In the GOP presidential race, it is commonplace to push “bombi[ng] the sh*t out of them” and “carpet bomb[ing] [them] into oblivion” as actual foreign policy proposals. And as you can see from the debate stage tonight, these ideas are here to stay. The GOP has effectively transformed into the Party of Trump in every sense, especially as it relates to copying Trump’s divisive and ludicrous foreign policy proposals.
Ted Cruz: “I will direct the Department of Defense to destroy ISIS.” [Ted Cruz press release, 12/6/15]
Donald Trump on his ISIS plan: “I would bomb the shit out of them.” [Real Clear Politics, 11/13/15]
Paul Waldman: Marco Rubio’s ISIS plan was a “collection of ideas ranging from the irrelevant to the ridiculous.” [Paul Waldman, The Week, 11/23/15]
Ben Carson on his ISIS plan: “The mission that I would give our military is to destroy them first.” [Salon, 2/26/15]