Frederick D. Thompson is now on the field and a whole new debate season has opened. Chris Matthews (abbreviated as “BLM” for boorish loudmouth) and his crew were better than the last time they hosted Republicans, but then they couldn’t get worse. My analysis also has a big caveat. Just like the first MSNBC debate, Gov. Huckabee was virtually ignored, his substantial improvement in stature and the early polls notwithstanding. The rest of my thoughts, right from the gut follow:
Fred missed a great chance to hammer the liberal press right off the bat. How many of us Rs would have loved to see Fred embarrass MSNBC and Matthews by citing the constant presentation of incoherent negative economic news as a major part of the basis of the irrational pessimism that grips the public perception of the economy? Fred also did a good job of trying to explain the consequences of a dynamic economy although he could have given the statements more impact by asking how increasing taxes, which further reduces disposable income and raises prices would help the average American employee. Fred had an absolutely great line in response to the premise of Matthews AMT question-don’t confuse the wealth of government with the wealth of nations, coupled with the historic cite to Kennedy, Reagan and Bush all reducing taxes and increasing tax revenue. FDT also sounded both realistic and Presidential in emphasizing that we cannot leave Iraq with our “tail between the legs”, a line we should also repeat all day every day and in making a very effective presentation of the larger context of the global war. FDT also made a very effective presentation of the alternative scenario if we hadn’t taken out Saddam. Finally, FDT showed a certain amount of courage in supporting the indexing of benefits for Social Security. A very good maiden voyage.
Mitt had a great line about Michigan Gov. Grandholm that illustrates the Democrat commitment to always raising taxes. Mitt’s early focus on line item veto was smart because we Republicans love it. Although I agree with Rudy about the constitutionality, or lack of, for a federal line item veto it does require a constitutional amendment, it is very smart politics for a Republican to wrap its arms around it. Mitt also had a fantastic response to the misleading question about American jobs being lost to international trade with a focus on the average American’s gain from international trade. The format, and this particular answer, also allowed him to focus on one of his best assets, a successful history in business. Mitt also did a good job of linking to his personal and familial Michigan history. Mitt’s answer about optimism was perhaps the best moment of the campaign for him-it goes right to the core of this irrational pessimism that engulfs our country-mostly thanks to the MSM and their desire to destroy George W. Bush.-which has instead simply destroyed public confidence in everything.
Rudy maintained a very persuasive focus on the Dems’ universal desire to increase taxes and spending. Great job of mentioning the REAL effect of the tax cuts-record levels of federal revenue. Rudy’s riposte to Mitt on the line item veto, it is unconstitutional and a “strict” constructionist would naturally oppose it, subconsciously reminds people that Rudy is a judicial conservative. Beating Bubba in the Supreme Court was the cherry on top of an already excellent argument. Rudy also did a great job of discussing the historic costs of protectionism. Rudy was the first guy to talk about energy independence, after almost everyone else who addressed the issue (Huckabee didn’t get a shot at this one until later) ignored the subject when asked the specific question of “would we have invaded Iraq without oil”. Rudy’s position on nuclear energy was brilliantly made. Rudy’s optimism and its contrast with Evita was also very effective-not as buoyant as Mitt but factually devastating on Hillary’s latest expostulation of her vision of a socialist America. Rudy continued to look sharp, aggressive and powerful.
Ron Paul really stepped off the platform a little to early tonight. Cong. Paul’s claim that many Americans are experiencing a “recession” is just foolish, and most counterproductive. No one person experiences a “recession”. Its that kind of completely irresponsible negativity that feeds the liberal template that the economy, which is booming, is in or headed to recession. Although Cong. Paul opines that we must only read the constitution to understand the need for a Congressional Declaration of War, several of the people who actually wrote the Constitution disagreed. John Adam’s fought an undeclared war with France 1798-1799, Thomas Jefferson’s an undeclared war with three Barbary States in 1802-1805, James Madison an undeclared war with the Barbary States again in 1815 and James Monroe an undeclared war with Spain in Florida in 1817-1818. I consider President Nos. 2-5 superior sources on original intent. Ron Paul’s final statement that he would not support the nominee of the Republican Party next year unless they joined his ideology was absolutely unacceptable.
Duncan Hunter had very little opportunity tonight. He sounded like he was on the right track about Chinese trade but his solutions sound too protectionist for the average Republican. Then again, he is very on point, almost clarion, in describing the problem with the Chinese isn‘t so much free trade as it is crooked and we should deal more seriously with them. Duncan’s later answer was great about enforcing the trade laws with respect to China.
Sam Brownback actually had the two best lines of the night “taxed to the max“ and “this place (the USA) rocks“. Those are two lines that we Rs need to repeat every day between now and election day ‘08. This might have been’s Sam’s most animated night tonight. Sam closed very strong on his best issue, the devastation of the American family. I wonder how much public spending could be avoided if we had more intact families with working father’s in our inner cities?
Tom Tancredo addresses the core problem with spending-entitlements (and the Democrats are proposing to increase entitlements by several multiples of their present unsustainable level). Social security and Medicare are simply starving the budget. Tanc’s clever way to feed off McCain’s argument that people don’t trust the government to solve problem by citing the costly failure to control illegal immigration. However at other times Tanc worked in immigration artificially and sounded like a Johnny One Note. Tanc’s war on pandering is absolutely so on point-how could any Republican not love this guy. However, his equivocal answer on supporting our nominee was also very, very unacceptable. If you don’t like our nominee, how do you like President Hillary? Do you believe in open borders? Do you believe in public funding of partial birth abortion for 13 year olds without parental knowledge, much less consent? Do you support increasingly codification of political correctness? Think about the implications of ideological purity in the real world.
McCain, made an effective presentation of the “legacy” cost of building a car-$1700 cost before a wrench is turned in health care costs. McCain very much focused on his long term commitment to reducing wasteful spending. The trouble for McCain is the lack of spontaneity in his presentation and jokes. The millions to study bear DNA (which actually is useful-but a great target for a line) sounds like he’s reading a script, which is too bad ‘cause Sen. McCain is very witty. Sen McCain had his best moment of the campaign that didn’t involve Iraq was his apt description of protectionism as a siren song. Trade and protectionism is one of those very complex topics where it is important to tell the public that the easy answer isn’t the best answer and Sen. McCain sounded very Presidential on this issue. McCain is also very smart to discuss to his earlier correct belief that we needed a much larger force in Iraq.
The BLM and crew really dissed Gov. Huckabee. I think he was able to answer one question in the first forty five minutes. Huck finally cut in and pointed out the huge burden taxes impose on individual Americans and the American economy. The boorish loudmouth (Matthews) and Maria simply ignored Huck, his rapid ascent in Iowa notwithstanding. Huck Used his limited time to shove the BLM’s idiot question about going to Congress if there is an imminent threat to the US for permission to act. Huckabee also did another extremely effective job of discussing the urgency of a ten year plan to create energy independence. Only Rudy and Huck (although Fred jumped on the topic with aplomb later in the debate) have really been talking up energy independence as an urgent national priority. The distinct Huckabee moment was his very effective discussion of the outlandish compensation of Fortune 500 executives as creating a backlash in the form of increased union membership. The first time Huck ever looked uncertain on any issue in any of the debates was on SCHIP; but then he bounced back by drawing a very bright line with the Democrat desire to socialize the health industry as a means to greater control of the individual with the Republican desire to provide health insurance to the small fraction of the American population who involuntarily lack it.
Rudy, Fred and Mitt get the blue, red and white ribbon tonight. Huck gets an honorable mention ‘cause he was almost completely cut out of the dialoguet-probably had the least time or very close to it. I wonder how much more time could have been spent by Huck, Sam, Duncan and the Tanc if so much time wasn’t wasted on pointless questions about FDT’s belated entry into the campaign?
Fred missed a great chance to hammer the liberal press right off the bat. How many of us Rs would have loved to see Fred embarrass MSNBC and Matthews by citing the constant presentation of incoherent negative economic news as a major part of the basis of the irrational pessimism that grips the public perception of the economy? Fred also did a good job of trying to explain the consequences of a dynamic economy although he could have given the statements more impact by asking how increasing taxes, which further reduces disposable income and raises prices would help the average American employee. Fred had an absolutely great line in response to the premise of Matthews AMT question-don’t confuse the wealth of government with the wealth of nations, coupled with the historic cite to Kennedy, Reagan and Bush all reducing taxes and increasing tax revenue. FDT also sounded both realistic and Presidential in emphasizing that we cannot leave Iraq with our “tail between the legs”, a line we should also repeat all day every day and in making a very effective presentation of the larger context of the global war. FDT also made a very effective presentation of the alternative scenario if we hadn’t taken out Saddam. Finally, FDT showed a certain amount of courage in supporting the indexing of benefits for Social Security. A very good maiden voyage.
Mitt had a great line about Michigan Gov. Grandholm that illustrates the Democrat commitment to always raising taxes. Mitt’s early focus on line item veto was smart because we Republicans love it. Although I agree with Rudy about the constitutionality, or lack of, for a federal line item veto it does require a constitutional amendment, it is very smart politics for a Republican to wrap its arms around it. Mitt also had a fantastic response to the misleading question about American jobs being lost to international trade with a focus on the average American’s gain from international trade. The format, and this particular answer, also allowed him to focus on one of his best assets, a successful history in business. Mitt also did a good job of linking to his personal and familial Michigan history. Mitt’s answer about optimism was perhaps the best moment of the campaign for him-it goes right to the core of this irrational pessimism that engulfs our country-mostly thanks to the MSM and their desire to destroy George W. Bush.-which has instead simply destroyed public confidence in everything.
Rudy maintained a very persuasive focus on the Dems’ universal desire to increase taxes and spending. Great job of mentioning the REAL effect of the tax cuts-record levels of federal revenue. Rudy’s riposte to Mitt on the line item veto, it is unconstitutional and a “strict” constructionist would naturally oppose it, subconsciously reminds people that Rudy is a judicial conservative. Beating Bubba in the Supreme Court was the cherry on top of an already excellent argument. Rudy also did a great job of discussing the historic costs of protectionism. Rudy was the first guy to talk about energy independence, after almost everyone else who addressed the issue (Huckabee didn’t get a shot at this one until later) ignored the subject when asked the specific question of “would we have invaded Iraq without oil”. Rudy’s position on nuclear energy was brilliantly made. Rudy’s optimism and its contrast with Evita was also very effective-not as buoyant as Mitt but factually devastating on Hillary’s latest expostulation of her vision of a socialist America. Rudy continued to look sharp, aggressive and powerful.
Ron Paul really stepped off the platform a little to early tonight. Cong. Paul’s claim that many Americans are experiencing a “recession” is just foolish, and most counterproductive. No one person experiences a “recession”. Its that kind of completely irresponsible negativity that feeds the liberal template that the economy, which is booming, is in or headed to recession. Although Cong. Paul opines that we must only read the constitution to understand the need for a Congressional Declaration of War, several of the people who actually wrote the Constitution disagreed. John Adam’s fought an undeclared war with France 1798-1799, Thomas Jefferson’s an undeclared war with three Barbary States in 1802-1805, James Madison an undeclared war with the Barbary States again in 1815 and James Monroe an undeclared war with Spain in Florida in 1817-1818. I consider President Nos. 2-5 superior sources on original intent. Ron Paul’s final statement that he would not support the nominee of the Republican Party next year unless they joined his ideology was absolutely unacceptable.
Duncan Hunter had very little opportunity tonight. He sounded like he was on the right track about Chinese trade but his solutions sound too protectionist for the average Republican. Then again, he is very on point, almost clarion, in describing the problem with the Chinese isn‘t so much free trade as it is crooked and we should deal more seriously with them. Duncan’s later answer was great about enforcing the trade laws with respect to China.
Sam Brownback actually had the two best lines of the night “taxed to the max“ and “this place (the USA) rocks“. Those are two lines that we Rs need to repeat every day between now and election day ‘08. This might have been’s Sam’s most animated night tonight. Sam closed very strong on his best issue, the devastation of the American family. I wonder how much public spending could be avoided if we had more intact families with working father’s in our inner cities?
Tom Tancredo addresses the core problem with spending-entitlements (and the Democrats are proposing to increase entitlements by several multiples of their present unsustainable level). Social security and Medicare are simply starving the budget. Tanc’s clever way to feed off McCain’s argument that people don’t trust the government to solve problem by citing the costly failure to control illegal immigration. However at other times Tanc worked in immigration artificially and sounded like a Johnny One Note. Tanc’s war on pandering is absolutely so on point-how could any Republican not love this guy. However, his equivocal answer on supporting our nominee was also very, very unacceptable. If you don’t like our nominee, how do you like President Hillary? Do you believe in open borders? Do you believe in public funding of partial birth abortion for 13 year olds without parental knowledge, much less consent? Do you support increasingly codification of political correctness? Think about the implications of ideological purity in the real world.
McCain, made an effective presentation of the “legacy” cost of building a car-$1700 cost before a wrench is turned in health care costs. McCain very much focused on his long term commitment to reducing wasteful spending. The trouble for McCain is the lack of spontaneity in his presentation and jokes. The millions to study bear DNA (which actually is useful-but a great target for a line) sounds like he’s reading a script, which is too bad ‘cause Sen. McCain is very witty. Sen McCain had his best moment of the campaign that didn’t involve Iraq was his apt description of protectionism as a siren song. Trade and protectionism is one of those very complex topics where it is important to tell the public that the easy answer isn’t the best answer and Sen. McCain sounded very Presidential on this issue. McCain is also very smart to discuss to his earlier correct belief that we needed a much larger force in Iraq.
The BLM and crew really dissed Gov. Huckabee. I think he was able to answer one question in the first forty five minutes. Huck finally cut in and pointed out the huge burden taxes impose on individual Americans and the American economy. The boorish loudmouth (Matthews) and Maria simply ignored Huck, his rapid ascent in Iowa notwithstanding. Huck Used his limited time to shove the BLM’s idiot question about going to Congress if there is an imminent threat to the US for permission to act. Huckabee also did another extremely effective job of discussing the urgency of a ten year plan to create energy independence. Only Rudy and Huck (although Fred jumped on the topic with aplomb later in the debate) have really been talking up energy independence as an urgent national priority. The distinct Huckabee moment was his very effective discussion of the outlandish compensation of Fortune 500 executives as creating a backlash in the form of increased union membership. The first time Huck ever looked uncertain on any issue in any of the debates was on SCHIP; but then he bounced back by drawing a very bright line with the Democrat desire to socialize the health industry as a means to greater control of the individual with the Republican desire to provide health insurance to the small fraction of the American population who involuntarily lack it.
Rudy, Fred and Mitt get the blue, red and white ribbon tonight. Huck gets an honorable mention ‘cause he was almost completely cut out of the dialoguet-probably had the least time or very close to it. I wonder how much more time could have been spent by Huck, Sam, Duncan and the Tanc if so much time wasn’t wasted on pointless questions about FDT’s belated entry into the campaign?
11 comments:
There was no debate last night. Why? Because Mark Klein (M.D. for the love of God!) wasn't up there on that stage! He's the real front runner in this thing, he's the only one that tell's it like it really is, he's the only one that really knows what's wrong with this Country! Why? Because he tell's us every day what a sage he is! And Lord knows if you say something enough, it becomes the truth!
I heard that Dr. Klein kicked Chuck Norris' ass the other day in Oakland.
Can anyone confirm?
Republicans frequently charge that Democrats do not do their own research and are much like rats following their phony leader - pied piper like off the cliff.
Here's Nancy Pelosi proving it in an interview with the Washington Post.
----
....Holders of high office typically avoid discussions like that because it makes them look, well, political. But Pelosi did not hesitate to plunge into the political, explaining that "it was so important for us to bring the president's numbers down two years ago on Social Security" because it discouraged Republican candidates from running for Congress.
Pelosi may have realized that her words sounded too calculating, for at one point she begged the reporters' indulgence for her to "be allowed a partisan moment." She smiled at her joke, then chuckled.
I thought Fred looked terrible. His suit was very sloppy, not crisp and authoritative like everyone else. He was noticeably nervous, and looked generally uncomfortable. I held my breath when Mathews asked him who the Prime Minister of Canada was, but Fred replied promptly with who ever it is - almost as if it were a conditioned response he'd learned from a flash-card.
Bottom line, Fred's performance confirmed for me that he will not be the next President of the United States, and people should not even waste their time with him. I'm sure though he's a great guy to have coffee and shoot the breeze with.
A judge on Wednesday ruled that Al Gore's award winning climate change documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" should only be shown in schools with guidance notes to prevent political indoctrination.
High Court judge Michael Burton's decision follows legal action brought last month claiming the film contained "serious scientific inaccuracies, political propaganda and sentimental mush".
"Look," she said, the chicken breast on her plate untouched. "I had, for five months, people sitting outside my home, going into my garden in San Francisco, angering neighbors, hanging their clothes from trees, building all kinds of things -- Buddhas? I don't know what they were -- couches, sofas, chairs, permanent living facilities on my front sidewalk."
Unsmilingly, she continued: "If they were poor and they were sleeping on my sidewalk, they would be arrested for loitering, but because they have 'Impeach Bush' across their chest, it's the First Amendment."
Mark Klein '08!!!!!!!!!
This was an economic debate and nobody called McQuisling on his failure to support the tax cuts? How does that happen.
On to Freddie...
He missed the last debate because he had to take his wife to the prom. Here is a guy who was the head of a committee to investigate the Clintons turning the DNC into a money laundering operation for the Chinese Communists, and he lets John Glenn run all over him.
At that same time, we had a sociopath in the White House. Thompson voted against removing Clintler (Heil Clintler!) from office. The presidency is about leadership in a crisis. When Thompson voted to keep Clintler (Heil Clinler!) in office, he blew his chance at demonstrating true crisis management.
Not to mention Spence Abraham is still advising him. Abraham secured millions in American tax dollars for Hamas and Hezbollah. If you think Thompson is going to do anything to win the war, pass me some of what you are smoking.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - The mayor of this gambling resort resigned Wednesday after a two-week absence from office during which he checked himself into a rehabilitation clinic.
Robert Levy's disappearance came amid a federal investigation for embellishing his Army service in Vietnam.
Levy's disappearance roiled this casino resort, where four of the eight mayors that preceded him were arrested on corruption charges. (ALL DEMOCRATS)
Just half
To anon with anger management issues at 5:48, this is why i like to post the article snippets. You wouldn't have read that with a weblink. I do it for YOU!
Post a Comment