Question regarding the Republican Debate?

Trump sang the tune praising water-boarding and torture. We're not talking a small segment either. He does a ten minute stump speech on this. Then he does his ten minute eminent domain speech. 

But as I was flipping through my TV I heard them say that Rand qualified for the debate.  They were talking about how Fiorina wouldn't get his spot because she didn't qualify

I picked up the debate somewhere in the middle and got to see each of the candidates say something appallingly retarded.  Trump said he'd bring back waterboarding...and a lot more!  Chris said wants to ramp up the War on Drugs by doing cross-border raids into Mexico without Mexican government approval.  Ted gave a long rambling recollection of an aunt who died of a drug addiction (apparently as a justification for continuing the War on Drugs).  Ben was lost in the wilderness trying to explain how he would fight against the 'vagina vote.'  Rubio...hell, I don't remember a word...tired of his memorized talking points.  Kasich apologize for something...even the audience didn't understand exactly what.

Then there was a 5-10 minute break as the talking head pundits recounted the play-by-play jousting, commenting on 'energy' and speculating on what each candidate needs to do to 'win' the debate.  Their antics were EXACTLY like sports reporters breathlessly giving a half-time recap in anticipation of the second half action to see who 'wins.'

Disgusting.  Childish.  Shallow. 

I read a book about the early years of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam.  The U.S. government sent 'experts' to Vietnam to help them set up a democracy.  So they taught the locals about candidates, campaigns, position papers, voting, etc.  The writer, who was present during the voting, was curious about an strange phenomenon that was going on in each village.  Outside each polling place was a chalkboard with the names of the candidates and some numbers next to them. When he asked the fellow keeping the board what was going on, the chalk-board keeper said the numbers were the gambling odds on each candidate.  The writer was deeply disappointed that elections in the newly 'democratic' Vietnam were just so much gaming. 

We should be so proud.

About Rand suspending his campaign is that I now do not feel compelled to watch the ridiculous debates and all the news interviews. While I am still sad about the decision, I've been less angry and have more free time. 

I truly don't know the answer to your question. All I know is the rules they put in place for Rand don't seem to apply to the rest. The 2016 election season is a circus and Rand is too intelligent and humble then these clowns.