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Subscribe to RSSTonight’s the 13th and final debate before Iowa caucuses… Can Newt hold on?… Romney calls him “zany” and plays the Tiffany’s card… The GOP establishment strikes back at Gingrich… Ohio moves its primary from June to Super Tuesday… Paul Ryan changes his Medicare plan… And McCain rails against Obama’s Iraq speech/plans.
*** Final debate before the caucuses: For the 13th (and most likely final) time before the Iowa caucuses, the Republican candidates will gather on the debate stage tonight in Sioux City, IA. And given the timing, the stakes couldn't be higher. Amid chatter that his poll numbers might be slipping in Iowa, can Newt Gingrich make the sale to GOP caucus-goers? After a rough past debate for Mitt Romney (by Romney standards, not Rick Perry ones) can he convince Iowans that he's their guy? With buzz now surrounding his campaign, can Ron Paul persuade the state's conservatives that his brand of pure libertarianism is what they're looking for? Can Michele Bachmann and Perry pull off a second-straight solid performance? And can Jon Huntsman -- who has been invited to this debate, unlike last week’s -- make even dent with these voters, since he's not competing in the state? The debate, which airs on FOX and is moderated by Bret Baier, begins at 9:00 pm ET.
*** Can Newt hold on? But Gingrich -- who leads the Iowa contest, according to the polls -- is the candidate who has perhaps the most riding on the debate. As Politico’s Martin writes, Gingrich is trying to hold on lead after being besieged by negative TV ads and attacks from his GOP rivals. He “is getting pounded on Iowa TV by both a pro-Mitt Romney super PAC and Ron Paul’s campaign and is doing little to fight back against ads which take direct aim at him. Less than three weeks before the caucuses, the former speaker is airing a single commercial with little money behind it.” But former Cain backer Steve Grubbs makes an important point to Martin (which he also said last week): “If in the next seven or eight days, between the Romney super PAC and Ron Paul, he absorbs thousands of points of negative TV and is still standing, then I don’t see what could take him down between Christmas and Jan. 3rd.”
*** “Zany” and “Tiffany’s”: In perhaps a preview of his line of attack in tonight’s debate, Romney told the New York Times that Gingrich is “zany.” “Zany is not what we need in a president,” Romney said. “Zany is great in a campaign. It’s great on talk radio. It’s great in print, it makes for fun reading, but in terms of a president, we need a leader, and a leader needs to be someone who can bring Americans together.” And Romney gave this line to Sean Hannity: "As for [Gingrich] trying to reference a $10,000 rhetorical bet, the Speaker, as I recall, probably shouldn't be talking about that given a $500,000 bill at Tiffany's." (But is Romney the best messenger here to ding Gingrich on wealth/spending excess?)
*** The GOP establishment strikes back: It isn’t just Gingrich’s Republican rivals who are going on the attack against Newt. National Review pens an editorial arguing that Gingrich should NOT be the party’s nominee. “He appears unable to transform, or even govern, himself. He should be an adviser to the Republican Party, but not again its head.” Ouch. Meanwhile, the conservative Washington Examiner has endorsed Romney over Gingrich, saying that -- per the new NBC/WSJ poll -- the former Massachusetts governor can beat Obama in 2012 while Gingrich can’t. And earlier this week, the New Yorker’s Ryan Lizza compiled some of the more stinging/incendiary columns by elite conservative writers (including George Will, Michael Gerson, Kathleen Parker, and Jonah Goldberg) that attack Gingrich. Gingrich sure seems to be getting the Howard Dean treatment, circa late 2003…
Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is showing no signs of slowing down his attacks on rival Newt Gingrich. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.
*** On the 2012 trail: Before tonight’s debate in Iowa, almost all of the candidates have campaign events in the Hawkeye State: Santorum stumps in Rockwell City, Sac City, and Holstein… Perry continues on his bus tour through Iowa, hitting Le Mars… And Gingrich holds a meet-and-greet event in Dodge.
*** Ohio moves its primary to Super Tuesday: By the way, it looks like Ohio is moving its presidential primary from June to Super Tuesday (March 6). The Columbus Dispatch: “Democratic and Republican House leaders worked out a deal today on a new congressional map and a single 2012 primary on March 6, instead of the current split primary that moves presidential and congressional races to June. The House passed the bill 77-17 tonight, and Senate action is expected later this evening.”
*** Paul Ryan changes his Medicare plan: “Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan on Thursday plan to introduce a new Medicare reform plan that would allow seniors to choose between traditional Medicare and new private insurance programs,” Politico writes “The plan has some key differences from the Ryan blueprint that Republicans had rallied around earlier this year — and which Democrats had been united in pummeling in Congress and on the campaign trail as the beginning of the end of Medicare. The biggest difference is that seniors would have a choice between staying in traditional Medicare, or opting into new private plan alternatives.” This change – with bipartisan support – potentially has big implications when it comes to 2012, the White House, and Mitt Romney (who has pretty much already adopted this choice plan).
*** McCain rails against Obama: As you probably saw or heard yesterday, Sen. John McCain railed against President Obama’s speech yesterday announcing the end of the U.S. presence in Iraq. "I believe that history will judge this president’s leadership with the scorn and disdain it deserves.” Yet it’s worth noting that the November NBC/WSJ poll showed 71% of the country agreeing with the president’s decision.
Countdown to Iowa caucuses: 19 days
Countdown to New Hampshire primary: 26 days
Countdown to South Carolina primary: 37 days
Countdown to Florida primary: 47 days
Countdown to Nevada caucuses: 51 days
Countdown to Super Tuesday: 82 days
Countdown to Election Day: 329 days
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Twas the night before Christmas and all through the RIGHT
The candidates bloodied,from their own awful fight
Newt has the lead and Mitt wants to foil it
to keep all the children from cleaning Newt's toilet
Michelle,a campaign debt she now has to pay
Unless her weird husband can PRAY IT WAY
and Rick Perry keeps hanging,but I think its too late
since he guessed that the Supreme Court must only have 8
Ron Paul the good Doctor,his hopes are still high
but if you don't have good health care,he'll cheer you to die
Santorum has tried hard.but he has not done so well
When asked what had happened he said...don't ask and don't tell ??
On Mitty on Ricky on Ronny on Newty,shouted Santa as his deer took to flight
Obama's about to kick all of your a$$es,Merry Christmas to all,and good night !!
Cowboy17 - love your posts. They're refreshing compared to the progrssive-haters we usually hear.
As opposed to your sunshine and roses huh Suzq?
No Shellie but there is definitely an abundance of hate-talk and name-calling of people with differing opinions as opposed to a healthy exchange of ideas and thoughts. Just because your RIGHT doesn't mean your right. I happen to be Independant and NO political party owns my thoughts or votes.
Of course, the night after the election, the Media Elite will be "shock" that their Annoited One, Mr. Hussien aka Barry Soetoro with the slogan of "ropes and chains" wrongly pronounced as hope and change is the real unelectable one
Oh, Kurt! Your ignorant comments make me laugh out loud! The GOP's raft of losers have made themselves look like such fools in nationally televised debates until they all have come to appear as mentally challenged instead of presidential caliber. Their public back-biting and finger pointing has done nothing to make themselves look any better, as well. It is well to remember the primary race has yet to begin in earnest and it will get much worse as the candidates tear themselves to pieces on the national stage. In the meantime, how does our President compare to the Republican Party's boatload of embarrassments Let's take a quick peek at the most recent polls, shall we?
Gingrich vs. Obama
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_gingrich_vs_obama-1453.html
Paul vs. Obama
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_paul_vs_obama-1750.html
Romney vs. Obama
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html
Read 'em and weep! Obama will win in '12 by default!
Everything covered by this non-article is irrelevant because I'm voting RON PAUL in 2012!
Go RON PAUL.
Vote RON PAUL if he makes it onto the ballot.
Vote LIBERTARIAN if he does not.
Vote LIBERTARIAN for all Senators, Congressmen and other offices.
Watch Fox News attempt to marginalize and distort the message of Ron Paul. These goons aren't qualified to hold an honest debate. Fortunately Americans have caught on and aren't buying the MSM BS anymore.
Paul will take Iowa by force and then NH. He's won straw polls in Florida and Oklahoma so look out.
I know huh...Donald McRonald would have had a waaaay better debate ??? C'mon Rob,I watch CNN and as of late they have been giving Ron a lot more air time. Although it may be because the rest are such idiots !! But I look forward to hearing more from Paul tonight...and I think he is going to win Iowa...again,the rest are unacceptable to the VERY far right,and if Iowa was any more right they would be Wyoming !!!!
There used to be a toy store called Zany Brainy that was big in the 1990s - it was a fave of our son. Other than that I haven't heard the word "zany" used in years!
I cannot remember such an all-out attack on one candidate as has happened the past few weeks to Newt. You can count on one hand the people who have dared to say something nice about him - people like Sean Hannity, Rudy G., etc. Everyone else has their knives out - including most on the FOX shows - excluding Hannity. Karl Rove is leading the assault - along with Brit Hume, O'Reilly, Steve Hayes, Bill Kristol, Krauthammer, Fred Barnes, etc. Others like MSNBC's GOPer Steve Schmidt are joining in on the attack - as are writers like George Will. Most polls still show Newt leading - but a new FOX/Rasmussen poll out today has Mitt leading in Iowa with 23% to Newt's 20% - but with a 4 point margin-of-error. But FOX is almost giddy proclaiming the fall of Newt to second place!
Maybe Newt will withstand all of this. Maybe he will be able to keep his cool and kill his attackers with kindness Time will tell.
But what a boon to the Democrats no matter the outcome of this Newt saga. If Newt prevails, the GOP Establishment will look "zany" if they suddenly do a 180 and warmly embrace Newt. If Mitt prevails, it will strongly alienate those who supported Newt. It is a win/win for the Dems! The only scenario which could hurt the Democrats, in my opinion, is if there is a dead-locked convention and the GOP nominates someone like Christie or Daniels.
I know,I think Mitty is the bee's knee's after laying all that groovy talk on us !!! 21 skidoo !!!! I am going to put on my coon skin coat and shuffle on down to Buffalo !!!!
seriously though Monet...thats a real good post !!!..and my guess is Haley Barbour....
Count the times any of them talk about the "real issues". If the right had any brains they'd be going for Jon Huntsman, he's the only sane one in the bunch.
I won't be watching, I'll be watching the Ed Show with Nancy Pelosi as his guest tonight.
Channel 65 on Comcast/Xfinity cable...MSNBC the place for "real" politics. Way more interesting. I'll wait for the ridiculous clips that come out tomorrow.
Is that the show with failed plastic surgeries?
I have long said that this is almost an unwinnable election for the Republicans. A very significant portion of this population is getting some sort of a free handout from the government (courtesy of the democrats), and they are not going to vote for any republican. Obama would get 90% of the black vote regardless of what he has done good or bad for the country, the unions will not vote republican, and the media will do everything they can for Obama as well.
The only person who stood a chance against Obama was Cain. Where was the NAACP, the NCLU, and the array of other "social justice" groups when Cain was being attacked????? Face it.... we are stuck with a democrat for the foreseeable future in this country.
The new America slogan... "What can this country do for me?"
brushing up on your excuses for failure early huh stick?
(As I said above Shellie!) No facts, just crap.
Caught the end of O'Reilly (NOT plugging) last night at a buddies place of employment, it was him and some "Republican Strategist" they mentioned Iowa and Newt/Mitt then Bill said "What about somebody like RP, or MB? The strategist immediatly said "Oh RP is going to do good!" B O'R- You think he's going to do good? Will he win the nomination? RS- Not a chance! None at all! RP has went from the beginning of the campaign as "Longshot", "unelectable" etc, etc, to now "He has a chance in Iowa, but is doomed after that". If RP wins Iowa, (definete possiblity) and wins NH (more debatable, in Mitt's backyard, most of NH is in Boston media market, surely some Newt voters) New Hampshire does have one characteristic that helps RP, they have more voters registered as Independants than R/D. What my question is, is that how many states will RP have to win before the total bias of the MSM ends, and he gets asked some actual questions? I think he'll have to win right through Super Tuesday. Wolf B- yesterday had RP on, actually asked him a q? about a running mate, first time i've ever seen that mentioned. End of rant
sorry to hear about your disabled son? i'm sure he has insurance? if not he would have medicare. and whats wrong with medicare? i have it and it's great! could it be better? yes! is it better than the moonies paid to private ins? yes!
paul ryan isn't trying to help seniors? he is trying to help paul ryans pocketbook! believe it or not ins rates climb, because of the profits health companies want. my medicare ins rate is dropping this year, not the coverage and that is thanks to obamas health care program.
there is no reason why every person should not be on medicare. it would be cheaper and everyone would be able to sleep at night.
paul ryan wants seniors to relinguish their money to his financiers!
wake-up, we have medicare because so many seniors were denide health insurance!
sorry to hear about your disabled son? i'm sure he has insurance? if not he would have medicare. and whats wrong with medicare? i have it and it's great! could it be better? yes! is it better than the moonies paid to private ins? yes!
paul ryan isn't trying to help seniors? he is trying to help paul ryans pocketbook! believe it or not ins rates climb, because of the profits health companies want. my medicare ins rate is dropping this year, not the coverage and that is thanks to obamas health care program.
there is no reason why every person should not be on medicare. it would be cheaper and everyone would be able to sleep at night.
paul ryan wants seniors to relinguish their money to his financiers!
wake-up, we have medicare because so many seniors were denide health insurance!
Thanks Kr., My son is insured thru my private insurance. You see, I don't qualify because I work and make a liveable wage! I pay for everyone elses medicare, and then have to pay another 12k a year for health insurance. Do you understand why I am angry about entitlements? They are for some people only, and HALF of my income is gone to taxes medicare and my private insurance! That is why we want change! Ron Paul 2012!!!!
MEDICARE is NOT for kids. You will not get medicare for a kid. You can however get MEDICAID. but you need to start with disability. If you don't know the difference between the programs it's no wonder you can't get anything. And no, you don't "pay for everyone else medicare". You pay for the medicare you will get when you reach the age of eligibility. Just like everyone else does.
And I find it quite selfish that you clearly are of the mind that if you , making over 50K a year, don't qualify then you are ok with taking it away from those who make 10K a year and need it to just to survive. The old 'If I can't get it then no one should" attitude. Quite selfish. Espeically when it's clear you don;t know what program does what and for whom.
Social Security and Medicare are not popular with those who have no hope of being taken care of in THEIR old age. Many have lost patience with pensions as well because as all the pension plans in the US are either bankrupt or destined to be bankrupt before anyone currently under 50 reaches an age where they may collect from them.
For myself, my likely future is to work until my first physical breakdown and then be triaged by one means or another. There will be no wealth available for me to be maintained through any form of retirement. The same sad future lies ahead for most of my generation.
Newt is becoming Romney's "Gingrich that stole Christmas"!
Well IMHO, Newt isn't zany, he's wacko! Ron Paul's ideas may be harmful if able to be implemented at all. Jon Huntsman is the smart one in the bunch and to me (an Independant) a good bet for Prez. I loved Christine O'Donnell's endorsement yesterday of Romney essentially stating he's a flip-flopper.
National Review pens an editorial arguing that Gingrich should NOT be the party’s nominee. “He appears unable to transform, or even govern, himself. He should be an adviser to the Republican Party, but not again its head.” Ouch".
Ouch, indeed. Rasmussen now has Romney ahead of Gingrich in Iowa.
Momentum is changing, yet again. Quite an exciting race. Any one of these candidates will beat the failure Obama.
The lies of the attack dogs herein may have to change , yet again.
Out as Lie: Gingrich handed divorce papers to his dying wife in the hospital .
Latest Lie: per MSNBC, Romney uses the same language as the Ku Klux Klan...
"Any one of these candidates will beat the failure Obama."
You mean like Romney?
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html
Or Paul?
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_paul_vs_obama-1750.html
And there is still Gingrich, right?
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_gingrich_vs_obama-1453.html
You'd better tell the American people that Obama is going to lose because they seem to be think he has a lock on the election, Bob.
you forgot to mention the immediate apology...but whatever...but why isn't anybody talking about Mitt calling Tiffany's "Stiffany's"...I LMAO !!! He really did !!
Yes, the race is getting exciting but I have a little problem with a group of people who support a different candidate every time the wind blows another direction. Are they committed to the GOP or just looking for the outrageous flavor of the month?
well,with this group if you are down wind you have to change......
DEBATE PREVIEW...Your rich...uh uh..your richer....well your liberal...uh uh you are !!...uh-uh..you are !! You are like Obama...uh-uh..you are !! uh-uh.... Ahhh yes..the GOP at its finest !!! and the real clincher is that at least one of these guys will be screaming tomorrow how that damn FOX news did them in !!!! ITS A VAST RIGHT WING CONSPIRACY !!!!!
THIS JUST IN...Herman Cain wants to be Secretary of Defense !!!! You just can't make this stuff up...next thing ya know a Mormon will get the endorsement of a WITCH...huh..??? Really....???...never mind....
I wonder if Newt will have a DUKAKIS moment..??? nah... I'm guessin' they don't make helmets that big !!!
I applaud Romney for calling Gingrich zany. I prefer mean,bloated, whalish,madcap. Romney should attack Gingrichs time as speaker. Gingrich needs to explain why his own party expelled him in 1996. I think Newt wanted out so he could make millions for 15 years. Romney needs to attack Gingrichs work history in and out of D.C.
Gingrich will say he has learned from his mistakes and will not repeat the same mistakes. No one is perfect.
haaaaaa!!!!
For Emmy purposes, do the debates qualify as a miniseries? If so what category? I don't think "tragicomedy" is a recognized category -- yet.
Newtron didn't actually discuss it in a debate, so his recent minitreatise about the causes and effects of obesity doesn't qualify --at least not yet -- for entry. In this case, the professor knows whereof he professes.
Well Iowa the GOP Circus Tents have been set up, and the GOP Clowns have been practicing their "Political Tricks." This is not a Presidential Debate America. This is the GOP Clown Show full of political spewing, economic evil, cultural corruption, and "Socially Sadistic" attitudes. None of these GOP Clowns is Presidential, intellectual, rational, and mentally healthy. The mass ethical violations committed by "Nutty Newt" is just a moral joke, and his quick willingness to lie is troubling. "Romulian Romney" is still keeping his connections with his Wall Street Banker/Investment friends very strong. What has the "Romulian" already promised his Wall Street friends?? Is it more deregulation financially?? Is it more tax cuts?? Is it more tax loop holes for the very rich?? The very rich CEO's of Wall Street, Oil Corporations, and the large Insurance Corporations want all of the above. The "Goofy Grover" Tax Pledge will be obeyed completely, and the GOP Clowns/Lobbyists dare not disobey it. Getting sick of hearing the GOP spewing yet America??? I hope so!
I like Dr. Paul and Huntsman myself because again we can have a true debate about where this country should be moving to for the next 20-30 years instead of waiting around until things become to dire to rescue it's from it's debts, and the destruction of middle class.
WHY WHY WHY!? I want to know WHY Ron Paul is ignored!! He has made leaps and bounds in the polls. He is neck and neck for FIRST PLACE in many polls. He is the only candidate who isn't owned. The PEOPLE LOVE what he has to say. So much so that his message is defiantly penetrating the fascist iron curtain with which the mainstream media hides it.
I don't want to hear "He is unelectable". That's a word planted by the corporate/banker-controlled media to marginalize a candidate who threatens their systematic plundering of the once great United States.
INTERVIEW HIM! PUT HIS PLATFORM IN PRINT! Give him equal ink!!! You are exposing your level of corruption my marginalizing the PEOPLE'S candidate. He the ONLY capable and honest leader for our impending economic and social implosion.
I implore any citizen who does not know much about Ron Paul to break free from corporate media. Go to You Tube and research Ron Paul. No, I don't agree with him on EVERYTHING, but he is the only candidate who has any ethics, conscience, and determination to adhere to principals that help the population. PLEASE RESEARCH, HE IS DIFFERENT, HE IS RIGHT.
RON PAUL 2012!!!!!!!!!!
WHEN you got no substance no solutions ,all you got left with is character assassination attacks , I for one have had enough of that ,AMERICA is in deep deep trouble ,we need SOLUTIONS
THE QUESTION who is providing America with solutions , in that we find the ANSWER
McCain, the man who never met a war he wasn't willing to fight except Viet Nam. What a useless piece of crap. He had no problem when his boyfriend W said this war was over about 7 years ago. If old man MCain wants a fight then let him suit up and go fight somewhere. About ninety countries are at war today so let him parachute into one of those. Loser.
So Charles ... like McCain or not, can you demostrate you "fought" and "served" more for the USA than McCain? Just because McCain did not attend Woodstock (he was rather tied up at the time by the Socialist Occupation Forces in Viet Nam at the time) does not mean he is "unAmerican" in your brainwashed Ha Noi Jane mind. So Charles, show us your service to America more than McCain.
Chao Tam Biet
Do a Google search for MCCAIN AND THE POW COVERUP. His participation over the years in burying evidence of fellow prisoners left in the hands of the Vietnamese makes him "unAmerican".
Ron Paul probably offers the best chance of ever getting the surviving prisoners back if there are any.
RON PAUL 2012
Paul is some of the people's candidate, but not enough of the people's candidate to be much more than a source for an occasionally "interesting" quotation. Raw milk, as he put forth in Peterborough, N.H.? Not only do I want my milk to come from tuberculin-tested herds, but I also want my milk to be Pasteurized. The blithe claims of personal freedom over all else that so many of the only-occasionally-good doctor's supporters exercise do seem to ignore the consequences to others of such unchecked exercise. I'm just as happy if tuberculosis -- for one example -- remains a fading memory, and freedom from tuberculosis is only one of the individual and societal benefits from non-raw milk.
Since this is a post and not a book, I'll let this one example serve as a precursor for examinations by others of some of the candidate's other claims.
What debate? I watched it and didn't see any semblance of a a real debate at all. The questions came more in the form of editorials or commentaries and questions were specifically directed at single candidates and not equally to all. The few that actually were open to all allowed ridiculously short times and didn't accomplish much. It also didn't seem like everyone got equal time. Romney, Gingrich, Perry, and Bachmann seemed to have more time than the others. Ron Paul did get some time with the mini debate between him and Bachmann, but that was it. Huntsman and Santorum kept getting cut off by the out of time buzzer.
My wife and I got the impression that this was almost scripted in many ways. It seemed like Fox News wanted to take Gingrich down a few notches and crafted questions specifically to do that. It also seemed like Bachmann and some of the others already knew what some of the questions directed to Gingrich were going to be in advance and had responses a little too prepared than one would expect from them on the spot. Perry also seemed to have some info going in with responses that didn't sound like anything he would have come up with on the spot or compared to his stump speeches. The net was to make Romney (as the pre-chosen candidate) look good, to make Gingrich look bad, and to elevate Perry and Bachmann to cut into Gingrich's base. They also tried to misrepresent Ron Paul's stances on foreign policy to take him out of the running, but Paul was making some very astute points about foreign policy and warmongering by the U.S. that fell on deaf ears.
We also had to laugh at how Perry kept saying that Obama didn't live in the real world. That coming from someone who spent his entire professional life in the Republic of Texas was precious. Whether you live in Texas or somewhere else, it's quite obvious that Texas is not like the rest of the U.S. in many respects.
I'm still convinced that Obama is still the best horse in this race anyway you slice it, but if I had to pick only from the GOP pack, I'd go with Huntsman and consider Paul a good VP choice for him. They're the only two who are genuine in who the are and don't pander to whatever groups they are addressing. That's the kiss of death to the GOP, though, and why so many dislike Obama who also is probably the most truthful president we've had as far back as I can remember.