Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

I like you, you’re my kind of trouble.

Everybody saw this coming.

This blog will pay for itself.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

Our job is not to persuade republicans but to defeat them.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

Not all heroes wear capes.

Infrastructure week. at last.

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

They are lying in pursuit of an agenda.

Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.

I did not have this on my fuck 2022 bingo card.

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

The revolution will be supervised.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Republican debate open thread

Republican debate open thread

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I just don’t think Mitt has it. First off, not to get all Regis about this, but that tie is hypnotizing me. And where’s his fucking flag pin?

Update. Why doesn’t Ron Paul put on a Texas accent? It wouldn’t be that hard. Also too, if I didn’t know in advance, and you asked me which one of the group was a big Beefheart fan, I would have gone with Ron Paul for sure.

Update. John Harris is weird and shouldn’t be allowed on tv. Sorry, it’s not the right medium for everyone.

Update. Perry doesn’t do well with the Social Security question, but it’s probably good enough for teahadists. He’s going to have a tough time with it in the general.

Update. Are we going to get the crazy Frank Luntz focus groups at the end?

Update. People may not want to hear this, but Cain seems the least phony/crazy to me.

Update. I like the Telemundo guy, he’s got a lot more panache than BriWi and Harris.

Update. I hate to keep harping on this, and obviously I don’t agree with him on anything, but Cain’s answers are more substantive than the others’.

Update. George Hamilton just gave Friedman starbursts I’m sure, but I think his voice is too high or something. I can’t put my finger on it.

Update. I feel an inexplicable urge to discuss the debate in loco_toko-speak. u r retard brian.

Update. This audience loves them some executions. Loudest applause of the night. Even BriWi is weirded out by it. Expect some death porn from Chuck Lane tomorrow at Kaplan.

Reader Interactions

242Comments

  2. 2.

    beltane

    Frankly, I’m surprised they haven’t ditched the flag pins in favor of big, rhinestone studded crosses.

  5. 5.

    Naive and Sentimental

    So far it’s

    Romney: A mandate is fantastic for Massachusetts but not for anyone else

    Bachmann: I will ride a pegasus to the moon and tap the oil wells there to get gas prices to $2 a gallon

    Perry: Texas sure wouldn’t be dead last in un-insured citizens if the damn government would get out of our way

    Santorem: I need to say my name as many times as possible to hopefully fight google’s algorithm

    Paul: the Economy is being held back because companies aren’t allowed to pay employees 3 dollars an hour.

  6. 6.

    Linda Featheringill

    Very superficial analysis:

    Romney looks like he has been ill, Huntsman looks like he stayed too long under the tanning lamp, Gingrich looks healthy but looks like a cherub compared to the rest of them, and Paul looks old and fragile.

    Bachmann, of course, is well put together. Cain is always interesting and I like the way he talks even when he is spouting off nonsense.

    Yeah, that’s not everybody. [yet]

  9. 9.

    lamh32

    um WTF Rick Perry, who the hell calls other white people “anglos”

    btw, dont’ wanna hear another word about how Huntsman is the “reasonable” one. Summa-bitch is the first to use a freakin’ teleprompter joke!

    Fuck him.

  11. 11.

    Naive and Sentimental

    It will be funny all night listening to Perry talk about what Texans want and need and desires when I’m working in Texas for a company that feels like it’s a moment away from every employee quitting in disgust together.

  16. 16.

    dmsilev

    @Linda Featheringill:

    Gingrich looks healthy but looks like a cherub compared to the rest of them

    Now I’m visualizing Newt wearing the clothing that cherubs are typically portrayed as wearing.

    I’m sending you a bill for three gallons of brain bleach.

  18. 18.

    Naive and Sentimental

    And now for this segment of the debate, all candidates will recite the poems they wrote for Nancy Reagan

  24. 24.

    JPL

    What Perry is not saying is we are going to use your social security money to pay for tax cuts for the rich.

  27. 27.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    So Newt says that it’s bullshit to examine a book that was written before Perry was a candidate. Then Perry says he stands by everything in the book!

  28. 28.

    SIA

    Gasp. I was hoping you guys would be here…I saw some very scary zombies on my teevee. I’m skeered.

  30. 30.

    Valdivia

    @Big Baby DougJ:

    me and you both! I just plugged in his name on the google plus twitter and got his page. Otherwise I never use the thing. Also too I am not even on Facebook. The only social network thingy I do is Instagram

  37. 37.

    Anne Laurie

    @beltane:

    Frankly, I’m surprised they haven’t ditched the flag pins in favor of big, rhinestone studded crosses.

    This is a country-club Republican venue. Dress code is no rhinestones before sunset, and never visible religious jewelry.

    You don’t see Nancy Reagan, precious relict of St. Ronnie, wearing J.C. Penney crap to appease the rubes, do you?

  45. 45.

    lamh32

    Well damn look at Michael Steele trying to stand up for his “real” peeps on twitter

    @Michael Steele
    “the job disparity for blacks and hispanics deserves more than a passing question to one candidate #gopdebate”

  46. 46.

    Quarks

    I feel all excited. And slanted! Tilted, even!

    ETA: Course, as soon as my comment on it went up, problem was fixed.

  54. 54.

    JGabriel

    I wanna hear Huntsman talk Capt. Beefheart. It’s gotta be less depressing that listening to these assholes discuss how they can best destroy the country.

    .

  60. 60.

    lamh32

    and from our very own ABL…tee hee!

    @AngryBlacklady Did Santorum just mention his tight end? #sofrothy #gopdebate

  64. 64.

    Bondirotta

    What would replace TSA? Ron Paul: The airlines. government made the 911 happen by not arming the pilots.

  69. 69.

    Naive and Sentimental

    The market effect of FEMA….

    Paul’s contention is people built homes in riskier areas they wouldn’t’ have if FEMA didn’t exist

  70. 70.

    IDTT

    Is this a Presidential Debate or an interview to determine who will be Valedictorian of Summer School?

  72. 72.

    Davis X. Machina

    Well, we might yet get to see if getting that awful Negro out of the WH is more important to Ponzi victims Social Security recipients than their continued ability to eat, and buy stuff.

  75. 75.

    dmsilev

    Update. People may not want to hear this, but Cain seems the least phony/crazy to me.

    That’s an awfully low bar to clear.

  77. 77.

    C.J.

    I gotta admit, I agree on Cain. He’s actually giving ideas. Ideas I don’t like, but actual ideas instead of vague nothings.

  79. 79.

    cleek

    @Cat Lady:
    MSNBC says, right now: “Perry and Romney Lock Horns”

    i think that’s gonna be it: two big bucks fighting for control of the pack.

    (sadly, no. i don’t think i fixed the italics. tried my best, tho)

  81. 81.

    Bondirotta

    Technically, Ron Paul is right. If we abolish FEMA and allow a few thousand people to drown, the rest of them will take a hint and stop building on flood plains.

    Is this a sane solution? No – but it’s a good topic for libertarian wan king sessions.

  82. 82.

    lamh32

    @Cat Lady: the early news was perry was leading, but in the last 15 min across the “liberal” media spectrum, Romney is coming out ahead just by not rising to the steam that is Perry et al.

    I’ve seen more than one journo say that Romney is a “long distance runner” Perry is a sprinter who’s losing steam.

    Since so many of the conventional GOP don’t like Perry, I expect establishment press to declare Romney the victor by default.

    Tea partier will love Perry. I think Bachann will probably be out after first primary or maybe before if Perry doesn’t deflate.

  86. 86.

    Naive and Sentimental

    and Perry mentions Predator drones which are Already flying.

    This is a great system. Perry gets to criticize policies that don’t exist and talk about what great ideas he has for things that already exist

  87. 87.

    dmsilev

    Since so many of the conventional GOP don’t like Perry, I expect establishment press to declare Romney the victor by default.

    Also worth noting that the questions aimed at Perry seem more pointed (or, if you prefer, more “liberal media biased”) than the questions for the others.

  91. 91.

    Omnes Omnibus

    So it turns out that the Baba au Rhum dessert I brought home is absolutely swimming in rum. Maybe I can pay attention to this debate thing

  92. 92.

    JGabriel

    Here we go, the “Who Hates Furriner’s Most” portion of the evening. And Newt gets extra points for working Reagan into his answer!

    ETA: Oops, Newt fails on the backmount — uses the word humane, a no-no in GOP circles!

    .

  93. 93.

    MikeJ

    @Ron:

    My only question is this. Why am I watching this without a drink handy?

    The movie Heathers answers this several times.

    And I do not patronize bunny rabbits.

  94. 94.

    Linda Featheringill

    I’m still analyzing Perry. Once in a while, he reminds me of Clinton when on the campaign trail. That is not good news. Other times, I feel that he is really trying to sell me a bill of goods.

    Don’t know.

  95. 95.

    Roger Moore

    @lamh32:

    WTF Rick Perry, who the hell calls other white people “anglos”

    Lots of people in areas with large Hispanic/Latino populations. If you want to distinguish light skinned Hispanics from white non-Hispanics, you wind up calling the non-Hispanics “Anglos”. I won’t say I do it all the time, but I call myself an Anglo when it’s an important distinction to make. Of course I’ll also call myself a round eye on occasion, so I may not be the best example.

  101. 101.

    stickler

    @Linda Featheringill: Linda — I’ve noticed that Santorum wears pink a lot. Very confident in his masculinity, I guess, though I can’t imagine the thought process that goes through a man’s mind that would lead him to wear a pink tie tonight.

    Best I can come up with:

    Santorum: “Wow. I’ve got great name recognition, but for a spectacularly bad reason. I’m stuck at almost 0% in the Republican polls. The GOP base is a bunch of Real American Heartland Values who like guns, God, and tax cuts. And they hate urban elitists. I’m trying to catch up to a Texan. What to do? Hmmmm. HEY! How about a pink tie?”

  104. 104.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    Shit was great for those beaners back in the day

    The genesis of “Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)” reportedly occurred when Guthrie was struck by the fact that radio and newspaper coverage of the event did not give the victims’ names, but instead referred to them merely as “deportees.”[2] For example, none of the deportees’ names were printed in the January 29, 1948 New York Times report, only those of the flight crew and the security guard.

  106. 106.

    fleeting expletive

    I’d like to see a debate where there are multiple moderators, each with a buzzer and empowered to buzz any of the candidates when they say something untrue. Get Nate Silver and some other smart people, make the assholes agree that CBO numbers on any issue will be required, and bullshit won’t be let slide.

    I only listened to a few minutes and had to change channels when Willard said “everybody knows SS is broke”. Wish someone could have said hold on bub, t’ain’t true.

    I can dream, can’t I?

  107. 107.

    JPL

    Bachmann really pissed me off..immigration is an issue when employment is high. FDR did not do enough to open the borders because unemployment was high. I am so pissed……….

  108. 108.

    PurpleGirl

    @Valdivia: Yes. I just watched a little bit of Bachmann… head/desk and I’m back to reading John’s tweets.

    And to answer one of his earlier Tweets: She’s having her done by some stylist. It’s supposed to be a hot new style and it’s been compared to Jennifer Aniston. I thing it looks ugly.

  109. 109.

    JGabriel

    Huntsman:

    If President Reagan were here…

    … he’d be shambling slowly and looking for brains to eat.

    .

  114. 114.

    JPL

    What surprised me is the President although being blamed for all the immigrants, the economy, the health care and such has been mentioned by name seldom. Did the assholes give up on family values?

  115. 115.

    Geoduck

    Sigh, I’ve gotten old. I look at a picture of that stage, and except for that patch of blue in the corner, it looks like something the Supreme Soviet would have thrown together.

  116. 116.

    mikefromArlington

    NBC did an excellent job controlling this debate and keeping the focus of the candidates on each other forcing them to compare/contrast from each other.

    I bet Repblican partisans are pissed it wasn’t a bash Obama 100% of the time debate.

  117. 117.

    lamh32

    Truer words have never been spoken on twitter:

    Every time I see Brian Williams, I think about how much I miss Peter Jennings…

  118. 118.

    Anne Laurie

    @Naive and Sentimental: There are legitimate questions about whether the National Flood Insurance Program, run by FEMA, encourages some people to use government money to re-build McMansions & vacation homes (hello, Haley Barbour) on flood plains that just aren’t suitable.

    As libertarians will, Paul is conflating this costly (yet relatively minor) issue with all FEMA’s genuinely essential work, and using it as an excuse to attack creeping-nanny-state-guvmint-interference. “If a program is 2% wasteful, and 98% useful, we need to scrap the whole thing and outsource to cost-plus crony contractors! THE MATH DEMANDS IT!”

  120. 120.

    MazeDancer

    Watching the Red State live comments. Truly they have no thought of illegal immigrants as humans. Huntsman just reminded that discussing immigration is discussing human beings. Which, of course, makes him not evil enough for the GOP. (Predator Drones with bigger guns!)

    They’re mostly making jokes about Telemundo journalist asking immigration quesiton. Like LOGO going to ask about gay marriage. And Hoffa asking about labor.

  121. 121.

    Sebastian Dangerfield

    Jesus, I hate Twitter, but Cole has perhaps found his highest and best use. His feed is gold.

  122. 122.

    lamh32

    why is Michelle Bachmanna hair so “big”? I’m just saying. If we can talk about both guv’nors Goodhair, then whynot Michelle’s

  123. 123.

    Linda Featheringill

    @Geoduck:

    I look at a picture of that stage, and except for that patch of blue in the corner, it looks like something the Supreme Soviet would have thrown together.

    Yeah. The stage is weird. And ugly. I wonder whose bright idea that was?

  127. 127.

    BruceFromOhio

    I hate to keep harping on this, and obviously I don’t agree with him on anything, but Cain’s answers are more substantive than the others’.

    Doug. Doug! DOOOUG!

    Turn off the television.
    Back the fuck away.
    Put on some Perry Como’s Greatest Hits, and read the Laughter Is the Best Medicine feature in the latest Reader’s Digest.

    For the love of Gaia. Please.

    ETA:

    Dead Reagan seems to be a really agreeable guy, huh?

    Man, that guys a hoot, he agrees with me on *everything*. Right, Ronnie??

  128. 128.

    chopper

    what a fuckin’ clown show. HPV vaccines? that’s the most discussible policy these fuckers have to go on?

  129. 129.

    RossInDetroit

    I would actually consider watching this on TV if I could get Cole’s Twitfeed as a crawl at the bottom of the screen.

    ETA: Did I just have a million dollar idea? Subscription comic narration of realtime TV events.

  130. 130.

    Alex S.

    This debate is far more substantial than the previous ones. The campaign has really begun and the candidates have stepped up their game. Some can’t keep up and it shows now. My opinions so far: Bachmann can’t keep up, she’s done. Santorum’s platform is too weird. Gingrich phones it in, but probably has more natural talent than everyone else, except for Cain. Romney was frontrunner because of his money. Now he’s just one of the field. Perry still has the edge, his demeanor is just too presidential for the republican eye. Paul turns out to be the libertarian gravedigger. Huntsman can’t break through, he’s not loud enough and he doesn’t get enough time (well, he is a 1% candidate, after all).

  132. 132.

    MazeDancer

    @mikefromArlington:

    I bet Repblican partisans are pissed it wasn’t a bash Obama 100% of the time debate.

    Totally screaming about how libruls framing the questions. Red State commenters want Fox to host all debates to focus on conservative issues.

  134. 134.

    PurpleGirl

    @Naive and Sentimental: There have been disaster aid laws back to 1803. FEMA was established in 1979, consolidating federal agencies dealing with disasters.

    People have been building homes on flood plains and at the shore from the beginning. Ron Paul is full of it.

  139. 139.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    Thanks to Southern Beale I have been playing Tea Party Zombies, can anyone here please tell me how to get by the Glen Beck level cause I have tried a gazillion times and I keep getting t-bagged. KTHNXBAI.

  140. 140.

    lamh32

    after the majority of this debate and especially after that immigration bullshit…some needs to tell me why would anyone black or brown ever vote GOP or ever sit out an election and even giving GOP a remote chance of winning.

    I never understood it. My goal in life is alwasy to make sure my friends and family vote in elections, even if they are paranoid conspiracy theorist who thinks all elections are stolen.

  141. 141.

    RossInDetroit

    @PurpleGirl:

    People have been building homes on flood plains and at the shore from the beginning. Ron Paul is full of it.

    One word rejoinder to Paul: Galveston.

  142. 142.

    SteveinSC

    @Bondirotta:

    libertarian wan king

    conservative pee king duck is better. Ron Paul is showing signs of senility, no longer crisp with his batshit crazy ideas. And Cain, Jesus Christ he’s fucking crazier than that idiot Alvin Green who ran for senator here last year.

  145. 145.

    theBuhjaysus

    wasn’t Cole talkin bout Shock Doctrine a couple threads ago…?

    Well Cain’s come out with a big up for Pinnochet’s Chile.
    He’s a freshwater guy, I guess.

  147. 147.

    Alex S.

    @Linda Featheringill:

    Hehe, same here. He will not collapse like Bachmann or Trump. He took some heavy blows but kept his cool. Luckily, he hates Social Security, but this is not going to be an easy fight.

  150. 150.

    SteveinSC

    @PurpleGirl:

    People have been building homes on flood plains and at the shore from the beginning. thanks to government subsidized flood insurance, not FEMA.

    Fixed.

  153. 153.

    Anne Laurie

    @cleek:

    RedState’s debate thread currently has 2 comments. and one of them is basically spam.
    __
    enthusiasm!

    Ewwick Son of Ewwick hasn’t issued his official talking points yet. Probably because he’s too busy adjusting his undergarments to have a hand free for texting.

  161. 161.

    ChrisNYC

    They should make them debate for like, 6 or 8 hours. A marathon debate. No sitting. No water. It would be great to watch. The last person to start weeping would be the winner.

  163. 163.

    lamh32

    oops Huntsman refuses to say which candidate is the “crazies” he describes in regards to climate change. Stick a fork in this dude…

  164. 164.

    SteveinSC

    Santorum said he’d work with Democrats. I don’t know, maybe I can come to like him, even if he keeps a baby in a jar on the mantlepiece. Also too, I love the references to “Clean Coal”. Your lobbyist money at work.

  167. 167.

    PurpleGirl

    @RossInDetroit: Right. What they have to do is use the proper name for Galveston… Galveston ISLAND. The book Isaac’s Storm (and the TV documentary on it) explains and keeps saying that Galveston is an island.

  168. 168.

    lamh32

    funny, perry’s denying climate change just as parts of this state is burning and having full months of 100 degree weather and no rain.

    Ironic?

  169. 169.

    Anne Laurie

    @RossInDetroit:

    Did I just have a million dollar idea? Subscription comic narration of realtime TV events.

    Somebody who actually pays for cable needs to send this to Stewart / Colbert.

  170. 170.

    MazeDancer

    @Raven (formerly stuckinred):

    Perry using Gallileo was repulsive. Actually thought Perry was doing a pretty good job of hiding his evil until then.

    Huntsman defending evolution and climate change was pretty amazing, though. Thank heavens the Repubs think he’s a traitor.

  173. 173.

    dmsilev

    @lamh32:

    funny, perry’s denying climate change just as parts of this state is burning and having full months of 100 degree weather and no rain.

    That has nothing to do with climate change. That’s because God hates Rick Perry.

  175. 175.

    RossInDetroit

    @PurpleGirl:

    What they have to do is use the proper name for Galveston… Galveston ISLAND.

    That, and “6,000 killed by a hurricane.”
    Ron Paul’s turf, of course.

  176. 176.

    BillinGlendaleCA(aka 10amla)

    John’s taking a shot every time Reagan’s mentioned, this won’t end well.

  177. 177.

    Cat Lady

    @RossInDetroit:

    I watched one of the Obama/McCain debates on CurrentTV in 2008 and they scrolled tweets across the bottom of the screen the whole time. Cole should contract with Al Gore to team up with Olbermann for the 2012 elections. Have Charlie Sheen and Nate Silver team up for the morning roundtable – the opposite of Morning Hos.

  178. 178.

    JPL

    omg…romney…you don’t pay taxes you don’t support our troops.. no tax on interest..yeah..17 dollars a year.

  180. 180.

    MazeDancer

    @Anne Laurie:

    @cleek: RedState’s debate thread currently has 2 comments. and one of them is basically spam. enthusiasm!

    Ewwick Son of Ewwick hasn’t issued his official talking points yet.

    Actually, Red State is using Cover-it-Live to amass tweets from their peeps as comments. Won’t link. But it’s pretty active. And as yuck as you would imagine.

  185. 185.

    JGabriel

    C’mon, BriWi, just ask Perry already, “Would you execute Ben Bernanke?”

    You know you’re dying to.

    .

  189. 189.

    JPL

    I think the applause answers questions that were raised on this blog about Perry and the death penalty … sick..

  190. 190.

    lamh32

    Perry really is a dumb jock. Bush just played one on tv.

    btw, I really hate that damn big ass ring Perry wears all the damn time. what the hell is that? a class ring, a wedding band, a promise ring from his boyfriend (allegedly)?

  193. 193.

    AT

    Sully is thinkg Hunstman is crushing it “in terms of electability. He’s riding a wave tonight.”

    He does realise that Republicans vote in the primaries and they don’t want sense and sensibility.

    Completely delusional, he’ll be acting all surprised when Huntsman goes down in the polls, though hard to go down when already at 1%

  195. 195.

    lamh32

    @JPL: @dmsilev:

    ughh. despicable.

    even if ur pro-debt penalty applauding 200 deaths is just disgusting. who would be proud to belong to a party like that?

  197. 197.

    JPL

    I really want all these people to be hit with a tornado and to need fema..
    also, too..if they did not survive ..that would be unfortunate

  198. 198.

    fleeting expletive

    Interesting….in the post debate live footage Cain offered his hand to Newt to shake and Newt turned away, not shaking his hand. How about that?

  199. 199.

    Alex S.

    My personal highlight: Perry said that he isn’t responsible for Karl Rove anymore. It shows the rift between the old Bush-controlled GOP and the Tea Party GOP. Perry can probably not be stopped anymore. Not with Romney.

  200. 200.

    Sebastian Dangerfield

    I propose a 6-9 plan to solve all our woes. We will still die a horrible death in a world of penury and lawlessness, but at least we’ll have a few moments of pleasure first.

  202. 202.

    RossInDetroit

    @Linda Featheringill:

    I’m not sure Perry understands the complex nature of climate change.

    I hope Climate Change takes over from the older term Global Warming. Then I won’t have to deal with smug Tea Partiers every time it’s unseasonably cool. Or snows.

  206. 206.

    Darkrose

    All this talk about Cain and BriWi makes me think I’m watching a Giants game. I’d rather, actually, which says a lot about how awful the debate is.

  209. 209.

    RossInDetroit

    @Alex S.:

    Perry said that he isn’t responsible for Karl Rove anymore. It shows the rift between the old Bush-controlled GOP and the Tea Party GOP.

    Might also just be about Perry VS Bush. No love lost there.

  210. 210.

    Samara Morgan

    I feel an inexplicable urge to discuss the debate in loco_toko-speak. u r retard brian.

    that is chanese. it would be good to learn it now. you might need it later. :)
    in the post-apocalyptic Road Warrior world of the future you can be my bitch, and translator.
    this was great.
    Perry can hardly talk coherently, yet he said the Ponzi scheme thing again.

  211. 211.

    Anne Laurie

    @lamh32:

    I really hate that damn big ass ring Perry wears all the damn time. what the hell is that? a class ring, a wedding band, a promise ring from his boyfriend (allegedly)?

    Texas Monthly said Aggie class ring, but I personally think it’s the satellite tracker his wife uses to keep tabs on him. Take a look at her public pics & tell me that woman ain’t one paparazzi ‘get’ away from the full Tammy Fay Bakker breakdown.

  212. 212.

    Mike in NC

    This audience loves them some executions.

    At what point does Mitt boast that he’ll “quadruple Gitmo”?

  213. 213.

    Roger Moore

    @JGabriel:

    Ron Paul: I wanna repeal all the Man Dates!

    I don’t think that’s going to be very popular among the Republican elite. Unless they’re allowed to rename them something like “visiting my rent-boy” or “adopting a wide stance”.

  214. 214.

    lamh32

    Wow, how is it that Barack Obama always manages to win these GOP debates and he isn’t even on stage?

    Seriously though, winner tonight: Romney by default cause Perry is just beaucoup crazy. Still I think it’s Perry’s nomination to lose.

  215. 215.

    JPL

    I was an independent… I never voted for Phil Gramm who was a dem.. and because of that I am so sick of the trolls that bitch about Cole… Hey I voted for a repub rather that Phil so I guess I’m a traitor or something..
    Whatever..tonight was an embarrassment. Clapping because he killed more folks than he did is not the repub party.
    also,too..the old repub party

  216. 216.

    jwb

    @Alex S.: It all depends on whether Rove actually has the goods on Perry and if he does whether the establishment GOP decides they don’t want Perry as standard bearer. I still think the hope is that Perry will fade enough for Romney to slip through so Perry can be the VP. But if Perry floats too much higher, establishment GOP will have to decide, probably around the end of the year, whether they destroy him or go with him.

  217. 217.

    Chris

    @Alex S.:

    My personal highlight: Perry said that he isn’t responsible for Karl Rove anymore. It shows the rift between the old Bush-controlled GOP and the Tea Party GOP. Perry can probably not be stopped anymore. Not with Romney.

    I think all it shows is that they realize the Bush administration is so toxic they need to distance themselves from it in order to stay credible.

  218. 218.

    Cat Lady

    So, Obama gives his grown up speech tomorrow night about jobs. Maybe it was smart to let the clown show rodeo go first.

  219. 219.

    Anne Laurie

    @AT:

    Sully is thinkg Hunstman is crushing it “in terms of electability. He’s riding a wave tonight.”

    Sullivan, BoBo Brooks, and Doubthat, still searching for the Holy Grail of the Sensible Republican candidate. They could do a six-part miniseries on PBS, except Monty Python might sue them for copyright violation.

  220. 220.

    Larkspur

    Looking at the candidates, and looking at everyone on TV ever, I really want to know the extent to which banning hair spray would help abate climate change.

  221. 221.

    SteveinSC

    @Mike in NC:
    @dmsilev:
    Preacher Perry: “If they come to Texas.” Respondents: “Kill!” Preacher Perry: “If they commit a crime.” Respondents: “Kill, Kill.” “If they steal or murder” “Kill, Kill and Kill again.” “If they turn out to be innocent?” “Aw shucks, they shouldn’t have come to Texas.”

  222. 222.

    Chris

    @RossInDetroit:

    I hope Climate Change takes over from the older term Global Warming. Then I won’t have to deal with smug Tea Partiers every time it’s unseasonably cool. Or snows.

    No… then it’ll be smug teabaggers going “but the climate changes every five minutes!”

  224. 224.

    Kilkee

    Shorter Newt: I’m f’d here, nowhere to go, I’ll be the guy who floats above it, seems more The Thinker. Really, of course, The Grifter.

    Perry: as the Irish song says, “’tis the divil’s own invention.”

  227. 227.

    RossInDetroit

    @Chris:

    smug teabaggers going “but the climate changes every five minutes!”

    It would truly be pathetic if this fight was lost over people’s inability to differentiate between weather and climate.
    But that could happen.

  228. 228.

    Anne Laurie

    @fleeting expletive:

    Interesting….in the post debate live footage Cain offered his hand to Newt to shake and Newt turned away, not shaking his hand. How about that?

    Wow, I hope that clip turns up on YouTube. Guess Newton’s a little sensitive about Cain stealing the “actual, if impractical ideas” spotlight, when Herman doesn’t even need the grift funds. Those People, stealin’ jobs from hard-grifting white men… it’s gonna take a swing thru Tiffanys and another week-long Hawaiian ‘campaign visit’ to salve that wound.

  230. 230.

    SteveinSC

    @lamh32:”Still I think it’s Perry’s nomination to lose.” Maybe that is why they quoted Rove and Cheney against him on the Ponzi scheme bullshit. They are trying to blow out a tire on that asshole before he picks up too much speed. This may be the only thing I have ever agreed on with Cheney and Rove: Perry is a typical southern governor opportunist with a long history of changing his spots. As ole’ George Wallace said after losing a race in Alabama in which he ran as a moderate on race: “I’ll never git out seged again.” They don’t trust him any more than I do.

  235. 235.

    MazeDancer

    @Alex S.:

    Palin is dead (in a political sense). Who needs Palin when you’ve got Perry?

    Mr. Pro Perry Erik of RedState wrote a post today on how he was tired of the tease. He’s left Palin. Rick’s the one for him. And not just because the Red State confab was where Gov Shoot ‘Em From the Air at The Border announced his candidacy.

    Palin’s going to run into some trouble if she doesn’t agree to become Fundraiser in Chief for the nominee. It’ll be hard for her to see that will help her long-term grift as she watches the dollars seep away to someone else.

  236. 236.

    Geoduck

    @Chris:

    No… then it’ll be smug teabaggers going “but the climate changes every five minutes!”

    If only our side had the ability to come up with the catchy phrases. I think “Climate crash” might work better..

  237. 237.

    4jkb4ia

    The NYT livebloggers have politely pointed out that Bachmann absolutely made shit up twice.

    This election isn’t going to be any fun. That should be illegal. In fact, if it is a matter of Romney and Perry by the time it gets to Missouri and I should be having fun watching the festival of democracy that is candidate appearances, I may throw up. Of course these appearances will be in St. Charles and other places I cannot get to on the bus.

  238. 238.

    Cat Lady

    When did Brian Williams become BriWi? Is everything happening in 140 characters or less now? If Brian Williams is weirded out, when does he turn into Peter Finch in Network? Wake me up when the Republicans lose Dancin’ Dave.

  239. 239.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    @MazeDancer:

    Remember when Erikkk, Son of Erikkk, put together a web site after the 2008 election for people to report violations of his ‘do not attack Dear Sarah or else!’ RedState Rule for Conservatives? I may still have the link buried in my bookmarks but some of us went over there and added some of our own “reports” on Sarah offenders. I remember checking it about a year ago and all the funny comments were still up.

    Erikkk’s loves are fleeting but intense, it’s the Southern Gentleman in him. Passion is his life. That, a short attention span and thinking while most of his blood is in the wrong head.

  240. 240.

    kazheel

    my wrap-up:

    Rick Perry: Climate change science deniers are the new Galileo.
    Herman Cain: Why can’ t America be more like Chile?
    Mitt Romney: Sure, I’m down with the Tea Party. Tell me what they’re about again, I forgot.
    Michele Bachmann: It was stupid to go into Libya, especially because now it looks like we’re getting no oil out of the deal. Also, I’m the female Reagan.
    Rick Santorum: I love black children more than anyone. In fact it’s the toughest love anyone’s ever seen.
    Newt Gingrich: I hate you sneaky liberal media types, asking us questions that makes it look like Republicans disagree on things. Matter of fact, just ask me the rest of the questions, I’ll be speaking for everyone now.
    Ron Paul: I’m not crazy, YOU’RE the one who’s crazy!

  241. 241.

    Jinchi

    @kazheel:

    Rick Perry: Climate change science deniers are the new Galileo.

    I realize that most people believe that Galileo was persecuted by fellow scientists.

    Of course, like today’s climatologists, he was actually persecuted by the church and by politicians who didn’t want to hear his inconvenient truth.

  242. 242.

    Mike D.

    Update. People may not want to hear this, but Cain seems the least phony/crazy to me.

    Update. I like the Telemundo guy, he’s got a lot more panache than BriWi and Harris.

    Update. I hate to keep harping on this, and obviously I don’t agree with him on anything, but Cain’s answers are more substantive than the others’.

    This sequence is pure win and 100% correct.

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