(Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post) 
 
 Wednesday night, 10 candidates participated in the third Republican debate: Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.), former Florida governor Jeb Bush, former tech executive Carly Fiorina, Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex. Mike Huckabee compares the federal government to convicted investor Bernie Madoff. Forget attacking the other candidates, Chris Christie is taking a whack at the moderators. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is using his closing statement to give a preview of his filibuster against a debt ceiling deal in Congress. Bush and the other Republican presidential candidates were asked to name their biggest weakness during the first question of their third debate in Colorado. Kasich has proposed a large tax cut as well and promised to balance the budget through unspecified cuts. ___ 
 
 Jeb Bush says he's impatient and he can't fake anger. Bush says he believes "this is still the most extraordinary country on the face of the earth and it troubles me that people are rewarded for tearing down this country." Christie says the department has let politics drive prosecutions and given some favored companies "a pass" while coming down unnecessarily hard on others. Bush is joining critics who say Rubio has skipped too many votes in the Senate as he campaigns for president. ___ 
 
 7:15 p.m. 
 
 Marco Rubio is dismissing questions about whether his history of personal financial woes disqualifies him from being in charge of the federal government. In his first answer of the third Republican debate, Trump is responding to a question about his biggest weakness by saying that he trusts "people too much." ___ 
 
 Donald Trump says his greatest weakness is that he is too trusting. But on the flip side, Trump says if people let him down, "I never forgive." ___ 
 
 7:42 p.m. 
 
 Rivals Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio agree on the importance of lower taxes. ___ 
 
 6:37 p.m. 
 
 Texas Sen. Ted Cruz says his biggest weakness is that he's "too agreeable." Ted Cruz says he is a proven fighter in Washington. The notably fiery Cruz, who often stands against his own party in Congress, says his biggest weakness is actually that he's a fighter who is passionate about the Constitution. He says he doesn't care if he's not the guy voters want to have a beer with, because he's the one who will make sure they get home. Asked why his picture was on the home page for the company, Carson says they must have used it without his permission. Christie lists the GOP's possible opponents as "the socialist," ''the isolationist" and "the pessimist." Christie promises "you put me on the stage with her next September and she won't get within 10 miles of the White House." A bank once moved to foreclose one of Rubio's homes. ___ 
 
 7:00 p.m. 
 
 Donald Trump says his firms' record of declaring bankruptcy shows he's good at dealing with debt problems. Trump adds that he had the legal right to file bankruptcy. Both Republican presidential candidates have proposed tax cuts that largely benefit the wealthy and drive up the deficit. Harwood asked Trump if he was running a "comic book version of a presidential campaign." TRUMP: No, not a comic book, and it's not a very nicely asked question the way you say that. Carson says his tax plan would result in a flat tax around 15 percent. But at the debate he claims he never made the statement and says he wants to keep skilled immigrant tech employees in the United States. He says if China can build a 13,000-mile Great Wall, he can build a wall along 1,000 miles of the U.S.-Mexican border. Trump also says he can force Mexico to pay for the wall. A politician other than the people in the states -- I don't want to -- a politician cannot get them to pay. ___ 
 
 Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson says he would get rid of all income tax deductions and loopholes if he were president. He says anyone who believes savings couldn't be found in federal agencies is living in a "fantasy world." Kasich says his time in Congress and two terms as Ohio's governor serve as proof of his ability to manage a growing economy and write responsible budgets. During the third Republican debate, Fiorina was asked about her time at the helm of HP, where she laid off 30,000 workers and was fired by the board. Trump quips that Kasich's poll numbers are so bad he barely qualified for the debate. __ 
 
 7:05 p.m. 
 
 Ben Carson says regulation is choking small businesses in America. Back in 2004, one of my predecessors to the Senate by the name of Bob Graham, a Democrat, ran for president missing over 30 percent of his votes. So this is another example of the double standard that exists in this country between the mainstream media and the conservative movement. But Marco, when you signed up for this, this was a six-year term, and you should be showing up to work. Bush adds that if Rubio didn't want to show up for votes, he should "just resign and let someone else take the job." The only reason why you're doing it now is because we're running for the same position, and someone has convinced you that attacking me is going to help you. Mike Huckabee says none of Republican candidates on the debate stage is running for president because of ego. ___ 
 
 6:50 p.m. 
 
 Carly Fiorina says her record as former CEO of Hewlett-Packard isn't a liability, but proof of her leadership skills. Fiorina says she was brought in to be a change agent and had to make some "tough calls." FIORINA: Well, this is one of the reasons why Tom Perkins and I had disagreements in the boardroom, Becky. Fiorina says she is prepared to "run on my record all day long." His response came to a question about whether his opposition to a budget deal in Congress shows that he's not a problem-solver. The questions that have been asked so far in this debate illustrate why the American people don't trust the media. (APPLAUSE) This is not a cage match. ___ 
 
 Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson says his candidacy is proof that Americans are "waking up" and recognizing the value in a citizen government. ___ 
 
 7:33 p.m. 
 
 Marco Rubio says programs that bring in more immigrants as high-tech workers are valuable. "Jeb Bush, why have your numbers fallen?" He says the CBNC moderators are more interested in pitting the candidates against one another rather than "talking about the substantive issues people care about." Cruz says the Republican debate is a stark contrast with the Democratic contest, "where every fawning question" was about "which one of you is more handsome and wise?" He says Democrats and Republicans backing the deal are part of an "unholy alliance" to spend the country "into oblivion." Harwood's first question to the real estate mogul suggested Trump's promises were so huge they were cartoonish. ___ 
 
 6:55 p.m. 
 
 Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul says he's more worried about Congress bankrupting the American people than he is about a government shutdown. And they've stolen from you because now they know they cannot pay these benefits and Social Security is going to be insolvent in seven to eight years. Ignoring his fellow candidates and the CNBC panelists, Christie says he's speaking to "the guy that has a landscaping business." On raising Social Security taxes to close the looming gap, Christie asks, "If someone has already stolen money from you, are you going to give them more?" Trump says his proposals are realistic. He says: "Yes, we've been stolen from. Yes, we've lied to the American people about Social Security, and Medicare. Four of Trump's Atlantic City companies have filed for bankruptcy. He says the problem is the economic collapse of Atlantic City. Trump concludes by noting the nation's financial woes and saying, "Boy, am I good at solving debt problems." So what we're going to have to start doing instead of, you know, picking on this group or this group, is we're going to have to have a major reduction in the regulatory influence that is going on. Christie says they should and adds, "If I were a prosecutor that's exactly where'd they be." ___ 
 
 7:08 p.m. 
 
 Chris Christie says the Justice Department under President Obama has been a "political Justice Department." The New Jersey governor and former prosecutor made the assertion when asked whether he thought some General Motors executives should go jail for their role in a deadly ignition-switch defect scandal. Christie is also criticizingthe department's decision to prosecute CIA chief David Petraeus for sharing classified information. Governor Bush, in a debate like this four years ago, every Republican running for president pledged to oppose a budget deal containing any tax increase even if it had spending cuts ten times as large. Before, he said it was a deal he'd take. He adds: "Now we see Hillary Clinton proposing a third term of economic policy for our country. We need to reverse that. And my record was one of cutting taxes each and every year." BUSH: You find me a Democrat -- you find me a Democrat that will cut spending ten dollars? Sticking with his attack on Congress, he says: "You find me a Democrat that will cut spending $10 — heck, find me a Republican in Congress that would cut spending $1 — I'll talk to him." You find a Democrat that's for cutting taxes -- cutting spending ten dollars, I'll give them a warm kiss. Last year he sold retirement funds to pay bills despite earning millions over the past decade. But Christie says Obama should have backed up his FBI chief. RUBIO: Well, you just -- you just listed a litany of discredited attacks from Democrats and my political opponents, and I'm not gonna waste 60 seconds detailing them all. RUBIO: Yeah, again, as I said, we're raising a family in the 21st century and it's one of the reasons why my tax plan is a pro- family tax plan. Instead, Bush is talking about the recently agreed-to budget deal between the White House and GOP leaders in Congress. He calls the budget deal passed by the House on Wednesday a "silly deal" that is more of "the same old stuff." But that's about all Kasich has to say on the subject. If elected president, he says he'd push for a balanced budget amendment to make sure the government doesn't spend more than what is has. The the truth of the matter is, big government benefits the wealthy, it benefits the lobbyists, it benefits the giant corporations. He says he is fighting for Hispanics, women and single mothers. ___ 
 
 7:25 p.m. 
 
 Former technology executive Carly Fiorina says it is the "height of hypocrisy" for Hillary Rodham Clinton to talk about being the first woman president when "every single policy" she endorses is "demonstrably bad for women." FIORINA: 92 percent -- 92 percent of the jobs lost during Barack Obama's first term belonged to women. And Cruz says 3.7 million women went into poverty during Obama's presidency. ___ 
 
 7:28 p.m 
 
 Ben Carson is pushing back on questions about his involvement with a medical supplement company that has come under legal scrutiny. In a speech last week, Comey claimed the anxiety is contributing to a rise in violent crime. Carson says he made a few paid speeches for Texas-based Mannatech Inc. and uses its products, but calls it "absurd" to say he has a relationship with them. When he was pushed over whether that betrayed any issues with his "vetting process," the crowd began to boo. The question during the third Republican presidential debate drew groans and boos from the audience. HARWOOD: It sounds like you think Senator Sessions is wrong to believe there is enough abuse in that program that we shouldn't... 
 
 (CROSSTALK) 
 
 RUBIO: Well, I believe that there are abuses, those companies should be permanently barred from ever using the program again and we should put strict standards in place to ensure that they're not being abused, like the prevailing wage requirement and like the advertising requirement. The attack was the harshest of the debate so far and was Bush's first chance to stand out on the crowded stage. Donald Trump's campaign website has called Rubio "Mark Zuckerberg's personal senator" for supporting the tech visas. "They know," he said. Rubio says he believes Clinton "got exposed as a liar" last week during her testimony before a House select committee examining the Benghazi attacks. Cruz is blasting the central bank's policies of keeping interest rates low, calling it an "incredible experiment." And I think the Fed should get out of the business of trying to juice our economy and simply be focused on sound money and monetary stability, ideally tied to gold. Paul says he wants to bar the Fed from lobbying Congress. You want to study income inequality, let's bring the Fed forward and talk about Fed policy and how it causes income inequality. Interest rates are the price of money, and we shouldn't have price controls on the price of money. ___ 
 
 7:35 p.m. 
 
 Florida Sen. Marco Rubio says Hillary Rodham Clinton and Democrats have the biggest super PAC in the presidential race: "It's called the mainstream media." He argues that it's fairer because it ditches the payroll tax, which bites more heavily into the middle class. And Bernie Sanders will tell them that it's because of the rich. QUICK: Governor, I'm sorry... 
 
 HUCKABEE: If you do that, you don't just change the economy, you transform the lives of millions of hurting Americans. Bush says: "The government has tried it their way. Under -- under Barack Obama and the proposals of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders and others, they've tried it their way, and it has failed miserably. Reince Priebus (ryns PREE'-bus) says that the moderators did a disservice to their network, the candidates and the viewers. Because the more you tax something, the less of it you get. And he says more people should follow his lead. Rubio says that because the rich pay so much more in taxes than the poor, any tax cut will inevitably favor them. Even if it did, he says it's a bad practice to send "mixed signals" to kids about drugs by legalizing marijuana. Republican presidential candidates, from left, John Kasich, Mike Huckabee, Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, Ted Cruz, Chris Christie, and Rand Paul take the stage during... (Associated Press) 
 
 Bobby Jindal, left, looks on as Rick Santorum makes a point during the CNBC Republican presidential debate at the University of Colorado, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/Mark J.... (Associated Press) 
 
 Chris Christie, left, and Donald Trump talk during a break in the CNBC Republican presidential debate at the University of Colorado, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) (Associated Press) 
 
 Republican presidential candidate Lindsey Graham, right, makes a point as George Pataki reacts during the CNBC Republican presidential debate at the University of Colorado, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015, in... (Associated Press) 
 
 Republican presidential candidates, from left, John Kasich, Mike Huckabee, Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, and Ted Cruz take the stage during the CNBC Republican presidential... (Associated Press) 
 
 Republican presidential candidates, from left, Bobby Jindal, Rick Santorum, George Pataki, and Lindsey Graham take the stage during the CNBC Republican presidential debate at the University of Colorado,... (Associated Press) 
 
 Chris Christie speaks during the CNBC Republican presidential debate at the University of Colorado, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) (Associated Press) 
 
 Here are the latest developments (all times local): 
 
 8:37 p.m. QUINTANILLA: Mr. Trump, you've said you have a special permit to carry a gun in New York. In the third Republican debate, Trump calls gun-free zones a "catastrophe," describing them as "target practice for sickos and the mentally ill." 
 
 Trump says he carries a gun on occasion, but adds, "I like to be unpredictable." QUINTANILLA: We called a few Trump resorts, a few Trump properties that -- that do not allow guns with or without a permit. "I would change it," he said. Carson, leading in Iowa and national polls, says he didn't see himself as president until the "hundreds of thousands of people" who are supporting him persuaded him to run. Mike Huckabee is upset about being asked whether he thinks Donald Trump has the moral authority to unite the country. HUCKABEE: You know, of the few questions I've got, the last one I need is to give him some more time. I love Donald Trump. He is a good man." Then Huckabee jokes: "I'm wearing a Trump tie tonight. (CROSSTALK) 
 
 TRUMP: Such a nasty -- such a nasty question, but thank you, Governor. (LAUGHTER) 
 
 Let me tell you, Donald Trump would be a president every day of the week and twice on Sunday, rather than Hillary. You know, the FBI director, the president's appointed FBI director has said this week that because of a lack of support from politicians like the president of the United States, that police officers are afraid to get out of their cars; that they're afraid to enforce the law. ___ 
 
 7:50 p.m. 
 
 Chris Christie is using a dispute between the White House and the FBI to accuse President Obama of being weak on crime. And when the president of the United States gets out to speak about it, does he support police officers? Yet he says in discussing his greatest weakness that he doesn't really see himself "in that position" of president of the United States. I'll tell you this, the number one job of the president of the United States is to protect the safety and security of the American people. Christie says as president he'd support law enforcement, adding, "That's real moral authority." He says job creation is limited because businesses are dealing with excessive regulations. But Christie, with a look of exasperation, says to the moderators: "We have $19 trillion in debt ... and you're talking about fantasy football" 
 
 The comment ignited a burst of applause in the auditorium, including from Sen. Ted Cruz, standing to Christie's right. ___ 
 
 7:52 p.m. 
 
 Jeb Bush and Chris Christie are big football fans, and are among the millions of Americans who manage fantasy football teams. Christie snorts: "Let people play. CHRISTIE: What we should do is to be investing in all types of energy, John, all types of energy. John, do you want me to answer or do you want to answer? (APPLAUSE) 
 
 Because, I've got to tell you the truth, even in New Jersey what you're doing is called rude. Because we work with the private sector to make solar energy affordable and available to businesses and individuals in our state. Chris Christie is returning to his debate style of talking directly to viewers, suggesting to Americans they'd be fleeced on Social Security under a Democratic president. We used to have 16 workers for one retiree, now you have three workers for one retiree. He brings up his time working on the balanced budget in Congress often on the debate stage and on the campaign trail. Chris Christie is using his closing statement to look into the camera and ask voters two questions: "Are you fed up?"  BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — The Republican presidential candidates are debating for the third time in the 2016 nomination contest, this time in battleground Colorado, as they compete to narrow down the wide-open contest. John Kasich is ending the debate the way he began, with an animated appeal to communities to take on a bigger role in solving their problems, rather than the federal government. ___ 
 
 Donald Trump sounds like he'd like to fire CNBC debate moderator John Harwood. Paul says he opposes the budget deal passed Wednesday evening in the House of Representatives, which raises the county's borrowing limit as well as spending caps. Paul's father, former Rep. Ron Paul, campaigned for president with the slogan "End the Fed." He couldn't account for thousands of expenses from political committees he ran. CARSON: About Medicare? Critics have gone after Rubio for missing a lot of votes during his first term in Congress. But this is what you're seeing in the Republican debate that you didn't see in that Democrat debate. The third debate of the GOP nomination fight is underway, 17 minutes after it was set to start. He says he'd move to give more power back to the states, particularly in education, to give children better access to skills they can use to get ahead. And we finally need to tackle the basics to cut this government down to size and hold it accountable. Paul says he objects to raising the federal debt ceiling, because he wants "a government so small I can barely see it." and "Are you serious about this election?" The New Jersey governor has fighting words for CNBC correspondent John Harwood after several persistent questions about climate change during the Wednesday night debate. Asked whether it amounts to gambling, and whether the government should regulate, Bush says, "My instinct is to say, hell no." In his closing remarks, Cruz notes his stances against the Affordable Care Act and Planned Parenthood and says he will always "fight for freedom." Former CEO Carly Fiorina says the election is about more than "a lot of plans" and a lot of "good intentions." ___ 
 
 Dr. Ben Carson is subtly belittling his Republican rivals at the GOP debate in Boulder, by promising not to engage in negative campaigning. And, it was made for we the people, we are the ones who decide who we are, and we should never give away the values and principles that made America into a great nation for the sake of political correctness. Both Trump and Ben Carson sent CNBC a letter demanding that the debate be kept to two hours total. Trump says in his closing statement that he could stand on stage all night, but no one wants to watch a three-hour debate. Instead, he says they're making the sacrifice to run so they can get America back on track. The Ohio governor says: "America is not great from the top down. ___ 
 
 8:21 p.m. 
 
 Donald Trump says America has him to thank for keeping the third Republican presidential debate to two hours, rather than three hours or more. The Florida senator says he can never repay his "debt to America" and says he is running because wants to make sure that the same opportunities are there for others. Because we can't just save the American Dream, we can expand it to reach more people, and change more lives than ever before. Bush describes himself as an outsider and says politicians from Washington "continue to make things worse." Bush says he will "change the culture in Washington, just as I changed the culture in Tallahassee."
– With each Republican presidential candidate sharing the stage with nine others—and sharing the GOP field with 13 rivals—Wednesday night's debate participants needed to get tough, be bold, and say something that would help them stay at the top, or claw their way there. Here's how they did that, via the Washington Post and AP: Donald Trump set his sights on a new target, John Kasich: "John got lucky [in Ohio] with a thing called 'fracking.' He hit oil. Believe me, that is why Ohio is doing well. ... He was so nice. He was such a nice guy, and then his poll numbers tanked. That’s why he’s (standing) on the end.” Jeb Bush on Marco Rubio's record of missed votes: "Marco, when you signed up for this, this is a six-year term, and you should be showing up to work. I mean, literally, the Senate—what is it, like a French work week? You get, like, three days where you have to show up? Or just resign, and let somebody else take the job." Rubio's retort: “Someone has convinced you that attacking me is going to help you.” Bush's kiss: "You find a Democrat that's for cutting spending $10? I'll give him a warm kiss." Kasich on his rivals' tax plans: "Why don't we just give a chicken in every pot, while we're, you know, coming up—coming up with these fantasy tax schemes. ... Folks, we gotta wake up. We cannot elect somebody that doesn’t know how to do the job. " Ted Cruz on how the CNBC moderators are doing: "This is not a cage match. And, you look at the questions: 'Donald Trump, are you a comic-book villain?' 'Ben Carson, can you do math?' ' John Kasich, will you insult two people over here?' ' Marco Rubio, why don't you resign?' 'Jeb Bush, why have your numbers fallen?' How about talking about the substantive issues the people care about?" Rubio on the media: "The Democrats have the ultimate SuperPac. It's called the mainstream media." Chris Christie on a question posed about fantasy football: "We have a government involved in fantasy football? We have ISIS and al-Qaeda attacking us and we’re talking about fantasy football? Enough on fantasy football. Let people play! Who cares?" Mike Huckabee: "You know, everybody has an 'only guy'—'I'm the only guy this; I'm the only guy that.' Well, let me tell you one thing that I am the only guy: The only guy that has consistently fought the Clinton machine every election I was ever in over the past 26 years. And not only did I fight them, but I beat them." Carly Fiorina: "I’m Hillary Clinton’s worst nightmare. In your heart of hearts, you want to see a debate between Carly Fiorina and Hillary Clinton." Ben Carson stayed true to form: "I do, however, believe in Reagan's 11th commandment, and will not be engaging in awful things about my compatriots here." Rand Paul on the budget deal: "I will spend every ounce of energy to stop it. I will begin tomorrow to filibuster it."