the republican party is, this isn t editorializing no longer a normal party. the front runner for the nomination is a twice impeached ex president who s been indicted four times in the last four months, in four different jurisdictions. that same front runner has a little respect or voters and election process that he refuses to even participate in this debate, and no other candidate with a real shot of winning the nomination is willing to take on that front runner. no one is up to the task of condemning him. in fact, they are more likely to embrace a potential criminal potentially criminally actions. this debate is about far more than winning votes. we will see on full display a party that has all but abandoned democracy and our countries small d democratic values. this week, we need to know whether these candidates will adhere to the rule of law. whether they will accept the results of free and fair elections, and whether they will allow us to uphold our institutions.
Ything bigger and more ridiculous-looking than this? [bird squawks] - again [horn honks] - high fives, high fives. anybody want a high five? - high five. high fives. come on, oleg. pew! - yeah. i this good evening, i m ali velshi. welcome to an msnbc special. the gop reckoning. tonight, me along with my co-host, betty hassan, the reverend al sharpton we will discuss the criminal juncture at which we find ourselves. actually, where they find themselves in the first republican presidential debate. they will take the stage in the 72 hours. but there is just nothing normal about this debate. there is no point in attempting to pretend that there is. we will not be talking about it like a normal debate, because