1

Oh wait, I'm told someone named Jon Huntsman was also on the stage.

I don't know who you're talking about.  There was a Mike Huntsman there - a Barky supporter from Utah.

2 WTF was with that "submissive" wife question?

And how did Cain get on the Mormon kick? 


Advice to candidates: religion is a private matter.  Someone else's religion is none of your business. 

3 Newt!

4 Oh wait, I'm told someone named Jon Huntsman was also on the stage.

Huh, I thought that was just Charlie Crist working tech.  Oh well...

5 Waiting to see how Perry shakes up the race. Is the country ready for another Texan? Tell you what, the country *is* ready for someone reasonably competent, and who doesn't worry about the crease in his pants.

6 Chris Wallace got his ass knocked about a bit last night too.

7 Didn't see it, and don't really care.

Of course, I'm one of those rare voters who pays attention in the out years as well as campaign years, so I already have my opinions.

Rick Santorum's problem is... who is Rick Santorum?  No, really.  I know I've heard the name, and I should remember who he is, but I just don't.  I've only got so much room in my head for candidates, and there are other who (fairly or unfairly) take that up.

I have to remember specific things about Paul and Romney, because I have to argue with the Paulbots and Romenybots occasionally.  I have to remember specific things about Perry and Bachman because they're my frontrunners.  I can't avoid Newt, T-Paw, or Cain.  So Santorum is just kind of... there.  I mean, Rick Santorum, yeah.  I've heard the name... What was the question again?

Sorry, Drew, but when even those paying attention just forget about him (and some of us do), those not paying attention are never going to remember him.

8 I love records. Please look at my record. My record is a record of all the records I've done.

I'm Casey Kasem, and I'm running for president.

9 No, the Democrat in the debate was Romney.

10 As was stated last night by several others, I think Rick Perry won the debate. He was definitely in their heads last night.

11 Huntsman is a little rich boy whose mama told him he was wonderful one too many times. Or, the Chinese put a chip in his brain, I'm not sure.

12 8 Chris Wallace got his ass knocked about a bit last night too.

IIRC, Chris Wallace is not driving this country into the ditch with his spending and "redistribution." 


I couldn't watch the debate last night.  Who landed the biggest blow on Obama?

13 Wow, I think this is the first time in my life that I've ever agreed with a DrewM post pretty much in its entirety.

What is happening to me.

14 I want to like Rick Santorum because I do think he is an eloquent speaker and he is able to articulate his views very well.

Unfortunately he is just too SoCon-ny, which might go over well in 2004 but not now - fiscal issues are dominant - and plus there's that whole "lost his last election by 18 points, in a state that is going to supposedly be in play this time".

15 Who landed the biggest blow on Obama?

Wait.  We were supposed to attack Obama?  Why didn't someone tell us that!

16 Newt mopped the floor with the 'new media'.

17 After viewing last nights debate, there is no doubt in my mind that FOX is the latest addition to the progressive propaganda machine. Not that they haven't been for quite a while- It's just now IN YOUR FACE.

18 C'mon, guys, I toss a hanging curve and NO ONE is going to hit it?

19

A stunning new survey gives the president a negative approval rating in the Empire State for the first time, with just 45 percent approval and 49 percent disapproval among voters, according to the latest Quinnipiac University poll.

That's a sharp turnaround from June, when Obama's New York popularity was a healthy 57-38.

In the 2008 presidential election, Obama carried New York with 63 percent of the vote.

20 I couldn't watch the debate last night.  Who landed the biggest blow on Obama?

No one, really.  That was part of the problem.

We do know that T-Paw and M-Bach have some pent-up animosity, though.  Maybe they had make-up sex after the debate.

21

Who landed the biggest blow on Obama?

That would be me.

22 T-Paw is dead, Drew? But...but...but...Ed Morrissey! How can the Tepid Air fave not be miles ahead of the rest?

And I'm thinking "the rest" last night were a pretty lame-O bunch. Mutt Romney can't really move me toward supporting him unless he is the actual nominee *sticks finger down throat* and the anyone-but-Osama Obama gene kicks in. I like Bachmann, and Cain, too, but don't think either is the solid leader we need.

I'm still looking outside the debate arena, waiting for Perry, Bolton and -- God willing -- Allen West to jump in. Give me two of these (in any order) and I'll feel a lot better about November '12.

The real culprit here is what passes for a "debate" format these days. The candidates ought to be given topics plus allotted time blocks to speak and handle the rest on their own. Getting dumb-fuck reporters to ask mindless questions that have nothing to do with the real world just doesn't cut it for me.

And yes: The Chicago Jesus is still a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure.

23 3 WTF was with that "submissive" wife question?

It was a naked "gotcha" question.  Some other prominent Republican, a man, got hit with that same type of question not too long ago, implying that he treated his wife unjustly. 

24 C'mon, guys, I toss a hanging curve and NO ONE is going to hit it?

Oh, were you tacitly pointing out the fact that Barack Obama is a miserable clusterf*ck of a miserable failure?

Sorry, it's Friday, so we're a little slow on the uptake (the intake, on the other hand, is just fine)

25 @23
OK.  C+ for effort.

The answer I was looking for was Jon Huntsman. 

26 10 I love records. Please look at my record. My record is a record of all the records I've done.

lol yes, and Jon Huntsman is running on records, apparently

27 Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) at August 12, 2011 12:08 PM (8y9MW)

Oh I know and agree. That was the point I was trying to make.

I'm not a Santorum fan. It's just you look at his positions, his record and honestly, how he looks and you think, "Yeah, this guy will at least make some noise". He just doesn't.

That's part of the reason I'm worried about Perry. He maybe the political love child of Calvin Coolidge and Ronald Reagan or he may fall flat. Hell, he may be their love child and still fall flat. You never know how a candidate will play until they get out there and do it.

28 18 Newt mopped the floor with the 'new media'.

Newt also wins the "most mentions of Reagan during a Republican political debate" award.

But his words cannot erase that horrid image of him sitting on a bench with Pelousi putting his stamp of approval on that AGW scam.

29 lol yes, and Jon Huntsman is running on records, apparently

I guess he doesn't own an iPod.


Which, come to think of it, is not an entirely bad thing after Obama. 

30 I dont think the Newt question was so much 'gotchya' as much as its old ass news. He's answered the staff question several times on Hannity and Greta months ago when it happened. He was right to bitch slap Chris 'flaky' Wallace. We have more important things to hear from the candidate than stupid staff grievance questions, especially since there are 8 ppl on the stage. The others got real economic questions, but not Newt. His answer about the gang of 12 was superb. Congress should do their damn job, not have a secret panel make the decisions.

31 I'm off to clean house, but had to come here and tell you about a link about Perry Drudge has up (from the Telegraph). 

This bit from a friend and early campaign manager jumped out:

“Once we had to land in a pasture due to fog,” he recalls. “A rancher came by in his pickup. We were both wearing coats and ties. Rick says 'Howdy’ and reaches into his jacket for a leaflet. I hear this lever action of a rifle – a very distinctive sound.

“This guy thinks we were drug dealers. Rick is looking down a rifle but he keeps talking.” By the time the conversation had finished, the rancher had written a cheque for the Perry campaign.

32 I'm not a Santorum fan. It's just you look at his positions, his record and honestly, how he looks and you think, "Yeah, this guy will at least make some noise". He just doesn't.

Well, in the last debate he just didn't have any presence.

And I've read that in this debate he raised his hand at one point to get permission to speak.  The POTUS does not bow, nor does he raise his hand. 

33

I really wanted Cain to do well.  And I really wish Mitt hadn't done Romneycare and I wish he wasn't Mormon.  Too many people unfortunately will hold that (wrongly) against him.  I do think he probably learned a valuable lesson in practical socialism from his healthcare brain fart which could serve him well.  I think Bachmann would be an ok President.  We need a great President.  Perry, imo would be better than Bachmann. 

What is needed, in my weak mind, is a statesman who would be willing to risk being a one term president in order to make the enemies that would come from dismantling our government behemoth.  Ironically, that person probably would wind up a one termer.

Just thinking outloud.

34 Mitt Romney Is Mitt. He dodged most tough questions, and did little to belay my concerns about that horn sticking out of the center of his face.

Tim Pawlenty Made a huge mistake going after MB. T-Paw is running as a better pick than Romney, Romney is his competition, not MB, he needs to strip votes from Romney, not MB. Attacking MB made him look like an ass, and basically solidified my dislike for him. Esp the "Has not won a fight" comment. Do we have a "public option" doorway to single payer? No? Then I'd say she, (not to diminish others) won that *HUGE* fight.

Michele Bachmann: Her less classy aggressive defense against T-Paw cost her. She got into a tit for tat house floor bicker fest with T-Paw. She needed to rebuke him in a more "presidential" manner.

Newt Gingrich once again reminded me that *yes* he understands things and has good ideas, and unlike the others is willing to talk about them, specifically, but, he also reminded me he is a hopeless Washington insider who will sell me down the river with government *solutions*

Herman Cain I came out liking him more than I have in the past. I can't pin down why, but I'm close to switching from MB to Cain

Ron Paul As typical has some very good libertarian ideas, some very ehhh libertarian ideas, and some outright dangerous libertarian ideas. Like Iran...*Shiver*

Rick Santorum big pile of meh. He's probably frustrated he's not getting more support. But another "vibe" thing with him. He's got the position papers memorized, occasionally bringing some passion to the front, but ultimately, he isn't an inspiring leader. And if he can't inspire me (and I'm looking for someone to follow) how is he going to herd the cats in the legislature while President so we can actually do the hard things that need doing.

35 3 WTF was with that "submissive" wife question?

Oh that was going around the left-blogosphere a little while ago, because apparently Bachmann at one point spoke to a church about how she's a submissive wife, in the Biblical sense.  So they all jumped on that and mocked her for it.  It really was a question that would have been asked by any leftie so it is a bit odd hearing it come from Chris Wallace.

36 Wow, DrewM, I didn't know you did impressions. Newt seemed like he'd had a few shots of Dutch courage before taking the stage: flushed complexion, slurring words a little. Slightly Cliff Klavin-ish. And Huntsman's voice was trembling - anger, fear or plain nerves? The field made me wish a Perry or Palin was up there to talk a bit more common sense.

37 I usually like Byron York but what the hell is up with all the social issues?

Did the dem primaries have questions about social issues?   I can't remember.. been about four years ago..

38

I don't see how anyone with a conservative disposition could help but be annoyed with how much sense Newt was making last night.

It was downright scary.

 

39 wouldn't - ergo the irony.

40 I only saw about half of it, but I gotta say Newt surprised me in a good way.  He should keep up with the "let it all hang out" strategy.

Romney will get slapped around down the line when the field narrows.

41 I can't wait for the epic battle of Mitt's hair vs. Perry's hair.  EPIC.

42
Herman Cain I came out liking him more than I have in the past. I can't pin down why, but I'm close to switching from MB to Cain

I'm sorry - Cain acted like an idiot in the debate.  You can tell he was told by his handlers not to go all into the crazy talk this time and he ended up looking like he didn't know anything.

43 That's part of the reason I'm worried about Perry. He maybe the political love child of Calvin Coolidge and Ronald Reagan or he may fall flat. Hell, he may be their love child and still fall flat. You never know how a candidate will play until they get out there and do it.

Certainly possible, but not nearly as likely.  Rick Santorum is a former senator from PA who got beat by double-digits in his last shot at election (which, I only remember because I just looked up).  I don't know of anyone who was excited about a Rick Santorum candidacy.  I know several who said, "Hmm... I'd like to see that.  Let's see what he does."  But I never heard anyone say, "Run, Rick (Santorum), Run!"

Rick Perry is a 3 time elected Governor (this is only full term 3, remember: he also took the last half of GWB's second term) from TX (which may, as much as I hate to admit it, be a liability: but, then, it may not) who has never lost an election and who was virtually drafted into the race.

Now, it's possible (still unlikely) that he pulls a Fred! and flames out by not actually campaigning- but I don't see that happening, either.

44 I don't know if it's his social conservatism or what that terms some folks off but he's just not there.

Only insofar as his particular spin on social conservatism appears sometimes to be a subset or displacement (or something) of whatever's deeply and frighteningly fucked up and wrong about him that makes him seem really disturbing and unnatural on a basic, reactionary, "I gotta get away from this...guy" level.

He freaks people out. He's off. And he's seeming more off all the time.

The same thing's wrong with Romney, but not nearly as much so, so a smaller percentage of people (e.g., me) react to him the same way. But there's a switch there, and it'll go to "just don't look him in the eye!" if the press finds the right story to flip it with. I think it's the dog thing, because that's truly "WTF psycho?" shit, but we'll see. If we have to.

Perry might spare us.

45 “This guy thinks we were drug dealers. Rick is looking down a rifle but he keeps talking.” By the time the conversation had finished, the rancher had written a cheque for the Perry campaign.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, they are made of brass.

46 If I can take Ron Paul's domestic fiscal hawk policies and transplant those to Mitt or Perry or whoever, that would be a dream candidate for me.. 

But with Paul saying that Iran isn't a threat?  Just stay in the House and vote no. 

47 WTF was with that "submissive" wife question? Mitch Daniels would have got the same question.

48 i would be fine with anyone but paul  i'd really prefer perry or palin though

49 Huntsman tried on the persona of "i have a great record and I'm not running from it".   Most people see him as the rich kid up on the stage and the custom made suit with the purple/blue tinge and the bright blue tie, didn't help all it did was accentuate the fact that his head is way larger than his body.  Hence his true career will be "talking head" when he eventually gets chrissy out of his chair.  thankfully I watched the speech with a group and someone pointed out that he was actually "a good governor for my state".

We spent time trying to figure out why Michelle's face has stopped moving entirely.  That's not good, instead of listening to what she said, we kept trying to figure out if she had botox or not.  Fox is despicable for asking such a highly sexist question to Bachman.   Every female lib I know has heard that question and the response so now they all know who Michelle is and it may have backfired on the fox wrecking crew, as all the libs are saying "she kept it classy".

Newt was surprising.  He appears to be very well informed and intelligent.  He surprised the people I watched with.  But then someone said "OMG he must know about this stuff cause he lived it, he looks pretty good for being that old".

A lot of the libs liked romney cause he has a lot of business experience and they think we need someone like romney to fix things, (that is if BO isn't elected, they always included that proviso).

Ron Paul always gets a response and a lot of people liked what he had to say.  You don't believe me but he has a following among independents.

I like Santoreum and they gave me a good trouncing for liking him.  Yeah I know, he has all the personality of a tank but he appears to be on his own secret mission and every time you see him you learn something new.  I just wish he wouldn't mix it up with Ron Paul cause that gets him no where.  I think huntsman is competing with him for the part of the unassuming guy who backs into to the nomination after everyone else is done.

I feel sorry for Pawlenty.  He has a lot of good things to say but the conservatives and republicans have already killed him off.

Every one of these people, even ron paul, would make any republican administration that much stronger.

A few other names were not there besides the pp's   like Thaddeum McCotter who I just think is funny and brilliant and up for the job.  That Johnson guy who has some unusual ideas but maybe that's what the country might need, who knows.  Rudy would be a formidable challenger to the two pp's.  A guiliani/Trump ticket would take the independents away from the two pp's cause the independents are already backing toward the door anyway.  Which means if the republicans don't put up an appealing candidate, I learned last night, many independents just plan not to vote at all.  If the independents are convinced that it is better not to vote what does that mean, cause I heard a lot of that last night.  That might be the strategy.  To get the independents so discussed and depressed that they figure their vote doesn't matter anyway and that BO will get his second term no matter what.

50 Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) at August 12, 2011 12:21 PM (8y9MW)

Yeah, I think Perry will be fine but again you just never know (teh Fred, Pawlenty, etc).

51 WTF was with that "submissive" wife question?

It was a naked "gotcha" question.  Some other prominent Republican, a man, got hit with that same type of question not too long ago, implying that he treated his wife unjustly. 

Actually that question was a favor. Better that one come up now, on *ahem* friendly ground, then while in a campaign against Obama, with the full power of the liberal media bearing down on her trying to twist her words.

One of the questions asked as a favor also, I think Santorum whiffed badly. The panel asked if a 3 to 1 tax cut to increase deal came up would you accept it? Perfect chance to invoke the Gipper and his similar deal with the Dems, remind everyone how much Dems lie about spending cuts, role in a little economics about jobs and the size of government. Santorum only feebly managed a few items about stalwartly holding the line of not raising taxes.  Big missed opportunity for him.

52

I don't see how anyone with a conservative disposition could help but be annoyed with how much sense Newt was making last night.

It was downright scary.

Right message, wrong messenger..   If Cain or anyone else would have delivered Newt's replies last night, they might have 'won' the debate.

53 35 I do think [Romney] probably learned a valuable lesson in practical socialism from his healthcare brain fart which could serve him well.
_________

Well, *I* certainly haven't seen any evidence that he learned anything from it.

54

I feel sorry for Pawlenty. He has a lot of good things to say but the conservatives and republicans have already killed him off.

Pawlenty has kicked himself in the crotch - repeatedly.

55 I don't see how anyone with a conservative disposition could help but be annoyed with how much sense Newt was making last night.

Oh Newt makes a TON of sense.  He has some really great ideas.  The problem is that he is a terrible standard-bearer.

56 The submissive wife q was from Byron York who is a reliable conservative. On one hand it seems sexist because noone is going to ask a man that. But on the other, it was a chance for Bachmann to innoculate herself on it in a relatively friendly format - because it was something she said, She was talking about her career choices, that her husband said to study tax law, she didn't want to, but said, well, the Bible says a wife should be submissive to the husband. Now if you are an evangelical style Christian that answer needs no explication - but a lot of people aren't evangelicals and the Left would just open up on that. So it seemed a bit out of place, but like i said, an innoculation.

57 Did you see the 10-1 Cut to revenue ratio question? They looked nervous as the hands came up slowly. Some going up and own and up again.

58 Where are all the Paul-troons?  I wanna poke somebody with a sharp stick.

59 And I really wish Mitt hadn't done Romneycare and I wish he wasn't Mormon.  Too many people unfortunately will hold that (wrongly) against him.  I do think he probably learned a valuable lesson in practical socialism from his healthcare brain fart which could serve him well.

I don't know anyone (personally- plural of anecdote is not data, etc. etc.) who gives a flying fornication about Mitt Romney's religion.  And he not once shown any indication that he's "learned a valuable lesson" on RomneyCare.  Every chance he gets, he still says, "It was right for MA, but it's not a Federal issue."  Which would work if it were working in MA (and OCare hadn't passed), but won't work anymore. 

60 Huntsman tried on the persona of "i have a great record and I'm not running from it".   Most people see him as the rich kid up on the stage and the custom made suit with the purple/blue tinge and the bright blue tie, didn't help all it did was accentuate the fact that his head is way larger than his body.  Hence his true career will be "talking head" when he eventually gets chrissy out of his chair.  thankfully I watched the speech with a group and someone pointed out that he was actually "a good governor for my state".

We spent time trying to figure out why Michelle's face has stopped moving entirely.  That's not good, instead of listening to what she said, we kept trying to figure out if she had botox or not.  Fox is despicable for asking such a highly sexist question to Bachman.   Every female lib I know has heard that question and the response so now they all know who Michelle is and it may have backfired on the fox wrecking crew, as all the libs are saying "she kept it classy".

Newt was surprising.  He appears to be very well informed and intelligent.  He surprised the people I watched with.  But then someone said "OMG he must know about this stuff cause he lived it, he looks pretty good for being that old".

A lot of the libs liked romney cause he has a lot of business experience and they think we need someone like romney to fix things, (that is if BO isn't elected, they always included that proviso).

Ron Paul always gets a response and a lot of people liked what he had to say.  You don't believe me but he has a following among independents.

I like Santoreum and they gave me a good trouncing for liking him.  Yeah I know, he has all the personality of a tank but he appears to be on his own secret mission and every time you see him you learn something new.  I just wish he wouldn't mix it up with Ron Paul cause that gets him no where.  I think huntsman is competing with him for the part of the unassuming guy who backs into to the nomination after everyone else is done.

I feel sorry for Pawlenty.  He has a lot of good things to say but the conservatives and republicans have already killed him off.

Every one of these people, even ron paul, would make any republican administration that much stronger.

A few other names were not there besides the pp's   like Thaddeum McCotter who I just think is funny and brilliant and up for the job.  That Johnson guy who has some unusual ideas but maybe that's what the country might need, who knows.  Rudy would be a formidable challenger to the two pp's.  A guiliani/Trump ticket would take the independents away from the two pp's cause the independents are already backing toward the door anyway.  Which means if the republicans don't put up an appealing candidate, I learned last night, many independents just plan not to vote at all.  If the independents are convinced that it is better not to vote what does that mean, cause I heard a lot of that last night.  That might be the strategy.  To get the independents so discussed and depressed that they figure their vote doesn't matter anyway and that BO will get his second term no matter what.

61 Anybody else pissed that Thad wasn't included?  I understand why, but I would like to see him up there.

62 >>>He freaks people out. He's off. And he's seeming more off all the time

Yeah, I think this sums up the Santorum issue pretty well.   I don't get that vibe from Romney at all, however.  He just seems like a normal Mormon father to me (and I've met a bunch).  I've got a lot of problems with Romney, but "offputting weirdness" isn't one. 

63
It's true: Mitt didn't answer any questions.

But you guys are missing how Mitt was a man with a plan. He went to that debate not to answer random questions but to express his talking points, his message.

Mitt is going to do very well handling the media and in the debates against Obama.

64 Perry's Hair/Romney's Hair 2012!

65 67, Mitt is going to do very well handling the media and in the debates against Obama. Sorry sooth, he aint gettin that far. I doubt if he makes the final 2.

66 Allen, what do you think of Perry, is he all fluff and hair or any real leadership there?  I read he is a mcshame borderless policy guy, is that true?

67 Oh Newt makes a TON of sense.  He has some really great ideas.  The problem is that he is a terrible standard-bearer.

Posted by: chemjeff at August 12, 2011 12:25 PM (s7mIC)

This!  Have always liked Newt, but not the way he does all he can to make a complete fool out of himself. 

68 oh great a day of repreive from the idiot and it comes back.....funny when ace is around all day it hides.........

69

I watched football. I am the only true American here.

We are still at the munchkin level of pantsing. Until Sarah and Rick show up, the dabates are mere masterbatory exercises in fappery. It is best that these two let the little people scar, scab and wedgie one another. They merely need to remind themselves that these little people and their minders (tossed salad media) are "always after me lucky charms". First rule of burlesque is to show little but tease wildly. The imagination is always more potent than the truth. Hate to say it, but the biggest two in the room weren't in the room.

 

My chest is now prepared to receive stones and arrows for mentioning "She who shall remain nameless and is inelectable."

70 68 Perry's Hair/Romney's Hair 2012!

Yeah, I'm starting to think that's the ticket. 

I love Rubio, but he is still pretty green and he doesn't bring anything to the ticket in terms of fundraising and ground game.  Plus, the optics of Slow Joe talking down to a relatively young-looking Rubio makes me nervous. 

I think Romney actually would be a good choice.


But I think Perry can win with virtually anyone as his running mate.  One reason I really like him. 



BTW, do any of the moronettes actually like those guys' hair?  I find them too Brill Cream-y. 

71 Cain seems like a nice guy, and I hope he will get a gig in the new admin! Pawlenty is a weasel! Newt came off as polished and well spoken but still dont want him to win. Romeny was Romney- Im waiting to see how Perry does!

72 it's a paulian.....that's what it is........

73 They are all loosers but Ron Paul.  The media and you jealots hate him because he is honest and capable but does not present himself well.  That is the penalty he pays for being a people person, used to addressing people on a one to one basis, which is not very presidential.  If one of the other loosers gets the nod count on me and many others to just vote for Obama to get this train wreck over.

74 I do think [Romney] probably learned a valuable lesson in practical socialism from his healthcare brain fart which could serve him well.
_________

Well, *I* certainly haven't seen any evidence that he learned anything from it.

Regardless of whatever respect he may have for the 10th, what is shows me is a disposition. A disposition to *solve* problems with mandates, taxes, and regulations. I'm not worried he'll do the same thing with health care from the Oval Office, I'm worried he will use those bludgeons on every other problem he encounters.

75 Actually that question was a favor. Better that one come up now, on *ahem* friendly ground, then while in a campaign against Obama, with the full power of the liberal media bearing down on her trying to twist her words.

Oh, it's still going to come up in full force and the meaning of that term "submissive wife" is going to be twisted more than a Bavarian pretzel, but your point is well-taken. 

But does anybody think that MB will eventually emerge as the Republican nominee?  Maybe for VP, but I don't see her getting the nod for the Presidential bid.  Call it my ninja intuition. 

76 I watched football. I am the only true American here.

Bullshit.  I watched football and drank beer after coaching a football practice.  I'm the only fucking true American here. 

I can't bare to watch these early debates.  What a waste of time.

77

“This guy thinks we were drug dealers. Rick is looking down a rifle but he keeps talking.” By the time the conversation had finished, the rancher had written a cheque for the Perry campaign.

I can almost hear the rancher;

"Goddamit!  Any man who can talk like that with a .45 70 in his face not only has my vote, but is welcome to my money, t'boot.  I've half a mind to put you in a cosy room with my youngest for a hour or so.  She's a stunner."

78 Former Congressman Ron Paul. 

Savor it folks.  Not long now. 

79 Ron Paul Hair Gel!  Now with 50% more gold flakes and tin foil.  Get it before the Federal Reserve collapses!

80 yes, let's give iran nukes!!!!!!! for Christ's sake

81

I was most disappointed in Fox, I mean really disappointed. These are serious times and Fox treated the debate like it was the gong show. Wallace, Biers and York seemed to want to build their media creds (see were not biased really) than they wanted to find out who was going to fix the country.

Social issues and campaign workers quitting? really? It was a waste of time. Fox wanted to start some fights and embarrass candidates where they could, they succeeded in that but this isn't the time for that crap.

82 Regardless of whatever respect he may have for the 10th, what is shows me is a disposition. A disposition to *solve* problems with mandates, taxes, and regulations. I'm not worried he'll do the same thing with health care from the Oval Office, I'm worried he will use those bludgeons on every other problem he encounters.

Well, that is why we have to make sure that we elect a strong conservative Congress as well, one that is not afraid to stand up to Romney's (or whomever's) RINO tendencies.

83 86, Yep, Brett bair was the only serious one there.

84 Posted by: Sub-Tard All that I read.

85 >>>Sorry sooth, he aint gettin that far. I doubt if he makes the final 2.

Nah, I think you're way too optimistic.  The race is going to narrow down to Romney vs. Perry (Bachmann is this cycle's Howard Dean -- I don't even think she wins Iowa like Huckabee did), and ultimately we're breathing in way too much of our own ultra-con atmosphere over here to be so certain that Perry would triumph in that matchup. 

Right now, not having seen Perry campaign and thus having no idea how he's going wear on the road, I still give the advantage to Romney.  The fact is that he's a stronger campaigner and debater than I thought he was.  And he is benefiting in a major way from the fact that all the other candidates are attacking one another and leaving him unscathed.

86 The Dems may have been totally unfair with their use of that "shrivel on the vine" comment of Newt's from back in the day but while we are looking at entitlement reform, it is not good practice to remind people of Newt's shrivel.  Newt's not the guy.

87 So I had, like, this vision, man. It was trippy. It was seven dudes and a hot older lady standing on a stage debating, dude.

Whoa

88

IMO -

Newt – more a venture capitalist than a CEO. Has a HUGE women problem that will prevent him from winning national office. Great vision, excellent advocate for conservatism, lousy leader.

Bachmann – the current liberal media punching bag. Sarah-lite, in the eyes of most. Will gain traction with some, but has too narrow an appeal.

Romney – has that ‘air of inevitability’ and it’s ‘his turn’. Of course, the same was said of Dole and McCain. Nice hair, plastic persona.

Cain, Paul, Santorum, Huntsman – see’ya! Thanks for playing.

Pawlenty – proves, once and for all, that you can’t build a conservative coalition from the middle. It’s like starting a bridge in the chasm, rather than at the ledge. Too cool, too measured. We need a ‘hot’ candidate to beat Mr. Cool.

Perry – coming up fast on the outside. The media is laying in wait with a Palin-esque character assassination in the near future. How he survives the next couple of months of media revelations, distortions and misrepresentation will tell the tale.

89

10 -1, Oldsailors poet, is pretty good. I'd hold out for 20-1 and hope to split the difference. We're not going to get anything done unless people feel that the pain is being shared. It's wrong, but that's how it is.

Newt is still a formidable condidate. I know his baggage, but he can very very persuasive.

The guy who can win, win big and be who the country needs is still, IMO, Rudy. He has a core of haters, but these are the real dregs of the Left. I know conservatives have their doubts, and will at times be disappointed, but he would take virtually all of the pitiful "center".

90 Rush said that Fox worked hard to create questions that would gain Fox respect with the MSM

91 I like Romney's and Perry's hair.  Reminds me of my handsome dad when he was young and with a full head of thick, black hair. 

I love Jane Doh's post from Drudge about Perry and his aide landing in the farmer's field!  Starting to really like that guy.   

92 Your both GREAT AMERICANS!

Posted by: Sean Hannity at August 12, 2011 12:37 PM (OWjjx)

Funny shit right here!!

93 My Movement meter

Up
Newt, Romney, Santorum

Down
Tpaw, Paul, Bachmann, Cain, Hunstman

94

Although I wish one of the candidates would have just looked at the dumb fucks on fox's panel and said "look I'm pro life, pro gun, pro death penalty and pro traditional marriage but none of that is going to get us out of this mess Obama has put us in but here is what will"

They missed an opportunity to put and end to constantly talking about social issues while people are being put on the streets.

95 "During his Thursday radio program, Glenn Beck said that if the 2012 election were taking place today, Michele Bachmann would be his first pick for President of the United States.

Following rules that he himself set, Beck said he would only choose from candidates who have officially entered the ring. He also places emphasis on candidates who stick to their principles. With that in mind, Bachmann is BeckÂ’s first choice, however, Rick Santorum is a close runner up:"

As I said last night.  Sarah Palin works for fox and probably that position allowed her to stay away from the frey for now.   since perry is her good friend and it was posited that she would be his running mate he might have been privy to some of her "thoughts".  The people I watched with didn't see it the way you guys see it.  They saw it as palin and perry being too chicken to get right in there and debate with everyone else.  They say they think they are better than the other candidates and this will eventually bite them both in the ass like guiliani's bad decisions last go around.  Everyone wondered why a guy like trump and a guy like guiliani weren't up there to make it interesting and entertaining.   Mind you, I was invited to this viewing party late.  the dems sent out an email requesting that their followers watch the republican debate about an hour or so before the debate was on.

96 I'm not going to watch nay debates until they include a portion in which the candidates have to contort their bodies to fit through holes so that they don't get pushed into the water.  Mere word contortion can hold my interest for only so long 

97 What's a looser?

98

81 I watched football. I am the only true American here.

Bullshit.  I watched football and drank beer after coaching a football practice.  I'm the only fucking true American here. 

I can't bare to watch these early debates.  What a waste of time.

I watched footbal and drank German beer. I coach baseball. I am the truest American here.

99 Fox wanted to start some fights and embarrass candidates where they could, they succeeded in that but this isn't the time for that crap.

Posted by: robtr at August 12, 2011 12:35 PM (MtwBb)

Fox was looking to score points with the rest of the MFM by trying to poison the GOP debate.  The liberal dickwads at Fox feel left out.  I only saw a few minutes of the shitty "debate" but it was worse than even the normal MFM crap.  If I were a candidate, I might well have just walked off that stage.  It was a joke.

100 >>Posted by: Theresa D., your favorite TPT, waiting to hear what Perry brings

I confess, he does look handsome in that photo of him with a polo shirt and jacket carrying something slung over his shoulder.  But his posed shots aren't that impressive to me. 

101

dagny

 

millenials are loosers hahahahahaha

102

I watched footbal and drank German beer. I coach baseball. I am the truest American here.

Posted by: Sub-Tard at August 12, 2011 12:39 PM (0M3AQ)

Sorry Sub-Tard, football's #1 here in the good ol' US of A.  I win.

103 >>>Rush said that Fox worked hard to create questions that would gain Fox respect with the MSM

Rush is once again pandering to his audience, not saying something that is 1.) true; 2.) what he really believes.  The truth is that Fox asked questions about issues that would inevitable come up if any of those candidates got the nomination.  Remember that Obama's reelection strategy this cycle is going be: KILL [GOP CANDIDATE X].  All negative, all the time.  He can't run on his record, so he need to pull a Harry Reid and make sure his opponent is seen as an unacceptable alternative.  Therefore, Fox's focus in this debate was, to my mind appropriate: these sorts of "gotcha" questions that others are decrying are going to be EXACTLY what the campaign will center on, given the Obama strategy and the MSM's predilections.

104 Does Herman Cain gain or lose points with the morons for quoting a song from a Pokemon movie?

105

Down
Tpaw, Paul, Bachmann, Cain, Hunstman

 

You thought I went down...so I was up? 

You're all but admitting that you thought I was up. That's great news!

106
buncha jealots in here

and loosers

107

A lot of Rick Perry fans here, and I can get with his campaign, but I *have* to see him in a debate. The group last night looked and performed better than the first time out - duh - and I can't help but think Perry is going to get a wedgy from this group at the next debate.  Right now it looks like a Perry – Romney thang.  Mitt, baggage and all, is far more likely to bring the Reagan Democrats along than Perry and I believe thatÂ’s one of MittÂ’s strengths.

108 91, I'll give you my reasoning. It's the Too Theory. Romney is too smooth, cool, stoic, vague and pretty. Been there, done that. Perry will take the moderate slot that mitt represents. Bachmann is the TP choice. I think that's your last two standing. Palin is the wildcard.

109 There is something about Michele Bachmann which just makes my skin crawl. I wish she would STFU. Sh egot a good jibe in on T-Paw but then never let up and came across as mean.

110 I watched the WNBA and took in a Sarah Brightman concert on DVD.  Then we ate watercress sandwiches and finished the night with a rousing backgammon tournament.

111 He can't run on his record,

Can't run on his record?  Have you forgotten that he killed Darth Vader?  Or was in Voldemort?

112 Santorum, Cain, and Pawlenty were just trying to not be the lowest man on the totem pole when the night was through, assuming that the lowest man on the totem pole would be finished after tonight.  I think all three are finished, myself.

113 you jealots hate him because he is honest and capable

His conceptions about Iran are downright frightening. When we were in the cold war with Russia, we were buttressed by the fact that Russia didn't want the world to end and didn't want to die. The same is not true of Iranian leadership. Suicide bombing takes on a whole different character when you start talking about nuclear weapons; Rep Paul doesn't seem to understand that.

When he was going off about "Why are we concerned about borders in Afghanistan and Pakistan?" little rant while talking about US southern border security, I want to ask him how many Mexicans were part of the terrorist group that destroyed the WTC.

He just assumes, without any historical support, nor good sociological understanding, that the rest of the worlds leaders are fundamentally good, and we are the problem; when in fact, history bears out that as a dominant country we have been far nicer than all of those that came before us, even Rome, and, that leaders of other nations tend to be greedy evil bastards who are more than willing to take from their neighbors if they can.

Until he accepts that, while perhaps people are generally good, that global leaders are almost universally evil, he is not capable of leading the US in any sort of sane foreign policy.

114 104, The opposite of a tighter.

115 Disappointed in Byron York. Made himself look stupid. I agree that that question will be something the MFM repeats ad nauseum but I wouldn't want to be the conservative that asked it. Makes him look like a tool.

116 I thinks President Obama was the big winner last night. I am sticking with him because I trust him more than all of those Republican idiots...especially Bush...

117
Ago is right, though.

If there's one thing I hate about politicians who want to be president, it's honesty.

118 AllenG alluded to Santorum's senatorial loss but IMHO, he became damaged goods not so much by losing as by who he lost to.  Junior Casey is an empty suit douchebag.

119 So would Bwarney Fwank be a looser? Or Barbara Walters?

120 Allen, what do you think of Perry, is he all fluff and hair or any real leadership there?  I read he is a mcshame borderless policy guy, is that true?

Yes, he provides real leadership.  He's actually done something fairly stealthy and vastly strengthened the Governorship of Texas.  Technically the Governor's office is still "weaker" than the Lt. Governor, but through a combination of making sure his allies are in key positions (I believe he's fairly close with David Dewhurst, and I know he's (politically) close to Greg Abbott and the RR Commission), and much more effective use of the "bully pulpit," he's turned the Executive Branch in Texas into something much more akin to the Presidency.

As for his border policy:  Rick Perry basically thinks that, if you're really here to work and you're not making trouble, we've got bigger fish to fry than tracking you down and sending you home, or even spending vast resources keeping you (specifically) out.  However: he also believes that illegal immigration is linked to violent crime and human trafficking, so he does want much stronger border control than we currently have.  Moreover, he believes that to be a Federal issue.

Since he's never been on the National Level before, it's hard to say exactly what his policy will be (I'm hoping Ace will ask if he gets to interview him tomorrow), but I would expect to see something along the lines of: actually finish the fence, strengthen the border patrol, and get control of our borders.  If, and only if, that all gets done before the end of his second term would he be at all likely (and then not very likely) to start addressing the current illegal immigrant problem.

He's not as strong as I'd like (pack 'em up, send 'em home), but he's infinitely better than any Democrat, and about 1000% better than McLame or Grahamnesty.

121 I read this a few weeks ago.

Rick Perry:  Romney's hair, No Romneycare.

122

I may be the only one who thought T-Paw came out better than Bachmann in their exchanges.  I thought it hurt both of them, but I thought Pawlenty looked like more of a leader than Bachmann did.  I was definitely not impressed with Bachmann.

Other than that:

Up
Newt, Santorum

Stayed the same
Romney, Cain

Down
Pawlenty, Bachmann, Huntsman

Batshit insane
Ron Paul

123 I love Rubio, but he is still pretty green and he doesn't bring anything to the ticket in terms of fundraising and ground game.  Plus, the optics of Slow Joe talking down to a relatively young-looking Rubio makes me nervous. 

Posted by: Y-not

 

Rubio took on Kerry on the floor of the Senate within the last month and won handily. He can do the same to Biden. Then again, Palin clearly bested Biden in 2008 and the media simply lied about it. We can expect them to repeat their performance.

124
You guys making fun of hair...

what about Byron York's bouffant hair-do?

125 And that wraps up the field. Of course, the 800lbs gorilla not in the room was Rick Perry. We'll see how that plays out starting tomorrow.

I guess after Christie dropped out, the Establishment needed another gorilla.  800lbs is a lot of hair.

BTW, breaking news: Sarah Palin just arrived at the Iowa State Fair.

Palin 2012
For the win.

126 109

I watched footbal and drank German beer. I coach baseball. I am the truest American here.

Posted by: Sub-Tard at August 12, 2011 12:39 PM (0M3AQ)

Sorry Sub-Tard, football's #1 here in the good ol' US of A.  I win.

 

Hedgehog, we are talking about "Pre-Season Football." Much like the debates, you only watch to see if a team has any possibilities and has their groove on. Coaching football is about training horses. Coaching baseball is about developing individual skills and intelligence. Watching either just requires beer.

127 Oh yeah, I agree on the format, Iowa and the rest of people who put on early debates, 60 seconds in not even close to long enough for somebody to express a conservative position.  At a minimum make it two minutes.

Now if its a liberal debate, feel free to cut it to 10 or 15 seconds :  "Hope and Change" or "Feed the Children" feckless platitudes are all you are going to get anyway.

128 What's a looser?

An archer.

You know, because they don't shoot bows. They loose arrows.

Longbows, baby!

129 what about Byron York's bouffant hair-do? I thought I saw a Bill Kristol jizz streak in it. What a clown.

130 Fox was running a poll while the debate was on.  For some reason I can't see to find it.  It asked who won the debate.  One of my friends who is a ron paul supporter, well after BO, a ron paul supporter, is saying paul won the debate and that fox flushed it becasue of that.   I can't find it on the site.

131 I watched footbal and drank German beer. I coach baseball. I am the truest American here.

I played hockey.

I guess this means I'm Canadian, eh?

132 GAZE

133 AllenG alluded to Santorum's senatorial loss but IMHO, he became damaged goods not so much by losing as by who he lost to.  Junior Casey is an empty suit douchebag.

Posted by: Peregrine Took, Tea Party Hostage Taker

 

Looking at it that way loses the context. Casey is the son of Bob Casey, and junior clearly benefited from the legacy. Also, Dems have a natural advantage in PA. Add to that a media that leans left and an identifiable social conservatism streak and he was vulnerable.

But I agree that the result is largely the same. I doubt that he could win, and certainly not with the possible margins that Perry or Romney could gain. If one of them wins and is also pro-life, hat would be a great win.

134 79 Regardless of whatever respect he may have for the 10th, what is shows me is a disposition. A disposition to *solve* problems with mandates, taxes, and regulations. I'm not worried he'll do the same thing with health care from the Oval Office, I'm worried he will use those bludgeons on every other problem he encounters.
__________

Indeed. I noticed his answer to unemployment was government-controlled savings accounts. Last I checked, nothing's stopping me from walking down to the bank and opening an account if I feel that I need to put something away in case of unemployment; I'm not sure why the government would need to be involved.

135

Lindsey Lohan may be the biggest looser of all.......or Paris Hilton.

 

Ever seen me prepare and insert a Turkey?

136 Wasn't Huntsman the one that Obama feared most?

137 Wallace trolled Bachmann & Paw paw, they took the bait, and attacked each other.

They should have been savvy enough to turn that around on Wallace or make it about 0bama.

138 You want to know who really won the debate.

Perry.

Because the implosion of the !Romney front runners and the total "I don't have to answer questions because I'm ahead" stance from Mittens made me just chomp at the bit to get a better look at Perry.

139 Rush just said he had another $38,500 dollar fund raiser.  Why that number?  Is there some reason he is using that number.  If it were a republican wouldn't the left be accusing him/her of consulting with the numbers guy or some other numerologist?

140

barbar walters is not a looser.....a looser  is way younger.....millenials are loosers

141 Mitt, baggage and all, is far more likely to bring the Reagan Democrats along than Perry and I believe thatÂ’s one of MittÂ’s strengths.

Posted by: DumboTheAvenger at August 12, 2011 12:42 PM (BvTwT)

---

Because Reagan Democrats would never vote for a former Democrat? 

142 104What's a looser?

Posted by: dagny at August 12, 2011 12:39 PM (uAbEO)

Yo! *bwaaaaaaaaap*

143 149, It's the max contribution by law. Ron Paul is from texas.

144 I'm sorry, but every time I here Cain do an interview, I cringe.  He's a solid American but not Prezidentin' material.

145 I thinks President Obama was the big winner last night. I am sticking with him because I trust him more than all of those Republican idiots...especially Bush

Whoa, Bush was in the debate?  Who knew?

146 Huntsman!!!!

147 141

Newt did everything he could to drag Reagan out of his grave last night

148 102 As I said last night. Sarah Palin works for fox and probably that position allowed her to stay away from the frey for now.
________

Not certain whether you meant "fray" or "Tina Fey" here.

149 159, That was some amazing corpse humping wasn't it?

150 156

I played hockey.

I guess this means I'm Canadian, eh?

Nope. A Canadian would have been curling.

 

Isn't hockey just Canadian wrestling? I hear its all staged.

151 I don't have prove my conservative credentials to anyone, but Romney won this thing hands down. He's the frontrunner, he didn't screw up, and dammit he looked the most presidential. I know he is a big Rino, but until I see Perry, I think Mitt's the favorite. Perry's gonna have to really impress to win this thing and I know almost nothing about him. Right now, Mitt would flat out beat Obama. Just ask any squishy independents that you know.

152 Posted by: Anachronda at August 12, 2011 12:53 PM (IrbU4)

No, no, no.  The Frey.  Like the band?  Though how she has a problem staying away from them is beyond me.

153 Barring any weird revelations, here is how it looks to pan out to me:  Bachmann will win Iowa Caucus, Romney will win NH primary, and Perry will win SC. The rest of us are limited to choosing in 3 way race.

154 104 What's a looser?
________

He's the one who actually does the work involved in releasing the kracken.

155 Mittens..uh  er ah I uhh romney care..umm..

..::wipes flop sweat from brow::..

156 I guess after Christie dropped out, the Establishment needed another gorilla.  800lbs is a lot of hair.

You know, for someone who claims to just be attracted to Palin's candidacy but not in her camp, that was a pretty cheap shot.  Especially if, as you claimed, you would actually consider voting for the gorilla if Palin endorsed him. 

157 Right now, Mitt would flat out beat Obama. Just ask any squishy independents that you know. Squishy Independent is redundant.

158 if you play hockey you have looser teeth

159

Not certain whether you meant "fray" or "Tina Fey" here.

Posted by: Anachronda at August 12, 2011 12:53 PM (IrbU4)

the former but I heard a rumor that tina is "polishing her palin for the kill"....that's how they said it to me...I took exception with the word pointing out that palin got all that flack for her map with the bulls eyes.  he then said, once tina finishes with her there will be no more palin campaign.  I thought that was an interesting thing for them to believe.

160

Honestly, I will always be in the anybody but Romney camp. There is simply no way getting around RomneyCare. I don't even care if it becomes a non issue politcally, it's a policy issue with me. It's just terrible, terrible policy and fundamentally un-conservative.

Now, I'm not sure why the other candidates continue to fight eachother without including Romney in the mix. He's the top target, guys, start hitting him upside the head a few times.

161 I don't have prove my conservative credentials to anyone

Thank you "Romney For President!" for bothering to comment. Your analysis is pretty simplistic. "Not screwing up when your ahead" isn't the position the nation is in and not the leader we need. You should have at least commented on that.

162 Christie is still in the room and yeah he's still the 800 pound gorilla.  And he wants to know if you want to make something of it?

163 No, no, no.  The Frey.  Like the band?  Though how she has a problem staying away from them is beyond me.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) at August 12, 2011 12:54 PM (8y9MW)

She's a big groupie.  That's what Salon is saying, anyway.

164 122 104, The opposite of a tighter.
_________

Political typos: bringing a whole new meaning to "righty tighty, lefty loosey".

165 169 Right now, Mitt would flat out beat Obama. Just ask any squishy independents that you know.

Squishy Independent is redundant.     Not only redundant but an oxymoron. Kind of like "irregardless'.

166 Alright M&Ms.  Off to lunch.

Not to be confused with "launch," since we're being spelling nazis today.

167 My wife and I both agreed that Bachmann's "23 foster children" addendum is starting to become a tagline.

Like others have said, Newt comes across as intelligent, and, well-versed in the issues.  But, then you remember him sitting on a coach with Pelosi talking about global warming.

Ron Paul...jeezus...just WTF is all I can say.  He starts out with being strong fiscally, and then the sociopath shows up during the discussion on Iran.

Why is Huntsman even up there?

As for Santorum, I don't understand why he hasn't gotten any traction.  Maybe I'm a supporter, since I would have killed to get a Senator of his ability, when I've got a corpse and a criminal as my current representatives to the Senate.  He's right on foreign policy, he's strong fiscally, and you would think someone as socially conservative as he is would go over well in Southern states.  Maybe he's too emotional, as we saw last night.

168 Was depressed by how they all answered the 10:1 spending cuts to tax increases. Every spending cut IS A TAX CUT, whether a tax cut now or in the future. Sounded like juvenile non-serious Democrats on that one...

169 The debate did not change anything in my mind - this is where I arrived yesterday: I'm a Palin fan, but she's not running. Perry is not running yet, and if he enters the race then maybe that changes things. I still believe that executive experience is important, so sorry for Rep. Bachmann, much as she says the right things, she is not the right candidate for me. Rules out Newt, too, not like his candidacy is going anywhere. Also Ron Paul. And Rick Santorum. And Thaddeus McCotter. And that guy who is gay in New Hampshire. That leaves the governors, and Huntsman is just a no out of the gate. I originally thought Gary Johnson was interesting, but he isn't, really. Herman Cain *is* interesting, and he has executive experience, but politics is politics, and his lack of experience in politics is more of a cost than a benefit. That brings us down to Pawlenty and Romney. Pawlenty has the competent and not scary bloc nailed down, but the "not exciting" vibe has not changed at all. That leaves Romney pretty much, and the rap on him is what, exactly? He's a phony? In what way? What about him is not real? He's conservative, and I don't see any trillion dollar spending binges in him. He's not going to come in and promise to end the Department of Education, but as often been pointed out, Reagan could not end it. I don't see anything specifically *wrong* with Romney, and he has some practical aspects that are not bad either - like he can raise a lot of money, which will be necessary, and he has name recognition, which if you don't have it, costs a lot of money. And, unlike many other candidates (and/or their staffers) he's smart enough not to try to trash talk Palin and her supporters. =-=-=- Perry is not yet "in-in" so hard to say. A lot of plusses there, but let's see the campaign he puts together. I mean Newt is smart and conservative and all of that but, seriously, no.

170 Back in 20, must marinate meat for fajitas.

171

I was leaning towards Bachman until last night also. If she is going to make a statement about not raising the debt ceiling she had better explain how the hell that is supposed to work.

Is she going to get rid of over 1/3 of the government this week or is she just planning on stiffing people. Her statement was more let's not raise it and see what happens than any solution.

I wouldn't mind getting rid of 1/3 of the government but it isn't going to happen tomorrow. I don't understand why she is sticking with that.

172 huntsman had the crazy dazed look of howard reid

173

174 Christie is still in the room and yeah he's still the 800 pound gorilla.  And he wants to know if you want to make something of it?

 

Curious -  I have a rule - never nominate a national candidate who can't deliver his home state (see Gore). This excludes Christie, Guiliani, and Trump. Probably Santorum and Pawlenty.

 

Drops the number of possibles very quickly. Keep It Simple Stupid.

174 Also, are we misspelling on purpose today? Or is it just loose shit?

175 Ron Paul is there for the plucky comic relief

176 Huntsman gave Harry Reid a 25,000 campaign contribution. Harry used the 25K to shuttle dementia patients and illegals to the polling places.

177 Huntsman was an absolute joke.

178 I did not know that Bachmann had 23 foster children!



/sarc

179 180 As for Santorum, I don't understand why he hasn't gotten any traction.
________

My problem is that I can't tell him apart from Pawlenty. When one or the other was talking, I had to wait for a long shot to see if he was standing next to Bachmann to figure out who it was.

180 187 Also, are we misspelling on purpose today? Or is it just loose shit?

Posted by: blaster at August 12, 2011 01:02 PM (l5dj7)

You outta val-u-rite?

181 >>>Thank you "Romney For President!" for bothering to comment. Your analysis is pretty simplistic. "Not screwing up when your ahead" isn't the position the nation is in and not the leader we need. You should have at least commented on that.

No he shouldn't have.  He wasn't addressing the question you're interested in, he was addressing a much more relevant one: who won the debate in objective terms?  And the answer is, Romney won going away.  Right now the issue isn't whether he's "the leader we need" or whatever, it's who benefited the most on a tactical level from last night's scrum.  And it was Romney.  He looked Presidential.  He didn't take a single major hit.  The other candidates spent their time fighting with each other (i.e. the Bachmann-Pawlenty murder/suicide).  And Perry is still an X-factor who may develop into the big non-Romney hope, or may be the next Fred Thompson.

Again, I say these things not as a fan of Romney (I'm not, but I'll vote for him in a fucking heartbeat over Obama, and run through a hail of bullets in order to do so), but as an analyst. 

182

Santorum, Cain, and Pawlenty were just trying to not be the lowest man on the totem pole when the night was through, assuming that the lowest man on the totem pole would be finished after tonight.  I think all three are finished, myself.

-------------

Huntsman and Ron Paul were there too.

183 189 Huntsman gave Harry Reid a 25,000 campaign contribution.

Are you sure that wasn't Huntsman, Sr.?  I thought when I looked it up, it was the father, not the son.

184 180 As for Santorum, I don't understand why he hasn't gotten any traction.

I don't think Santorum is there for himself.  He looks generally unhappy, imo.

185 My take is that Santorum was pretty much written off when he took a thrashing in the PA Senate race. I think that created a perception that he cannot win a national race.

186 Ron Paul is there for the plucky comic relief

Kind of like Chim Chim in Speed Racer.

187 Not a big Romney fan here, but I will say my estimation of him inched up yesterday when I heard the audio of him taking on those leftist goons at the Iowa State Fair.

188 Brett just completely pleased with himself for last nights epic debate format. Fuck you Brett.

189 >>>My take is that Santorum was pretty much written off when he took a thrashing in the PA Senate race.

Yeah.  Kinda hard to spin that away.  Also, and I feel bad about this because I don't necessarily think it's his fault, but he gives me the creeps.  As "oblig." pointed out above, something about him just seems off.  Him and Michele Bachmann just give me that sick feeling where I'm all like "I feel embarrassed to be sharing a party and ideology with this person, he/she is a liability." 

190 Fox statistics:

Herman Cain: 7.65 minutes, 11 questions -- that makes him the most succinct of the bunch.

I know he's going to lose, but I still want him as VP.
Makes me a racist.

191 Was Huntsman the one who looked like Romney but if he stuck his finger in an electrical outlet?  If he is that one, then he was there.

192 No he shouldn't have.  He wasn't addressing the question you're interested in, he was addressing a much more relevant one: who won the debate in objective terms?
Right now the issue isn't whether he's "the leader we need" or whatever, it's who benefited the most on a tactical level from last night's scrum. 


Like I said. Objectively I think Perry won. The whole of the field was so fundamentally disappointing to the point I am looking for that fresh face to get in. Perry has a big opportunity after that epic level disappointment of a debate.

193 Ron Paul's foreign policy wouldn't be completely objectionable if he didn't preface every statement by blaming America for all the evils in the world and saying that letting Iran get a nuke would be a-okay.

And because Paul is such a nut, it makes it almost impossible for any other candidate to emerge that doesn't fit into the extremely narrow space all the other Republican candidates embrace.

Besides Herman Cain . . . who doesn't have a foreign policy.

194 Huntsman reminds me of the rich kid who was born with good looks who has breezed through life thinking he's the coolest thing ever, in large part supported and encouraged by rich, vain parents. Just my impression.

195 You know, for someone who claims to just be attracted to Palin's candidacy but not in her camp, that was a pretty cheap shot.  Especially if, as you claimed, you would actually consider voting for the gorilla if Palin endorsed him. 

Hey, Drew called Perry an 800lb gorilla.  That's a quote directly from his post above (Yes, unlike Breitbart, I read what Ace and the COBs post). 

 Drew was/is a big Christie fan.  I guess he's moving on.   The comment about Palin also stated that I support Sarah Palin "100 per cent".  That's true.  Lessee who's on the ballot November 2012.

As for being in "the Palin camp", I'm not a registered comment at C4P (or HotAir, for that matter).   I think she's the best choice for the 2012 presidential race.

196 I guess he's playing the role of "the waterboy" these days, was wondering how the dems were going to get this "idea" out there.  "Mayor calls for uniform tax hikes for everyone to reduce nation's deficit"

197

That leaves Romney pretty much, and the rap on him is what, exactly? He's a phony? In what way? What about him is not real? He's conservative, and I don't see any trillion dollar spending binges in him. He's not going to come in and promise to end the Department of Education, but as often been pointed out, Reagan could not end it.

----------

/facepalm

RomneyCare.

Also, Reagan had a Democratic controlled Congress to deal with. This next President will not. If he so wanted, he could end the Department of Ed.

198 Ron Paul is there for the plucky comic relief

Kind of like Chim Chim in Speed Racer.

Posted by: WalrusRex

 

If you knew him like I did, you wouldn't laugh.

199 "I paid for this microphone!"
Posted by: Zombie Reagan at August 12, 2011 01:09 PM (Zs83Q)

Dammit, I should've used that last night with Mike Wallace's brat.

200 @206 If it works, which it does, then use it. He could have wimped out when put on the spot, but he didn't. For that I give him credit.

201 192 187 Also, are we misspelling on purpose today? Or is it just loose shit?  

Posted by: blaster at August 12, 2011 01:02 PM (l5dj7)

You outta val-u-rite?

Posted by: Hussein the Plumber at August 12, 2011 01:04 PM (jx2j9)

Upthread there's a comment from either a sock or a Paulbot calling everyone else "loosers".

202

Huntsman and Ron Paul were there too.

Posted by: Rich at August 12, 2011 01:05 PM (wnGI4)

They don't really count, and won't leave the party just because nobody wants them.  Huntsman can afford to stay in indefinitely, and Paul has enough crazy supporters to slog along until next summer.

203 Not 'gotcha questions' as much as fundamentally un-serious and unresponsive to the informational needs of the people when we have $14+ trillion in debt, racking up deficits at the rate of $1.5+ trillion a year and a total clown show in Washington DC.   All Wallace, York and the FNC producer care about were inside DC minutia... So like a broken clock, Newt was correct last night...  He didn't have the balls to do it about 40 minutes earlier though

204 The debate formats always suck when there are so many candidates. I mean remember CNN? The pick a question from a tweet thing? This was better than that, at least.

205 Newt is the biggest crybaby I've seen in a long time.

206 Until Romney looks me in the eye and says he was wrong to sign Romneycare into law; and that mistake has reshaped his vision of the proper relationship between a citizen and his government. I will *not* consider him for a vote. Period.

207 220 Until Romney looks me in the eye and says he was wrong to sign Romneycare into law; and that mistake has reshaped his vision of the proper relationship between a citizen and his government. I will *not* consider him for a vote. Period.

Posted by: MikeTheMoose Camellia Sinensis Operative at August 12, 2011 01:16 PM (0q2P7)

OF COURSE you mean in the primary.......

208 And really, Pawlenty? He pusses out in the last debate when handed an opportunity to slam Romney for Obamneycare, and then beats up on the girl in this debate. Loser.

209

Newt is the biggest crybaby I've seen in a long time.

-----------

Did you see me yesterday? When I blamed the economic troubles on the middle-east and the Japanese earthquake? It was pretty whiny.

210

Before the debates started T-Paw looked and sounded like he was up to the challenge of taking on Obama. In the 1st debate, he did well except for passing taking Mittens to task on "ObamneyCare" so I gave him a pass. As much as I like him and after last night, he's VP material only. Not that he couldn't grow into a more seasoned politician, right now he's not ready for prime-time.

My biggest concern is that no one (other than T-Paw and only when prompted) bothered to go after Romney, AGAIN!!! Mitt looks good and says a lot of the right things but his past flip-flops cannot go unchallenged by serious candidates and last night, no one did. To me that was the most infuriating part of the debate. What this shows me is that the current crop is kind of gutless and if you are expected to run against, dare I say it, "Audacity", a more determined voice is needed. Rick Perry might be the guy to actually challenge Romney. It will however, be difficult for an evangelical to win the nomination in this politcal climate of spending/debt concerns being so widespread. The upshot of all this, the more I see of the current crop of Presidential hopefuls, the better a certain former Alaskan Governor looks in comparison...

211 OF COURSE you mean in the primary.......

If it comes to Inanimate Carbon Rod/Side Of Beef vs Obama/Biden

well

In Rod we TRUST!

212 @223 Let me clarify. Newt is one of the biggest crybabies who self-identifies as a Republican which I've seen lately.

213 Not 'gotcha questions' as much as fundamentally un-serious and unresponsive to the informational needs of the people when we have $14+ trillion in debt, racking up deficits at the rate of $1.5+ trillion a year and a total clown show in Washington DC.   All Wallace, York and the FNC producer care about were inside DC minutia... So like a broken clock, Newt was correct last night...  He didn't have the balls to do it about 40 minutes earlier though

Posted by: phreshone

 

Submitted for your approval:

The candidates mikes are subject to being turned off if they venture off of the top five most important issues as indicated by the American people.

Each candidate will have the option of signalling for either a sniper to fire a plastic bullet at or electrocuting one of the panelists if they ask a question not pertaining to the top five issues identified by the American people.

Make this a PPV event, with all proceeds going for debt relief.

214 I find Romney acceptable. He's the obvious front-runner and the question becomes who is preferable - Romney or Perry. In some sense, does it matter? Won't either guy sign any legislation the Republican-controlled House (and possibly Senate) pass on to him?

215 Oh, and that shyster idiot Huckabee slammed Perry. Just further confirmation that my support of Perry is well-placed.

216

We could be like Jeff B. and say we won't vote for Romney even against Obama. I recall him making that statement about bachmann.

217 225 OF COURSE you mean in the primary.......

If it comes to Inanimate Carbon Rod/Side Of Beef vs Obama/Biden

well

In Rod we TRUST!
Just checking.

218 OT...11th circuit affirms individual mandate in ObamaCare as unconsitutional...

219 Upthread there's a comment from either a sock or a Paulbot calling everyone else "loosers". Posted by: dagny at August 12, 2011 01:13 PM (uAbEO) Yah I know but there is a whole lot of other misspelling going on. If its on purpose I did not get the memmo.

220

I find Romney acceptable. He's the obvious front-runner and the question becomes who is preferable - Romney or Perry. In some sense, does it matter? Won't either guy sign any legislation the Republican-controlled House (and possibly Senate) pass on to him?

---------

Wouldn't it be nice to have a solid conservative in office who actually helps set the agenda. I mean, if it's just some old squish there might not be any talk about getting rid of entire govt. agencies. Get a conservative in there, and he might compel Congress to take up the issue of defunding say, the EPA.

221 >>>We could be like Jeff B. and say we won't vote for Romney even against Obama. I recall him making that statement about bachmann.

Yeah, and you know what?  On a gut level I still feel that way, but make no mistake: if I lived in a swing state, and Bachmann actually had a chance, I would suck it up and go vote for her.  And get people I knew to vote for her too, on an "anything is better than Obama" logic.  I live in a very NON-swing state, so it's not an issue, but hell I'd probably still vote for her just to say "fuck you" to the Democratic party. 

Basically, if the Republicans nominate Satan himself I'm voting for the devil.

222 194 who won the debate in objective terms?

I thought Romney did, but I get the feeling he is playing to the base.   Like the old axiom go to the fringe for the primary and go to the center for the general, I keep getting the feeling with him that he doesn't really believe what he is saying and it is focus grouped and rehearsed for maximum effect in the primary.

Another one who talks a good conservative game like that is Graham.   During hearings he asks some of the best questions of anyone there, but when it comes to a vote he is a RINO.  I just get the feeling Romney is saying what a poll said we want to hear, but I can't bring myself to believe him.

As far as dinging him on Romneycare, I think his argument that it is a state's right and not a federal right is spot on.  If a state wants to toy with such a program, then let them.   It still remains that his mindset and core beliefs are such that he didn't fight against it, and that is a big part of why I don't believe his present conservative talk.

I thought Cain did pretty well, much better than before.  I agree with whoever said it above that he'd make a decent VP, maybe a balance to whatever squish the GOP manages to select this time.  It looked like the questioners were trying to make the more conservative candidates look even fringier than they are, and I think they succeeded.

223 Newt is the biggest crybaby I've seen in a long time.

I saw this as good practice for the CNN/MSNBC/ABC debates.  He's a fighter.

224 Impressions From Last Night's Debate
Oh. I thought you were going to do impressions...

225 @232 Good news. Anyone know what percentage of 11th Circuit opinions are reversed relative to the other circuits?

226

My two cents.

Ron Paul came across as a complete idiot. Acting like Iran is not completely lunatic does not make it so. Sticking your head in the sand is not a policy. And what is with the whining? He would have done much better by just saying, I think we should be isolationist, because the world is a scary place.

Newt came across as knowing his stuff, but we know he is a last century big government guy. Sorry, we are just not there any more. The same with Huntsman and Romney.

Pawlenty and Santorum just seem to be sucking up the oxygen in the room without bringing anything new to the race.

Cain seems to be sharp but what is with the sticking his foot in his mouth comments that he seems to make from time to time?

Bachman serems to be losing momentum.

So I am still waiting for someone to get in the race that will actually kick some presidential butt in the upcoming.

227 One thing I like about Romney: during the debates with Obama, he will make the intellectual case for limited government and free-markets. He can talk the talk. F'n Mccain didn't even try.

228 Yeah, and you know what? On a gut level I still feel that way, but make no mistake: if I lived in a swing state, and Bachmann actually had a chance, I would suck it up and go vote for her. And get people I knew to vote for her too, on an "anything is better than Obama" logic. I live in a very NON-swing state, so it's not an issue, but hell I'd probably still vote for her just to say "fuck you" to the Democratic party. Basically, if the Republicans nominate Satan himself I'm voting for the devil. =-=-= Here is the problem with this type of stand - if you say stuff like this then other people hear it. In the end, you might go and hold your nose and pull the lever, but everyone who isn't into the game who heard you is going to go why would I vote for candidate X I mean Jeff B. is of the saem party and hates Candidate X so much he would not even cast his vote.

229 Newt may be a fighter, but really what good is it in a lost cause?

230 I said "probably" in my previous post, but it's not really 'probable.'  If Bachmann wins the nomination, then fuck it: IN ROD WE TRUST. 

I mean, she would lose the election and the recriminations would never end, but yeah, I can't not vote for the Republican against Barack Obama.

231 Hey mike the moose, When you have been around Ace HQ as long as I have, I'll start giving a damn what you think. I didn't say I wanted Romney. I just said he's beating everyone else right now. Don't assume the whole stupid, apolitical populace is as conservative as we are. Oh yeah, before I forget: go fuck yourself.

232 >>>Here is the problem with this type of stand - if you say stuff like this then other people hear it.

Well I wouldn't be screaming from the rooftops about her inadequacy as a candidate during the campaign, just as I didn't say shit about the increasingly obvious failings of the McCain/Palin ticket (both ends of that ticket, incidentally) during 2008.  But when it was over...man, it was time to assess.  And to say that I can't rail against her now, before she has gotten the nomination (or even seems CLOSE to getting it)?  That's just silly: this is a primary campaign, I have every reason to point out Bachmann's many, many failings (some of which I have experienced personally in dealing with her).

233 Posted by: Tony253 at August 12, 2011 01:22 PM (L3Dh5)

That's good.  One more for us.  Did they strike down the whole law based on the individual mandate, or just kill the mandate?

Posted by: kurtilator at August 12, 2011 01:24 PM (juh4Z)

There's a reason we say "Actions talk louder than words."  And his action of signing RomneyCare was fundamentally unconservative.  Not because the state didn't have a right to do it, but because it views a completely different (I would say: upside down) relationship between Government and the People than one conservatives should hold.

Added to that is the fact he's never- not one- suggested that there was even maybe something wrong with RomneyCare.  And he's been given lots of opportunities.

Remember also that he ran on RomenyCare as a success in 2008.

234 Blue Hen...

will there be a national lottery to select the sniper???

235 Regarding the field as a whole -- Things look so much better than in 08. We had Huckabee driving a wedge between evangelicals and economic conservatives that opened the door for McCain. Neither McCain nor Huckabee are really Republicans at all. Say what you want about Romney, but the guy is a legit Republican, just a blue-state one. We really don't know how conservative Romney is because he has always had to temper his beliefs to get elected.

236 More on 11th circuit ObamaCare decison...sounds like only the mandate was affirmed as unconstitutional, now on to SCOTUS. The rest of the law untouched...

237 Santorum given his command of the issues and conservative record should be more of a factor but he's just not

Santorum sounds pretty good on radio, but when I see him on TV, he looks like the used car salesman across the street from Mitt's new car dealership...  Ain't no way he's getting my support in a primary

238 251

except versus Ron Paul that is...

239

I am only submissive to Rick Perry, who clearly won the debate.

 

240 http://tinyurl.com/43oztkb

241 Questions sucked and one minutes responses are all but useless. Impossible to ditch the talking points and sound bytes when that is all the time that you have. Also, lets ignore Iowa, the land of ethanol and pandering to a narrow group of people. So many missed opportunities including the lesson from the Wisconsin recall.

242 250, I thought the dems had acted stupidly in the way they wrote it. Something about if one part goes down, it all goes down.

243 I would like to see a substantive debate for once where issues are discussed in  detail, but since it would be boring, we know the media is not about to do it.

244 I cannot find any reference to Perry being a lawyer.  Big plus for me.

245 Ron Paul is right about which border we should be securing. To the moron who said "it wasn't Mexicans on 9/11," well duh, but how did the terrorists get into the country in the first place? Some of them overstayed their visas, and the rest crossed our fuckin border. We have been finding terrorist training materials on our border, but you're right. Let's keep our troops on someone else's border. As for Iran, aside from Paul's conclusion that they aren't a huge threat to us, he was right about why they hate us. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and pre79 Iran had populations who hated our guts and we called allies. Why? Because we were in bed with their brutal dictators. We stuck our goddam nose in other people's business. Now, I agree with everyone else in here that Iran is not comparable to the Soviets because of the insanity factor, but I still agree that we need to stop interfering in other countries' affairs. That view has been, in a very propagandist way, distorted and called "isolationist." Its not. Its non-interventionalist, but also peace building. If we traded with those countries, there grows a mutual respect. Finally, if Iran had a nuke, they wouldn't come after us first (and thank God, because no one in this government knows how to fight a damn war), they would go after Israel. Do I want that to happen? In a sense... Kinda. For one reason, and one reason alone: because Iran's govt would be decimated if they tried. Israel doesn't fuck around like we do. And santorum looked like a whiny little bitch next to Paul, and then when he threw his tizzy about not getting enough time to answer, he looked more feminine than Michelle Bachmann. And the reason santorum lost by double digits is because of the bullshit he said about gay marriage leading to polygamy and beastiality. Ron Paul is the only one who strictly adheres to the constitution. He's been saying the same things for 30 years. Suddenly everyone starts sounding exactly like him except for one issue, and you all still call him crazy. He's no less crazy than romney (romney care) pawlenty Huntsman or newt (cap and tax) bachmann and santorum ("the tenth amendment is great, but not for marriage.") or Cain (what part of "shall not infringe" is unclear?). C'mon, if we're going to be single issue voters, then we might as well add 8 stars to the flag, give your asthmatic child a breathalyzer, and send our zombie navy (the corpse-men) into Libya to get France their oil, because obama will be re-elected.

246 Rick Santorum- This is a guy that should be a serious candidate but he's just not. I don't know if it's his social conservatism or what that terms some folks off but he's just not there.

The fact that he lost a Senate re-election bid in Pennsylvania, and has been successfully marginalized (by Democrats) with independent voters might have something to do with it.

247

My take is that Santorum was pretty much written off when he took a thrashing in the PA Senate race.

Meh.  Santorum lost to a name in that race.  Half the idiots in PA thought they were voting for Casey's despicable old man (who managed to have a heart and some lungs found for him, for transplant, over a weekend).

I like Santorum a lot.  He really should be doing much better, but I don't think his problem is related to his loss in that Senate race.

248 Santorum lost to a name in that race.

While true, it does not bode well for overcoming Obama.

249 While true, it does not bode well for overcoming Obama.

Posted by: Enigmaticore at August 12, 2011 02:01 PM (pjusE)

You have a point.  I take the view, though, that it shouldn't matter who is running against the Indonesian.  If America votes Barky back in (regardless of his opponent) then this nation was beyond saving, anyway. 

I do agree, though, that Santorum's poor showing to start this primary doesn't bode well for a candidacy of his, generally.  It's a shame because he's a good guy and a solid conservative.

250

OK, I will vote for Mitt if he's the candidate.  I'd even vote for Newt if he makes it that far.  I hope I don't have to though.  In the primaries I'm supporting The Barracuda for President, the Platypus for vice pres.  In a pinch, I'll even go the other way around.

251

Drew is auditioning to replace Byron York in the debates.  He can't waiut to ask a substantive question that isn't a crazy social issue like, "Do you wear boxers or briefs?"

 

Romney-records, records we don't need no stinking records and don't ask me about my record in Massachusetts.  States can enact Obamacare but I'd never do it if I were president.  Really.  Lied about taxes and was a supporter of Obama's economic polices.  Now he has flipped flopped again.  Will the real Romney please declare himself.  The personality of a used car saleman.  I'd sooner send money to an email appeal from Nigeria than trust Romney based on his record.

 

Pawlenty-I've flipped flopped on so many issues I don't know what I believe.  But I do believe I can beat up on a woman since the other guys here will beat the crap out of me.

Cain- a voice of reason, a record of achievement.  The RINOs hate him because he doesn't belong to their club.

Hunstman-desperately seeking the ACLU endorsement.  Next stop, dancing with the stars.

Paul-cue the Twilight Zone theme.

Bachman-apparently going on record against bad measures and losing is worse then being on record and supporting bad measures.  RINOs really, really hate her.  She doesn't follow their Rodney King philosophy of "can't we just all get along."  Or put another way going through life with a policy of pre emptive surrender makes your enemies love you and your base disdain you.   The opposite of a RINO.

Santorium-a voce of experience, honesty, and commonsense.  Obviously the RINOs hate him.

Newt-demonstrate he is the sharp knife in the draw and a briullant speaker.  Won the debate by slapping down Wallace, in contrast to Romney's weak knees.  Brilliant insights, excellent analysis, experienced.  But who can believe someone who is at ease dancing with Pelosi and dinning out with Reid.  Typical politician who would say and do anything to be elected.  Sad I'd vote for him except he doesn't inspire confidence.

Fox News-trying to become MSM instead of Fox.  They succeeded with Wallace and York asking the kind of questions the media is famous fo.  Both lost credibility, big time by focusing on the trivial instead of policy.

 

Big winner-Palin.

252

I do agree, though, that Santorum's poor showing to start this primary doesn't bode well for a candidacy of his, generally.  It's a shame because he's a good guy and a solid conservative.

Posted by: Henry Harold Humphries, you can call me 'H' at August 12, 2011 02:05 PM (qMfi2)

seriously, a solid conservative?  That scares me cause I really like him.  He's very intelligent and sincere, not politiciany.  That's odd to me that I would be attracted to a solid conservative.

253 When Romney signed the MA healthcare plan 60% of MA were for it. And if he had not intervened with his own plan, MA would have passed a single payor plan over any veto. I'm not supporting Romne in the primary because of his AGW statement but I believe the criticism he gets for Romneycare is unresearched, unfair and often intellectually dishonest.

254 my only desire from any of these debates is to not provide the DNC and the White House any attack ad ammo ...

255 Maybe someone ought to have asked "If Iran starts lobbing nuclear weapons at Israel what are you going to do?"

256 Those links will be a tremendous help to everyone who can't type a candidate's name into a search field. (Y'know, the boxy thing thing top right on every wikipedia page.)

Oh, wait.

"santoreum"
"bachman"
"guiliani"

Apparently, that would be you.

257

Posted by: curious at August 12, 2011 02:40 PM (k1rwm)

There you go.  Santorum was one of the only strong conservatives in the Senate, while he was there.  I'd be very happy to have him as the candidate (though it seems as if the odds of that happening are very, very long).

258 Posted by: Megan at August 12, 2011 03:06 PM (BNv9H)
people are basically lazy, if the link is there, they are more apt to look.

259 Point.

260 btw, if you are the meghan on fox, don't watch your show, turn it off.....

261 I think what you have to keep in mind that in a conservative's mind, once you throw under the bus, family, life of the unborn, and, in some instances, gun rights (all social conservative areas)what is to prevent you throwing the last remaining support of a conservative's position, financial responsibility?  In throwing over three of the four supports of a conservative position, you have really disabled your argument of ....trust me.

262 by now this thread is mostly dead. i almost never post a comment; if someone, however, reads this, please Please PLZ respond back.
my thoughts on some of the candidates.
Romney (and Huntsman)--These guys seem to me to be extremely similar: slick, wealthy politicians  I'm pretty sure both Mittens and Johnny Boy made excellent critiques of EPA policy in the debate but neither of them to my memory disavowed, (nor were they prompted. screw u fox) their stance of AGW or cap and trade. I will not under any circumstances vote for them in the primary; I certainly will not help them get elected in the general unless they pick a fire-breathing TP candidate as a sort of contrast/im-a-real-con--look-whos-standing-beside-me! selection. That's where I see Herman Cain and Michele in the race right now.
Cain and Bachmann--These candidates are also extremely similar. They share an interesting dichotomy, however. Whereas one has gobs and gobs of private sector executive experience, though is hurting on PR and message damage control, the other seems to thrive on trying to get her message across. Bachmann, however, really has no experience, to my knowledge, in what most matters: creating bills and budgets for congress. while im sure she's great at gathering crowds and giving interviews to sell bills that get voted on, i dont believe she ever tried. she seems to me to be more of an ideologue and a demagogue; though she may speak truth, she's doing so in a partisan/im-trying-to-sell-u-on-it way. In Cain's case, he really only needed to have 2 years as a congressman and he probly would have been good to go. In Bachmann's case, I wish she had tried to help Boehner instead of cheering from the sidelines.

263 The thing about Santorum, and I thought he was very good in the debate, is that he is a loser. He lost the PA Senate race and hasn't been in office since then, and all he seems to do is run for President as a very dark horse. This is is especially a problem for someone so particularly outspoken about social conservative issues, it makes him a gadfly

264 regarding all the candidates:
Newt Gingrich--im too young, apparently, to understand all you old-timers' references to Newt and Pelosi shootin the breeze together. Btw, does Newt have a weird stance on AGW? I think thats what some commenter said.
Personally, I think he handled himself alright, but it seems like Newt is either brilliant, or he's too angry. And I wish he had said something about where his campaign stands right now. If a full-time, cross-country staff is still non-existent, what chance do u have?
Timmy--not as slick as Romney, not as much a firebrand as Bachmann. Pawlenty seems to have really been caught between a rock and a hard place, to have had the opposite luck of Perry. Whoever we have to debate against Obama next year is going to have to do better then how Tim performed these past two debates, especially last night against Bachmann. They either seemed to tie, (and by tie i mean collectively lose obviously), or Bachmann would get the better of him.
Herman Cain--Bachmann simply over-shadows him. He also seems to have a Narrative built up around him, (which i partially buy into) saying that he wasnt ready. He would probably make an excellent VP.
Ron Paul--@Molon Labe, 266: thumbs up with the Twilight alluzion
Santorum--get a job, Ricky. until u beat a dem, (yes, for a 4th time), you're washed-up. the country used to care about your message. let someone else turn the country's economy around so that in 8+ years' time u can turn the moral compass around.

Huntsman--terrible, horrible timing. if u had ran for congress and demonstrated straight-forward conservative bonafides, leaving alone your precious AGW/c&t fantasies, we might go for you. unfortunately we're stuck with your slightly-left-of-romney candidacy till probly no earlier than Super Tuesday. may u, Ron Paul and all his little ronulans gtfo as soon as possible. a certain hombre with latónes cojones, (and a drama queen from alaska/foxnews, most likely), needs to enter the race.

265 couldnt agree more, Roy. he needs to win another election, or revert, like Gingrich did, back to the private sector and run an all-across-the-board, (and not just marriage and life) conservative think tank. if he wants to be president. i would love for him to try and start or run a social issues-oriented think tank or foundation.

266 Worst debate performance by questioners ever!!!....................

"You said...", "She said...", "He said...", "You told...",

I thought I was listening to a school girl describe the junior high dance.

267 First time I've paid attention to Pawlenty and boy is he shallow. If he gets the nomination I'll EAT his effing lawn. As always Newt was smart and articulate. That guy could go off the cuff all night. I thought he did best. He knows his stuff mostly but in the long run the AGW thing is killing me. Someone tell me who Huntsman kept reminding me of. All unsmiling and three-word phrases. I can't place him. Dukakis? Cain: for real dude? Nice guy but c'mon! We might not survive the naif we have now in the White House. We don't need another. I've always liked Santorum and I'm hardcore pro-life so no problem there for me. Liked his death sentence for the baby but not the rapist answer. Just wish he had a shot. The rest as expected. And the panel sucked especially Wallace.

268 Its Pleasure to understand your blog.The above articles is pretty extraordinary, and I really enjoyed reading your blog and points that you expressed. I really like to appear back over a typical basis,post a lot more within the topic.Thanks for sharingÂ…keep writing!!!

269 Why the hell are we halfway done with the 2012 campaign in August 2011? Did we even have a debate in 1991, for instance?

270 I'd like to ask myself do I usually take it up the ass as a bottom or am I usually a top?

271 You are all nuts.  I'm voting for Paul

272 fredthompson Fred Thompson Obama wants more regs on hydraulic fracturing in natural gas drilling. Man, I'm getting sick & tired of all these fracking regulations


this guy is really funny.

273 _{^{"Santorum--get a job, Ricky. until u beat a dem, (yes, for a 4th time), you're washed-up. the country used to care about your message. let someone else turn the country's economy around so that in 8+ years' time u can turn the moral compass around."
Posted by: Schindler's golden nazi pin at August 12, 2011 05:37 PM (9W3/G)}}

Have you ever considered that the moral compass and the state of the economy are inextricably tied.  In order to fix one, you need to fix the other.

274 hey man, i know they are. i fully support replacing SCOTUS libs with conservative justices. i also know that executive orders like the Mexico City policy are easy peasy stuff. what i'm saying is that, just as Mittens tried to tie everything back to his experience or Obama's failures, Rick seemed to be constantly tying everything back to America's need for morality. (I recall Rick's attempt at putting down Ron Paul on the issue of Iran. It seemed to me like Rick self-consciously felt he was getting off target. sort of a "I actually am an expert on this so I do need to show you up."

i agree that the US needs moral conversion. i also believe, however, that that will take years, if not decades. on the issue of the economy, we don't have decades; we barely have years. As it is, I expect my future president to not only provide waivers to all 50 states, or present a bill in Congress for overturning obamacare. I also want them, by executive order, to forbid any money being to be provided for abortion via obamacare. or contraception for that matter.

275

#293:

 

Thats about the dumbest statement I have ever heard.  So the state of virtue in a nation is dependent upon the state of the economy?

 

Perhaps in your universe.  Where do you live, London?

276

Hello my friends!  Bachmann is the only person who stood for cut, cap and balance and she didn't get it - that's why the downgrade.  straight from the horseÂ’s  mouth . . .

 

"We lowered our long-term rating on the U.S. because we believe that the

prolonged controversy over raising the statutory debt ceiling and the related

fiscal policy debate indicate that further near-term progress containing the

growth in public spending, especially on entitlements, or on reaching an

agreement on raising revenues is less likely than we previously assumed and

will remain a contentious and fitful process. We also believe that the fiscal

consolidation plan that Congress and the Administration agreed to this week

falls short of the amount that we believe is necessary to stabilize the

general government debt burden by the middle of the decade."

 

The debt ceiling had to be raised why?  Debt service currently consumes about one-sixth of incoming revenues (not spending). So if the government would simply cut spending elsewhere, it would still have plenty of cash coming in the door with which to pay existing bondholders. If the government actually put in place a serious plan to balance the budget, while not jeopardizing interest payments, there is no reason for interest rates to go up. In fact, it would be a signal that Uncle Sam was more likely to pay off his debts, as he capped the total debt.

 

Only in the political realm could it have ever become a standard talking point to claim that we need to go deeper into debt to reassure our creditors that we will pay them back.  I feel we were put through agony and a downgrade as pawns in some sarcastic, sick game.

 

So . . . Bachmann is a heroin to every U.S. citizen!  During last night's debate she shined brilliantly, however, Gingrich was so knowledgeable it was hard not to miss.

Let's just go to Las Vegas and party!

277 WeAreLegion he's only getting more popular. I haven't heard anyone say, "ya know, I was really with Paul, but now that I've heard how he feels about Iran, I can't vote for him." there's a reason for that: people who like him already understand his position, because it hasn't changed in 30 flippin years. the saddest fucking thing about Paul's candidacy is that it shines a spotlight on those "constitution loving" republicans who, apparently tired of the left constantly calling them crazy, turns to the one guy who sticks by it most consistently and says, "you're crazy!" I love how Santorum is still stuck on his slippery slope argument with gay rights. "it'll lead to polygamy, and bestiality, cats and dogs living together, oh the humanity!!" just admit it: "get the government out of our lives, so we can put the government into yours!" kinda like the left's, "keep the government out of my uterus, but go ahead and put them in my heart, lungs, pancreas, bloodstream, nervous system, bladder, colon, mammary glands, testicles, and, while you're at it, the uterus."

278

OK, I must speak again.  Constructive criticism is a good thing, right?  I just want to say that last night in the debate I was able to listen to Ron Paul for a second.  During that second he made a lot of sense.

However, a second wonÂ’t get him elected.  He may be the nicest, most ethical person but he whines, rambles and shifts his body.  I canÂ’t listen or watch him too long and IÂ’m afraid way too many of us dismiss him because he comes off unsteady.  Granted that may be shallow, but it is what it is.  Maybe it's just me, but maybe it isn't.

ThereÂ’s another two big issues that he must deal with right away.  The first is that he looks old and that doesnÂ’t attract voters.  The second is that he looks frail.  Americans do not vote for old or frail people as president.  The job requires someone with exceptional health and vitality.   IÂ’m not bashing, just stating the obvious.
 
I assume that in the debate he meant that the Arab nations do not pose a danger to us.  The extremists are the danger.  ArenÂ’t the nations a danger if they harbor the extremists?  ArenÂ’t the nations a danger if they can be influenced or even overrun by these extremists?   IÂ’d like him to explain in more detail why we should bring our troops home immediately and why he thinks the “danger” has been a lie.

I have heard rumblings about the isolationist position.  Something like, if we didnÂ’t act like the world police we wouldnÂ’t get retaliation.  IÂ’m not positive, but I do believe that is his way of thinking.  My only reaction to this thinking is that IÂ’m not so sure weÂ’re acting as the world police.  Covertly it may all be about oil and how we want control of it.

If thatÂ’s the big secret, then we as Americans must come to terms with it.  We are aggressive, think only of ourselves and are the best businessmen on the planet and I believe that the world is figuring this out.

The USA just might be the ugliest SOBs, but there is going to be a world shortage of oil and soon.  Do we want to be on the short end of the stick?
 
Let's agree to at least think about it and have fun in Las Vegas!  http://lasvegastvl.blogspot.com/

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280

I'm not shocked.  Mitt's statement went across the internet like a wildfire that's for sure.  Why?  Romney, of course, was speaking in the context of tax policy, making the point that to raise taxes on corporations is to raise taxes on the owners -- people -- of that corporation.

But his statement unintentionally hit at another, underexamined fact of American life: Corporations are people. That's at least in the opinion of the Supreme Court when it comes to certain legal issues. This is the doctrine known as "corporate personhood" that came into play in the Citizens United case in 2010 that gutted some important corporate campaign finance restrictions.

Do you know his economic plan?  Check it out My personal opinion is that he is too vague.  I'm not really sure what he wants to accomplish

Caribbean Cruise? 

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