by Jack Lee
Perry locked up last night and overall it couldn’t have gone worse for him. He tried to name three cabinet posts he would immediately eliminate if he became president and he got to the third one and he just went blank. As Perry stalled and fumbled for the word, he turned to Ron Paul and Paul tried to help him out and said, “EPA?” A good guess, but no…he later recalled it was the Dept. of Energy. Perry is at 6% in the polls and after his poor showing at last night’s debate he might as well turn out the lights and go home.
Actually, it would better for us if Bachman, Huntsman and Santorum would go home too. We’ve heard their ideas and they’re just not resonating. We should be focusing on the real contenders, Cain, Romney and Gingrich. However, I wouldn’t mind if Ron Paul was kept in the running because he makes this debate lively.
There were times when I felt the moderators quit asking questions and started debating with the candidates. In the case of CNBC host Maria Bartiromo, her question was dismissed by Gingrich as being absurd and she was visibly angered. But it was a dumb question, she asked Newt to tell us how he would fix healthcare in 30 seconds. Newt has devoted almost 17 years working on this and he wrote a book on the subject…a 30 second response, nah, that wouldn’t get it.
Newt wouldn’t play nice with our foolish liberal questioners, he went on to note how the news media regularly fails to accurately take on genuine economic issues, which led to Bartiromo asking Gingrich, “What is the media reporting inaccurately about the economy?” Gingrich responded, to wild audience laughter: “I love humor disguised as a question. That’s terrific.” He eventually answered and he nailed it…of course.
Backing up a bit, Bartiromo began her intro by saying, “We will be joined by an all-star lineup of the smartest people on CNBC.” I found that part fairly humorous, since most professional investors think CNBC is the most ignorant of all the financial networks. U-tube is full of clips mocking CNBC’s financial advice, especially Jim Cramer’s and clips leading up to the housing bubble.
Bartiromo underscored her economic ignorance when she asked Ron Paul, “You have said you want to close down agencies. Tell us about your tax plan as well as closing agencies — federal agencies. Where do those jobs go?” The implication here was that government creates jobs and we need to protect those government jobs – dumbest question of the evening.
Jim Cramer from mad Money coincidentally asked Ron Paul the second dumbest question, “Surely you must recognize that this is a moment-to-moment situation for people who have 401(k)s and IRAs on the line and you wouldn’t just let it fail, just go away and take our banking system with it?” “You have to let it liquidate,” Replied Ron Paul. “If you prop it up, you’ll do exactly what we did during the depression, prolong the agony. If you prop it up, you’ll do what Japan has done for 20 years.” That got a big round of applause as Cramer sulked.
Another moderater posed a question like he wanted to see the housing bubble reinflated, “Governor — Governor Perry, every quarter I get to report the GDP figures, and it’s a negative number for housing, and we’ve lost some 2 million construction jobs. Housing creates jobs, as well, doesn’t it?” I think almost everyone but this guy knows the right answer; jobs create housing not the other way around.
The candidates were generally tolerant of moderators asking dumb questions, but not Newt. By my count he dismissed two questions as stupid and infuriated the hosts. He scored no points with them when he said the news media regularly fails to accurately take on genuine economic issues, but the audience loved it! Bartiromo put her foot in it when she angrily asked, “What is the media reporting inaccurately about the economy?” Gingrich responded, to wild audience laughter: “I love humor disguised as a question. That’s terrific.”
Romney was the steady Eddie once again. Polite to all, poised and his answers were reasonable and well stated. The man seems unflappable and eternally dignified. He is looking more presidential with every debate.
Herm Cain was asked about what he would do with a CEO that engaged in sexual harassment, but the question was booed to the point the moderators took a pass and tried it again on Romney but they got the same results. Clearly they didn’t want Cain to be tried in the court of people opinion. I think supporters are concerned about the issue and they want closure, but they don’t want to hearsay introduced as fact. Earlier in the day I heard Dick Morris (Fox) suggested Cain should take a poly and put this to rest. Fox commentator and author, Laura Ingraham said, why not ask the women to take a poly first? Morris responded, “Because they are not running for president.”
“Romney was the steady Eddie once again. Polite to all, poised and his answers were reasonable and well stated. The man seems unflappable and eternally dignified. He is looking more presidential with every debate.” Isn’t that about the same discription used to paint a positive picture of our current president? Another similarity is that Romney and Obama have similar policies. Romney merely has an R instead of a D behind his name. They both have the backing of the establishment.
Re: “Perry locked up last night and overall it couldn’t have gone worse for him. He tried to name three cabinet posts he would immediately eliminate if he became president and he got to the third one and he just went blank.”
Big deal. It happens.
Re: “There were times when I felt the moderators quit asking questions and started debating with the candidates.”
That is exactly what they were doing. Welcome to the lame stream.
I am surprised the Cain question was not formulated using the term “sexual assault”. That is how ABC, NBC, and CBS have framed the controversy multiple times.
Are you getting it? No one with a working brain in his (or her) head espouses the positions you do. Think on it.
Perry’s senior moment was awful but no worse to me than the utterances of 57 states…or corpsemen…or the constant uh uh uh when off teleprompter of the current occupant of the WH.
Clova has a point…we’ve done “presidential” and it’s been a disaster.
We need someone who will turn DC on its head. I’d settle for someone with strong convictions, decision making abilities and an unflappable spirit as long as he chooses great advisors.
It’s still early and anything can happen.
I just saw that Cain is beating the pack again. I guess it is time for the Left to bring out plan B or is it C or D by now?
Tina: “We need someone who will turn DC on its head. I’d settle for someone with strong convictions, decision making abilities and an unflappable spirit as long as he chooses great advisors.”
I’d love to see Gingrich in a Lincoln-style debate against Obama. Newt would mop the floor with BO without his teleprompter. I’d even pay to see it!!!!
Tina: “Perry’s senior moment was awful but no worse to me than the utterances of 57 states…or corpsemen…or the constant uh uh uh when off teleprompter of the current occupant of the WH.”
It kind of was. Everyone knows that Sen. Obama did not really believe there were 57 states in the union when he made his slip of the tongue, but Perry’s lack of ability to articulate his position seemed like genuine ignorance/unpreparedness. Barack Obama never had a moment similar to Perry’s, certainly not in the debates.
Also, “occupant?” Not classy. He is the president, and he was elected by a majority of the people. Just as he most likely will again in 2012, if this crop of jokesters actually is the best and brightest your party has to offer.
Toby: “I just saw that Cain is beating the pack again. I guess it is time for the Left to bring out plan B or is it C or D by now?”
Toby, if the left is as cynical and manipulative as you like to believe, than Herman Cain receiving the Republican nomination IS Plan A. I can’t imagine anything better for Obama’s chances of re-election than the nomination of Herman Cain, although that certainly wouldn’t be best for America. We deserve to have two good choices, not the lesser of two evils.
Oh goody, getting preached to by a Liberal about what is best for America.
Chris: “…Perry’s lack of ability to articulate his position seemed like genuine ignorance/unpreparedness…”
Actually I’d say it’s more like having a senior moment. It happens to everyone after the age of 45 or so. It WILL happen to you too.
“Barack Obama never had a moment similar to Perry’s, certainly not in the debates.”
I guess you missed this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omHUsRTYFAU&feature=player_embedded#!
This didnt occur in a debate but at a townhall meeting. I believe that since he is speaking in a public forum and his subject is one in which he should be well versed (pet project) this gaff is at least on par with Perrys debate gaff, if not much worse. His attempt to cover is ridiculous!
“Not classy. He is the president, and he was elected by a majority of the people…”
Current occupant has been used by professional journalist to describe Republican “occupants” I don’t see there’s a problem here. As for that majority:
In new CBS News poll, president’s overall approval rating dips to 43 percent as disapproval of his handling of the economy rises
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Sunday shows that 22% of the nation’s voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Thirty-eight percent (38%) Strongly Disapprove
And your dismissal of Republican candidates is bologna:
Mitt Romney runs even with the president nationally and leads Obama by three in Missouri
A Generic Republican leads the president in both Ohio and Florida
Even Democrats with election experience admit his chances are poor:
http://dailycaller.com/2011/10/28/experts-begin-to-doubt-obamas-re-electability/
“I guess you missed this one:”
OK, Tina, I have to admit that was a pretty horrendous spectacle. When you’re right, you’re right. Obama definitely should have been more prepared in that instance.
However, for the most part I think Obama is a good speaker (even without a teleprompter) and he comes across as more intelligent than any of the Republican candidates.
“Newt has devoted almost 17 years working on this and he wrote a book on the subject….”
In fact, people are starting to say that the Newt’s “campaign” is really only a glorified book tour … all malls and book signings. That’s very cynical, don’t you think?
Yes, I agree with you Libby it is very cynical of people to think that. On the other hand it’s incredibly smart of Newt to use his book to get attention for his campaign. That’s got to be saving him a fantastic amount of ad money.
“That’s got to be saving him a fantastic amount of ad money.”
Smart? Or the sort of cynical and opportunistic greed that’s got the nation in an uproar?
Blinders off, Dude.
This is not about making money on a book signing tour Libs, even the media isn’t reaching for that fantasy. If you want to think that, fine, but if you say it out loud somebody is going to ask if you’re okay and need medical assistance?
From the Newtster’s own “presidential” website:
Newt and Callista screen A City Upon a Hill at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics
Friday, November 18, 2011
5:00 pm – Screening
6:00 pm – Forum and Q&A Session
6:45 pm – Book Signing
Screening / Forum and Q&A Session:
JFK Jr. Forum at the Institute of Politics
79 John F. Kennedy Street
Cambridge, MA. 02138
Book Signing:
Harvard Square Coop
1400 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02138
Callista signs books at Hooray For Kids Bookstore
Saturday, November 19, 2011 — 2:00 pm
Hooray for Kids
1555 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Newt participates in The Family Leader’s Thanksgiving Family Forum
Saturday, November 19, 2011 — 4-6:00pm ET
First Federated Church
Des Moines, Iowa
Click here for tickets and more info
Newt participates in the AEI/Heritage Foreign Policy Debate
Tuesday, November 22 2011
DAR Constitution Hall
Host a debate watch party
Newt holds a townhall in Naples, FL
Friday, November 25, 2011 — 2:00pm ET
Naples Daily News
Community Room
1100 Immokalee Rd
Naples, FL 34110
Note: Newt and Callista will sign books following the townhall
Newt and Callista sign books at Books-A-Million in Naples, FL
Saturday, November 26, 2011 –11:00 am ET
Books-A-Million
9100 Strada Place
Naples, FL 34108
Newt particpates in Congressman Tim Scott’s First in the South Presidential Townhall
Monday, November 28, 2011 –7:00 pm ET
College of Charleston
Sottile Theatre
44 George Street
Charleston, SC
Note: Newt and Callista will sign books following the townhall
You may not want to pony up toward the Presidency, but if you buy the book you can get it signed.
And then there’s his million plus retainer from Freddie Mac.
Your Dude is done, Jack.
Libby, we know Newt has some baggage, but we’re hoping his ideas and personality will win the day. It’s Romney, Gingrich and Cain now….they’re all very close. Going to be very interesting to see who gets it…you have my prediction already. Who do you think will wind up the nominee?