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
@@
February 23rd, 2012
8:56 pm
They are a bunch of Angry White Men who are Se*ually frustrated because they can’t get NO LOVING.
So they take out their se*ual frustration on Obama, women and blacks.
Stupid women too eager to get it on with some man more willing than able to provide take out THEIR frustrations on their unborn child.
Enjoy!
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
February 23rd, 2012
8:58 pm
“When is it OK to stop a beating heart?”
When it is MINE, LBB, not yours.
Linda
February 23rd, 2012
8:58 pm
@@ @ 8:51, An aborting mother’s rights to go home with a dead baby is paramount to the rights of a living, breathing, viable infant, according to Obama.
Incomprehensible? Yes.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
February 23rd, 2012
9:02 pm
“Since you’re unable to articulate your own position,”
Rather, since you can’t or won’t understand my position, Bruno.
“By your statement above, you appear to be supporting the Lib School of Thought which proclaims that a woman has absolute rights over her own body, so that no one, particularly a man, can enforce any rules of conduct whatsoever. If that is your position, then it’s not a very sound one. The law absolutely does, in fact, regulate personal behavior on many other matters. ”
Why do you refuse to acknowledge that the LAW, while being inconsistent in many things, is COMPLETELY consistent in the case of abortions? What part of Rowe v. Wade do you NOT get?
“Thus, two competing interests have to be weighed. Which is why I support abortion with lots of restrictions.”
Great! The LAW disagrees with you. I suggest that you and the rest on this blog get over it.
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 23rd, 2012
9:06 pm
@@@
February 23rd, 2012
8:51 pm
Oops! This is important to note. About Obama’s refusal to support the BAIPA (Born-Alive Infant Protection Act)….he refused to support it in defense of abortion. In other words, a live baby must die to secure an unborn baby’s death in the womb.
Weird, not to mention incomprehensible.
****************************************************************************************************
GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE YOU SAY SOMETHING THAT IS NOT TRUE.
On August 15, 2008 this was Obama’s response to the Born Alive Infant Protection Act.
Obama: Let me clarify this right now.
Brody: Because it’s getting a lot of play.
Obama: Well and because they have not been telling the truth. And I hate to say that people are lying, but here’s a situation where folks are lying. I have said repeatedly that I would have been completely in, fully in support of the federal bill that everybody supported – which was to say –that you should provide assistance to any infant that was born – even if it was as a consequence of an induced abortion. That was not the bill that was presented at the state level. What that bill also was doing was trying to undermine Roe vs. Wade. By the way, we also had a bill, a law already in place in Illinois that insured life saving treatment was given to infants.
So for people to suggest that I and the Illinois medical society, so Illinois doctors were somehow in favor of withholding life saving support from an infant born alive is ridiculous. It defies commonsense and it defies imagination and for people to keep on pushing this is offensive and it’s an example of the kind of politics that we have to get beyond. It’s one thing for people to disagree with me about the issue of choice, it’s another thing for people to out and out misrepresent my positions repeatedly, even after they know that they’re wrong. And that’s what’s been happening.
Brody: I wanted to give you a chance to clear it up.
Obama: I appreciate it.
Brody: Thank you so much.
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 23rd, 2012
9:08 pm
@ @@
February 23rd, 2012
8:51 pm
Oops! This is important to note. About Obama’s refusal to support the BAIPA (Born-Alive Infant Protection Act)….he refused to support it in defense of abortion. In other words, a live baby must die to secure an unborn baby’s death in the womb.
Weird, not to mention incomprehensible
*********************************************************************
Whats WEIRD is that WE CAN GOOGLE ANYTHING.
Even your LIES.
So before you tell a big fat lie make sure it is not on GOOGLE.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
February 23rd, 2012
9:09 pm
Wow! Hypocrite made a point! (and a good one, btw)
Will wonders never cease . . .
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 23rd, 2012
9:10 pm
@@@
February 23rd, 2012
8:56 pm
They are a bunch of Angry White Men who are Se*ually frustrated because they can’t get NO LOVING.
So they take out their se*ual frustration on Obama, women and blacks.
Stupid women too eager to get it on with some man more willing than able to provide take out THEIR frustrations on their unborn child.
Enjoy!
******************************************************************************
Have you had any LATELY?
You SOUND FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY.
@@
February 23rd, 2012
9:12 pm
Tiberius:
Life-saving treatment for infants that resulted from a botched abortion. Or life-saving treat for infants delivered prematurely?
That was not the bill that was presented at the state level. What that bill also was doing was trying to undermine Roe vs. Wade.
And he didn’t bother to write an alternative bill, did he? Can you tell me why?
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 23rd, 2012
9:13 pm
@Tiberius – Your lightning rod of hate!
February 23rd, 2012
9:09 pm
Wow! Hypocrite made a point! (and a good one, btw)
Will wonders never cease . . .
**************************************************************************
Some of these people on this blog ARE NOT THE SHARPEST KNIFE IN THE DRAWER.
Will wonders ever cease?
@@
February 23rd, 2012
9:17 pm
Have you had any LATELY?
I live with a man…of course I have.
You SOUND FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY.
Hearing voices, are you?
No frustration or anger in moi.
You? You’re the one typing in CAPS. The smiley faces can’t hide THAT!!!
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 23rd, 2012
9:20 pm
@GodHatesTrash, Superstar
February 23rd, 2012
8:54 pm
Like a dog to his vomit, like a sow to her slop, the fool L’il Barry laps up the filth and excrement of his racism, and spews it again, so he can lap it up again. A true fool.
**************************************************************
That is Intellectually deep.
Profound.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
February 23rd, 2012
9:20 pm
“And he didn’t bother to write an alternative bill, did he? Can you tell me why?”
Because he remains one of the most incompetent state Senators to ever serve in the Illinois legislature?
Don’t think you’re going to get me to defend the current Disaster-in-Chief on many things, @@. Only those things he has been unfairly accused of doing by some of the over-zealous on here.
Unlike some, I endeavor to see both sides of an issue.
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 23rd, 2012
9:23 pm
@@@
February 23rd, 2012
9:17 pm
Have you had any LATELY?
I live with a man…of course I have.
You SOUND FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY.
Hearing voices, are you?
No frustration or anger in moi.
You? You’re the one typing in CAPS. The smiley faces can’t hide THAT!!!
********************************************************************************************
When you attack others expect that others will attack also.
Are you SURPRISED?
Did you think you were SPECIAL (In caps)?
Caps will get your ATTENTION.
GodHatesTrash, Superstar
February 23rd, 2012
9:25 pm
Can the fool tell us what an “alternative bill” might be? Obama was pretty clear that he didn’t think one was needed.
Bruno
February 23rd, 2012
9:27 pm
Great! The LAW disagrees with you. I suggest that you and the rest on this blog get over it.
Not at all, rod. The law currently permits abortion with restrictions. 26 weeks was the previous arbitrary number, calculated as the age of viability, now being moved back to 20 weeks, the new age of viability.
Linda
February 23rd, 2012
9:28 pm
Tiberious@8:56, What a cop out. You are no longer a “freakin’ infant.” Just answer the question as if you are an adult. You are an adult, aren’t you?
My comment about Obama & infanticide was @ 3:44 today on this blog. You can look it up yourself. I don’t repeat myself.
Your definitions & differences between genocide & infanticide are about as cold & callous as I have ever witnessed. Brrrrrr!
Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
February 23rd, 2012
9:29 pm
That’s just it, Tib…it isn’t your heart to stop.
Those who call yourselves Christians, what would Jesus have to say about abortion?
Bruno
February 23rd, 2012
9:30 pm
Well, so much for my foray at Kyles. Just as many goofballs here as at Bookman’s place. Later.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
February 23rd, 2012
9:30 pm
“The law currently permits abortion with restrictions. 26 weeks was the previous arbitrary number, calculated as the age of viability, now being moved back to 20 weeks, the new age of viability.”
Which just happens to coincide with my beliefs, Bruno. (Not that my beliefs matter, as again, I neither want nor feel I have a right to have a say in this matter, as I am a man)
Go figure . . .
Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
February 23rd, 2012
9:31 pm
Caps means that any you’re getting is nasty.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
February 23rd, 2012
9:33 pm
And Linda, I believe that Hypocrite just posted something that may, in fact, make your post regarding this issue moot.
And I don’t care if you don’t like my definitions. Definitions are SUPPOSED to be without emotion, otherwise, they are colored in their viewpoint.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
February 23rd, 2012
9:34 pm
“That’s just it, Tib…it isn’t your heart to stop.”
Nor is it yours, LBB. Therefore, you get no say in the matter.
GodHatesTrash, Superstar
February 23rd, 2012
9:34 pm
Hypocritical, are you hanging out with L’il Barry’s mama AGAIN?
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
February 23rd, 2012
9:37 pm
Looked back at your post, Linda, and Hypocrite just negated your link @ 9:06.
Oops!
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 23rd, 2012
9:37 pm
I can’t believe the hypocrites on this blog.
These are the same people who rant and rave about abortions and they are the same people who will not help a living child.
Matt. 7:5: “Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
@@
February 23rd, 2012
9:37 pm
Tiberious:
With this:
GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE YOU SAY SOMETHING THAT IS NOT TRUE.
you quickly declared THRB’s point to be good without doing your research.
Obama opposed the BAIPA bill on four occasions, never once offering a bill of his own.
An infant born alive was left to die in order to secure the rights of women. Kinda backwards. It’s usually women who fight for the rights of children.
I’ve often wondered how many babies are left to die and if there mothers even know they were born alive. Probably not. It would throw things out of balance.
I’m out.
Linda
February 23rd, 2012
9:40 pm
Hypocritical@9:06, Perhaps you might like to compare what Obama said 8/15/08 on his campaign trail to what he actually said on the floor of the Ill. Senate in ‘01, ‘02 & ‘03, which I referred to @3:44 today. You may research the site I cited & read exactly what Obama said on the floor of the Ill. Senate.
Your defense of Obama appears to be baseless & full of lies.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
February 23rd, 2012
9:42 pm
“Obama opposed the BAIPA bill on four occasions, never once offering a bill of his own.”
So declare him incompetent as I do, @@. Some people aren’t cut out to be legislators. He stated his opposition to the bill, which he felt jeopardized abortions rights as had already existed. Fine.
Opposition to ONE part of a bill doesn’t mean support for another part.
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 23rd, 2012
9:44 pm
@Lil’ Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
February 23rd, 2012
9:29 pm
That’s just it, Tib…it isn’t your heart to stop.
Those who call yourselves Christians, what would Jesus have to say about abortion?
***************************************************************************************
The bible says at Matt. 7:5:
“Hypocrite! First remove the plank from YOUR own eye, and then YOU will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
In simple terms for simple people….”.people who live in glass houses should not throw stones. ”
LIL BARRY YOU ARE THE NO. 1 STONE THROWER.
Linda
February 23rd, 2012
9:44 pm
Hypocritical@9:10, Your comments are inappropriate & do absolutely nothing to advance your position or credibility. Quite the opposite, I presume.
GodHatesTrash, Superstar
February 23rd, 2012
9:49 pm
Linda will continue her lies and slander towards President Obama. It is all she knows, like L’il Barry it is her whole foolish life.
Proverbs 10:18 (S)He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
Watch – like a dog she will quickly return to vomit up more lies and disparagement about her president.
Hillbilly D
February 23rd, 2012
9:52 pm
I’m not one to speak for Jesus but he might have quoted Matthew 25:40, rather than 7:5.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
February 23rd, 2012
9:53 pm
GHT, dial it back a bit, would ya?
This isn’t Bookman’s blog, you know . . .
JDW
February 23rd, 2012
9:56 pm
Yawn…economy improving…Republicans eating their own…polls moving up…I say again I am not sure the Republicans can hold the House. Neither Santorum nor Gingrich could surpass Goldwater’s Electoral College tally. Romney might, just might, get more Electoral votes than McCain but it would be close.
Looks like the Republican nightmare that started in 2000 and spasmed in 2010 will soon be blissfully behind us.
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 23rd, 2012
9:58 pm
@Linda
February 23rd, 2012
9:40 pm
Hypocritical@9:06, Perhaps you might like to compare what Obama said 8/15/08 on his campaign trail to what he actually said on the floor of the Ill. Senate in ‘01, ‘02 & ‘03, which I referred to @3:44 today. You may research the site I cited & read exactly what Obama said on the floor of the Ill. Senate.
Your defense of Obama appears to be baseless & full of lies.
*****************************************************************************************
My mother always told me, “don’t get into a peeing match with a skunk.”
@@
February 23rd, 2012
10:00 pm
Tiberius:
Last comment before I shut down.
He stated his opposition to the bill, which he felt jeopardized abortions rights as had already existed. Fine
What Hypo brought forth was Obama’s defense after the fact. In his original argument he said the bill, as written, would make it too cumbersome to save a baby born alive after a botched abortion.
He must have thought writing his own bill was too cumbersome as well. After all, it’s just a life. wouldn’t wanna put himself out to save one of “those things”.
Inexcusable.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
February 23rd, 2012
10:01 pm
JDW, I saw posted that the latest Gallup had Romney @ 50% and Obama @ 46.
Polls moving up, eh?
Apparently only those you want to read.
Economy improving?
Yeah, if you like stagnation instead of recession. Of course, gas prices will kill even that stagnation, won’t they?
Linda
February 23rd, 2012
10:02 pm
Tiberius@9:33, Your definitions are still cold & callous.
Hypocrite merely cited an attempt in ‘08 to cover up & spin what Obama actually said in ‘01, ‘02 & ‘03. Obama’s words speak for themselves.
Refer to the site I cited & don’t cower behind Hypocrite, a coward & a minion, to offer your own opinions.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
February 23rd, 2012
10:03 pm
How many times can I admit that Obama was, and remains, incompetent, @@?
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
February 23rd, 2012
10:04 pm
My 10:03 is directed at you as well, Linda.
And I still don’t care if you think my definitions are cold and callous. The key point is they are accurate.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
February 23rd, 2012
10:06 pm
Oh, and again, Linda.
Opposition to ONE portion of a bill does not automatically mean support for another portion.
Unless your working in the political “gotcha” mentality.
Linda
February 23rd, 2012
10:08 pm
Tiberius@9:37, Where is your common sense & your ability to read? You are still proving that you teem with miscellaneous liberals more than you side with fiscal conservatives. I don’t think I want you on my side. You side with a liberal before you deem that I am presenting the truth. Who is more truthful, a conservative or a liberal? As I said, you are a piece of work.
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 23rd, 2012
10:08 pm
@Hillbilly D
February 23rd, 2012
9:52 pm
I’m not one to speak for Jesus but he might have quoted Matthew 25:40, rather than 7:5.
********************************************************************
This is apropos
Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
The Hypocritical Rethuglican Bullies
February 23rd, 2012
10:12 pm
Good night to all of you UN-LEFTS.
td
February 23rd, 2012
10:14 pm
JDW
February 23rd, 2012
9:56 pm
You have seen the latest Gallop poll haven’t you? Oh I forgot that the “lame stream media” chooses only to report things that are good news for the President. I will give you a hint, One of the Republicans is within one point of the messiah and chief.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
February 23rd, 2012
10:18 pm
Linda, neither liberals nor conservatives have a monopoly on the truth. Both lie if it will serve their purposes.
I read your link and went to all the other sub-links. Nothing was said where Obama supported infanticide. NOTHING.
Did he want a perfect bill before supporting it? Probably. That is a part of this discussion that I can agree with. Too many times legislators try to put so many things into a bill in an attempt to get support from many different sides that it can make the bill even worse than if it was a single thread.
Should he have offered up an alternative? Absolutely! But he is incompetent, so I am not surprised that he didn’t. He’s really a very lazy elected official who doesn’t want to do the hard work of governing, in my opinion.
You and I can both be disappointed that he didn’t do more, but I am not going to falsely accuse ANYONE of doing something they didn’t do.
And that is the benefit of being a fiscal conservative and a social liberal. The ability to look at both sides of an issue dispassionately and with principle.
Linda
February 23rd, 2012
10:20 pm
Mr. Trash@9:49, I don’t need to lie & slander Obama. His deeds & policies are there for anyone to see, if they just take the time to see them. I cite sites to document my claims, many from govt. websites & none from controversial sites.
Furthermore, I don’t find the need to use profanity & any attempt at intimidation to prove my points.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
February 23rd, 2012
10:23 pm
And with that, I’m out for the night.
Enjoyed the discussion, folks. Even if it did tick you off some.
td
February 23rd, 2012
10:24 pm
Linda
February 23rd, 2012
10:20 pm
Be prepared my friend for the worst name calling most vile stuff you have ever read come in August or September when Obama is trailing in the polls by 5 plus points. It is going to be ugly around here.