Patterico's Pontifications

I missed it myself. But then I have missed most of these.

Patterico (d508e7) — 1/26/2012 @ 6:56 pm

There’s still one question to go but I thought Romney did best in the first half and Santorum in the second half.

DRJ (a83b8b) — 1/26/2012 @ 6:57 pm

Specifically, Romney was finally able to articulate why he’s proud to be a successful businessman and IMO it was very effective. I hope he keeps it up — although it wasn’t helpful that he refused Gingrich’s offer of a truce re: attacks on how people make their living.

However, I thought Romney came off badly when Santorum said RomneyCare made it difficult for Romney to hit Obama over ObamaCare, especially when Romney told Santorum: “It’s not worth getting angry about.” Actually, Mitt, for those of us that aren’t worth $250M, it is worth getting angry about.

DRJ (a83b8b) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:03 pm

Santorum. No B.S. Just said it like it is.

redco (3926f5) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:04 pm

Santorum was strong, Romney was strong, Newt didn’t show up.

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:06 pm

Is this the 86th debate?

JD (318f81) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:07 pm

Newt’s body language seemed to be taken straight from Perry, and we all saw how well that worked out.

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:08 pm

Santorum on the merits.

You know who that benefits.

Karl (8cdbad) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:08 pm

RT @allahpundit: “Last question: Newt, what the hell happened to you tonight?”

That just about covers it.

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:08 pm

How’s that Maximus thing workin’ out for ya, Karl?

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:10 pm

Col.,

As I noted in that thread, we all know how that movie ends. I would have expected you to finish out the analogy.

Karl (8cdbad) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:12 pm

In addition to challenging Romney over RomneyCare, I thought Santorum’s best moment was when he discussed the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. He said the Constitution establishes how our country works, like an owners’ manual, but the Declaration of Independence is the most important founding document because it recognizes that people have God-given rights (that can’t be taken away by government) as opposed to government-given rights (rights that government can take away).

DRJ (a83b8b) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:13 pm

I got stuck on the commode, Karl.

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:13 pm

Col.,

For that matter, I wrote in the final graf that NG was already losing momentum.

Karl (8cdbad) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:14 pm

Col.,

You do seem stuck there. 😉

Karl (8cdbad) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:14 pm

He looked defeated tonight, Karl. It’s hard to explain, the man usually feeds off an audience.

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:15 pm

Okay, I’ll admit it… I do my best reading there.

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:17 pm

How about neither.

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:20 pm

This film gives a more rounded protrayal of Commodus;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fall_of_the_Roman_Empire_%28movie%29

narciso (87e966) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:23 pm

When I say I’m not concerned, that’s a poor way to explain myself. I am concerned and that, in itself, is cause for concern. But I’m basically used to being concerned and I see the next few months as full of similar little jabs, little pokes and from the usual directions.

The harder it is for Newt to get nominated, the uglier this place is going to get.

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:24 pm

I hope there are ebt cards left.

sickofrinos (44de53) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:26 pm

DRJ,
The lefties at Talking Points Memo also noticed Romney’s peculiar statement on RomneyCare.

“Despite long being viewed as a central vulnerability to his candidacy, Romney’s rivals have rarely been able to effectively attack him on Romneycare in debates. Santorum’s answer, which was much more passionate and aggressive than past efforts by GOP candidates, clearly made Romney more uncomfortable than usual.”

Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (961786) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:26 pm

Your a COMMIE.

/Romneytoids

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:29 pm

Col. (20),

Uglier? Nah. I for one will continue to not like anyone running, just like always.

Karl (8cdbad) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:29 pm

Mr. Farmer better water yer crops.

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:30 pm

re: 20… Sorry, Karl… I was just having fun at the expense of someone else.

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:33 pm

Caught first 40 minutes. No fire in Newt tonight. Romney defuses bluster by pushing back. The moderators Newt attacks don’t push back.

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:34 pm

I dunno, daley, I thought the wolfman pushed back pretty hard on that negative ad thing with Gingrich. Newt seemed to take that like a hard kick to his testicles. Pretty much off his game the rest of the debate.

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:40 pm

Rich Lowry: “One possible reason newt has been off the last two debates: he’s dog tired. He looks it & who wldnt be running a one-man show at this level?”

Yep, organization matters. And the thing I wrote about people who try to run “a different kind of campaign?” That too.

Karl (8cdbad) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:41 pm

Oh, please, I don’t even recognize this spawn that represents itself as Buckley’s lifelong project, it’s as if they sold out to the Rockefeller wing.

narciso (87e966) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:45 pm

One must admire each of these guys for the energy required to keep up with what must be an utterly exhausting pace and schedule.

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:51 pm

Romney has snapped the Right in two.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/26/2012 @ 7:53 pm

By the light, (By the light, By the light),
Of the Communist moon, (The Commie-moon).
Don’t want to spoon, (Want to spoon, Want to spoon)
To my honey I’ll croon love’s tune.
Commie-moon, (Commie-moon, Commie-moon),
Won’t be a-shining in June. (won’t be shining in June)
Your Communist beams won’t bring love dreams,
Won’t be cuddling soon,
By the Communist moon.

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/26/2012 @ 8:00 pm

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/11/chinas-space-program_n_894479.html

narciso (87e966) — 1/26/2012 @ 8:03 pm

Romney is very divisive he’s like when a penney’s catalog model shows up at your house and starts forcing everyone to buy health cares

happyfeet (3c92a1) — 1/26/2012 @ 8:08 pm

First Pandas on Moon
may be cute little suckers
BUT NOT ON NEWT’S WATCH!

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/26/2012 @ 8:08 pm

and you’re like hey Mitt we don’t know about all this health cares business we were just gonna have some guacamole and watch that movie where James Franco cuts his arm off and Mitt is like hah I love that movie can you imagine what happens when the James Francos of the world don’t have health insurance

and everyone just looks at him and looks away cause they don’t want to say anything unkind

happyfeet (3c92a1) — 1/26/2012 @ 8:15 pm

Franco has really turned out to be a more pretensious jerk than his character Harry Osborn,

narciso (87e966) — 1/26/2012 @ 8:16 pm

yes I don’t have any use for him really I watched his stupid monkey movie and felt sorry for him then I caught myself

happyfeet (3c92a1) — 1/26/2012 @ 8:27 pm

“Romney has snapped the Right in two.”

Yes, Romney is the debble.

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/26/2012 @ 8:30 pm

“Not worth getting angry about.”

Oh, Mitt.

I can’t believe he said that. I just can’t believe it.

sarahw (b0e533) — 1/26/2012 @ 8:30 pm

“Not worth getting angry about.”

Oh, Mitt.

I can’t believe he said that. I just can’t believe it.

Same here, shocking.

madawaskan (89a442) — 1/26/2012 @ 8:38 pm

I was surprised at the enthusiasm with which Mr. Gingrich embraced amnesty for illegal aliens. I assume he presumes that position will help him in Florida. I’m not sure that it will on a net basis even in Florida, but I’m pretty sure it will cut the other direction on a net basis elsewhere.

Rick Santorum has earned a great deal of respect from fair-minded observers who were initially disinclined to treat his candidacy seriously. He has almost eliminated the whiny bitterness that crept into his demeanor when he was particularly frustrated last summer and fall. Tonight, he unleashed a lawyerlike barrage of verbal body blows when cross-examining Romney over the similarities between Romneycare and Obamacare. The guy is what he is; he and Dr. Paul project vastly more authenticity than either Romney or Gingrich.

I know it’s not what he’s aiming for, but Santorum has managed to position himself reasonably well to make a second-half charge IF the Gingrich campaign implodes, but I think he needs that, plus a serious misstep by Romney, before he could take the nomination. I continue to have serious doubts that Santorum could beat Obama. I get the feeling that if Obama wanted to turn the 2012 election into a referendum on all of the social issues — on each of which, Santorum takes the most aggressively rightward position — that would suit Santorum just fine.

It wouldn’t suit me, though. That’s not just because, or mainly because, Santorum’s to my own right on most of those issues. It’s because I think that would be Obama’s wildest-dream scenario of how to change the subject from the economy and from Obama’s own feckless incompetence.

Beldar (2afc73) — 1/26/2012 @ 8:39 pm

Is Franco a romneybot?

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/26/2012 @ 8:41 pm

Probably an Occupy supporter,

narciso (87e966) — 1/26/2012 @ 8:47 pm

nominating Santorum would be a good way to drive a coffin nail through the idea that radical social cons are electable

happyfeet (3c92a1) — 1/26/2012 @ 8:48 pm

Re Romney’s “it’s not worth getting angry about” comment:

That was indeed clumsy. In context, I think he was intending simply to point out that Santorum was losing his cool. Someone should remind Mitt, however, that as Mr. Cool and Serene himself, he’s not allowed to point out other candidates’ anger directly (but instead only by implication and silent comparison to himself).

I do not think that Romney at all intended to suggest that health care in general, or Obamacare in particular, is unimportant or unworthy of passionate commitment about. But yeah, he certainly made it sound like he was blowing off the issue. And that hurts because it feeds into the perception that he’s a passionless, out-of-touch android.

So I’ll bet everyone in the Rubio household tonight is grinning sly grins, huh?

Beldar (2afc73) — 1/26/2012 @ 8:50 pm

People like Pedolosi only care about money.

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/26/2012 @ 8:52 pm

Beldar

Romney actually lost a debate he was winning via a self inflicted wound.

Imagine him being that completely clueless in a a debate against Obama?

madawaskan (89a442) — 1/26/2012 @ 8:53 pm

No matter how they try to disguise it, Romney doesn’t get the issues underlying the tea party,

http://legalinsurrection.com/2012/01/jacksonville-republican-debate/#comments

narciso (87e966) — 1/26/2012 @ 8:54 pm

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/01/cnn-host-pauses-debate-to-correct-mitt-romney-supporters-boo-video/

narciso (87e966) — 1/26/2012 @ 8:58 pm

Plus like it or not it brings up the class warfare imagery…
The country club WASP telling the Catholic guy to “settle down”.

Good one Mitt! The swing vote-is the white Catholic vote, to them Santorum looked righteously indignant-Mitt hasn’t seen mad.

Mad might be the voter that just wants to stick it to Mitt for not realizing how much their voices were disrespected by the way in which ObamaCare was inacted, and by how the media belittled the Republicans that went to ask some honest questions of the Democrats who gave the ObamaCare town halls.

Mitt must have been diving in the Caymans when all that went down.

madawaskan (89a442) — 1/26/2012 @ 8:59 pm

Beldar, there was Santorum getting angry about difficulty repealing Obamacare. And Mitt said it “wasn’t worth it”.

There is nothing more worth getting angry about, and if Mitt thought repeal was job 1 he would understand that anger, and he would have said it will take more than anger to rid ourselves of Ocare, but the thing is he doesn’t WANT to be rid of it.

HE REALLY DOESN’T.

sarahw (b0e533) — 1/26/2012 @ 9:01 pm

DRJ, I agree with you (#3 — 1/26/2012 @ 7:03 pm) that Romney’s capsule autobiography tonight — beginning with the (guilefully) gracious concession that yes, Gingrich can much more justifiably claim to have been part of the Reagan Revolution — was Romney’s best explanation for why he’s proud of his business career, and its relevance to what else he’s done.

He should absolutely, positively polish up his riff on the Olympics, too. I’m guessing something went hinkey in a focus-testing group and people started griping about foreign aid or the United Nations or something, and so they decided not to highlight that experience. But by virtually all contemporaneous accounts, he was a miracle-worker in saving what was almost certain to be an American embarrassment, a debacle of mismanagement by committee and special-interest-group pandering. And because we were the host country, he can easily emphasize the “U-S-A!” spin.

Maybe they’re saving that for the nomination acceptance speech at the convention, when they can work in lots of snowy, mountainous scenes with Mitt, handsome in ski parka, handing out gold medals or something. But one of his most human moments in these debates was when he described the experience of turning around the Winter Olympics as his most satisfying professional accomplishment — he actually approximated genuine passion.

Beldar (2afc73) — 1/26/2012 @ 9:05 pm

http://weaselzippers.us/2012/01/26/flashback-biden-praises-green-energy-company-funded-by-obama-admin-that-filed-for-bankruptcy-today/#comment-489095

narciso (87e966) — 1/26/2012 @ 9:05 pm

btw I cannot abide Santorum and for that matter am as waspy as a lileks tool shed. I’m your usual presbyterian manufactured back brace of a hitchcock blonde.

If he can’t understand a little ruffling over Ocare, he’s more likely just what Norm Coleman promised – a person who doesn’t think it’s worth attempting to repeal, and will be fine using a VAT to paper over some money problems related.

sarahw (b0e533) — 1/26/2012 @ 9:08 pm

OH my gosh overpopulation is happening it’s gonna be the ruination of us all

/Liberals

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/26/2012 @ 9:10 pm

“~~Romney~~ smallpox or ~~Gingrich~~? measles?”

“FIDO says it couldn’t be any better.” – NASA PAO, STS-1, 4/14/81

DCSCA (9d1bb3) — 1/26/2012 @ 9:10 pm

Yes, and when Franken stole his way into the Senate, with excon ballots, he hardly noticed,
his people took that experience to heart, in challenging Miller voters the following year.

narciso (87e966) — 1/26/2012 @ 9:11 pm

Measels leaves fewer lasting scars.

Undisciplined as he is, I’m signing up for spots.

sarahw (b0e533) — 1/26/2012 @ 9:13 pm

sarahw, consider carefully whether you may be projecting something onto Romney that he didn’t intend, and that would have been completely irrational for him to intend.

“It” — that’s the indefinite word. You think “it” in “it’s not worth” means “Obamacare.” But why would Romney say Obamacare isn’t worth getting angry about, when not 10 seconds on either side of that he’s vowing to repeal it on his first day in office. (A bit of a stretch, that, but not ambiguous.)

No, my friend, the context dictates that he more likely meant “this exchange between you and me” or “this situation on stage during our debate” when he said “it,” and that he was just trying to tweak Santorum for getting carried away. It was a weak, bungled attempt at misdirection and mild humor.

I’ll go so far as to say that in addition to a clumsy word choice that left him open to the interpretation you’ve put on his words (even if it’s improbable in context), he also showed bad political instincts by trying to point out that Santorum was getting over-passionate. It’s not like Santorum was shouting or foaming at the mouth. And as your reaction (and many others’) shows, lots of people would see this as precisely the issue which does justify great passion.

Beldar (2afc73) — 1/26/2012 @ 9:14 pm

Obama runs America like he doesn’t think it matters.

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/26/2012 @ 9:17 pm

Didn’t Bloomberg blame a terrorist attack on a muslim’s opposition to Obamacare?

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/26/2012 @ 9:19 pm

No, he doesn’t understand, and health care lobbyists like Dole and Frist won’t impart that notion to him, his man Murphy, never understood
the IPAB/ ‘death panels’, they don’t get Obama
at the fundamental level, this is why they have to distort the past about the Contras and Afghanistan,
to cite one example.

narciso (87e966) — 1/26/2012 @ 9:19 pm

NY won’t accept a woman mayor.

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/26/2012 @ 9:21 pm

sarahw, consider carefully whether you may be projecting something onto Romney that he didn’t intend, and that would have been completely irrational for him to intend.

“It” — that’s the indefinite word. You think “it” in “it’s not worth” means “Obamacare.” But why would Romney say Obamacare isn’t worth getting angry about, when not 10 seconds on either side of that he’s vowing to repeal it on his first day in office. (A bit of a stretch, that, but not ambiguous.)

No, my friend, the context dictates that he more likely meant “this exchange between you and me” or “this situation on stage during our debate” when he said “it,” and that he was just trying to tweak Santorum for getting carried away.

You’ve just lost the argument because you’ve had to parse the ill out of it.

Politics is in the Information Ag the war of the sound bite.

Romney just created the sound bite for the perfect ad that goes to the very heart of why Romney is unacceptable .

RomneyCare, and his continued defense of that.

madawaskan (89a442) — 1/26/2012 @ 9:28 pm

Politics ^in the Information Age is^ the war of the sound bite.

madawaskan (89a442) — 1/26/2012 @ 9:30 pm

There is nothing more worth getting angry about, and if Mitt thought repeal was job 1 he would understand that anger, and he would have said it will take more than anger to rid ourselves of Ocare, but the thing is he doesn’t WANT to be rid of it.

— Keep on pounding that meme!

Icy (e70c45) — 1/26/2012 @ 9:31 pm

Once implanted, a national health system is almost impossible to remove, the NHS is the third largest
organization, after the Chinese Army and the Indian
Railways, and considering the proportion of populations therein, that’s a BFD.

narciso (87e966) — 1/26/2012 @ 9:37 pm

Allahpundit also asked on Twitter if Gingrich’s big debate reputation reflected anything other than mixing it up with John King and Juan Williams. I think there is some truth to that, I wonder how much of Newt’s spike in SC was because he was tapping into the anti-MSM frustrations of GOPers in general and South Carolinians in particular.

I also think we may look back at the moment the GOP Primary ended in a Romney victory as the point in this debate where Romney turned around the attack about owning Fannie Mae stock on Gingrich and Newt had to answer with a lame “Well, yeah…” I like Newt though I really don’t see him as President and his potential for self-destruction terrifies me. But that whole exchange was really lame on Newt’s part and if that is big ideas and focusing on issues and all that….Newt doesn’t deserve to win.

Kaisersoze (298188) — 1/26/2012 @ 9:42 pm

66. Romney just created the sound bite for the perfect ad that goes to the very heart of why Romney is unacceptable .

The exact reasons that make Romney unacceptable in a GOP Primary are his strengths in the General Election. There is a reason he has consistently beaten Obama in head to head polling while Newt is consistently 10 or 15 points behind. Everyone knows Obama is a disaster and most Americans will vote for “Not Obama” as long as the alternative doesn’t scare them.

Newt scares them. Romney does not.

Kaisersoze (298188) — 1/26/2012 @ 9:45 pm

I recall Gingrich insisting, again and in general terms, that he was at Reagan’s side while Romney was still voting for Democrats, etc. I recall Gingrich complaining that four stories about nasty things he’d said about Reagan couldn’t have “spontaneously” appeared on the same day, and insisting that Romney was being hypocritical by pretending to concede Newt’s rah-rah-Reagan cred while orchestrating attacks on Newt through proxies.

But did Newt actually deny the accuracy of any of the quotes?

Did he claim that any of them had been taken out of context?

Even if Newt’s complaints about Romney are justified, in other words — hasn’t he essentially conceded that he said very unflattering and (certainly in hindsight) foolish things about Reagan?

So what is left, if anything, of the “I was a warrior in the Reagan Revolution” meme? I’m not asking this rhetorically or snarkily, but as a genuine question that perhaps a Gingrich supporter can help educate me about.

Beldar (2afc73) — 1/26/2012 @ 10:26 pm

If gorebull warming was real Al gore and his minions would practice what they preach.

We have not had warming for 14 years.

Sick and tired of the chicken little people not practicing what they preach.

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/26/2012 @ 10:29 pm

There is a great AGW article from Lindzen and others in today’s WSJ –

http://on.wsj.com/yI1fm3

Kaisersoze (298188) — 1/26/2012 @ 10:36 pm

Which is it EPA scumbags?

Is it too much Ozone or too little Ozone?

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/26/2012 @ 10:39 pm

Ozone Depletion is also a get rich quick scheme.

Hair sprays which deplete the Ozone have been banned since the 70’s cretinous liberals.

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/26/2012 @ 10:41 pm

See there is no CFC in our hairsprays you morons.

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/26/2012 @ 10:46 pm

___________________________________________

Newt scares them.

And would that include those people who voted for, and would again vote for, President “Goddamn America?”

November 2008 indicates that a fairly large portion of the electorate has a pretty high threshold before it becomes spooked. Not only when it comes to their reactions towards a politician with a background as radical as that of Obama, but when it comes to their responses towards a public figure who has the atypical or even peculiar traits that he has overall. IOW, if that guy, Barry Soetero, don’t frighten you, nuttin’ will.

Moreover, Gingrich is less of a ideologue of the right — if even that, since he’s actually too squishy to be deemed a flat-out conservative, or flat-out anything — than Obama is an ideologue of the left. So if X number of Americans are less scared of “Goddamn America” — with his ultra-liberal instincts — than they are of Gingrich (warts and all), does that mean they’re, in fact, quite idiotically leftwing in their own shape and form?

Mark (31bbb6) — 1/26/2012 @ 11:13 pm

But did Newt actually deny the accuracy of any of the quotes?

Did he claim that any of them had been taken out of context?

At least one of them (“Newt 1988: ‘If Bush runs as continuation of Reaganism he will lose’… “) was a proven fabrication.

Kevin M (563f77) — 1/26/2012 @ 11:54 pm

I’d score the two-man debate for Romney tonight — perhaps Newt’s worst showing of the 18 (and I’ve watched them all, so help me) — except that Santorum spent the second half pounding Romney into the ground while Newt just watched. End score? Santorum probably helped, Newt didn’t.

Newt doesn’t actually have to win, but he sure needs to be close, and Newt+Santorum needs to be noticeably better than what Romney polls. Be interesting to see how much Romney spent in Florida.

Kevin M (563f77) — 1/26/2012 @ 11:59 pm

At least one of them (“Newt 1988: ‘If Bush runs as continuation of Reaganism he will lose’… “) was a proven fabrication.

— Uh, and the “fabrication” part is WHERE?

Icy (8ddb53) — 1/27/2012 @ 1:11 am

Even mother of HotAir is looking for the brokered convention salvation.

GOP on the ropes and doing the slugging too.

Nor Laup has won the last two debates, just sayin.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 2:35 am

Being forced to pay a fine is the cheapest way to have shitty health care in Ma. Besides, to see a dr. you need to be married to one.
Col.- unless I can find work, there will be no food. Got to get my ebt card.

[note: released from moderation. –Stashiu]

sickofrinos (44de53) — 1/27/2012 @ 2:39 am

72. Limbaugh “This is why people hate Romney” as he expatiated on Riehl’s post, Romney ‘Dowdified’ the CSPAN tape.

Lord, Limbaugh, Michael Reagan, Palin all reamed Abrams and Romney today for their mendacity.

And the esteemed counselor knows it, and is continuing in duplicity.

Brokered convention or bust.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 2:42 am

81. In the implication that Gingrich was not Reagan’s second. H.W. could not run faithfully on a continuation of Reaganism, he needed something more.

Like testosterone supplement therapy. Dauntless pilot? Where did that man disappear to?

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 2:51 am

I see a commercial coming:

(Picture of Burt Rutan and Spaceship One) Burt Rutan won the Ansari X-prize. A big payoff for being the first non-government sponsored man to reach space.

What would Mitt Romney say to Rutan?

(Video from Romney in debate) You’re fired!

(Pictures of Space-X vehicles and people working on rockets)Space-X is building and launching systems for commercial satellite and manned launch vehicles much cheaper than NASA can build and launch.

They stand to make billions.

What would Romney say to Space-X founder and CEO Elon Musk?

(Video from Romney in debate) You’re fired!

If you want to build a profitable, self-sustaining American presence in space and build America’s future, what would Romney say to you?

(Video from Romney in debate) You’re fired!

Mitt Romney’s America. No vision, No future.

.

(Video from Romney in debate) You’re fired!

Brian Epps (2f898a) — 1/27/2012 @ 3:21 am

I love how the left say the antarctic ice is melting when it isn’t.

Oh noez gorebull warming will kill us all but we like living in our mansion with an ostentatious carbon footprint.

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 3:25 am

Mitt and his posse will not be able to housebreak conservatives, but I am glad the rino’s poop where and when they are told.

sickofrinos (44de53) — 1/27/2012 @ 3:32 am

The climate will not harm us for a long time.

And not recycling does not cause gorebull warming.

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 3:37 am

Hybrid cars also are not that great for the environment.

They burn up which could add CO2 to the environment.

Using lefty logic against leftys.

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 3:53 am

So what is left, if anything, of the “I was a warrior in the Reagan Revolution” meme? I’m not asking this rhetorically or snarkily, but as a genuine question that perhaps a Gingrich supporter can help educate me about.

Comment by Beldar —

Just as Mitt Romney, who has admitted Newt can much more claim to be a member of that revolution than mitt. Perfect is the enemy of the good, and Newt is the best one to vote for if you’re looking for a return to Reagan/Bush.

His big mouth gave some very dishonest people opportunity to make awful ads about Newt, even when he praised Reagan while asking for MORE of the things Reagan believed in. This problem is a liability for Newt. Many of his comments can be used in ads. Some out of context, some completely honestly presented.

But at the end of the day, a man asking Reagan to balance the budget and fight the cold war with confidence is hardly a problem for me.

Newt’s got problems, but this is actually helping reassure me. I grant Newt was but a new congressman in the 1980s and obviously did not lead the effort. In fact, he was a bit over the top, as you’d expect a freshman house member to be. But it’s good to know that then and now, he’s talking about balancing budgets first.

At least on the top priority, it appears we’ve found a guy who doesn’t flip flop.

It is unfortunate (but understandable) that a lot of reasonable conservatives just plain don’t like Newt. The same issue exists for Romney (I’m living proof). Hopefully we can work it out. I am open to a brokered convention that doesn’t result in Jeb Bush.

Dustin (7362cd) — 1/27/2012 @ 4:23 am

The world is not ovrpopulated no matter what the Ehrlich fanatics say.

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 5:11 am

overpopulated*

Sorry for my mistakes my hands got the better of me.

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 5:11 am

Re: post #61… Beldar…exactly! Some folks see what they want to see. Histrionics… feigned anger… these leave wounds and scars and create sound bites that define campaigns?

Time for a reality check, folks.

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/27/2012 @ 5:41 am

This is what is troubling some of you… read it and weep, my friends…

“Tonight’s Republican presidential debate on CNN was the last one before the Florida primary as well as the last one for almost a month. That made it critical for New Gingrich, the man whose candidacy has largely depended on success in debates to do well tonight. But instead of another triumph in which he was able to use attacks on the moderators and his rivals, Gingrich came out flat. While there is little doubt that Rick Santorum did the best of any of the candidates tonight and Ron Paul had a few good jokes, the real winner was Mitt Romney who attacked Gingrich relentlessly and with good effect.

Gingrich’s poor performance not only undermines his argument that he would trounce Barack Obama in debates but also squandered what might be his last chance to turn the momentum of the race around. Gingrich’s usual trick of turning on the moderator flopped. So did his attacks on Romney. Along with Gingrich, Romney took a pounding from Santorum but even that worked to his benefit. Any votes Santorum gains in Florida will be at Gingrich’s expense. The Jacksonville debate may have sealed Gingrich’s fate in Florida and perhaps the entire race.”

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2012/01/26/last-debate-before-florida-sunk-gingrich/

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/27/2012 @ 5:53 am

Projection.

I love the left saying the polar ice caps are melting and we will be flooded in 2012 when they are not.

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 5:54 am

My apologies for linking something so off-topic but I think it’s interesting: Canadian oil could reach Texas by June using a patchwork of existing pipelines that would not need President Obama’s approval.

DRJ (a83b8b) — 1/27/2012 @ 6:16 am

Pro-Tip: if you don’t act like a respectable president you won’t be respected as a president

happyfeet (3c92a1) — 1/27/2012 @ 6:29 am

and one thing you know about Romney and Gingrich – their enthusiastic participation in this tawdry and embarrassing process is that neither one of them have a shred of what normal real people would call dignity

what were 100% assured of is that for at least four more years our pitiful little White House will be graced by a whore

happyfeet (3c92a1) — 1/27/2012 @ 6:42 am

DRJ, that’s wonderful news about the oil! Thanks for telling us.

Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (1adf4d) — 1/27/2012 @ 6:51 am

Colonel Haiku,

I’ve been perplexed by the intensity and hostility of your comments in recent weeks. You’re just as worried about what kind of President Romney will make, aren’t you?

DRJ (a83b8b) — 1/27/2012 @ 6:52 am

why is it the macaca post is just now figuring out that Ron Paul is a filthy racist?

they nailed Perry within days after he announced

I think it’s cause they enjoyed forcing the Rs to share a stage with this fruitcake

happyfeet (3c92a1) — 1/27/2012 @ 6:54 am

Haiku what you’re missing from that is Newt’s essential nature.

It’s the concert attack of friendly fire that got to him.

I have to go to the Garden Ridge to get a vase
for my kid’s art project so pardon me for pasting in what I wrote over at Ace’s a few minutes ago:

There’s no one resorting to Newt who doesn’t know that he’s undisciplined and susceptible to a concert attack via friendly fire. He’s that way. It’s understood.

Mitt is similar. though. he got seriously ruffled and pocket in the hands when he felt it all slipping away….but he just gets kind of irritable and some one got to HIM too…with good advice for making the jeebies fade.

“Not worth getting angry about.” If my party has come to this… it’s the end of America. If you aren’t angry about ORomnacare and your future VAT just walk right up that chute.

A quick slide in to nationalized health care and Herd medicine. Welcome to your veterinary future.

sarahw (b0e533) — 1/27/2012 @ 6:56 am

Happyfeet indeed they did. Some how his silver dimes were the Tea Party Dream that shot Giffords

sarahw (b0e533) — 1/27/2012 @ 6:57 am

“Not worth getting angry about.”

I’m not willing to vote for Romney anymore sarah. I voted for the cowardly whore Team R nominated last time but this time around I’m going to maintain a semblance of dignitah.

happyfeet (3c92a1) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:00 am

Haiku – more to the point Newt with backing or momentum is hard to stop. Newt being attacked by his own is more dispiriting to such an ego driven person than an energizing dem punchdown.

Mitt on the other hand is nothing but disciplined and they will train him.

It’s just that Mitt doesn’t think Ocare is “worth getting angry about” I think he was gliding along nicely there and then shot himself and bled out.

sarahw (b0e533) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:01 am

“I’ve been perplexed by the intensity and hostility of your comments in recent weeks.”

DRJ – I think there is a simple answer, the level and hostility of comments directed at Romney, but that’s just my opinion.

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:03 am

I’ve been perplexed by the intensity and hostility of your comments in recent weeks. You’re just as worried about what kind of President Romney will make, aren’t you?

Comment by DRJ —

I’m partly to blame for this, perhaps. A few, including myself, have been ramping up the argument about some of the ugliness, basically since it hit Daniels, then Pawlenty, then Perry. The Not Romneys are used to ugliness, and the Romney fans have been debating, and I think now a lot of folks are just in a rut of hostility.

Sometimes, it’s hard to tell the difference between long time conservative commenters and outright mobies trying to ceaselessly troll.

It would be better if everyone could settle down and realize both Newt and Romney are nothing worth getting to intense over.

Sarah W is 100% right that some of the policies being discussed indeed are, and I agree with her that Newt makes more sense for conservatives having concern about the direction we’re headed in.

But let’s not get so loyal to any of these politicians. I’ve done that, a lot of others have done that, and it’s getting close to the time where we all need to work together.

Dustin (7362cd) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:04 am

I am sorry about my typos. “too intense” is what I meant to say.

And if you’re not intensely motivated to thwart policies like Obamacare, you haven’t been paying attention, or you are liberal.

Dustin (7362cd) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:07 am

This is an open thread.

By the way that Oil will cause gorebullshat warming.

Honestly Al Manwhore typed that on his computer at his massive mansion with a carbon footprint that would make the duchess of york blush.

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:09 am

104. With you Feets, another lying POS is going to make Amerikkka a better place to bring youngsters into this world.

Riehl:

“Yesterday was a despicable day in American politics given the Romney/GOP garbage dump on former Speaker Newt Gingrich – and he wasn’t even my guy. That the GOP sycophants and Team Romney will demonstrate absolutely no shame over it makes it abundantly clear that a GOP with Mitt Romney at the helm is unfit to govern America.”

Go your own way GOP, buh bye.

gary gulrud (1de2db) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:26 am

Santorum should be paying close attention to what has happened to Perry. Then Gingrich. He is next.

JD (318f81) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:27 am

DRJ… good news on the use of existing pipelines for that oil.

It’s basically a case of what daley just wrote. All one has to do is read nearly every one of these threads to see the hostility vented against Romney. I have confidence that, if he’s fortunate enough to win the nomination and subsequent election, he will be a good president, because I believe him to be a good man. A man with the talent he can put to use toward sound economic policy based on real-life business experience and the wisdom to accept counsel from experienced, knowledgeable advisers. He is of good, sound character. He is an honest fellow.

Have you ever noted that hostility? Or commented on that hostility? If you have, perhaps I didn’t notice it and that would be my failing.

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:33 am

110… Riehl fails to notice the opp dump on Romney and, in that, reveals HIS agenda.

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:35 am

106. “the level and hostility of comments directed at Romney”

Teabaggers are bomb throwing terrorists, ungovernable purists. What we need in a divided America is a return to civility and Congressional comity, mutual respect for the opposing view.

Ignore those who are upset, OWS or TEAs, we are all America and we all need to live together.

Vote for Mitt because he’s dispassionate, competent and the strong horse.

I think Putin would be more honest with me and is by that standard a better pick.

/sarc off

gary gulrud (1de2db) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:38 am

perhaps you can ask Putin to wear his “magic underwear” while riding bareback, squarehead.

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:39 am

113. Half truths versus flat out lies? Moral equivalence.

gary gulrud (1de2db) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:42 am

Americans prefer divided government. We have every prospect for a Token Progressive Congress to continue gridlock, perhaps shutdown government, impeach the Traitor, while the global economy comes to a grinding halt.

Tell us again what a brave new world a Progressive Executive(as opposed to Bolshevik) and Progressive Congress would be.

gary gulrud (1de2db) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:48 am

disinterring that nasty statist whore Bob Dole was the last straw really

happyfeet (3c92a1) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:53 am

If a Mitt supporter says something alone in a forest are they still wrong?

Patterico commentariat dogpile says yes.

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/27/2012 @ 8:29 am

If a mitt supporter says something alone in a forest are they still wrong?

Not always daley.

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 8:32 am

Stop with the magic underwear bullshite.

[note: released from moderation. –Stashiu]

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 8:33 am

Romney voted for Carter over Reagan?

No one tells me anything.

happyfeet (3c92a1) — 1/27/2012 @ 8:33 am

79 & 81

At least one of them (“Newt 1988: ‘If Bush runs as continuation of Reaganism he will lose’… “) was a proven fabrication.

– Uh, and the “fabrication” part is WHERE?

Over here at Riehl’s World, via a link on the last Patterico thread.

Kevin M (563f77) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:00 am

Yes he did.

Romney panders to illegals Newtron Bomb.

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:07 am

Perhaps Romney’s weakest moment was the visionfail regarding space. When he suggested that Wall Street and Fortune 100 companies would tell space entrepreneurs to piss up a rope, he forgets why those companies are so bad at start-ups.

The folks who put the US back into space are right now at CalTech, MIT and Harvard, worried that they’re “missing it.” Not at Goldman Sachs. And none of them would work for Mitt Romney.

Kevin M (563f77) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:08 am

The democraps take care of the illegals over the middle class.

DohBiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:09 am

what were 100% assured of is that for at least four more years our pitiful little White House will be graced by a whore

Reagan called it the “world’s second-oldest profession”. I presume he had a reason.

Kevin M (563f77) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:13 am

At least whores give out money.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:14 am

It’s interesting that there’s a pattern from a few of going absolutely insane if someone offers an opinion such as “Romney increased taxes too much”, but then go way overboard defending provable lies, such as the ridiculous distortions of what Newt said about the Reagan administration.

Such folks often claim to be objective instead of admitting they have taken a side, which is not as persuasive as admitting they are in the tank. Everyone who has been paying attention is somewhat in the tank for one guy or another, and arguing accordingly. Some manage to be fair to both sides, but everyone is on a side.

I think one thing to watch out for is thinking your opinions are so right, and others’ so wrong, that you are essential objective even though you spend 99% of your time telling 99% of folks they are 100% wrong.

Just a pitfall. We’ve all seen the destruction of one conservative after another, until the only conservative left standing happens to be less conservative than the ones already destroyed. It’s as though the media and the liberal Republicans work together to trash candidates according to how conservative they are. In reality, this is accidental, but both are hostile to the rightmost guys, the most.

We need a better class of pundits. Drudge has ruined his reputation.

Dustin (7362cd) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:14 am

Romney voted for Carter over Reagan?

End.of.career.

Kevin M (563f77) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:16 am

Rush is at this moment telling us Abrams at best has been had, ‘Dowdifying’ Newt’s speech as a direct quote when he was paraphrasing Kirkpatrick.

The narrative is from a Lord piece this morning, 5 pages, which is the somurce Rush is working from.

Their working assumption is Abram’s was supplied the fodder and acted stupidly and uncharacteristally in torpedoing Gingrich.

Not a good judge of horseflesh.

gary gulrud (1de2db) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:20 am

Michael Reagan’s point that Romney supported Walter Mondale and Jimmy Carter seems devastating to me, but what do I know? I thought Romneycare and the hellacious gun tax were devastating and apparently they weren’t.

BTW, I am a huge fan of sweater vests. They are a sign of wisdom. Just sayin’

Dustin (7362cd) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:21 am

WSJ is not entirely behind the Candidate:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204661604577185371874151982.html?mod=rss_opinion_main

Even though Laura reports the Right considers Neut, 80% to 68%, the more experienced, and plainly the more able to address their sensibilities, Romany is still paraded about as the most ‘electable’.

gary gulrud (1de2db) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:25 am

Seems a Romany shill has deep-sixed their prior support for a continued presence in Space:

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/227901/lunacy-our-retreat-space/charles-krauthammer

Zany.

gary gulrud (1de2db) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:29 am

“Such folks often claim to be objective instead of admitting they have taken a side”

Right, when Romney increases fees they are taxes, but when the candidate supported by the same commenter implements fee increases they are ignored for the purposes of the candidate’s claims not to have increased taxes. Objectivity flies out the window depending on who you support. Beware of such pitfalls.

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:30 am

I don’t care who wins so long as Ann and Jenny are out pounding the pavement to maintain their latte habit.

gary gulrud (1de2db) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:32 am

Romany is still paraded about as the most ‘electable’.

Comment by gary gulrud

Those worried Newt is not electable are justified. Entirely justified.

Those insisting Romney is electable need to consider how soft Romney’s support is that he lost 30 points in SC. That is not normal.

Dustin (7362cd) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:35 am

134. If I failed, in my criticism of T-Paw, to mention that he raised fees and claimed to have held the line on taxes, then I apologize.

It was a target-rich environment and I was loading my own.

gary gulrud (1de2db) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:38 am

Who did better than Pawlenty in this primary? Bachmann, Huntsman, Cain.

Pawlenty is with Dole and Mccain in their agreement that Romney is electable.

Kinda makes ya wonder.

Dustin (7362cd) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:41 am

Riehl:

“Yesterday was a despicable day in American politics given the Romney/GOP garbage dump on former Speaker Newt Gingrich – and he wasn’t even my guy. That the GOP sycophants and Team Romney will demonstrate absolutely no shame over it makes it abundantly clear that a GOP with Mitt Romney at the helm is unfit to govern America.”

So Dan Riehl says a deceptively edited clip is “despicable” makes Romney “unfit”. Does anyone know what Riehl wrote about Newt’s “King of Bain” ads that were blatantly false and a Michael Moore-level smear?

Kaisersoze (298188) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:46 am

Kaiser, you’re quite right.

It’s unfair to take this debunked attack too far.

All it shows is that many pundits were very dishonest or at best, incompetent. It shows the negativity of the race.

If we can’t elect dishonest politicians, then I guess we all have to vote Santorum (I disagree too much with him on policy).

Dustin (7362cd) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:50 am

I agree Dustin. I think its good to take a small step back and think about primaries always being rough and tumble. This one is probably less so than most.

Reasonable people are going to disagree on picking the true conservative over the electable candidate, but the question will be answered in a month or so and all of us will crawl over broken glass to support the winner over Obama.

Kaisersoze (298188) — 1/27/2012 @ 10:00 am

At least whores are reliable.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 10:20 am

Gingrich’s bain ad is typical of him.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 10:30 am

What about people who can’t get a job for real?

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 10:53 am

You know you don’t need to own a gun in order to believe in the 2nd amendment.

Some people don’t like guns because of some traumatic event involving guns.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 11:02 am

141. “all of us will crawl over broken glass to support the winner over Obama.”

Hardly. WOF is preparing a mini-documentary on MassCare designers working with the Feds to have the project bankrolled on the backs of the 57 states.

The Elites may get their Mitty or their Jeb but but they they’ll need to buy me.

I am almost as likely to stay bought as Doh’s whores. Ok, the one’s to which he refers without actually having made their acquaintance.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 11:38 am

139. “Does anyone know..” Please enlighten us.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 11:39 am

let Jeb Bush crawl his fat snotty ass over some glass then come talk to me

happyfeet (3c92a1) — 1/27/2012 @ 11:42 am

Let Jeb Bush pose nude for playgirl then we can talk.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 11:45 am

WTF, biden.

One of the problems we face is that if a politician postures, preens and shouts the “right” things, many people on the Right will think that politician to be the perfect “conservative”. They value the fellow who goes full attack mode, because they think that signifies that politician really cares deeply about the issues. They also took much offense at the hate and invective hurled at the last administration, and that Republicans, in general, were subjected to over the course of GWB’s two terms. I did, as well.

Our offended conservative brethren would like nothing more than to turn all that sickness, all that hate and invective back around on the Left… and in spades. But I don’t want to be like the people on the other side, because I know that we are better than that.

I’ll support a cool, calm, collected guy who analyzes the opposition’s weaknesses and prepares a deliberate and suitable offense over a bombastic, overly-exhuberant narcissist any day of the week. Especially when that character-deficient narcissist has supported Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, global warming cap n’ trade, Medicare Part “D”, embryonic stem cell research, and amnesty for a large number of illegal immigrants.

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/27/2012 @ 12:18 pm

>:]

Gotta love the eurotrash left that trash Margaret Thatcher.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 12:25 pm

They value the fellow who goes full attack mode, because they think that signifies that ~~politician~~ commenter really cares deeply about the issues.

Comment by Colonel Haiku — 1/27/2012 @ 12:18 pm

FIFY

Kevin M (563f77) — 1/27/2012 @ 12:48 pm

“sarahw, consider carefully whether you may be projecting something onto Romney that he didn’t intend, and that would have been completely irrational for him to intend.”

Beldar, I just saw the above. Of COURSE he meant to put down Santorum, who was aggressive all evening. Mitt has a lot invested in the mythology of being “unflappable”, calm, whatever. He meant to rattle S.

But its one of those situations where the deadly truth just pours out of a self inflicted cut.

Because telling Santorum to settle with “it’s not worth getting angry about” actuall reflects a truth – Romney does not think it is worth getting angry about. After all, he is responsible for its worst bits.

Mitt proves he neither comprehends nor shares anger at Obamacare and certainly not difficulty he might create in repealing it. His choice of taunts is in “O no he didn’t” territory because it underscored his being ok with Ocare.

No one who comprehended let alone shared that anger would dare say “it’s not worth getting angry about”. He’s still defending it. He believes in it. He’s ready to accept it. He’s realistic. He’s not “angry”.

Harey Carey (b0e533) — 1/27/2012 @ 12:50 pm

Oh that’s me giving away my sock gosh darn it.

Sarahw (b0e533) — 1/27/2012 @ 12:51 pm

At least one of them (“Newt 1988: ‘If Bush runs as continuation of Reaganism he will lose’… “) was a proven fabrication.

– Uh, and the “fabrication” part is WHERE?

Over here at Riehl’s World, via a link on the last Patterico thread.
Comment by Kevin M — 1/27/2012 @ 9:00 am

— Kevin, the point is Newt said what you quoted above, and was wrong in his assessment. H.W. Bush did run as a “continuation of Reaganism” and won BECAUSE of it.

Icy (8ddb53) — 1/27/2012 @ 12:58 pm

Haiku, the word you’re looking for is “bloodless.”

Sarahw (b0e533) — 1/27/2012 @ 1:02 pm

AND, as is rightly pointed out in the Riehl piece, went on to praise “Reaganism”. So how does this logic fly:
‘Going down this path and enacting these policies was good for the nation . . . we shouldn’t do that anymore'(?)

Icy (8ddb53) — 1/27/2012 @ 1:04 pm

Flroida is better than NY IMO.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 1:06 pm

It wasn’t a fabrication. The 1986 quote was mnore of a fabrication. Somebody’s been working on this for a lonmg tiem, months not weeks.

Newt Giongrich saids that becausde (it comes through) his idea that whatever applied to one elction won’t apply to another. It’s always a new day accoirdinbg to his thinking.

And he wasn’t really wrong about Bush losing. I am not sujre what the polls showed in April 1988 but I know later polls showed Bush losing. Bush did not win as Reagan’s third term. Not exactly.

He had to go around and paint Michael Dukakis as an extreme liberal, which was not wrong, but he did it in a clumsy way and oversimplified, soi taht sometimes he wound up with half truths when he could have told the whole truth.

Michael Dukakis himself proved it by some things he said. In the debates and outside of it.

Dukakis had to be painted this way because the default assumption was not quite like that among a lot of voters. You don’t start off thinking that a random Democrat – a part let’s say whose candidates you voted for before – is a supporter of a number of assorted crazy positions, but that was the truth. Since about 1966.

Remember “card carrying member of the ACLU” (which Dukakis had actually said)

And the Pledge of Allegiance?

Sammy Finkelman (d3daeb) — 1/27/2012 @ 1:09 pm

Why doesn’t Doprah help the poor and middle class?

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 1:12 pm

Bush did run as a “continuation of Reaganism”

I guess it’s possible that you missed the whole “kinder, gentler” meme and the “thousand points of light” thing. Not to mention his dissing of “the vision thing”, which was pretty much Reagan’s hallmark.

Kevin M (563f77) — 1/27/2012 @ 1:15 pm

It wasn’t a fabrication.

Perhaps, in the sense that words taken out of context were, indeed, spoken and even spoken in the sequence presented. But the meaning imparted IS a fabrication in the most literal sense.

Kevin M (563f77) — 1/27/2012 @ 1:17 pm

Persona Nongrata:

“Newt Gingrich, if he does nothing else, did more for the conservative movement and to stop the liberal Democrats in the House of Representatives than virtually everybody today who’s criticizing him.”

I suspect that means “everybody” in the cumulative sense.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 1:46 pm

Just to review Last’s article at the Weekly Standard Staples was founded by two veterans of grocery chains that became fast friends and tried the model with office supplies.

They shopped for venture capital to scale up their effort and Bain provided the fourth largest stake at $650K.

So how many of today’s 89,000 jobs at Staples should Romney take credit for?

Like Feets says Romany’s signature qualification for POTUS is he really wants it.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 1:51 pm

Oh my god I just had nightmares about Sherri Shephard being a fat prostitute.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 2:27 pm

Hey Erin did the coal industry cause those womens tourette syndrome.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 2:35 pm

150.” I don’t want to be like the people on the other side, because I know that we are better than that.”

Irony meter pegged, and irreparably broken.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 2:35 pm

It is looking more and more like Palin will endorse Newt. Monday?

Kevin M (563f77) — 1/27/2012 @ 2:46 pm

168. ABR. I hope ingenues like Rubio get the message at that point, you can dally with the devil but at some point, when you drop your guard, you’re screwed.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 3:10 pm

Will the LDS gamble a billion on a guy who can’t convert the base?

sickofrinos (44de53) — 1/27/2012 @ 3:12 pm

Shorter Harey Carey – I believe Newt’s flip flops, but I do not believe Romney’s consistent positions on Obamacare, just because.

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/27/2012 @ 3:18 pm

the LDS shouldn’t want the first mormon president to be a nasty coward anymore than blacks should have wanted the first black president to be an incontinent rapist I don’t think

happyfeet (3c92a1) — 1/27/2012 @ 3:21 pm

Well after what Univision with Marco’s cousin, after
the attack by Francia-Roig, the ‘nudge, nudge’ has
been put into place.

Meanwhile we have to do something about these violent tea partiers, wait what?

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/01/breaking-tennessee-man-arrested-for-making-death-threats-against-sheriff-joe-arpaio-and-his-family/

narciso (87e966) — 1/27/2012 @ 3:24 pm

The $200,000.00 non religious group that is Romney’s base has their work cut out for them.

sickofrinos (44de53) — 1/27/2012 @ 3:33 pm

174. He’s not getting a vote at our house in Purple MN. I don’t know where his 270 is coming from and no one bother’s to count for any one but Generic Republican.

Romney’s polling well behind that guy/gal.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 3:39 pm

Bet the farm, sickofrinos.

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/27/2012 @ 4:07 pm

The Lashing Out Newt today is very amusing. The deck was stacked. It’s not fair.

ha ha ha ha HA!

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/27/2012 @ 4:11 pm

Palin has a facebook post up. Gloves are off.

” I question whether the GOP establishment would ever employ the same harsh tactics they used on Newt against Obama. I didn’t see it in 2008. Many of these same characters sat on their thumbs in ‘08 and let Obama escape unvetted. Oddly, they’re now using every available microscope and endoscope – along with rewriting history – in attempts to character assassinate anyone challenging their chosen one in their own party’s primary. So, one must ask, who are they really running against?”

Why, fly-over Amerikkka, who else?

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 4:19 pm

gulrud and Dohbiden fiercely competing for the ice sitting contest win. Also helps to cool their fevered brains.

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/27/2012 @ 4:23 pm

Colonel- No chance, There is no one in the field I would bet on.

sickofrinos (44de53) — 1/27/2012 @ 4:30 pm

Rat Scratch Fever, daley.

michellemalkin Newsflash/flashback: It’s NOT just “Beltway establishment” that has serious concerns about Newt. http://t.co/RO9ItQbn

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/27/2012 @ 4:31 pm

Perhaps you should throw your sombrero in the ring, sickofrinos.

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/27/2012 @ 4:32 pm

You be my v.p.

sickofrinos (44de53) — 1/27/2012 @ 4:33 pm

michellemalkin Reminders for my friend @SarahPalinUSA: http://t.co/V8j3I708 * http://t.co/ZaN6oOun * http://t.co/FCMenuuf

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/27/2012 @ 4:34 pm

Palin is right but a big part of it is how Romney uses his money to turn people into his personal whores like he did to poor Nikki Haley

happyfeet (3c92a1) — 1/27/2012 @ 4:35 pm

179. Unlike your cohort, you are capable of a reasoned argument from facts that are not in dispute.

The fact that you don’t leaves but one conclusion.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 4:36 pm

“I question whether the GOP establishment would ever employ the same harsh tactics they used on Newt against Obama. I didn’t see it in 2008.”

In 2008 it was racist to attack Obama, now, not so much.

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/27/2012 @ 4:39 pm

Newton Leroy Gingrich on 1/26/12: “I’m willing to call a truce.”

Spanish translation: “No mas, por favor.”

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/27/2012 @ 4:39 pm

“The fact that you don’t leaves but one conclusion.”

186. The fact that you can only arrive at one conclusion makes your reasoning skills deeply suspect.

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/27/2012 @ 4:42 pm

“I question whether the GOP establishment would ever employ the same harsh tactics they used on Newt against Obama. I didn’t see it in 2008.”

Palin fails to mention that one of the most notable cowards was the same John McCain she endorsed for senate a short time later

happyfeet (3c92a1) — 1/27/2012 @ 4:42 pm

184. “Gingrich Alinskyed the locals?”

Michelle is a little unfocussed. Newt tried to curry favor with the fixer Reynolds and got badly burned.

Palin had a better track record than the RNCC, blowing fortunes to lose handily.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 4:48 pm

Interesting take on last night’s debate from Jay Nordlinger…

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/289460/gop-quartet-once-more-jay-nordlinger

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/27/2012 @ 4:56 pm

The true level of the mendacity of Mitten’s minions
are awesome to see;

http://spectator.org/blog/2012/01/27/elliott-abrams-caught-misleadi

narciso (87e966) — 1/27/2012 @ 5:11 pm

‘never mind’ as Emily Litella might say;

http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/reuters-embarassing-rubio-hit-piece/341181

narciso (87e966) — 1/27/2012 @ 5:19 pm

Gary my irony meter exploded.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 5:24 pm

Scott Johnson, The Engine behind Powerline, shares some thoughts about Newt Gingrich, comparing Newton’s grandiosity to Richard M. Nixon…

“…More significantly, Nixon’s presidency was intellectually grandiose, chock full of ambitious, outside-the-box policy ideas. The list includes wage-price controls, a negative income tax, racial quotas (the Philadelphia Plan), and outreach to Red China.

These policies had one thing in common – they came, more or less, from the playbook of Nixon’s enemies, not his supporters. Indeed, Nixon’s primary domestic policy adviser was a Democrat, Pat Moynihan, and his primary foreign policy adviser, Henry Kissinger, was considered a Rockefeller (i.e., liberal) Republican.

We can see the same tendency with Gingrich. In health care policy, he pushed the individual mandate. In environmental policy, he found common ground with Nancy Pelosi and John Kerry. His opposition to the surge in Iraq mirrored the nearly unanimous position of the left on this matter.

Adopting the ideas of one’s political adversaries is not the only possible result of political grandiosity, but it is the most natural. The grandiose thinker is not constrained by the limits of his faction’s ideology. Instead, he will want to break free of traditional ideology by synthesizing ideas across a broad spectrum. And the grandiose politician will dream of fundamentally transforming the political landscape by building a broad new coalition. This dream will likely lead to significant forays into the policy terrain of the opposition.”

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2012/01/on-gingrich-and-grandiosity.php

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/27/2012 @ 5:40 pm

Shout it… shout it, shout it out loud!

Gene Simmons: KISS rocker endorses Romney, says women won’t support Gingrich

http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/hollywoodland/2012/01/27/gene-simmons-romney-smart-enough-to-avoid-tax-burden/

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/27/2012 @ 5:42 pm

And one remembers three years ago, Simmons endorsed Obama, ‘how’d that hope and Change work out for you’

narciso (87e966) — 1/27/2012 @ 5:48 pm

Anybody got anything bad to say about Obama? That might be a fun diversion for a change.

elissa (e9929d) — 1/27/2012 @ 5:48 pm

You mean besides a being a soulless ignorant arrogant left wing wardhealer, with a vast retinue
of hangers on and sycophants, is that the general gist.

narciso (87e966) — 1/27/2012 @ 5:52 pm

A good start narciso. What else ya got?

elissa (e9929d) — 1/27/2012 @ 5:53 pm

Simmons regretted it.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 6:02 pm

that huge, sucking sound
vortex swirls ’round black hole
Barack Obama

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/27/2012 @ 6:20 pm

Here ya go, narciso… Jeffrey Lord’s distortion…

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/289558/jeffrey-lords-distortion-rich-lowry

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/27/2012 @ 6:26 pm

the question was much in the way of public diplomacy, where only the likes of Negroponte
we were willing to push administration projects,
where as Thomas Enders pushed for accomodations with the Sandinistas,

A little context;

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/285573/newts-moon-mines-rand-simberg

narciso (87e966) — 1/27/2012 @ 6:41 pm

Gene Simmons isn’t too smart.

He did vote for Obama and regretted it a little too late.

Women won’t vote for a babykiller apologist like Romney.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:07 pm

He’s strongly pro Israel, that’s what that tack of his, surprised me,

narciso (87e966) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:12 pm

Wow. After all I’ve read here and elsewhere, I find it very difficult in good conscience to support either Romney or Gingrich.

I’ve got to seriously consider other alternatives.

Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (50f921) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:22 pm

Women won’t support Gingrich? I think the opposite is true.

Sarahw (b0e533) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:25 pm

Don’t let a lowly peon like myself sway you.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:32 pm

White supremacists and muslims are partners.

So criticizing Islam doe snot make you one unless your screaming about them being back stabbing.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:35 pm

does not*

I keep making grammar errors forgive me.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:37 pm

OWS would not be protesting Wall Street if they prostrated itself in front of obama and became his attack dog.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/27/2012 @ 7:40 pm

206. Wha? Pulled? Or Lord distorted nothing?

The link has no text body.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:23 pm

211. It’s Romany who’s lagging with the ladies, and the youth.

It’s the codgers like me, fat and sassy, forgetting their pills and their plans for the day, that are for Greasy.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:27 pm

210. Well, like you said the other day, there’s Ron Paul–consistency is an important component of integrity.

You might have forgotten the /sarc tag tho.

Frankly, ABO is just the nail the ‘electability’ shibboleth hangs on. If the GOP had any spine whatever they would just close the Federal doors and fleabag to Belize.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:38 pm

So who’s tongue is longer, Gene’s or Jennifer Biel’s.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:43 pm

201. Conceived in darkness, Lord of the Flies dabbles in Santeria and a good stroll spoiled, golf; shout’s “In da hole” and “You da man” at improbable provocation; lies half-asleep most of the night, eyes rolled up into his head, dreaming dreams of how he’s going to f*ck whitey in the morning.

Franklin raised him to know this was his destiny.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 9:57 pm

206. Unlike a certain hunchbacked Abby Normal Nikky seems to have had second thoughts and is busily rewriting:

http://www.riehlworldview.com/carnivorous_conservative/2012/01/rich-lowrys-post-on-lords-alleged-distortion-down-the-memory-hole.html

Wall-eyes and clubfeet make editing and running to the printer and back hard goin’, eh Hai?

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 10:21 pm

Richie*

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 10:24 pm

I guess it’s possible that you missed the whole “kinder, gentler” meme and the “thousand points of light” thing. Not to mention his dissing of “the vision thing”, which was pretty much Reagan’s hallmark.
— “shining city upon a hill”, “thousand points of light”; tomāto, tomäto . . .

Perhaps, in the sense that words taken out of context were, indeed, spoken and even spoken in the sequence presented. But the meaning imparted IS a fabrication in the most literal sense.
— The meaning imparted by whom?

Icy (8ddb53) — 1/27/2012 @ 10:27 pm

It is looking more and more like Palin will endorse Newt. Monday?
Comment by Kevin M — 1/27/2012 @ 2:46 pm

— The day before the primary? Doubtful; and, if true, unfortunate.

Icy (8ddb53) — 1/27/2012 @ 10:35 pm

Will the LDS gamble a billion on a guy who can’t convert the base?
Comment by sickofrinos — 1/27/2012 @ 3:12 pm

— Oh, Good Allah! What’s this guy going on about, now?

Icy (8ddb53) — 1/27/2012 @ 10:40 pm

201. ZeroHedge:

“in 2011, the US economy grew by 1.7%. It almost, but not quite, offset the growth of US debt held by the public, which grew at a brisk 11.3% pace in the past year…”

Courtesy the antiChrist(Predator laugh-after he launches his nuclear self-destruct).

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 10:42 pm

221. Tough to take Riehl seriously when he writes garbage like the following:

http://biggovernment.com/driehl/2012/01/25/saul-alinsky-and-the-romneys-progressive-activism/

Just makes it look like he learns at Mark Levin’s knee.

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/27/2012 @ 10:43 pm

Colonel- No chance, There is no one in the field I would bet on.
Comment by sickofrinos — 1/27/2012 @ 4:30 pm

— No kidding.

Icy (8ddb53) — 1/27/2012 @ 10:45 pm

225-You can’t beat obama unless you out spend him.
And the base is questioning his electability.
So where will the money come from? Allah.

sickofrinos (44de53) — 1/27/2012 @ 10:52 pm

227. Saying stuff makes it true.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 10:54 pm

Women won’t support Gingrich? I think the opposite is true.
Comment by Sarahw — 1/27/2012 @ 7:25 pm

— Just like you’re dead certain that Romney will not act to repeal Obamacare? Perhaps both candidates come from Bizarro World. Or maybe it’s not them . . .

Icy (8ddb53) — 1/27/2012 @ 11:07 pm

does not*
I keep making grammar errors forgive me.
Comment by Dohbiden — 1/27/2012 @ 7:37 pm

— No worries. “doe snot” was much funnier, anyway.

Icy (8ddb53) — 1/27/2012 @ 11:10 pm

227 “we’re all Alinsky now”

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 11:35 pm

“227. Saying stuff makes it true.”

230 – That seems to be Riehl’s approach.

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/27/2012 @ 11:46 pm

Recently the EU waved off elections in Italy and installed a Goldman Sachs vizier.

Next step looks to be Greece turning in the checkbook in return for its allowance stipend.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/silent-anschluss-germany-formally-requests-greece-hand-over-its-fiscal-independence

How apropos, getting it in the rear.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/27/2012 @ 11:48 pm

Romney can no longer win the nomination and still win the election. The Tea Party will stay home. Newt’s fokks will stay home. Romney has managed to be so evil and nasty that he has pissed off the base more than Obama has.

Quite a feat that.

Kevin M (563f77) — 1/27/2012 @ 11:48 pm

Icy – Some chicks like fat guys, or so I’m told.

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/27/2012 @ 11:49 pm

Romney is an evil, nasty, emotionless, animatronic plutocrat and the debil.

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/27/2012 @ 11:53 pm

The lies about Gingrich — just those posted on this blog by one single Romneytroll — are enough to make it so that happyfeet agrees with Palin.

Quite a feat that, too.

Kevin M (563f77) — 1/28/2012 @ 12:01 am

236. And if one has the effrontery to announce in an aparatchik’s hearing–one Texican abogado comes to mind–that the GOP play has always been thus:

We get our way or things stay the same.

Double jeopardy, now swallow, ingrate.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/28/2012 @ 12:03 am

238. ABO. Like Belial can have only one avatar at a time.

Mom didn’t teach you squat.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/28/2012 @ 12:11 am

Back in 2009, the Tea Party had 1 million people surrounding the capital as they passed Obamacare. The MSM ignored it.

Come August 27 in Tampa, what happens when they go to anoint Romney and 1 million Tea Party protesters are outside screaming F U? Will the MSM ignore that? Will the delegates?

The Romney folks had better lock down the winged monkeys really damn quick, and stop saying “oh my, we have no way to control them, oh my!” Because were we are at is not sustainable as one Party.

Kevin M (563f77) — 1/28/2012 @ 12:21 am

You can’t beat obama unless you out spend him.
And the base is questioning his electability.
So where will the money come from?

— So, you’re saying that, A) the LDS is Romney’s base; and, B) they must pony up a billion dollars, because the only way to beat Obama is to match him in spending.

Oookey-dokey then. “)

Icy (6f50d8) — 1/28/2012 @ 12:44 am

Romney is an evil, nasty, emotionless, animatronic plutocrat and the debil.
Comment by daleyrocks — 1/27/2012 @ 11:53 pm

— Henry Waxman should press charges for identity theft!

Icy (6f50d8) — 1/28/2012 @ 1:08 am

Waxman isn’t animatronic.

Kevin M (563f77) — 1/28/2012 @ 1:55 am

What I am saying is the $200,000.00 per year people and non religious people are his base. That won’t cut it. So will the Mormans pony up to get this man to the finish line. Lately it appears to me the candidate who spends the most wins. Got a Billion, thats what it is going to take. Mitt will not capture the small money people as they are out of money. Ante up romneybots.

sickofrinos (44de53) — 1/28/2012 @ 2:29 am

Voting for romneycare is voting for obamacare. It’s the same disaster. I just can’t jopin the party of Coulter.

sickofrinos (44de53) — 1/28/2012 @ 2:49 am

join

sickofrinos (44de53) — 1/28/2012 @ 2:50 am

From that link from Riehl,

http://stevedeace.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/March-21-1986-Freedoms-Future-The-Free-World-and-the-Soviet-Empire.pdf

recall that Iran Contra would be revealed that fall,
that the GOP would lose the Senate,

narciso (87e966) — 1/28/2012 @ 6:19 am

Icy,he is just fine with aspects of Ocare, including some of the worst, which he practically invented. Also, we get a VAT.

Sarahw (b0e533) — 1/28/2012 @ 6:20 am

246. Seems like a simple conclusion to me.

But then I find Newt’s NY-23 gambit, Pelosi coffee talk, Mandate balloon, etc., early sops to the Establishment hoping to find sympathetic ears among them.

At the time only Palin and Pawlenty had any visible effort to gain favors ahead of the 2010 election.

Newt totally missed the gathering storm, Pawlenty, working at the time, benefited but was about as out-of-touch with the hustings.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/28/2012 @ 6:25 am

Wonder why Princess didn’t buy Palin along with DC?

Seems like an oversight.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/28/2012 @ 6:29 am

Queen of the Moon? I nominate Sarahw… natural-born lunacy.

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/28/2012 @ 6:31 am

Reasons I have reservations, of course consider the source;

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/12/newt-gingrich-on-iraq-a-timeline-of-questionable-judgment/249904/

narciso (87e966) — 1/28/2012 @ 6:31 am

249. Lowry’s counter attack is back up at NRO. Why bother?

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/28/2012 @ 6:33 am

Read Rich Lowry’s article, narciso. If that doesn’t give you pause, well…

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/28/2012 @ 6:33 am

249. Kinda like Ollie North but the goof mistyping the Swiss Bank account number as destination for the Emir of Brunei’s $10 million was karma.

Fawn Hall was just eye candy.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/28/2012 @ 6:38 am

Toward the end, even Buckley had given up on Iraq,
this was was when everyone was missing the Anbar
awakening,

narciso (87e966) — 1/28/2012 @ 6:40 am

256. Read the comments if you can’t think for yourself.

Selectively editing a 7 page speech in rebuttal of a charge of ‘selective editing’ without mentioning the argument against the practice’s mendacious motivation is optics alone.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/28/2012 @ 6:43 am

Squarehead peg, round hole.

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/28/2012 @ 7:25 am

was not was, narciso…

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/28/2012 @ 7:25 am

______________________________________________

Romney has managed to be so evil and nasty that he has pissed off the base more than Obama has.

The strategic map you describe of November 2012 may be correct. But it’s hard to know whether a map for Gingrich wouldn’t twist and turn in its own way that would make his competitiveness against President “Goddamn America” just as difficult.

A major reason I can’t say for sure what that map is going to be like is because I truly don’t know how instinctively liberal the average voter is right now and whether such a voter is as turned off by Barry Soetero as I am. If I didn’t think so many people gave far more benefit of the doubt to liberalism and leftists than it or they deserve, I’d have full confidence that Jeremiah Wright’s former buddy would be booted out of the White House later this year.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of foolish people in society who treat politicians the same way they treat the stereotypical parent. IOW, “mommy” (in the image of a lovin’, warm, compassionate liberal) triggers people’s heart strings, while “daddy” (in the image of the no-nonsense, straitlaced, pro-disciplinarian conservative) is treated like “oh, oh, I’d rather not be around when he comes home from work!”

Also, in some ways if people of the right are truly disgusted by liberals and leftism, then their disdain for Obama, and picturing how much more damage he can do beyond 2012, will be uppermost in their mind, and they’ll vote for the alternative, no matter what. But there’s a weird sort of squishiness among a number of such folks too, or where their feeling of “my way or the highway” will be no less influential than dealing with “Goddamn America.”

Mark (411533) — 1/28/2012 @ 7:48 am

“Back in 2009, the Tea Party had 1 million people surrounding the capital as they passed Obamacare.”

Kevin M – How many people were protesting back in 2006 when Romneycare was passed? It still enjoys almost 2/3 support in Massachusetts, but there are no differences between the two plans, right?

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/28/2012 @ 7:53 am

Newt’s NY-23 gambit

At the time (before the witch defected), I understood this as saying “look, as a party we have to support the party’s nominees or we are not much in the way of a party.” I am beginning to understand the Tea Party’s attitude about “moderate” nominees.

Kevin M (563f77) — 1/28/2012 @ 9:04 am

The 10th Amendment – Nobody believes it when the candidates talk about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!11ty!!!!!!!!

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/28/2012 @ 9:37 am

How many people were protesting back in 2006 when Romneycare was passed? It still enjoys almost 2/3 support in Massachusetts, but there are no differences between the two plans, right?

Well, MA has only 2% of the population, so that would be 20K, not 1 million. Hard to say since there is no news coverage of such a protest. Doesn’t mean there wasn’t one.

As far as what the plan did, try this PBS NewsHour segment where they discuss this progressive event, and judge for yourself (video and transcript).

JIM LEHRER: Give us a short course then now on how they get there.

SUSAN DENTZER: Three major parts. One is: What do people have to do to have a different system than we have now? There’s always been debate about, do you have to make people do things? Do you have to make employers provide coverage? Do you have to make individuals buy it? Most states, even the nation, in the health care reform has said, no, we’re not going to make anybody do anything.

LEHRER: Can’t do that, yes.

SUSAN DENTZER: Massachusetts said, uh-uh, we have to stop this notion that it’s going to happen voluntarily. So individuals, for the first time — apparently, it is the first time anybody has ever proposed in a state that there be a requirement that individuals have coverage, just like auto insurance. But that’s exactly what Massachusetts is going to do…..

SUSAN DENTZER: It’s a hybrid. It’s very much a bipartisan plan. The Massachusetts legislature is overwhelmingly Democratic and this passed overwhelmingly. There was nobody voting against it in the Senate and only two dissenting votes in the House.

But there’s also a Republican governor, Mitt Romney. And this would not have happened without his input. He was pushing very hard on the individual mandate, on this notion of individuals must be responsible. That hasn’t usually been the liberal tact. Liberals are usually arguing that businesses have to be responsible….

JIM LEHRER: Is there something unique about Massachusetts that this will only work in Massachusetts? Or what do the experts tell you today about whether or not this is transferable to some other state?

SUSAN DENTZER: Well, that, of course, is the huge question. Those in Massachusetts say, as Massachusetts goes, so goes the nation in health insurance terms.

They look back on, say, a decision in 1996 that Massachusetts made to cover children in the state. And that, they say, led to the passage of the state children’s health insurance program at the federal level.

Similarly, they say that we’re lighting a fire here in Massachusetts that’s going to spread across the country.

Sounds pretty similar to me.

Kevin M (563f77) — 1/28/2012 @ 9:39 am

I should note that the above Newshour segment is from the day of the MA Plan’s passage in 2006.

Kevin M (563f77) — 1/28/2012 @ 9:42 am

Shocked I am:

http://legalinsurrection.com/2012/01/huckabee-was-referring-to-romney-in-the-if-a-mans-dishonest-clip/

Huckster is a toadie.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/28/2012 @ 10:09 am

Huck’s afraid that if he’s seen as a participant, he’s lose his rich gig on Fox.

Kevin M (563f77) — 1/28/2012 @ 10:21 am

Gulrud… Bennie the Cheese Grater is on his way, just thought I should warn ya…

Colonel Haiku (b486eb) — 1/28/2012 @ 10:21 am

A little text, that thing above the subtext

http://www.spacepolitics.com/2011/12/10/gingrich-romney-spar-on-space-in-iowa-debate/

narciso (87e966) — 1/28/2012 @ 10:26 am

Icy,he is just fine with aspects of Ocare, including some of the worst, which he practically invented. Also, we get a VAT.
Comment by Sarahw — 1/28/2012 @ 6:20 am

— Well, I told you to keep pounding the meme, and there you go! Guess I got what I asked for.

Icy (6f50d8) — 1/28/2012 @ 12:48 pm

Waaaaaaaaaaaah mommy Sarah is hurting my ego-Icy.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/28/2012 @ 1:11 pm

Dohbiden, do you think Romney is lying when be says he is going to act to repeal Obamacare? Do you think Sarah is telling the truth when she says that Romney is going to institute a VAT — something that he has never ever even proposed, let alone promised?

Icy (6f50d8) — 1/28/2012 @ 1:18 pm

http://hotair.com/archives/2011/12/27/romney-and-the-vat/

narciso (87e966) — 1/28/2012 @ 1:25 pm

Why didn’t Omoron stop the salahis?

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/28/2012 @ 1:32 pm

Narciso’s link will slap those delusions of Romney grandeur out of your head.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/28/2012 @ 1:34 pm

Second look at Hayworth?

http://hotair.com/archives/2012/01/28/mccain-lets-face-it-anti-mormonism-probably-played-a-role-in-romneys-south-carolina-loss/

narciso (87e966) — 1/28/2012 @ 1:36 pm

Let’s face it Tarpman John your outdated and washed up.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/28/2012 @ 1:38 pm

“Narciso’s link will slap those delusions of Romney grandeur out of your head.”

Doh – No, it’s old news that rehashes the WSJ article where Romney says he hasn’t been able to pencil out a VAT scheme that works but would not rule one out if somebody comes up with one.

As Romney predicts in the article, NotRomney demagogues shriek, Romney will impose a VAT!!!!!!

The sky is falling, a piece of it hit me on my head!

LOL

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/28/2012 @ 1:54 pm

Whatever.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/28/2012 @ 1:58 pm

Hmmmmmmmmmm the left has an interesting conundrum on it’s hands.

You either support eating Mcdonalds or allow people to have children.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/28/2012 @ 2:40 pm

He says he doesn’t “like the idea” of layering a VAT onto the current income tax system. But he adds that, philosophically speaking, a VAT might work as a replacement for some part of the tax code, “particularly at the corporate level,” as Paul Ryan proposed several years ago. What he doesn’t do is rule a VAT out.

— Oh . . . well then, it’s a slam-dunk sure thing. I stand corrected.

Icy (6f50d8) — 1/28/2012 @ 8:41 pm

That was sarcasm, Doh.

Icy (6f50d8) — 1/28/2012 @ 8:41 pm

No it was the inane ramblings of your fellow Romneybot.

The polar ice caps are not melting.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 1/28/2012 @ 10:39 pm

Don Surber:

“The Reuters/Ipsos online poll gave Romney 41 percent and Gingrich 33 percent ahead of Saturday’s contest.

This is the same Reuters/Ipsos pollsters who gave Mitt a 14-point lead in South Carolina a week before the election.”

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/29/2012 @ 2:41 am

Re: VAT.

The Feds currently spend 40-45% more than revenues.

Republican boilerplate asserts Corporate rates should be halved to 15% ideally zero. Capital gains–not to say carried interest–should be zero.

No one talks of cutting spending, except in terms of a decade, or more.

When a politician says they’re open to an idea of a tax raise it is rather more likely they’ll embrace a raise is certain, whereas if they say it is ‘off the table, dead, no way’, it is merely likely.

“Read my lips”.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/29/2012 @ 2:59 am

rather more than likely, it is certain

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/29/2012 @ 3:02 am

McLame and McConnell, and Jon Voight, were in Pensacola, trying to whip up Willard frenzy among the conservatives yesterday.

Hundreds came out to greet them.

No word on buses.

gary gulrud (d88477) — 1/29/2012 @ 3:14 am

I saw his rally in Panama City, on C-SPAN, rather pitiful, I saw the Newt Rally in Palm Beach, an unusual locale, that was more indicative than the polls.

chesley bonesteel (87e966) — 1/29/2012 @ 5:14 am

Ladies and gentleman, how can we compete with the Solon of Scranton;

http://www.mediaite.com/online/joe-biden-admits-he-advised-president-obama-not-to-carry-out-bin-laden-raid/

narciso (87e966) — 1/29/2012 @ 5:27 am

http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/01/the_debate_show.html

narciso (87e966) — 1/29/2012 @ 5:35 am

That’s our Sloe Joe — foreign policy genius!

Icy (4405f8) — 1/30/2012 @ 2:25 am

Slow Joe is so dumb even you look like a MENSA member Icy.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 2/3/2012 @ 4:43 pm

compared to him.

Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 2/3/2012 @ 4:57 pm

1/26/2012

Debate Open Thread

295 Responses to “Debate Open Thread”

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