That’s right. There is another GOP primary debate tonight. This one is sponsored by CNN.
You might say that today was a really, really lousy day for Mitt Romney. First, he is dramatically slipping in the SC primary polls to Newt Gingrich. For the past week, Romney has led Gingrich in every SC primary poll. Just yesterday Romney was leading Gingrich 33% to 23% in a CNN/Time poll—the only poll for that race. Today there are five new polls in the race: A Marist poll for NBC has Romney leading 34% to 24%; a Politico poll has Romney up 37% to 30%; Rasmussen has Gingrich leading 33% to 31%; an Insider Advantage poll has Gingrich leading 32% to 29%, and a PPP poll has the Newtster leading the Mittster by a whopping 34% to 28%.
You might say the SC primary is very suddenly a toss-up. (I know the coverage of it has sometimes made me want to toss-up, but that’s different.)
Mitt also had a bad day because Rick Perry surrendered (“you won’t have Rick Perry to kick around anymore”) and Perry endorsed the Newster.
Finally…We learned today that Mitt really, probably, kind-a lost the Iowa caucus to Rick Santorum. The blow is only psychological, as there were no delegates directly at stake. Still….
What saved the day for Romney, however, is the ABC News with Marianne Gingrich (the second of Newt’s wife collection) in which she claims Newt asked her to make theirs an open marriage:
She said when Gingrich admitted to a six-year affair with a Congressional aide, he asked her if she would share him with the other woman, Callista, who is now married to Gingrich.
“And I just stared at him and he said, ‘Callista doesn’t care what I do,'” Marianne Gingrich told ABC News. “He wanted an open marriage and I refused.”
With that, we enter the last debate before a pivotal SC primary. Will Mitt finally debate like he is fighting for his life? Will Newt go for more kills against Mitt? Will Ron Paul get to say anything? Will Santorum go after Mitt, the rich boy with a sense of entitlement, or will he go after Newt the fornicator?
Folks…it’s Popcorn Time!
I’ll be providing comments as I can. However, my power is flickering and my UPS is dead. Oh, joy.
5:05: They already did the Pledge of Allegiance and they are now doing the National Anthem. I still don’t understand how these die-hard Republicans could debate without a reading of the Constitution first!
5:07: Santorum lands the first blow by thanking Iowans for a victory.
5:08: Ron Paul reads his curriculum vita for his self-introduction.
5:08: The debate opens with a question to Newt about his open marriage request. Newt attacks the media. “I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate with that!” “…as close to despicable as anything imaginable.” Trashes CNN directly. Finally…he answers: “it’s false.” And then blames the attack on Obama?!?
5:12: Is it an issue, Mr. Santorum? Santorum, “I’m a Christian, too.”
5:13: Mitt take a pass.
5:13: Paul, “I’m proud that my wife of 54 years is hear tonight.” That’s a polite attack.
5:16 Did Newt just claim that Dodd–Frank is killing jobs? That bill was signed into law in July of 2010. What the fuck does it have to do with our current unemployment?
5:18: In a supreme act of hypocrisy and projection Mitt accuses Obama of “crony capitalism.” Of course, most of the examples he gives were things Bush initiated.
5:19: Santorum, “I believe in capitalism, too.”
5:22: Santorum wants tax breaks for manufacturers. Hmmm…seems I read something about that recently.
5:26: Santorum approves of socialized programs for veterans.
5:27: Santorum said, “disgusting.”
5:28: Romney is completely outraged at Obama for wanting to cut Veteran benefits. Huh…is that what Obama said?!?
5:31: Some audience member from Tennessee asks whether these guys really believe they can “repeal” ObamaCare. Obviously the guy is a commie infiltrator.
5:33: Newt: “The American People are frightened of centralized, government run health care.” Somebody should tell the “historian” that Obamacare is not “centralized health care” or “government run health care.”
5:35: Santorum uses the question to simply smear Mitt. He’s smearing all over Mitt. Smear, smear, smear.
5:36: Things that Santorum shouldn’t say: “I’ve been fighting for health care, bottom up, the way America works best….” and “Romney care…is not bottom up.”
5:41: Santorum smears Newt over supporting an individual mandate. Smear, smear, smear.
5:49: Rick Santorum smears all over Newt’s head over being a loose cannon. Smears him some more over being a loose cannon, undisciplined.
5:54: Newt and Rick go back and forth. Mitt smiles. The exchange makes his day a little bit better.
5:55: Now Mitt joins in and gives Newt a few slaps. But mostly talks about himself.
5:59: Mitt just clarified that he will only release his tax returns for this year in April. If Mitt is the nominee, people should demand some prior years as well. He seems to have something to hide. When pressed, Mitt commits to “maybe” releasing prior years.
6:04: Mitt claims he earned every penny he has—without money from his parents. Hmmmm…
6:05: Santorum will repeal “every single one” of Obama’s regulations.
6:10: Ron Paul talks doomsday.
6:10: Rick Santorum wants a national “Right to Work” law. So much for States Rights and Smaller Government.
6:13: On SOPA…three of four candidates go so far to the right that they take the Leftist position in opposition. Santorum wants something like drone strikes on overseas intellectual property violators.
6:20: This debate has almost no “debate” to it. It has more fluff than the FAUX News debate.
6:25: Newt will take care of illegal immigration by “Making English the official language of the U.S.” I can see it now. Signs all over the Mexican border pointing out that English is the official language of the U.S. Of course, the law would require that they be written in the official language of the U.S. Rats! Foiled again!
6:27: Mitt: “Illegal immigration is easy to solve.” Just ask Bush.
6:28: Santorum is proud to be the son of an immigrant. Is Romney proud to be the son of an illegal Mexican immigrant?
6:34: Paul on illegal immigration. Babble, babble, babble, blah, blah, stuff, blah, babble.
6:35: Newt and Mitt in a cat fight over abortion.
6:36: I think I just saw Rick Santorum fellate a microphone while whispering sweet “yes, I’m pro-life” nothings into it.
6:43: The Paulistas briefly take over the debate when Ron Paul is completely ignored over a topic on which he has professional expertise.
6:45: Santorum smears Paul over abortion.
6:53: Newt calls Obama “the most dangerous president” EVAR! In the same breath he calls him incompetent. Apparently Obama wants to be the most dangerous president ever, but isn’t competent enough to actually be that bad boy.
6:59: Mercifully…it’s over.
Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich had pretty good debates. Mitt may have taken some hits. Santorum, in particular, managed to strike-out at all of his opponents, and was very clear in how he communicated. I think has been studying Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic debates.
Mitt did not put up much of a fight, but relied on his same tactic of using each answer to launch into a mini-stump speech. We’ll see whether that shit still flies on Saturday….
Ron Paul wants use to drink tainted water and breath bad air.
But, on the plus side he wants the government to enforce bankruptcy law.
O’ God, I’m going to puke if I listen to anymore of this. I’m out.
Mittster manages to accuse Obama of “crony capitalism” and blast him as an environmental radical in one sentence. Cool!
Santorum is gonna do the unemployed a favor by taking away their Medicaid and food stamps so they won’t be dependent on Big Brother!
Ricky just said our labor is “20 times more costly” than “the top 9 nations we compete with.” That means the $7.25 federal minimum wage should be cut to 36.25 cents an hour!
Newt is “appalled”? Sheesh, it wasn’t like he was being asked about a blue dress or a cigar or anything!
Ricky just called Newtsie and Mittsie “these two guys [who] were playing footsie with the left!” Ya gotta love Little Ricky (sometimes) …
Oh, and btw, health insurance has changed since 1991 … for one thing, it’s a hell of a lot more expensive …
Mittsy wants to end Medicaid.
How do you guys watch such nonsense?
Ron Paul: Everything was hunky-dory back in the sixties before Medicare and Medicaid!
@10 Pass me another joint … (heh heh, just kidding) …
proud leftist @ 10,
“How do you guys watch such nonsense?”
Goldy makes me.
What Obama Really Said
“As a nation, we’re facing some tough choices as we put our fiscal house in order, but I want to be clear,” Mr. Obama said. “As a nation, we cannot, we must not and we will not balance the budget on the backs of veterans.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08......html?_r=1
Roger Rabbit Commentary: It’s one thing to “debate” in front of a rabid and wildly cheering Republican crowd with your fellow candidates applauding your lies. It’ll be fun to watch the GOP nominee try this in a real debate with the president with the president there to call bullshit on these lies.
@13
Goldy makes me.
Uh… that’s why… we want to know how.
@15 Goldy told Darryl, “If you don’t live-blog that debate, I’m gonna turn all the fonts into italics!”
Roger Rabbit @ 16,
Alas…he is a merciful
DogGod.Savage has totally got in Santorum’s head.
Too funny.
Bill @ 15,
He threatens to sell me to Sound Politics.
Somebody needs to remind Mittens that China’s military spending is only one-tenth of ours.
Amazing. Willard is for national I’D cards.
Somebody tell Ricky that I wish someone would steal my social security number and work under my name — so I can get more benefits!!!
Ooooooo … Mittsy just called Newtsy a liar!
So … what happens if Mittster loses the South Carolina primary?
Ooooooo … Ricky just called Mittsy a “pretender”!
@24, same thing as in Iowa, the GOP declares it a draw.
Ron Paul apparently thinks states should decide whether to allow abortion. That’s nuts. There should be one standard for the whole country, otherwise you’ll have people crossing state lines to traffic in abortion.
Newt denies it, and, and, and … wait, when was he married to Barack Obama? Wtf does Obama have to do with what Newt’s ex-wife said about him?
http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=.....ngrich.cnn
If you can’t think of anything else to say … BLAME OBAMA!!!
Thank the Great Mother Rabbit Spirit it’s over!!!
Please,don,t dis the carnies with these lieing basters.
@27, Ron Paul confuses the constitution with the articles of confederation and the confederacy.
I watched this time…my head hurts.
The problem is 45-46% of the electorate is going to vote for one of these morons.
Now all that’s left to see is if the evangelicals in SC will vote for a couple of Catholics and a Yankee Mormon.
Or Herman Colbert…..
thank y’all for watching so I didn’t have to.
OT, but RR you might find this useful (or something): http://phrasegenerator.com/finance
I’m hearing a lot of pundits saying Romney is sounding Reaganesque. Should we thank them for pointing out early signs of Alzheimer’s in a candidate before it’s too late?
35
Go Herman Colbert!
Owebama wants to end nothing! Well I’ll tell you what, at 6.2 Trillion in deficit spending in 4 year, these socialist’s programs are going to end ubruptly from Bankruptcy court.
39
Children’s Hour is over now. Return to your crib.
@37
Those pundits are smoking crack. There’s nothing Reaganesque about Romney.
I caught a bit of Obama delivering a stump speech tonight. The Republicans are sunk.
@39
We’re not anywhere near bankruptcy court. Take your meds and calm down.
My Crib is well staffed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....AAAAAAAAAA
Here’s one to keep an eye on: Florida cops arrested several African-Americans — with guns drawn — and charged them with multiple felonies for allegedly violating election laws in relation to a local school election in 2010 in which a white candidate narrowly lost a runoff to an African-American candidate.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....ostpopular
Roger Rabbit Commentary: If the defendants did what they’re accused of, then election laws may have been violated, perhaps accidentally; but if these charges were ginned up against people who did nothing more than engage in lawful GOTV activities, then their lawyers should make the overzealous cops pay substantial damages for false arrest. Pointing a gun at someone who did nothing wrong should result in at least $100,000 of compensation for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Just curious — when was the last time a white person was arrested at gunpoint in Florida for winning an election?
CNN’s analysts:
Santorum had his best debate yet.
Romney was mediocre.
Gingrich hit a home run and has the momentum going into SC’s primary on Saturday.
http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=.....apoll.pool
CNN’s fact-checkers:
Santorum claimed Obama said he’s going to cut veteran’s benefits.
CNN Truth Squad: False. Obama’s 2012 budget request asked for a 10.6% increase in veterans spending.
Gingrich claimed Americans’ distrust of Washington and fear of centralized medicine would create pressure to repeal Obamacare.
CNN Truth Squad: Misleading. Although there is widespread mistrust of Washington, it’s not translating into support for repealing Obamacare.
Romney made certain claims regarding his abortion record as governor of Massachusetts.
CNN Truth Squad. True. Romney’s record supports what he said in the debate.
Ron Paul claimed 10 million WW2 veterans went back to work without any government programs.
CNN Truth Squad: Misleading. Paul failed to mention the high taxes and debt left by the war, and gave “short shrift” to government efforts to reintegrate veterans back into society.
(Such as the millions of WW2 veterans who went to college on the G.I. Bill — RR)
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012.....?hpt=hp_t1
Roer Rabbit Commentary: As usual, the GOP candidates spewed lies and half-truths. Of course, the biggest whopper of them all will be Gingrich’s denial of his ex-wife’s claims, in the event her accusations are proved to be true.
David Gergen, a veteran D.C. journalist and staffer for three Republican presidents, says moderator John King is “one of the fairest people” in the political news business and it was “fair” to ask Gingrich about his ex-wife’s accusations because the other candidates, voters, and Gingrich himself have been discussing it. In this video, King indicates Gingrich was grandstanding and feigned anger for its audience effect. But Gergen thinks Gingrich’s performance on the debate stage may win the South Carolina primary for him.
http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=.....lights.cnn
ABC News reports that following the debate Marianne Gingrich told ABC News that she “stands by her story.”
Gingrich 1998:
The speaker once again pledged to say during every public appearance that Americans have the right to know the truth about the Lewinsky matter
Gingrich 2012:
“I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that,”
# 48: Did Ron Paul really say that 10 million G.I.s returning home from WWII found jobs without any government assistance.
Bullshit. The Roosevelt administration began making preperation for the re-integration of American veterans into U.S. society as early as mid-1943. Of concern to them was that millions of returning G.I.s would be unable to find jobs, and combined with the loss of war-industry contracts the U.S. might enter into anothe Great Depression, version 2.0.
So with the assistance of Congressmen on both sides of the aisle, they enacted the G.I. bill. Among it’s provisions was to give preferential hiring in government jobs (such as the postal service). It also sought to stretch out the re-entry of G.I.s into the job market over a number of years, by paying tuition, books, and a small living expense to those seeking advanced trades training or even a college education.
In return for it’s investment, the U.S. benefited by not only avoiding another depression, but engaging in an unprecedented expansion of economic activity. Veterans who entered the job market with training in the trades or a college degree helped the U.S. build industries which dominated the world markets until the 1970’s, especially in aerospace.
Ron Paul’s seeing the world through ideological blinders.
As for Mitt Romney, he’s rapidly earning the sobroquet originally applied to Pres. George H.W. Bush: “He was born on third base, and thinks he hit a triple”.
He went to college on his father’s dime. The only job he ever held, outside of Boston Consulting Group and Baine Capital, was a short stint as a security guard while he was at Stanford so he could earn enough money to sneak home to visit his girlfriend and future wife.
He seemed to have top grades at ORU and at his year at Stanford. But that, by itself, doesn’t get you into Harvard Law or Harvard Business School. Influential contacts do. Romney probably benefited in the selection process by his father’s position in both government and as CEO of an automotive company. He wouldn’t know how much this helped, and he probably passes it off as the outcome of his good grades. But that’s because he’s never been on the other side of the coin – he’s never been among those who graduated at the top of their undergraduate class, only to find themselves rejected at the top graduate schools due to race, religion, or simply because their fathers weren’t rich or influential enough.
Of course, whether he “earned” the huge fortune he’s received for looting and breaking up companies is another matter.
But I’d give him a lot more credit if he simply admitted that he benefited from his parent’s position, and was humble enough to offer them a “thank you” and and credit for their hard work, from which he benefited.