June 13, 2011

Live-blogging the Republican Debate.

6:14 Central Time: Just letting you know that I'll be here with the live-blogging when things start. Join me in the comments.

7:19: "Romney's already won," Meade announces, after Pawlenty gives a weak response to John King's repeated challenge of his use of the term "Obamaneycare."

7:26: A New Hampshire citizen frets about the influence of the Tea Party, and Santorum and Bachmann try to placate with platitutes. Bachmann speaks as if she's at a rally.

7:29: You can stream the debate on line here.

7:33: A federal right to work law? Pawlenty says yes.

7:37: Bachmann is asked if she prefers Elvis or Johnny Cash. An infusion of cuteness.

7:38: Ron Paul is tearing into another question. He's so crusty and cranky. It's refreshing... and a bit weird.

7:42: Romney looks good defending his position that the auto companies should have gone through bankruptcy. Obama, in effect, gave the bailout money to the unions, he says. King asks if everyone else agrees, but Santorum and Bachmann consume so much time answering that we don't get to find out if any of the others disagree.

7:45: Is everyone against the space program? Pawlenty's not. Gingrich thinks private business could run the program. Hard to picture that.

8:16: There's a question about the separation of church and state, and I'm struck that Ron Paul says, "The most important things is the First Amendment: 'Congress shall write [sic] no laws,' which means Congress shall never prohibit the expression of your Christians' faith in a public place." Why specify Christians? And under the First Amendment, there's freedom of speech for all opinions, including religious opinions. I thought that was bad of Paul, but Meade said, no it was great, because he won a lot of votes saying that. There are plenty of voters who will respond precisely because he said "Christians."

9:40: A good debate. I'd say all of the candidates did reasonably well, but wasn't Romney the big winner? He seemed believable as a leader, made no missteps, and none of the others landed a significant blow.

215 comments:

1 – 200 of 215   Newer›   Newest»
The Drill SGT said...

I refuse to pay for CNN, but will be around

Trooper York said...

Why would you watch this crap when you have the "Real Housewives of Orange County" reunion special Part 2.

Anonymous said...

Context:

Tonight's moderator is CNN's John King. He is married to CNN Reporter Dana Bash ... but that's not her real name. Her real name is Dana Schwartz. She was married before to another man named Jeremy Bash.

Jeremy Bash is the Chief of Staff for Leon Panetta.

That's right. The person moderating this Republican debate is the husband of the ex-wife of the current Democrat Secretary of Defense.

Tangled webs they are a weavin'.

Sal said...

There going to live-stream Twitter comments. Someone wake Titus!

Rose said...

LInked.

Trooper York said...

Hey that is almost as complicated as Slade Smiley who was with Jo in Season One and banged Laurie in Season Three but is banging Gretchen now while getting arrested for not paying his child support.

He's like the David Gergan of the Housewives. He will get in bed with anybody.

Amartel said...

Real Housewives of OC Reunion Special Part Deux. Or Real Republicans of America (+1) Reunion Special Part Deux. Either way, someone's getting trampled! (And I hope it's the moderator.)

coketown said...

As with women's gymnastics, I'm only watching in the hopes that someone trips, crashes, and tumbles. Please be Newt. Please, please, please.

traditionalguy said...

Trooper...I'll put $10 on Herman Cain to win over the crowd. I just hope he doesn't get a question on Gayness, because he thinks that there is something wrong with that.

bagoh20 said...

From an under-read blogger I follow:

"One of our political parties is horrible and corrupt. The other one is even worse, because it adds insult to injury: it pretends to care what its most loyal and ideologically committed base thinks. In practice its elected politicians would rather ride the gravy train as long as it continues to roll, and to heck what the base thinks. Hmmm. This formulation works almost equally well no matter which side you are on."

http://www.dinocrat.com/archives/2011/06/12/more-of-the-same-3/

Trooper York said...

I used to like Cain but his show was boring. Every week he would come into a new town and go to the livery stable and the local bullies would beat him up until he had to save a dog or a crippled kid or something and then he would Kung Fu their cracker asses.

Wait a minute. I though Cain died in a tragic hanging weiner accident in Bangkok or something like that there.

Or do I have the wrong Cain.

Anonymous said...

"There going to live-stream Twitter comments."

No they aren't. You're watching the Fake News Network.

They're going to cherry-pick Twitter comments that place Republicans in the worst light possible.

Take a look at this "inside look" at the CNN debate.

Check out the totally fake GCI "live" report from CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser. He's standing in front of a green screen faking his live report and CNN has Photoshopped the image of a large "CNN Express" bus that doesn't actually exist into the background.

Anonymous said...

"Or do I have the wrong Cain."

You do, grasshopper. You do.

This is the Cain with the mark, spoken of in Genesis.

Trooper York said...

That's right.

He used to call his penis grasshopper and dared people to pull it out of his hand.

You know seventies TV was very weird.

Matt Sablan said...

http://live.cnn.com/ <--For anyone who needs a live stream

Dust Bunny Queen said...

I refuse to watch CNN.

If they were to have an unbiased moderator. (which they don't)

If they had a real debate instead of gotcha questions from the media. (which they won't)

If there was some back and forth between the debators instead of canned talking point. (which will never happen)

I might be interested....if it wasn't on CNN

bagoh20 said...

Is someone going to promise to continue the Obama policies that are continuations of the Bush policies, or are they gonna offer hope and change. There really is no other option, is there?

Matt Sablan said...

Thumbs down on Obama depression answer. The rest so far are actually introducing themselves well.

miller said...

Did Cain really allege that Obama was born in Kenya? Because if that's true, then he is a non-starter.

mccullough said...

Romney looks pretty good in HD.

mesquito said...

The basic consensus is that Bam's America is a country in decline.

mesquito said...

Bachmann announces.

Sprezzatura said...

Bachmann annonces!!

Exploring no more.

Rose said...

I don't like this debate a;ready - a 20 second intro???? And King is combatively cutting them short with not enough time to answer.

mesquito said...

I don't want yoyr esume, dear. I want your question.

Sprezzatura said...

Was that Q from Sylvia the softest softball in the history of softballs?

mccullough said...

That red-haired free-lance journalist grandma ("Sylvia") just tossed a softball into the debate. John King was not pleased. Now he knows how the rest of us feel when his network interviews Obama and those in his administration.

The MSM will now descend on Sylvia like she's Joe the Plumber.

Fred4Pres said...

Trooper, that was pretty funny. I like Herman Cain and I liked Kung Fu. With the tragic wiener mishap of Mr. Caradine, we missed the opportunity of a remake of the Simon and Simon show, but with Herman Cain and Keith Caradine as long lost brothers who solves crimes and get into adventures.

Herman Cain is a conservative and a business man. He is not a clown like Trump. So I welcome his involvement in the process and I hope he kicks ass.

Rose said...

Oh Geeezus - Obamneycare... gets 5 minutes...

mesquito said...

Who's this pussy with all this "balance" shit?

Anonymous said...

Is anybody buying that these are random voters CNN just plucked off the streets?

Trooper York said...

Thanks Fred4Pres. You know seventies TV didn't throw up the really weird characters like sixties TV that the blogger lady liked to watch.

Did you know there was a show about a gay guy with three sons who married a woman with three daughters who was obsessed with vegatable oil?

Now that's entertainment.

Sprezzatura said...

"Who's this pussy with all this "balance" shit?

I think y'all call them rhinoceroses, or something?

Fred4Pres said...

Pawlenty needs to back up his snark. With humor. Too bad, missed opportunity.

Alex said...

Cain is a joke and people are finding that out now.

Sprezzatura said...

"after Pawlenty gives a weak response to John King's repeated challenge of his use of the term "Obamaneycare.""

The only way I can explain his weakness toward Romney (including his weakness in the first debate) is to assume that he's trying to be VP.

But, I don't think he adds anything to the ticket, meatpacking or not. Fool.

Rose said...

Bachmann is doing pretty good so far, Cain isn't warmed up yet - and this short time frame doesn't allow for real answers - soundbite discussions are part of what is wrong with the country these days.

mccullough said...

Pawlenty is waiting for someone else to go after Romney. Unwise. Go after him yourself.

Sprezzatura said...

Bachman's a job killa killa.

mccullough said...

Santorum used the term "trickle-down." Unforced error.

Chris Althouse Cohen said...

Michelle Bachmann sounds really good. Romney is doing well but sounded just as good in 2008, and he has some impossible issues to deal with, no matter how hard he tries. Newt Gingrich is old. Pawlenty and Santorum are boring. The others are fringe candidates. Republicans are going to want someone who seems like they could inspire a grassroots effort because that's what they think you need to do these days. I predict either Bachmann or Romney, and I think Bachmann is probably underestimated here.

Fred4Pres said...

Trooper, not only that but the oldest son (the one who got the fro and could not sing) actually did the oldest daughter. No Anthony Weiner pussyfooting around it, he plunged right in. Or wait a second, I think Greg did Mrs. Brady.

Or maybe I am getting confused with Keith and Laurie Partridge getting it on.

galdosiana said...

Would someone please tell the host to STOP INTERRUPTING everyone? Good lord, the constant um, yah, er, um, nah, uhh, eh...it's driving me crazy!!!

Trooper York said...

Yeah that was another weird family. Those Partridges. They went around singing on a bus and saw all the national monuments and they had a redheaded retarded kid and the press hated them and ....err...maybe I got that mixed up too.

Almost Ali said...

Where's Sarah!

Mark O said...

We are doomed.

Robert Holmgren said...

The grunting from John King is sabotaging the event. I've never heard this level of non professional behavior.

Rose said...

In the chatroom, comment is: the moderator get more time to spin than the candidtes get to answer

Chris Althouse Cohen said...

Santorum and Bachmann both totally failed the lightweight cultural preferences questions.

Anonymous said...

Bachmann is winning so far.

Alex said...

They're all losers.

Sprezzatura said...

Sure, KIng is a dope.

But, being president is a lot harder than dealing w/ him.

Bachman just did a great job answering his dumb question. Can the other's also shine in this so-called tough environment?

[For the record, Bachman's answer was actually wrong, the correct answer was 'Cash.' But, even so, she did great, even w/ the wrong answer!]

Alex said...

Meanwhile Palin is cackling on some bus.

Almost Ali said...

John King's goal is to make every "R" look bad.

Turn on Nancy Grace instead, she's out to kill her "Tot-Mom" no matter what. Hand her a butcher knife and put her into the Casey Anthony courtroom - she would turn it into a bloody slaughter house.

What a crew, CNN.

ricpic said...

Placate with platitudes,
Placate with platitudes,
If you've got much to lose,
Placate with platitudes.

Beldar said...

"Blup ... blup ... blup."

Anderson Cooper is making noises like he's got his finger in a wall socket. I think it's the noise he's trying to use to shorten the candidates' answers. Hell, I'd rather they have a gong than this duffus sputtering.

Beldar said...

Sorry, John King. Whatever.

ricpic said...

They're all losers.

Says Mr. Fringe.

Alex said...

haha, all of you actually watching this farce are fools. Every last one of ya.

Chris Althouse Cohen said...

Gingrich: "We're not a developed country!"

Rose said...

It's called democracy, Alex, you participate in it or it runs you over.

mccullough said...

Pawlenty is displaying a Jimmy Stewart earnestness that will serve him well as a candidate.

Sprezzatura said...

Do these cons know that NASA politics can matter in important states?

T-Paw seemed to be thinking about this, a little. But, he's, figuratively, Mr. promise the moon. So, might as well do it literally too.

J said...

They're asking Ms Bachmann....a serious question....what is her preferred....PUBIC HAIR style???...wait...trimmed? shaven??

nope. full traditional BUSH.

Next question.....

Sprezzatura said...

"haha, all of you actually watching this farce are fools. Every last one of ya."

Thanks for pointing out the obvious.

Duh.

Rose said...

What's that, J? Go after the female candidate with a sexual reference?

galdosiana said...

I've been pretty impressed with Pawlenty so far. Concise, informed, and some good ideas.

edutcher said...

Agree with Meade on T-Paw, Romney's looking at the audience like, "I've got him, haven't I?".

Newt is making a good presentation, but it's a doomed effort.

My one big question is:

Did CNN actively solicit RINOs as questioners for this farce?

Have the rest on Fox, guys.

Anonymous said...

6/13/11 6:28 PM
Blogger Coketown said...

"As with women's gymnastics, I'm only watching in the hopes that someone trips, crashes, and tumbles. Please be Newt. Please, please, please."

The Weiner Boys™ of the world are watching the "debates" hoping for an "equipment malfunction" that exposes the "no-no" of a young girl Giggle! You are a fine, respectable, admirable member of Congress Mr Weiner Boy™. I have a plastic bag of junior high girl bicycle seats out in your Pathfinder. Fragrant!

To be serious, what is your take on a Hillary Clinton candidacy?

I'm so proud of you, Weiner Guy ™!

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

J is a little less mature than Weiner-D.

J said...

You got a point, Rose--let's be PC. Ask it of Mitt too.

Miss Romney, what sort of pussay hair style do you prefer to wear, and does it interfere with your "magic undergarments"? 2 minutes please.

mccullough said...

Cain's right. Either grandma or the kids are going over the cliff. I vote we dump grandma, too.

Anonymous said...

Hey look! It's J. What a perfect time for you to tell us about John Edwards's brilliant plan to end poverty and how he can still implement it between anal sex sessions with his cellmate.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Herman Cain is right. Raising the soc sec age will not fix it. Baby booms and baby busts will again wreak havoc because, at the end of the day, it's a Ponzi scheme.

BJM said...

I'm with Trooper...hopefully someone will finally coldcock Tamra.

Debate, schemate, it's pure BS...the GOP doesn't have a snowball's chance of winning the WH in 2012.

Having gone all in, the media have no choice but to hold their noses and drag Obama's sorry ass across the finish line in a desperate attempt to save what little influence and power they haven't pissed away shoving the progressive shit sandwich down the country's throat.

Meade said...

"Santorum and Bachmann both totally failed the lightweight cultural preferences questions."

That's what I thought.

Elvis? She should have said "I love Elvis Costello but my favorite musical artist is Prince."

And cash. The answer is "cash is king."

mccullough said...

Romney, Pawlenty, and Bachmann doing a great job tag teaming against Obama.

Anonymous said...

BJM -- No. Obama will lose in 2012 unless the Republicans put up a totally sorry McGovern or Dole type.

Sprezzatura said...

T-Paw accepts the separation words, re constitution.

Who will correct him?

Beldar said...

Prof. Althouse, you need to chat with Prof. Reynolds re private industry and space.

Sprezzatura said...

Paul. Of course.

bgates said...

Gingrich thinks private business could run the program. Hard to picture that.

Next he'll claim private business could develop original, thoughtful, and (/or) popular tv programming even though we already have PBS.

Rose said...

Good Job, Herman Cain!

mccullough said...

I love how Cain turned his Muslim gaffe into a critique of Sharia law. And Romney helped him out by reinforcing no Sharia law in U.S. courts.

Anonymous said...

How does one see the live debate on CNN? I cannot see the video but hear the audio? Anyone else? I am using safari on mac. Thanks.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Gingrich makes a hard right.

Btw, the personal questions come off as phony from this librul moderator who talks ways too much.

Sprezzatura said...

Good to see the commenter are happy now that the RINO questions have passed.

Finally, they covered the threat of Muslim's infiltrating the government and Shari law taking over the courts.

Meade said...

Good answer by Santorum on the faith question.

Karen said...

Anyone else find John King's attempts to stop the debaters with "right, right" annoying? It's hard to concentrate on what each of them is saying when he sounds like a bird chirping in the background, very unprofessional.

Sprezzatura said...

BTW, when Cain asks if his Muslim hires are committed to the constitution, does he really think the terrorists will tell him that they plan on infiltrating and destroying our country?

Dumb.

Revenant said...

Santorum and Bachmann both totally failed the lightweight cultural preferences questions.

Meaning what? I'm not watching the debate, but I'm curious.

mccullough said...

Bachmann's stock is going up. She's much more politically saavy.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Bachman hits one out of the park!

Beorn said...

John King, worst moderator EVER!

ricpic said...

A warm body will beat Obama. Badly. Get over this idiot fear of the media. People know they're hurting. The cost of gas and groceries trumps the media hogwash. Suits me fine whether our next prez is Michelle or Sarah. Turns out I'm a lot more the feminist than Der Althouse, who's apparently rendered uncomfortable by competent assertive women.

Sprezzatura said...

Rev,

San-man had a stumbling, awkward answer.

Bachmann was delightful and fun (even though I disagree w/ her preference).

Chris Althouse Cohen said...

Was Michelle Bachmann just totally incoherent on the gay marriage issue, or am I missing something?

Chris Althouse Cohen said...

Revenant: Santorum was asked "Leno or Conan?" and he said neither. Bachmann was asked "Elvis or Johnny Cash?" and she said both.

Sprezzatura said...

"and she said both"

But, only Elvis lives in her pod. So, I interpreted that as a preference.

Chris Althouse Cohen said...

Michelle Bachmann said she would not go into states with gay marriage and change their laws, which King took to mean she opposed the federal marriage amendment, but then said she would support a federal constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, but reiterated that she wouldn't go into states and change their gay marriage laws.

mccullough said...

This election will not turn on either Obama's or his opponents views on gay marriage or abortion.

Meade said...

Gingrich gave best answer on religion.

bagoh20 said...

Meade said:

"There are plenty of voters who will respond precisely because he said "Christians."

Exactly right. That's where the numbers are, that where the discrimination is real, that where the government is the culprit, that's where it counts...election wise. Good play, especially for a Libertarian.

Meade said...

Herman Cain wins on gay marriage question.

bagoh20 said...

"And, naming your kid after a religion hater..."

We can't name them all "Hussein" just to pander.

Rose said...

Newt has nothing to lose so he is free to lay it on the line, and he is doing well at that.

Almost Ali said...

I like CNN's strategy of distracting from the key issue by focusing on the emotional rather than the practical.

Anonymous said...

What did Gingrich have to lose two weeks ago?

Sprezzatura said...

Where's the T-Paw is like BHO tag?


They both like coke.

Anonymous said...

I like Pawlenty. I really wish he could get people energized. Coke may be a good short-term answer there.

BJM said...

Seven, I wish.

The media will eviscerate any serious challenger. They have more at stake than the Dems.

The online community has opened a serious crack in their facade, but they still control the wholesale broadcast & print imagery. There are still too many uninformed voters who receive their information from the MSM in the waning weeks or days of an election cycle.

However, we're looking at the end of the MSM. They couldn't even cock block for a little piss ant congressman like Weiner. 2012 is the so-called main stream media's last hurrah, half of them will be out of bidness by 2016.

bagoh20 said...

Why IS CNN hosting this? I had to look up what number that was on the remote. Is there a requirement that nobody watches you in order to get these debates? In L.A. we have a local public access channel that's mostly Weed TV. They should have gotten this show. Those potheads would have been more capable and entertaining.

Drew said...

Dangit, I was channel surfing looking for the debate, thought I'd missed it, when it suddenly occurred to me that a CNN debate would be on CNN.

Too late . . . I'm putting kids to bed. You guys talk. But tell me what Herman Cain said re: gay marriage.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Chris:
Bachman said she would not campaign vs. a state law but will support a national amendment that banned gay marriage. That is not incoherent- she is just following current laws and respecting state rights and constitional amendment rules.

mccullough said...

BJM,

The media's defense of Obama is killing them. People know things are bad and even worse is on the horizon. Given a plausible Republican candidate, Obama's going under the MSM bus. They won't carry his water much longer.

Meade said...

Drew, Cain was the only one who said simply - leave it to the states.

Rose said...

Good answer by Bachmann, on Libya

Anonymous said...

BJM -- You are a conspiracy nut. There is no "the media" compared to, say, 1980 or 2000. Also, nobody -- and I mean nobody -- is interested in defending Weiner. Period. Democrats want him gone. It's Republicans at this point who want him to stay.

Sprezzatura said...

Cain is channeling Rummy.

Knowable unknowables, unknowable knowables etc.

Sprezzatura said...

"It's Republicans at this point who want him to stay."

On his radio show today, Hannity devoted a good chunk of time talking about how it was unfair for the Ds to run over Weiner, when they defended WJC when he committed actual crimes and had actual sex.

mccullough said...

Bachmann nailed Libya. Defense Secretary Gates said it's not in our national interest to intervene there and we're following France's lead. Not much to add to that.

Toad Trend said...

Sorry for the likely redundancy, but CNN just SUCKS.

bagoh20 said...

Great, a break. I can visit the bathroom and do some texting...simultaneously. I feel a hacking coming on.

mccullough said...

Pawlenty's right. Sarah Palin would be a much better President than Joe Biden. Even Obama agrees.

Toad Trend said...

Pawlenty is right about Biden; wrong on just about everything.

wv - dingazes

Rose said...

There is no question that if Palin is in charge right now we would not be in the mess we are in now.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Pawlenty used Biden as a punching bag and I hope they do that and more for the next 17 months.

Sprezzatura said...

Did Romney say that Bachmann shouldn't pick one of the old ones, when she was mulling over who could work for her?

I don't get it?

Toad Trend said...

Pawlenty being a hockey guy is a huge intangible...he'll know when to get those elbows up when necessary.

Fred4Pres said...

A warm body will beat Obama.

They said that about Bush too--although granted Kerry is on the chilly side. We need a candidate who is not afraid to fight.

Anonymous said...

Geez I haven't watched CNN for years. I tuned in the last 40 minutes - the moderator, whoever he was, seemed surprisingly level headed. It'll change in a few months tho. Paul/Bachmann in 2012!

Anonymous said...

Most impressive showing: Michelle Bachmann.

Pawlenty: Not exciting. No there there.
Romney: ObamaCare
Paul: FEDERAL RESERVE!!11!!ty
Cain: Islamaphobe
Newt: Is he still around?

Loser: Sarah Palin, who is losing ground to Michelle Bachmann by not showing up.

Bachmann looked and sounded very presidential. Handled the foreign policy questions well. Looked very well put together and was unshakable, even fobbing off the last question about who she would pick to hire from those on stage.

Very impressive. Like to see more of her.

Meade said...

Any one of these seven will be an improvement over Obama.

JohnJ said...

Romney.

...and Bachmann, surprisingly.

But why didn't one of the seven slap down a few of those silly questions?

Chris Althouse Cohen said...

If you pass a federal amendment to the constitution banning same sex marriage, that effectively changes the state law, doesn't it?

Sprezzatura said...

I didn't care for any of them.

If I could isolate the 63% of the time when the Newtinator was sharp, I'd say that 63%-Newt won.

But, considering folks in there entirety I'd say Bachmann won.

Toad Trend said...

LOL 'ObamneyKare'...I hope T-Paw gets serious consideration.

Romney too stiff and WRONG about 'green' gaseousness.

Beldar said...

@ Meade: I don't disagree with you, but I'm not wholly content with these seven, nor do I think some of them are still credible candidates if they ever were.

We're months yet from the first primary. We're months from the deadline for entering the first primary.

And the guy who made the single most substantive policy contribution to tonight's discussion -- Paul Ryan -- wasn't even there.

Anonymous said...

Ace's crew liveblogged and had Bachmann winning the debate by 37% to Romney's 25%.

galdosiana said...

Meade said: Any one of these seven will be an improvement over Obama.

Absolutely. I was quite impressed tonight by these candidates, in spite of the ridiculous moderator hemming and hawing in the background.

Brian O'Connell said...

Newt kept on using the old "it was a very narrow question" defense. You cant' apply his answers to anything! Except that question.

Roux said...

It's the Christians who are under attack.

Anonymous said...

"If you pass a federal amendment to the constitution banning same sex marriage, that effectively changes the state law, doesn't it?"

Romney: States should have the right to implement health care.

Romney: States shouldn't have the right to implement gay marriage.

This was Romney's unforced error of the night.

He alters his opinion about states rights depending on what he'd prefer as an individual, therefore his position is craven and he can't be counted on.

I think the Gays should set upon him and smite him.

ATTACK!

mccullough said...

In the spirit of American Idol, I think Newt should not be back for next week's show.

traditionalguy said...

I was surprised at Pawlenty's failure to connect although his answers were some of the best. Romney and Cain did a fine job connecting with the audience. Bachmann was the best at giving the direct answers to the question. She nailed it that Libya is not an operation done for America at all...it is therefore done simply for oil market manipulation to benefit Obama's benefactors while helping sky rocket the oil prices. to do that Libya had to be made into a long term stalemate.

Anonymous said...

"It's the Christians who are under attack."

No we're not.

If Christians were under attack, they'd carpet bomb all the Muslims and all the Jews in about a week.

That's why Muslims and Jews kill each other. They know better than to fuck with us.

Sprezzatura said...

Bachman was hard to dislike. She's a riskier choice (in the general) than Romney. But, if she won she'd be a lot better at pushing the con agenda.

We'll see what matters most to y'all.

Brian O'Connell said...

Pawlenty can dish it out, but he can't... dish it out.

mccullough said...

As a group, they made a good showing. They didn't criticize each other, they criticized Obama on the major issues. And no one send anything that was off the wall.

edutcher said...

If Ed Rollins wants to earn the money Michelle Bachmann's paying him, he's going to give up going after Sarah Palin and start teaching his client to answer the question, not recite her bio.

And Santorum is going nowhere. Neither is Pawlenty.

And Herman needs a little more polish. Interviewing with Boortz or Cavuto isn't the same thing as looking good in a debate.

Meade said...

Nevbob, Christians are under attack by Liberals.

Anonymous said...

And Herman needs a little more polish.

Perhaps he could start by winning a statewide or congressional race. But he has decided to fail up.

Anonymous said...

You guys spouting about religion and social values are simply off base right now. This election is going to be won or lost on the economy. Period.

Unless there is a large-scale terrorist attack that brings out the Scotch-Irish. Then Obama has had it for sure.

mccullough said...

Edutcher,

Are you worried Bachmann is taking over Palin's space?

No one answers the questions. They are on television. They are there to communicate with the t.v. viewer, and know they will be most often viewed in sound bites. Bachmann did an excellent job with that.

hombre said...

Why specify Christians?

Because, of late, it is the Christian faith against which government discrimination is largely directed.

Unknown said...

Despite my earlier ironclad prognostication of Pawlenty Bachmann, I am now firmly in the Romney Bachmann camp.

Let me be perfectly clear.

Mitt kicked ass tonight, but it's way early.

Cedarford said...

I enjoyed the debate. Thought Pawlenty and Santorum underperformed, were a little evasive. And Ron Paul is the enjoyable 76-year old libertarian purist who has no shot and everyone knows it, but is good to have around for some very fine points he makes each outing - some loopy ones to - but always worth a listen.

Pawlenty walked right into a bad moment on his Obamacare=Romneycare when Romney came back and said Obama never called any of the architects in Mass on what worked and what was flawed in the Mass plan. Including himself.

Thought Cain had some very good moments - particulary when he rattled off 4 things we must do on illegal immigration - Joined by Gingrich when he called John King out on a false dichotomey perpetrated by Elites the meme King and others are trying to foist that if it is impossible to find and arrest and try and deport 20 million illegals - the only alternative is to give 20 million Amnesty and allow them to bring in another 40 million for family reunification. No, Gingrich said, the 4 simple relatively non-controversial Cain points are a path to substantially solving the problem.

Bachmann presented well as a media-savvy Congresswoman.

Romney had good, consistent answers. And he kept focus on Obama, jobs, the economy - as much as he could aside from stupid John King direct questions on other matters. He came off well.

I did note neocon foreign policy is dead in this group. There are no war thirsty McCains this time. All, unlike McCain, did not think Libya was a good idea, and that we should get out of endless wars and nation-building business sooner rather than later. Not just Afghanistan and Iraq - no new wars not directly in US vital interest.

Meade said...

Sevens, you're right about the economy issue but this is still "getting to know you" time. So other issues need to be on the table.

Fred4Pres said...

I had t-bone steaks with romaine and blue cheese. Shiraz--no coke or pepsi.

edutcher said...

mccullough said...

Edutcher,

Are you worried Bachmann is taking over Palin's space?

No one answers the questions. They are on television. They are there to communicate with the t.v. viewer, and know they will be most often viewed in sound bites. Bachmann did an excellent job with that.


Cute.

mccullough/PB&J may not care about questions not being answered, but I'd like to hear these people address what's asked. And the sound bite that resonates is the one that expresses the position.

No, Bachmann did a lousy job. As I said, she needs to hit the question up front and she didn't do it.

But, then, mccullough/PB&J is just mad because his favorite RINO wasn't there.

PS If Mrs Bachmann makes the grade, I'd happily support her; it's not either/or, mccullough/PB&J's FUD notwithstanding, but she's got to come off better than she did tonight.

I agree with Ann, she speaks way too much in platitudes.

Sprezzatura said...

"when Romney came back and said Obama never called any of the architects in Mass on what worked and what was flawed in the Mass plan. Including himself."

This is not new. It's been a talking point for a while.

But, I don't think he said that the BHO folks didn't talk to anyone in Mass. Because BHO and his folks did very clearly do this. Romney is probably smart enough to only say that BHO didn't talk to him, personally. Which is a silly talking point, but maybe the primary voters will latch on to it, if their looking for reasons to justify a, seemingly con-inconsistent, Romney vote.

Titus said...

I agree with Meade, anyone of the republicans are better than Obama.

I was hard the entire time watching all the patriotism on display. Republicans rock. Anything republican gets me fucking horny.

Not really, I missed it. I did TRX class tonight. My waist is now 30 inches. I am so excited. I was 31 inches the past 9 months but baby I am getting back to being born this way.

Cedarford said...

I agree with edutcher. While I think Bachmann was media savvy enough to have gained appreciators in her venture as a Palin aspirer - but too many answers were not answered but used to expound on her resume, her 23 foster children (a refrain that may become as common as "Did you know I was a POW who suffered" "By the way, I served in Vietnam, Cambodia..." from McCain and Kerry.).

Sprezzatura said...

ed,

What the hell?

You used to have me (especially as 1jpb) pegged as a kos kid.

Now I'm interchangable w/ mccullough?

Am I schizo? Do schizos know if they're schizo? What should I look for?

Bruce Hayden said...

But, I don't think he said that the BHO folks didn't talk to anyone in Mass. Because BHO and his folks did very clearly do this.

Teddy Kennedy?

William said...

Bachmann is an attractive woman with an admirable back story. She's better at syntax than Palin, but she doesn't connect and energize the way Palin does....I thought all the candidates looked likable and smart. I liked the way they scored points off of Obama instead of each other.....Cain is an impressive man. He speaks in bullet points with gravitas and a fine baritone. But unlike Romney he has never mixed his business experience with public service. Too experimental. Pawlenty and Santorum looked interchangeable. Gingrich was poised and in control, but he's packing too much baggage to take off. Paul is cranky. Maybe future events will prove him right, but right now he looks too cranky. Since nobody broke out from the crowd, Romney won.

Mark said...

If I could, I'd do a mash-up of "Weapon of Choice" comparing Obama and Romney and showing through quotes that there ain't much difference between the two.

hombre said...

You guys spouting about religion and social values are simply off base right now. This election is going to be won or lost on the economy. Period.

Correct. However, lefties, like the CNN commentators, will continue to raise the social issues because neither they nor their constituents, the Democrats, want to talk about the economy.

On the other hand, there are a few [million] Christians, for example, who won't vote for anybody who thinks it's ok to spend their tax dollars on abortions.

Fred4Pres said...

think Bachman won--if only because the expectations for her were lower than others, but she did pretty good. Mitt helped himself. Cain did not hurt (his immigration answer was good) but is not the clear winner. Pawlenty hurt himself slightly.



Here are Steyn's comments.

Fred4Pres said...

If GOP candidates learn anything, it is not to be afraid to mock a questioner for a bad question. Do it with humor, but do it. Newt and Cain were okay on that, but more, much more is needed.

rcocean said...

I see the Republican moderates are making their usual talking points.

1976: This is no time to talk about social issues, we have the SALT treaty, stagflation.

1984: We can't talk about social issues, the deficit and the Soviets are more important.

1988: This is not the time to talk about social issues, we have a massive budget deficit & we need to cut taxes.

1992: How can you talk about social issues? Its the economy stupid.

1996: We can't waste time on social issues, we need to cut taxes and control spending.

2000: Social issues are a losing issue. We need to talk about cutting taxes and controlling spending.

2004: The war is the only thing that matters - no time to discuss social issues.

2008: Its the economy stupid, we can't waste time on social issues.

2012: We can't waste time on social issues...

garage mahal said...

So Bachmann Turner Crazydrive won?

Awesome lineup there wingers.

Almost Ali said...

Palin won.

Sprezzatura said...

"Teddy Kennedy?"

Ha.

Also the researchers whose work formed the basis of both plans. I tried to find their names w/ the google machine. But, no luck--all the new stuff re T-Paw is coming up.

Anyway, BHO's original plan during the campaign was explicitly based on Romneycare. The two were used the same research, which I'm to dumb/lazy to find. The really funny thing is that BHO's plan had the Romneycare framework, except for mandates. Ha. Well eventually those were added.

The other thing that candidate BHO's plan didn't have was a funding source, that was added too (unlike Part-D)--redirected Medicare funds and new taxes for rich folks. [Unlike BHO's passed legislation, Romney's passed legislation wasn't supposed to need funding, it was supposed to be revenue neutral, but now it takes about one percent of the state's budget.]

And so Obamacare, or Obamneycare, was born.

Sprezzatura said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Joanna said...

Almost Ali said...
Palin won.


Shhhh.

edutcher said...

Hate to say it, but Milton and Newt came off best, although Milton comes off as being a little too smooth.

Herman and Bachmann need work, but they have time. As I say, Bachmann needs to hit the question, not her resume.

Jenny said...

I have to agree with the others saying Palin won. No one stood out; maybe Cain. Romney puts me to sleep.

ricpic said...

My waist is now 30 inches. I'm so excited.

Yes, keep at it and you'll realize the acme of all homo desires: you'll be a boy again.

bagoh20 said...

The size and power of government IS the social issue.

garage mahal said...

Palin wins by not having to speak. Hard to argue that.

Anonymous said...

I'm not saying people shouldn't talk about social issues. I'm saying it's an absurd waste of time because people will vote based purely on economics. Get it?

As for abortion, I am strongly against abortion, though I understand the other side is also fervent, and a free people must come to terms politically with the fact that people disagree strongly.

bagoh20 said...

"you'll be a boy again."

I realize gays are born that way, but can gays be born again?

Sprezzatura said...

Titus,

This weekend I ran into a neighbor (at a house I almost never go to) who was walking a so-called rare spaniel, aka Clumber.

He seemed really gay. He had that really high voice, and that way of talking that elongates words.

And, he was quite thin, in a healthy way.

Coincidence?

Sayyid said...

"If you pass a federal amendment to the constitution banning same sex marriage, that effectively changes the state law, doesn't it?"

Depends on what the amendment said. If it simply barred federal law or courts from recognizing the marriage, no. That would simply maintain things how they are in the states that have legalized gay marriage today -- married on state forms, not married on federal. If it said that no state would recognize the marriage, then yes.

"Did Romney say that Bachmann shouldn't pick one of the old ones, when she was mulling over who could work for her? I don't get it?"

Newt, Paul, and Cain are old. The whole "same state" thing would get in the way of Bachmann picking T-Paw (See Amendment XII). Santorum generally isn't considered a serious candidate. Thus, the comment was the equivalent of "pick me!"


Romney won by virtue of not falling on his face. T-Paw lost by virtue of not making that happen. Bachmann's stock is rising, but she still has a lot of catching up to do.

Fred4Pres said...

Gereghty quipped that he was waiting for the finale when Palin would burst through the wall of the stage with her bus.

Revenant said...

Revenant: Santorum was asked "Leno or Conan?" and he said neither. Bachmann was asked "Elvis or Johnny Cash?" and she said both.

I can see asking someone to pick an Elvis/Cash preference; dumb question, but at least the person will have heard enough to be able to form some sort of opinion.

But "Leno or Conan" fails as a culture question because neither is a significant part of our culture. They have Nielsen ratings in the low single digits.

bagoh20 said...

Economics is as always the biggest issue, but the problem is beginning to be seen more clearly this time. More than ever people realize that there is not enough money to feed the government and that there never will be. It seems to me that this election will be more serious and thoughtful than any I remember. Or is that a hope?

I'm Full of Soup said...

Chris: Getting a constitutional amendment is very difficult. It's like hittin .400 in a season. Bachman prefers that as a way to see if there is a large national concensus for a bill. Only if she sees there is that concensus [as evidenced by the passing of the amendment] will the state laws be struck down. That is a very reasoned and consistent position to me.


Libruls, on the other hand, like to run to the courts and friendly judges to get what they want.

bagoh20 said...

If anyone answered the question of "Coke or Pepsi?" with "whiskey", I'd vote for that woman..., and I don't even drink.

Bender said...

You can't win if you are already dead. And the Weasel is dead.

bagoh20 said...

"Romney came back and said Obama never called any of the architects in Mass on what worked and what was flawed in the Mass plan, including himself."

Why would you ask a guy who didn't know what was wrong with it, or who did and passed it anyway?

I'm Full of Soup said...

Obama did not design the spendulus plan. He stupidly outsourced his "first big f-ing deal" as president to Pelosi and Reid.

So I don't know why Romney thinks Obama would lower himself to actually do any work on designing Obamacare.

Revenant said...

Depends on what the amendment said. If it simply barred federal law or courts from recognizing the marriage, no.

Wouldn't there be implications if state civil or federal cases ended up getting appealed to the federal level? Basic facts of the case would be forced to be interpreted differently.

Trooper York said...

Watching this debate would be like betting on spring training games.

They left the first string back at camp, these are the scrubs.

Trooper York said...

Palin, Christie, Ryan, Perry and Jeb didn't even make the road trip.

Let's wait to we get closer to the season so we can see the real lineup.

mccullough said...

Does anyone know why Romney didn't run for reelection in 2006?

Edutcher, who is your favorite RINO? I know you think big spending wealth redistribution Palin is not a RINO, but do you like Mitt, Pawlenty, Huntsman, Daniels or any of the other Republican governors who didn't raise spending 30 percent in two years as governor?

Trooper York said...

Wasn't Michele Bachman the name Stephen King was using when he was cross dressing back in the 1980's?

Jim said...

IF (a very big IF) the field were frozen as is, then the ideal ticket for Republicans is Romney/Bachmann.

Pawlenty was very disappointing in his unwillingness to follow-up on the "ObamneyCare" quip, so I have to question his ability to stand toe-to-toe with Obama on the stage.

Santorum is too socially-conservative to win a general election, and Ron Paul is a kook.

Cain fell on his face attempting to handle the Muslim question, and he had to know it was coming. If this was the best he could do, then I am very disappointed.

Newt is too strident and his broadside against Ryan won't be forgotten by the base..

Romney has lots of potential downsides to the base, but let's face it: his past pro-choice position will actually be a plus for those who are pro-choice but concerned about voting for a strident pro-lifer. Passage of RomneyCare in Massachussetts is insurance against the charge that he just doesn't care about the uninsured. So he's "just squishy enough" that the undecided middle can talk themselves into voting for him.

Bachmann would bring back the Tea Partiers who would supposedly stay home if Romney were the nominee. And her solid Christian base would ameliorate against the anti-Mormon bias as well.

(No, I wasn't a Romney supporter before the debate. But watching them on the stage together has definitely made a difference. And if Rick Perry jumps into the race, then that might change my calculations significantly.)

Jim said...

Palin, Christie, Ryan, Perry and Jeb didn't even make the road trip.

Count me among those who thinks that Palin won't run. If she runs and loses to Obama, then she's persona non grata. But as a cheerleader and kingmaker, she ensures her marketability well into the future no matter the ultimate outcome.

No way that Christie or Jeb run. Those doors are solidly closed.

Ryan's questionable, but he'd be better as a VP than on top of the ticket.

Perry's a possible gamechanger though, and the signals are that me actually might be getting in.

«Oldest ‹Older   1 – 200 of 215   Newer› Newest»