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The Yet Another Debate CoveritLive

By: Leon H. Wolf (Diary)  |  January 23rd, 2012 at 08:51 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

You’re not going to believe this, but there is YET ANOTHER debate tonight (this one on NBC moderated by the strangely crooked-faced Brian Williams). Click the window to join the chat or chime in in the comments.

COMMENTS

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  • popdaddy

    I know Rush has some poor soul listening and taping. It’s best to wait for Rush to let us know what could have possibily changed since Thursday or Saturday.

    This debate a week with the lame stream moderator needs to stop, Good Grief!

  • txpat

    Wake me up when it’s done.

  • txpat

    Mittens must have down 2 five hr energy drinks.

    • WillWong

      Need some help!

      • Common_Cents

        getting Newt and Mitt to pick on each other
        Terry Schaivo
        sugar beets
        space
        english as official language

  • txpat

    It is on regular NBC network.

    • GregInFla

      It was on NBC? Was it over at 9pm EST? I googled it and found nothing about NBC.

      • GregInFla

        Who’s still standing
        Fear Factor at 9pm
        Rock Center at 10pm

        Debate????

        • GregInFla

          With a pic of RP under the title? Then again, seeing Andrea Mitchell might make me think this is Fear Factor!

          • gracie

            Did they want us to miss it or is it because Romney briefly dropped out last week and they ancelled it?

  • texastaxpayer

    :)

  • txpat

    It is over, and the worse debate ever.

  • Common_Cents

    Debate was at FL university, liberal students and professors only allowed in the hall.

    • GregInFla

      earlier in day, so they were all quiet drunks in the audience.

    • clowngirl

      A liberal moderator is bad enough — but a liberal audience?

      Just got home, the debate doesn’t seem to be available online yet.

    • conservativeparrothead

      It was part of the rules announced at the beginning of the debate.

      Romney hitting all the anti-Newt talking points:
      Freddie Mac, Failed Leadership, blah blah blah….

      I see Fred Thompson endorsed Newt tonight.

    • Common_Cents

      They are launching a war against Gingrich and Republicans to make the debates seem somber and uninspiring.

      The Drudge has a headline/story “No Ovations” that focused on Gingrich not getting one. WTF? He’s the only guy in history? that got standing ovations now they are ripping him for not getting one when there is a no clap rule? Pathetic!

      Gingrich blasted them this morning and will not allow a no clap rule again.

      “At the start of Monday night’s debate, Williams said, “We’ve asked our invited guests here this evening to withhold their applause, any verbal reactions to what they hear on stage, so as to ensure this is about the four candidates here tonight and what they have to say.”

      Never again, Gingrich told Fox & Friends the morning after:

      “I wish in retrospect I’d protested when Brian Williams took them (the live audience) out of it, because I think it’s wrong. And I think he took them out of it because the media is terrified that the audience is going to side with the candidates against the media, which is what they’ve done in every debate.”

      “And we’re going to serve notice on future debates, we won’t (mumble), we’re just not going to allow that to happen. That’s wrong. The media doesn’t control free speech. People ought to be allowed to applaud if they want to. It was almost silly.”

      • Melody Warbington (rwm52)

        audience to begin with? Had I been in the audience, I would have ignored Brian’s invitation to withhold applause. I’m betting most conservatives would have done the same. We don’t particularly like being told what to do, especially by the media.

        • lapert

          Frankly, I think it is a good things to have the live audience more silent than in other debates. The booing and clapping detracts from substance and makes it more like a daytime talk show than a debate of presidential candidates.

          In my opinion the debates with all the ruckus are making this field look less serious than they should ahead of the election. Now last nights debate was boring, but that is because of the questions, not the lack of spectator participation.

          • znjs

            This isn’t a reality show or a sporting event – this is for the office of the President of the United States. You’re not trying to hit applause lines (or shouldn’t be)- you’re trying to discuss serious issues affecting millions of people, sometimes life or death issues if they’re hitting military policy.

          • aesthete

            Though the clapping and theatrics do lend credence to HL Mencken’s statement that politics is little different from a PT Barnum show.

      • cheetah2

        Newt gets historic standing ovations at debates, so the possibility of standing ovations will now be eliminated.

  • gracie

    Seriously…..I did.
    In the first part, Romney was much tougher, seemed kind of mean…did it work?

    • texastaxpayer

      Congrats, I on the otherhand will never get that two hours of my life back.

      • gracie

        I like the old Newt…this one seemed phony. He made Romney look strong. Shudder.

        And anyway, I think people are responding to Newt like they do to Christie…the tell it like it is, take no prisoners guy. Only Christie is NOT a consevative!!

        As Rush says, Newt articulates conservatism…and I say,please God let him be one! govern like one…

    • gipper823

      Romney really hammered Gingrich on his Freddie Mac tenure, and it clearly bothered him. But Gingrich pivoted back to a strong second half.

      I thought it was a good debate. Brian Williams asked pretty broad questions for the most part and just let the candidates talk.

      • heimdall

        But Newt didn’t seem to want to or able to attack back and was clearly flustered, either from Mitt’s crazy throw everything at the wall and hope something sticks attack, that he didn’t want to seem like the “Angry Newt” now that he has won South Carolina.

        It was surreal and scary watching Mitt get this animated, I half expected him to throw a chair and then punch Newt in the face. That must have been some programming they uploaded into his database!

        Worst of all, I really hated not getting audience participation in this, there were several moments where the candidates had some really good things to say, even Mitt when he rebooted into normal Mitt 2.0. His comment on the Taliban was great.

        Overall, I think this doesn’t change anything in Florida right now, Newt has a lot of momentum.

        • krish

          Whoever is advising Romney got it wrong! People love Newt because he goes after the liberal media & other establishment types….he lost momentum when he attacked Romney personally! He is paying millions for this kind of advice!
          Romney tried to act tough & it failed completely! He raised questions about Newt lobbying based on what the heard from somebody about Newt …this was as bad as some of Cain’s accusers! He is getting desparate & he looked worse than Santorum today!

          It must have been tough for Newt Not to launch in to Romney – that is what Romney camp expected – for NEwt to implode! But Newt cooly swatted him saying that this what Romney did in 2008 & it will not work this time!

          I watched about an hour (second half) & it was same old questions from liberal media. Rick Santorum attacked both Romney & Newt on individual mandates & Romney tried to defend again but it sounded hollow again! Newt simply ignored Santorum- I kind of liked that. because answering it immediately made Romney look so defensive! Good Newt was on display showing restraint – a more subdued Newt! Now we know the Republican elite plan will be irritate Newt so that he will lose cool!

          • http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

            It is sad that there was absolutely no discussion of issues during the first 45-minutes of the debate.

          • buddyp

            Brian Williams seemed, at least in the first large portion of the debate, all about the horse race and the infighting about personal records, and I was thinking, “How ’bout getting to issues facing the country, Brian?”

          • heimdall

            I think this was why he was so shrill last night, he wanted to get in as many punches as he could before this came out. Newt can now just look at him and call him a liar and a hypocrite.

            http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700218306/Romney-invested-in-Fannie-Freddie-report-discloses.html

          • Ann_W

            The trustee chooses and manages the investments, not Romney.

          • http://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com nathanalbright

            …apparently he wanted to act “presidential” so people realized he could be a pugalist (which many of us want) and could also rise above unworthy attacks.

          • circlegranch

            When asked if he agreed w/ attacks** on Romney regarding capitalism, the Teacher’s Pet quickly distanced himself from the dust up of a couple of weeks ago regarding questions on some of Bain’s practices, but then walked back toward it by hinting there may have been some destructive capitalism.

            **The so-called attacks were legitimate questions about Romney’s hands-on jobs creation. The Right media ran to his defense claiming any discussion about any form of capitalism is simply communist-inspired.

            There is still alot of frustration on Main Street toward Wall Street. Bail-out’s of big banks and big organizations that funnel the lion’s share of money into political campaigns are not popular. Asking questions and requesting transparency remains, however, completely inappropriate. The frustration grows.

      • http://travismonitor.blogspot.com Freedoms Truth

        Even though Gingrich is calling Romney a liar because “I’m not a lobbyist” and he wasnt, here’s what Gingrich did:
        - he got paid by a medical association to ‘advise’
        - and he visited with congressional members
        - and those members are on the record on it

        It sure walks like a duck.

    • Melody Warbington (rwm52)

      then fast forwarded through most of Brian Williams’ questions that were designed to pit candidate against candidate, thus keeping the focus off of Obama.

      • Melody Warbington (rwm52)

        to intervene and warn Brian they were going to ban him for interfering in intraparty affairs! A conservative can dream, can’t she?

        • gracie

          A good one! What would that look like to you?

          I am dreaming that Newt is a true conservative in his heart and will govern like one.

          • gracie

            OK, OK I know he is not a true conservative. I am dreaming the best Newt will get elected and that guy will govern.

            I’d rather take a chance on him than Romney. A brokered convention sounds like PANDEMONIUM!.

          • Melody Warbington (rwm52)

            However, I’ve become more pragmatic as I get older, especially in this primary season, which is why I support Newt. I think we need a fighter as well as someone who can articulate conservatism. Paul’s not an option. Santorum is a big spender. Romney isn’t conservative. Even with the enormous baggage and big head, Newt has a proven record, he’s connecting with the outrage voters are feeling, and he’s bucking the establishment.

            But I haven’t totally given up on dreams. I dream that America will be restored to her greatness. That her people will turn back to God. And that my son and any grandchildren I may have will live in an America where freedom is appreciated and protected.

          • gracie

            Beautifully stated.

          • cheetah2

            It is all any of us are really looking for.

          • lineholder

            I want my children and grandchildren to have an opportunity to know what freedom is, and to live in a nation where the freedoms and liberties visualized by our founding fathers and set forth in our Constitution will be respected, valued, protected and preserved.

            I think females probably relate more to this type of concern than males do, and that isn’t intended to be anything derogatory against males. Females are simple more inclined to be maternal. That’s how God made us to be. There are all sorts of emotions that go along with it, and in this particular election at least it seems to be a matter channeling those emotions in a way that is positive, strong, confident, and focusing on what is right, not only for ourselves but for those coming up behind us as well.

            I do see us as needing someone who can be a fighter and stand in the face of the harshest of criticism and judgment, because there’s little doubt in my mind that the left will land metaphorical body blow after body blow against them. And I have come to the point of believing that Newt is capable of doing just that.

            He isn’t perfect or ideal by any stretch of the imagination, but he does embody the kind of fighting spirit that we as Americans need right now.

            In all of this, though, I know that God has a plan in mind, and what comes to pass will ultimately fit into that plan. I take comfort in that, and it provides me with a bit of peace in these days of turmoil.

  • In The Hook

    Think the crowd is going to be raucous? Think the format is going to allow our standard bearer to just tear into Obama and the “media elite” every five seconds? Nope. This is what a presidential debate usually is.

    Still liking what you get from Newt when he has to play by these rules? Because I assure you the MSM is not going to let Obama be put in a vulnerable situation.

    • JSobieski

      In other words, he is purposely acting more like Romney and Romney was purposely acting more like Newt.

      Some might call it sitting on a lead. Newt doesn’t need to make a bunch of zingers if he has a lead in the polls.

      You are focusing on the shallow aspects of Newt’s debate skills. You are correct that a SC crowd is not going to happen in a general election debate.

      However, what you discount is the ability of Newt to compare/contrast Obama responses with his own position in a clear manner in 60 seconds or less. Those debates won’t result in hooping or hollering, but independents will actually prefer the Newt of a general election debate over what we saw in SC.

      Newt actually has political skills. Even people who dislike him (like Armey or Coburn) will be the first to tell you that he has skills.

      • Common_Cents

        The guy knows when to go for the throat and when to back off.

      • http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

        …particularly when Williams gave him only 30-seconds to reply to a litany of attacks. The Newt said something like “Wait a minute” and then classified this entire effort as comparable to Mitt’s prior pungent behavior.

        Curiously, Politico.com suggests that The Newt committed an unforced-error when he said he invoked a lobbyist/consultant to ensure he wasn’t lobbying/consulting; perhaps I’m missing something, but that’s OK with me, for he seemed to be ensuring he was acting properly in not having registered as a lobbyist…as per a consultant’s input.

        For the first time, probably @ the bidding of the GOP-Establishment, the plan was indeed manifest to invoke the nuclear-option [see prior RS-title] to kill-off the threat to its power [noting that the Perry-component had been absorbed by The Newt].

        Ironically, the absence of substance during much of the predictable portion of the questioning served to hurt those who would want to learn the most about the candidates’ stances on the issues…although perhaps Mitt preferred to become aligned with the MSM/LSM/ELM in an effort to stop The Newt.

        This must be viewed as a sad development, surely to become probed by Rush and others who would want conservatism to survive this grueling experience. It may be anticipated that the event on Thursday will be raucous, if for no other reason that The Newt will want to land a few zingers upon Mitt…based on what he has learned from the [Iowa] electorate.

    • maybenexttime

      Gingrich did seem a bit thrown off his game since he thrives on applause lines. That could be a real factor in the presidential debates since those crowds are carefully selected and controlled.

      Beyond that, I think Romney landed some punches on the Freddie Mac issue tonight. Newt seemed a little dazed at one point during that exchange. If Romney’s attack ad blitz is effective (just like it was in Iowa) Gingrich might be lucky to walk out of Florida with a three-point victory.

      Romney didn’t win this debate, IMO…but he definitely put Gingrich’s momentum on ice for the moment. Tuesday will be interesting. The tax returns get released and Mitt could be playing defense for awhile. I really don’t see the dynamics of this race changing much, until at least the next debate on Thursday.

      • conservativeparrothead

        Makes for a real lack of energy, it reminds me when you see a debate for a congressional or senatorial primary and its held in some Television studio, very dull and boring.

  • Stan(ley) Pruss

    Flipping channels during commercials I say Fred Thompson endorse Newt on Hannity.

  • GregInFla

    Or maybe just the belly… Sorry, could not resist. As a Fredhead, I’d like to see Fred chastise the two “GOP” Senators from Tennessee for not living up to conservative principles, and threaten to primary Corker and Alexander if they don’t shape up.

  • septembergurl

    1. Santorum

    2. romney

    3. Oh my God please

    4. Oh please no more

    etc

  • carolina

    Greenspans’s wife (forget her name) blerted this out – and the other guys immediately shut her up.
    Very interesting. NBC is embedded with the elite of this country. That is why I watch their news……. because they have the inside info and elite positions. I always listen for it……..

    • hal2715

      Again: That is wishful thinking. Ballot deadlines have passed.

      • trickamsterdam

        If he can’t beat Newt, the Establishment is going to conclude Romney can’t be Obama. They’ll force someone to go in and someone will. All you need for a brokered convention is that no one gets 50% of the delegates.

        What a lot of people don’t know is the later states are winner take all, the early ones proportionate. So not being on the ballot of some doesn’t kill you as much. All you need to do is deny Romney the delegates, not get to 50% yourself.

        I like Newt, but he does have heavy negatives. But a vote for Newt is also a vote against Romney. It denies him those delegates. I want someone else. And the chance that there may be someone else is far beyond just the realm of wishful thinking anymore.

        There are too many serious people talking about it.

        • http://travismonitor.blogspot.com Freedoms Truth

          ONE of them will get 50%.

          This is why you want santorum in there if you want a brokered convention. Need a 3rd wheel to break up the delegate count.

          Heck, you could place bets on Rand Paul being the nominee … 1 in a million shot, but …. he would actually be an acceptable compromise.

        • gracie

          that lall the later ones are winner take all.

          http://www.npr.org/2011/12/29/144456395/primary-calendar-republican-delegates-and-whats-at-stake-in-each-state

          I was at a social event with my Tea Party buds, who have not met for eight months! this weekend and the most Republican of the bunch is telling me that Texas, 155!, is a proportional primary! She said several states changed their rules this year (God only knows why!)

          I thought it was just proportional for the ones who jumped the schedule. Furthermore, on this schedule I found some are yet different…that is by districts too.

          BTW, ALL my Tea Party buds, even the Ron Paul leaners were for Newt! and majority are fundamentalist Christians. Interesting, huh?

          Holy moly, how are we ever going to tell who’s going to win??

          • onemovoter

            That they bumped their primary up before April 1. They were going to have it on April 3rd which is still up in the air. The USSC though put the mat down on the courts in Texas so it still might be with the super tuesday vote.

            They do say that FL though is a winner take all which doesn’t make sense since I thought the rules were all primaries before Apr. 1 were proportional. So if Newt wins FL that would be big for him.

            My beef before Perry dropped out was that Newt kept repeating all the ideas and things that Perry has been saying for more than a decade. It was like hearing Perry coming out of Newt’s lips. It’s the only reason why I’m not totally bummed on Newt but it’s still depressing some. Just hope he wins with a senate majority.

          • gracie

            Did you look at the link I brought?

            I gazed down the list and it looked like many on the list further down had proportional and/or some combination. The friend who told me this is running for Rep County chairman. This falls under I wanna be wrong though.

            I have forgotten if I have read if you are from Texas…but yes we are eagerly waiting to see what the districts will be as well as when we can vote.

            I have been despondent about Perry. Difficult to go on. It’s just so important.

            Agree Newt is using a lot of his ideas; perhaps familiar from when he wrote the intro to Fed Up! It does help me that Newt often gave Perry looks of respect in debates and has picked him to head the 10th Amend study. And with Perry endorsing him; this says to me there is mutual respect there and perhaps he might get a cabinet postiion.

            Well, my feeling is that Newt would have much longer coattails than Romney. There are ppl know plus have read of many ppl who say they would stay home for Romney. So have hope! the base would probably come out more for Newt thus increasing our chances in the Senate!

          • cheetah2

            “My beef before Perry dropped out was that Newt kept repeating all the ideas and things that Perry has been saying for more than a decade. It was like hearing Perry coming out of Newt?s lips. It?s the only reason why I?m not totally bummed on Newt but it?s still depressing some. Just hope he wins with a senate majority.”

            If Gingrich can win by articulating Perry’s plans better than Perry did and is faithful to carry them out once elected, we will be good to go!

            It is painful to see it though.

    • beric

      Was interesting to ponder the possibilities.

    • Common_Cents

      before he beats obama.

      • lizzie

        yes, Gingrich will shred Obama on job-killing details of Dodd-Frank and EPA, and somehow reveal Obama’s bff is Turkey’s PM Erdogan.

        Newt is the Churchill who will have Obama’s Neville Chamberlain begging Newt to take the job. I am not kidding.

        Obama only likes the adulation.

        Just hope Newt closed that account at Tiffany’s.

        • maybenexttime

          The GOP establishment seems pretty determined to stop Newt before he gets close to the nomination. Gingrich is making this interesting, but I can’t see the establishment letting him represent the party against Obama this fall.

          • cheetah2

            I sure hope not.

  • guest1776

    Kind of funny that Romney looks like Ken doll and Newt has Barbie doll looking wife. Willard tonight came off as angry ex-boyfriend whose girlfriend dumped him for the popular guy. LOLz!

  • mikelindell2

    I’m on PST so im watching debate now. It seems like Newt is clearly winning and showing another dimension of being calm, articulate and strong. Anyone else agree?

    • txpat

      That Newt didn’t lose this.
      I think Mittens did leave a small knick on Newt over Fannie/ Freddie.
      Romney looked nervous, jumpy, scared, desperate.
      I think he threw so much c—p at Newt he loses the folks with the endless eruption of overly practices stats he throws out.
      Santorum didn’t do a whole lot to help himself in Florida
      Dr. Paul. Didn’t go completely off the reservation.
      Order of who won
      1. Newt
      2. Romney, but toss up with Santorum
      3. Paul

      • APA Guy

        I was sitting in a room with my in-laws, most of whom vote but do not follow politics like I do. They ALL said Romney looked like desperate and willing to say anything to get voters to like him…and these people usually can’t agree on whether we serve light or dark turkey on Thanksgiving.

        I think Newt has taken this race into a new dimension…leaving behind the air of inevitability that Romney would win this thing going away. Romney clearly wasn’t prepared for such a possibility…and it shows. I’d expect to see that reality reflected in his impending loss in FL a week from today (even left-wing polling predictor Nate Silver says Newt has a 66% chance of taking FL as of today).

        • nocontest

          he knew the tax returns showing the Caymans and a Swiss bank account were
          going to lose him Florida

  • lizzie

    because, believe it or not, the Sugar Lobby is more powerful than the Corn Lobby, and Brian Williams did Newt a big favor by framing the question by noting that Romney gets campaign $$$$ from the Sugar Lobby, which makes the National Rifle Association look soft.

    Although I am a native-born Floridian, I am not sure how that will play into the Florida GOP primary, but it is another big dart into painting Romney as the tool of both Wall Street and K Street.

    The protectionism of the cane sugar part of the Sugar Lobby is a huge issue for USA food manufacturers because it really does drive up prices (I did work for two cookie companies).

    This debate really showed the dilemma of having Romney as next-in-line, and Gingrich becoming the NOTRomney. Reminder: I have zero problems with Gingrich, so this is the GOP agony. I wonder about his health records – that issue REALLY hurt McCain more than y’all realize.

    The woman married to Alan Greenspan (famous Libertarian) is Andrea Mitchell, and, believe it or not, she was once a terrific foreign correspondent – when I am desperate for background noise, she is the only MSNBC news slot I will allow.

    Romney lost on many points, and I think it was Andrea who noted that Romney has personal investments in FANNIE and FREDDIE. oops?

    Newt does Presidential Temperament far better than Romney does Attack Dog. The revenge of Seamus.

    Santorum was terrific. Even with his fearmongering, he IS correct about Iran and Cuba, but still has no chance – certainly not in the general election.
    No way will any Congress ever vote to allow people to deduct even a one-time capital loss on home sale. Not when the loss is easily more than $50,000 – the dilemma of letting the Free Market deal with what the confluence of CRRA, GSE’s, and the financial engineers’ CDOs did to housing.

    I bet two cents (all I have) that Romney is terrified of releasing his earlier tax returns because he probably invested with some Hedge Fund who gambled with CDOs in 2008, even more likely before.

    I can not believe I passed on a new episode of Hawaii Five-O.
    Primary Source of American Political History, and far more interesting than Tuesday’s SOTU. I can not bear to watch it even though I know it is going to have something serious about housing.

    btw, one reason why Gingrich is so skillful in any form of debate is that he had years of practice once C-Span started live broadcast of the House. Plus, he has probably watched UK’s Prime Minister question time on C-Span – next best thing to a a year at Oxford (which Bill Clinton had).

    I really miss Rick Perry.

    oh, memo to Mr. Romney: PUBLIC education was started in Massachusetts by Horace Mann.
    It has always been #1 in the USA – currently the only state that competes internationally – he gets no credit for that..
    And they still do it at half the cost per pupil as New York.

    People really do not understand Massachusetts – it is Blue because of so many colleges (and now LGBT), but you would not believe how many towns and villages still use the unpaid, elected Select-people to run the towns and villages. It is not so different from the original concept of the Founders. Thrifty Yankees. High literacy.

    • txpat

      I thought why Mittens doesn’t release earlier tax returns would be because he may have donated to plan parent hood.
      No this not a fact, merely speculation.

      • txpat

        That Newt didn’t support it as a whole.
        He only supported the part that he said was no different than if you lived in another country but wanted to sign up to be in the US military and fight for our country and signed up to apply for citizenship.
        He also stipulated that you had been brought here as a child and no fault of your own.

      • gracie

        and/or Clear Channel. He has been trying so hard to distance himself from Bain…now that we know he is still a major holder and that Bain bought CC in ’08…well it set him up nicely to control, OK affect, the media in a big way.

        Now, PP, that would be big. His return is 2500 pages long! There is something in there he does not want seen!

    • http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

      …and found insights regarding Sugar Lobby fascinating…and worthy of further analysis.

    • Spartan4Life

      Okay, so let me get this straight. Even though Romney gets bucks from the Sugar Industry he is going to end their subsidies? That’s what I thought I heard him say. Just doesn’t have the ring of truth.

      I think he just says stuff that he thinks people want to hear.

      • http://travismonitor.blogspot.com Freedoms Truth

        and Newt explained why:
        The special interests will get their way. They are powerful.

        They will get it in the spending bills and Romney/Newt will sign it.

        “I think he just says stuff that he thinks people want to hear.”

        Romney does that, but Newt does too, and Newt is better at it. Newt is pivoting to praise Ron Paul because he knows Ron Paul is not running in Florida and he wants to pick up his supporters’ votes.

        • Common_Cents

          and throw RP supporters a bone w/ auditing the fed and a couple other limited govt items.

          It was interesting that Paul actually gave a little praise to Gingrich saying they were agreeing some some stuff, except for foreign policy. Let’s face it, we need a big tent and getting some rabid RP supporters under the tent isn’t a bad thing. I don’t care about voter purity, neither should the GOP.

    • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

      http://www.redstate.com/gamecock/2012/01/24/newt-speechless-on-bain-paid-hush-money-by-freddie-but-squeals-for-bush-rx-bill/

  • ethos

    Romney is running against Newt, the field has finally clarified itself. Turning his attention away from the distant Obama to the clear and present Newt will test Romney’s mettle. Newt experiencing Romney’s high octane political machine will serve the same function for Newt.

    Romney won tonight’s debate, which should scare the he’ll out of Newt. The attention is off of Romney’s negatives and squarely on Newt’s. I do not expect this to last long however, so Romney still has a lot of work to do.

    • http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

      …regarding the candidates, for much was lost in the exchange.

      As noted above, the GOP was the loser, for this debate-format legitimized extended discussion of non-issues.

      • ethos

        I am more referring to narrative dynamics. A quick look at Drudge or the front pages of major information hubs shows that Mitt has steered the conversation away from territory that absolutely crushed him and has people exploring the attack lines he’s opened against Newt.

  • http://travismonitor.blogspot.com Freedoms Truth

    And Romney’s unnecessary ‘me too’?

    So we suffered months of a search for a ‘not-Romney’ only to get a Dream Act supporter?
    And we dumped Perry over “instate tuition” Egads.

    • mikelindell2

      Newt said the only part of it he supported was the military service aspect of it. The law currently is that people from foreign nations who serve can become citizens after having served honorably. I dont support dream act but can support people who risk death to fight for us becoming citizens

      • http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

        Nevertheless, the irony of what initiated Perry’s downslide should not be lost.

      • bonnman

        Not citizenship but legality. I’m not sure what exactly is meant by that, I assume he means permanent residence status but doesn’t come out and state that.

        • http://travismonitor.blogspot.com Freedoms Truth

          These guys tapdance around it but it adds up to open-ended amnesty in some form or another.

          There is no other way. Either you decide to send them home or let them stay.

          Romney is actually better on this, and daring to say self-deportation is braver than usual for him.

          • bonnman

            Romney’s self-deportation strategy sounds like it’d be depended on stricter policy and enforcement akin to Arizona SB 1070 but on the national level which would be a step in the right direction.

  • krish

    Santorum looks like a loser already – no energy! He tells the same things from his talking points – all about abortion! It is getting tired for us & he looks really tired. Even Ron Paul looked fresh & had some new things while it is the same issues delivered with the same words & same fashion….

    It is time for him to follow the footsteps of the other Rick (Perry) and endorse the other conservative in the race! If Newt wins the presidential election – How about Ambassdor to Vatican !

    • http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

      …it won’t happen until his big-donor decides enough-is-enough.

      This compares with Sheldon Adelson giving The Newt another $5M.

  • krish

    Santorum looks like a loser already – no energy! He tells the same things again! It is getting tired for us & he looks really tired. Even old man Ron Paul looks fresh compared to Rick! He says the same things using the same words & in the same fashion….enough already!

    It is time for him to follow the footsteps of the other Rick (Perry) and endorse the other conservative in the race! If Newt wins the presidential election – may be, Ambassdor to Vatican !

    • texastaxpayer

      He is only keeping Romney afloat at this point. No money, experience and support equals no chance. It’s time to ditch Rick.

    • mikelindell2

      Yes he could still spoil this thing for Newt. Rick offers nothing new to any conversation. His nasty and abrasive tone grows more grating every debate. EE call for Santorum’s withdrawal.

      • gracie

        for Santorum?? and with that depressing thought, nite, nite.

  • buddyp

    … a mediocre sitcom without a laugh track.

    (Viewers aren’t “guided” on what is good content, so are left thinking it ain’t so good.)

    • maybenexttime

      CNN is hosting the next debate on Thursday. They usually let the audience get in on picking a winner, so Gingrich might have a more inspired performance.

      You could tell Gingrich was out of his element without the “sound track” of an approving crowd. It truly was bizarre. The only analogy I can come up with is this: It’s like performing in a comedy club that doesn’t permit its patrons to laugh at jokes. The comedian might be killing with his material, but since the crowd can’t laugh, he begins to think he’s bombing on stage. That affects his self-confidence and his performance suffers as the night goes on.

      • buddyp

        I?m not saying the absence of that ?laugh track? makes Gingrich seem worse than he really is; I?m saying the presence of a ?laugh track? makes him seem better than he really is.

        [meant to put this as a reply in the first place, but accidentally put separate comment below]

    • Common_Cents

      You know, so people can focus on the divine message of class warfare.

      • znjs

        I’ve never been able to watch much of the SOTU because I can only handle so much grandstanding (and that’s been true no matter which party held the WH). I hate the waiting for applause, I hate the people standing and applauding, and I hate the people purposely sitting down while other people applaud; I can’t stand any of it. We get it. We know what party you’re in. You like this, you don’t like that. Swell. Now can you shut up and let me hear the speech?

        • buddyp

          I, too, would prefer no applause until the end for SOTU.

          I find it annoying in particular how all presidents use the weaselly tactic of wrapping their policy rhetoric in the flag somehow such that the opposition feels obligated to applaud for the cameras.

  • buddyp

    I’m not saying the absence of that “laugh track” makes Gingrich seem worse than he really is; I’m saying the presence of a “laugh track” makes him seem better than he really is.

  • jaykali

    It’s frustrating that he can talk his way out of any tough question bc he sounds so certain in his answer but his Freddie Mac explanation is complete BS.

    Just remember when you all think of Gingrich as the ‘conservative’ alternative that he has committed such items of sacrilege:

    1. Paul Ryan’s budget = right wing social engineering
    2. Bain capital = vulture capitalism
    3. Lobbying for Freddie Mac during the years that led to the housing crisis
    4. Joining Nancy Pelosi in fight against global warming

    • JSobieski

      (1) walked it back within 24 hours and it was a criticism of TACTICS, not substance
      (2) never used the phrase “vulture capitalism” was something that Perry said, not Newt.
      (3) What he actually did/said re: FM is an open question. There is no evidence of lobbying. Ask a former Oklahoma quarterback and Congressman for confirmation.
      (4) fluff commercial

      There are a lot of things to criticize Newt about, but with the possible exception of (3), these are media oriented fluff.

      • jaykali

        How’s that koolade tasting? You cant spin RIGHT WING SOCIAL ENGINEERING. Once you’re in the tank you’re in the tank. I just want people to admit that he’s got some serious problems.

        • Ann_W

          I hope people admit that, too. People are just so desparate for a fighter.

          • jaykali

            People don’t want to admit their candidate has problems. Look he has some good things ab him too. I just don’t trust him to to become unhinged and make mistakes. I think Romneys calmer disposition is a better long term strategy in my opinion.

          • JSobieski

            It wasn’t a substantive disagreement, it was a tactical disagreement.

            He did walk it balk almost instantly.

            He has advocated for market based entitlement reform when Paul Ryan was still a college student.

            I am not blind to Newts flaws. I had no intention of supporting Newt for President, but given the available options—I do go with one guy who is actually policy based. Newt is risky as hell, but with Romney as President, I don’t see any entitlement reform, which means no real progress on the debt.

            I would much prefer Perry, Daniels, or Paul Ryan, but if forced to choose between Newt and Romney—I choose Romney.

            From an actual policy implementation perspective, nothing Newt has done compares to Romneycare.

            To give more weight to a tactical assessment that was quickly walked back than to an actual policy that was implemented for which Romney has expressed no regret—-is a lack of proportionality in the extreme.

          • jaykali

            Which is a flowery way to describe it, I call it a really stupid misjudgment by Gingrich. How exactly was the Ryan plan right wing social engineering? And how exactly is it comparable to Obamacare that was run down peoples throats? Ryan went around selling it in person, it was a thoughtful plan – he was dumbfounded by Gingrich’s comments. Gingrich runs his mouth bc he doesn’t always think ab what he’s going to say, he thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room and it gets him in trouble. Do I think he is the more conservative candidate? Ya I suppose but he is not a predictable orthodox conservative bc he wants to think outside the box and that will rub people the wrong way. Plus his behavior is so erratic I think he would have an erratic presidency when it comes to gaining consensus and moving his agenda through congress. I think he is more a divider than a uniter. This is not the 90s and the political climate is even worse. I see him as an easy foil for democrats to rail against, I dont see him getting any legislation through without 60 votes.

  • goodgovernance

    is the kicker of the debate for me. Why would we want a guy who’s done absolutely nothing for the cause carry our banner for us?

    • maybenexttime

      Romney made Ted Kennedy take out a mortgage on his house. I bet the stress of filling out that mortgage paperwork is what caused Senator Kennedy’s brain tumor. Romney should take credit for the kill.