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Subscribe to RSSOur initial takeaway from NBC/Facebook debate: GOP rivals pile on Romney… But then they later back off… Huntsman’s strong performance… Santorum starts strong then fades… And breaking down Gingrich, Paul, and Perry.
CONCORD, NH -- Talk about night and day -- or, more accurately, night and morning. At last night’s GOP presidential debate, Mitt Romney’s rivals largely took a pass at hitting the front-runner for the Republican nomination. But at this morning’s NBC/Facebook debate here, they piled on Romney in the first 30 minutes; the arrows were out from the start. As he has on the campaign trail, Newt Gingrich called Romney a “timid Massachusetts moderate.” Rick Santorum added, “If his record was so great as governor of Massachusetts why didn't he run for reelection?... We want someone who's gonna stand up and fight for the conservative principles, not bail out and not run and not run to the left of Ted Kennedy.” And Jon Huntsman took issue with Romney’s criticism of Huntsman serving as President Obama’s ambassador to China: “This nation is divided … because of attitudes like that.”
*** But the pile-on lost steam: But after those first 30 minutes, Romney’s rivals mostly stopped their criticism. In fact, the entire debate was a metaphor for the entire GOP campaign -- piling on Romney lost its steam. Collectively, the group just doesn't seem to know how to sustain the attack, and that explains why Romney is ahead now and why he is getting closer and closer to becoming a "de facto" nominee. (Romney also did a pretty good job of parrying the attacks that came his way.) The big exception to the polite second half came at the end, however, when Gingrich and Romney sparred over the Super PAC TV ads that attacked Gingrich in Iowa. Also, it was striking to us that Romney admitted that he never thought he’d be able to beat Ted Kennedy in 1994. And Romney struggled a tad in his exchange with Gingrich over his work at Bain Capital, revealing that this remains a real vulnerability for him in a general election.
*** Huntsman’s strong performance: It came during the 15th debate of the GOP campaign, but Huntsman delivered perhaps his strongest debate performance of the cycle. He summed up the rationale for his candidacy when he said he wanted to unify the country and restore trust. We have two questions, though. One, is that message of unity and trust what Republican voters want to hear? And two, did Huntsman’s strong performance come too late?
*** Santorum starts strong then fades: Santorum also did well, too. That said, he was forced to admit that he voted for the 2003 Medicare prescription-drug law without paying for it. And he also seemed to fade a bit down the stretch. It’s not that he did anything wrong, but he seemed an afterthought, especially after his first volleys at Romney. His answer that he would love his son if he were gay could be a moment that gets played on TV in the next 24 hours, and it was a strong moment for him.
*** Breaking down the others: Gingrich was calm in the attack and seemed happy to have the fight… Paul was mostly an afterthought and didn’t get the applause lines he normally does from his supporters in the crowd... And while Perry poked fun at himself for his past “oops” moment -- he was able to name all three cabinet agencies he’d cut -- he was a bystander for much of the debate. After his disappointing fifth-place finish in Iowa, did he give a rationale why he should stay in the race? It didn’t seem that way to these pairs of eyes.
*** On the trail: After the debate, Romney (along with Tim Pawlenty) holds a rally in Rochester and then holds another rally (with Chris Christie) in Exeter… Gingrich attends town halls in Manchester and Derry… Ron Paul (with son Rand) campaigns in Meredith… And Huntsman stumps in Bedford and Keene… Meanwhile, Santorum heads to South Carolina, campaigning in Greenville… And Perry also travels to the Palmetto State, hitting Spartanburg.
Countdown to New Hampshire primary: 2 days
Countdown to South Carolina primary: 13 days
Countdown to Florida primary: 23 days
Countdown to Nevada caucuses: 27 days
Countdown to Super Tuesday: 58 days
Countdown to Election Day: 303 days
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I would like to know when voters are going to begin to question what Mormonism is. Does Romney follow their principles (whatever they are) to the letter? Does Romney have years of food cached? If so , why? There are a lot of questions that must be answered. The same would be true of any religion little known by most Americans-Islam or Scientology are other examples.
That fat "ginko lizard" said this "Newt Gingrich called Romney a “timid Massachusetts moderate.” What I would call lardo is not printable. The lizard is really nothing more then a "nothing" running his trench mouth loser. Why Fatso is still in the midst of things is beyond me.
After three decades of mostly republican rule this country needs to go back to the left. Even in the rare times we have a Democrat in the W.H. he winds up compromising Democratic Party principles to mollify the Repubs 1/2 the time. The result is that the Republican agenda goes two steps forward, but only one step back. By my math,.....that is still progress for the enemy folks. The result is that even when Democrats win,......we lose.
Thom Hartmann is right. People need to infiltrate the Democratic Party and turn it hard, HARD LEFT. We cannot afford more DINO's like Clinton, or semi-DINO's like Barack Obama. I think that our President is a practical pragmatist, and when he is re-elected he needs to turn HARD, HARD left himself. Think Johnson or Roosevelt. I pray we will see this instead of more "Free" trade agreements, Patriot Acts and extension of Bush tax cuts, signed by our President.
We've had enough of Republicanism, and I don't think this country can take much more.
Personally, I plan to become a precinct delegate to the Democratic Party in my state, and work to push Democratic candidates back toward a more populist, Progressive operating philosophy. I think every one on this board would agree that the Republican Party is totally beyond redemption in their headlong rush toward fascism. Lost cause.
Get involved: Host Democratic poll workers at your house. Have a Democratic rally/house party at your home. Sign up to Republican websites to receive updates on their plans. Write editorials to your local newspapers. Write on blogs like this one. Volunteer to work the phones and walk neighborhoods for President Obama. Attend rallies / protests. Donate to Democratic Party organizations like "Bold Progressives".
We need to take our country back folks, and I applaud many of my friends on this board who are already taking these steps and many others. :o) You are our only hope.
The ways of the Democrats are the ways to prosperity for the working people and small businesses of the United States!
End the 1% rule, end the Republican Party's strangle hold on our country.
The last time a Democrat compromised with the Republicans we got a balanced budget and welfare reform.
Teapub- you're a joke.
We have been hard left for nearly 100 years with just a small amount of roll back from hardcore socialism.
Conservatives have at best only slightly reduced our European socialist style govt.
Taxes are still way too high
We have NEVER reduced the size and scope of Govt that far exceeds what the Constitution permits.
We have a near Stalinist totalitarian Federal Govt that attempts to control every area of our lives.
We haven't even had a capitalist free market economy since the 19th century.
Wasn't the 19th century fraught with civil war, slavery, low life expectancy, and sectionalism?? And taxes are not too high. They are too low, especially on the wealthy. The upper income bracket should pay at least 40%, the middle class about 25-30%, and the poor 15-17.5%. Revenue is at less than 18% of GDP, where it used to be for decades. I say raise the revenues up to 21% of GDP, move the spending to 20%, and use the surplus for 60% debt cutting and 40% education and economic fixing.
Freshiee- I will continue to fight against you socialists and your desire to steal from those who produce.
go to Venezuela if you enjoy having the state determine how much of your money you deserve and how to spend it.
Revenue was above 18% of GDP from 200-2007 with the Bush Tax cuts.
Even that is too high for the needs of the Govt. We need to eliminate the marxist income tax and the estate tax.
I support any candidate who shares my views to do the following (the exception being Dr Paul because his foreign policy views would endanger all Americans-if he adopts are different foreign policy view, I would support him).
It should be the priority of good govt to repeal the 16th amendment and end corporate and individual income taxes, and the Estate Tax. They violate the principles of liberty our nation was founded upon
We need to abolish the Depts of Education, Energy, Health & Human Services, Labor, OSHA, EPA, Transportation, phase out SS & Medicare, abolish the Federal Minimum Wage, abolish the FCC, FDA, FTC, NLRB, return student loan programs back to private lenders, end all Food Stamp programs, Federal welfare, Federal unemployment insurance payments, Obamacare, and a host of other unconstitutional programs. These are all unconstitutional programs that promote a socialist totalitarian state. We need to get rid of the Federal Reserve and take back control of our monetary system.
Taking some of the steps above would reduce our deficit to near zero and reduce the debt by 10's of trillions (Our total debt currently stands at 53 Trillion).
We need to institute a national sales tax like the Fair Tax proposal, and renegotiate all of our Trade Agreements and associations.
We need to remove ourselves from the UN and ask them to relocate.
We need to sell off some of the 245 million acres of Federal Lands. There are 10's of millions of acres of Federal lands that lie dormant and are not used for anything (I'm not referring to National Parks or Forests). In some states like Nevada, the US Govt is the largest landowner. Use that money to pay down our debt.
And I will keep fighting against fascists like you. Your ideas will destroy what's left of this glorious nation. And get off of the Constitutionalist kool-aid. The Constitution is not to be taken 100%. A lot of the things you've just listed actually HELP our nation, and the income tax is the LARGEST source of income for our govt. Eliminating that would destroy our govt. Unfortunately, that is what you want. And why don't you go to Somalia? They have practically no government there, so it will be a paradise for you. Me and the rest of the nation can prosper without right-wing radicals such as yourself. If taxes are too high then how come we had a 90% top rate during the 50s and still prospered??? Calm down, man. Don't waste your brain, because you should rest and wake up tomorrow to do the dirty work of the right-wing fascists.
Obama Biden 2012
After listening to the Republican Debates I do believe that "Life, Liberty, and our pursuit of happiness has been abolished because of the "Patriot Act, The Protect America Act, The F.I.S.A Act, and now the most recent act The National Defense Authorization Act (N.D.A.A.)" If Ron Paul is not elected and the Senate changed............the lost of Main Street is only the beginning of America the Beautiful being destroyed by domestic terrorist, not the foreign terrorist..........."We the people" can thank the media talking heads for being so silent. It is as if the media talking heads and the media pundits do not care about their own children to allow America to be ruled by domestic enemies who are taking away their own children life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for the all mighty power of corporate greed!! Just my thoughts!!
Romney getting the nomination will be a serious blow to the US since it would guarantee a disaster in the White House for another 4 years.
Romney and Huntsman are related as descendents of a former leader of the mormon church.
Why didn't Romney reveal his Mexican heritage for the 2008 elections when Illegal Immigration was a key issue?
And one of my ancestors was a pirate, should I pay for the crimes of him? Seriously religion is the last thing we need to focus on but it is kind of funny that in a WASP ruled political system the republicans have a catholic and a mormon as their front runners. Frankly its a positive sign to me that republicans can embrace something different.
Where was this Huntsman that anyone with brain cells knew was capable of this level of debating 6 months ago? He was saying what people need to hear, a rational solution to problems and working together with congress to fix the problems.
The rest of the debate was a circus freak show as usual of people debating who is the most conservative. We get it, you all want us to think you are conservative and none of us believe any of you. If you want a vote prove that you have workable solutions!
This is the thing with Huntsman, he is not going to throw out catchy soundbites that get hyped attention. He is thoughtful in his answers, he is intelligent, he has political, economical and world experience. After last nights debate, the media said he would be going home. After today's debate, they say it was his strongest performance but question if it is too late. I would like to think the last thing people hear from this man will be what stays in their minds and maybe he has a shot. If he could take New Hampshire, where he has spent so much time, who knows what might happen. He is by far the best GOP candidate.
He would have my vote but I have said that all along after reading his experience and his platform.
Huntsman scares this democrat to death. Please don't let him get the nomination. Then the GOP would control this nation, and the 1% would have no check or balance.
Nominate a crazy GOP, like Willard (the rat) or psycho Ron Paul.
Right, as if libtards like Obama aren't bought and paid for by corporations and billionares like Goldman Sacs.
Lookin' like Romney's the one. Republic Party's overall impression of their candidate: meh.
All the 'build-up' for nothing..thought the other candidates were going to crush Romney.As per Newt,Huntsman,they handled Romney with kids gloves, what a dud!!!!
Remember he is the front runner and anything they do to weaken him at this point will just make him weaker up against Obama. They didn't need to tear each other apart, they just needed to come up with more than "I am the most conservative" for once.
At the GOP Clown Show the "Super Spewing" was really piling up big time. The GOP Elephants were piling up the "Crazy Conservative Crap" all night. There is not a shovel big enough to pick-up all of the GOP Elephant "Crazy Conservative Crap." The piles of "Crazy Conservative Crap" spewed by "Romulian Romney" stupidly stating that he is a true conservative was a joke. Not only was the GOP "Conservative Crazy Crap" was piling up. So was all the smelly rotten tea bags, and the GOP "Beggers" that are still brewing it up daily. Like the GOP Johny's Bee Dumb" the GOP Tea has melted thier common sense, humanity, and economic reality. That is fact!
My wife and I tried to listen to last night's debate but after 15 minutes of that we both were feeling brain dead. It was like listening to static, nothing that anyone could understand and just damn annoying..
You are correct, you're both brain dead.
MerryPrankster, you and your wife are brave souls if you two managed to get through 15mins of listening to "the static".
I heard and saw the same static seconds after they opened their mouths. I quickly groped for the remote and fumbled for the off button. The little hair stood up on the back of my neck as I heard that little girl's voice say, "...They're hereeeeeee!!!
Needless to say, I kept the lights on all night with my cross in my hand.
One thing I noticed last night when the question was asked about states' rights and contraception, that Mitt actually answered reasonably, and Santorum was given a pass when he said he'd like to see Roe vs. Wade overturned. But he never did answer the question on contraception, despite public statements that he believes that sex should be with the intent of procreation only.
hey mephricanwhitey I wouldn't talk about half breeds. I bet you live in a trailer, have 1 tooth and your sister is also your mother!
Venture Capital is at the heart of a strong economy. When you start questioning it you end up questioning capitalism itself!
^ oh barf, vomit, i'm sorry.....I can usually offer a calm coherent response but the comment above makes me toss my cookies.
I didn't know Venture Capitalists were God's never to be questioned.
Just set the ticking time-bomb for the next meltdown ushered in by mindless sheep.
My God no wonder this country is in such trouble!
Apparently you weren't bright enough to understand the statement.
What a surprise you lefties think Huntsman is the best choice. He's at the bottom of the polls for a reason. He's more like you freaks than a conservative. Why would we want that?
Why would we want a conservative president? We already got Bush as one; I think one is enough.
Surely any sane republican after watching these last two debates would WANT AND NEED to vote for President OBAMA!!!!
HAHAHAHhahahahaa........
Where is the 'talk' about that birth control crap from George Steponit-opolis? That wast he best part of the whole evening!!!
Why in heaven's name did the Los Vegas billionaire casino mogul, Sheldon Adelson contribute 5 million dollars to Newts dwindling (belly up in the water) campaign efforts. What a waste of money. Oh well, Newt can always invest in some quality gym equipment and personal trainer.
dem465yr
Why in the world would any rational person who loves liberty want to allow an incompetent, marxist demagogue to stay even one more day in the White House?
Well, for one thing Obama isn't Marxist or incompetent. And why in the world would any ration, liberty-loving person would want to elect someone who wants the govt to tell you who you can or can' t marry and whether you can use condoms???
Obama is most certainly a marxist and ran for the Illinois State Senate on the Marxist/Socialist New Party ticket.
I've yet to see any conservative running for president have as part of their issues platform any desire to dictate who people can marry. Marriage is between a man and a woman and I have seen candidates vow to protect that institution.
Nor is there any candidate who has as part of their issues platform a plan to make the Federal Govt ban condoms. I understand that Santorum has that as part of his personal beliefs, but can you cite any Senate bill he proposed to ban condoms? Can you cite anything in his current issues platform promising to ban condoms?
Okay, I'm not even gonna bother with your Commie bashing. But I am gonna give you some facts: This is 2012, not 1955. The Cold War is over. Communism lost. Nobody wants Communism anymore. Not liberals, not Democrats, nobody. We just want an economy that works and helps the middle class. And try to back up your info with facts, not tidbits that Daddy Rush gave to you on his hate-spewing radio broadcasts.
no joe, no bo, nj-
I totally understand your point. If you ask liberals to think before emailing then that interrupts their complaining so that will never happen.
I suppose all the complaining liberals that have complained about Congress since the GOP took the majority have yet to notice that unemployment is going down and the economy is making a turn in the right direction. I suppose they (liberals) are too busy to recognize this. The Democrats held the House and the Senate for the first 2 years of Obama's admin. and the unemployment numbers and economy were at their worse during this time. But, complaining about the GOP has kept the closed minded liberals from noticing such things....very typical. Let's be more positive and find answers. Stop complaining so much and making fun of people like GW Bush and the GOP candidates, that just makes you sound like a foolish child. If you happen to not like a candidate then it is your prerogative to vote for someone else.
the fact remains is who he is. He is morman. Amd mormans go for mormans beliefs. A big part of his administration will be to them those cultists. And most of his upcomeing laws will be morman themed. No to romney
Technically, the liberals got the whole economy moving during the first two years of Obama's administration. And unemployment has been going down ever since 2009. The deficit may be going down, but we also got hit by a credit downgrade because SOME GOP babies couldn't accept a meal that was 75% sugar but 25% vegetables. We could have gotten the deficit going down even more had we used Obama' balanced budget plan, but go ahead and exhort the "goodness" of the GOP. Let the world see you and your party for what you really are: a mechanism for the uber-wealthy and the right-wing extremists who want our nation to become a 3rd World country.
It's been clear for years that there is no "goodness" left in the GOP, not since President Lincoln's last breath anyway and I bet my fortune that Abe is spinning in his grave and weeping with sorrow about how the modern neo-nazi repugant party has fallen.
the GOP has lost it. Romney will never beat Obama. If he does manage to beat all the others his religion will stop him short. no will elect a cultist. And he is one. I'd vote obama in a heart beat over a morman
Crystal balls must be selling for cheap these days.
Much more questionable and controversial are the millions made by Santorum and Gingrich after their public service, peddling influence and lobbying
^ Yeah they are losers too, but they aren't going to be the nominee so, who cares?
Yes, because we all know "making millions" is so controversial in a communist mindset. Something has to be shady if someone achieved the American Dream under the Obama regime.
It's dishonest for the candidates to crow about solutions to the economic problem which are exactly the same as Obama's presented legislation. The Republicans in the house have already refused to consider them. The American people need solutions and Republicans only show interest in partisan politics and obstructionism. The Republican Party has done more damage to our economy than the American Communist Party threatened to.
Republicans campaigned on jobs, jobs, jobs, the delivered nothing, nothing, nothing. They sit in Congress and just vote "present, but unaccountable and self absorbed".
Nice little rant. Too bad it's all a bunch of lies.
Why don't you do a little reading up on all the jobs bills sitting on Reids desk that he won't even read, so suckers like you will believe the GOP is doing nothing.
There's one born every minute folks. And then they vote for Obama.
Technically, those jobs bills would create few if any jobs. And why should Reid read them?? I mean, the GOP has filibustered everything that the Dems have tried to pass. Compromise went out the door when the GOP took over the Senate and the House. Tough luck, right-wing suckers. And actually there is a smart person born every minute that an idiot is, and the smart person will vote for Obama while the idiot will listen to the conservative propaganda machine.
The whole debate remind you a big cluster of crap with candidates who over time and history have shown to never have accomplished anything of importance and then try to make people think that they are a good choice. I guest a glass of air will keep you from not getting thristy in hell to.
I'd say the best thing is for this crop o' candidates to continue to have their political histories visited and revisited. In the case of these guys ( now that Bachmann is gone ), familiarity will breed contempt.