As Republican nominees for the 2016 presidential nomination prepare for the first debate Thursday 
by rehearsing their issues stances and going over (and over and over) their message points, political junkies in the 305 — where we have not one but two local boys in the running — prepare by purchasing bulk amount of chips and popcorn.
Maybe some beer. Or something stronger.
Because, really, what’s the fun watching the debate at home alone when you can have a party? On the one hand, misery loves company and on the other, both cheering and heckling is more fun when done in a pack. Look at it as a Dolphins football game: Is it more fun to watch alone in your living room or at Hooters with friends?
In addition to the small, private, home soirees that some of our local elected officials and lobbyists and/or political consultants will have, there are already at least five community gatherings — two for Democrats, two for Republicans and one that claims to be bipartisan but is likely to be populated mostly by Democrats.
That’s the watch party hosted by Bendixen Amandi at Cinepolis Coconut Grove Cinemas in Cocowalk, same place the Democratic pollsters — who specialize in Hispanic public opinion — had a full house bipartisan watch party for the presidential debate in 2012. It is by non-transferable invitation only and limited to 50 guests. But they had to move the event from the VIP screening lounge to an actual theater to 
accommodate guests due to high response to their invites.
Read related story: Blue and reds make bipartisan debate watch parties purple
“This goes out to all of our friends — Democrat, Reublican, Independent and those who hate politics but love a good show,” this year’s invitation says. Ladra thinks one Republican went to the 2012 party. Because this is a Republican primary debate, there may be more this time around.
The Miami-Dade Democratic Party is billing their two events as a “Comedy Night,” which is kinda cute.
“It’s going to be a night full of laughter. After all who can forget the 2012 Republican debates,” says the email blast from the Dade Dems.
One party is hosted by the Downtown Democrats and is serving as a fundraiser for congressional candidate Annette Taddeo, who really 
needs all the financial help she can get since she is having a hard time raising funds for her run against U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo. A “suggested donation” of $26 gets you a cocktail at Fado’s Irish Pub in Brickell. But happy hour prices will be on far after the 9 p.m. debate start, they promise. The party starts there at 8 p.m. and some lucky campaign groupie will win a $25 Fado’s gift card.
A second debate watch party is being hosted by the Dems of South Dade at Sports Grill Kendall, 9090 SW 97th Ave. (but an RSVP to kendalldems@gmail.com is required).
Dade Dems won the race for funniest watch party invitation when it said they had three debate parties but then “ooops, we can’t remember” when it came time to name the third one — with a link to a video of Rick Perry’s 2011 GOP debate gaffe in which he could not name the third agency of government that he would do away with (by the way, for those who may have forgotten, it was the Department of Energy he forgot after Education and Commerce).
The Republican Party of Miami Dade, whose invitations are far more bland,
is hosting it’s own little shindig in West Miami, where Florida Senator and presidential candidate Marco Rubio cut his political teeth. Local party members will meet at the Rebeca Sosa Multipurpose Facility, 1700 SW 62nd Ave. and will likely be mostly cheering for Rubio. After all, Miami-Dade Commissioner Rebeca Sosa, a former West Miami mayor, is his political godmother. Expect Marquito to get the most cheers and points.
So if you prefer former Gov. Jeb Bush, you might feel more comfortable at the Jeb! campaign’s own watch party at the Renaissance Ballroom, 5910 SW 8th St., which is the same location as the monthly county GOP meetings. Doors open there at 8:30.
If you are like Ladra — for whom campaigns, elections and debates are like the Superbowl or World Cup game — this means you have a difficult decision to make.
Or we could just go party-hopping.
Why brave GOP debate alone when you can [watch] party? added by Ladra on
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