Watch CBS News

Terry Foster: Republican Debate Is WWE Meets The Three Stooges

By Terry Foster
@TerryFoster971

Thursday's Republican Debate was better than anything on Netflix, XFinity or any of the networks.

It was must see TV. If you missed it you need to go back and see it. I was stunned by what I saw as Ted Cruz held Donald Trump in a full Nelson while Marco Rubio pounded away at his midsection.

But wait, Trump escapes and begins to smack Rubio across the head with a rubber hammer. The Republican debates have been great theater since they began last year. But this one was the WWE meets the Three Stooges.

As a voter I should have been appalled by the behavior I saw. However, I loved each and every second of it. I wish I were Ben Carson and Ohio Governor John Kasich. They were on staged and had the best seat in the house. I barely noticed Carson. He got the Michael Jordan All-Star freeze out. As Rubio, Trump and Cruz clowned each other he screamed: "Could somebody attack me please?"
It was wonderful theater.

It was one of the few times Trump was staggered and bloodied. He began repeating himself and Rubio pounced and called him out. This was the same Rubio whose campaign was stalled because he kept repeating that Barack Obama is a bad president. He can say that but not five times in a row.

But Rubio got stung with a good Trump punch when he said Trump was the only candidate on stage to be fined for hiring illegal workers. He poked fun at "The Wall" Trump claims he is going to build on the Mexican border and said if he builds it like he did Trump Tower then it will be built by people from Mexico and Asia.

Trump fired back that he is the only candidate to actually hire people.

Cruz and Rubio kept attacking Trump because Super Tuesday is coming and if they don't make more inroads that this election could be over. They exposed Trump as a guy that talks loud but does not have much substance in his platform. They succeeded in making Trump vulnerable but is it too late? Will they be able to stop the train in time?

And poor Wolf Blitzer. He lost control of the match and reminded me of one of those comical WWE referees who is distracted while Triple H hits John Cena over the head with a chair. He seemed frustrated and uncomfortable outside of The Situation Room.

But this was a situation he could not control. This debate turned into the Detroit Red Wings against the Colorado Avalanche during the height of their bitter rivalry.
"I don't think they wanted to gain control," Carson told Fox News. "I think they were enjoying the fight."

I sure did enjoy the fight and I want more.

Yes, it was out of control and these guys do not look very presidential. However, they entertained the hell out of me.

No episode of The Walking Dead was as good as this.

(Foster can be reached at TerryFoster@cbsradio.com)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.