The Iowa GOP Debate: “A little snappier, gentlemen!;” Update Fred Thompson’s not playing the “hand show;” Update: Aggghhh! The GOP candidates are all turning green; Update: Where’s the Hucka-pile-on?; Update: Keyes the hijacker; Update: New Year’s resolutions; bottom line: DUD.
Update 10:06pm Eastern. Okay, really, really last comment on the debate. Rudy tells FNC’s Carl Cameron that it was “unsatisfying.” That’s putting it politely.
Charles Krauthammer doesn’t mince words: “It’s the worst debate in Western history.”
And here’s the whole, insufferable transcript without snark added.
Update 8:49pm Eastern. Last comment on this debacle, I promise. You know what the forum was missing? That robot heckler. I would have loved to have seen Robot Heckler go head to head with Schoolmarm.
***
Scroll down for updates. The Des Moines Register’s Carolyn Washburn (a.k.a. Schoolmarm) is the moderator of the debate. She’s no plant, but she sure is a stick in the mud. Her line of the debate so far: “A little snappier, gentlemen!” An hour into the debate, there’s no pile-on on Huckabee. There’s no time for one. Schoolmarm won’t allow it! She did, however, find time to show time-wasting videos of the candidates answering questions from Register reporters–even though the candidates are standing in front of her on the stage.
Congratulations, Schoolmarm: Washburn managed to suck all the life and color out of one of the most contested, exciting, unpredictable campaign fields in recent history. She stamped out any attempts between the candidates to engage each other. Not a single question on immigration.
I think, quite frankly, I preferred the plants!
Post-debate analysis on FOX: Fred Barnes chooses the Nurse Ratched analogy. Yes, I think that one fits. How many of you agree? Show of hands! Show of hands!
Frank Luntz’s focus group raised its hands in support of Fred Thompson’s smackdown of Schoolmarm/Nurse Ratched (”It showed his strength/independence.”) Thanks to Allah for the vid:
Luntz says his group declared Romney the winner. Moderator was the loser. “Boring. Dull. Antagonistic. Hand-wringing.” Focus group members panned Huckabee. Luntz: “Not his finest moment.”
Outside Iowa, here are the latest poll numbers.
***
The show begins at 2pm. You’ll be able to tune in at the Des Moines Register website. I’ll liveblog anything noteworthy. Looks like it will be plant-free this time. There will, however, be several drag queens on stage.
Note: This is the last Republican debate before the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses.
Another note: Alan Keyes managed to squeeze himself onto the stage. (Update: He’s hijacked the debate. Here’s video.)
Over at Hot Air, Allah ponders what Mitt should do and prints some advice for Huckabee from Dean Barnett.
***
Liveblogging the debates…
2:04pm Eastern. Intros are out of the way. Alan Keyes has lost a lot of weight.
First question: The country’s financial situation. Is the debt a threat to our national security? 30 seconds each.
Giuliani: I believe it’s a major problem. We have to reduce government spending. Not rehire nearly half of the civilian government work force. And reduce taxes. Debt is a threat to economic security.
Hunter: Trade loss is a threat to national security. Stop China from cheating on trade.
Moderator is already chastising candidates for exceeding 30 seconds. Geez. She asked them to explain why the debt is a threat to our national security. In 30 seconds. And she’s rapping their knuckles?
Paul: It’s absolutely a threat to our national security.
Tancredo: Gives an animated yes answer.
Thompson: Thompson talks Social Security reform.
Romney: Overspending and overpromises are challenges, but this is not a time to wring our hands. Good jobs, good schools, good health care. Doesn’t really answer the question.
Huckabee: It’s most certainly a national security threat. Who feeds us, who fuels us, who helps us to fight.
McCain: Of course any nation that has no economic strength will lose military strength. We have got to achieve energy independence.
Keyes: It’s obviously a security threat. Abolish income tax.
Second question: What sacrifices would you ask Americans to make to lower the national debt?
Giuliani: Leave more money in pockets of American people. Cut non-military spending across the board.
Paul: No need to sacrifice, Just Cut the Empire!!!!!
Huckabee: No need to sacrifice, Just Do Things Differently!!!!
Question:Are there any programs worth running a deficit for?
Romney: Proposes Gore-style streamlining of government.
Tancredo: Follow the Constitution. Don’t ask the government for womb-to-tomb protection.
Amen!
Thompson: Military, security of our people, our infrastructure, R&D. Obvious problem we’ve got to address: entitlements.
Question: Who in this country is paying more than their fair share of taxes? Wealthy. Middle-class. Poor. Corporations. 15 seconds.
Keyes: Goes off on elites. Upsets the schoolmarm moderator.
McCain: Reform the tax code.
Huckabee: Tax code is broken. I would adopt Fair Tax.
Romney: I don’t stay up at night worrying about taxes wealthy are paying. Worry about the middle-class.
2:21pm Eastern.
Moderator: A little snappier, gentlemen!
Thompson gets first laugh of the day with joke about his tax burden.
Tancredo: Move away from current system.
Paul: Lambastes regressive taxes.
Hunter: IRS overhead. Fair tax or flatter tax.
Giuliani: One page tax form. Give the death penalty to the death tax.
2:24pm Eastern. We now interrupt the debate for a “free statement” segment where candidates can say whatever they want. This is weird.
McCain makes security statement.
Hunter talks about the border fence.
Back to the lightning round format. Question: What’s your plan for keeping foreign markets open while protecting good-paying American jobs. Another reminder from Schoolmarm to keep it quick.
Paul: Look at the monetary system.
Romney: Renegotiate trade deals.
Question: Should we alter trade policies with countries that violate human rights?
McCain: We should reexamine. I am the biggest free marketer you will see. I would eliminate ethanol subsidies (good for McCain!). They distort markets and destroy our ability to compete.
Giuliani: NAFTA is a good thing.
Question: What changes would you make to NAFTA.
Thompson: I have nothing in particular to point out.
Tancredo: NAFTA has been a disaster, especially in Mexico. Problems with NAFTA? Our lack of sovereignty. Borders unchecked. Trucks coming across unchecked.
2:32pm Eastern. More “Free Statements.”
Paul: Constitution was supposed to restrain government, now it restrains the people.
Thompson: The important issue facing our country is national security. I know the world we live in and I know what we need to do.
Question: How many of you believe global climate change is a serious threat and caused by human activity?
Thompson objects to hand shows. (Applause).
The format blows up. Everyone’s talking. Anarchy! Yes! The schoolmarm’s feathers are ruffled.
McCain: I’ve been involved in this issue since 2000. I know that climate change is real.
Giuliani: I agree with John. It’s real and it’s because of humans. I think our party should embrace this.
Romney: Get off of foreign oil. You can help environment and economy. Is it an issue for the world? Absolutely. Let’s not have the rest of the world skate by, though. It’s global warming, not America warming.
Keyes: Who represents overlooked voices? Betrayal of sovereignty. Bashes elites. He’s maaaad. The schoolmarm is madder.
My position on global warming? Control the hot air of the politicians in Washington!
2:41pm Eastern. More “Free Statements.”
Tancredo talks immigration.
Huckabee talks about the Founding Fathers, man from Hope-style mini-speech.
Question: What educational standards do we need?
McCain talks choice, homeschooling and then he commends NYC.
Obviously he hasn’t heard of Fuzzy Math.
Giuliani: Parents should make choices and standards, not Washington. Competition.
Hunter cites Jaime Escalante’s success story and inspiration.
Rep. Hunter, meet the tyranny of Fuzzy Math.
Hunter lashes unions for running Escalante out of the public schools.
Romney supports No Child Left Behind.
Agh. Gov. Romney, meet the failures of NCLB.
Huckabee: Music and arts for all.
Keyes inserts himself into the debate. “I would like to address the education issue.” Schoolmarm gives Keyes 30 seconds. He wants a minute like everyone else. He talks about the removal of God from the public square. “We have a national creed. We need a moral education.” Keyes looks and sounds like he’s going to tear someone’s head off.
Question: What is the biggest obstacle to education?
Paul: The federal government is the biggest obstacle. Parents have to get control of education.
Thompson: Biggest obstacle is the National Education Association.
BINGO.
2:54pm Eastern. Tancredo takes on Huckabee on education…He points out that Huckabee says he wants no government intervention and at the same time crusades for music and arts in the schools. Tancredo: “That’s not the president’s role. If you want to do that, run for governor.” (Applause.)
Romney takes on Huckabee’s education record. Cites Massachusetts test scores.
2:57pm Eastern. Another dumb question. Schoolmarm asks what the candidates would accomplish in their first term. In 30 seconds. Candidates reiterate much of what they’ve already been saying.
3:01pm Eastern. Huckabee gives a mini-I’m a uniter, not a divider speech.
3:04pm Eastern. More “Free Statements.”
Romney gives a generic, student body president speech. Alan Keyes gets 30 seconds to growl and plug his website. Giuliani gives 9/11 leadership speech.
3:06pm Eastern. Question - Character and leadership.
Inexplicably, Schoolmarm is now showing video of the candidates answering questions from Register reporters.
Pssst: The candidates are on the stage. What a waste of time, precious time.
Question: How would you guarantee an open White House?
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
3:13pm Eastern. More time-wasting videos.
3:22pm Eastern. Question - Please suggest a New Year’s resolution for one of your opponents. 15 seconds.
McCain: Let’s raise the level of discourse and debate in the campaign. Let’s all be respectful.
Huckabee: I’ll be a lot more careful of everything I say. And them, too.
Romney. We’ll come together when this is resolved.
Thompson: Be strong. Be a better man and husband.
Tancredo: Tancredo confronts Huckabee. How are you going to convince Americans that you have in fact changed your mind about immigration?
Hunter: Buy American goods.
Giuliani: Realize how lucky we are.
3:25pm Eastern. Schoolmarm: “We are out of time!”
She’s been saying that since the beginning of the debate.
***
Extra-curricular activities: Huckabee apologizes to Romney after the debate. Wouldn’t an apology during the debate–maybe during his “Free Statement”–have demonstrated better character?
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Trackbacks
- Video:Fred Thompson Putting His Foot Down to Dumb Questions
- Bear Creek Ledger
- Oh, There Was Another Debate Today « Bilby’s
- Democrat Moderated GOP Debate in Iowa « The Tennessee ConserVOLiance
- Maryland for Fred Thompson » Blog Archive » Video: No Hand Shows
- OnePoliticalVoice Blogs » Blog Archive » Video: No Hand Shows
- Flopping Aces
- Liberty Pundit
- Stop The ACLU » Blog Archive » The GOP Debate: Who Won?
- The Iowa Debates: The Republicans « Axis of Right
- Old War Dogs
- The Moderate Voice » Domestic and international news analysis, irreverent comments, original reporting, and popular culture features from across the political spectrum.
- Don Surber » Blog Archive » Fred gets it
- monoblogue » Blog Archive » Another political theory too good to leave in a comment box
- AMERICAN NONSENSE » Now THIS is the Fred Thompson we know in Tennessee
- Michelle Malkin » Digging deeper: The enviro-nitwit-ization of the GOP
- THE MIDNIGHT SUN » Blog Archive » ENVIRONMENTALIST WACKOS RULE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!
- Michelle Malkin » Reasons I love NY Post headline writers, part 87,523
- Michelle Malkin » The Iowa Democrat debate: Schoolmarm returns
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- Pajamas Media
- The Tennessee ConserVOLiance » Blog Archive » Democrat Moderated GOP Debate in Iowa
- Liked sex
- Rudy Giuliani - Has the North American Free Trade Agreement been effective?
- Michelle Malkin » Nutroots ballistic: We demand a stultifyingly dull debate! Or else!
- Michelle Malkin » MoveOn’s definition of “hurting the country”
- December, 2007 Archive « Right Minded Online
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Schoolmarm? Hey, Michelle! Everyone can’t be attractive, witty and urbane all in one package!
Hey Soap, how about cleaning up your act?
Seems to be a pretty high recommendation to me. Not a nobody.
I think that was the most boring debate I have seen. as far as the global warming question that was asked I liked what Fred Thompson said debate it or he won’t raise his hand.
Luv to. What are you talking about please? Or, is that a pun?
I want Thompson’s ideas, Giuliani’s celebrity, Romney’s eloquence, Keyes’ idealism, Huckabee’s integrity, McCain’s experience, Tancredo’s immigration plan, Hunter’s tax plan, and Paul’s mouth shut.
Truth never was real popular
Neither is Garbage.
Me too. But geez, I forget the question now, but Romney answered a question, and then it went to Hunter and he admitted he forgot the question, could the mod repeat, and then admitted he was mezmerized by Romney’s answer. Duncan! Dude!
I was thinking that Hunter could possibly get a bump in the near future, but forgetting the question and getting lost in another’s candidates warm and fuzzy response is not going to get the job done! Sigh.
They bent the rules for Keyes.
True or False?
meatpieandtatters,
Seriously, need a clue here. If I am talking trash like Burner here, I want to know so I can fix it.
What rules?.. dont be lame.
Afraid you’ll look stupid, Soapy ?
Why, yes Burner. I AM afraid I may be mistaken for you. Thanks for noticing.
Don’t get me wrong, I like him better than the frontrunners !
first class troll then trying to stir up ridiclous BS.
Troll First class.
I’ll take those 5 point now please since AJ didn’t want them.
Who left the trolls out? Who, who who?
“let”
I must admit I have always found it Truly Fascinating how people can all watch the same broadcast and come away with such diverse views of what they saw and heard … not saying there should not be reasonable disagreement and discussion of things … just one of those human nature things that sometimes boggles the mind as to how diametrically opposed the resultant views are …
Today I think most agreed it would have been more interesting to watch paint dry.
#113 So there is no criteria for who can appear in the debate? From what I heard there was and he did not meet it,
but he was allowed on anyway. Why ?
You tell me why, instead of calling me
a troll.
AJ … or reruns of The Brady Bunch … head count was roughly the same …
well, turn on fox news they are going to explain it next up …
and I was speaking of your previous posts not that question specifically.
I spent most of the debate watching Bonanza and tuning in to the debate during commercial breaks. From what I saw and heard it was a good choice. Thanks to MM for posting a video of my man Fred putting the moderator in her place.
I voted for Alan Keyes in the 2000 primary. Given the last 7 years I do not regret it and wish more people had done the same. Still, I haven’t been impressed with him in that way in the last 2-3 years.
That cinches that issue for me. Both already had negatives with me, but if they are stupid enough to believe the global warming cause by humans ideology, then they are too stupid to be my president. I’m not sure that I could vote for either one of them now even if against Hillary.
I’m still a Thompson fan. The portions of the debate I was able to watch just solidified my support. I’m actually feeling motivated enough to pull out my checkbook.
I think it is the candidates who make it so confusing for everyone. Constantly dancing around the issues, doing a little Tango over this way, moderator changes the music they do a Foxtrot over that way.
Well, Gibsons show didn’t clear it up
any [about Keyes] so I guess my explanation [#87] is the best [and only]
one out there.
Alan Keyes might be the best orator of the bunch when he’s on his game. I’d love to see him debate Jackson or Sharpton. How come Keye’s is a no-good carpetbagger when he ran for Senate in Illinois, but Hillary was not one while running for Senate in NY?
Global Warming facts are supressed. And I get sick of telling people that the US Senate voted 95-9 AGAINST Kyoyo treaty under Clinton. Regardless of any changes to be considered why the heck should the 2 BILLION people in China and India be exempt. It is a political movement to redistribute wealth. I still don’t understand the carbon credits thing. Why and how much $$$ would Gore collect and why should I pay that dork one cent?
Once againwe hear that the polar ice caps and glaciers are shrinking, but some glaciers and the South Pole ice caps are growing. Read the cites in the Crichton novel that deals with GW or the Politically Incorrect Guide to GW.
No way will I ever vote for the Huckster or Paul. Huckabee is totally naive on foreign policy. Guliani would be best at killing terrorists.
Then that must be it. sheesh.
Buying carbon credits is the equivalent of buying indulgences from the church so I can sin and get away with it.
Oftentimes the most obvious answer is
the correct one, AJ.
#87 No way.
Keyes is not like that at all and could wipe the floor with the rest of those guys on a good day.
gollumclone #131 Right on!
Very good article at American Thinker:
December 10, 2007
How Green Was My Bali
By Marc Sheppard
A little long but, worth the read. Updates all the Bali nonsense on Global Warming and it’s mentally disturbed step child Climate Change.
I was being sarcastic.
Azygos, Do you know how he got an invite to the debate. I am not too familiar with him but would put him third after Hunter and Tancredo.
No I don’t Burner. But I have heard him speak many times before and at times he has strongly denounced the race pimps/justice brothers, so I can’t imagine he used race to get into the debate.
He does come on pretty strong so he may have intimidated them though.
What we need is a Thompson/Huckabee (or the other way around). Call it “Tom and Huck” and we’ll sweep the South.
It was just an idea.
AJ, Does that mean you don’t agree with me ? Are you a guy or Gal ? Just
curious, I’m thinking gal.
Victor, How about Hunter/ Tancredo.
That’s my Idea
#142 - What does your moniker mean?
Instructions for doing the “Huckeebuckee?”
Duncan Hunter for me.
Backwoods,
Your penance for your ignorance is to read these two articles:
One
Two
Loses even more credibility, threatens to bankrupt the entire planet.
#146 NBF
Ignorance admitted. When I heard a friend make that crack I had no idea there actually was such a thing. Thanks for the education.
Who voted more than once?
This debate, I hate even calling it that, was b-o-r-i-n-g!
The moderator was b-o-r-i-n-g and a tad scary, for lack of a better word.
And what the heck was Alan Keyes doing there anyway and insisting on talking when he isn’t running, isn’t there a law against that? I’m serious.
And if Fred Thompson saying, I won’t raise my hand was a highlight, that shows you how dull and unproductive the whole thing was.
That seems to be the consensus.
And if any on you missed Brit Hume tonight, try to catch the replay of it and listen to Charles Krauthammer’s description of the debate.
Make that Conservatives R Us. To the best of my knowledge, you’re not a seer.
Feebiebabe,
I could burn it in, as in throwing a
softball. Whats yours mean?
My guess an all girls team?
Feebs,
I think it might have to do with a pipe????
…just sayin’
Pitcher…in a slow pitch league.
Way up yonder, several wondered about a) when Alan Keyes got into the race and b) why a solid conservative like Duncan Hunter is not well-known.
To answer the first question, not many have noticed Keyes was in the race because he didn’t announce for it until the middle of September, a few days after Fred Thompson made it official. I know he’s on the Maryland ballot so I assume he’s managed to get on the other state ones as well. Some may recall he also ran for President in 2000 and (as I recall) was a late entry into the Senate race in Illinois in 2004 when the original GOP candidate dropped out. It was that race which put B. Hussein Obama in the Senate.
Now for my theory about Hunter. Let’s look at the nine candidates on the stage and their backgrounds.
We have one man (Rudy Giuliani) who made an abortive run for U.S. Senate but is most known for being mayor of America’s most populous city on the darkest day of my lifetime. (Being in the front row at all those Yankee playoff games didn’t hurt either.)
Then we have two men (Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney) who served as governor in their state. Obviously they play on that executive experience during their campaigns - bear in mind that four of our last five Presidents spent time in a governor’s chair.
The next group of two serve (or recently served) in a body that boasts only 2 elected officials from each state, the U.S. Senate. Both are from relatively populous states and also have at least one other claim to fame, whether it is a prior run for President (John McCain) or a TV gig (Fred Thompson).
Also falling into the onetime run for President category is the aforementioned Alan Keyes.
That leaves three candidates who have one thing in common - they are all members of the House of Representatives. As such, their political base is only about 650,000 people as opposed to the millions who vote for U.S. Senator or for President. So they don’t have a lot of name recognition outside their district. Frankly, Ron Paul has done the best job of gaining popularity despite the small political base but it’s by and large been through taking a page from John McCain’s playbook and being a “maverick” Republican, particularly on the Long War.
Because both Duncan Hunter and Tom Tancredo are pretty solid conservatives and haven’t built up a lot of name recognition nationwide by grandstanding to the press, they aren’t going to get a lot of play in the partisan media. Both are better known among people like me who study the issues but that hasn’t worked as well with the general public who’s still focused on the “horse race” aspect of the race. Unfortunately most of those people won’t pay a lot of attention until a week before their primary, a point where the candidates with the most money will do a saturation bombing on television with 30 second spots saying “vote for me”, hopefully not pandering too much.
As for me, unless he pulls the plug and withdraws from the race beforehand (sadly, a fair possibility) I’ll be touching the computer screen on February 12 for Duncan Hunter. I studied the issues and he came out on top.
Michael Swartz
http://www.monoblogue.us
#149 BOB,
lo siento mucho- typo should be NINETY FIVE to ZERO.. The hangup was fact that Kyoto EXCLUDED developing nations from any compliance. I think the whole thing is to punish American lifestyles. World and American hate america firsters want us to subsidize other countries’ standard of living.
IF it was such a big deal, why didn’t the Clinton Administration do anything about it???? If the UN and algore are correct, what does it say when thousands who worship (and hope to gain $$ and power through the GW man-made hoax) at the Goracle don’t worry about flying private jets to party hardy on Bali??
Yes Aj, Coach of a girls team, but you didn’t answer me.
Hey Shooter,
I got your pipe,right here, and it’s a
shooter too !
I think the problem is that the debate was given by the Des Moines Register. They asked questions their readers wanted answered. The problem with that is the most conservative Iowans live in western Iowa and are more likely to read the Omaha World Herald than the Des Moines Register. Immigration is a big issue in western Iowa, not so much in middle and eastern Iowa, which are more liberal.
Michael,
Great Post, Hunter’s the Man !
I found myself very busy this afternoon and was not able to follow the debate. Sounds from Michelle’s play-by-play and the comments I didn’t miss a thing. Too bad Nurse Ratchet didn’t allow any true debate to get going would have been nice to see one finally.
Hunter for me if he is still in the race when the vote comes around.
Funny. 10-1 she’ll do the same thing to the Democrats tomorrow and you’ll be cheering her on. I loved it. Doesn’t anyone else thing these preening, self-involved politicians SHOULD be told to shut up when they extend past their allotted time? Queen B. she was. And she was wonderful. More of this…
Forgot to mention earlier - Most true comment in the entire debate:
Polls are like butt holes everyone has one, they are extremely easily manipulated & LIED about.
I put absolutely NO CREDIBILITY in polls. It’s just fodder for talk shows who treat it like it’s gospel.
The only one that doesn’t is good ole’ Rush Limbaugh. Hannity treats em like gospel. Hannity is a fool. He has potential but is wasting it. I’d like to slap him upside his pretty boy college boy mug & wake him up.
Burner #143
Tanc/Hunter sounds like a video game. I like it.
I’m late to the debate, but I found a Boston Globe article explaining what Ms. Washburn did to prepare. She has been “boning up on the contenders for nearly a year, reading their books, scouring other media for stories about them, and sharing private lunches and more formal office meetings with candidates eager for the Iowa newspaper’s influential endorsement.” She said of her work: “By the time I get on stage, I will have spent between one and four to five hours with most of the candidates, … I got to look them in the eye and get a sense of who they are.”
No wonder she came across as the “decider” for all of us, with all those “no you cannot speak” commands.
This still burns me up.
Ryan had a GREAT shot of winning, and then Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine for the trekkies) - who happened to be his ex wife - came forward and said he’d wanted to do “dirty” things with her… Like semi-public sex or sex with an audiance…
I dunno about the rest of you guys, but I’d have wanted the same thing, if only to prove I was having sex with Jeri freaking Ryans…