The "Humiliating," "National Embarrassment," "Fiasco" Republican Debate (UPDATED)

(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty)

The reviews are in for last night's Republican debate tantrum, and they aren't pretty:

Hunter at Daily Kos:

Some closing thoughts on the debate: It was a fiasco. And a car wreck, and a train wreck, and a dead bird on the Republican front porch and a few other things besides.  [snip]

All and all a terrible, humiliating night for Republicans, and for Fox News, and for everyone on that stage who's still capable of feeling any shame at all. But I'm sure Donald Trump is feeling pretty damn good about it.

Taegan Goddard:

Overall, the debate was another mess. The crowd sounded like a bunch of angry goons. If you’re waiting for the Republican convention to see the GOP fall apart, you don’t need to wait any more. It happened tonight. It was a national embarrassment. 

Time Magazine:

It was a debate that highlighted the GOP’s descent into the Twilight Zone, where facts don’t matter and displays of bravado substitute for policy. Within minutes of the start of the debate in Detroit, Trump was assuring supporters that his, um, hands were adequate—and it only escalated—or spun into the sewer—from there.

It was a spectacle unlike any other in modern debate history, with facts playing a minor role, records cast aside and personalities taking primacy over political purity.

And finally, Republican wordsmith consultant Frank "Dunce" Luntz, with reaction from his Republican focus group:

Words used by my focus group to describe tonight’s #GOPDebate:

• disgusting
• embarrassing
• childish
• sophomoric

Get the idea?

— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) March 4, 2016

Oh, we've gotten the idea for some time now.

UPDATE:  And yet, when asked if they would support Rump if nominated, the three other dwarfs all said yes, they would:

It was a striking moment. Rubio, Cruz, and to a lesser extent Kasich, had just spent the previous two hours -- indeed, much of the last several months -- making clear that they don't want to see Trump anywhere near the Oval Office.

In fact, the Republican frontrunner's rivals are in need of a thesaurus after nearly running out of attacks. We've been told that Trump's a "con man," a "fraud," and a "lunatic," who's "unqualified" and "unfit" to lead.

And yet, when push comes to shove, Trump has an "R" after his name -- and for the Republican presidential field, that's ultimately all that matters. If voting for the Republican nominee means making an actual "lunatic" the leader of the free world, according to the GOP's 2016 field, so be it.

Party first, country be damned!