That’s (finally) a wrap. The second Republican primary debate of the 2016 campaign ended after 11pm on the East Coast and after a grueling four hour slough through GOP intra-party bickering, many on Twitter were left just asking, “when will it end?”
First, there was the so-called “JV debate” that featured four of the five lowest polling candidates (Jim Gilmore was relegated to live-tweeting the debate from Virginia): Former New York Governor George Pataki, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham:
Somewhere there is a Rhodes Scholarship Committee that is throwing up watching @BobbyJindal. #CNNDebate
— Paul Begala (@PaulBegala) September 16, 2015
If you look closely when they pan out, Lindsey Graham is in the cockpit of the Reagan plane getting ready to fly it to fight ISIS.
— pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) September 17, 2015
And then it was time for the big show, Trump vs. the world, but as the marathon continued on, Twitter began to tune out:
Loving CNN's new reality show: THE AMAZING RACISTS #GOPDebate
— Amanda Deibert (@amandadeibert) September 17, 2015
This is like Murder on the Orient Express. I want it to never end.
— Matt Welch (@MattWelch) September 17, 2015
Jake Tapper is trying to start a dog fight with a bunch of kittens
— Matt Laslo (@MattLaslo) September 17, 2015
Denier or skeptic? There has been no drought on that sweaty California debate stage…#nbc2016 #CNNDebate
— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) September 17, 2015
I think Trump just did all the emoji faces in 7 seconds. pic.twitter.com/hC18pVxKgh
— Jason Mustian (@jasonmustian) September 17, 2015
Jeb Bush smoking pot is almost certainly 101 out of 100 bad things that one of Barbara Bush's sons has done
— Michael A. Cohen (NOT TRUMP’S FORMER FIXER) (@speechboy71) September 17, 2015
BUSH I smoked pot 40 years ago
PAUL I’m into cannabis oil
CARSON I can write prescriptions
HUCKABEE I played bass on 3 Steely Dan records— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) September 17, 2015
Please I'm begging you guys stop this freaking torture show….
— Dave Carney (@granitewinger) September 17, 2015
Oh fuck, their best friend, Ben Gazi…I can't stand these assholes for one more minute – peace out!
— Bill Maher (@billmaher) September 17, 2015
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders got in on the fun before we all got bored using the hashtag #DebateWithBernie:
War, war, war. When do we get to their other major priority: tax breaks for billionaires? #DebateWithBernie
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 17, 2015
Does anyone know… when will this debate finally end? #DebateWithBernie
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 17, 2015
Hillary Clinton had a little fun as well:
.@realdonaldtrump should stop complimenting women and start respecting them. #GOPdebate
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 17, 2015
Fingers crossed we're getting close to the part when they talk about things they're for—instead of against. #GOPdebate
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 17, 2015