So...no one else watched the Republican debate last night?

[JoeChalupa]

Didn't see a thread but I watched it. Bachman did pretty well against the attacks from Pawlenty although her touting her "light bulb" bill wasn't a great idea. Romney was solid and Newt was fired up. Huntsman looked out of place and unprepared. Ron Paul was....well Ron Paul. Cain did okay but won't much more support. Santorum was pleading for some air time and then had the gall to say that Iran suppresses gay rights.
Rick Perry even got some airtime and he wasn't even there.

Romney is still clearly the front-runner until Perry officially throws his ten gallon hat in the ring.

[Drachen]

Didn't see a thread but I watched it. Bachman did pretty well against the attacks from Pawlenty although her touting her "light bulb" bill wasn't a great idea. Romney was solid and Newt was fired up. Huntsman looked out of place and unprepared. Ron Paul was....well Ron Paul. Cain did okay but won't much more support. Santorum was pleading for some air time and then had the gall to say that Iran suppresses gay rights.
Rick Perry even got some airtime and he wasn't even there.

Romney is still clearly the front-runner until Perry officially throws his ten gallon hat in the ring.

Can't tell if Punning.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

"had the gall to say that Iran suppresses gay rights"

You do realize they publicly execute gays, right? I understand you're all about the R's and D's, but I just had to break it to you. <shrugs> Sorry.

psssssst. They even tell women to cover themselves.

[coyotes_geek]

No point to watching. It's Perry v. Romney and everybody else is kidding themselves.

[Drachen]

"had the gall to say that Iran suppresses gay rights"

You do realize they publicly execute gays, right? I understand you're all about the R's and D's, but I just had to break it to you. <shrugs> Sorry.

psssssst. They even tell women to cover themselves.

I am honestly not sure, but maybe he was pointing out the hypocrisy of a nation (generally) and a party (specifically) pointing out a specific issue of human rights neglect. If this is Chalupa's point and the republicans (or americans in general) find it de able that Iran would abuse the human rights of a subset of the population, then perhaps there should be some self reflection. Its easy to make one feel better by saying that "they take their lives, we only make their lives miserable" but the fact remains that taking away one's rights is still taking away one's rights.

All that being said, I didn't see the debate so maybe he said this jokingly or reverently.

[Bender]

Is there some Planetary Law that says every country on the planet has to have the same viewpoints, beliefs and laws as the USA?

[ManuBalboa]

was funny. "AND i fought for America's right to keep their light bulbs..."

lol wut

[ManuBalboa]

Is there some Planetary Law that says every country on the planet has to have the same viewpoints, beliefs and laws as the USA?

Ron Paul 2012!

[Th'Pusher]

I watched a little of it. The best question was directed to Bachman when they asked her if she'd be submissive to her husband as POTUS as she said she was when he asked told her to study tax law even though she didn't want to. Of course she didn't answer the question.

I also liked watching all 8 candidates raise their hand when asked if they'd walk away from a budget deal that had 10 to 1 ratio of cuts to tax rises. Not a single one of those morons would even contemplate a deal even if it was ridiculously lopsided in their favor.

[JoeChalupa]

"had the gall to say that Iran suppresses gay rights"

You do realize they publicly execute gays, right? I understand you're all about the R's and D's, but I just had to break it to you. <shrugs> Sorry.

psssssst. They even tell women to cover themselves.

Yes, I do but Santorum isn't a supporter of gay rights.

[DarkReign]

"Corporations are people, my friend."
-Mitt Romney

[JoeChalupa]

I am honestly not sure, but maybe he was pointing out the hypocrisy of a nation (generally) and a party (specifically) pointing out a specific issue of human rights neglect. If this is Chalupa's point and the republicans (or americans in general) find it de able that Iran would abuse the human rights of a subset of the population, then perhaps there should be some self reflection. Its easy to make one feel better by saying that "they take their lives, we only make their lives miserable" but the fact remains that taking away one's rights is still taking away one's rights.

All that being said, I didn't see the debate so maybe he said this jokingly or reverently.

Yes, that was my point.

[JoeChalupa]

Santorum actually sounded like a moderate when it came to the debt ceiling. He basically flat out told Bachmann that voting "no" just to prove a point was stupid. She would have rather the US go into default than to compromise and she still thinks things would not be any worse had the US defaulted.

[coyotes_geek]

I also liked watching all 8 candidates raise their hand when asked if they'd walk away from a budget deal that had 10 to 1 ratio of cuts to tax rises. Not a single one of those morons would even contemplate a deal even if it was ridiculously lopsided in their favor.

Meh, you can't really read anything into that. It's an absolute trap question for them.

Yes, it's a fact that it would be stupid to kill a deal with a 10:1 ratio in their favor. Yes, it's also a fact that some of the GOP contenders really are that stupid (hey bachmann, looking at you sweet cheeks!). But it's also a fact that anyone who admitted that they would take that deal would be committing political suicide. They would be branded by their republican opponents, democrats and the media as someone who was okay with raising taxes, and for a republican hopeful, that's the end of your campaign right there. There was only one way for them to answer that question.

That's why debates are bull and I can't get in to following them. There's no way to know whether a candidate is telling you what he thinks or what he wants you to hear.

[Th'Pusher]

Meh, you can't really read anything into that. It's an absolute trap question for them.

Yes, it's a fact that it would be stupid to kill a deal with a 10:1 ratio in their favor. Yes, it's also a fact that some of the GOP contenders really are that stupid (hey bachmann, looking at you sweet cheeks!). But it's also a fact that anyone who admitted that they would take that deal would be committing political suicide. They would be branded by their republican opponents, democrats and the media as someone who was okay with raising taxes, and for a republican hopeful, that's the end of your campaign right there. There was only one way for them to answer that question.

That's why debates are bull and I can't get in to following them. There's no way to know whether a candidate is telling you what he thinks or what he wants you to hear.

I get that. Though, it's a good talking point for Obama to show his opponent's complete intransigence. Short of the morons in the tea party, there is not a voter in the US that wouldn't take that deal.

[JoeChalupa]

So political suicide is worse than doing what is right and needed. That is one thing I'll give Obama is that while he may know it is political suicide to suggest cuts to SS and medicare he is willing to do it to get the job done and suffer the consequences...even if does mean a one term presidency. Too many in congress are more concerned about getting re-elected and upsetting their cons uents than in doing what is best. They are not willing to work together because the other side would get credit and we all know the republicans don't want to give Obama nothing and Mitch even stated his main objective is to make Obama a one term president. Truly sad.

[Drachen]

So political suicide is worse than doing what is right and needed. That is one thing I'll give Obama is that while he may know it is political suicide to suggest cuts to SS and medicare he is willing to do it to get the job done and suffer the consequences...even if does mean a one term presidency. Too many in congress are more concerned about getting re-elected and upsetting their cons uents than in doing what is best. They are not willing to work together because the other side would get credit and we all know the republicans don't want to give Obama nothing and Mitch even stated his main objective is to make Obama a one term president. Truly sad.

I am not usually one to defend republicans, but I am generally fair so the paul ryan bill that all of those congressional republicans publicly (if not begrudgingly) support. That bill had specific cuts to medicare.

[boutons_deux]

"bending the curve down" of Medicare/medicaid is not achieved "Christian-ly", death-panel-ly by denying sick-care to the old and poor.

Since it's pretty clear Americans are fully satisfied about inflicting themselves with life-style diseases and being inflicted with disease by UCA (chemicals, ty food-like substances), we can't expect Americans to take care of themselves as a way of reducing the nation's health bill.

The only way to reduce the fraud, waste, and excess profits of the health-care industry.

I suggest expanding a VA type system to everybody, pay medical education if they remain govt-salaried doctors for 20 years.

[JoeChalupa]

My point is that they would rather see the Country default than compromise. Is not the good of the many more important than the needs of the few?

[CosmicCowboy]

So political suicide is worse than doing what is right and needed. That is one thing I'll give Obama is that while he may know it is political suicide to suggest cuts to SS and medicare he is willing to do it to get the job done and suffer the consequences...even if does mean a one term presidency. Too many in congress are more concerned about getting re-elected and upsetting their cons uents than in doing what is best. They are not willing to work together because the other side would get credit and we all know the republicans don't want to give Obama nothing and Mitch even stated his main objective is to make Obama a one term president. Truly sad.

The only medicare reform Obama specifically mentioned was means testing, which was just one more prong of his class warfare bull for his hardcore base. Don't go trying to paint that sucker as some noble altruist.

[JoeChalupa]

The only medicare reform Obama specifically mentioned was means testing, which was just one more prong of his class warfare bull for his hardcore base. Don't go trying to paint that sucker as some noble altruist.

My point is he was willing to go there. And leave your sucking thoughts to yourself please.

[Th'Pusher]

The only medicare reform Obama specifically mentioned was means testing, which was just one more prong of his class warfare bull for his hardcore base. Don't go trying to paint that sucker as some noble altruist.

That's not true. He talked about upping the eligibility age.

[ElNono]

I read the cliff notes this morning... nothing new looks like.

[CosmicCowboy]

That's not true. He talked about upping the eligibility age.

Yeah, right. A quid quo pro for raising taxes a trillion dollars. He knew it wasn't going anywhere. Pure political posturing.

[boutons_deux]

"Pure political posturing."

As if the Repugs had the (lower 95% of the) country's best interests as their priority.