As of September 29.
It's been about six weeks since I last checked these numbers, which was right after the Iowa debate.
1. (1) Mitt Romney - 47.9%
2. (2) Rick Perry - 23.9%
3. (9) Chris Christie - 8.5%
4. (-) Herman Cain - 5.4%
5. (3) Sarah Palin - 4.5%
6. (4) Jon Huntsman - 4.0%
7. (10) Newt Gingrich - 2.9%
8. (7) Ron Paul - 2.5%
9. (6) Michelle Bachmann - 2.0%
10. (-) Mike Huckabee - 2.0%
-- Rick Santorum - 1.0%
-- Gary Johnson - 0.6%
Out of top 10: Tim Pawlenty, Rudy Guiliani
Six weeks ago, Romney and Perry were neck-and-neck. A couple more debates, and Romney's blown open a wide lead.
It's still amusing to me that two of the top five aren't running for president. Oh, Palin can tease. My hunch though is that there's a section of GOP donors who believe all she'd do is syphon votes from Perry and assure Romney's win, whereas Christie would syphon voters from both and could possibly win the nomination, providing he's a better debater than Perry.
Bachmann's fall after winning the Ames straw poll has been remarkable. "Wow, that was a fast implosion," said Howard Dean.
Santorum and now Johnson are wasting our time. I'd love it if the next debate was whittled down to seven. Or six.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Mitt Romney ahead in Iowa?
The latest polling shows Mitt Romney ahead in Iowa. Wow, didn't see that coming so soon. Rick Perry's poor debate showings have taken their toll. Combine that with Romney winning a straw poll in Michigan and Herman Cain winning one in Florida, with each passing day it's looking like Perry blew his chance at the presidency.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Fox News/Google GOP Debate
Bret Baier introduces the candidates in order of popularity: Perry, Romney, Paul, Bachmann, Gingrich, Cain, Santorum, Huntsman, Johnson.
1. How will you help small business hire new employees?
PERRY - lower taxes, deregulate, tort reform, Injury lawyers, stay out off Texas. If it works in Texas, it'll work in DC. Baier: "Where's your jobs plan?" Look what we did in Texas. People understand Texas is special. #1 for relocation five years in a row.
ROMNEY - Baier: "WSJ calls you jobs plan timid". Obama's done everything wrong. It helps to have had a job to create a job. Our tax rates have to be competitive. Govt and regulators have to be allies of business not foes. Crack down on cheaters like China. I have 59 points in my plan. Baier: "What do you consider rich? Half-million?" I want everyone in America to be rich. I want everyone to have opportunities.
Baier tells viewers they can go to foxnews.com and vote on how rich is rich.
BACHMANN - Kelly: "How much of what I earn should I be allowed to keep?" Every dollar. Obama thinks it belongs to him. Obviously we have to give money back to govt to run govt.
2. With unemployment above 9%, would you support a federal right-to-work law?
SANTORUM - Kelly: "22 right-to-work states, 28 union states." We need to focus on public unions. Growing fastest, costs us the most, bankrupts states. They make up their private-sector equivalents. Get rid of public unions. (Applause.)
GINGRICH - Kelly: "Would you extend unemployment benefits?" Unemployment should be tied to training, so you can spend those 99 weeks training, not doing nothing. Let the states experiment with this and not pretend DC knows best.
HUNTSMAN - Wallace: "You subsidized clean energy in Utah. How's that different from Solyndra?" My wife's from here in Orlando. We have tough decisions. We need to fix the economy. We've learned subsidies don't work. Everyone wants to draw from the sun and the wind, but right now that doesn't work. Wallace: "But you'd said you'd subsidize natural gas." I will dance around that answer.
Huntsman's power-yellow tie puts Cain's pale-yellow tie to shame.
CAIN - Wallace: "Let's talk about your 9-9-9 plan." No danger in implementing it. No one answered the small-business question. This ecomony is on life support. Throw out the current tax code. My plan will treat everyone the same. Unlike Romney, mine throws the old code out. That dog won't hunt.
ROMNEY - My intent to help the people most hurt by Obama's ecomony. My plan is geared toward the middle class.
3. How do you plan to restore the 10th Amendment and allow states to govern themselves?
PAUL - The Prez should veto every bill that violates the 10th Amendment. Wallace: "You have more time." Any govt we want is proper at local levels. Let me throw out some libertarian meat.
JOHNSON - Baier: "What makes you a better libertarian candidate than Paul?" I won't presume that, but I have unique experience. I was a handyman. I promise a balanced-budget amendment. I promise to veto any bill where expenditures exceed revenue. I'm the #1 vetoing governor. I'd implement the fair tax.
It's a two-hour debate. It took 20 minutes to get everyone to be able to get in an answer. This is why we need less candidates on the stage, not more.
Here Fox News pats itself on the back for being the most interactive debate ever. The online poll marks $1 million + as "rich" with 44% of the votes. Then Baier refers to a word cloud where "illegal" is the biggest word. Huh?
PERRY - Kelly: "Gov. Romney has been hammering you on Social Security." We have made a solemn oath to those on SS, it will be there. Not the first time Mitt's been wrong (two people clap). In Massachusetts, 96% on that program are off. (?)
ROMNEY - Well, that's different than what's in your book. There's a Rick Perry out there that says SS is unconstitutional. You'd better find that Rick Perry and get him to stop saying that. (Good line.) Let's make SS stable for the next 75 years.
PERRY - Speaking of books, RomneyCare was a bust and that's what ObamaCare was all about. Your hardcover book said Americans need RomneyCare, your paperback took that out.
ROMNEY - We were talking about SS but we can talk health-care. I said no such thing. It was a state plan. It's fine if you want to retreat from your words in your book but I won't retreat from mine. I believe in what I did. Read my book. Kelly: "Bachmann said Obama ushered in socialism. Gingrich when asked if Obama was socialist said 'Sure.' Do you believe Obama is a socialist?" Let me tell you the title I want to assign to Obama. "Former President Barack Obama.' I beleive in America. I believe in opportunity, freedom, free enterprise. I believe the govt is too big or we won't continue to be a free economy. I only spent four years as governor. I didn't inhale. (laughs)
HUNTSMAN - Kelly: "Would you raise taxes on millionaires, as 66% want according to polls?" This is not the time to raise taxes. We need to fix our taxes. WSJ endorsed our plan. Remove all deductions and have three rates of 8-14-23. Reduce corporate taxes to 25%. We need to fix structural problems.
4. If forced to eliminate one department from government, which one would you eliminate?
CAIN - If forced, I'd start with the EPA. (applause.) It's out of control. "The EPA has gone wild." They regulate dust. Now for the rest of my time, I'd like to propose the Chilean model for fixing SS. We're not doing a service to Americans by bantering about what you call SS. Fix it!
GINGRICH - Kelly: "How can you slash spending by 40%?" By the way you describe the question, you can't. We might as well buy Greek bonds and go down together. next week I'm going to outline a 21st century Contract with America. I helped Kemp and Reagan in 1980. (For those who had 'Reagan' in your GOP drinking game, take your first gulp here.) I think it's doable and it takes real leadership.
5. I see teachers more focussed on federal mandates and trying not to get sued than education. What would you do about massive government overreach in the classroom?
JOHNSON - I'll reduce fed spending by 43%. I'll abolish Dept of Education. It gives 11 cents to each states with 16 cents worth of strings attached.
SANTORUM - Dept of Education doesn't serve the customer. It's parents' responsiblity to educate children. That has to change or education will not improve.
GINGRICH - Dramatically shrink Dept. of Education. Adopt pell grants for K-12 so parents could choose public, private or home-school.
PAUL - If you care about education you'll get govt out of educating our kids. We as GOP put in No Child Left Behind. Get rid of it. We should give tax credits to those who opt out.
PERRY - Lot of good ideas here on the side. (I'm in the middle.) Voucher systems. Everyone here but Romney is right on education.
ROMNEY - Nice try. Education needs to be at the local level. The best thing for education is great teachers. School choices. Test the children. As president, I'll stand up to natl teachers union. Baier: "Was Perry wrong on anything?" I'm not sure what he's saying.
BACHMANN - I'm a mom of 5 biological and 23 foster kids. We were concerned about our kids education. I'd repeal entire federal regulation law, I'd turn off the lights in Dept of Education and send all the $$$ back to the states.
CAIN - We must encourage and provide choices in education. Get fed govt out of education.
HUNTSMAN - I signed the second voucher bill in the US. I've actually done something about this.
BACHMANN - Wallace: "Border security?" Enforce laws on the books. Have fence cover every inch of southern border. No tuition breaks for illegals!
6. Do you support legislation requiring employers to use E-Verify? Will you impose penalties against businesses that continue to hire illegal workers.
GINGRICH - Outsource E-Verify to American Express because they know how to run a proram like that w/o massive fraud. I favor 100% control of border, English as offcl language of govt (applause), modernize legal visa system, make it easier and more practical.
ROMNEY - In Texas you get $22,000 tuition credit if you're illegal alien. You have to pay more if you're citizen from another state. That makes no sense. (Applause.) We have to have fence, border patrol, system like E-Verify, crack down on employers who hire illegals, get rid of magnet for illegals.
PERRY - Nobody on this stage has worked more on border security than I have. We have our Texas Ranger recon teams there now. Every day I have Texans on that border. If you say we shouldn't educate illegals, you have no heart. This was a state issue, we only had four dissenting votes when it passed. (Applause, followed by boos.)
SANTORUM - Wallace: "Is Perry soft on illegal immigration?" Nobody up here is suggesting illegals can't go to college. Most people have to pay the full load. Why do we have to subsidize the illegal students? Why give preferential treatment? I'd say he's soft on illegal immigration.
PERRY - Rick, have you ever even been to the border? (yes) To build a 1200-mile wall/border makes no sense. You puts boots on the ground. (does it work in Texas?) When I'm president (answer the question!) I will secure the border.
SANTORUM - Are you going to answer the question? Wallace: "He answered it."
PAUL - Wallace: "Do you know Americans who are ready to flee the US over the economy?" Too much regulation, too weak currency. If you care about your personal liberty, quit blaming illegal aliens for everything. Attack their benefits. No free rides, no birthright citizenship.
Fox News shows some Google trends, the the online poll wants Education cut - 47%
7. As president, how would you address Hamas, Hezbollah, etc. threats to Israel?
ROMNEY - Obama handled this wrong. He went around the world and apologized for America. Obama threw Israel under the bus. If you disagree with an ally, you discuss it in private. Stand behind your friends. Let the entire world know we will defend them. It's unacceptable for Iran to become a nuclear country.
CAIN - Reagan philopsophy of peace through strength. This admin isn't clear how we stand with Israel.
PERRY - Baier: "If you got a call at 3am, and you got a call that the Taliban had seized Pakistan's nuclear weapons, what's your first move?" Before it gets to that point, you need a relationship. Our allies need to understand clearly we'll stand with them. We should be better to India and Taiwan.
SANTORUM - Baier: "If Iraq's govt crumbled, would you support sending troops back?" We shouldn't be out in the first place. We need tens of thousands to make sure it's a smooth transition.
8. When are we going to get someone in the White House to stop sending billions of dollars overseas to countries that hate us?
GINGRICH - Replace virtually all govt-to-govt aid, have incentives instead. When you have countries who vote against you constantly in UN, why are we giving them money?
JOHNSON - Biggest threat to our natl security is we're bankrupt. Balanced-budget amendment. Reduce military spending. Military alliances are key to others picking up slack. Trade promotes friendship. We should revisit Cuba.
BACHMANN - Bret, can I weigh in on this? Cuba is a state sponsor of terror.
HUNTSMAN - I need to respond to Santorum. I'm the only one here with real foreign policy experience. Our core is broken. We're 25% of the world's GDP. The world is better off when the US is strong. It's time to come home from Afghanistan. (Applause.)
SANTORUM - Just because our economy is sick doesn't mean our country is sick or our values are sick. We shouldn't fight wars for politics, and our generals are fighting with one arm tied behidn their back.
HUNTSMAN - Only Pakistan can save Pakistan, only Afghanistan can save Afghanistan, and only America can save America. (Applause.)
BACHMANN - Kelly: "Is there limit on govt's ability to inject religion into public square?" The US govt should not be a state church. That's the fundamental point. All people should be free to express their belief in God.
9. Do you intend to circumvent the progress that's been made for gays in the military?
SANTORUM - Any sexual activity has no place in the military, and the fact that they've made it a provision and give them a special privilege by removing Don't Ask Don't Tell, I believe it undermines the military's ability. Kelly: 'What would you do as president about soldiers that are out?" Social experimentation, I'd reinstitute Don't Ask Don't Tell but would not throw out the ones that are already out. Keep it to yourself.
PAUL - Kelly: "How can you support rape exception or morning-after pill if you believe life begins at conception?" How do you police the day-after pill? It doesn't make sense practically. No one can outprespect me with life, but the law doesn't solve the problem, only the moral character of the people.
PERRY - Kelly: "Bad blood between you and Bush?" I called and wished him happy birthday. We differ in style and substance. I was vocal against Medicaid part-B and No Child Left Behind.
CAIN - Wallace: "You survived colon & liver cancer." (Applause.) "You say if ObamaCare if you were first being treated, you'd be dead now. Why?" My cancer was detected in March 2006 to the end of the year, I was able to get the necessary CAT scans, tests, chemo, surgery, recoup, etc. If we'd been under ObamaCare and a bureaucrat was trying to tell me when I could get care, I only had 30% chance of survival. Doctors said my speed of care helped save me.
10. As a college student, to allow us to stay on parents insruance longer was a godsend. Will you repeal that provision of ObamaCare?
HUNTSMAN - When I hear this discussion, I think of my daughter with diabetes. This ObamaCare bomb is creating such uncertainty. Let's go to the states and experiment and find break-throughs. Do what we did in Utah, we need afforable health insurance.
BACHMANN - Wallace: "You were wrong about HPV causing mental retardation." I was just relaying what a woman told me, but it was wrong for govt to mandate a vaccine. Perry made a decision where he gave parental rights to a big drug company. That company gave him capign contributions and his former chief of staff was their lobbyist.
PERRY - I got lobbied on this issue, lobbied by a woman who had Stage IV cervical cancer. I've admitted we should have had an opt-in, but I don't understand what part of "opt-out" parents don't get. i erred on the side of life. Wallace: "Texas has one of the hardest list of restrictions to get on Medicaid." Each state shoudl decide how they do health-care, not one size fits all. People continue to move to Texas, because we've created a state where opportunity is the word of the day.
ROMNEY - Wallace: "Perry called RomneyCare socialist and said we shouldn't elect Obama-Lite." I don't think he knows what he's talking about regarding that. Our plan in Mass has good parts and bad parts. One thing you heard from Cain is crucial, we should get rid of ObamaCare. I'd do an executive order on Day 1.
PERRY - I think Americans just don't know sometimes what Mitt Romney they're dealing with. He was for standing up for Roe v Wade before he was against it. He was for ObamaCare before he was against it.
ROMNEY - Nice try. I wrote a book two years ago. My positions are laid out in that book, I stand by them. You wrote a book six months ago and you're already retreating from your positions there. "Words have meaning."
Baier - a question for the candidates. Pres. Obama promised hope and change. I'm asking how you're going to turn this country around.
HUNTSMAN - This is a human tragedy with 15 million unemployed. I would drop 3 things on the steps of Congress. 1. Tax plan 2. Deregulate 3. Energy independence.
CAIN - It starts with economic growth, I have my 9-9-9 plan, but there is a severe leadership deficiency in DC. Reagan said we're a shining city on the hill, we're sliding down that hill. I'd get us back on top of that hill.
BACHMANN - The #1 reason employers aren't hiring is becuz of ObamaCare; it's the first thing I'd do.
ROMNEY - All across America, people are trying to see if they have enough money to get to the end fo the month. These are tough times but we are a patriotic people. We need a leader who tells the truth, has integrity and leads, we'll turn things around.
PERRY - We get rid fo ObamaCare, we get rid of EPA or job-killing regulations. Make America energy independent. (Didn't Huntsman give that answer?)
PAUL - I've been warning about economic bubbles for 20 years. Deal with Fed, deal with free markets, deal with tax and regulatory systems. People create jobs, not govt.
GINGRICH - 32 years ago we were in the same place. We had a failing presidency, the Soviet Union was on offense. Reagan said 'When your brother-in-law's unemployed, it's a recession. When you're unemploed, it's a Depression. When Jimmy Carter's unemployed, it's a recovery." Obama needs to lose decisively.
SANTORUM - We have a pres. who doesn't understand what America's all about. Reagan belived in you. Obama's the new King George III ruling from on high.
JOHNSON - My next-door neighbor's dogs have created more shovel-ready jobs than this administration. (Biggest laugh of night; too bad it's a joke Rush Limbaugh's already told.) Balance the federal budget now, not 20 years from now. If getting rid of corporate taxes doesn't create tens of millions of jobs, I don't know what does.
11. If you had to pick someone on this stage as your VP, who would it be?
JOHNSON - Paul. We're heading to a monetary crisis.
SANTORUM - I would pick whoever would do what I would do. I'd probably pick Gingrich.
GINGRICH - I don't have any idea who I would pick. It would have to be someone capable. These are all friends of mine, I can't imagine hurting their feelings by picking one.
PAUL - I'm in third place now, so when I'm in the top two I'll start thinking about it.
PERRY - Staying with the game-show idea, if you could combine Cain & Gingrich you'd have a really interesting VP.
ROMNEY - There are a couple images I'm going to have a hard time getting out of my head. If you're lucky enough to get the nomination of this party. Every one up here would be a better president than Obama. Baier: "You called Perry unelectable over SS." I didn't use that word, the newspaper did, but we all agree we need to make Obama a former president,
BACHMANN - Obama hasn't gone to the basement. We need to choose a candidate who represents consitutional conservatives.
CAIN - It's hypothetical. I'll play the game. If Romney would throw out his jobs plan and replace it with 9-9-9, he has a shot. If he won't, I'd probably go with Gingrich. But it is a game.
HUNTSMAN - I'm tempted to say Perry & Romney will bludgeon each other to death, reminds me of Guiliani & Thompson in 2008. I'd pick Cain. Our yellow ties show we support the gold standard.
So how did they do, really?
9. GARY JOHNSON - First time there, and he looks like a frumpled suit. His dogs line got a laugh but otherwise there was no point to him being there.
8. MICHELLE BACHMANN - She's fading into the woodwork. Her answers are getting repetitive, and the "HPV causes mental retardation" has backfired on her. No regaining of mojo at this debate.
7. RON PAUL - Another guy who's suffering from repetition and generalities. Never really got off his platitudinal talking points.
6. RICK SANTORUM - He had more confidence and crisper answers, but a major misfire when he got the YouTube question from the gay soldier. Not only did a few boos break out, but Santorum didn't defend him or thank him for his service, he just said all outed soldiers won't be thrown out but any new recruits will be back under the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. Really? How's that supposed to work?
5. JON HUNTSMAN - No bad jokes this time around. He's positioning himself as the palatable center-right candidate and was strongest on the foreign-policy questions.
4. RICK PERRY - Whenever he'd swipe at Mitt, Romney had a stronger counter-punch. At this point, his plan seems to be to drag Romney down into the mud. His foreign policy answers seemed shaky, and his response on illegal immigration failed with the audience. The worse Perry does, the more tempting it must be for Chris Christie or Sarah Palin to say, "Okay, fine, I'll run!"
3. NEWT GINGRICH - He's doing better at conveying a sunny attitude than in previous debates. He's magnanimous with his opponents and specific in his answers. If he had a different bio, he'd be a viable candidate.
2. HERMAN CAIN - His strongest showing yet. Maybe the VP slot is a possibility for him after all.
1. MITT ROMNEY - It's much nicer for him this time around without John McCain, Mike Huckabee and Rudy Guiliani pounding away on him during every debate. He really only has to deal with Perry, and he's clearly outmatching him. "Nice try" is his "There you go again."
1. How will you help small business hire new employees?
PERRY - lower taxes, deregulate, tort reform, Injury lawyers, stay out off Texas. If it works in Texas, it'll work in DC. Baier: "Where's your jobs plan?" Look what we did in Texas. People understand Texas is special. #1 for relocation five years in a row.
ROMNEY - Baier: "WSJ calls you jobs plan timid". Obama's done everything wrong. It helps to have had a job to create a job. Our tax rates have to be competitive. Govt and regulators have to be allies of business not foes. Crack down on cheaters like China. I have 59 points in my plan. Baier: "What do you consider rich? Half-million?" I want everyone in America to be rich. I want everyone to have opportunities.
Baier tells viewers they can go to foxnews.com and vote on how rich is rich.
BACHMANN - Kelly: "How much of what I earn should I be allowed to keep?" Every dollar. Obama thinks it belongs to him. Obviously we have to give money back to govt to run govt.
2. With unemployment above 9%, would you support a federal right-to-work law?
SANTORUM - Kelly: "22 right-to-work states, 28 union states." We need to focus on public unions. Growing fastest, costs us the most, bankrupts states. They make up their private-sector equivalents. Get rid of public unions. (Applause.)
GINGRICH - Kelly: "Would you extend unemployment benefits?" Unemployment should be tied to training, so you can spend those 99 weeks training, not doing nothing. Let the states experiment with this and not pretend DC knows best.
HUNTSMAN - Wallace: "You subsidized clean energy in Utah. How's that different from Solyndra?" My wife's from here in Orlando. We have tough decisions. We need to fix the economy. We've learned subsidies don't work. Everyone wants to draw from the sun and the wind, but right now that doesn't work. Wallace: "But you'd said you'd subsidize natural gas." I will dance around that answer.
Huntsman's power-yellow tie puts Cain's pale-yellow tie to shame.
CAIN - Wallace: "Let's talk about your 9-9-9 plan." No danger in implementing it. No one answered the small-business question. This ecomony is on life support. Throw out the current tax code. My plan will treat everyone the same. Unlike Romney, mine throws the old code out. That dog won't hunt.
ROMNEY - My intent to help the people most hurt by Obama's ecomony. My plan is geared toward the middle class.
3. How do you plan to restore the 10th Amendment and allow states to govern themselves?
PAUL - The Prez should veto every bill that violates the 10th Amendment. Wallace: "You have more time." Any govt we want is proper at local levels. Let me throw out some libertarian meat.
JOHNSON - Baier: "What makes you a better libertarian candidate than Paul?" I won't presume that, but I have unique experience. I was a handyman. I promise a balanced-budget amendment. I promise to veto any bill where expenditures exceed revenue. I'm the #1 vetoing governor. I'd implement the fair tax.
It's a two-hour debate. It took 20 minutes to get everyone to be able to get in an answer. This is why we need less candidates on the stage, not more.
Here Fox News pats itself on the back for being the most interactive debate ever. The online poll marks $1 million + as "rich" with 44% of the votes. Then Baier refers to a word cloud where "illegal" is the biggest word. Huh?
PERRY - Kelly: "Gov. Romney has been hammering you on Social Security." We have made a solemn oath to those on SS, it will be there. Not the first time Mitt's been wrong (two people clap). In Massachusetts, 96% on that program are off. (?)
ROMNEY - Well, that's different than what's in your book. There's a Rick Perry out there that says SS is unconstitutional. You'd better find that Rick Perry and get him to stop saying that. (Good line.) Let's make SS stable for the next 75 years.
PERRY - Speaking of books, RomneyCare was a bust and that's what ObamaCare was all about. Your hardcover book said Americans need RomneyCare, your paperback took that out.
ROMNEY - We were talking about SS but we can talk health-care. I said no such thing. It was a state plan. It's fine if you want to retreat from your words in your book but I won't retreat from mine. I believe in what I did. Read my book. Kelly: "Bachmann said Obama ushered in socialism. Gingrich when asked if Obama was socialist said 'Sure.' Do you believe Obama is a socialist?" Let me tell you the title I want to assign to Obama. "Former President Barack Obama.' I beleive in America. I believe in opportunity, freedom, free enterprise. I believe the govt is too big or we won't continue to be a free economy. I only spent four years as governor. I didn't inhale. (laughs)
HUNTSMAN - Kelly: "Would you raise taxes on millionaires, as 66% want according to polls?" This is not the time to raise taxes. We need to fix our taxes. WSJ endorsed our plan. Remove all deductions and have three rates of 8-14-23. Reduce corporate taxes to 25%. We need to fix structural problems.
4. If forced to eliminate one department from government, which one would you eliminate?
CAIN - If forced, I'd start with the EPA. (applause.) It's out of control. "The EPA has gone wild." They regulate dust. Now for the rest of my time, I'd like to propose the Chilean model for fixing SS. We're not doing a service to Americans by bantering about what you call SS. Fix it!
GINGRICH - Kelly: "How can you slash spending by 40%?" By the way you describe the question, you can't. We might as well buy Greek bonds and go down together. next week I'm going to outline a 21st century Contract with America. I helped Kemp and Reagan in 1980. (For those who had 'Reagan' in your GOP drinking game, take your first gulp here.) I think it's doable and it takes real leadership.
5. I see teachers more focussed on federal mandates and trying not to get sued than education. What would you do about massive government overreach in the classroom?
JOHNSON - I'll reduce fed spending by 43%. I'll abolish Dept of Education. It gives 11 cents to each states with 16 cents worth of strings attached.
SANTORUM - Dept of Education doesn't serve the customer. It's parents' responsiblity to educate children. That has to change or education will not improve.
GINGRICH - Dramatically shrink Dept. of Education. Adopt pell grants for K-12 so parents could choose public, private or home-school.
PAUL - If you care about education you'll get govt out of educating our kids. We as GOP put in No Child Left Behind. Get rid of it. We should give tax credits to those who opt out.
PERRY - Lot of good ideas here on the side. (I'm in the middle.) Voucher systems. Everyone here but Romney is right on education.
ROMNEY - Nice try. Education needs to be at the local level. The best thing for education is great teachers. School choices. Test the children. As president, I'll stand up to natl teachers union. Baier: "Was Perry wrong on anything?" I'm not sure what he's saying.
BACHMANN - I'm a mom of 5 biological and 23 foster kids. We were concerned about our kids education. I'd repeal entire federal regulation law, I'd turn off the lights in Dept of Education and send all the $$$ back to the states.
CAIN - We must encourage and provide choices in education. Get fed govt out of education.
HUNTSMAN - I signed the second voucher bill in the US. I've actually done something about this.
BACHMANN - Wallace: "Border security?" Enforce laws on the books. Have fence cover every inch of southern border. No tuition breaks for illegals!
6. Do you support legislation requiring employers to use E-Verify? Will you impose penalties against businesses that continue to hire illegal workers.
GINGRICH - Outsource E-Verify to American Express because they know how to run a proram like that w/o massive fraud. I favor 100% control of border, English as offcl language of govt (applause), modernize legal visa system, make it easier and more practical.
ROMNEY - In Texas you get $22,000 tuition credit if you're illegal alien. You have to pay more if you're citizen from another state. That makes no sense. (Applause.) We have to have fence, border patrol, system like E-Verify, crack down on employers who hire illegals, get rid of magnet for illegals.
PERRY - Nobody on this stage has worked more on border security than I have. We have our Texas Ranger recon teams there now. Every day I have Texans on that border. If you say we shouldn't educate illegals, you have no heart. This was a state issue, we only had four dissenting votes when it passed. (Applause, followed by boos.)
SANTORUM - Wallace: "Is Perry soft on illegal immigration?" Nobody up here is suggesting illegals can't go to college. Most people have to pay the full load. Why do we have to subsidize the illegal students? Why give preferential treatment? I'd say he's soft on illegal immigration.
PERRY - Rick, have you ever even been to the border? (yes) To build a 1200-mile wall/border makes no sense. You puts boots on the ground. (does it work in Texas?) When I'm president (answer the question!) I will secure the border.
SANTORUM - Are you going to answer the question? Wallace: "He answered it."
PAUL - Wallace: "Do you know Americans who are ready to flee the US over the economy?" Too much regulation, too weak currency. If you care about your personal liberty, quit blaming illegal aliens for everything. Attack their benefits. No free rides, no birthright citizenship.
Fox News shows some Google trends, the the online poll wants Education cut - 47%
7. As president, how would you address Hamas, Hezbollah, etc. threats to Israel?
ROMNEY - Obama handled this wrong. He went around the world and apologized for America. Obama threw Israel under the bus. If you disagree with an ally, you discuss it in private. Stand behind your friends. Let the entire world know we will defend them. It's unacceptable for Iran to become a nuclear country.
CAIN - Reagan philopsophy of peace through strength. This admin isn't clear how we stand with Israel.
PERRY - Baier: "If you got a call at 3am, and you got a call that the Taliban had seized Pakistan's nuclear weapons, what's your first move?" Before it gets to that point, you need a relationship. Our allies need to understand clearly we'll stand with them. We should be better to India and Taiwan.
SANTORUM - Baier: "If Iraq's govt crumbled, would you support sending troops back?" We shouldn't be out in the first place. We need tens of thousands to make sure it's a smooth transition.
8. When are we going to get someone in the White House to stop sending billions of dollars overseas to countries that hate us?
GINGRICH - Replace virtually all govt-to-govt aid, have incentives instead. When you have countries who vote against you constantly in UN, why are we giving them money?
JOHNSON - Biggest threat to our natl security is we're bankrupt. Balanced-budget amendment. Reduce military spending. Military alliances are key to others picking up slack. Trade promotes friendship. We should revisit Cuba.
BACHMANN - Bret, can I weigh in on this? Cuba is a state sponsor of terror.
HUNTSMAN - I need to respond to Santorum. I'm the only one here with real foreign policy experience. Our core is broken. We're 25% of the world's GDP. The world is better off when the US is strong. It's time to come home from Afghanistan. (Applause.)
SANTORUM - Just because our economy is sick doesn't mean our country is sick or our values are sick. We shouldn't fight wars for politics, and our generals are fighting with one arm tied behidn their back.
HUNTSMAN - Only Pakistan can save Pakistan, only Afghanistan can save Afghanistan, and only America can save America. (Applause.)
BACHMANN - Kelly: "Is there limit on govt's ability to inject religion into public square?" The US govt should not be a state church. That's the fundamental point. All people should be free to express their belief in God.
9. Do you intend to circumvent the progress that's been made for gays in the military?
SANTORUM - Any sexual activity has no place in the military, and the fact that they've made it a provision and give them a special privilege by removing Don't Ask Don't Tell, I believe it undermines the military's ability. Kelly: 'What would you do as president about soldiers that are out?" Social experimentation, I'd reinstitute Don't Ask Don't Tell but would not throw out the ones that are already out. Keep it to yourself.
PAUL - Kelly: "How can you support rape exception or morning-after pill if you believe life begins at conception?" How do you police the day-after pill? It doesn't make sense practically. No one can outprespect me with life, but the law doesn't solve the problem, only the moral character of the people.
PERRY - Kelly: "Bad blood between you and Bush?" I called and wished him happy birthday. We differ in style and substance. I was vocal against Medicaid part-B and No Child Left Behind.
CAIN - Wallace: "You survived colon & liver cancer." (Applause.) "You say if ObamaCare if you were first being treated, you'd be dead now. Why?" My cancer was detected in March 2006 to the end of the year, I was able to get the necessary CAT scans, tests, chemo, surgery, recoup, etc. If we'd been under ObamaCare and a bureaucrat was trying to tell me when I could get care, I only had 30% chance of survival. Doctors said my speed of care helped save me.
10. As a college student, to allow us to stay on parents insruance longer was a godsend. Will you repeal that provision of ObamaCare?
HUNTSMAN - When I hear this discussion, I think of my daughter with diabetes. This ObamaCare bomb is creating such uncertainty. Let's go to the states and experiment and find break-throughs. Do what we did in Utah, we need afforable health insurance.
BACHMANN - Wallace: "You were wrong about HPV causing mental retardation." I was just relaying what a woman told me, but it was wrong for govt to mandate a vaccine. Perry made a decision where he gave parental rights to a big drug company. That company gave him capign contributions and his former chief of staff was their lobbyist.
PERRY - I got lobbied on this issue, lobbied by a woman who had Stage IV cervical cancer. I've admitted we should have had an opt-in, but I don't understand what part of "opt-out" parents don't get. i erred on the side of life. Wallace: "Texas has one of the hardest list of restrictions to get on Medicaid." Each state shoudl decide how they do health-care, not one size fits all. People continue to move to Texas, because we've created a state where opportunity is the word of the day.
ROMNEY - Wallace: "Perry called RomneyCare socialist and said we shouldn't elect Obama-Lite." I don't think he knows what he's talking about regarding that. Our plan in Mass has good parts and bad parts. One thing you heard from Cain is crucial, we should get rid of ObamaCare. I'd do an executive order on Day 1.
PERRY - I think Americans just don't know sometimes what Mitt Romney they're dealing with. He was for standing up for Roe v Wade before he was against it. He was for ObamaCare before he was against it.
ROMNEY - Nice try. I wrote a book two years ago. My positions are laid out in that book, I stand by them. You wrote a book six months ago and you're already retreating from your positions there. "Words have meaning."
Baier - a question for the candidates. Pres. Obama promised hope and change. I'm asking how you're going to turn this country around.
HUNTSMAN - This is a human tragedy with 15 million unemployed. I would drop 3 things on the steps of Congress. 1. Tax plan 2. Deregulate 3. Energy independence.
CAIN - It starts with economic growth, I have my 9-9-9 plan, but there is a severe leadership deficiency in DC. Reagan said we're a shining city on the hill, we're sliding down that hill. I'd get us back on top of that hill.
BACHMANN - The #1 reason employers aren't hiring is becuz of ObamaCare; it's the first thing I'd do.
ROMNEY - All across America, people are trying to see if they have enough money to get to the end fo the month. These are tough times but we are a patriotic people. We need a leader who tells the truth, has integrity and leads, we'll turn things around.
PERRY - We get rid fo ObamaCare, we get rid of EPA or job-killing regulations. Make America energy independent. (Didn't Huntsman give that answer?)
PAUL - I've been warning about economic bubbles for 20 years. Deal with Fed, deal with free markets, deal with tax and regulatory systems. People create jobs, not govt.
GINGRICH - 32 years ago we were in the same place. We had a failing presidency, the Soviet Union was on offense. Reagan said 'When your brother-in-law's unemployed, it's a recession. When you're unemploed, it's a Depression. When Jimmy Carter's unemployed, it's a recovery." Obama needs to lose decisively.
SANTORUM - We have a pres. who doesn't understand what America's all about. Reagan belived in you. Obama's the new King George III ruling from on high.
JOHNSON - My next-door neighbor's dogs have created more shovel-ready jobs than this administration. (Biggest laugh of night; too bad it's a joke Rush Limbaugh's already told.) Balance the federal budget now, not 20 years from now. If getting rid of corporate taxes doesn't create tens of millions of jobs, I don't know what does.
11. If you had to pick someone on this stage as your VP, who would it be?
JOHNSON - Paul. We're heading to a monetary crisis.
SANTORUM - I would pick whoever would do what I would do. I'd probably pick Gingrich.
GINGRICH - I don't have any idea who I would pick. It would have to be someone capable. These are all friends of mine, I can't imagine hurting their feelings by picking one.
PAUL - I'm in third place now, so when I'm in the top two I'll start thinking about it.
PERRY - Staying with the game-show idea, if you could combine Cain & Gingrich you'd have a really interesting VP.
ROMNEY - There are a couple images I'm going to have a hard time getting out of my head. If you're lucky enough to get the nomination of this party. Every one up here would be a better president than Obama. Baier: "You called Perry unelectable over SS." I didn't use that word, the newspaper did, but we all agree we need to make Obama a former president,
BACHMANN - Obama hasn't gone to the basement. We need to choose a candidate who represents consitutional conservatives.
CAIN - It's hypothetical. I'll play the game. If Romney would throw out his jobs plan and replace it with 9-9-9, he has a shot. If he won't, I'd probably go with Gingrich. But it is a game.
HUNTSMAN - I'm tempted to say Perry & Romney will bludgeon each other to death, reminds me of Guiliani & Thompson in 2008. I'd pick Cain. Our yellow ties show we support the gold standard.
So how did they do, really?
9. GARY JOHNSON - First time there, and he looks like a frumpled suit. His dogs line got a laugh but otherwise there was no point to him being there.
8. MICHELLE BACHMANN - She's fading into the woodwork. Her answers are getting repetitive, and the "HPV causes mental retardation" has backfired on her. No regaining of mojo at this debate.
7. RON PAUL - Another guy who's suffering from repetition and generalities. Never really got off his platitudinal talking points.
6. RICK SANTORUM - He had more confidence and crisper answers, but a major misfire when he got the YouTube question from the gay soldier. Not only did a few boos break out, but Santorum didn't defend him or thank him for his service, he just said all outed soldiers won't be thrown out but any new recruits will be back under the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. Really? How's that supposed to work?
5. JON HUNTSMAN - No bad jokes this time around. He's positioning himself as the palatable center-right candidate and was strongest on the foreign-policy questions.
4. RICK PERRY - Whenever he'd swipe at Mitt, Romney had a stronger counter-punch. At this point, his plan seems to be to drag Romney down into the mud. His foreign policy answers seemed shaky, and his response on illegal immigration failed with the audience. The worse Perry does, the more tempting it must be for Chris Christie or Sarah Palin to say, "Okay, fine, I'll run!"
3. NEWT GINGRICH - He's doing better at conveying a sunny attitude than in previous debates. He's magnanimous with his opponents and specific in his answers. If he had a different bio, he'd be a viable candidate.
2. HERMAN CAIN - His strongest showing yet. Maybe the VP slot is a possibility for him after all.
1. MITT ROMNEY - It's much nicer for him this time around without John McCain, Mike Huckabee and Rudy Guiliani pounding away on him during every debate. He really only has to deal with Perry, and he's clearly outmatching him. "Nice try" is his "There you go again."
Monday, September 12, 2011
CNN Tea Party Debate
- Is it just me? As Wolf Blitzer introduced them and the candidates came out one by one, I wanted each to have their own theme music and pyrotechnics. "Rick 'The Social Piranha' Santoooooruuum!"
Intro:
HUNTSMAN - Today we're deeply divided; I have the experience and leadership to move this country forward.
CAIN - I'm the only non-politician here.
BACHMANN - I want to repeal Dodd-Frank and Obamacare. I'm the founder of the Tea Party Caucus.
ROMNEY - America's economy is in crisis. I understand jobs.
PERRY - I'm proud to be here today and want to make DC as inconsequential in your life as I can.
PAUL - Been in Congress for 20 years, my plan has always been to obey the Constitution.
GINGRICH - In the spirit of 9/12 I hope to work WITH you.
SANTORUM - I won in a state with more Democrats than Republicans.
"How will you convince senior citizens that Social Security and Medicare need to be changed, and how will you get their votes?"
BACHMANN - Obama "stole" $5 billion out of Medicare to switch to Obamacare. I've had feet in the private sector and a foot in the public sector. Seniors can count on my "core of convictions."
PERRY - The folks on Social Security are "slam-dunk guaranteed" that I won't call it a Ponzi scheme tonight. We need to fix it.
- Romney turns to completely face whoever's answering.
ROMNEY - I'll remind people Perry said "Ponzi scheme." Perry also said in his book SS was forced on us.
PERRY - If Mitt's trying to say they made the right decisions in the 30's and 40's, I disagree. (mild applause)
ROMNEY - But do you still believe SS should be discontinued as a federal program?
PERRY - I...
ROMNEY - Answer the question.
PERRY - You're trying to scare people.
ROMNEY - You said "Ponzi scheme" not me.
PERRY - You called SS "criminal" in your book. (Hoots from audience.)
ROMNEY - Quote me correctly, I said the way Congress was dealing with SS was criminal.
PAUL - I agree SS is broke; we spent all the money. I tried to pass a bill to keep SS money from being raided for these nonsense wars. Young people need to get out of SS. My plan is...
"Wait, let me get Cain in here."
CAIN - It's broken. The citizens of Galveston, TX, opted out and they're getting 50% more than they would've out of SS. It worked in Chile. Personal retirement accounts.
HUNTSMAN - Drama queens. Romney called it a fraud. Perry called it a Ponzi scheme. We're frightening Americans who want solutions.
GINGRICH - I'm not worried about Romney & Perry frightening the American people when Pres. Obama does it every day. (Big pop from audience.) That's not a rhetorical joke. If you're younger and would like a personal acct to control instead of the politicians, you should have the right to choose.
"Santorum are you with Romney or Perry on SS?"
SANTORUM - The question is, who's with me? I knew in 1994 this day was coming. I have the courage to tell the truth. I have a track record of courage. I have mad courage skills.
"What is your plan to balance the budget?"
GINGRICH - It's a Washington mythology. I balanced the budget four years in a row. See if the SuperCommittee dares to do it right. There's so much waste.
SANTORUM - We have to make sure there's a prescription drug component in Medicare. I had courage on this issue. DC believes they know better than you how to do your health-care.
PERRY - There's a $17 trillion hole in our budget. In Texas we combined HHS from 10 to 5 agencies.
ROMNEY - I'd reform Medicare and SS. We talk about waste, but we're not going to balance the budget just by cutting out waste. We need cut fed spending and pass a Balanced Budget Amendment. We need to grow the economy to raise revenue.
PAUL - We spend $1.5 trillion overseas in wars we don't need to be in; we need to cut there. And it still wouldn't be enough. Cut the Depts of Education and Energy. (Applause.)
BACHMANN - Too many believe the govt is there to "buy people more stuff." We need more personal responsibility.
Commercial break.
"What would you do to get the economy moving forward, do you have a plan, and what is it?"
HUNTSMAN - We're seeing a human tragedy. Millions unemployed, millions given up on finding jobs. My plan is based on what I did as governor. New tax code. Strip loopholes and lower rates. We need to ger rid of our heroin-like addiction to foreign oil.
PERRY - Obama's last stimulus produced zero jobs. Free up regulation and this economy will take off "like a rocket-ship." Reform the tax code. People are tired of spending money we don't have on programs we don't want.
BACHMANN - When you have a trillion in spending you don't pay for, the deficit will go up, and now the Prez wants to do it again. We shouldn't have raised the debt ceiling. He wants to borrow more from China. Repeal Dodd-Frank, repeal Obamacare. (Applause.)
CAIN - This economy is on life-support. Throw out the entire tax code and put in my 9-9-9 code. 9% business tax, 9% income tax, 9% fed sales tax. US businesses will create jobs if we provide certainty.
ROMNEY - Texas is a great state. Right-to-work. Lotta oil. We're an energy-rich nation living like an energy-poor nation. We've gone from a pay-phone world to a smartphone world, but Obama wants to keep putting quarters in the pay-phone. I'll rattle off seven things I'll do, and Perry will nod in agreement. "How much credit does Perry deserve?" Well, if you have four aces, that doesn't make you a good poker player.
- Mitt made a mistake there.
PERRY - Mitt, you were doing good til you got to talkin' poker.
PAUL - Our taxes, spending and debt has gone up under Perry. I don't want to offend him; he might raise my taxes. 'How do you pay for a tax cut' is the wrong question. It's your money.
PERRY - Hey, I cut taxes by $14 billion.
GINGRICH - Well, when I was Speaker there were more jobs created at that time than when Huntsman, Romney and Perry were governors for their states. i don't take credit for it; it was investors and businessmen, etc. (Applause.)
"Can you be pro-business and pro-worker at the same time?"
CAIN - Yes, I was a worker before I was an executive. My mom was a maid, my dad was a janitor. We need leadership.
HUNTSMAN - This country needs more workers. We need an environment that creates jobs. Utah was #1 in job-creation, the best-managed state in America. Businesses flocked there, the Superfriends set up the Hall of Justice there; it's a great state!
Commercial break.
"What is your position on the Federal Reserve? Should we audit?"
SANTORUM - Yes, audit it. There should be a sound-money federal reserve. We need a pro-growth plan. Let's make zero taxes on American manufacturing.
CAIN - Yes, audit it. Its focus needs to be narrowed. Don't end it, fix it. The Canadian dollar is now worth more than the US dollar becuz of the Fed.
BACHMANN - I wouldn't reappoint Ben Bernake. Congress has given almost unlimited power to the Fed over the economy. The Fed "has a lot to answer for." 'Do you agree with Perry that Bernake is close to treason'? I'll let Perry answer that.
PERRY - Almost treasonous. I'm not a fan.
ROMNEY - The Fed has a responsibility to protect the value of our currency. But if we get rid of the Fed, who will oversee our currency? Congress? I'm not a fan of that.
"Out of every dollar that I earn, how much do you think I deserve to keep?"
HUNTSMAN - I'd flatten the tax rate. You want a competitive tax code. We need to cut the deductions. 8,14,24%. Thse would be my personal income rates. Lower corporate rates from 35 to 25. "Clean out the cobwebs." Debt is a cancer that will eat away at this country until you find a leader in 2012.
GINGRICH - Hey, GE paid no taxes. (Applause!) Obama talked about taking care of loopholes. Doesn't he realize everything GE is doing is a loophole? 'Isn't getting rid of a loophole a tax hike?' Yes, technically, but I'm cheerfully opposed to raising taxes.
"Would any of you be willing to support the Fair tax?"
ROMNEY - The idea of a national sales tax would make us more competitive globally, it'd level the playing field. But the way it's structured it'd raise the burden on the middle class. My plan is to reduce taxes on middle class. No tax on interest or dividends.
"Under what circumstances should a president sign an executive order?"
PAUL - The executive order has been grossly abused by all the administrations for a number of years. (Applause.) It should never be used to legislate. It should be taken under control.
"Hey, Gov. Perry, you signed an executive order to make 11-12-yr-old girls get vaccinated to prevent cervical cancer. Mistake?"
PERRY - Yep. I should've gone through the legislature. I will use an executive order to get rid of Obamacare on Day One.
BACHMANN - To have innocent girls forced to be injected by the government is just wrong. Repeal Obamacare!
PERRY - It wasn't a mandate; there was an opt-out. At the end of the day, I will err on the side of life.
BACHMANN - We cannot forget in the midst of this executive order, a drug company made millions due to this mandate. The governor's former chief-of-staff was the chief lobbyist for this drug company.
PERRY - It was Merck, and it was $5000. Are you saying I can be bought for $5000, I'm offended.
BACHMANN - I'm offended for all the little girls that didn't have a choice.
SANTORUM - Your policy was wrong. "This is Big Government run amok!"
PERRY - I think we made decisions... we put in efforts to cure cancer... we protect life... what we were all about was saving lives.
- Bachmann & Santorum did a great tag-team on Perry. He's woozy.
CAIN - Pass "loser pays" laws to get rid of frivolous lawsuits. (One guy applauds.) When I ran Godafther's Pizza we came up with a health-care plan for our employees.
ROMNEY - Generally people don't care what health-care costs once they've paid their deductible. On Day 1, I'll have the A.G. grant a waiver to all 50 states from Obamacare.
PERRY - Hey, Obama modeled Obamacare on Romneycare. It'll cost billions of dollars and is wrong for the country.
ROMNEY - Let me rattle off the ways my plan and Obamacare are different.
PAUL - Freedom's all about taking risks.
- Here Wolf Blitzer gives a hypothetical of a healthy uninsured 30-yr-old goes into a coma. 'Should the got just let him die?' Someone in the audience yells "Yeah!" Obama just lit up a stogey and put his feet on the desk.
BACHMANN - Waivers and executive orders won't cut it for Obamacare. No state has the right to force its citizens to buy a product. Remove Obamacare by its root and branch. 2012 is IT! This is the election to decide if we have socialized medicine or not. The meteor is headed toward Earth!
Commercial break. Whoa, Bachmann just ran off-stage.
"What would you do to remove the illegal immigrants from our country?"
SANTORUM - I'm the son of an Italian immigrant. We have a problem of an insecure border. "Unlike Governor Perry" I believe in a strong border. I'm against amnesty, but we need to support legal immigration.
PERRY - There's no one on this stage that's had to deal with illegal immigration more than me, and the fed govt has been an abject failure on border security. The idea that you'd build a wall is just not reality. You have to have boots on the ground. 4500 patrolmen, 1500 troops. The Fed govt has to step up and do their Constitutional duty.
"What are candidates doing to attract Latino voters?"
SANTORUM - Maybe Gov. Perry was trying to attract Latino voters by allowing illegals in-state tuition. (Racist much?) It was a gift to my father to force him to learn English.
PERRY - (Starts to defend his in-state tuition bill and gets some boos.)
"Isn't that like the Dream Act?"
BACHMANN - Very similar. Giving breaks to people who break our laws. What works is have legal immigration. Speak English, learn US history and our Constitution.
PERRY - I'm not for the Dream Act; that's amnesty. What we did was a states-rights issue. We were clearly sending a message that regardless of the sound of your last name, we believe in you. We're going to allow you to contribute and not be a drag.
HUNTSMAN - For Rick to say you can't secure the border is pretty much a treasonous comment. (Audience is stunned.) We allowed a drivers privilege card, a pragmatic local solution. Go, Tenth Amendment!
ROMNEY - Problem with both. They came here for opportunity. Regarding illegal immigration "of course" we build a fence. Giving them in-state tuition breaks or drivers license only encourages more illegal immigration.
PERRY - We had a decision to make. Do we give them incentive to contribute to society, or put them on the government dole? States-right issue. They're pursuing citizenship.
HUNTSMAN - We can spend all night talking about where Mitt's been on the issues. (Awkward.) Fix Homeland Security. When will we have an honest conversation? Legal immigration is broken.
"The US has an abundance of coal, natural gas and uranium. What will you do in first 100 days to ensure Americans that energy independence will finally become a reality?"
CAIN - Remove some of those fed govt barriers. Start with an EPA gone wild. Start a regulatory reduction commission.
"Do you plan to decrease defense spending to reduce deficit?"
GINGRICH - We should be reminded what's at stake if a foreign terrorist gets a nuclear weapon in this country. What do you do in Mexico, in Middle East, about our national base?
PAUL - Difference between military spending and defense spending. We have 900 bases all over the world. There's nothing in the Constitution for nation-building.
SANTORUM - Your website basically blamed us for 9/11. Con. Paul, that is irresponsible. Someone running for president should not be parroting what Osama said on 9/11. We were attacked because we stand for American exceptionalism.
PAUL - As long as this country follows that, we're in trouble. The idea that we were attacked because we are free is just not true. (Applause and then boos.)
"As the next president of the US, what will you do to secure safety for women and children of Afghanistan from the radicals?"
HUNTSMAN - We've been there for ten years. The time has come for us to get out of Afghanistan. We don't need 100,000 troops there when this country's core is crumbling. We're not shining like we used to shine. When we start to shine again, it'll help the women of Afghanistan. (Huh?) Afghan people need to take responsibility for their security.
PERRY - I agree with Huntsman in getting them home, but we need to have a presense there. That country's military needs to take care of their people.
Commercial break.
"What would you add to the White House?"
SANTORUM - We'd add a bedroom. We have seven kids.
GINGRICH - I'd kick out the WH czars to make more space. We'd have more music.
PAUL - I'd bring a bushel-basket of common sense, a course in Austrian economics.
PERRY - I'd bring the most beautiful, thoughtful First Lady this country had ever seen.
ROMNEY - I'd bring back Churchill's bust.
BACHMANN - I'd bring a copy of the Constitution and Declaration of the Independence and red meat for voters!
CAIN - I'd bring a sense of humor. America's too uptight.
HUNTSMAN - I'd bring my Harley.
Aaaaaand we're done.
If this was the first time I'd ever seen any of these candidates, I would rank them this way.
1. NEWT GINGRICH - Got a ton of applause, but also had genial tone, articulate answers, seemed most willing to give credit to other candidates.
2. MITT ROMNEY - Seemed a little too willing to be aggressive toward Rick Perry, but otherwise did great in hitting the questions that came.
3. HERMAN CAIN - Relaxed, engaged, maybe suffered from clearly no one else being worried about him. I'm not crazy about a "loser pays" law. That seems like it'd make big corporations that much more confident in lawsuits.
4. RON PAUL - The man knows where he stands on every issue. But had some answers the audience would rather boo than hear.
5. RICK PERRY - He was clearly the target and his opponents landed some serious punches. I think we're going to hear more about Merck over the next few days.
6. MICHELLE BACHMANN - Her answer to almost every question was "Repeal Obamacare!" Strongest moment may have been when attacking Perry over vaccinations.
7. RICK SANTORUM - He had his moments, but he had a couple clunker answers too, especailly his response to attracting Latino voters by instantly making an illegal-immigration joke.
8. JON HUNTSMAN - Came off as a jerk. Negative against his opponents and had a couple weird scoot-arounds from answering the question.
Will this affect polls? Eh maybe. It's still a two-person race between Romney and Perry. I changed my mind about something. Sarah Palin could still get in. It'd then be a three-person race.
Intro:
HUNTSMAN - Today we're deeply divided; I have the experience and leadership to move this country forward.
CAIN - I'm the only non-politician here.
BACHMANN - I want to repeal Dodd-Frank and Obamacare. I'm the founder of the Tea Party Caucus.
ROMNEY - America's economy is in crisis. I understand jobs.
PERRY - I'm proud to be here today and want to make DC as inconsequential in your life as I can.
PAUL - Been in Congress for 20 years, my plan has always been to obey the Constitution.
GINGRICH - In the spirit of 9/12 I hope to work WITH you.
SANTORUM - I won in a state with more Democrats than Republicans.
"How will you convince senior citizens that Social Security and Medicare need to be changed, and how will you get their votes?"
BACHMANN - Obama "stole" $5 billion out of Medicare to switch to Obamacare. I've had feet in the private sector and a foot in the public sector. Seniors can count on my "core of convictions."
PERRY - The folks on Social Security are "slam-dunk guaranteed" that I won't call it a Ponzi scheme tonight. We need to fix it.
- Romney turns to completely face whoever's answering.
ROMNEY - I'll remind people Perry said "Ponzi scheme." Perry also said in his book SS was forced on us.
PERRY - If Mitt's trying to say they made the right decisions in the 30's and 40's, I disagree. (mild applause)
ROMNEY - But do you still believe SS should be discontinued as a federal program?
PERRY - I...
ROMNEY - Answer the question.
PERRY - You're trying to scare people.
ROMNEY - You said "Ponzi scheme" not me.
PERRY - You called SS "criminal" in your book. (Hoots from audience.)
ROMNEY - Quote me correctly, I said the way Congress was dealing with SS was criminal.
PAUL - I agree SS is broke; we spent all the money. I tried to pass a bill to keep SS money from being raided for these nonsense wars. Young people need to get out of SS. My plan is...
"Wait, let me get Cain in here."
CAIN - It's broken. The citizens of Galveston, TX, opted out and they're getting 50% more than they would've out of SS. It worked in Chile. Personal retirement accounts.
HUNTSMAN - Drama queens. Romney called it a fraud. Perry called it a Ponzi scheme. We're frightening Americans who want solutions.
GINGRICH - I'm not worried about Romney & Perry frightening the American people when Pres. Obama does it every day. (Big pop from audience.) That's not a rhetorical joke. If you're younger and would like a personal acct to control instead of the politicians, you should have the right to choose.
"Santorum are you with Romney or Perry on SS?"
SANTORUM - The question is, who's with me? I knew in 1994 this day was coming. I have the courage to tell the truth. I have a track record of courage. I have mad courage skills.
"What is your plan to balance the budget?"
GINGRICH - It's a Washington mythology. I balanced the budget four years in a row. See if the SuperCommittee dares to do it right. There's so much waste.
SANTORUM - We have to make sure there's a prescription drug component in Medicare. I had courage on this issue. DC believes they know better than you how to do your health-care.
PERRY - There's a $17 trillion hole in our budget. In Texas we combined HHS from 10 to 5 agencies.
ROMNEY - I'd reform Medicare and SS. We talk about waste, but we're not going to balance the budget just by cutting out waste. We need cut fed spending and pass a Balanced Budget Amendment. We need to grow the economy to raise revenue.
PAUL - We spend $1.5 trillion overseas in wars we don't need to be in; we need to cut there. And it still wouldn't be enough. Cut the Depts of Education and Energy. (Applause.)
BACHMANN - Too many believe the govt is there to "buy people more stuff." We need more personal responsibility.
Commercial break.
"What would you do to get the economy moving forward, do you have a plan, and what is it?"
HUNTSMAN - We're seeing a human tragedy. Millions unemployed, millions given up on finding jobs. My plan is based on what I did as governor. New tax code. Strip loopholes and lower rates. We need to ger rid of our heroin-like addiction to foreign oil.
PERRY - Obama's last stimulus produced zero jobs. Free up regulation and this economy will take off "like a rocket-ship." Reform the tax code. People are tired of spending money we don't have on programs we don't want.
BACHMANN - When you have a trillion in spending you don't pay for, the deficit will go up, and now the Prez wants to do it again. We shouldn't have raised the debt ceiling. He wants to borrow more from China. Repeal Dodd-Frank, repeal Obamacare. (Applause.)
CAIN - This economy is on life-support. Throw out the entire tax code and put in my 9-9-9 code. 9% business tax, 9% income tax, 9% fed sales tax. US businesses will create jobs if we provide certainty.
ROMNEY - Texas is a great state. Right-to-work. Lotta oil. We're an energy-rich nation living like an energy-poor nation. We've gone from a pay-phone world to a smartphone world, but Obama wants to keep putting quarters in the pay-phone. I'll rattle off seven things I'll do, and Perry will nod in agreement. "How much credit does Perry deserve?" Well, if you have four aces, that doesn't make you a good poker player.
- Mitt made a mistake there.
PERRY - Mitt, you were doing good til you got to talkin' poker.
PAUL - Our taxes, spending and debt has gone up under Perry. I don't want to offend him; he might raise my taxes. 'How do you pay for a tax cut' is the wrong question. It's your money.
PERRY - Hey, I cut taxes by $14 billion.
GINGRICH - Well, when I was Speaker there were more jobs created at that time than when Huntsman, Romney and Perry were governors for their states. i don't take credit for it; it was investors and businessmen, etc. (Applause.)
"Can you be pro-business and pro-worker at the same time?"
CAIN - Yes, I was a worker before I was an executive. My mom was a maid, my dad was a janitor. We need leadership.
HUNTSMAN - This country needs more workers. We need an environment that creates jobs. Utah was #1 in job-creation, the best-managed state in America. Businesses flocked there, the Superfriends set up the Hall of Justice there; it's a great state!
Commercial break.
"What is your position on the Federal Reserve? Should we audit?"
SANTORUM - Yes, audit it. There should be a sound-money federal reserve. We need a pro-growth plan. Let's make zero taxes on American manufacturing.
CAIN - Yes, audit it. Its focus needs to be narrowed. Don't end it, fix it. The Canadian dollar is now worth more than the US dollar becuz of the Fed.
BACHMANN - I wouldn't reappoint Ben Bernake. Congress has given almost unlimited power to the Fed over the economy. The Fed "has a lot to answer for." 'Do you agree with Perry that Bernake is close to treason'? I'll let Perry answer that.
PERRY - Almost treasonous. I'm not a fan.
ROMNEY - The Fed has a responsibility to protect the value of our currency. But if we get rid of the Fed, who will oversee our currency? Congress? I'm not a fan of that.
"Out of every dollar that I earn, how much do you think I deserve to keep?"
HUNTSMAN - I'd flatten the tax rate. You want a competitive tax code. We need to cut the deductions. 8,14,24%. Thse would be my personal income rates. Lower corporate rates from 35 to 25. "Clean out the cobwebs." Debt is a cancer that will eat away at this country until you find a leader in 2012.
GINGRICH - Hey, GE paid no taxes. (Applause!) Obama talked about taking care of loopholes. Doesn't he realize everything GE is doing is a loophole? 'Isn't getting rid of a loophole a tax hike?' Yes, technically, but I'm cheerfully opposed to raising taxes.
"Would any of you be willing to support the Fair tax?"
ROMNEY - The idea of a national sales tax would make us more competitive globally, it'd level the playing field. But the way it's structured it'd raise the burden on the middle class. My plan is to reduce taxes on middle class. No tax on interest or dividends.
"Under what circumstances should a president sign an executive order?"
PAUL - The executive order has been grossly abused by all the administrations for a number of years. (Applause.) It should never be used to legislate. It should be taken under control.
"Hey, Gov. Perry, you signed an executive order to make 11-12-yr-old girls get vaccinated to prevent cervical cancer. Mistake?"
PERRY - Yep. I should've gone through the legislature. I will use an executive order to get rid of Obamacare on Day One.
BACHMANN - To have innocent girls forced to be injected by the government is just wrong. Repeal Obamacare!
PERRY - It wasn't a mandate; there was an opt-out. At the end of the day, I will err on the side of life.
BACHMANN - We cannot forget in the midst of this executive order, a drug company made millions due to this mandate. The governor's former chief-of-staff was the chief lobbyist for this drug company.
PERRY - It was Merck, and it was $5000. Are you saying I can be bought for $5000, I'm offended.
BACHMANN - I'm offended for all the little girls that didn't have a choice.
SANTORUM - Your policy was wrong. "This is Big Government run amok!"
PERRY - I think we made decisions... we put in efforts to cure cancer... we protect life... what we were all about was saving lives.
- Bachmann & Santorum did a great tag-team on Perry. He's woozy.
CAIN - Pass "loser pays" laws to get rid of frivolous lawsuits. (One guy applauds.) When I ran Godafther's Pizza we came up with a health-care plan for our employees.
ROMNEY - Generally people don't care what health-care costs once they've paid their deductible. On Day 1, I'll have the A.G. grant a waiver to all 50 states from Obamacare.
PERRY - Hey, Obama modeled Obamacare on Romneycare. It'll cost billions of dollars and is wrong for the country.
ROMNEY - Let me rattle off the ways my plan and Obamacare are different.
PAUL - Freedom's all about taking risks.
- Here Wolf Blitzer gives a hypothetical of a healthy uninsured 30-yr-old goes into a coma. 'Should the got just let him die?' Someone in the audience yells "Yeah!" Obama just lit up a stogey and put his feet on the desk.
BACHMANN - Waivers and executive orders won't cut it for Obamacare. No state has the right to force its citizens to buy a product. Remove Obamacare by its root and branch. 2012 is IT! This is the election to decide if we have socialized medicine or not. The meteor is headed toward Earth!
Commercial break. Whoa, Bachmann just ran off-stage.
"What would you do to remove the illegal immigrants from our country?"
SANTORUM - I'm the son of an Italian immigrant. We have a problem of an insecure border. "Unlike Governor Perry" I believe in a strong border. I'm against amnesty, but we need to support legal immigration.
PERRY - There's no one on this stage that's had to deal with illegal immigration more than me, and the fed govt has been an abject failure on border security. The idea that you'd build a wall is just not reality. You have to have boots on the ground. 4500 patrolmen, 1500 troops. The Fed govt has to step up and do their Constitutional duty.
"What are candidates doing to attract Latino voters?"
SANTORUM - Maybe Gov. Perry was trying to attract Latino voters by allowing illegals in-state tuition. (Racist much?) It was a gift to my father to force him to learn English.
PERRY - (Starts to defend his in-state tuition bill and gets some boos.)
"Isn't that like the Dream Act?"
BACHMANN - Very similar. Giving breaks to people who break our laws. What works is have legal immigration. Speak English, learn US history and our Constitution.
PERRY - I'm not for the Dream Act; that's amnesty. What we did was a states-rights issue. We were clearly sending a message that regardless of the sound of your last name, we believe in you. We're going to allow you to contribute and not be a drag.
HUNTSMAN - For Rick to say you can't secure the border is pretty much a treasonous comment. (Audience is stunned.) We allowed a drivers privilege card, a pragmatic local solution. Go, Tenth Amendment!
ROMNEY - Problem with both. They came here for opportunity. Regarding illegal immigration "of course" we build a fence. Giving them in-state tuition breaks or drivers license only encourages more illegal immigration.
PERRY - We had a decision to make. Do we give them incentive to contribute to society, or put them on the government dole? States-right issue. They're pursuing citizenship.
HUNTSMAN - We can spend all night talking about where Mitt's been on the issues. (Awkward.) Fix Homeland Security. When will we have an honest conversation? Legal immigration is broken.
"The US has an abundance of coal, natural gas and uranium. What will you do in first 100 days to ensure Americans that energy independence will finally become a reality?"
CAIN - Remove some of those fed govt barriers. Start with an EPA gone wild. Start a regulatory reduction commission.
"Do you plan to decrease defense spending to reduce deficit?"
GINGRICH - We should be reminded what's at stake if a foreign terrorist gets a nuclear weapon in this country. What do you do in Mexico, in Middle East, about our national base?
PAUL - Difference between military spending and defense spending. We have 900 bases all over the world. There's nothing in the Constitution for nation-building.
SANTORUM - Your website basically blamed us for 9/11. Con. Paul, that is irresponsible. Someone running for president should not be parroting what Osama said on 9/11. We were attacked because we stand for American exceptionalism.
PAUL - As long as this country follows that, we're in trouble. The idea that we were attacked because we are free is just not true. (Applause and then boos.)
"As the next president of the US, what will you do to secure safety for women and children of Afghanistan from the radicals?"
HUNTSMAN - We've been there for ten years. The time has come for us to get out of Afghanistan. We don't need 100,000 troops there when this country's core is crumbling. We're not shining like we used to shine. When we start to shine again, it'll help the women of Afghanistan. (Huh?) Afghan people need to take responsibility for their security.
PERRY - I agree with Huntsman in getting them home, but we need to have a presense there. That country's military needs to take care of their people.
Commercial break.
"What would you add to the White House?"
SANTORUM - We'd add a bedroom. We have seven kids.
GINGRICH - I'd kick out the WH czars to make more space. We'd have more music.
PAUL - I'd bring a bushel-basket of common sense, a course in Austrian economics.
PERRY - I'd bring the most beautiful, thoughtful First Lady this country had ever seen.
ROMNEY - I'd bring back Churchill's bust.
BACHMANN - I'd bring a copy of the Constitution and Declaration of the Independence and red meat for voters!
CAIN - I'd bring a sense of humor. America's too uptight.
HUNTSMAN - I'd bring my Harley.
Aaaaaand we're done.
If this was the first time I'd ever seen any of these candidates, I would rank them this way.
1. NEWT GINGRICH - Got a ton of applause, but also had genial tone, articulate answers, seemed most willing to give credit to other candidates.
2. MITT ROMNEY - Seemed a little too willing to be aggressive toward Rick Perry, but otherwise did great in hitting the questions that came.
3. HERMAN CAIN - Relaxed, engaged, maybe suffered from clearly no one else being worried about him. I'm not crazy about a "loser pays" law. That seems like it'd make big corporations that much more confident in lawsuits.
4. RON PAUL - The man knows where he stands on every issue. But had some answers the audience would rather boo than hear.
5. RICK PERRY - He was clearly the target and his opponents landed some serious punches. I think we're going to hear more about Merck over the next few days.
6. MICHELLE BACHMANN - Her answer to almost every question was "Repeal Obamacare!" Strongest moment may have been when attacking Perry over vaccinations.
7. RICK SANTORUM - He had his moments, but he had a couple clunker answers too, especailly his response to attracting Latino voters by instantly making an illegal-immigration joke.
8. JON HUNTSMAN - Came off as a jerk. Negative against his opponents and had a couple weird scoot-arounds from answering the question.
Will this affect polls? Eh maybe. It's still a two-person race between Romney and Perry. I changed my mind about something. Sarah Palin could still get in. It'd then be a three-person race.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
MSNBC's GOP Reagan Library Debate
Left to right the line-up is Santorum, Gingrich, Bachmann, Romney, Perry, Paul, Cain, Huntsman, the most popular in the middle with those doing worse in the polls on the edges.
6:01 - First question to PERRY. (My goodness, he looks like Josh Brolin.) Brian Williams points out Texas is highest in poverty. Perry points out Texas created 1 million jobs when the U.S. lost 2.5 million. Williams points out the jobs were lower-waged. Perry says 95% of them were "above minimum wage." We're going to lower taxes and regulation.
6:04 - Next to ROMNEY. Points out the good he did in Massachusetts, got unemployment to 4.7%. Touts "private sector" experience. Sings Bain Capital's praises. BW asks if being a career politician is a disqualifier; Mitt squirms out of it.
6:07 - Counter to PERRY. Perry slams Mass. job creation rate; says Texas created more jobs in three months than Mass. did in four years. Mitt has great counter on how Texas has much better setup and said if Perry tries to take credit for Texas having oil, it's like Gore saying he invented the internet.
6:09 - Next is SANTORUM. My interest plummets.
6:10 - Next is CAIN. "Eliminate current tax code." Calls it his 9-9-9 tax plan. "If 10% is good enough for God, 9% ought to be good enough for government."
6:12 - China question for HUNTSMAN, "What doesn't Romney get?" No trade wars during a recession. Drops Reagan's name twice.
6:13 - BACHMANN, what regulations would you get rid of? "ObamaCare." One thing I know is kids needs jobs.
6:14 - PAUL, you're an absolutist. "I don't believe in any of these federal regulations." BW counters with asking if we get rid of regulations, do we just let drug companies say "This is safe; trust us."?
6:15 - GINGRICH, you wrote the foreword for Rick Perry's book. "Sure." Now let me walk though how I worked with Reagan.
6:19 - ROMNEY, defend the Mass. health-care plan. On Day One, I'd grant waivers to ObamaCare. It's a bad law. Some of it worked; some of it didn't.
6:21 - PERRY, about 25% of Texans don't have health-care, it's 50th in the nation in health-care. "Medicaid needs to go back to the States." But why are so many Texans uninsured? Perry's punt: "Federal govt won't give us flexibility."
6:24 - HUNTSMAN, we should emphasize personal responsibility. Let the marketplace create options. Utah's #1!
6:26 - BACHMANN. "ObamaCare took over 1/6 of economy." ObamaCare and job are the issue of 2012. "It must be gone now."
6:27 - GINGRICH attacks Politico's John Harris for trying to get candidates to attack each other. (Attacking Chris Wallace last time worked for him.) Gets loudest applause yet by saying we're a team and we're going to defeat Obama.
6:28 - CAIN, I was against HillaryCare, I'm against ObamaCare, and now I'm running against RomneyCare. None of them work.
6:29 - SANTORUM, you're Catholic. Catholics are supposed to care for the poor. What would do about poor people? "No one did more than Rick Santorum for poor people."
6:30 - PERRY, black people are poorer than white people. "Let me answer a different question. Let's create an economy where people know they can take care of their family. And that's true for (any race)."
6:33 - ROMNEY, what say you about Bachmann's pledge to get gas to $2 a gallon. "We are an energy-rich nation living like an energy-poor nation." Obama keeps talking about green jobs; where are they?
6:34 - BACHMANN, if the fed govt would pull back on energy restrictions, we'd see 1.2 million jobs created.
6:35 - HUNTSMAN - I'm not sure that dictating (gas) prices will get you anywhere. Get away from the teleprompter and speak from your heart and soul. We need a president that will provide a "little bit o' leadership."
6:36 - PAUL, yes I'd get rid of minimum wage, but I'm a physician; why did I not get asked about health care? Did I mention Perry praised HillaryCare? Isn't Medicare a mandate? Everything's a mandate!
6:38 - PERRY, hey Ron you wrote a letter telling Reagan you're leaving the party.
6:39 - PAUL, I supported Reagan but in the 1980's we had huge deficits.
First break. Then a video tribute to Reagans Ronald & Nancy. And Nancy Reagan is in attendance and gets applause.
6:47 - PERRY (hm, he seems to be getting more questions...), was Social Security wrong from the beginning? People who are on SS today or in line don't need to worry about not getting benefits, but it is a Ponzi scheme. SS is a "monstrous lie." JH counters with quotes from Rove & Cheney, but Perry doubles down and calls SS a lie.
6:50 - ROMNEY, how do you have a conversation about SS w/o scaring seniors? "Funding is not the issue." Our nominee has to someone committed to saving SS not abolishing it. I'll make sure we make the program financially secure. SS works for millions of Americans.
6:51 - PERRY, you can have reasons or results. You can't keep the status quo in place and call SS anything other than a Ponzi scheme.
6:52 - CAIN (who wasn't asked), do you want to hear more rhetoric or a solution? I believe in a Chilean model.
6:53 - PAUL, talk about Perry's record. Governor made an executive order forcing vaccinations; legislature overwhelmingly repealed.
6:54 - BACHMANN, I'm against forcing inocculations on children. I cut my teeth on education reform.
6:55 - PERRY, "I feel like a pinata." It wasn't an executive order; we were trying to cure cancer. We allowed for an opt-out.
6:56 - SANTORUM - We created Dept of Homeland Security becuz agencies had no info sharing. Perry says "States rights." What about "Parents rights"? An opt-out? What about an opt-in?
6:57 - ROMNEY - I'm sure Perry would've done it differently if he had to do it again. We love this country. We believe this president has to go. He's a nice guy, but he doesn't have a clue how to get this country working again. (Applause from audience.)
6:58 - GINGRICH - Back to Homeland Security. There are people who will try to sneak in WMD's.
6:59 - PAUL, if you abolished the TSA, what would exist in its place? Airlines. The TSA bureaucracy is monstrous. Private institutions do a better job of protecting. BW: what about federal aid for natural disasters? "FEMA's broke." Hey, people pay insurance. We're spending $20 billion for air conditioning in Afghanistan. Bring the troops home.
7:00 - CAIN, don't eliminate FEMA; let's fix FEMA, fix Homeland Security. There is a responsbile way for govt to run things.
7:01 - HUNTSMAN, we need Homeland Security to not feel like a fortress-protection mentality. We've got 14 million unemployed, this is a human tragedy. These other issues are important but let's not lose sight of what's important.
7:05 - PERRY - Texas is one of the worst for h.s. graduates and you cut education funding. "The reductions we made were thoughtful reductions." We're making progress. When you share a border with Mexico, we have a unique situation in our state. (I think he wanted to blame Mexicans for bringing down test scores?) Points our eBay and Facebook moved their HQ to Texas. (Jose Diaz comes in to ask border question.) "You can secure the border but it requires commitment from fed govt."
7:08 - ROMNEY - Border? We've got to have a fence, or a techno way of seeing who's crossing. Employers who hire people illegally is a magnet to illegal aliens. We can't give amnesty.
7:10 - GINGRICH - I'm with Reagan. Control the border; establish legal guest-worker program. Make English official language of govt. (Applause from audience!)
7:12 - SANTORUM, I agree mostly w/ Newt. I'm son of Italian immigrant. JD, what do you do with 11 mil already here illegally? "To have that discussion right now, no more. Secure the border first. We'll have discussion afterwards."
7:13 - BACHMANN, you support a fence. Let's say the border's secure. What do you do with the 11 mil already here? "We can't yield sovereignty to another nation (Mexico). No more tax subsidies to illegals." What do you do with the 11 mil? "It depends. Immigration worked beautifully until the 1960's."
7:15 - CAIN, we can solve it with boots on the ground. (Boots on the groun, boots on the groun, lookin like a fool with yo boots on the groun!) (Sorry.)
7:16 - HUNTSMAN, I agree with most of what's been said. Immigration is a human issue. I see this issue thru my adopted daughters' eyes. Let's not lose sight of the fact our legal immigration system is broken.
7:17 - PAUL, Texas shouldn't be forced to provide free health-care and education to illegal immigrants. Our drug laws are causing a lot of this. Sure, a barbed-wire fence with machine guns! I don't believe that's what the American people want.
Final break....
7:23 - ROMNEY, are you a member of the Tea Party? "I don't believe we carry cards." If the Tea Party is for smaller govt, I'm for the Tea Party.
7:24 - PERRY, I would've raised my hand in walking away from the 10-to-1 deal. Plugs balanced-budget amendment.
7:25 - BACHMANN, Reagan would've raised his hand too.
7:26 - HUNTSMAN, I'd love to get everyone to take a pledge to stop taking pledges. I pledge allegiance to my wife and country and that's it. BW: Do you think we're safer today post-9/11. "We have 100,000 in Afghanistan." We've got to bring those troops home, nation-build here. Let's get our core fixed.
7:28 - ROMNEY - People are worried about paying their bills. We have a crisis in confidence. We need a leader who has the experience to get us back on track.
7:29 - PERRY, was GWB too quick to intervene in Iraq? One thing I want to praise Obama on is killing Bin Laden, and proving that Keynesian economic philosophy doesn't work.
7:30 - BACHMANN, I'm worried the SuperCommittee will cut resources to military, and hey, look at the oil revenues in Libya.
7:33 - SANTORUM, I'm hearing a very isolationist view on pulling troops out. Reagan was committed to America to being a force for good around the world. We didn't have exit-strategy deadlines for leaving.
7:34 - HUNTSMAN, in order for the Repub party to win, we can't run from science, we can't run from mainstream Repub philosophy. We need someone who can win, but when we make comments that don't reflect reality, we turn people off.
7:36 - PERRY, the science is not settled on climate change. It's nonsense. Galileo got outvoted for a spell. To put America's economic future in jeopardy, to cut back in areas that'd have monstrous impact, not good economics, nor good science.
7:38 - BACHMANN, do you want to drill in the Everglades? "We need to do it responsibly." EPA has been devastating.
7:40 - GINGRICH, I'd fire Ben Bernake tomorrow. Audit the Fed. Let's not raise taxes, let's raise revenue. Put people back to work.
7:41 - ROMNEY, I don't want to raise taxes but everyone ought to feel like they're part of this effort, but right now, the question is "how about middle income Americans?" They're the most hurt by this economy. BW: Would Ben Bernake have a job in your administration? "I'd look for someone new."
7:43 - PERRY, you've executed 234 in Texas, how do you sleep at night? "I've never worried we've excuted someone innocent." (applause from audience) "Americans understand justice. It's a state-by-state issue."
7:46 - CAIN, GE had $14.2 billion in profits, paid no taxes. "This is why I proposed my 9-9-9 plan." This recession is the worst since the Great Depression.
7:47 - PAUL, would you get rid of school lunch? "If local govt does it, that's fine." We're against mandates.
And that's a wrap.
And then to analyze, MSNBC has Rachel Maddow, Chris Matthews, Ed Schultz, Lawrence O'Donnell, Al Shartpon, Eugene Robinson.... What?
Okay, let's look at this.
Rick Perry was the front-runner, and that's how it played. He got the most questions and he took the most hits. What they'll be writing about tomorrow is how he promounced "props" as "propes", that Scoial Security is a lie and a Ponzi scheme, that science on climate change is not settled, and that Texas was last in the insured. But how did the whole field do?
Amount of questions asked, by my count:
Perry - 13
Romney - 9
Bachmann - 8
Paul - 7
Huntsman - 7
Cain - 6
Gingrich - 5
Santorum - 5
Ranking in descending order based on how they did tonight and what effect that might have on polls in the first few states.
8. RICK SANTORUM - Punted on illegal immigration and tried to stand out by being more pro-foreign-war than the other candidates. Has no chance.
7. HERMAN CAIN - His 9-9-9 plan would raise taxes on poor people. Wanted to hear more about what he liked about how Chile solved their Social Security problem, but that's the problem with eight people on stage. At this point, has no chance.
6. NEWT GINGRICH - His attack of John Harris's question felt like Arnold saying "Whatchoo talkin bout, Willis!" Funny the first time, but... Gingrich just doesn't have the temperment to run and win a national campaign. Has no chance.
5. MICHELLE BACHMANN - It was genius timing on Rick Perry's part to announce his candidacy right after she won the Ames straw poll. She's received zero traction since. Tonight she threw out many stats, half of which I'm inclined to not believe. We'll see what PolitiFact says. But she needed to re-assert herself as at least the third-place candidate, and she didn't do that.
4. RON PAUL - Landed a few punches on Perry. Also seemed too simplistic in his answers sometimes of just getting the government out of everything. How would that really work, really? But I never would have thought in 2008 he'd get more votes in 2012 than he did then. But I do think he'll get more votes this time around. Not much more, but more.
3. JON HUNTSMAN - Much better this time around. Is it enough to save his campaign? No. But it makes his 2016 candidacy more credible. I like his no-pledge pledge. But this is now a two-person race and he's not one of those two persons.
2. RICK PERRY - MSNBC seemed determined to bring him down a peg. He was treated like the front-runner and people weren't afraid to go after him, but he was ready with counter-arguments for each candidate. Trouble is, Mitt had counters for his counter-arguments. I don't think Perry hurt himself much in the deep-red states, particularly in the south, but I think to the north and west, he looks a little less electable than he did last month. I still think he'll win Iowa and South Carolina.
1. MITT ROMNEY - For the most part he was masterful. Playful when Perry expected a hard hit, took each opportunity served up for him to sound like the more diplomatic one. Got in a brilliant Al Gore zinger on Perry early. Looked least comfortable when asked about the Tea Party. Looked most comfortable attacking Obama, but with velvet gloves. Perry called Obama a liar; Romney just said he's a nice guy but doesn't have a clue, a more palatable way to attack. I still think he'll win New Hampshire and Nevada, and then when Perry wins South Carolina, the establishment will throw its support behind Romney to stop George W. Bush II from getting the nomination.
I also think it's too late for anyone else to jump in. It's Romney v. Perry. If Sarah Palin announced she was in, she'd finish off Bachmann, weaken Perry, and Romney would actually have an easier time.
6:01 - First question to PERRY. (My goodness, he looks like Josh Brolin.) Brian Williams points out Texas is highest in poverty. Perry points out Texas created 1 million jobs when the U.S. lost 2.5 million. Williams points out the jobs were lower-waged. Perry says 95% of them were "above minimum wage." We're going to lower taxes and regulation.
6:04 - Next to ROMNEY. Points out the good he did in Massachusetts, got unemployment to 4.7%. Touts "private sector" experience. Sings Bain Capital's praises. BW asks if being a career politician is a disqualifier; Mitt squirms out of it.
6:07 - Counter to PERRY. Perry slams Mass. job creation rate; says Texas created more jobs in three months than Mass. did in four years. Mitt has great counter on how Texas has much better setup and said if Perry tries to take credit for Texas having oil, it's like Gore saying he invented the internet.
6:09 - Next is SANTORUM. My interest plummets.
6:10 - Next is CAIN. "Eliminate current tax code." Calls it his 9-9-9 tax plan. "If 10% is good enough for God, 9% ought to be good enough for government."
6:12 - China question for HUNTSMAN, "What doesn't Romney get?" No trade wars during a recession. Drops Reagan's name twice.
6:13 - BACHMANN, what regulations would you get rid of? "ObamaCare." One thing I know is kids needs jobs.
6:14 - PAUL, you're an absolutist. "I don't believe in any of these federal regulations." BW counters with asking if we get rid of regulations, do we just let drug companies say "This is safe; trust us."?
6:15 - GINGRICH, you wrote the foreword for Rick Perry's book. "Sure." Now let me walk though how I worked with Reagan.
6:19 - ROMNEY, defend the Mass. health-care plan. On Day One, I'd grant waivers to ObamaCare. It's a bad law. Some of it worked; some of it didn't.
6:21 - PERRY, about 25% of Texans don't have health-care, it's 50th in the nation in health-care. "Medicaid needs to go back to the States." But why are so many Texans uninsured? Perry's punt: "Federal govt won't give us flexibility."
6:24 - HUNTSMAN, we should emphasize personal responsibility. Let the marketplace create options. Utah's #1!
6:26 - BACHMANN. "ObamaCare took over 1/6 of economy." ObamaCare and job are the issue of 2012. "It must be gone now."
6:27 - GINGRICH attacks Politico's John Harris for trying to get candidates to attack each other. (Attacking Chris Wallace last time worked for him.) Gets loudest applause yet by saying we're a team and we're going to defeat Obama.
6:28 - CAIN, I was against HillaryCare, I'm against ObamaCare, and now I'm running against RomneyCare. None of them work.
6:29 - SANTORUM, you're Catholic. Catholics are supposed to care for the poor. What would do about poor people? "No one did more than Rick Santorum for poor people."
6:30 - PERRY, black people are poorer than white people. "Let me answer a different question. Let's create an economy where people know they can take care of their family. And that's true for (any race)."
6:33 - ROMNEY, what say you about Bachmann's pledge to get gas to $2 a gallon. "We are an energy-rich nation living like an energy-poor nation." Obama keeps talking about green jobs; where are they?
6:34 - BACHMANN, if the fed govt would pull back on energy restrictions, we'd see 1.2 million jobs created.
6:35 - HUNTSMAN - I'm not sure that dictating (gas) prices will get you anywhere. Get away from the teleprompter and speak from your heart and soul. We need a president that will provide a "little bit o' leadership."
6:36 - PAUL, yes I'd get rid of minimum wage, but I'm a physician; why did I not get asked about health care? Did I mention Perry praised HillaryCare? Isn't Medicare a mandate? Everything's a mandate!
6:38 - PERRY, hey Ron you wrote a letter telling Reagan you're leaving the party.
6:39 - PAUL, I supported Reagan but in the 1980's we had huge deficits.
First break. Then a video tribute to Reagans Ronald & Nancy. And Nancy Reagan is in attendance and gets applause.
6:47 - PERRY (hm, he seems to be getting more questions...), was Social Security wrong from the beginning? People who are on SS today or in line don't need to worry about not getting benefits, but it is a Ponzi scheme. SS is a "monstrous lie." JH counters with quotes from Rove & Cheney, but Perry doubles down and calls SS a lie.
6:50 - ROMNEY, how do you have a conversation about SS w/o scaring seniors? "Funding is not the issue." Our nominee has to someone committed to saving SS not abolishing it. I'll make sure we make the program financially secure. SS works for millions of Americans.
6:51 - PERRY, you can have reasons or results. You can't keep the status quo in place and call SS anything other than a Ponzi scheme.
6:52 - CAIN (who wasn't asked), do you want to hear more rhetoric or a solution? I believe in a Chilean model.
6:53 - PAUL, talk about Perry's record. Governor made an executive order forcing vaccinations; legislature overwhelmingly repealed.
6:54 - BACHMANN, I'm against forcing inocculations on children. I cut my teeth on education reform.
6:55 - PERRY, "I feel like a pinata." It wasn't an executive order; we were trying to cure cancer. We allowed for an opt-out.
6:56 - SANTORUM - We created Dept of Homeland Security becuz agencies had no info sharing. Perry says "States rights." What about "Parents rights"? An opt-out? What about an opt-in?
6:57 - ROMNEY - I'm sure Perry would've done it differently if he had to do it again. We love this country. We believe this president has to go. He's a nice guy, but he doesn't have a clue how to get this country working again. (Applause from audience.)
6:58 - GINGRICH - Back to Homeland Security. There are people who will try to sneak in WMD's.
6:59 - PAUL, if you abolished the TSA, what would exist in its place? Airlines. The TSA bureaucracy is monstrous. Private institutions do a better job of protecting. BW: what about federal aid for natural disasters? "FEMA's broke." Hey, people pay insurance. We're spending $20 billion for air conditioning in Afghanistan. Bring the troops home.
7:00 - CAIN, don't eliminate FEMA; let's fix FEMA, fix Homeland Security. There is a responsbile way for govt to run things.
7:01 - HUNTSMAN, we need Homeland Security to not feel like a fortress-protection mentality. We've got 14 million unemployed, this is a human tragedy. These other issues are important but let's not lose sight of what's important.
7:05 - PERRY - Texas is one of the worst for h.s. graduates and you cut education funding. "The reductions we made were thoughtful reductions." We're making progress. When you share a border with Mexico, we have a unique situation in our state. (I think he wanted to blame Mexicans for bringing down test scores?) Points our eBay and Facebook moved their HQ to Texas. (Jose Diaz comes in to ask border question.) "You can secure the border but it requires commitment from fed govt."
7:08 - ROMNEY - Border? We've got to have a fence, or a techno way of seeing who's crossing. Employers who hire people illegally is a magnet to illegal aliens. We can't give amnesty.
7:10 - GINGRICH - I'm with Reagan. Control the border; establish legal guest-worker program. Make English official language of govt. (Applause from audience!)
7:12 - SANTORUM, I agree mostly w/ Newt. I'm son of Italian immigrant. JD, what do you do with 11 mil already here illegally? "To have that discussion right now, no more. Secure the border first. We'll have discussion afterwards."
7:13 - BACHMANN, you support a fence. Let's say the border's secure. What do you do with the 11 mil already here? "We can't yield sovereignty to another nation (Mexico). No more tax subsidies to illegals." What do you do with the 11 mil? "It depends. Immigration worked beautifully until the 1960's."
7:15 - CAIN, we can solve it with boots on the ground. (Boots on the groun, boots on the groun, lookin like a fool with yo boots on the groun!) (Sorry.)
7:16 - HUNTSMAN, I agree with most of what's been said. Immigration is a human issue. I see this issue thru my adopted daughters' eyes. Let's not lose sight of the fact our legal immigration system is broken.
7:17 - PAUL, Texas shouldn't be forced to provide free health-care and education to illegal immigrants. Our drug laws are causing a lot of this. Sure, a barbed-wire fence with machine guns! I don't believe that's what the American people want.
Final break....
7:23 - ROMNEY, are you a member of the Tea Party? "I don't believe we carry cards." If the Tea Party is for smaller govt, I'm for the Tea Party.
7:24 - PERRY, I would've raised my hand in walking away from the 10-to-1 deal. Plugs balanced-budget amendment.
7:25 - BACHMANN, Reagan would've raised his hand too.
7:26 - HUNTSMAN, I'd love to get everyone to take a pledge to stop taking pledges. I pledge allegiance to my wife and country and that's it. BW: Do you think we're safer today post-9/11. "We have 100,000 in Afghanistan." We've got to bring those troops home, nation-build here. Let's get our core fixed.
7:28 - ROMNEY - People are worried about paying their bills. We have a crisis in confidence. We need a leader who has the experience to get us back on track.
7:29 - PERRY, was GWB too quick to intervene in Iraq? One thing I want to praise Obama on is killing Bin Laden, and proving that Keynesian economic philosophy doesn't work.
7:30 - BACHMANN, I'm worried the SuperCommittee will cut resources to military, and hey, look at the oil revenues in Libya.
7:33 - SANTORUM, I'm hearing a very isolationist view on pulling troops out. Reagan was committed to America to being a force for good around the world. We didn't have exit-strategy deadlines for leaving.
7:34 - HUNTSMAN, in order for the Repub party to win, we can't run from science, we can't run from mainstream Repub philosophy. We need someone who can win, but when we make comments that don't reflect reality, we turn people off.
7:36 - PERRY, the science is not settled on climate change. It's nonsense. Galileo got outvoted for a spell. To put America's economic future in jeopardy, to cut back in areas that'd have monstrous impact, not good economics, nor good science.
7:38 - BACHMANN, do you want to drill in the Everglades? "We need to do it responsibly." EPA has been devastating.
7:40 - GINGRICH, I'd fire Ben Bernake tomorrow. Audit the Fed. Let's not raise taxes, let's raise revenue. Put people back to work.
7:41 - ROMNEY, I don't want to raise taxes but everyone ought to feel like they're part of this effort, but right now, the question is "how about middle income Americans?" They're the most hurt by this economy. BW: Would Ben Bernake have a job in your administration? "I'd look for someone new."
7:43 - PERRY, you've executed 234 in Texas, how do you sleep at night? "I've never worried we've excuted someone innocent." (applause from audience) "Americans understand justice. It's a state-by-state issue."
7:46 - CAIN, GE had $14.2 billion in profits, paid no taxes. "This is why I proposed my 9-9-9 plan." This recession is the worst since the Great Depression.
7:47 - PAUL, would you get rid of school lunch? "If local govt does it, that's fine." We're against mandates.
And that's a wrap.
And then to analyze, MSNBC has Rachel Maddow, Chris Matthews, Ed Schultz, Lawrence O'Donnell, Al Shartpon, Eugene Robinson.... What?
Okay, let's look at this.
Rick Perry was the front-runner, and that's how it played. He got the most questions and he took the most hits. What they'll be writing about tomorrow is how he promounced "props" as "propes", that Scoial Security is a lie and a Ponzi scheme, that science on climate change is not settled, and that Texas was last in the insured. But how did the whole field do?
Amount of questions asked, by my count:
Perry - 13
Romney - 9
Bachmann - 8
Paul - 7
Huntsman - 7
Cain - 6
Gingrich - 5
Santorum - 5
Ranking in descending order based on how they did tonight and what effect that might have on polls in the first few states.
8. RICK SANTORUM - Punted on illegal immigration and tried to stand out by being more pro-foreign-war than the other candidates. Has no chance.
7. HERMAN CAIN - His 9-9-9 plan would raise taxes on poor people. Wanted to hear more about what he liked about how Chile solved their Social Security problem, but that's the problem with eight people on stage. At this point, has no chance.
6. NEWT GINGRICH - His attack of John Harris's question felt like Arnold saying "Whatchoo talkin bout, Willis!" Funny the first time, but... Gingrich just doesn't have the temperment to run and win a national campaign. Has no chance.
5. MICHELLE BACHMANN - It was genius timing on Rick Perry's part to announce his candidacy right after she won the Ames straw poll. She's received zero traction since. Tonight she threw out many stats, half of which I'm inclined to not believe. We'll see what PolitiFact says. But she needed to re-assert herself as at least the third-place candidate, and she didn't do that.
4. RON PAUL - Landed a few punches on Perry. Also seemed too simplistic in his answers sometimes of just getting the government out of everything. How would that really work, really? But I never would have thought in 2008 he'd get more votes in 2012 than he did then. But I do think he'll get more votes this time around. Not much more, but more.
3. JON HUNTSMAN - Much better this time around. Is it enough to save his campaign? No. But it makes his 2016 candidacy more credible. I like his no-pledge pledge. But this is now a two-person race and he's not one of those two persons.
2. RICK PERRY - MSNBC seemed determined to bring him down a peg. He was treated like the front-runner and people weren't afraid to go after him, but he was ready with counter-arguments for each candidate. Trouble is, Mitt had counters for his counter-arguments. I don't think Perry hurt himself much in the deep-red states, particularly in the south, but I think to the north and west, he looks a little less electable than he did last month. I still think he'll win Iowa and South Carolina.
1. MITT ROMNEY - For the most part he was masterful. Playful when Perry expected a hard hit, took each opportunity served up for him to sound like the more diplomatic one. Got in a brilliant Al Gore zinger on Perry early. Looked least comfortable when asked about the Tea Party. Looked most comfortable attacking Obama, but with velvet gloves. Perry called Obama a liar; Romney just said he's a nice guy but doesn't have a clue, a more palatable way to attack. I still think he'll win New Hampshire and Nevada, and then when Perry wins South Carolina, the establishment will throw its support behind Romney to stop George W. Bush II from getting the nomination.
I also think it's too late for anyone else to jump in. It's Romney v. Perry. If Sarah Palin announced she was in, she'd finish off Bachmann, weaken Perry, and Romney would actually have an easier time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)