We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
The GOP candidates are set to invade the confines of St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH for the second scheduled primary debate. The head-lines are all about the introduction of Newt, Mitt and Michelle Bachmann entering the fray. I'll be popping up some corn and cracking open a few summer wheats. Care to join me at 8pm EST on CNN for the festivities?
posted by The Blue Devil @ 3:55 PM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
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Ahead of tonight's debate, here is the latest Gallup Poll of the prospective candidates:
1. Mitt Romney - 24%
2. Sarah Palin - 16%
3. Herman Cain - 9%
4. Ron Paul - 7%
5. Tim Pawlenty - 6%
6. Rick Santorum - 6%
7. Michele Bachmann - 5%
8. Newt Gingrich - 5%
9. Gary Johnson - 2%
10. Jon Huntsman - 1%
11. Rick Perry - 1%
- Other 1%
Given that poll, there are two candidates IMHO that are where they need to be right now - Romney and Cain.
Pawlenty and Gingrich need big nights tonight or their candidacies will start to falter.
Should be a fascinating encounter.
Here we go, then. John King is the host for tonight's debate. The perceived wisdom is that TPaw will come out swinging at Romney. We'll see in a minute.
No opening statements. Instead King has asked each candidate to introduce themselves with a brief sentence.
So far the candidates have stressed how many kids they have:
Santorum - 7 kids
Bachmann - 5 kids; 23 foster kids!
Romney - 5 sons; 16 grandkids.
Paul - has delivered 14K babies
TPaw - 2 kids (shame about that)
Cain - 2 kids; 3 grandkids
Lead off questions now....
Uh oh - it's questions from the audience.
A professor emiritus first - wants to hear about plans for jobs:
Cain - lower taxes, no capital gains tax
Santorum - likes the Ryan plan
Weird split screen there with TPaw grinning at Santorum as he's speaking.
More on jobs and the economy:
Pawlenty - cut taxes, reduce regulation.
Pawlenty avoids King's good question about why tax cuts didn't promote growth during the Bush era.
Romney - likes what TPaw has said. Interesting tactic. That might undercut Pawlenty's attack.
It's clear that Romney has Obama in his headlights; he doesn't need to attack his opponents.
Gingrich asked if GOP voters who want higher taxes on the rich are wrong.
He stumbles at first, saying "no." Then goes on to change his mind. A bad start for Newt.
Bachmann is asked about repeal of Dodd/Frank:
She wants to repeal it. And then she stops to formally announce her candidacy. Weird.
Paul - gets the first big laugh of the night by saying that King's question is a "tough one."
He then goes on to trot out the usual Ayn Rand stuff about "Keynesianism."
Next question - Sylvia Smith (freelance journo) on health care:
Softball about "overreach" of Obama health care plan. Wow!
Bachmann leaps on it by talking about her introduction of bill to repeal Obama health care plan. Weirdly she's looking up at the big screen rather than the tv cameras.
King baits Romney on the Massachusetts plan and TPaw's criticism.
Romney says he's in favor of repealing Obama plan. He favors a waiver for each state. Nice dodge.
I think King blunted TPaw's attack by asking Romney the question first. Tim has to go back to Sylvia. King rushes him along. A bit tough on TPaw to be fair. He's not able to get his best shots in.
Another bad stumble by TPaw after King baits him again. And then again. He doesn't seem to want to rise to the occasion. Wow - Pawlenty really whiffed on this one. A terrible response.
King tosses back to Romney again. He really seems to be favoring Mitt tonight.
Now Gingrich on his past support for the individual mandate. He now says that it's unconstitutional.
Strange answer about the Congressional campaign in 2012. Uh - you're not Speaker anymore, Newt.
Next question - Terry Pfaff (NH native): How will candidates convince mainstream Repubs that they won't go too right wing.
Santorum - says he's tackled big issues such as "welfare reform."
King asks Santorum if he's not scared of the Tea Party. Santorum says he loves them.
Bachmann echoes that. She says it's a big tent.
A big cheap applause line from Bachmann that Obama will be a one-term Prez.
Cain is asked about the Tea Party:
He's not concerned about the radicalism of the Tea Party either. So far the questioner hasn't heard an answer from the middle that he's looking for. Romney has a big chance here.
Another question - small business owner asks how the candidates plan to return manufacturing to the US:
Paul - complicated answer about monetary policy and the strong currency. Interesting but perhaps a bit high-brow for this crowd.
Interesting shot showing Newt Gingrich nodding along to Ron Paul.
TPaw - appealing to the working people. Wants "fair trade" = strong policy against foreign competitors. That sounds like protectionism. Interesting from a Repub.
Now he's trying to go after Obama health care and Romney again. I think that horse has left the barn.
Bachmann - she wants to bring the corporate tax rate down.
Wow - Bachmann wants to kill the EPA. Are you listening, Phil Milton?
Santorum again trying to appeal to manufacturing workers in Penn.
Wants to cut the capital gains tax in half.
Now a question about union rights.
Pawlenty - favors a "right to work" law.
Big applause there for TPaw. His high-light so far tonight.
Gingrich, asked about whether governors are demonizing labor.
Gingrich avoids it by going back to the "right to work" line.
At the half hour mark, there doesn't seem to be much distinction between the candidates on stage. The questions haven't been sharp enough to help them to distinguish themselves.
Cain - also favors "right to work."
John King announces that he's going to go to commercial breaks with silly, trivial questions to help voters "get to know" the candidates. (Yuck)
Santorum is asked - "Leno" or "Conan"
He doesn't watch either. Next.
Bachmann is asked "Elvis or Johnny Cash." She says that's too hard - she goes for both.
Paul is asked about government assistance to business. He's very honest in saying that he doesn't think that government has any right to give assistance to business. He thinks it's immoral.
Cain is asked when the government should do something. He supported TARP apparently. He's changed his mind on it apparently.
So let's see: "I was for TARP before I was against it." That won't work.
Romney is asked about the bailout bill for automakers. Was it a success?
Romney says it wasn't. He says the automakers should have gone into bankruptcy. Not sure Wall Street will like that answer.
Romney is pressed on whether he was wrong about the auto industry crashing after the bail out. He insists that he wasn't wrong.
King offers up for anyone on the dais who would have supported a bail-out of auto. None of them do. Again - it's hard to separate the candidates on this issue.
Question about the role of government in supporting the space industry.
Gingrich says that NASA is an inefficient bureaucracy. Nice job losing votes in Florida, Newt.
King asks if anyone would support government aid to space industry. Pawlenty steps forward in support of the space program.
Gingrich is angry that TPaw has hinted that he's in favor of shutting down the space program.
TPaw wants government to get out of the "crony capitalism" business including unions and big industries that have been bailed out.
Ron Paul is asked what in government he would cut. This could be a long answer. He goes for the Fed first. No surprise there.
Cain is asked about food safety:
He wants to streamline the FDA. But he still thinks that the gov. should be in the food safety biz.
Romney is asked what he would cut in government - perhaps FEMA?
He wants to take FEMA's authority and send it back to the states. And preferably privatize it. Wow - Mitt is really pitching it to the right.
King tries to prod him on disaster relief. He talks over him instead.
Now's the time for "This or That:"
Gingrich is asked "Dancing with the Stars" or "American Idol."
He goes for Idol - at least he chose one - the others wussied out on their answers.
Ron Paul is asked "Blackberry" or "iPhone."
He goes for the Blackberry.
Baby boomer in the audience asks about Medicare:
Paul - Medicare isn't solvent and won't be solvent in the future. More competition. He would cut the money out of foreign welfare and the military industrial complex to pay for Medicare.
TPaw is asked whether he likes the voucher idea at the center of the Ryan plan.
He does. He would grandfather in those who are close to retirement and then voucher out those who are younger. This is precisely the idea that was roundly rejected in NY-26 last month.
Gingrich is asked about his initial criticism of the Ryan plan.
Now he says that he was talking about the idea of passing a bill without convincing the public.
Santorum - supports the Ryan plan. He thinks that Obama is going to ration care.
Cain - thinks that Dems are demagoguing the issue.
Cain is asked about specifics of his health care plan. He wants a private option. But he doesn't answer the question of cut-off ages, benefits, means testing.
Romney is asked about the debt ceiling. He would only raise it if there are promises on cutting spending.
Interestingly, we're more than an hour into this debate and we still haven't had a question on foreign policy. Remember folks - this country is occupying two foreign countries!
Bachmann - would not raise the debt ceiling.
Interesting - Church v. State question:
TPaw - wants more religion in public life. Interprets the Constit. as protecting religious people from government not protecting government from religious people.
What role does faith play in politics?
Paul - thinks government should have a moral core but that government should impose morality.
Cain is pressed on whether he still wouldn't appoint a Muslim to his cabinet.
Cain doesn't believe in shariah law. Doesn't feel comfortable with Muslims "who want to kill us."
Cain is stumbling badly here about his suggestion that there should be a "litmus test" for Muslims.
Romney scoffs at the idea that the US is ever going to be governed by shariah law.
He scores points here by seeming quite sane on not discriminating against people.
Gingrich "goes out on a limb:"
He says that he would ask for a litmus test for Muslims. Newt bringing the crazy there.
Cain is asked "Deep Dish" or "Thin Crust" for pizza.
He goes with deep dish.
From The Daily Kos: "Herman Cain clarifies that he doesn't want murderers in his cabinet. Thank goodness we cleared that up."
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Romney - "Spicy" or "Mild" wings.
He goes for spicy and then indicates that he's somehow following the Stanley Cup game. Big applause for the Bruins.
Bachmann is asked whether states have the right to approve gay marriage. Tough one.
She's for state's rights but she's also against gay marriage.
She's pressed on whether she'd interfere with state law as Prez? She would not. So state's rights trumps gay marriage.
Cain - state decision
Pawlenty - Constitutional Amendment
Paul - Doesn't want marriage licenses
Romney - Constit. Amendment.
Gingrich - Constit. Amendment.
Santorum - Doesn't like "man on dog" sex. Sorry - he's in favor of a Constit. Amend.
Now on Don't Ask Don't Tell.
Cain - wouldn't have repealed DADT
TPaw - would take his cues from military
Paul - wouldn't work to overthrow it. Wants individual not group rights.
Romney - Liked DADT
Gingrich - Liked DADT. Would go back to it if military wanted it.
Bachmann - Wants to go back to DADT.
Santorum - Is okay with repealing DADT. Interesting.
Interesting question about Mitt Romney's previous pro-choice stance.
Santorum doesn't really hammer it as hard as he could. Mainly talks about his own position. Abortion is a "top priority" for him.
Romney is given a chance now. He thinks he's genuine on the issue.
King offers up for anyone who thinks Romney's position is up for grabs. Cain suggest that it's "case closed."
I'm surprised that this has been so polite. These people have to go after Romney or he'll cruise this thing.
Bachmann is looking up at the monitor again. It's as if she's talking to God. Weird.
Question about TPaw's position of excepting women who have suffered rape and incest.
Bachmann again refuses to go for the jugular - just talks about her own stance.
TPaw tries to defend himself.
Question about immigration from a naturalized citizen:
Santorum is son of a legal citizen. Rambling answer about how illegals shouldn't get government benefit. They do?
Ron Paul is asked whether a five year old illegal child should get services in hospitals.
Paul says "no."
Cain on immigration:
Secure the borders.
Close the loopholes in the law.
Open up a path to citizenship
Empower the states
TPaw - If federal government won't secure the borders, the states should be able to. Good luck.
Gingrich is asked whether illegals should be rounded up and deported.
Gingrich demurs but goes back to Cain's talking points. He's not distinguishing himself here.
Interesting question about eminent domain:
Paul - is against eminent domain.
Romney - against eminent domain for private purposes.
An hour and a half in and still no foreign policy questions.
Question about the ethanol subsidy:
Santorum - is for ending the subsidy.
Tim Pawlenty is asked "Coke" or "Pepsi"
He goes for Coke.
Great question about foreign policy. Should we bring troops home from Afghanistan now:
Romney - ASAP (read: not now)
Paul - Wouldn't wait - would bring troops home from Afghanistan and Iraq. Would quit bombing Yemen and Libya.
Big applause for Ron Paul's answer.
Pawlenty asked whether he agrees with Ron Paul or Barack Obama on bombing Syria and Yemen. Interesting.
Rambling answer ends with support for Obama's bombing campaigns.
Bachmann asked about Libya:
Doesn't think intervention is in the interest of the U.S. natural security.
Now she says that we should be leading, not NATO. This is a bewildering answer. I really can't tell whether she supports bombing or not.
Gingrich on the same issue:
Wants to re-think the entire policy. Doesn't want ground forces.
Question about "nation building" around the world. Wants to know if any of the candidates would shut down bases:
Santorum thinks that bases have already been closed. Still thinks that we need bases around the world.
Last segment of the debate - bullshit question about polls.
Who made the best choice of veep candidate in 2008:
TPaw thinks Biden's a disaster - loves Palin.
Romney switches the question to say that anyone on the stage would be a better Prez than Obama.
Bachmann - who would she pick as veep.
She demurs by saying that she'd let the audience decide.
Paul has to pick one person on the stage to join his cabinet.
He wants time to quiz them on the Federal Reserve. LOL!
Bachmann with a neat finish - probably her best touch of the night. King steps on it, though.
TPaw tries to get another cheap applause line by supporting the Broooons.
Bob's report card:
Santorum - not enough to move the numbers.
Bachmann - brought the crazy; could get a bump.
Gingrich - not good enough to dig himself out of the ditch.
Romney - still cruising; didn't do any damage. Definite front-runner
Paul - looks more and more like a crank
Cain - since his first performance, he's been found out.
Pawlenty - didn't go on the attack; his numbers won't move.
That's it folks. I've done my civic duty for the evening. Over and out.
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