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Subscribe to RSSAll eyes are on the GOP hopefuls who are taking the stage tonight in Washington, D.C., at a debate sponsored by the American Enterprise Institute, the Heritage Foundation and CNN.
The NBC political team will be live-tweeting the debate, offering minute-by-minute updates and analysis.
Tweets from NBC producers and correspondents will appear in this post as the debate begins at 8 p.m. ET.
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A debate sponsored by the American Enterprise Institute, the Heritage Foundation and CNN.
Wow, the American Enterprise Institute and the Heritage Foundation? That explains the spoiler of candidate questions floating around the internet.
Q) Congresswoman Bachman, you are so pretty and smart, how do you do it?
Q) Mr. Cain, how is it you are so awesome?
Q) Speaker Gingrich, you are so smart, can you lift objects using just your brain?
Q) Governor Romney, is being honest a burden?
Q) Congressman Paul, we hate you, go away.
Yeah, I think I'll wait for the highlight real.
OH BOY!
Here we go again...
More marsh-mellows being tossed to the elephants?
Nothing says rockin good time MORE than a debate sponsored by the Heritage Foundation! lol
*popcorn for everyone* lol
Forgein policy. Well, we'll have lots to talk about:
1. Egypt seems to be hitting the skids;
2. Syria is sucking, and when Assad falls Hezbollah will take Beirut;
3. Iran is getting nukes;
4. Israel is going to nuke Iran soon;
5. Libya is going all fundamentalist; and
6. we are rocking Uganda.
Ron Paul ought to have a field day.
I can't wait !
Ron Paul ought to have a field day.
What is the over/under on how long Ron Paul will be allowed the microphone? During the last debate he was allowed 89 seconds, I don't suppose intrade allows bets on this kind of thing?
Says Henny-Penny who lists one of her hobbies as watching water freeze!
nisl,
You got me thinking. My office bookie just passed out Week 12 NFL pick sheets. Why not the same thing with GOP debator mic times? Spice it up with fun proposition bets like 3-1 Ron Paul gets twice the mic time of Jon Huntsman. Over/ Unders too.
With maybe a few dozen more of these things comin' up the possibilities are endless. What fun!
YOU guys HAVE to be kidding me...
What is UP with the 'time out'?
We're BACK!!!!!!
Another week, another GOP debate. What's that make, lucky #13? I think we'll all need "one more for the road" to make it through.
nisl and Mark, I'm surprised Vegas hasn't added candidate mic time yet.
Someone should tell Mitt if he wants to stay in Afghanastan forver, he needs to send his kids and grandkids over there to serve on the front line!
Nisl,
What, nothing for Perry?
Q) Governor Perry, your hair is even awesomer (sic) than Governor Romney's, how do you do it?
Oddly enough, I think that may be the one question Perry could give an intelligent answer to.
Another great question for Slick Rick:
Tell us where you get those boots, 'cause they're made for walking?
I hope Newt blasts the liberal media ( CNN in this case) again, like he usually does.
I'm sure he will, that is what political prostitutes who can't defend the random gyration of their positions usually do.
Of course you do darling - without it, you wouldn't have a talking point to spam troll!
Keep dropping those cackle-berries of yours baby - I hear 'spam' omelette's are tasty if you add some onion & tomato! ;o)
PS: I see your med-cart is late making the rounds again tonight eh?
The Newt is Angry!
...he'll blast the media that he loves, because the media, like those with connected brain cells, do not believe that the Newt has found Jesus and amended his ways!
Chilled - The only way Newt could find Jesus is if Jesus was hiding in one of his female assistant's underwear.
Poor Calista, karma will come for her soon enough, and Newt will be on to wife number 4.
Callista always looks a tad uncomfortable, almost uneasy in the presence of the Newt, her husband....for now!!
No doubt old Newt will blast the media--that way he can avoid answering the question. It's a GOP rule, deflect from answering the question by questioning those who ask the question. There's a pattern with the GOP, everything they screw up is the fault of the "lame-stream" media; never any acceptance of responsibility for their own actions, statements or gaffes.
Newt claimed he cheated on his first wife with his second wife and his second wife with his third wife because he was working too hard and loved his country; if he becomes President, kiss Calista goodbye.
Just got the call, the senior gang is grumbling about the side show right before Thanksgiving. Worried it might put them off their food on Thursday.
A couple of gin & tonics should perk them right up! ;o)
I need a drink now! At least Mitt and Huntsman are spatting. Huntsman is winning.
Someone say gin and tonic? Right here, please, bartender.
Jody, out of gin. Have vodka though.
I wonder if any of you ever read your own posts in context.
You begin with personal comments.
Proceed with snarky remarks about appearance, clothes, spouses.
Finish with what you're drinking.
You are supposedly adults- yet you are having exactly the same conversations you had when you were the "in" clique in high school.
Explains the Obama idol worship.
Ruh Roh!
The green-eyed monster got up on the wrong side of the bed (as usual) this morning! lol
Must be difficult having to go through life on the outside always looking in! ;o)
There will be no mention of Canada unless a pipe is mentioned. What pipe will that be? The one to supply America with 50% of its oil or the one for which we supply 50% of its weed consumption?
Congresswoman Bachmann is a member of the House Select Committee on Intelligence.
Consequently, she should be prepared for tonight's debate, which wiil focus on foreign policy and national security.
What follows is the un-redacted transcript of her Intelligence briefing today:
INTELLIGENCE OFFICER: "Good Morning Congresswoman. I'm here to provide you with an updated briefing."
MICHELLE BACHMANN: "Huh?"
IO: "Ummmh....OK....Well first, at zero eight-hundred zulu time.."
MB: "Zulus!? We're fighting Zulus!?
IO: "No ma'am, were not..."
MB: "Get me the State Department! Get me the Pentagon! They better have a good plan for this!"
IO: "Ummh, no ma'amm, were not actually..."
MB: "Make sure we waterboard 'em--nuke 'em too!"
IO" "But.."
MB: "IT'S OBAMA'S FAULT!
IO: "But..."
MB: "It's bad enough he's a Kenyan-Muslim-Indonesian-Socialist! I bet he's a Zulu too!"
IO: "But..."
MB: "Hah! I've got it. I'll spring this on everybody at tonight's debate! That will prove I've got foreign policy and national security chops!"
IO: "But..."
MB: "I don't care if it is classified--this will put me at the top of the polls...! "
IO: "But..."
MB: "...and Newt thinks he's so smart."
Congresswoman Bachmann is a member of the House Select Committee on Intelligence.
Consequently, she should be prepared for tonight's debate, which wiil focus on foreign policy and national security.
What follows is the un-redacted transcript of her Intelligence briefing today:
INTELLIGENCE OFFICER: "Good Morning Congresswoman. I'm here to provide you with an updated briefing."
MICHELLE BACHMANN: "Huh?"
IO: "Ummmh....OK....Well first, at zero eight-hundred zulu time.."
MB: "Zulus!? We're fighting Zulus!?
IO: "No ma'am, were not..."
MB: "Get me the State Department! Get me the Pentagon! They better have a good plan for this!"
IO: "Ummh, no ma'amm, were not actually..."
MB: "Make sure we waterboard 'em--nuke 'em too!"
IO" "But.."
MB: "IT'S OBAMA'S FAULT!
IO: "But..."
MB: "It's bad enough he's a Kenyan-Muslim-Indonesian-Socialist! I bet he's a Zulu too!"
IO: "But..."
MB: "Hah! I've got it. I'll spring this on everybody at tonight's debate! That will prove I've got foreign policy and national security chops!"
IO: "But..."
MB: "I don't care if it is classified--this will put me at the top of the polls...! "
IO: "But..."
MB: "...and Newt thinks he's so smart."
Too funny, Comfortably!
Love it!!
Good one!
Bachmann on the intelligence committee is the perfect definition of an oxymoron.
OOPS!
Sorry about the double posts.
I went to submit it and--nothing--couldn't "find the server" or something like that.
Tried again on another thread, so, apologies for all the duplication.
'net is being mighty strange tonight. Got one computer froze up and had to switch to laptop.
It's NOT the net phine - it's Newsvine! ;o)
I kept getting comment notifications on this thread that was dead!
At least it is up for now. Are you watching all these GOP pundits on CNN? They are about as bright as the candidates - especially Ari Fleischer.
WTF was that intro? CNN has lost it.
The Heritage Foundation and CNN. Match made in heaven. Neither met a war they didn't like.
So tonite we'll have what? Iran. It's their turn. Every Republican needs an enemy somewhere in the world to hatchet up the fear mongering.
And we all know CNN is in the business of promoting wars. And other than Paul, they have just the right candidates (sheep) up there on stage.
They were ALL WRONG about Libya btw. They're wrong on everything.
Clue.less.
Mittens just lied about his first name.
Based on what Pat?
Comment of the night from a commentor over @ Daily Kos:
"Killing Osama bin Laden showed the world how weak Obama is. Bush was man enough to let him live".
Happens to us all at some point. It tells you there was an error and it didn't post and then you get two. FR is incredibly slow, too, has been all day.
Interesting that these candidates feel that it is important that other countries have "America's best interests at heart"!
And now little Ricky Santorum says that humanitarian efforts in other countries are extremely important. I find that odd, since he and the rest seem to feel that American people are not worthy of such efforts.
"We have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly
Had to switch over for a quick fix of Rachel Maddow. These clowns on the stage are bad for my health. There should be a warning - like on cigarettes - watching the GOP debates can be hazardous to your brain.
Think Progress: 9:05: Pledging to make his first state visit to Israel to show them he cares, Romney did what former Israeli prime minister and current defense minister said no one should: “[R]aise any question mark about the devotion of this president [Obama] to the security of Israel.”
************
Nice Romney. Real nice. Nothing like inviting yourself to where you're not welcome. Israel is quite fond of our President. Unlike you.
So is Ron Paul saying to legalize drugs?
These eyes aren't watching these idiots make fools of themselves. We don't want any of them as President. They are all nothing but liars and are only for the rich. No way in hell are any of these people getting into office.
arizonaron, these fools scare the crap out of me. I am watching, they are all nuts!
And what happens if one of them does?
Bend over and kiss your butt and die. Has the GOP ever seen a war they DIDN'T like? Seriously.
Really phine? You know every President in my life time as been involved in either a conflict or a War. So what's your point? You believe in a one party system?
No I don't. But I don't believe in all out war all the time, either. I am so very tired of nation building.
Off topic, Paul, is your internet working slow? Mine is.
Mine is working normally, but my internet is slow at night with the kids on their computers doing homework.
Believe me, we are not in an all out war. War is now political and 24/7 news coverage that is BS. My opinion.....
Guess the older I get, looking at my grandchildren, I hate war even more. Sometimes I think the media like war best. Good for their news ratings.
READ.MY.TWEET.
LukeRussert tweets:
Remember, extending the Bush tax cuts like this entire field wants to do, adds $3.8 tril to the #debt over the next decade.
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This is all you need to know about these irresponsible Republicans. They will never learn. They are sheep who just give us their lobbyist/war monger talking points.
They will never ever stand up for us, the working and middle class. Never. They want to add to the deficit, to make their rich friends happy.
That's right. They want to add to the deficit.
Thank you Lawrence O'Donnell for last night's program. He explained exactly how President Obama was able to cut none of what the GOP wanted to cut and the amounts they wanted cut.
And I think the tax cuts ARE going to expire. I think President Obama gave them one last chance to show them he was willing to compromise.
They of course showed otherwise. They take and take and take.
Awful people. Just awful. They will use the Oval Office as an ATM machine. It's why they want to win so badly. They don't believe in anything else but making money at our expense.
wow--these guys want to brain drain highly educated and highly skilled workers from other countries to make sure we can compete in the world market, but are unwilling to educate American citizens to fill those highly skilled jobs. Bring in others from outside and ignore your own--that is some strategic plan.
"We have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly
Has Newt always felt this way about illegals who have been here for most of their lives?
I think it's high time that politicians in the GOP have a more humane attitude toward these people.
One thing I have noticed about Americans, especially white Republican males. They think it is their God given right to stomp on anyone or anything, including the environment btw. Our planet.
And that has to stop. It's time we behaved in a humane fashion and not a political one. In all aspects of life.
@nurse and Pat
Help. Ron Paul just made sense to me. Mind our own business. I am shaking. I understood Ron Paul.
Oh good grief. Mittens is siding with everyone. Can he be more obvious!
Think Progress:
9:36: Romney’s claim that in-state tuition is a “magnet” for immigration is shaky at best. California law enables immigrants “to pay the same lower college fees as California residents if they attend high school in California,” but it has not seen an increase in immigration. Arizona, meanwhile, experienced a 42 percent rise in its immigrant population over the last decade, despite its prohibitions on in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants.
**********************
phinephancy: I am not a fan of Ron Paul. But he's had a good night. He's been pretty much ignored in past debates which isn't right.
I do think he's intelligent some of the time. The rest of them - no - including Huntsman. There's nothing there.
It's scary that this is what America is producing.
Phine--I think he made some sense too--especially about our country minding its own business and staying out of war. But there are too many other things that I don't agree with him! I think Huntsman came off well, but he buys into the Ryan plan.
Gingrich came off best...? Not sure about that, but he did seem to be more compassionate about illegal aliens who have been here for a long time. Didn't expect that. Why do people continue to call him "Mr. Speaker"? He had to resign in disgrace--should not be called that!
10:01: Top AEI Iran hawk Danielle Pletka, who asked a question of the candidates earlier, is married to former lobbyist and Bush administration official Stephen Rademaker, who was named last month as a Romney campaign adviser.
10:00: The GOP’s foreign policy debate ends without a single mention of Europe, where the world’s largest economy is currently in peril, and only a passing mention of China.
********
And Chuck Todd asks:
chucktodd: POTUS spent over a week focused on Asia-Pacific issues; wouldn't one question be worthy tonight?
**********
Tonight was the unveiling of the Neocon's comeback.
Jon Huntsman makes sense. Instead of bashing the President, he states his ideas. Good ideas.
I really like the idea that national security is as much economic as a matter of military strength - therefore, controlling spending must include military spending and a healthier economy makes us stronger and more secure.
You will make the defense contractors mad. They are people too. They need to make a profit. :)
Phine,
You had brought up contractors up many time? Why do you have heart burn with them? I'm just wondering, I know a few and they're all retired Military. So do I assume that you're not happy Vets are getting jobs, you know the skills Obama talks about when it comes to hiring Vets? Just wondering.......
Ah, phinephancy, I don't see lil' ol' Mark making anyone angry..........!!
And cut entitlements!!!!!!
Paul, I am married to a Navy vet, so don't give me a song and dance about supporting vets. My entire family is strong on veteran's rights. The defence contractors I complain about are the ones that abuse the system like blackwater, haliburton, etc. And programs that don't work like the F22.
And which entitlements do you want to cut?
Mark, you are a sweetheart, no one would ever get mad at you!!! :)
General thoughts on the debate so far:
Some of them seem a little better prepped than in past debates.
Paul and Huntsman are making some good points; they are getting some decent applause.
Cain doesn't get it.
Perry: "Privatize TSA." Yeah, right. Not real smart to turn over this function to private agencies.
Bachmann: yada-yada-yada, followed by "It's Obama's Fault."
Gingrich: looking smug, and thinking to himself, "I'm the smart guy in the room."
Paul to Romney: "All this talk is just talk!"
Israel, Israel, Israel: Paul's right-- They can take care of themselves.
Romney: yada-yada-yada, followed by "It's Obama's Fault!"
Perry on compromise with Democrats to break gridlock: yada-yada-yada, CinC of TX Nat'l Guard, "It's Obama's Fault." Wandered right off topic, he did. (And WTF is this crap about CinC of the Nat'l Guard? ALL governors are in charge of a state's Nat'l Guard for in-state emergencies. They have ZERO control when the the Guard is mobilized for war!)
I guess I'll have to catch the rest on tomorrow's news. It's getting past my bedtime. Got to face that early a.m. commute.
Comfortable, had to switch over to Rachel for a brain break. Only so much I can take. Will be switching back in a minute.
This whole "debate" reminds me of the Tom Lehrer song called "The Merry Waltz"
There’s rioting in Africa
They’re starving in Spain
There’s hurricanes in Florida
And Texas needs rain.
The whole world is festering with unhappy souls
The French hate the Germans, the Germans hate the Poles
Italians hate Yugoslavs, South Africans hate the Dutch
And I don’t like anybody very much!
But we can be tranquil and thankful and proud
For man’s been endowed with a mushroom-shaped cloud
And we know for certain that some lucky day
Someone will set the spark off, and we will all be blown away!
There’s rioting in Africa
There’s strife in Iran
What Nature doesn’t do to us
Will be done by our fellow man!
"We have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly
When Mr. Huntsman mentioned the Ottoman Empire I think Mr. Perry scratched his head. Otto-who???
More good points. Middle East. Rely on the friends we know, and let situations in other areas develop before we jump in and take sides.
I have always disagreed with the term "Arab Spring." Historically regime changes in that part of the world are unsettled and volatile affairs, and present events must be viewed with a historical context rather than through the lens of American idealism.
Spent a lot of time in Cairo in the '90s. I wish the Egyptians the best.
I wonder if Mitt Romney lost his modernity on a spring break trip during college.
Americans are throwing up in their mouth over the choices the Republican Party has laid out for them. The economy is struggling, the president is highly vulnerable, the people are angry...and the GOP is no more likely to win the White House now than they were last year at this time. No voter will look at this bunch and declare any of them fit or qualified to be commander in chief. Think Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney would have nabbed bin Laden or Gaddafi? Not likely... http://www.sunstateactivist.org
So glad this debate is over. My mind is in meltdown. Need Larry O to get me straight. And one of these clowns wants to be the leader of the free world. Save me.
Me too, phine! And now for something completely different......................
<sound of crickets>
Dear phinephancy: They're all creeps aren't they?
btw, welcome to First Read. I enjoy reading your posts.
****************
As far as the media goes, have you ever begun reading a book by an author and you see that it's filled of inaccuracies? And you NEVER buy another book by that author again because of the obvious errors?
That's how I feel about the media. Once they are dishonest, I don't come back. Ever. Journalism should never be about dishonesty. Mistakes, errors - yes. Dishonesty. No. Never.
Same with politicians.
GOP = God's Ordained Politicians. The Christian Taliban they want to control you! End a women right to choose. Stop the gays in the military from marriage. Force prayer in plublic schools. End social security and medicare. End the mandate on min wage. Yes they will end the can being kicked,so they can control you!
First of all this is not a debate America. Instead this is a GOP/RNC Circus Act being played by a "Carnival Of Clowns." The "Gross Odd People" (GOP), and the "Really Not Competent" (RNC) only understand the Constitution Of The Confederate States Of America. These Confederate Politicians do not even want to understand the US Constitution, the Declaration Of Independence, or the Bill Of Rights. This "Crazy Conservative Crap" was under the GOP Circus Big Top for all to see. What America should be finally seeing is a Party of Economic Lobbyists that represent the top 1% only. They have no comprehension of US History at all, and it showed big time. Our Founding Fathers did not want a political mixing of Church and State at any level. That is fact America! The GOP/RNC are no longer a poltical party, but instead they are an Economic Lobbyist Group. The GOP/RNC have already been paid for by the Koch Brothers, "Goofy Grover," and large oil Corporations. They use their faith as an economic weapon to destroy the Middle Class, the Working Poor, the elderly, and disabled. The GOP/RNC ideas of faith do not include that are not in the top 1% of the income brackets. The GOP/RNC faith is used by them as a poltical weapon as well. They use their faith to attack the rights of others, and to stir up racial intolerance. "Bitchy Bachmann" believes that faith means letting the poorest of our citizens starve. "Nutty Newt" the man who loves to poltically puke. Economically believes in an economic "Feudal System" with no regualations at all. " That is fact America!! Is America seeing and hearing why the "Party Of NO has got to GO??? I hope so!