The second edition features a review of each candidate’s overall presentation. We are not going to read out a transcript-this is more like the Sport Center highlight version. In order of appearance:
Tommy Thompson (Badger Red)
It was great to see the real Tommy personality instead of the subdued version that he showed in the first two and a half debates. Tommy was energetic and engaging. Tommy answered each of the questions as a traditional Republican conservative. However, his stem cell answer focused on new types of research that replicates embryonic stem cell without the necessity of creating or destroying embryos. Tommy’s best line rejected hyphenated Americans and observed there is only one language and one flag.
Tommy advocates a 3% reduction in each cabinet department, except Homeland Security and Defense, in his first year and at least that much in the next three years, a great idea, and to veto any budget that is outside that parameter. You know I like metrics where appropriate and this is a good one.
While endorsing the Fair Tax, Tommy argued that an intermediate step of tax reform would involve the creation of a flat tax of 15% and giving the taxpayer to option of paying the lesser of that amount or the existing methods of computation.
Mike Huckabee (Razorback Red)
Huck opened with a great appeal to party unity, opining that any of our candidates is better for the country than is any Democrat candidate. Appealing to party unity is always a good thing in Ted World. Huckabee had one great line, and great argument, after another. Comparing a Washington politician trying to fix the tax code to Goober Pyle working on an F-16 was just one.
But there is far more than just humor to Gov. Huckabee’s presentation. Huck’s explanation of what it means to be a culture of life is moving and persuasive, reminding each voter that, among other things, a culture of death straps bombs to its children and celebrates the martyrdom of their death, like our Jihadist enemy, and we move heaven and earth to rescue miners and lost children.
Huckabee’s endorsement of the Fair Tax was also superb. Explaining the need for a flatter, fairer and more family friendly tax code was a great start. Ending the argument by saying that his band, the Capitol Offense, was touring with the one person who hates the IRS more than he does, Willy Nelson, almost brought the house down.
Huckabee also said he couldn’t wait to go head to head with Hillary over education. Gov. Huckabee gave a great performance and got great standing “O” from the crowd in response.
Sam Brownback (Jay Hawk Blue)
Apologies in advance. I did miss quite a bit of Sam’s time. He started out with a great prop, a large part of the Internal Revenue Code. Actually seeing the monstrosity is sometimes shocking to individuals and the prop had the desired affect.
Sam acknowledged that getting the Fair Tax implemented would be difficult but advocated tax reduction and reform. Sam also presented a very effective argument for protecting the weak and poor from Des Moines to Darfur.
Mitt Romney (Celtic Green)
Mitt was his usually radiantly confident and effervescent self. Mitt exudes optimism and confidence, two personality traits that need insertion into our national psyche. Mitt did a great job of framing the national issues, particularly the need for energy independence and the need for victory in a clash of civilizations currently underway.
Romney also indicates that there are three legs that support American culture: a strong military; a strong economy and strong families. Romney’s primary argument is that culture, which he defines as the shared beliefs of most members of a society, is the critical factor in a nation’s success or failure.
Mitt was very focused on tax relief insisting on making the Bush tax cuts permanent and ending the death tax forever. Mitt had a great shot at Hillary and the politics of wealth redistribution in noting that the socialist policies she supports could no longer even get her elected President of France.
Tom Tancredo (Buffalo Black)
Tancredo is the most sincere politician in national politics and his presentation was spectacular today. He opened by decrying the evils of hyphenated conservatism and noting that we win when we stick to the time tested conservative principles of John Adams, Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.. Yeah!
Tom noted the crises in the world require strong leadership because “our enemies are psychotics and our allies are the French”. Yeah! Tancredo also took on the canard that enforcement of immigration laws shows a lack of compassion for Hispanic immigrants by acknowledging that his compassion was for the immigrant who waited in line and came here openly and lawfully. Yeah! He also disabused the false dichotomy of amnesty type legislation or Gestapo like ICE squads with a well articulated explanation of the attrition that inevitably results from law enforcement.
Tancredo closed by noting that he is a single issue candidate and his issue is the survival of American culture. He then, quite emotionally said “this is our country, fight for it; this is our flag, pick it up; and this is your country, take it back”. Sporeresque, need I say more, and the standing ovation that resulted dwarfed even the love the crowd showered on Huckabee.
Duncan Hunter (Aztec Red)
Hunter showed a little smile today, and it is charming. I will start by noting that Duncan’s close, in which he discussed letters his Marine father and Marine son wrote to their families when returning to the US from war, was so emotional that it almost brought a tear to my crocodile like eyes. Humanizing.
Hunter was also a stand up guy when he refused to promise to veto any tax hike. He said that a man of his word would never make a promise that he doesn’t know he could keep. Since taxes had to be raised in WW2, he said a future emergency could make him break such a promise. Hunter stood on his impressive and consistent tax-cutting career.
Hunter analogized abandoning Iraq to the Bay of Pigs and victory in Iraq to an El Salvador on steroids, so to speak. Hunter also is almost Churchillian in talking about the threat of Iran. Yes, Hunter has clearly read “The Gathering Storm”. Talk about a guy ready to be Commander in Chief on day one. Whichever Republican wins, if he isn’t Duncan Hunter, had better make this guy SecDef ‘cause America needs someone exactly like him in the job.
Duncan also is about the only politician who tries to tell the world that they really ought to love us. He made a great point about Americans leaving our day to day lives and giving our time and treasure to the world during the crises of other countries-like the massive bi-partisan tsunami relief effort to the world’s largest Islamic country, Indonesia.
Hunter had his best line of the campaign in noting that anyone who got over the fence he built in the worst immigration zone, south of San Diego, needed to be on our Olympic High Jump team. More seriously, he cited FBI crime statistics to show the reduction in crime in the previous no man’s zone controlled by the fence, over 50%.
We extend our warmest thanks to all of the candidates who were willing to participate in such a detailed discussion of the issues that matter.
Tommy Thompson (Badger Red)
It was great to see the real Tommy personality instead of the subdued version that he showed in the first two and a half debates. Tommy was energetic and engaging. Tommy answered each of the questions as a traditional Republican conservative. However, his stem cell answer focused on new types of research that replicates embryonic stem cell without the necessity of creating or destroying embryos. Tommy’s best line rejected hyphenated Americans and observed there is only one language and one flag.
Tommy advocates a 3% reduction in each cabinet department, except Homeland Security and Defense, in his first year and at least that much in the next three years, a great idea, and to veto any budget that is outside that parameter. You know I like metrics where appropriate and this is a good one.
While endorsing the Fair Tax, Tommy argued that an intermediate step of tax reform would involve the creation of a flat tax of 15% and giving the taxpayer to option of paying the lesser of that amount or the existing methods of computation.
Mike Huckabee (Razorback Red)
Huck opened with a great appeal to party unity, opining that any of our candidates is better for the country than is any Democrat candidate. Appealing to party unity is always a good thing in Ted World. Huckabee had one great line, and great argument, after another. Comparing a Washington politician trying to fix the tax code to Goober Pyle working on an F-16 was just one.
But there is far more than just humor to Gov. Huckabee’s presentation. Huck’s explanation of what it means to be a culture of life is moving and persuasive, reminding each voter that, among other things, a culture of death straps bombs to its children and celebrates the martyrdom of their death, like our Jihadist enemy, and we move heaven and earth to rescue miners and lost children.
Huckabee’s endorsement of the Fair Tax was also superb. Explaining the need for a flatter, fairer and more family friendly tax code was a great start. Ending the argument by saying that his band, the Capitol Offense, was touring with the one person who hates the IRS more than he does, Willy Nelson, almost brought the house down.
Huckabee also said he couldn’t wait to go head to head with Hillary over education. Gov. Huckabee gave a great performance and got great standing “O” from the crowd in response.
Sam Brownback (Jay Hawk Blue)
Apologies in advance. I did miss quite a bit of Sam’s time. He started out with a great prop, a large part of the Internal Revenue Code. Actually seeing the monstrosity is sometimes shocking to individuals and the prop had the desired affect.
Sam acknowledged that getting the Fair Tax implemented would be difficult but advocated tax reduction and reform. Sam also presented a very effective argument for protecting the weak and poor from Des Moines to Darfur.
Mitt Romney (Celtic Green)
Mitt was his usually radiantly confident and effervescent self. Mitt exudes optimism and confidence, two personality traits that need insertion into our national psyche. Mitt did a great job of framing the national issues, particularly the need for energy independence and the need for victory in a clash of civilizations currently underway.
Romney also indicates that there are three legs that support American culture: a strong military; a strong economy and strong families. Romney’s primary argument is that culture, which he defines as the shared beliefs of most members of a society, is the critical factor in a nation’s success or failure.
Mitt was very focused on tax relief insisting on making the Bush tax cuts permanent and ending the death tax forever. Mitt had a great shot at Hillary and the politics of wealth redistribution in noting that the socialist policies she supports could no longer even get her elected President of France.
Tom Tancredo (Buffalo Black)
Tancredo is the most sincere politician in national politics and his presentation was spectacular today. He opened by decrying the evils of hyphenated conservatism and noting that we win when we stick to the time tested conservative principles of John Adams, Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.. Yeah!
Tom noted the crises in the world require strong leadership because “our enemies are psychotics and our allies are the French”. Yeah! Tancredo also took on the canard that enforcement of immigration laws shows a lack of compassion for Hispanic immigrants by acknowledging that his compassion was for the immigrant who waited in line and came here openly and lawfully. Yeah! He also disabused the false dichotomy of amnesty type legislation or Gestapo like ICE squads with a well articulated explanation of the attrition that inevitably results from law enforcement.
Tancredo closed by noting that he is a single issue candidate and his issue is the survival of American culture. He then, quite emotionally said “this is our country, fight for it; this is our flag, pick it up; and this is your country, take it back”. Sporeresque, need I say more, and the standing ovation that resulted dwarfed even the love the crowd showered on Huckabee.
Duncan Hunter (Aztec Red)
Hunter showed a little smile today, and it is charming. I will start by noting that Duncan’s close, in which he discussed letters his Marine father and Marine son wrote to their families when returning to the US from war, was so emotional that it almost brought a tear to my crocodile like eyes. Humanizing.
Hunter was also a stand up guy when he refused to promise to veto any tax hike. He said that a man of his word would never make a promise that he doesn’t know he could keep. Since taxes had to be raised in WW2, he said a future emergency could make him break such a promise. Hunter stood on his impressive and consistent tax-cutting career.
Hunter analogized abandoning Iraq to the Bay of Pigs and victory in Iraq to an El Salvador on steroids, so to speak. Hunter also is almost Churchillian in talking about the threat of Iran. Yes, Hunter has clearly read “The Gathering Storm”. Talk about a guy ready to be Commander in Chief on day one. Whichever Republican wins, if he isn’t Duncan Hunter, had better make this guy SecDef ‘cause America needs someone exactly like him in the job.
Duncan also is about the only politician who tries to tell the world that they really ought to love us. He made a great point about Americans leaving our day to day lives and giving our time and treasure to the world during the crises of other countries-like the massive bi-partisan tsunami relief effort to the world’s largest Islamic country, Indonesia.
Hunter had his best line of the campaign in noting that anyone who got over the fence he built in the worst immigration zone, south of San Diego, needed to be on our Olympic High Jump team. More seriously, he cited FBI crime statistics to show the reduction in crime in the previous no man’s zone controlled by the fence, over 50%.
We extend our warmest thanks to all of the candidates who were willing to participate in such a detailed discussion of the issues that matter.
10 comments:
Tancredo won. Nobody else touched him yesterday. I would like to have heard more questions about philosophy, but I had to keep in mind the groups we were dealing with.
Ron Paul would have been good in this type of forum but, again, this is ICA and Meatheads for Tax Relief; two groups who will never be noted for their intellectual rigor.
Romney won no friends yesterday by wimping out of taking a position on the FairTax.
Romney claims he hasn't had time to study it... BS!! His campaign has been briefed quite some time ago by the FairTax organization.
It was an absolute pitiful answer to the question. If Romney is the supposed "front-runner" then act like a leader and TAKE A STAND, Governor!
Then, Brownback comes up on stage dragging a set of the IRS code with him..and says getting the FairTax passed will be difficult??
Let's compare the two major tax reform proposal in Congress shall we?
FairTax--62 co-sponsors..including our own Steve King, frm Speaker Denny Hastert, Tancredo, Hunter, among others...
Brownback's Flat Tax--only 4 cosponsors.
Looks like the flat tax has a longer way to go than FairTax does, Senator Brownback! Maybe when the time comes..you can play the Switchback Brownback game again.
The Republican Party of Iowa supports the FairTax..and the FairTax is a part of the party platform..
For people like Romney and Brownback to come into this state..and say the things they did yesterday..quite frankly is an insult to Republican activists in this state.
Did Brownback have the dull axe with him too?
As a Democrat, I think the Fair Tax is a much better idea than the Flat Tax.
You wouldn't be alone in that position Noneed. FairTax is growing support across the board, Republican and Democrat alike.
Our nation's tax system is hopelessly broken. When the IRS itself can go and testify before Congress that it is virtually impossible to ensure that you're filing a correct tax return in full compliance with the tax code, its time to take the current system--and chuck it.
If D's and R's ares serious about taking money out of politics - this is the best way. This take all those special interest lobbyists from being able to suck at the Teet of the taxpayer. It takes power away from Congress and puts more power in the citizenry.
I was completely stunned to see Romney be so wishy washy on several answers. This was a forum sponsored by IOWANS FOR TAX RELIEF.
Who's strategery was it to have Romney come unprepared to answer a question on tax reform?
I think Romny did very poorly. Unexpectedly poorly. Time to rethink him.
Its not that Romney did poorly....he flat out was BSing the crowd..
His claim that he's not had time to study the issue is ridiculous.
Romney's campaign has been briefed BY the FairTax organization..so for him to say he "hasn't studied the issue"..is stretching reality big time!
Romney was dodging the issue big time..no question about it. If he's the supposed front runner.. TAKE A STAND..let people know where he stands.
"Sporer-esque..." What does that mean? Willing to whine, throw all of your cards in the river, and go home?
I ran against Mike Huckabee for governor of Arkansas in 1998. He spent over a million dollars to defeat me in the Republican primary where less than 60,000 votes were cast. As governor he increased state spending by over 65% and campaigned to raise taxes. He granted clemency 669 times which is more than the 507 clemencies given by the three previous governors combined. Many of the clemencies were granted to convicted murderers. The CATO Institute gave him an "F" grade for spending and tax policy in 2006, and an overall grade of "D" for his governorship.
In 2002 he narrowly defeated State Treasurer Jimmie Lou Fisher, garnering 53% of the vote to her 47%. He was lucky that a more formidable candidate did not emerge in that election.
What does a former governor do with that kind of record? Why, run for president of The United States, that's what.
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