthened law enforcement targeting cell phones, internet phones: focus on radical Islam.

So Dana asks Rubio if Cruz is wrong. Rubio says Cruz is wrong. We lost the metadata system. Cruz says we have greater ability to stop terroists and Rubio knows it. Rubio gets the biggest applause of the night so far.

Rand Paul favors stricter controls on immigration. He says Rubio has steadfastly opposed tightening the borders.

Rubio says only ten people voted for Rand Paul's bill. Rubio wishes we would have had access to the San Bernardino terrorists' records, but we don't because of that awful Ted Cruz. Ted Cruz disagrees, and says Rubio is knowingly lying.

Rand Paul wants to strengthen the border.

Chris Christie talks to the folks at home, asking them if their eyes are glazing over.

Carson plays the victim: "first time I have have been called upon."

Wolf goes to Jeb Bush. Bush points out that Muslims are also victims of ISIS.

Fiorina says the government is woefully behind the technology curve. Bureaucrat incompetence, unresponsiveness, corrupt. Ask the technology companies to help. She gets a big hand.

Back to Trump. Close the internet? Trump: ISIS is using the internet better than we are using the internet. Use our most brilliant minds to penetrate the internet and stop ISIS from using the internet so effectively. Blitzer asks Trump if he wants to shut down the internet. Trump said yes, if necessary to stop ISIS. Trump never backs down, until he does.

Kasich says we have to solve the encryption problem.

Blitzer wants to know how each would fight the war. Cruz wants to arm the Kurds and use overwhelming air power. Political correctness is the problem. He gives many examples.

Blitzer again asks Rubio to attack Cruz. Rubio then agrees with everything Cruz just said. Additionally, he points out that we have to win the information/propaganda war.
Rubio, in a low key way, calmly explains why he disagrees with Cruz's vote.

Ted Cruz said Rubio often attacks him (poor me, I am a victim of Rubio's attacks).

Rubio responds and gets a big applause. This audience clearly favors Rubio over Cruz; in fact, it seems they favor Rubio over all the rest. Americans just love fast talkers who are good looking.

Blitzer turns to a Facebook questioner. Trump says we have to be much tougher than we have been.

Jeb Bush is troubled by Trump's solution.

Trump says we need intelligence, not need love. Bush interrupts, because he likes love. Trump asks him to apologize. Jeb won't apologize, pretending to be an alpha, when we all know it is Trump who is the alpha.

Jeb says Donald, you are not going to be able to insult your way to the presidency.

Hugh Hewitt asks Carson if he could be ruthless in fighting these ruthless killers. Carson: look at the big picture
I don't speak loudly, but I am tough. Carson gets a big hand, after audience boos Hewitt.

Rand Paul asks if Donald Trump is not a serious candidate. Rand Paul likes the Constitution. Rand Paul has an audience group that claps every time he says anything. I'll call them the Rand Paul cheerleaders.

Trump responds, "So, they can kill us, but we can't kill them? That's what you're saying!"

Rand Paul says ISIS grew stronger because of hawks in the GOP. I'm having trouble following that logic.

Blitzer wants to ask Rubio what makes you think the Sunnis can get it done. Rubio blames Obama for leading from behind.

Fiorina says talking tough is not the same as being strong. Bring back the warrior class who have been retired early by Obama. If you want something done, ask a woman. If you just want talk, ask a man. I resemble that remark.

Christie said the Congress people on this stage have participated in sequester and have been involved in causing the mess in Washington. Christie points out that Obama is not trusted.

Carson said his strategy is to destroy the caliphate. Take their oil. Shut down their ability to disburse money. Cut off the supply routes. Go in with Special Ops. We have a phobia about boots on the ground. Pretty thorough answer.

Cruz says America First. Learn from history. If bad people are assisting us, work with them. Kill ISIS.

Rubio supported removal of Ghadaffi. (Blitzer keeps trying to pit Cruz and Rubio against each other.)
Rubio says if anti-American dictators go away, Rubio will not shed a tear. Cruz says it is not about shedding tears.

Kasich want to get rid of Asaad. Asaad is bad for Ohio.

Trump believes we have done a tremendous disservice in destabilizing the Middle East. We could have spent the money right here (and destabilized America instead?)

Fiorina said what Trump just said is exactly what Obama said.

Trump says it is okay if Fiorina disagrees. He also says Carson is a fine man.

Carson says we need oxygen here in America. Maybe he was standing too close to Trump.

Bush believes it was good to get rid of Hussein. He believes in leaving stable situations after regime change (Iraq).

Rand Paul doesn't want regime change. You get chaos, allowing terrorism to arise (His cheerleaders again cheer).

Hugh Hewitt asks Trump about winning. Trump says do one thing at a time: get rid of ISIS first. Don't fight everybody all at once.

Christie is asked by Hewitt if Trump is right. Christie goes back to criticizing Hillary and Obama. He says Iran is the problem.

Rand Paul is against utopian policy (Paul cheerleaders again).

Kasich wants to punch the Russians in the nose and get rid of Asaad.

Facebook question for Fiorina about talking or not talking to Putin. She will speak to Putin from a position of strength. Rebuild right under Putin's nose. Blames Obama and Hillary for getting out of Iraq precipitously. Gets a big applause.

Christie says Obama is feckless.

Rand Paul points out that Iran and Syria invited Russia in. Criticizes Fiorina and Christie on no fly zone.

Jeb Bush ridicules Trump's source of knowledge (Saturday morning or Sunday morning?) You are just hilarious, Jeb. (Bob's Blog sarcasm again).

Trump thinks it is sad that CNN leads with Mr. Trump this or that. Hewitt defends CNN (hoping for a job offer at CNN Hugh)?

Jeb Bush says he is tough. I'm pretty scared; how about you? He can just kill a guy with his sarcasm.

Trump gets pissed at Bush, who keeps digging away sarcastically at Trump, hoping to piss off Trump and make him lose his cool. It's the only time all night Trump loses his composure.

Fiorina and Kasich gang up against Trump and Bush. Kasich says a leader brings people together to solve problems.

Hewitt asks Carson if he is prepared. Carson says it is a false narrative that we need the political class. Carson says it is about doing. "What I've done speaks volumes about strength." He has cut little kids' heads open to remove tumors.

Rubio coauthored a bill with Democrats. Rubio and all of his neighbors are immigrants. He wants to hire 20,000 more border agents. Then reform the legal immigration system. Only allow a work permit for ten years. After ten years, allow the green card.

Cruz goes after Rubio again. Border security, not Rubio/Schumer gang of eight bill. We will secure the border, Cruz will get Donald Trump to pay for the wall. Cruz has been showing his sense of humor more often lately.

Rubio attacks Ted Cruz.

Cruz accuses Rubio of lying (again). Secure the border.

Fiorina interrupts Cruz. Cruz says enforce existing federal law. Stop releasing criminal illegal immigrants.

Trump: go back, get back in legally.

Governor Bush agrees: secure the border. Public health. Heroin epidemic. Barack Obama is the real problem. Good statement.

Carson on refugee camps. The refugees told him they want to be settled back in their own country. We are afraid of giving Kurds weapons. We send arms through Bagdad.

Rand Paul. Marco misspoke. I put forward an amendment. Rubio sided with Schumer and Obama. The gulf nations need to step up.

Christie: president's job is to provide security for Americans. Make this government work! Obama and Hillary ineffectual. Big applause.

Kasich: I am keeping people of Ohio first. We never knew of Central American miners whom the Obama administration allowed into Ohio. I thought you were on top of things there in Ohio, governor.

Fiorina would involve China in dealing with North Korea. Carson wants to use our economic strength to put Putin back in his little box where he belongs and also use our economic strength against North Korea. Also, use our military strength!

Christie wants to fight back against China's corruption. Obama and Clinton!

Bush agrees with "Chris." Jeb also keeps going after Hillary and Obama.

Trump was against going into Iraq in 2002, 2003. Nuclear proliferation is the biggest problem.

Rubio explains the triad. All three aspects of the triad are critical. This wins Rubio big points with Hugh Hewitt, who already knew that Rubio could explain the triad and Trump can't. Hugh Hewitt pretends to be neutral, but he clearly prefers Rubio over Trump.

Trump: Cruz is just fine. Don't worry about him. Too bad, CNN; Trump and Cruz did not get sucked in by the media.

Cruz: who has the experience, judgment, clarity of focus? You're looking at him. L.A. schools closed today. All nine on this stage would be better than Obama. Big applause.

Hewitt to Trump: Will you abide by your pledge? Trump respects the people on the dais. Totally committed to the Republican Party. Big applause. He loves the Republican Party with all his heart: almost as much as he loved his first two wives, but not as much as he loves the wife he has now (You know, the one who posed naked in that magazine).

Carson would leave the party if elites practice subterfuge and dishonesty, but has been assured by Preibus that they will behave and Washington Post reporter got it wrong.

Rand Paul: debt is our biggest problem. I am the only fiscal conservative.

Kasich: Connect with people's hearts, so his daughter won't hate politics any more.

Christie: terrorism not theoretical to me. He remembers September 11.

Fiorina also remembers Sept 11. Begin by beating Hillary Clinton. Professional political class of both parties is problematic, or at least they will be until they accept her as a full-fledged member.

Bush: proven record, detailed plans, deliver real results. Nobody cares.

Rubio: our very identity as a nation is at stake. Restore our economic vibrancy and military. Good applause. He may be the most popular one of this audience.

Cruz: Judgement, strength, clarity, strength, cut taxes, cut regulations. Repeat two more times.

Carson thanks God he was born in this country. Doesn't like political correctness.

Trump: we are not winning. Change everything. Nothing works. We will win again.