E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSThe New York Times, like everyone else does, frames last night’s debate a clash between Perry and Romney. “A series of spirited exchanges between the two men, which revealed differences in substance and style, offered the first extensive look into the months-long contest ahead. They traded attacks on each other’s job creation records and qualifications to be president, overshadowing their opponents in the crowded Republican field.”
More: “On the eve of the president’s economic speech to a joint session of Congress, the debate here at the Ronald Reagan Museum and Library focused far more on the distinctions among the Republican candidates than on Mr. Obama’s handling of the economy.”
The L.A. Times: “Sharing a debate stage for the first time, Republicans Rick Perry and Mitt Romney sparred Wednesday night in a series of testy exchanges over jobs, Social Security and the proper tone of a candidate who presumes to lead the country.”
“Mr. Perry, the governor of Texas, used his first appearance in a nationally televised debate to introduce himself with Lone Star bravado, saying his state's strong job growth came from its commitment to low taxation and regulation. He questioned the science behind global warming and called Social Security a ‘Ponzi scheme,’” the Wall Street Journal says.
The Washington Post adds, "Although Perry has had relatively little experience in such a setting, he was at ease — and occasionally combative. The Texas governor appeared unflustered and unapologetic as he took fire on his record and on some of the inflammatory statements he has made."
The Times finds fault with many of the facts used at last night’s debate.
Leave a Comment:
The side-by-side images of Perry and Romney? Frightening...
Perry looks like a bad used car salesman.
Romney looks like the guy who just gave you a pink slip and sent your job to China.
I choose Obama....the only repub that stands a chance of getting dem votes is John huntsman.... but when given an opportunity to go after PERRY.... he punted... so he's one and done - yesterday was his last chance.
So given the choices we have... I emphatically choose Obama. BTW, Perry and most of the repubs just kept repeating lies after lies...
Also, did anyone else notice that Michelle Bachmann always answered the questions with irrelevant responses....she channeling Palin much - after this debate, I don't thik she's actually running for president, but for a position on Fox News - special correspondent?
So here are your choices "Obama, Perry or Romney" choose one... .there's no choice. You may not like Obama, but at least he aint crazy or changes his position with the wind.
You think Romney looks like Obama's job czar, Jeff Immelt?
Tunde, excellent points. Given the stranglehold Grover Norquist, the Koch Brothers, and others have on the GOP, there is simply no chance the Republicans will forward any suitable candidate. Even Huntsman has succumbed to the powers of the eminence grise in terms of principal policy matters.
Two things I got out of last night's debate:
- Mittless thinks he's running for "governor".
- Parry set off gaydar alarms thru out the viewing audience.
You think Romney looks like Obama's job czar
Actually he looks like one of president Reagan's Czars, who were front and center, way back when President Obama was still in college.
my thoughts exactly- what was really creepy last night is when mitt said that rick had executed over 200 prisoners over his term in office- the very rich republican audience applauded- all Icould picture was this group turning to the camera and grinning-
It sounded like a Nazi meeting.
To me they looked like they were all scared of each other. They'd better toughen up, when one of them has to go up against President Obama in a debate he isn't going to play kissey huggy with them.
Congress – Especially GOP Members – in the Spotlight After President’s Speech
President Obama
tonight puts the entire Congress on notice:
Work together to accomplish things for the good of the country, or face
the wrath of the American nation.
This includes members of his own party who carp about a
White House that has doggedly striven to build a consensus for actions that
will not only boost economic growth and job creation in America, but in the
process also contribute to global economic development.
But those Senators
and Representatives most under public scrutiny will be Republicans – especially
the hard-line devotees of the Tea Party.
As the nation discovers more about the Tea Party almost daily, the
hypocrisy and sheer cynicism of their positions becomes more evident and public
outrage about their obstructionist tactics spreads. Now revelation that the movement was in major
part orchestrated by the Koch Brothers in a series of secret meetings only
stokes the fires of voter resentment.
By enduring the insults of House Speaker Boehner with calm
diffidence, President Obama has moved determinedly to make the coming election
a referendum on not only his proposals, but also on the performance of
Congress. The President has boxed the
nay-sayers into a very, very tight corner.
His Labor Day speech plainly foreshadowed tonight’s address.
And the President also stakes out a significant difference
between his approach and that of the rigid right. While the right wing promotes an agenda that
would abandon traditional American values and the “social compact” crafted
between the people and government, the President shows he wishes to strengthen and
refresh the values that made a great nation.
Last night, all the
Republican presidential hopefuls basically agreed that the old policies of
Reagan, G.H.W. Bush and G.W. Bush are the ones they intend to apply, with an
even fiercer vengeance. They basically
all agreed that the achievements of President Obama, including
vitally-important health insurance reform, would be assaulted and undone. That’s an insult to the American voters, who
sent the President to office precisely to accomplish what he has despite Republican
obstructionism.
Worse still, it’s a Republican agenda that not only failed
miserably over the past 30 years, but nearly bankrupted the nation and caused
the Bush Recession.
The President is putting
Congress on notice, tonight. The American
nation is, and will be watching. Can the
Republicans recover enough of their past dignity and patriotic feeling to
decide to rise to the challenge President Obama will deliver?
Over the last 32 months Obama's policies have failed to improve the economy. The same thinking will not improve the economy in the next 16 months either.
Reaganomics resulted in the longest peacetime economic expansion in the history of the country.
Obamanomics has resulted in the longest economic downturn since the Great Depression.
I do not even try to convince those members of Obama's cult, like yourself, of his failures- but your constant attempts to twist success into failure, and failure into success, will not go unmet.
By all objective measures, Obama has failed. Tonight, he will
-exhort Congress to enact more of the same "stimulative" spending programs that have failed to stimulate anything but the debt- and his donors pockets,
-exhort Congress to pass three Free Trade bills he HAS NOT SUBMITTED,
- exhort congress to continue unemployment benefits on the flawed reasoning that such "stimulate demand"- which they, clearly, do not,
- exhort congress to continue the payroll tax cut that has, similarly, failed.
Cost? Well, no one really knows. It's purported to be $300 billion. Of course, this is Obama, so you can easily inflate that number to $500 billion- see the last stimulous plan, which started as $720 billion, and is now estimated to have cost $900 billion.
Obama wants a honeypot to attract donors to his futile reelection campaign. This new stimulous plan will enjoy the same popularity as the last one- actually, it might be even less popular, now that voters have proof that their reaction to the first was correct, not to mention the evidence that billions were spent to prop unions and pay off Obama donors.
Not only is Obama done, but, thanks to the concerted effort to drive moderates from the party, the Democratic Party is done. I can pretty much guarantee not one of the republican presidential candidates will do the resurrection job for the opposition that Obama did for the republicans.
Obama shelved in 2012.
no jo
you forget to mention that there were 3 other recessions since RayGun left prior to the 9great depression - will Raygun take credit for this too?
And you mention that Obama has presided over the longest recession since, but forgot to mention that it started under your guy Bush... and it very well looked to most economics that we may be headed for a another great depression... so rather than slamming Obama. can you give him credit of pulling us out of the brink - that way you still have a computer to spew your political ideology. :)
Well, no jo, I can't let your spin and lies go unmnet, either. But after this post, I am well and truly done with you.
Reaganomics was a massive failure.
http://www.americanpolitics.com/20020319Hersh.html
Reaganomics was a period of high taxation. From the same source:
President Obama, by contrast, came into office with unemployment rocketing and the economy in full crash mode. His programs and policies turned the nation around - his only mistake was in not going further with the original stimulus package.
No jo, wash your mouth out with soap.
Hi Tunde,
These forks on the right don't believe in fact checks.
I'll keep saying it. Ignore these trolls. All they want is your attention. That's why they keep lying and making things up.
Tunde and John,
Great effort, but you won't get a response from NJNB-NJ or JAS1 or Spanky (well, Spanky will probably attempt to denigrate you, but only addresses your questions with his own questions)...seems facts have an adverse effect on them.
Wasn't it Reagan's son that said it is evident that his father had symptoms of Alzheimer's during his presidency?
Tunde:
You can't prove a negative. No one knows if we would have gone into a depression because it didn't happen. All of these "IF's"....if a dog had a square azz, he would shyt blocks.
Liberal arguments are always loaded with "IF's" and "ASSumptions".
You say vote for Obama...WHY????? First of all, you were never going to vote Republican anyway. Second, you are not going to change anyone's mind in here. This whole room already know who they are going to vote for no matter what happens between now and November 2012.
You know as well as I do; the powers that be in the U.S. is not going to PUT Obama back in the WH. In their opinion he has served his purpose to rid them of their guilt. Those young kids that voted for him are 4 yrs older now and most have tasted the real world. They see the rock star did not have a job for them when they finished school.
Last nights debate will prove to be more interesting than tonights lecture from Obama. Money doesn't come from the tooth fairy. Somebody needs to explain this to Obama.
Money doesn't come from the tooth fairy
Someone in the Republican Party should be held accountable for putting two wars on the nation's credit card. The war hawks told us the invasion of Iraq would pay for itself, didn't happen. From their track record I'd say, Republican leaders are the least financially responsible people in this country.
Bush thought the war fairy was going to pay for the wars. That's why he didn't put them on the books.
LOL good one
Neither is electable ...touch social security or medicare and you are toast ...you two have helped create the system that allows the high cost of medical care ...so your friends could have bigger profits ...Also you both will get both medicare and social security its just called something different ....Lets get a pledge from all the congress & senate to give up their benefits and retirements ...like most of us had to do ! So we can see just how serious you all are about saving America !
Social Security and Medicare need reform. To survive, these programs have to change and or reformed. Soon, too few people will be paying into Social Security to fund the payouts. Medicare and Medicaid are a real issue and somethings needs to be done and soon.
Well, somebody better "touch" those programs, or they're going to be gone.
There is no question that the programs were, in fact, set up as Ponzi schemes- today's workers pay in to pay benefits for today's retirees- those at the top of the pyramid. Those paying in now are in exactly the same position as those in late to Ponzi's- that is, they pay in, but do not get any money back out.
Obama's solution? Cut the amount of money going in.
It only makes sense in Obamaland, where the skies are always plaid, the stimulous worked, and Unicorns provide all the cheap, green energy anyone will ever need.
njnb, you're posts are as lame as your candidates. Full of vitriol and no substance. Have you ever had a creative thought? An idea for improvement that hasn't already been debunked? NJ may be too civilized for you, ever think of moving to Texas? I think you'll fit right in with the other loonies down there. Your pointless criticism says a lot. But mostly it just says mindless republican troll.
Folks I heard this same thing 40 years ago about Social Security. The republicans said it wouldn't be there for 20 and 30 year old. Well guess what I'll start drawing it this year. This is the easiest way for the tea people GOP republicans to try and distract us. If the media would go back and look at what happened 40 years ago, they'd feel stupid they are falling for it again. Social Security will be there when today's 20 and 30 year olds retire. You'll see after the election in 2012, you won't hear another word about Social Security until the election in 2014. Been there done that.
Don't you you just love it when somebody that makes $176,000 dollars a year in salary, has the best health coverage available, gets a lifetime full pension for 5 years service, 20+ weeks of paid vacation, and much more, tells you they see no way possible, no solution whatsoever to save modest SS and medicare benefits for the people they represent. Don't you just love the way the same people who pledge allegiance to Grover and defend the wealthiest of the wealthy against paying their fair share in taxes, wants to cut your childrens school teachers to the bone because they claim teachers are breaking the piggy bank that was already robbed by the very people who pretend to be concerned. Don't you love people who make $176,000 a year and all those benefits and then tell you to get all excited about 11 dollar an hour jobs (which is less than $24,000 a year) with no benefits and that you should abandon unions because they are harmful to you. Now you see why the crowd roared when Hoffa spoke. You would have to hate yourself, your kids, and your grandparents to vote republican these days, you have to be a total chump to vote republican in 2012, only a totally weak ass kisser would vote for the agenda they are pledged to over other possible solutions that would better serve their families and the nations bests interests.
There is a very simple solution to keeping Social Security solvent. It could be done tomorrow if they really wanted to get it done. Raise the wage cap.
Ta-Da! We have a winner.
Although instead of 'raise the wage cap', I like 'remove the wage cap altogether and levy the SS tax on capital gains as well'.
Seemed like there were a lot more people up on that stage besides those two, plus, it doesn't appear that they are the front runner now does it...
Who has the highest IQ on that stage? Who has the most experience dealing with crooks in Washington? Who is most knowledgeable in the economy? Who is most committed to protecting our liberty, and who is the most honest person there? Ron Paul, Ron Paul, Ron Paul, Ron Paul and Ron Paul!
I agree, Ron Paul had the highest I.Q. of anyone up there. I find him very refreshing, although I think his idealism is no match for the borderline criminals who staff our corporate world. He speaks as if comapnies can be trusted to "do the right thing" in terms of pollution and financial regulation, but experience has shown greed blinds CEO's from acting even in their best interest. They will leave a polluted mess for their children, or a collapsed housing market, all in the interests of short term profits. History has shown this, over and over again.
I agree Amy. It's like telling the hens in the hen house, they can trust the foxes to protect them. And anyone that believes that is a tea people GOP republican.
Willard Mitt Romney aka Mr Roboto.
He'll say anything one minute and the opposite the next, keep them quessing Mitt.
This debate was framed in a convenient way to highlight two candidates- Perry and Romney. It is absolutely disgraceful that a news network could violate its main responsibility to "inform the public". What we saw tonight was a network of private interests brainwashing Americans on who the main candidates are, nothing else.
Romney/Perry, a 2 man race -- WHAT BS!!!! If the presenters would have asked the same ?'s of the others, maybe WE the voters could of got to hear what the others had to say on each ? The 2 presenters did the worst job I've ever hear/seen. The only candidate that made any sense was Paul and the presenters were afraid to ask him all the same ?'s they were ONLY asking Romney/Perry.
WHAT A JOKE THIS WHOLE DEBATE WAS. Hopefully, at the next one, there will be Presenters that know how to present to all the candidates.
No, it wasn't the candidates - but the moderators - who made it look like a two "man" debate. Ignoring Ron Paul and others and giving them BS questions, cutting them off, etc.
Perry will lose to Obama by more than ten points if he is serious about destroying social security. The simple truth is that ten workers used to pay for every retiree. We are now approaching a period when two or three workers will pay for every retiree - simply because most people now live past 70. But what are the alternatives? The stock market (as measured by the S+P) is trading 20% BELOW what it traded for in 2000. Retirees depending SOLELY on the market would be royally screwed!! Take the cap off the social security tax - take it completely off. Make Warren Buffet pay FICA on every dime. Then go back to the Clinton tax rates. All fiscal problems are then solved with a few means testing implementations on Medicare. IT IS NOT THAT HARD if so many weren't so greedy that they would rather the government fail than pay 3 or 4% more. They would rather the federal parks close, the freeway bridges collapse, and the schools remain shuttered six months a year. (Of course, half of the tea party nuts are the home school types - enabling the "fact" of the world's creation 6000 years ago to be drummed into the hapless offspring of the coonskin hat people.) And they would rather the free market set health insurance rates for the elderly - even if that means grandpa and grandma pay $25,000 a year (which they would).
Perry has several more science problems. He just doesn't like scientists. Evolution not so much - global warming not so much. Science is just a big "scheme" - unlike "old time religion".
Ron Paul won that debate. Just on the fact that it seems once again, the media is dictating who they wish for the front runners to be.
Remember to vote in the primaries to get Ron Paul on the ticket!
Just looking at these still shots of perry lecturing Ron Paul gives me the impression of perry as a thug! Ron Paul is a true Statesman...perry shouldn't even be in the same room!
So in the polls and votes on websites Congressman Ron Paul easily defeats all of the other candidates who are for more expanded conflicts, warmongering, deficit spending, the Patriot Act; etc and yet it remains now a "two-man" race. Doesn't anyone else observe this and feel that this is really frightening?
All of my life I believed that the two parties were, at least in some areas, different - now I am afraid that it is true that both parties are firmly in the hands of corporatist America and special interests. Ron Paul will always have my vote as long as both parties want to continue to tweak and fix a dead, obsolescent system of bloated government influence and control. Voters have to stand on the Constitution - or else declare it obsolescent too.
Meanwhile, over on your OWN poll results page, Ron Paul has captured 57% of the vote. We the people don't particularly care who the corporate-owned media has decided are the frontrunners.
Who cares Romney or Perry? They will both carry on the New World Order agenda. There is only one canidate for me, RON PAUL!
How about neither Perry or Romney. Ron Paul says it all!
The GOP Clowns have come up with only "Scary Perry" vs. "Romulian Romney." This is a joke America!
Reaganomics was a period of high taxation. From the same source:
Parry or Romney, ponzi scheme or romneycare. Conservatives Suck