They BOO Ron Paul at Republican Debate

Title news first. Ron Paul received boos from the crowd at the Republican presidential debate. The only boos of the night, further evidence that the latest Zogby poll is representative when it says that 47% of the general population would never vote for Ron Paul, the highest number for any of the Republican presidential candidates.

His unpopularity is only topped by those that would never vote for Hillary Clinton, which is at 50%, Kucinich 49% and Gavel who ties with Ron Paul at 47%.

The top three are Democrats and then you have the Democrat in Republicans clothing...Ron Paul.

Ron Paul was repeatedly booed for comments on the war such as “over 70% of America wants the war over.”

Paul's rhetoric is very unpopular among Republican conservatives.

As the LA Times points out, Ron Paul is not the only Republican that has caught flack for anti-war rhetoric.

MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. — The Crystal Coast Republican Men's Club faithful were all smiles as they gathered at a restaurant to listen to their candidate for North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District.

But the warm reception wasn't for the Republican who since 1995 has represented this stretch of coast from the Virginia state line to the sprawling Marine base at Camp Lejeune. Rep. Walter B. Jones Jr., a soft-spoken, deeply religious man who two years ago turned against the Iraq war, was not there.

The GOP activists dining on fried fish were cheering Joe McLaughlin, a county commissioner and retired Army major who has launched a hard-charging bid to dispatch Jones in next year's primary by highlighting Jones' votes against the war.

Across the country, other Republican lawmakers who have broken with over the war are under fire from party loyalists.

In Maryland, Rep. Wayne Gilchrest -- who like Jones has backed Democratic proposals to set a timeline for withdrawing troops -- faces a well-funded Republican challenger. So too may congressmen in Florida and South Carolina who opposed the president's increase of troop levels.

Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska faced a primary challenge from the state's attorney general, who got into the race as Hagel escalated his criticism of the president's conduct of the war. Hagel announced last month that he won't run for reelection next year.

More examples:

In Florida, Rep. Ric Keller was labeled a "white flag Republican" by talk-show host Hugh Hewitt after he voted in February for the nonbinding resolution opposing the president's troop surge. Keller potentially faces two primary challengers, even though he has opposed every Democratic withdrawal plan.

There is talk of a possible primary challenge to South Carolina Rep. Bob Inglis. He also voted for the nonbinding resolution in February but has remained loyal to the party line since.

Gilchrest, a Vietnam War veteran who has represented Maryland's conservative 1st Congressional District since 1990 and strongly opposes the war, is trying to fend off a challenge from a state senator who has targeted Gilchrest's war votes and won the backing of numerous GOP officials, including former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich.

Ron Paul shows he has no understanding of the "base" of Republican supporters, which is why he will not get near to winning the primary.

Back to the debate itself... some say McCain shined, others are very impressed with how hard hitting Fred Thompson was.

The transcript can be found at NYT and after going through it, a few comments stood out.

Many who have read this blog before, know I lean towards Fred Thompson, but I like Rudy Giuliani also, for different reasons and I have not personally decided who I will be endorsing.

This exchange between Rudy, Mitt and Fred did stand out from the beginning of the debate.

WALLACE: Gentlemen, good evening. You have all been arguing at long distance over the last week or two about who was the real Republican, who was the true conservative. I hope you will all be willing to discuss this directly with each other tonight.

Mayor Giuliani, Senator Thompson says that you're soft on abortion, that you're soft on gun control, and that you've never claimed to be a conservative.

Who is more conservative: you or Fred Thompson?

GIULIANI: I can't comment on Fred. I can tell you that George Will wrote a couple of years back, toward the end of my time of being mayor of New York City, that I ran the most conservative government in the United States in the last 50 or 60 years. So I would think that was a pretty good indication of the things that he was drawing on. I brought down crime more than anyone in this country -- maybe in the history of this country -- while I was mayor of New York City.

GIULIANI: I brought down taxes, $9 billion, cut them 23 times. I balanced the budget that was perennially out of balance; removed $2.3 billion surpluses -- deficits and replaced them with surpluses.

So there were many -- I drove pornography out of Times Square. There were many, many things about my governing of New York that particularly in that environment -- one of the most liberal cities in the country -- I had more success than anyone ever thought I could have with a city council that was 45 Democrats and, I think it was, six Republicans -- then it went down to five at one point.

GIULIANI: So I think that was a pretty darn good conservative record. I think, in every case, you can always find one exception or two to someone being absolutely conservative or absolutely this or absolutely that, but I think I had a heck of a lot of conservative results.

WALLACE: Governor Romney, Senator Thompson says that you run to the left of Teddy Kennedy in 1994, that you were proudly pro-choice, as recently as 2005, and that his philosophy doesn't depend on geography.

Who is more conservative: you or Fred Thompson?

ROMNEY: You know, this is a critical time for our nation and fore our party. We have to decide which direction we're going to head. And, in my view, we're going to have to bring together the same coalition that Ronald Reagan put together; conservatives fiscally, conservatives from a military standpoint and conservatives socially.

ROMNEY: And I believe that a candidate -- and all of us here are Republicans, all of us are trying to put together that same coalition, but it's essential that the strength of the house Ronald Reagan built is going to lead us to become the successful nation that we've always been, and our party to be successful.

Because we're not going to -- we're not going to keep Hillary Clinton out of the White House by acting like Hillary Clinton.

Now, I'm proud of my record. Not just of the words, but of the record of the governor of Massachusetts. Like Mayor Giuliani I had a tough state to be running in. I was a conservative Republican in a very Democrat state. My legislature, 85 percent Democrat. We face a $3 billion budget gap. We solved it without raising taxes, without adding debt.

We solved the problem in health care in our state not by having government take it over, the way Hillary Clinton would -- with private free-enterprise approaches.

My approach, I believe, is best for our nation.

(APPLAUSE)

WALLACE: Senator -- Senator Thompson, have these two guys convinced you that you're wrong and that, in fact, they are both consistent conservatives?

THOMPSON: Well, we've got an hour and a half.

Maybe they can work on it.

(LAUGHTER)

But, they...

(APPLAUSE)

Actually, Mitt, I didn't know there was any room to the left of Ted Kennedy, but maybe there...

(LAUGHTER)

In fact, I didn't know there was any room to the right of him, either, but maybe...

(LAUGHTER)

I was conservative as soon as I put down Conscience of a Conservative when I was in the college.

I came back to a little home town of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, started the first Young Republicans Club.

In eight years -- in eight years in the United States Senate, I fought for tax cuts, a balanced budget, and welfare reform, all of which we achieved, and I also fought for judges who would abide by the Constitution and the law and not make it up as they went along.

(APPLAUSE)

All that time, I compiled a 100 percent pro-life voting record. Now, both of...

(APPLAUSE)

They're only giving me a minute here. So both of these gentlemen have done some good things in their respective jobs they've had.

But you mentioned Mayor Giuliani first. Mayor Giuliani believes in federal funding for abortion. He believes in sanctuary cities. He's for gun control. He supported Mario Cuomo, a liberal Democrat, against a Republican who was running for governor; then opposed the governor's tax cuts when he was there.

So I simply disagree with him those issues. And he sides with Hillary Clinton on each of those issues I just mentioned.

They came out swinging, which is good, it keeps the audience lively.

McCain had a statement too that struck a chord from the crowd:

WALLACE: Senator McCain, if I may -- Senator McCain, you didn't like it much when Governor Romney said recently that he spoke for the Republican wing of the Republican party.

Who's more conservative: you or Mitt Romney?

MCCAIN: I think it's pretty obvious that that statement was a paraphrase of Howard Dean's statement about the Democrat party.

The fact is, I'm running on my record as a reliable conservative of 24 years. And the indicators of that, obviously, is that I've fought wasteful spending, I have had a strong and a long relationship on national security, I've been involved in every national crisis that this nation has faced since Beirut, I understand the issues, I understand and appreciate the enormity of the challenge we face from radical Islamic extremism.

I am prepared. I am prepared. I need no on-the-job training.

I wasn't a mayor for a short period of time. I wasn't a governor for a short period of time. For 20-some years, including leading the largest squadron in the United States Navy, I led. I didn't manage for profit, I led for patriotism.

There are 21 pages to that NYT transcript, I have only highlighted a couple things that instantly struck me about the candidates I lean towards.

After reading all of the transcript, I would have to say Thompson and McCain came out ahead, in this debate.

There will be dozens more debates before the 2008 elections, any politicians from either party can stick their foot in their mouths at any given moment and blow their chances, so it is still too early for me to to determine who I will endorse.

Some other reactions to the Republican Debate last night:

FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog:

Rasmussen Daily Presidential Tracking Poll

* Rudy - 24%

* Fred Thompson - 19%

* Mitt Romney - 16%

* John McCain - 12%

* Mike Huckabee - 8%

Rudy Giuliani is now supported by 24% of Likely Republican Primary Voters while Fred Thompson is the top choice for 19%. Mitt Romney is the favorite for 16% while John McCain is at 12% and Mike Huckabee has 8% support. (see recent daily numbers). No other candidates attracted more than 2% of the vote.

This poll did not include Sam Brownback for the past three nights of polling.

The Tygrrrr Express gave a great rundown on the whole debate, calling it a "Relevant Republican Debate and ended with this:

Fred Thompson was sharp, Rudy Giuliani nailed the education question, and the crowd loved any anti-Hillary red meat. McCain is a fine man, but just does not sell himself well. Romney spoke in generalities and did not offer specifics. Huckabee did not help or hurt himself. The other candidates offer so little that I almost turned on the baseball game. I then remembered it was baseball, and at least Rupaul is entertaining.

Thompson and Giuliani won this debate.

Techpresident points us to a YouTube Clip of McCain speaking about the ridiculous measure from Hillary Clinton to give a million dollars to the Woodstock Museum (For those unaware, McCain was held as a prisoner of war when that event was held)


He deserved that standing ovation, great line!!!

Captain's Quarters gives the debate to McCain, although he thinks Fred did better in this debate than in his first one:

The top four candidates all fared well, at least on the transcript. I'd have to say that Thompson did even better than in his first debate. He answered Giuliani's criticism of his earlier votes on tort reform by arguing for federalism, and he skewered the laziness smear effectively. Giuliani gave the classic Rudy approach, with "You gotta be kidding me" when Brit Hume suggested that people see no difference between Hillary and himself. Romney scored points for himself when he noted that Hillary has never run anything in her life, while he has run a state, a successful business, and an Olympics that had almost collapsed from the weight of its own corruption.

This debate, however, went to John McCain. He gave better answers on the specifics of foreign policy. He noted that his leadership has been tested in ways that none of the candidates on stage with him have ever had to face. He gave perhaps the best response to Hillary Clinton by noting her efforts to provide earmarks to the Woodstock Museum went beyond his understanding because he was "tied up at the time" of the concert -- as a POW in North Vietnam. But even more than that, McCain sounded -- on paper -- like the senior statesman on stage. He sounded confident, bold, and well prepared.

Right Wing News has a full analysis also, declaring Thompson the winner, saying Giuliani as #2, McCain as #3, Romney #4, Huckabee #5, Hunter #6, Tancredo #7 and declaring Ron Paul as the LOSER!!!!

Then again, stop the presses because Chuck Norris has picked the next president. LOL (Can I ask why anyone cares?)

Here are some links to people that Live Blogged the Debate:

Pajamas Media
MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
The Fred File
Fred Heads

If you know anyone else that liveblogged the debate and you want them seen too, leave the URL in the comments and I will add them to this list.

(Note to Ron Paul fans: As far as my blog is concerned, Ron Paul is a certifiably insane freak and anyone that doesn't like that can pound sand. Save your insane ramblings and indignation for someone who cares and don't piss and moan to me about your free speech rights in MY BLOG's comment section because your free speech allows you to say what you want, or go write your own blog, but those rights do NOT trump MY OWNERSHIP rights for this blog)

In other words, to be clear, if you don't like what I have to say about Ron Paul....TOUGH. There is a little X in the top right hand corner of this window, click it and do not let the proverbial door hit you on the ass on your way out.

Cross posted from Wake up America

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Hillary's Ship Is On Fire

Someone once said that never before has a presidential aspirant been elected to the Presidency of The United States when their approval ratings are overshadowed by their disapproval ratings.

Now, we see that Hillary's approval ratings are at 50% nationwide and her disapproval ratings are at 50%. Gee. Why then, is she still going? Could it be that she has the gift of gab?

Also, now we have a video that the Lame Stream Media will not air. The link was sent to me from one of my readers and I thank Mike M for it. The video is quite long for a video...about 13 minutes...odd that, isn't it? 13? Curious.

We have Hillary exposing her surveillance hypocrisies and in the GOP Debate this evening, Huckabee said that Hillary, if she took her lips off of the backsides of Soros, she might be able to get some fresh air.

In the last DNC Debate, Hillary and all of the other sponges of Soros fundings, told their trolls and blind followers that the troops would be in Iraq until at least 2013 and just last week, Hillary the Fraud told some folks that when she is elected she will pull the troops out immediately. Do we really need a psychopath in the White House?

I think it would be just swell if the DNC Candidates kept on doing what they are doing. That drop into the Abyss of Obscurity will be all the more sweeter.

Catch The Wave

Hillary's $1M Drug Addict and Anti War Museum Porker

Yes, I know, this is old news and all but it came up in the GOP Debate this evening and Senator McCain presented and excellent rendering of his opinion.

I remember the Woodstock era and they were the smelly hippies of our time then and to build a museum honoring the anti-establishment, anti-war and anti-Americanists of that time, is all too telling to me and Hillary does not deserve to even think about running for President, let alone be the President of the United States.

I sure am glad that the museum honoring cowards and drug addicts won't be built.

He said when he was asked about this tribute, that he thinks that no one that supports such spending as this can be the President and he also said that he was not in attendance at Woodstock because he was tied up at the time. Here is the exact quote:

“I wasn’t there. I’m sure it was a cultural and pharmaceutical event. I was tied up at the time."

In case you are not in touch with current events, Senator McCain was a POW in North Vietnam at the time Woodstock was taking place.

That got him the ONLY standing ovation during the debate.

Good on John McCain. I think that with a little more "soap box" antics, John McCain will rise to the occasion.

Catch The Wave

GOP Debate Coverage 9/5/2007

Will update every few moments or so


Britt Hume of Fox News officiating...

What about Fred?

Huckabee...Fred ain't here in NH. No Show Fred.
Paul...Welcomes Fredd to the Race...he will dilute the vote. (idiot)
McCain...we are up past his bed time.
Romney...why the hurry? Take some more time off, Fred.
Rudy...I like Fred...he does a good job on Law and order...welcome Fred.

Illegal Immigration

Sanctuary Cities

Romney...reduce funding to sanctuary cities. Anti-shamnesty
Rudy...side-stepping
McCain...anti-shamnesty? People don't trust "us"...secure the borders first. We failed the people.
Huckabee...seal the borders...people are pissed due to ignoring the border security
Tancredo...it is about time these questions are being answered by my colleagues...RULE OF LAW!!
Hunter...border fence...finish it? IT IS THE LAW! Build the damn thing!

From the voters

Illegal immigrants

What do we do with the ones that are here NOW? How can we not call it amnesty?
McCain...amnesty is forgiveness...impose fines...blah-blah-blah
Rudy...have to stop the flow first...side-stepping. Tamper-proof ID card for ALL immigrants.
Romney...Z-visa was a BAD idea!! It IS amnesty. Close down the magnets, sanctuary cities and employers that hire illegals. ENFORCE THE LAW
Brownback...

Family Values

Brownback...Craig is taking responsibility...rebuild the family in this country, it is at the core of our problems
Hunter...Craig should resign immediately. Our Party gets rid of our problesm and the DNC makes their problem-children Chairmen of committees. What have you done for Aerica today.

Abortion

Romney...wish we didn't have abortion...over turn Roe v Wade and send the decision to the states...not a federal job. Abortion is an act of murder.
Huckabee...human life commitment...life begins at conception...

Virginia Tech and gun laws

Fred said that he didn't feel safe in NYC

Rudy...agrees with gun control and says Fred is wrong...states have the right to control their own gun laws...not a federal issue...focus on the criminals and not gun owners
Paul...911 attackers might have had second thoughts if we were armed...the airliners are responsible for the passengers and not the government...personal responsibility...respect the second amendment

Marriage...what is it...constitutional amendment
Live free or die...

Brownback...yes to the amendment...foundational institution...rebuild the family restructure. Marriage is between one man and one woman...a Mom and a Dad.


(my break was longer than theirs)

McCain...troops home in Victory and Honor
Paul...same lame talking dulls...it is all America's fault. Moron. Idiot.
McCain
Brownback...political surge to take place...another mutant answer. Wants Three regions of Iraq...3 separate "states...one country, three states. Loose federation. It will take a long-term US presence to keep Iran and turkey out. The world is flat
Huckabee...we have to continue the surge...you break it, you buy it. We cannot leave without honor for our troops
Paul...neocons did it. Moron...this guy is a complete fool.
Hunter...we leave in Victory
Tancredo...anti-surge. I hope the surge works. Iraq is A battlefield in this war.

Skirting the issues (listeners)

Romney...how to end the war? This not about broken pottery or we made a mistake so let's leave. We must succeed in Victory and overwhelm Jihad globally. Bring our troops hoe when the military say that they are ready.

Presidential Power in war

Wire tap Mosques

Romney...use the law and keep track of those that are here in a threatening stature.
Tancredo...use of torture? What is torture? Do what is ree4quired to protect this country. Everything else pales in importance.
McCain...never torture...data gained damages our reputation.
Rudy...Club Gitmo...close it? No? What does the world think? No one will take the people at Club Gitmo. What do we do with them? Keep them where they are.
Hunter...hold those at Club Gitmo forever? Yes. Those we sent back and released have shown up fighting the war...we have been too liberal with Club Gitmo. They have all gained weight and they have care better than any HOM. Keep Club Gitmo open.
Brownback...he would reign in the VP power. Shared duties.

Taxes and Big Government...Americans For Tax Reform

McCain...oppose even though he did not sign the pledge. Why sign when the record is clear? STOP SPENDING...we destroyed the trust via BIG SPENDING...will veto EVERY pork barrel POS.
Brownback...McCain should sign for the people and not himself...non-issue.

Rudy...matter of principal...Presidents don't need the pledge...the Presidency is more powerful than a pledge. He won't sign either. Has a record as a tax-cutter
Romney...lower taxes for everyone...Kill death tax...SS savings plan...Bush tax cuts permanent.
Huckabee...Fair Tax...replace incopme tax with 23% Fair Tax. Applies to ALL and everyone...gut the IRS and get rid of it. Make all you want or as little as you want..the plan is the SAME for everyone.
Paul...wants to get rid of CIA, FBI, and everyone else tp save money and reduce taxes...moron. Sorry. Fucking Flake.

Listeners...
Family Values...lead by example...

Rudy...not running as the Perfect Family Man.

(taking a break)

A Presidential Scenario Next...
Iran...nukes advanced...inspectors see Iran producing nukes and Iran has kicked them out...incursions into Iraq...UN refuses to authorize force...threatens Israel

Paul...asks Congress to declare war...how do you get along with deadly people...you talk to them.
Tancredo...Israel says they are going for it with us or not...capitalize on the citizen dissent internal or Iran...if action is required, do it. PC is RETARDED...it will get us all killed.
Hunter...precision strikes...isolate...cannot allow Iran to get a nuke...get help
Huckabee...detailed hypothetical...Constitution and conscience and character should guide the President...PRAY!!
Brownback...all too likely scenario...ask for the authority from Congress and the American people...as it should be
rudy...Iran will not be allowed to go nuclear...it amy be a mistake to attack Iran but it is a bigger mistake to let Iran to go nuclear
Romney...a Global Test? Like Kerry? Good grief.
McCain...sanctions and isolate Iran...UN will be ineffective...Iran is a terrorist state...cannot allow Iran to go nuclear but at the end of the day, it will be the United States.

That is all.

Very little references to Ronald Wilson Reagan.

Ron Paul flunked as usual.

Hunter flew high.

Huckabee was GREAT!

Romney? eh? Not. Started sounding like someone I don't know.

McCain came across GREAT! Measured and strong.

My opinion?

McCain won.
Huckabee second place.
Hunter third.

These should be the Big Three of the GOP.

Round Up of live bloggers...and Michelle Malkin
The Politico
Buzzit
The Captain
National Review

From Miss Beth

AIN'T THAT THE TRUTH?

On Polls

Poll Palsies

NYPost:

Click to enlarge

June 29, 2007 — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was the runaway winner over the race’s lone black candidate in the Democratic debate, according to groups of African-American voters in Harlem and Washington, D.C.

In the nation’s capital, 33 undecided voters who identified themselves as people of color and who supported John Kerry in 2004 scored last night’s face-off an overwhelming victory for Clinton.

Twenty-seven participants gave the former first lady the nod, compared to just two who went with Barack Obama.

The voters, gathered in a focus group with GOP pollster Frank Luntz on the Howard University campus outside the debate hall, each evaluated the candidates with a “dial machine” linked to a computer - turning the knobs to the right to 100 for great answers, or to the left to 0 for bombs.

Clinton scored consistently in the 80s, while Luntz’s panelists panned Obama as flat.

Even though the participants preferred Clinton, they went gaga over Obama when he ducked into their viewing room after the debate - whipping out camera phones and posing for photos - with one woman shouting, “We’ll see you in the White House.”

“That’s the idea,” he responded.

The Harlem panel, organized by The Post, had a more mixed response but still leaned to Clinton.

Of 18 voters - eight of whom were truly undecided - six thought Clinton won, two people gave candidate John Edwards the edge, and one gave Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd a nod.

Just one viewer thought Obama won, while eight others picked one of the other of the eight candidates on stage.

“I would have liked to have heard [Obama] give more of [Clinton’s] answers,” said Ernestine Roach, a 66-year-old Harlem denizen who works for the Sanitation Department.

Thomas Donaldson, a 41-year-old lawyer supporting Obama, said, “I think [Hillary] spoke forcefully and with conviction . . . I don’t think it’s a measure of his candidacy. I just think she’s a better performer.”

But Corwin Breeden, 43 - the lone vote for Obama as the debate winner - disagreed, saying, “I think he answered the questions appropriately, and he understands the significance of what black people stand for in this election.”

Debate This!

A Real Debate

A Real Debate

Thursday, June 07, 2007 10:00 PM

The Lincoln vs. Douglas debates were the real thing. Current ‘debates’ are glorified press conferences. We need to return to the real thing!

Now comes Conservatives Betrayed with a new proposal for a real forensic debate on foreign policy & Iraq between Rudy Giuliani and Ron Paul.

Such a debate could shake up the system and revise it for the better. My signature on the petition was #25. Lets all get behind this and make it happen!! Sign the petition here .

BCP

Asses v Elephants

Of Donkeys and Elephants…Differences

Of Donkeys and Elephants…Differences

Thursday, June 07, 2007 2:01 AM

Interesting read:

THE MOST cogent characterization of last night’s Republican presidential debate was made by Senator Hillary Clinton during the Democratic candidates’ debate two nights earlier. “The differences among us are minor,” she said. “The differences between us and the Republicans are major. And I don’t want anybody in America to be confused.”

In 1968, running for president as an independent, Alabama Governor George Wallace insisted that there wasn’t “a dime’s worth of difference” between the two major parties. No one who watched the two debates in New Hampshire this week would say that today.

On issue after issue, the contrasts came through loud and clear. Where the Democrats squabbled over who is the most opposed to the war in Iraq, nearly all the Republicans spoke about the importance of not abandoning Iraq before it has been stabilized — and defended the decision to invade in the first place. “Absolutely the right thing to do,” said Rudy Giuliani. Where Democrats called for ever grander and more expensive government health-insurance schemes, the Republicans called unambiguously for a freer market in healthcare. California Representative Duncan Hunter pointed out that 80 percent of the world’s miracle drugs are developed in the United States because of a free enterprise system that encourages pharmaceutical companies to take expensive risks. “Maybe they drill three dry holes in trying to produce a good drug that will save somebody’s lives,” he said. “Then they hit the jackpot and they produce something that will save people and help their health.”

On topics large and small — gays in the military, making English the official US language, using nuclear weapons to keep Iran from getting the bomb, even the proper role for former presidents — the differences between the parties came through, stark and unmistakable. If this week’s debates are a preview of coming attractions, the 2008 campaign will be very divisive, and deeply consequential.

Which of the morons on the left made the statement that health care in America should be a non-profit venture? Who’s the idiot that said that?

Live Blogging GOP Debate

On Duncan Hunter

On Duncan Hunter

Tuesday, June 05, 2007 9:45 PM

Duncan Hunter came out on top tonight in the debates as far as I am concerned.

He hit the Scooter Libby issue out of the ballpark and he hit the ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION issue out of the ballpark and he hit the Islamic Retards out of the ballpark.

DUNCAN IS THE MAN, folks.

From the debates from bloggers:

Right Wing News

Live Blogging The Debate

– I’m going to be “sort of” living blogging the debate. I say “sort of,” because if the GOP debate is as dull as the Democrat debate, there aren’t going to be that many comments made that really catch my ear. But, I will be watching and every so often, I’ll chime in with something. Feel free to do the same in the comments section.

I’m liveblogging the debate which is, so far, better than I expected….

PS: I’m going to do my best to avoid commenting on what Duncan Hunter says, for obvious reasons, but forgive me if I can’t help myself and say something anyway.

– 8:05: McCain smacks Reid in his first question. Nice!

– 8:09: Mitt sounded very good, very professional. He had an outstanding answer to the question about Iraq.

– 8:12: Ok, so, Huckabee, if we need hundreds of thousands of troops — well, we don’t have them. So, what now, Huckabee? Not a great answer.

– 8:13: I can tell already that there are going to be a lot of questions put out that invite the candidates to criticize Bush.

– 8:16: Boy, Tom Tancredo really had trouble with that question about Israel and Iran. Understandable, but still…

– 8:20 Mitt: “Osama Bin Laden will pay and he will die!” I like it!

– 8:21: Honestly, this is a lot more interesting than the Democratic debates. People are actually talking about ideas instead of dodging everything.

– 8:22: McCain will follow Bin Laden to the “Gates of Hell.” That’s a good line.

– 8:23: McCain and Huckabee had funny lines at least on Arnold.

– 8:26: Tanc seems a little nervous and off his game.

– 8:29: Ooooh….Rudy just came across as being indifferent to whether Roe v. Wade is overturned. Not helpful for him.

– 8:31: Mitt went from polished to waffling like John Kerry when he was asked about abortion.

– 8:33: Boy, Rudy stinks on abortion, too. Ooof…

– 8:36: Ron Paul would have been a better fit foreign policy wise in the Democratic debate.

– 8:38: Mitt gave a great answer on the church question. Again, very polished.

– 8:40: I am not the biggest Mike Huckabee fan, but I have to give him credit for being more charismatic than I thought he was.

– 8:42: I wasn’t involved in debate prep, but I think Duncan has an interesting strategy. He side-steps these little foo-foo questions they’ve been asking the 2nd tier guys and tells people about the more important parts of his platform. It’s a little bit of a different strategy, but so far, in my biased opinion, I think it has worked for him.

– 8:44: Did Tanc ever prep for this debate? Yeesh, I love Tanc, but, man, he has really had a tough time…

– 8:45: Tommy Thompson just made a nice pitch for himself.

– 8:47: Sam Brownback is….he just doesn’t quite have the knack.

– 8:49: Now everybody is going way off track. I think that’s because the questions are a little fluffy.

– 8:51: Man, Huckabee is really helping himself, I think. He is showing that unlike our currrent President, he can express himself.

– 8:53: I can hardly believe I am saying this, but MSNBC actually asked tougher questions to the Democrats than they have to the Republicans so far.

– 8:54: Ok, come on, give Duncan a chance to bury McCain on illegal immigration! Awww…I was hoping that Duncan would sidestep global warming and bury McCain. Didn’t happen.

– 9:00: McCain and Rudy are the only candidates for embryonic stem cell research.

– 9:02: I really think they should get into immigration a little heavier in the last 30 minutes. It’s a huge issue and they really haven’t touched it.

– 9:10: Again, I am biased but Duncan’s answer about killing Zarqawi and improving the border rocked hard! Nice job, Dunc!

– 9:12: Believe it or not, Drudge is running a debate poll. Go vote! — By, the way, first place is currently Tommy Thompson at 28% (Think there are people who haven’t seen the debate and are confusing him with Fred?).

– 9:17: Tommy Thompson said “several thousand” troops were injured in Iraq. He was very low. They’ll be ragging on him tomorrow for that. Rudy nailed his “gotcha” question on the difference between Shia and Sunny Muslims.

– 9:21: A national ID card only for aliens….uh, doesn’t that defeat the point, Mitt and Rudy? So, if they DON’T HAVE THE CARD, they’re Americans? Uh…

– 9:23: Ron Paul is really determined to capture the anti-war vote.

– 9:25: Matthews is inviting everyone to beat up on the Clintons. Very interesting…

– 9:26: I was very strongly in favor of what Congress did in the Schiavo case and still am, so I was very pleased to hear Duncan say that he supported trying to save Schiavo.

– 9:32: Debate Summary: (I am going to leave Duncan out of this since I am working for him.)

Winners: 1) Mike Huckabee 1) Mitt Romney — Both were very charismatic

Losers: 1) Tom Tancredo (Seemed unprepared) 2) (Late addition) Rudy, because he came across as being to the left of everyone but Ron Paul and for a guy who is supposed to be exceptionally personable, he didn’t seem all that charming.

Not Sure: Ron Paul isn’t going to appeal to 95% of the base, but he stands alone as an anti-war Republican and he will appeal to the relatively small contingent of Republicans who support that position. So, he may be sort of like Ralph Nader: no, he can’t win, but he may have gained the support of a certain niche group that will stick with him long-term.

Overall, I thought it was a much more substance filled and interesting debate than the one the Democrats had last week. Also, I have to give MSNBC credit — they did a good job overall and if anything, they may have been too soft on the candidates.

I consult for the Duncan Hunter campaign through TCV Media.

Matt Lewis

Tuesday, June 05, 2007 It’s Show Time! Posted by: Matt Lewis at 6:56 PM

8:05 - Pardon Libby? I give Rudy props for his answer. He stood out, here. “This is excessive punishment.” And I LOVE how he is not allowing Wolfie to shut him up. He’s about to say, “I paid for this microphone!”

8:05 - Hunter just hit the Scooter Libby question out of the ballpark.

8:04 - Huckabee’s airplane security analogy is a good one.

7:47 - Wolfie just asked “The Mormon Question.”

7:43 - GREAT ANSWER. Huckabee hits it out of the ballpark for me (and I’m guessing a lot of Americans) with: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” I also like his nuanced answer about the amount of time creation may have took.

7:42 - That’s right, Romney’s conversion to Pro-Life happened at the age of, what, 50?

7:41 - Ok, Rudy. I’ve been favorable to you tonight. But now that you’ve brought it up — you do not hate abortion.

7:40 - Is that lightning — or is Rudy being struck down for criticizing a priest?

7:39 - Tommy Thompson thinks anyone named Thompson is good (for this reason, I’m a huge Huey Lewis fan…)

7:38 - RudyMcRomneySon? Gilmore makes the point that we don’t know how conservative Fred Thompson is …

7:35 -McCain survived the Immigration discussion. Frankly, I’m surprised Romney and Rudy didn’t take some better shots at him. … What’s with McCain talking about Native American language?

7:25 - Here comes the Immigration issue. I’m taking a break to soak it all in …

7:24 - Tancredo makes a good point about losing the English language. I think that will play pretty well among base voters.

7:23 - Ok, the sounds in the background is lighting in Manchesters …

7:19 - Rudy mentions Ft. Dix — and JFK Airport. Says this war is not a bumper sticker. He earns the 2nd round of applause.

7:18 - I know I’m in the minority here, but boy could I go for a wacky Chris Matthews question, right now …

7:16 - Tancredo is hurrying. Slow down, dude.

7:15 - Did Huckabee just say today is the birthday of Ronald Reagan??? Did I hear him wrong, or is it February, already?

7:14 - So Duncan Hunter was like the only guy in Congress who read the Iraq Intelligence Report …

7:13 - Ok, I’m voting Tommy Thompson off the debate. He’s not merely a 3rd tier candidate — but worse — he’s not entertaining, either …

7:11 - McCain just made a good point that he didn’t say it was “President Clinton’s War” in Bosnia. He gets the first applause of the night.

7:09 - Gilmore has a HUGE chip on his shoulder. Wolf just did him a favor, in the question, by mentioning his background — which is extensive.

7:08 - McCain didn’t read the classified Iraq report before voting for the war, but we’ve always known that. Was that a “gotcha” question? If so, it didn’t work. Apparently Brownback didn’t, either. At least, he won’t answer the question.

7:07 - Man is Rudy good on the issue of terror. If this debate is about terror, he wins. Love the aphorisms. BTW, what’s up with that random buzz sound (or is it just me)?

7:05 - Mitt takes on Harry Reid. Good move. But Wolfie is disputing whether or not Romney answered the question (clearly Wolf is trying to crack the whip early). Romney calls it, “an unreasonable hypothetical.”

7:04 - Huckabee is funny … AGAIN!

7:03 - I’m John McCain … BUZZ

7:03 - I’m Matt Lewis and I’m with Townhall.com.

7:00 - Let’s see how Wolf Blitzer measures up to Chris Matthews … Ok. They’re going to have “local” NH journalists asking questions.

6:58 - Ed Rollins is on Lou Dobbs talking about how Thompson may not have the “fire in the belly” for the race. Someone just compared Thompson’s strategy (of staying out of the race), to Roger Clements.

6:56 PM - The debate is about to start. Post your comments — as we go — below …

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

The Debate: Part II

Posted by: Matt Lewis at 8:13 PM

8:47 - Tancredo says the biggest mistake of Bush is that he ran as a conservative and governed as a liberal. 8:46 - Romney mentions “Ronald Reagan.” I take a shot. 8:42: “Muchas Gracias,” says McCain to Tancredo. You gotta give it to McCain, he’s got a great sense of humor. I think he’s scoring some points on being compassionate toward immigrants. 8:41 - Tancredo is right, by the way, that bilingual countries don’t work. 8:39 - Romney just got the “flip-flopping” question. Specifically, why does he have ads in Spanish, if he wants English to be the national language. Frankly, I agree with Mitt. I don’t see the two things as being inconsistent. 8:38 - Brownback will support the nominee of the GOP — even if it’s Rudy. 8:36 - Ron Paul has truly become an anti-war Republican. 8:31 - On conservatives who disagree with Romneycare, Mitt answers: “Well, I want to talk to the people, not just those conservatives who are concerned …” 8:30 - Why is Tommy Thompson yelling at me? 8:29 - Oooh. A question from a blogger. 8:26 - “It’s your health, you should own your health insurance” - Rudy. 8:21 - ***IDEA OF THE DAY: Divided Presidency: Rudy runs the war and Huckabee runs the social issues. Any takers? 8:20 - Rudy gets up and walks even closer. He’s doing very well today — and I think this format is good for him, too. 8:19 - Wow, someone asks a question with a conservative worldview. Sadly, it’s directed to Ron Paul. 8:18 - This format is much better for McCain. He’s the first to stand up. He’s better out from behind a podium. 8:17 - Brownback wants to divide up Iraq into 3 states. Isn’t that Joe Biden’s plan? 8:15 - How much do you want to bet one of these guys gets up off the red chair, walks over, and consoles one of these questioners? 8:14 - This format is a bit more touchy-feely. I’m having flashbacks to the Bill Clinton vs. George H.W. Bush debate where Clinton says, “I feel your pain.” 8:13 - Ok, the stage is a little odd looking. It’s likely Republican voters who get to ask the questions …

Townhall Comments section is down:

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

AP ‘Startled’ By Bush Criticism in Debate

Posted by: Mary Katharine Ham at 12:15 AM

Despite the fact that it has happened at every debate so far, that the base’s displeasure with the immigration bill is well-publicized, and that Bush’s “don’t want to do what’s right for America” swipe at critics prompted an even better-publicized clobber of a column from Peggy Noonan, which all of punditry pretty much acknowledged was an accurate reflection of the base’s feelings about Bush. And yet, totally surprising to the AP that men courting the aforementioned base would reflect such feelings. Puzzle and puzzle ’til your puzzler is sore, guys. Ace commends CNN for finding “likely Republican” voters that accurately reflect his feelings: Off to a good start — a woman who lost her husband brother to the war wants to know how to get us out of Iraq. I’m so surprised CNN found this questioner! Why, you’d think liberals had some sort of premeditated strategy to put forward victims to push their policies or something! More! Environmentalism, prescription drug subsidies, and now, from the affiliate’s handpicked (liberal) blogger, a question as to whether or not to install a Canadian style single-payer national health care system! Wow! These “likely Republican voters” sure are reflecting my concerns and interests! And, what was with the CNN amateur hour? They had mike problems in the Democratic debate and somehow didn’t get them worked out in the intervening two days? Giuliani’s mike actually cut off a part of one of his answers. The producers were mighty clumsy with the cameras when Wolf was asking his “down-the-line” questions, panning from candidate to candidate too quickly and missing half of each candidate’s answer before panning violently back to the speaker. I know these events are hard to put together, but they can be put on well. That’s kinda CNN’s job. My favorite totally unbiased question came from Wolf and was something like, “You know, Arnold has really gained a lot of independent voters and broadened his base in California by moving farther and farther left. Isn’t that something you guys should probably try to emulate?” I thought the appropriate answer to that would have been, “I don’t know. What do you think we should do, Wolf? It’s a mystery to us.

GOP Debate

Quotes From GOP Debate

Quotes From GOP Debate

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 12:22 PM

Great quotes from last evening:

Quotes from the Republican debate Tuesday night: (with my commentary having watched it)

SAM BROWNBACK

“The other thing we have to do: a much more aggressive political solution on the ground in Iraq. That has to take place, and that’s why I’ve pushing a three-state, one-country solution, where you have a Sunni region, a Shiite region and a Kurdish state that already exists, within a weak federation.” Nope. This won’t work there Skippy. The thing that needs to happen and MUST happen is to revise the ROE such that we turn the troops loose like they were loosed in WWII…kick butt, take no names and get the job done as quickly as possible. Do NOT let up with a relentless offensive action. Get the enemy on the run and chase them down and eliminate them. Send the message, “DO NOT [MESS] WITH US!”

Describing why he doesn’t think abortion should be allowed for the case of a rape victim who became pregnant, he said: “Will that make the woman in a better situation if that’s what takes place? I don’t think so, and I think we can explain it when we look at it for what it is, a beautiful child of a loving God that we ought to protect in all circumstances, in all places _ here in the womb, somebody that is struggling in poverty, the family that’s struggling, we should work and look at all life, be pro-life and whole-life for everybody.” I’ll buy that and I wholeheartedly agree. Why murder an unborn baby, an innocent?

___

JIM GILMORE

“With respect to Iran, I think that there is no choice at this point other than to join up with people across the world in order to put on serious, mandatory sanctions against Iran and to do everything that is going to be necessary to try to bring them to the notion that it is better for them to give up this sort of plan rather than to proceed the way we are. This sounds good and I am liking Gilmore but this tidbit was more “sound-good” sound byte. The world has seen that sanctions do NOT work, especially when there is NO enforcement of the sanctions by the would-be violators of said sanctions. Remember the Food For Oil scandal that the democrats swept under the rug? The Germans and the Russians “sneakiing about” behind the scenes in Iraq? Hello?

However, I think that we have to have an honest discussion with the American people about this. We have to ask ourselves this question: Are we prepared to have Iran have a nuclear weapon?” MOABs work really good, Jim.

___

RUDY GIULIANI

“I think we can agree, all of us, on this stage, that we should seek reductions in abortion. I ultimately do believe in a woman’s right of choice, but I think that there are ways in which we can reduce abortions. Abortions went down 16 percent when I was the mayor. Adoptions went up 133 percent during the eight years that I was mayor, compared to the prior eight years.” “I will give you 30 seconds to actually answer the question…” Dodgeball. Wasn’t impressed with this one in a positive manner.

Responding to a hypothetical situation in which people in custody in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have knowledge of an imminent terror attack, he said: “In the hypothetical that you gave me, which assumes that we know that there’s going to be another attack and these people know about it, I would tell the people who had to do the interrogation to use every method they could think of. Shouldn’t be torture, but every method they can think of. And I would support them in doing that.” I’ll buy that one and support it. Torture, so they say, can get you information but how reliable is it? Sleep deprivation works REALLY well. Playing Guns and Roses works even better…that music really sucks.

___

MIKE HUCKABEE

“That is the first thing I would love to do as president, put a ‘Going Out of Business’ sign on the Internal Revenue Service and stop the $10 billion a year that it costs just for them to operate. If we had a fair tax, it would eliminate not just the alternative minimum tax _ personal income tax, corporate tax. It would eliminate all the various taxes that are hidden in our system, and Americans don’t realize what they are paying.” BINGO!! Get RID of The Infernal Revenue Service! The 16th Amendment was NEVER legally ratified ANYWAY!! I’ll buy this one wholeheartedly. AMEN!! HOOAH?

“We value the life of one as if it’s the life of all. And that’s why we go after the 12-year-old Boy Scout in North Carolina when he’s lost. That’s why we look for the 13 miners in Sago, W.Va., when the mine explodes, that’s why we go looking for the hikers in Mount Hood. Because we value life. That’s what separates us from the Islamic jihadists who are out to kill us.” Another accolade to Huckabee. The GOP (most anyway) have a differing viewpoint on the value of life than the terrorists and their American allies within the Leftinistra.

___

DUNCAN HUNTER

Responding to a hypothetical situation in which people in custody in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have knowledge of an imminent terror attack, he said: “This would take a one-minute conversation with the secretary of defense. I would call him up, or call him in, I would say to sec def, in terms of getting information that would save American lives, even if it involves very high pressure techniques, one sentence: Get the information … and I will take full responsibility.” I’ll buy this round as well. Whatever it takes. Rabid dogs are rabid dogs. Unless one thinks a rabid dog gets constitutional rights. Moron Leftinistra.

“If we have border enforcement, we will be able at that point to start to regulate the internal problem that we’ve got, because as long as you’ve got a revolving door and you have no border _ and this 2,000-mile porous border, incidentally, is our biggest homeland security problem. It’s not just an immigration problem. It’s a homeland security problem.” That’s TWO!! Close the damn border! Tell Mexico to kiss our hinder parts and tell the Leftinistra to STFU!!

___

JOHN McCAIN

“I intend to lead. I don’t intend to follow. I don’t intend to block things. I intend to get results and I intend to work on the hard things, not the easy ones.” Whatever, dude. Can you be any more vague? RINO.

“We have procedures for interrogation in the Army Field Manual. Those I think would be adequate in 999,000 of cases, and I think that if we agree to torture people, we would do ourselves great harm in the world.” I can see your point, skippy, but in some cases, you just might be wrong. I am not saying stretch folks on the rack or place bamboo shards under fungernails but sometimes a good butt-whipping does work.

___

RON PAUL

“Have you ever read about the reasons they attacked us? They attack us because we’ve been over there. We’ve been bombing Iraq for 10 years. We’ve been in the Middle East _ I think Reagan was right. We don’t understand the irrationality of Middle Eastern politics. “ Ron Paul is an absolute friggin’ flake, fruit loop and baffoon. He “changed” to the GOP to get elected and once in, began espousing his LIBERAL Libertarian crap. A “Truther”. A moron. An idiot. Go home, retire, dig a hole and climb in. Stick your head out like a gopher and BLAM! Moron.

___

MITT ROMNEY

“I’ve always been personally pro-life. I’ve taught that to others, it’s been part of my faith. The question for me was: What should government do in this kind of setting? And the Supreme Court stepped in and took a decision, and I said I’d support that decision. And then I watched the impact of that decision as I was governor of Massachusetts.”

“Look, I’ve been governor in a pretty tough state. You heard of blue states. Have you ever bought a suit and you looked at it and you can’t tell if it’s blue or black? That’s how blue Massachusetts is. And in that state I’ve had to stand up for life and I have. I’ve had to stand up for traditional marriage and I have.”

These two statements “sounded” too well rehearsed and I don’t trust rehearsed answers. It reeks on insincerity. Too polished for me. The jury is still out on ole Romney.
___

TOM TANCREDO

“There are a million programs that we operate and that we pay for with the federal government that are far beyond the bounds of the Constitution. Follow the Constitution and you’ll know what’s necessary, and that’s the defense of the country. That’s it for the federal government.” I like Tom and his stance on the border but he is REALLY weak on the war. I agree with his statement about the over-bearing federal government. Doesn’t seem to be strong enough to stand up with fortitude to the Leftinistra socialists.

___

TOMMY THOMPSON

“There is no question that the al-Maliki government needs to step up and do what is right. The United States government has been there for four years. We’ve lost many individuals _ 3,400 individuals as of today. And it’s time for the al-Maliki (government) to vote whether or not they want us in the fifth year to stay in their country or whether or not they want us to go home.” There is NO question that this guy did not show up at the debate. Go home and climb into the same hole as Ron Paul. You deserve each other.

GOP Debate

The GOP Debate

The GOP Debate

Friday, May 04, 2007 11:44 AM

I wasn’t impressed to the degree I was hoping for. I got spoiled by Ronald Wilson Reagan and NONE of these are him. I don’t think the GOP will ever present one up. Hopefully Fred Thompson will throw in. Duncan Hunter was OK but the bells didn’t ring.

Spree has a live run down here and the WSJ Online has a good piece here.