Thoughts on (maybe) (possibly) (perhaps) the last GOP debate
I haven’t written recaps of each GOP presidential debate this cycle, but I do have a few thoughts about last night’s, which may have been the last one with these four candidates.
Rick Santorum had a tough night. He appeared aware that he would be attacked, but his answers didn’t always impress. While he deemed his support of the No Child Left Behind law as a mistake he made under pressure from his party because “politics is a team sport” — a sentiment seemingly at odds with his earlier one-word description for himself, “courage” — he gave a lengthy defense of congressional earmarks. There is a case to be made for earmarks: It holds that they allow Congress to preserve more power of the purse rather than yielding more decisions to the executive branch. Even Ron Paul makes this defense. But defending earmarks is a bad spot for anyone in the tea party era, and it’s especially bad for Santroum because it also serves as a reminder that he was in Congress at a time when Republicans were falling off the small-government wagon. That said, I don’t think it was so bad as to have a large effect on his chances in the Arizona or Michigan primaries next week.
Mitt Romney fared better, and it helped his appearance to the TV audience that so many people in the live audience were his supporters. But Santorum landed a good blow on him by observing that even Michael Dukakis had balanced the Massachusetts budget because the state’s constitution requires it. And his attack on Santorum for endorsing Arlen Specter over conservative stalwart Pat Toomey in a 2004 U.S. senate race (as did most of the rest of the GOP establishment at the time) had the unfortunate effect of ensuring Specter’s name was being invoked when Barack Obama’s name could have been. That’s a loss for Republicans.
What about Newt Gingrich? He was back on his game, coming off as knowledgeable, focused and ready to defend conservatism. And he did so without attacking the moderator or, for the most part, the media. But at this point, do debate performances continue to move the needle for Gingrich? Like his divorces and some of his missteps as Speaker, good performances in debates are baked into the cake for him. At this point, that cake is valued at third place by the GOP primary electorate. He wasn’t good enough Wednesday night to surpass expectations, so I have a hard time seeing how the debate spurs him very far upward.
Ron Paul was Ron Paul, maybe a little more appealingly so than at other times. But while his foreign policy stance might help push the party away from military adventurism, it’s not going to be adopted wholesale by Republicans anytime soon. And that pretty much counts him put as a potential nominee.
How did y’all see things? Those of you who watched, that is…
– By Kyle Wingfield
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481 comments Add your comment
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
February 24th, 2012
1:40 pm
“NO, YOU said when they can live on their own you consider them human. ”
I said when they could take a breath, you jerk. Your son obviously breathed eventually. Now stop being a a$$, got it?
UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
1:40 pm
Tiberius….Dude, you have a sad, sad life.
UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
1:43 pm
Tiberius….You FOOL, you cannot live without breathing on your own! OMG! Are you really this stupid? I am sure 40,000 aborted babies would eventually breathe on their own as well. If only…..
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 24th, 2012
2:10 pm
@UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
1:20 pm
Hypocritical…. did not use the word “racist” because it was easy. YES YOU DID.
I did it because it is “true”. SO PROVE IT, PROVIDE THE POST.
Since Obama was elected president the white robes and hoods have come out of the closet and car trunk. HOODS AND ROBES EH? WHERE?
It has been very easy to disrespect Obama when George W. Bush were president black people did not disrepect him. REALLY, I SEEM TO REMEMBER BUSH BEING CALLED A WAR MONGER, BABY KILLER AND NOW YOU GUYS CALL HIM THE WORST PRESIDENT IN HISTORY. THAT IS A JOKE.
We disagreed with him. AND STILL DO, AS WE DISAGREE WITH OBAMA.
But what you guys are doing is “very racist” and disrespectful. DISAGREEING WITH SOMEONE IS NOT RACIST. SORRY TO BUST YOUR BUBBLE.
But black people and Obama know how to deal with hate and racism. HOW IS THAT? BY FORMING BLACK ONLY GROUPS LIKE NAACP? WHO IS RACIST?
If we made it from Africa to the United States on crowded slaves ships and we made through slavery; what you guys are doing now ” IS A PIECE OF CAKE for us to deal with.” YOU ARE THE ONE SCREAMING RACISM YOU DEAL WITH IT!
You can’t ride our back unless it is bent. WOULDNT WANT TO! NO NEED!
We are unbowed and unbent. AND UNINTELLIGENT AND UNEDUCATED
******************************************************************************************************
Listen Buddy….I am not going to get into a peeing fight with a skunk.
But for the record
YOU SAY – But black people and Obama know how to deal with hate and racism. HOW IS THAT? BY FORMING BLACK ONLY GROUPS LIKE NAACP? WHO IS RACIST?
i SAY – YOU GUYS HAVE THE KKK, WHITE SUPREMISTS, THE TEA PARTY, SKIN HEADS, ETC.
WHO IS RACIST?
YOU SAY – YOU ARE THE ONE SCREAMING RACISM YOU DEAL WITH IT!
I SAY – IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS YOU ARE SMALL POTATOES.
YOU SAY – We are unbowed and unbent. AND UNINTELLIGENT AND UNEDUCATED
I SAY – IT TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE.
YOU AINT THE BOSS OF ME.
Your plantation mentality is GONE WITH THE WIND.
THE SOUTH WILL NEVER RISE AGAIN.
UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
2:17 pm
Hypocritical…..The south never fell son. Feel free to move, you are not wanted.
UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
2:18 pm
Did you really say “takes one to know one”? Isn’t that kind of like “I am rubber you are…”. Thank you for proving your mental aptitude.
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 24th, 2012
2:24 pm
@UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
2:17 pm
Hypocritical…..The south never fell son. Feel free to move, you are not wanted.
.UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
2:18 pm
Did you really say “takes one to know one”? Isn’t that kind of like “I am rubber you are…”. Thank you for proving your mental aptitude.
********************************************************************************
I have just as much right to be here as YOU.
WE are not going anywhere. YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN WANTED HERE, SON.
Thank you for PROVING your racist feelings.
The University of Georgia NEED TO SUE YOU for DUMMING DOWN THEIR SCHOOL’S NAME.
I heard you never attend UGA you just walked by their one day.
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 24th, 2012
2:26 pm
@UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
2:17 pm
Hypocritical…..The south never fell son. Feel free to move, you are not wanted.
.UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
2:18 pm
Did you really say “takes one to know one”? Isn’t that kind of like “I am rubber you are…”. Thank you for proving your mental aptitude.
*******************************************************
CORRECTION:
I heard you never attended UGA you just walked by their one day.
Can you get into college with a GED?
UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
2:26 pm
Hypocritical…You actually made me laugh outloud. Thank you.
You do realize that Obama is not black, right? Or does you mind not allow you to comprehend that?
UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
2:27 pm
Hypocritical….I will let this factual chart prove my case…
http://www.blackexcel.org/06-sat-act-scores-by-race-ethnicity.htm
You are hilarious!
UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
2:53 pm
Hypocritical….Also, were you aware that of ALL of the races. Blacks are the MOST likely to drop out of high school. Good work.
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 24th, 2012
3:04 pm
@UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
2:27 pm
Hypocritical….I will let this factual chart prove my case…
http://www.blackexcel.org/06-sat-act-scores-by-race-ethnicity.htm
You are hilarious!
****************************************************************************
Those are SAT and ACT Scores by Race/Ethnicity: 2003
You are funny.
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 24th, 2012
3:06 pm
@UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
2:26 pm
Hypocritical…You actually made me laugh outloud. Thank you.
You do realize that Obama is not black, right? Or does you mind not allow you to comprehend that?
*****************************************************************************************
Everyone knows that if a person has a DROP of black blood they are considered by white people as being BLACK.
UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
3:09 pm
Hypocritical….Your point? HA
UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
3:10 pm
Hypocritical…See that is what is funny. You guys do not know what is black, African American or whatever else you want to call yourselves. Sorry son, he is just as much white as he is black. However we do not claim his failure.
OBAMA – EXPERIMENT FAILED.
UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
3:13 pm
Hippocritical….Here are some 2010 stats….HAHA THEY ARE WORSE!!! HAHAHAH
http://professionals.collegeboard.com/data-reports-research/sat/cb-seniors-2010/tables
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 24th, 2012
3:25 pm
@UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
2:53 pm
Hypocritical….Also, were you aware that of ALL of the races. Blacks are the MOST likely to drop out of high school. Good work.
**********************************************************
YOU just proved my point.
Just because I said you probably DID NOT ATTEND UGA….you want to throw all blacks under the bus by saying “Blacks are the MOST likely to drop out of high school. Good work.”
I said you had a GED.
So ARE YOU BLACK?
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 24th, 2012
3:26 pm
@UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
3:13 pm
Hippocritical….Here are some 2010 stats….HAHA THEY ARE WORSE!!! HAHAHAH
http://professionals.collegeboard.com/data-reports-research/sat/cb-seniors-2010/tables
****************************************************************
BOY YOU NEED JESUS.
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 24th, 2012
3:29 pm
@UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
3:10 pm
Hypocritical…See that is what is funny. You guys do not know what is black, African American or whatever else you want to call yourselves. Sorry son, he is just as much white as he is black. However we do not claim his failure.
OBAMA – EXPERIMENT FAILED.
*******************************************************************************
WE DO NOT CLAIM YOUR MOTHER’S FAILURE.
UGA 1999 – EXPERIMENT FAILED.
UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
3:30 pm
Oh poor Hypocritical…. Can not handle facts. Facts are not racist.
UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
3:31 pm
HAHAHAH Hypocritical is now resorting to “your mama” comments! I WIN! HAHA
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 24th, 2012
3:34 pm
@UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
3:31 pm
HAHAHAH Hypocritical is now resorting to “your mama” comments!
I WIN…….. HAHA
***********************************************************
But your mama LOST.
heeheeheeheeheehee
UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
3:36 pm
Hypocritical….Really? Do you want me to post the statistics of families that do not have both parents in the house. Are you just mad because you never knew who your father is??? HAHAH SO EASY!
UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
3:37 pm
HA, this is PRICELESS!!
http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/acrossstates/Rankings.aspx?ind=107
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 24th, 2012
3:38 pm
@UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
3:36 pm
Hypocritical….Really? Do you want me to post the statistics of families that do not have both parents in the house. Are you just mad because you never knew who your father is??? HAHAH SO EASY!
**************************************************************************************
I may not have known my father but your father never knew you existed.
Darn those no good birth control pills.
UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
3:39 pm
HAHA I KNEW IT. That is ok, I would have fled too. Cant fix stupid!
UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
3:48 pm
Hypocritical….”DADDY WHERE ARE YOU? WHY DID YOU NOT LOVE ME?” HAHAHA so sad.
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 24th, 2012
4:28 pm
@UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
3:48 pm
Hypocritical….”DADDY WHERE ARE YOU? WHY DID YOU NOT LOVE ME?” HAHAHA so sad.
***********************************************************************
You sound like a LUNATIC.
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 24th, 2012
4:34 pm
@UGA 1999
February 24th, 2012
3:39 pm
HAHA I KNEW IT. That is ok, I would have fled too. Cant fix stupid!
********************************************************
Can UGA 1999 Be Saved?
“The breed is noted to have locomotion difficulties, breathing problems, an inability to mate or give birth without assistance. . . . Many would question whether the breed’s quality of life is so compromised that its breeding should be banned.”
Breeding should be banned?
No more little UGA 1999’s?
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
February 24th, 2012
6:35 pm
Suffice to say, UGA, that if I were associated with the University of Georgia, after reading your grossly stupid comments on this particular thread, I’d be endeavoring Kyle to disclose your identity so that we could take back whatever degree you happened to have mistakenly earned with us.
LynnOtting
February 25th, 2012
11:12 pm
Romney has no ideas that he truly believes, so he can’t argue a position; he must ridicule you. Santorum is just too much of a preacher to ever win the independent vote and he could not lead as the President. The Republican Party seems to vote based on the poll results that are meaningless. Let’s not vote for the candidate that has the only workable tax and energy plans. Let’s not vote for the candidate that can actually beat President O’bama. Let’s not vote for the candidate that has set and achieved goals for the advancement of conservatism. Newt has done more to advance the cause of conservatism than anyone in the presidential race. He not only ended 40 years of Democratic control in the House, he ended Democratic control of southern states like Georgia too. Republicans forget how much Newt has done for conservatism. Regardless of how he did it and whether he made a few mistakes along the way, he accomplished his goals. For example, he didn’t quit until Republicans controlled the house. It took him over 12 years to achieve this goal. (Funny, how people are so quick to conclude that Newt quit the speakership because he was scared he didn’t have the votes to win. How difficult is it to understand that he would rather step down than risk the Republicans losing control of the house.) Unfortunately, people just don’t get that the one and only reason Newt has ever done anything is not just for conservative values, but for American principles. Georgia should not allow states Newt hasn’t campaigned in to give this away so easily. It is too important, not to him, but to all Americans.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, talked about being a member of the “Coup Crew” that attempted to unseat then-Rep. Newt Gingrich as House Speaker in 1997. In case you missed it, Graham told Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren that, in retrospect, he and the plotters were too harsh on the man who led them out of the political wilderness in 1994: I can’t imagine his job. The first time Republicans had the congress in 40 years, trying to lead a revolution, taking people like me that came here to burn the place down and govern the country and deal with Bill Clinton — a good politician. Looking back, I appreciate how hard his job was better than I did in 1997. And I’m here to say, as the guy who was in the coup, that looking back we were too hard on him and if he got to be the nominee I think he could win.”