Live Blog for Depraved Political Junkies: Florida Republican Debate
Posted: January 23, 2012 Filed under: 2012 presidential campaign, Republican presidential politics, U.S. Economy, U.S. Military, U.S. Politics | Tags: Florida Republican debate, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul 148 Comments
NBC prepares for the Republican debate at USF
I know a lot of you are sick and tired of watching and listening to the Republican presidential candidates. I admit that I’m enjoying watching the long drawn-out suicide of the other corporate party. For anyone else who can’t get enough of the suicidal Republicans, here’s a live blog.
The debate is on NBC at 9PM. I couldn’t find the live stream on NBC’s site, but I found it embedded at USF.edu, so I’m going to try to watch it there. I also found this live stream at MSNBC (scroll down the page). On the same page you can see a photo of Rick Santorum getting glitter-bombed.
I’ll put my reactions in the comment, and I hope some others will join me. As always, I may not be able to stick it out to the bitter end, but I’ll do my very best. For background on the debate, see Minkoff Minx’s evening post (right below this one).
peej
Carissa
bostonboomer
ecocatwoman
mablue2
peggysue22
quixote
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
Watching MSNBC. Matthews is convinced Newter is going to be the nominee because he’s channeling the ANGER of the Republicans. Matthews is channeling me (Oh, no!) – he compared Mittens to one of the audio-animatronic figures from The Hall of Presidents (something I commented here the other night). If the Republicans weren’t so frightening it would be funny. It’s definitely live theater.
Are they showing the debate on MSNBC?
I’m glad you’re here. You can help us put things in perspective from a Floridian’s point of view.
It looks like the debate isn’t even on NBC TV. Maybe we can only see it on line.
It is on NBC. I hate that I’m missing Rachel, though.
The worst part of this is Brian Williams. I can’t stand him!
Rules: 60 sec. answers, 30 sec. responses. Audience is supposed to STFU. I wonder if they will?
Why don’t you like Brian? I like him when he’s on The Daily Show – seems to have a great sense of humor. So far the audience is behaving themselves. I’m glad they were “asked” to stay quiet.
Just got here…are they following the rules?
Williams asks Gingrich about electibility. Romney has been trashing Newt today. What’s his response?
Newt quotes Reagan. I don’t see the connection to the question tho. Claims he’s a Reagan conservative and is the type of bold, tough leader the American people want.
He’s prepared to be controversial when necessary and that’s what’s needed.
W. asks Newt how has he changed since he left the Speakership?
He brags that he balanced the budget three times while working with a Dem president.
Williams. Newt says your a good salesman with a weak product. You’ve been dancing on eggs, he says.
Mitt says it’s about leadership. Newt has already failed, had to resign in disgrace. Mitt has been nothing but successful. Turned around olympics and state of MA.
Liar!
Says he supports Paul Ryan plan and Newt says it’s right wing social engineering.
Newt: four things Mitt said were false. He’ll have a website tomorrow at which he’ll post responses. He things they should be talking about beating Obama. Quotes Huckabee, I missed what about.
Mitt says he did very well in NH so he can connect well with the Repub base. Goes back to attacking Newt. His own collegues voted to censure him and he resigned in disgrace. His approval rating was 18%.
Contract with Freddie mac was with chief lobbiest. How can he lead the country after that. He cost Florida homeowners millions of dollars.
Mitt says he learned something from the debate in SC. He was attacked from all sides, and he’s not going to sit back and take it anymore.
Newt says he told his colleague to vote to censure him because he wanted to get it over with. He was later cleared of all but one charge. Mitt is a lousy historian.
He didn’t resign until two years later.
Williams asks Santorum what his path to the top is.
Santorum says this isn’t a two person race. Things have shifted around for the past month. He presents a clear contrast with the POTUS. S says he has a bold vision. Brags about winning in PA twice even tho it was a Dem state then.
bla bla bla faith and family. Principled conservative.
bla bla bla Iran bla bla bla reform social security and medicare bla bla bla standing for your principles is more important than winning elections.
Ask Ron Paul when he’ll give an “honest answer” about a third party run.
Paul says he has a good chance of getting quite a few delegates in Iowa.
Defends Newt.
Then sticks in the knife. Newt didn’t run for speaker because he didn’t have the votes.
If Newt changed a few of his views–Gold, the Fed–he could be Paul’s VP.
Romney asked about releasing last year’s taxes. What’s in there that is going to be controversial or that he’ll have to defend?
No surprises, says Mitt.
Mitt switches to talking about cutting taxes. No taxes on savings, 25% taxes on capital gains, 25% income tax. A pro-growth tax policy.
Williams says, so nothing will emerge in your tax release? Mitt says he pays the taxes required by law and not a dollar more. Says no one wants a candidate who pays more than he owes.
Really? I’d like to see that!
Mitt is just saying the same old shit. I’m not going to apologize for being successful. He’s proud that he helped people when he was at Bain.
Santorum says he thinks what Mitt did at Bain is just fine and dandy. But why didn’t he support destructive capitalism when Wall St. failed. Why did he support the bailout? Same for Newt.
That’s because Santorum is a lobbyist and has been nothing but a lobbyist since he left office and he made millions doing it.
This debate is pretty boring. I was hoping for more fireworks like last time.
Oh, now Newt is going off on Romney. He never was a lobbyist and he’s sick and tired of being accused of it.
Mitt is breaking down what Newt has said about his work for Freddie Mac and doing a pretty good job. Says Mitt wouldn’t have gotten all that money for being a “historian.”
Newt has a glib answer. Says most of his consulting work was based on historical knowledge about the issues.
I would hate to have been a student of Newt’s. HIs version of history is worse than what I got in school.
Newt looks very uncomfortable with this line of questioning and what Mitt is saying.
I know & I love it!
Me too.
Brian is letting Mitt & Newt go wild!
I know! Paul and Santorum must be fuming.
Newt is proud of his advocacy of Medicare part D, and Mitt is full of shit and a liar.
Brian resurfaces to announce a COMMERCIAL!
Mitt says that Newt spent 15 years on K Street. He was getting money from health companies while he met with Congressmen and advocated for legislation. That’s lobbying.
Mitt did a good job, and Newt’s body lang and facial expressions–very uncomfortable!
Yes!
So far, Romney cleaning Gingrich’s clock. Newt is back on his heels. So far.
That’s what I thought too.
The people live blogging at the WaPo think Newt did well and Mitt was grasping. What do I know?
I think Mitt did a pretty good job, especially for Mitt. Didn’t think he had it in him.
I hope sombody comes up with a cartoon………….that’s funny as hell BB.
Santorum claims he fought to reform Fannie and Freddie when he was in the Senate and the Dems filabustered.
They are going to focus on the FLA foreclosure problem now.
Is that true?
Williams said so, but they didn’t stay on it long.
Paul is going off on the Fed. The whole problem is their fault. Forced banks to make risky loans. It was all govt manufactured. What can you do?
Get out of the way. LOL
Why does Paul have to whine like that? He should go to a speech coach.
Mitt–to help people. prosecute fraud, get govt out of the way. Get the economy going, create jobs.
Newt says economy would improve overnight if Dodd-Frank were repealed.
Williams asks if the financial system is really over regulated? Newt says of course it is. Romney says it was poorly regulated. There have to be some regulations, but they were out of date.
Oops, he says derivitive should be regulated. That’s a no no for his Wall Street donors.
Romney surprised me – liked what he said. Here comes Cuba & Castro. Aggressively OVERTHROW the regime. Oh boy, regime change!
Oh for Pete’s sake. Williams asks Romney what he would do if Fidel Castro died.
Mitt: Thankful that he’s returned to his maker. bla bla bla
Newt says, Fidel won’t meet his maker because he’s going to Hell.
Paul is very patronizing. These guys know nothing about foreign policy. We propped up Castro for years with our stupid sanctions. What makes Williams think all the Cubans are going to come here? We should trade with them and travel there and talk to them.
Newt wants to nuke Cuba. Guess that would shut gitmo.
hahaha
Where is that 3 am phone call?
Right on Ron Paul! End the sanctions.
yes
I can’t believe it hasn’t even been an hour yet!!
Santorum says the Latin Americans are working with Iran so they can attack us. He’s been talking about if for 6-7 years.
Yawn.
He’s delusional!
How the hell is building more ships going to prevent suicide bombers? This isn’t WW II, Mittens. The world is dealing with people blowing themselves up and taking as many folks with them as possible.
Newter – Obama weak regarding Iran. Jesus H Christ.
Mitt – beat the Taliban. Yeah, that’s a piece of cake. Where’s the “historian”? NO ONE has ever “won” in Afghanistan. EVER in the history of the whole damn world.
No historian in that group 😉
Ron Paul makes more sense in this area. IMO.
I lost the live feed for some reason….
Got it back yet?
I guess it was a commercial break…
I would have never imagined that I’d say this, but Paul is the SANEST person on that stage. I’m with him about 75% of the way on foreign policy. Viet Nam, Iraq, Afghanistan – what have they accomplished besides killing or permanently damaging generations of soldiers and bankrupted our economy? Paul has served – none of the others have & neither have their children, but they are willing to send other people’s children into harm’s way so easily. They suck!
That’s like saying a paranoid schizophrenic is the sanest one in a group of disorganized and catatonic schizophrenics.
Yes!
Rick Schmuck Santorum. Theocracy in Iran = BAD. Theocracy in America = WONDERFUL. It doesn’t matter what religion runs a government – it’s bad, bad, bad.
Offshore oil drilling! YES – show what asses you are.
He’s a brainwashed cultist and Paul is a paranoid schizophrenic. Newt is bi-polar and Romney is? Not sure about him. I know. He’s a pathological confabulator (delusional compulsive liar).
Santorum: pipelines are the best way to create a strong economy for Florida. Safer than tankers.
Okay, I just got my feed working…something about Iran?
A spike in oil prices in 2008 is what hurt Florida’s tourism. It definitely wasn’t the unemployment rates around the country? It wasn’t the destruction of unions and middle class jobs? Yeah, it was gas prices because EVERYONE drives to Florida.
I told you these people are loony tunes. They belong in a hospital where they can mumble to themselves and argue incoherently with each other while keeping the rest of us safe.
Why do candidates want to ban Spanish in govt when they use Spanish to campaign?
Newt has some BS answer. It is essential to have a central language. No ballots in other languages.
Romney agrees, but in MA people were taught in many languages. They didn’t learn English, so he campaigned for English immersion in schools. Bla bla bla….
Ron Paul. Leave it up to the states.
The Dream act.
Romney would veto it. Gingrich would allow children of immigrants to become citizens if they serve in the military, but would not support the rest of the act.
Romney says he has the same position. Me too!
LOL! Romney says he wouldn’t round people up. They would be given encouragement to return home and apply for legal residency. It would be voluntary. There would be a card that indicates who is here legally and they wouldn’t be able to get work without it.
What will all the rich people do for servants??
Hey remember, in Alabama, domestic labor doesn’t count…
Santorum says people are going back home because we don’t have jobs here. He says we should enforce the laws against people who are stealing SS #’s etc.
My grandfather…… bla bla bla
Just listening to this for 2 min and it is already making me disgusted…don’t know how much I can take. You got some tough nerve BB to be able to listen to this.
It’s mind blowing that this is what we are stuck with in this country. The Dems aren’t much better.
Nope they all suck and I just saw this picture on facebook:
I love that poster, MM! I want one. Framed.
djmm
Romney says we’re headed to a Greece-type collapse. Bullshit!!
Glad some enviro questions were asked – too bad no one pressured them as hard as Brian did on Mittens tax returns and some of the other stuff.
Oh no — the ghost of Terry Schievo!!!
djmm
God, somebody get me a freaking bucket…or a shovel!
Paul Begala
@PaulBegala Paul Begala
Thought bubble over Newt’s head when asked about Terry Schiavo: “Obviously, you divorce her.” #fldebate
LOL
Hahaha! Too true. Great line from Begala. I’m almost sorry I missed the first hour of this. Mitt did a Newt put down? That would have been worth hearing. This second hour is pretty boring. I expected some hackles raised on the Terry S. question. Only Ron Paul had a reasonable answer–living will and make sure your spouse knows your wishes.
Oh, now we’re onto the ‘Soul” of the Republican party. Williams is kidding right? What soul?
Asking Santorum about Terri Schiavo. Why did he interfere and why should the govt have control?
Santorum says he advocated for the parents because they were his constituents in PA. He wanted to make sure judicial system worked properly.
Santorum thinks do not resusitate orders are fine.
Newt, what about the sanctity of marriage? Doesn’t the spouse trump the parents?
Good point!
Newt says there should be a judicial review to decide if people are allowed to die when there is disagreement among relatives.
There were several judicial hearings weren’t there?
Yeah, I thought so.
Yep, lots of judicial rulings. The parents wouldn’t stop. Terry had been a vegetable for years. She & her husband were young. He had a right to get on with his life. He’d spent years at her bedside.
Should we have a space program.
Mitt: yes. NASA and commercial enterprises and universities plus military should work together on it.
Newt: would he put more federal dollars into space? Newt: encourage private sector, not bigger bureacracy. Offer prizes for individuals and groups.
Oooooooooooo, the space program. Romney – should be a priority. Good for science, military & commercial development. Newt – develop commercial space, offer prizes!
Why didn’t the Bush tax cuts work? It was 9/11 (Rudy we miss you!) Regulation stifles job growth – drill on public lands. What a charmer!
It’s ALMOST OVER! I haven’t killed myself yet.
If tax cuts create jobs, why didn’t Bush tax cuts create jobs?
North Dakota is so successful today because they’ve had tax cuts and the oil is on private land. If it was govt land, they’d have high unemployment.
WTF?! A lot of that oil is in the national park, Newt. I’ve seen the equipment there.
Apparently the oil drills are not technically inside the park, but you can see them. They surround the park and Republicans are pushing to drill in the park.
http://www.runningwithoil.com/?p=418
PUBLIC lands – belongs to The People. Leases are dirt cheap & the people don’t share in the massive profits, made larger by subsidies to these pricks by our tax dollars. Oil, gas, precious metals, coal, cattle grazing – all for a pittance on our lands. Degrading the environment and/or permanently damaging it and driving species into extinction.
A lot of people in ND are starting to have problems with all the drilling and problems brought in by all the workers.
Wait until the large scale fracking and the environmental destruction starts.
The moderation of this debate has been better than those preceding it. Also, the audience is much better comported.
I don’t think Fox News told the audience to be quiet. They probably encouraged the yelling and screaming.
I think you are right BB…
Agreed.
Mitt once again denigrates Massachusetts.
Newt worked with Goldwater, Reagan, Jack Kemp, helped elect Reagan, helped collapse the USSR, etc., etc.
Santorum asked about all the attacks on Romney and Gingrich. The implication is that Santorum doesn’t even belong there.
Williams asks Paul to comment on Mitt and Newt. Implication is that Paul doesn’t belong there either.
Ron Paul’s suit is huge on him. He must have lost a lot of weight. He’s too old to be doing this. He’s almost 80.
What is that shit about personal liberty? Not when it comes to uteruses!
Paul is Libertarian except where a woman’s uterus is concerned. Does he know that Ayn Rand was a woman?
She was a woman, and an atheist and pro-choice. But Paul isn’t really a libertarian.
He is a Dixie whistler.
Romney says median income has declined. But he doesn’t think anything should be done about income inequality. How would that work?
Did you get the remark about Kennedy having to mortgage his house to beat Romney?
Yes. He has said that in the last three debates.
Damn, I missed it on the others…
Let me just say in my best Cartman voice: rich people piss me off!
It’s over! Thank goodness! No fireworks, unfortunately.
Newt – thought of Presidency, humbling? That’s one adjective that I could never see applied to him.
Oops, missed Mitt’s pearls of wisdom.
Same old same old.
On to MSNBC & their spin of the night.
Thanks for doing this!
You’re welcome! I think Mitt was better than Newt tonight.
Rove must have prepped him.
I believe you are right, Boomer. Will be interesting to see how the pundits assess things. Andrea Mitchell was already saying Gingrich was acting presidential, has the momentum, and Chuck Todd seeming to agree. Will be interesting to see upcoming polls.
Mitt did much better than I expected, Gingrich not as good (no cheerleading section tonight) but I think Paul was the best. Santorum – was he actually there?
They prepped Willard to go after influence peddling newt with his k street office.
Thanks a heap. I don’t think I could stand to watch myself.
Are you going to watch Obama tomorrow night? I’d rather watch the Repubs than that.
I haven’t watched one of his sotus yet. I read them later. Did the same with Bush. Saves coronaries that way. 🙂
My bp is down to normal again. I get to live Blog the sotu …oh joy!
I look forward to the live blog. Thanks in advance.
Just watched the opening salvo on The Daily Show. Please, please, please, can Jon Stewart moderate a Republican debate? I’ll never, ever ask for anything again, I promise.
“My bp is down to normal again. I get to live Blog the sotu …oh joy!”
I’m pretty sure listening to the SOTU would shoot my BP up!
Science news, if you need to cleanse your mental palate:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/dinosaurs/9034129/Dinosaurs-were-caring-mothers-new-discovery-finds.html
djmm
From Gingrich To Palin To Gingrich
Can’t believe I agree with Andy Sullivan here, but I do.
Yup. It is what we’ve been saying but more acerbic.