Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Republican YouTube Debate Live Blog!

Weekly Presidential Politics - 11/28/07

7:52 PM - We're coming to you live from the IC condo in Groton, CT, ready to bring live coverage of tonight's CNN/YouTube Republican debate. There's been a plethora of debates in 2007, but I don't think any have been this anticipated. Finally, the American people get a shot at a floundering Republican Party.

I have no idea how the live blog will go. I've done a couple in the past, but they are almost always too verbose. I'll have to limit either the length or number of posts. Feel free to leave comments throughout the debate! The record is 63 comments. The low is 0.

Stay tuned!

7:58 - Three things I expect tonight: 1) First-tier candidates taking a shot at Huckabee's record as governor of Arkansas. 2) Five candidates claim they're like Ronald Reagan. 3) Tom Tancredo will find an immigrant in the audience and kill him with his bare hands.

8:03 - Governor Crist (R-Fl) just had the first audition for the VP slot on the Republican ticket!

8:05 - Anderson Cooper is the Ryan Seacrest of politics, am I right? Frankly, I don't know which one I just insulted.

8:12 - First question and Giuliani gets hit on immigration. Mayor Rudy and Presidential Candidate Rudy are verrrry far apart from each other on immigration. About as far apart as New York City and El Paso.

8:16 - Yes! Romney and Giuliani are going at it during the first question! These guys will be the last two standing in February folks. Pay attention. The best part is they're both spinning and perpetuating an issue that makes both of them look bad. Ladies and gentlemen... your Republican frontrunners!

8:18 - Fred Thompson just got an absolute softball on immigration to smack out of the park and he did so.

8:19 - Okay, I'm giddy here. Thompson just took a shot at Romney AND Giuliani in 20 seconds. Is this setting the tone for the debate? This could be phenomenal.

8:22 - John McCain has never looked better. Wait, did I say better? I meant older. Did I really think this guy was the favorite a year ago?

8:24 - Prediction: Tom Tancredo drops out in December, now that his pet issue - immigration - is front and center. He was never in it to win it.

8:26 - Did Hunter just compare the San Diego-Tijuana border with the Arizona/New Mexico/Texas-Mexico border???

8:29 - Okay, Romney has three enemies on stage (Huckabee, Giuliani, Thompson) and those are the three guys directly below him in Iowa polls. Not a good spot for Mitt.

8:34 - I don't know if Ron Paul is right about the potentially budding North American Union, but he was right with his historical example of the EU. It started as murmurs and bloomed fifty years later.

8:40 - It's fun to hear a bunch of Republicans hoot and holler the destruction of the IRS like school kids hearing they might get rid of homework.

8:42 - McCain just took on Ron Paul! It's like Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathers doing Rocky XVII!

8:45 - So the left side of the stage would sign a pledge and the right side wouldn't? Sounds to me that after Thompson got the cajones to say "No," everyone else did, too. Not that I expected any different response from McCain and Ron Paul.

8:54 - In responding to the Fred Thompson YouTube add, I honestly think Mitt just put the abortion issue in the rearview mirror. Huckabee's tribulations, however, have just begun.

8:55 - First commercial break. Ranking: 1) Fred Thompson; 2) Ron Paul; 3) Huckabee; 4) Romney; 5) Tancredo; 6) McCain; 7) Giuliani; 8) Hunter.

9:04 - Okay, I gotta do a quick diatribe on the second amendment. It's easily the most brutalized amendment in the U.S. Constitution. It does not simply say, "The right to bear arms." It does not. What's continually dismissed is the premise of the amendment. "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Is a well regulated militia necessary to the security of a free State anymore? That's the issue that needs to be debated first. And I'd love someone to make the case that a militia is not an archaic institution that has been unnecessary since Taft.

9:05 - Hey, this is fun! Let's hear about the amount of guns our Presidential candidates own!

9:10 - Ron Paul can always fall back on one answer - let the states decide! Man, let's just get a prime minister and forget the office of the President altogether! Hmmm... More on that to come in the future.

9:14 - The death penalty: What would Jesus do? Ladies and gentlemen, the question of the night. And we all know the answer, don't we?

9:16 - Bible questions! We should have an entire debate on that subject alone.

9:17 - Giuliani just called the Bible the greatest book ever written. Sorry, I gotta go with McCullough's John Adams. By the way, this question was in Huckabee's wheelhouse and there's not even a close second.

9:22 - It's becoming clear that they'll close with the economy and then Iraq. Talk about a grand finale!

9:26 - Has anyone ever explained why Giuliani will be stronger on terror or be tougher in foreign policy than McCain? The guy was a mayor of a city that got attacked! That's it!

9:30 - John McCain is absolutely right about the water boarding issue. Absolutely right. I don't think he's said anything dishonest tonight, joining only Tancredo and Paul. Meanwhile, Romney still can't get out of his own way tonight.

9:35 - I love Ron Paul and Iraq questions. They're my favorite part of every debate.

9:38 - Islam takes such a beating during the Republican debates. Of course, the Muslim countries don't have debates to bash Christians...

9:41 - Fred Thompson has this crowd eating out of the palm of his hand. He's still leading this debate, and tonight might be the night he starts to right the sinking ship.

9:45 - Third commercial break rankings: 1) Thompson [winning the crowd, winning his freedom]; 2) Paul [his niche loves him more than ever]; 3) McCain [clearly straight shootin' like the old days]; 4) Tancredo [nothing to lose with his honesty and wrongness]; 5) Romney [not as impressive as usual]; 6) Huckabee [Disappointing performance] ; 7) Giuliani [Only one good answer on the night] 8) Hunter [Completely underwhelming].

9:50 - Romney just got caught in his newest flipflop!

9:52 - Did anyone else hear some (dozens) Republican audience members booing the gay officer? Not a good job by that crowd.

9:58 - Um, "Hillary can be on the first rocket to Mars?!" Watch out for that one tomorrow. On the Mars issue: There will be an absolute outcry from this country if the first manned expedition to Mars does not have an American. International cooperation would be fine, but if there's no American involvement, it'd be the greatest ideological and technological disappointment in this country's history.

10:02 - Romney just called out John Edwards. I'LL KILL HIM! He also just lost South Carolina, but whatever.

10:05 - Giuliani and Huckabee are closing strong. I can't say the same for myself. I'm getting up in 7 and a half hours.

10:10 - Well, "huge" Red Sox fan Mitt Romney just added a year to the Red Sox former World Series drought (86, not 87). A perfect way to end a disappointing night for Romney... but still my favorite for the Republican nomination.

10:12 - Annnd scene. Sorry for the relatively week analysis tonight, but there's simply not enough time to get into all the issues and do a live blog. For analysis, check out my blog at Presidential Politics for America, as I'll be starting daily Iowa Caucus posts starting on Monday, December 3rd - one month until the Iowa Caucus in both parties.

74 comments:

sptmck said...

Crash helmets on!

sptmck said...

8:01: I'm still trying to recover from Lou Dobbs, the pre-show host, whose foundation make-up has me deeply concerned.

sptmck said...

8:04--Florida, Florida!!! Like the horror, the horror!!!!

sptmck said...

8:06--Anderson Crapper (whom we truly adore) gives porn-star named Mitt Romney a run for his money.

sptmck said...

8:07--This montage, reviewing the question format, with Anderson's voice-over, including a clip of green martians...is ominous, to the say the least. WTF?

sptmck said...

8:09--What's up with Nosferatu's teeth? I know he's hiding those fangs, but...WTF?

sptmck said...

8:12--Aiding and abetting? Ah...Bernie Kerick, anyone???

sptmck said...

8:13--Score point one--PORN-STAR NAMED MITT ROMNEY for referring to and blaming Bubba Clinton.

sptmck said...

8:14--RUDEY---Smacking porn-star named Mitt Romney. Here we go. Corners, please.

sptmck said...

8:15--YO GO, Mitt.

sptmck said...

8:17--Rudey: get over it!!! We know you're a bloodsucker.

sptmck said...

8:17--OK, who was the YOUTUBE questioner doing Brando, better than Brando, in Apocalypse Now?

sptmck said...

8:19--Did Fred have a few or what????

The Dude said...

Fred Thomson is the man

The Dude said...

Thank You Senator

sptmck said...

8:25--OUT TRANCEDOING?? Hmm..

sptmck said...

8:26:--What's up with Duncan's eyebrows?

The Dude said...

How about a double fence for Canada/ Men hate Huckabee,who knew?

sptmck said...

8:29--Porn star called Huckabee a liberal??? Was Mitt having a Jenna Jameson moment?

sptmck said...

8:30--Check out Mitt and Huck Finn.

sptmck said...

8:33--Paul seems to be the only sane person on that stage.

The Dude said...

Except for his contant fear-mongering. Everytime he speaks I want to by a gun.

The Dude said...

Thompson from the corner....swish...Ron Paul is evil

sptmck said...

8:39--There's an UNCANNY resemblance between Paul and...Kucinich. Lord of the Rings, perhaps.

The Dude said...

I would get rid of the Pentagon.

sptmck said...

8:41--OK, that uncle Sam thing was really Grover Norquist who HATES McCain.

The Dude said...

Wrong Dork Trilogy

Ron Paul= Darth Sidious
D to the K-R2D2

sptmck said...

8:42--OH MY GOD--IT IS GROVER NORQUIST--FOR REAL.

sptmck said...

8:45--This is too bizarre: a corn eater/questioner?

sptmck said...

8:49--Well, we know Tancredo won't get a nod at the 2008 VMA's.

The Dude said...

Fred Thompson spits hot fire...that guy owns...

sptmck said...

8:53--What's up???????

sptmck said...

8:55--Maybe some crack-cocaine could help us get through this.

The Dude said...

I can see why McCain has fallen so flat. The rest of the stage simply isn't afraid of him. He is the conservative equivalent of Shaq at the moment.

The Dude said...

I'm hoped up on pure egg nog at the moment.



"Egg Nog is a hell of drug."
-Charlie Murphy

sptmck said...

9:00--Guns N Roses

sptmck said...

9:03--Why doesn't Fred just kick Nosfu back into his coffin?

sptmck said...

9:04--Pop quiz on guns! Pencils ready?

sptmck said...

9:07--Now we go from Guns N Roses to Mitt's take on the Mammas and the Pappas. Monday, Monday.

The Dude said...

Ian-I agree on guns. If they banned guns tommarrow, then there goes the revolution. We just need to take Chris Rock's advice and make bullets 10,000 bucks apiece.

It is great they dont want to touch the 2nd amendment, but cant wait to change the abortion laws. what hypocrites....

sptmck said...

9:13--Ah...when are they going to talk about, oh, IRAQ?

The Dude said...

When they get done talkin' 'bout jesus..

sptmck said...

9:16--I read it frequently

sptmck said...

9:18--Well, it is the season to believe.

The Dude said...

Ezkiel 25:17

The Dude said...

Erica Hill...I'd tap that...

sptmck said...

9:25--Almost an hour and half later, mission accomplished: they get to Iraq.

sptmck said...

9:25 & 1/2--Rudey: English lesson...Islamic Terroism = 2 Words, Not 1

The Dude said...

These people hate John McCain...

sptmck said...

9:26-NOW McCain bodypiles up on Rummy.

sptmck said...

9:28--Torture, anyone?

The Dude said...

Waterboarding...mmm creamy....

sptmck said...

9:30--Damn...McCain just slammed Porn Star.

sptmck said...

9:33--Buzz Brockway. Now THAT'S porn star name if I ever seen one.

The Dude said...

I dont think my plea to give Bill Simmons the silver star is going to make the cut...I'm a little disappointed.

The Dude said...

my porn name...James W Butternut....saucy...

The Dude said...

I love how the baby boomers are still fighting Vietnam. What a waste...

sptmck said...

9:36--McCain just feared his way through that one.

sptmck said...

9:37--Sing it, PAUL.

The Dude said...

George Will also hates the DH. Another reason that Rudy sucks...

The Dude said...

Why no focus on the BEST Portfolio?
Not a national issue yet?

The Dude said...

Dumb Dumb Dumb Dumb Dumb...

sptmck said...

9:49--Now that we spent a womping 20 minute or so round on Iraq, let's talk about what REALLY MATTERS: Gay people.

sptmck said...

9:50--Good for you, General.

sptmck said...

9:55--It seems like we are shifting toward...the Economy. Does this go on for 5 more minutes or 35?

sptmck said...

9:59--Now we move on to race.

The Dude said...

Debating the Civil War, nice

sptmck said...

10:04--IC--Porn-star named Mitt Romney doesn't like John because John has better hair, way better. And sexier.

sptmck said...

10:05--Did Santa Claus just ask a question, or am I too tired?

The Dude said...

Pork......The Line Item Veto...mmm

sptmck said...

10:09--So it's official: 20 MINUTES ON IRAQ. A lot of time on immigration, guns, God, and gays. Talk about fair and balanced.

The Dude said...

I love watching republicans fight...........In the end, the DH is the deciding factor.

Nice work Ian

sptmck said...

Me, too. It's better than a Jeri Springer episode.
Thanks, IC. May the force be with you.

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