Here’s Hugh Hewitt on who he thought won last night’s CNN-Salem Media sponsored debate in Las Vegas:
My scoring, delivered on @NewDay w/ @ChrisCuomo and @AlisynCamerota: gold @ChrisChristie silver @JebBush bronze a tie @tedcruz @marcorubio
— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) December 16, 2015
Donald Trump not making the top four might have something to do with Hewitt’s question to Trump on the nuclear “triad” which was answered — shall we say — poorly:
Trump, asked about his priority of "America's nuclear triad": "we have to be extremely careful/vigilant when it comes to nuclear."
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) December 16, 2015
Nuclear triad has been around since 1960s–all of Trump's adult life–and he still doesn't know what it is. And he calls others "dummies"?
— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) December 16, 2015
The only thing Presidents carry in their pocket? A card w/code on launching a nuclear strike. Trump doesn't know about sub/ICBM/air triad?
— West Wing Reports (@WestWingReport) December 16, 2015
If substance actually counted, Trump's total inability to discuss any aspect of the nuclear triad in a security debate should eliminate him
— West Wing Reports (@WestWingReport) December 16, 2015
HEWITT: Which part of the nuclear triad would you prioritize?
TRUMP: I was told there would be no math
— Matt Ford (@fordm) December 16, 2015
"Nuclear, the power, the devastation, it's very important to me." This is an actual quote from Trump.
— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) December 16, 2015
Recommended
Trump has zero idea how to answer questions about the nuclear triad, now and forever.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) December 16, 2015
Marco Rubio, however, did know the answer:
hehehe. GOP establishment favorite @HughHewitt asks obscure question about the nuclear triad, and Marco Rubio knocks it out of the park!
— ¡El Sooopèrr! ن c137 (@SooperMexican) December 16, 2015
Marco Rubio provides an explanation of the "nuclear triad" for those (including those on the stage) who aren't familiar.
— Jenna Johnson (@wpjenna) December 16, 2015
Trump was clearly unfamiliar with triad. Rubio explained it thoroughly. Should Rubio have made it more obvious that Trump was unfamiliar?
— Matt Lewis (@mattklewis) December 16, 2015
Transcript via the Washington Post:
HEWITT: Mr. Trump…
(APPLAUSE)
… Dr. Carson just referenced the single most important job of the president, the command, the control and the care of our nuclear forces. And he mentioned the triad. The B-52s are older than I am. The missiles are old. The submarines are aging out. It’s an executive order. It’s a commander-in-chief decision.
What’s your priority among our nuclear triad?
TRUMP: Well, first of all, I think we need somebody absolutely that we can trust, who is totally responsible; who really knows what he or she is doing. That is so powerful and so important. And one of the things that I’m frankly most proud of is that in 2003, 2004, I was totally against going into Iraq because you’re going to destabilize the Middle East. I called it. I called it very strongly. And it was very important.
But we have to be extremely vigilant and extremely careful when it comes to nuclear. Nuclear changes the whole ball game. Frankly, I would have said get out of Syria; get out — if we didn’t have the power of weaponry today. The power is so massive that we can’t just leave areas that 50 years ago or 75 years ago we wouldn’t care. It was hand-to-hand combat.
The biggest problem this world has today is not President Obama with global warming, which is inconceivable, this is what he’s saying. The biggest problem we have is nuclear — nuclear proliferation and having some maniac, having some madman go out and get a nuclear weapon. That’s in my opinion, that is the single biggest problem that our country faces right now.
HEWITT: Of the three legs of the triad, though, do you have a priority? I want to go to Senator Rubio after that and ask him.
TRUMP: I think — I think, for me, nuclear is just the power, the devastation is very important to me.
HEWITT: Senator Rubio, do you have a response?
RUBIO: I do. First, let’s explain to people at home who the triad — what the triad is. Maybe a lot of people haven’t heard that terminology before. The triad is our ability of the United States to conduct nuclear attacks using airplanes, using missiles launched from silos or from the ground, and also from our nuclear subs’ ability to attack. And it’s important — all three of them are critical. It gives us the ability at deterrence.
Now, some have become more critical than others; for example, the submarines. And that’s the Ohio Class submarine that needs to be modernized. The air component also needs to be modernized. The B-52, as someone earlier pointed out, is an outdated model that was flown by the grandparents of people that are flying it now. And we need a serious modernization program as well on our silo-launched missiles. All three are critical for the defense of the country.
***
Join the conversation as a VIP Member