Coming to you live from the city where money rules and the majority of people lose big, it’s the GOP Debate in Las Vegas!
We’ll be live blogging during the debate tonight so pull up a slot machine stool and place your bets on the horse that you think will extend their lead or trip and fall!
The debate begins tonight at 5:00 pm PDT/8:00 pm EDT on CNN.
Though there have been a number of debates, this should be an interesting one. Coming on the heels of Occupy Wall Street growing big and becoming more legitimized, Herman Cain’s one-gimmick hollowness rocketing him to the top of the polls, Romney being frozen in the polls with 75% of Republicans wanting someone else and Rick Perry and the verge of tumbling out of the race or climbing back in.
Add to that Romney’s latest quote about wanting millions of Americans to be thrown out of their homes more quickly so speculators can buy them and rent people’s homes back to them at a profit, it should be a busy night for Romney, Cain and Perry as they try to double down on their hands and win big.
Sorry about all the Vegas puns…though the term that really comes to mind when it comes to this Republican field, is “craps”.
bito
AlphaBitch
Kalima
choicelady
Khirad
kesmarn
LOOKING BACK ON LAST NIGHTS GOP SMACKDOWN
WWF- Republican Style
Romney and Perry are polar opposites, representing two distinct brands of conservatism. The GOP’s identity crisis has been going on for years and the emerging GOTP simply confirmed the battle.
Last night’s clash between the establishment and the populist wing laid it out in no uncertain terms. Whoever prevails will determine whether Tea Party-influenced populism translates to national elections and deep control of the Party pushing out what is left of the old centrist establishment.
Which does the GOP care more about: purity or mass appeal?
Romney is a smug bastard, Perry is a dimwit—sums up the source of the personal rift.
The way the two candidates embody their respective prototypes is uncanny.
Romney is the cold, corporate, buttoned-up, practical, paternalistic, East Coast elitist patrician who only looks comfortable in a Brook’s Brothers Suit.
He has no hope of capturing the public’s imagination with a cult of personality but will comfort both moderate Republicans and one-percent banker types who see themselves reflected in his perfectly coiffed, barbered, tanned, and body-trained visage.
Perry is a fiery, folksy, populist, reactionsty, willing-to-go-there conservative with a Texas drawl that appeals to Tea Party frustration and diehard right-wingers, especially social conservatives and Obamacare-haters.
What is also clear is that the more this great rift becomes public the less likely it is than any reconciliation between the sides can take place.
The teavangelists vs. Gopatricians. Which one is better for the Obama reelection bid? Which one is better for the nation- as in having a real choice?
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GOP Debate thoughts: Foreign Policy.
•Cut foreign aid! Oh wait. The most foreign aid goes to Israel? Umm, nevermind? Oh yeah, and hooray for AIDS!
•We will not negotiate with terrorists. Oh wait, Israel did? But Israel can do no wrong. Confused now, does not compute… Okay, fine, they can, but we still can’t.
•Michele: It’s all Obama’s fault for the conflicts in the Middle East for the “space” he’s “created” between the US and Israel. Is she talking about the Arab Spring? What a stupid bitch.
•Ron Paul calling out Reagan on Iran Contra? Fucking PRICELESS. Dead silence, then Santorum begging for attention stammers, and finally, leave it to Newtster for the hagiographical whitewash.
•I’m at this point not even sure Cain can spell ‘foreign’. My lord he has no fucking clue. I mean, like even less than Palin (who could see Russia from the country of Africa) and Bachmann (who said Hizbullah has missile sites in Cuba).
So let’s think about it, if you’ll indulge me. No matter what: we’re fucked domestically if any of these people were to somehow get elected. But the thought of anyone other than Romney on this stage would be a foreign policy disaster. I mean, Romney would be horrible, but I’m talking apocalyptic type proportions. Everyone who thinks foreign policy doesn’t matter would be changing their minds overnight.
It is funny, yes, this circus. But also fucking scary these people have been vetted this far into the process to still be considered for the highest position in the land. This is potentially very dire indeed.
Having said all that I already called this thing for Romney though, after Perry’s immigration “misstep” of being reasonable and compassionate. I knew he’d sink fast after that.
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Khirad on your
A: The whole quibbling about foreign aid was close to absurd. It’s close to less than 1% of the budget and feeds starving people.
and
B: I think the comparison was Israel to Mooslum countries getting a lions share (was it Ron Paul?)
B:1: That’s like comparing federal aid to the Portland and ‘SEATAC’ to the rest of the U.S.
C: We can’t cut MIC.
Any discussion on cutting “fer-on” aid deserves as a way balance the budget gets an hashtag of #Idgit.
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And of that less than 1% how much of it is military aid? I forget, but it was a good chunk. Could someone tell what equivalent percentage cut to the Defense Budget would equal all of Foreign Aid? I imagine it would be interesting. And what a silly, stupid, asinine red herring the foreign aid question is.
I know symbolically it plays to suffering Americans, but by god, if helping truly impoverished people living like animals doesn’t move you, think about brand America, that shining city on a hill as someone once said, I think.
Well, yeah, Muslim countries combined get more than Israel. Was it Egypt or Israel who got the most alone, or was it even Pakistan? In any case, those are the big three, with the Palestinian Authority somewhere in there with Israel. In any case, it’s awesome to trap them on Israel. Foreign aid bad. Foreign aid to Israel good. What hypocrisy?
Extra:
Herman Cain’s foreign policy: 5 things to know (Video)
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/111018/herman-cain-foreign-policy
Oh this is too funny. But for my health and blood pressure, I will not be able to watch it—
GOP debate: Heritage, AEI and CNN to host foreign policy debate
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/think-tanked/post/gop-debate-heritage-aei-and-cnn-to-host-foreign-policy-debate/2011/10/18/gIQAKC36tL_blog.html
Republican Coma Candidate Dominates GOP Debate
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http://www.theonion.com/articles/republican-coma-candidate-dominates-gop-debate,26410/
If the GOP candidates were ranked by a Bullshit Meter, would the order be any different than it is in popularity polls today?
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Probably not. Heh.
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Well your mixing apples oranges. bananas and Leche Nuts there, AdLib
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So the GOP is fruit loops and nuts?
BTW, thanks again for setting up the Live Blog for the debate tonight, sorry for the double post (I liked your graphic much better!).
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Libs may eat granola, but they are granola. Better question, is who is the nut, who is the grain and who is the fruit. I would say Romney is the grain but so heavily processed I couldn’t even chew it let alone digest it.
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That graphic begs for a spinning pointer! “Can I buy a Q, Please?”
Gotta go; 5 am comes early to my head. You guys are great!!
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It was fun! Sleep well, Foodchain!
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Again, you guys are great! Toodles
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FLASH: in yet another attempt to create news, hp has this headline: “ROMNEY UNDER ATTACK” (sorry, I don’t read it, I just drive by). Hey if they can take Romney down that’s a good thing. Peculiar vision on their part.
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Hmm, from that typically informative HP headline, it sounds like Obama has launched unmanned drones on Romney.
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I know! Too funny. HP is a circle (oh forgive me) thing that leads to self pleasure.
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Does it bug anyone else that the setting was so much like a TV show? Celebrity singer of the national anthem, over-the-top glitzy set, introductions of the candidates as if they were game-show contestants.
Crowds cheering as if it were a sports event.
Ugh.
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Twenty four seven cable news HAS turned politics into a sport. A rather nasty one. It is really depressing. It’s almost unfathomable to what extent our corporate media harms America and the political process. Our twisted media encourage non-stop campaigning by nearly all of the people in Congress, and every two and a half years or so the campaigning for POTUS begins. There is something seriously wrong about this.
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True dat, KT. It bugs me, too, that folks who don’t have cable will miss a debate when it moves off the basic networks. This doesn’t acknowledge any responsibility to the public at large.
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Very good observation WW! And one could include the news, twitter and blog sites. We make funny and snraky comments while they are debating, but your comment is quite sobering. These people actually want to be the president of the US and be our representative to the world. What are we treated to? Dancing with the Stars, American Idol? Both sad and sobering.
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Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy?
Well bito, at least on Jeopardy one can see some intelligence being displayed!
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When in good company, one rises to the occasion — this site, not the debate!
I’m old enough to remember the old days — The League of Women Voters, a much smaller audience sternly advised to refrain from noise. Pretty sober stuff.
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WW, again an excellent observation. How much different of a “debate” would it be if it was held with a simple, plain presentation, a very small audience, a panel of ‘old school’ journalists and no cable production hype?
Exactly, a League of Women’s debate and not a CNN @accoopper debate sponsored by the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg.
This is actually serious, it’s not a game show nor a ‘reality show.’
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Fox’s debate seemed even worse, including the CGI Blue Angels flyover at the beginning.
Consider the audience they’re playing to. Surprising they don’t do a debate as a cartoon…no doubt, that will come soon.
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Heh! I came in late on the Fox debate and missed that.
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I thought so too. That weird red white and blue — it was like the inside of a video game.
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If aliens visited Earth today:
“This CNN…is watching it used as a punishment for those in your society who have done something very wrong?”
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I certainly have a headache now!!
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I foolishly watched some of the aftershow on CNN. Cooper had on a hard right Republican, two Bush Republicans, a nasty Tea Bagger woman, two CNN right leaning talking heads and Donna Brazile.
What we in the CNN News business call a balanced panel.
Aside from Ari Fleischer BSing about how wonderful everyone was, what stood out was the venomous Bagger who claimed that OWS are the greedy ones, are a phony grass roots group because they don’t hate Obama, are endorsed by the Nazi Party and the Communist Party and kill puppies.
AC stared at her without responding with a look of, “Why do I have to have this lunatic on my show? Oh yeah, the money.”
Who but ignorant right wingers who think Fox is too intense, watch CNN?
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The after debate question of the night?
BIto: Not a proud moment for women or men. Trying to decide: Nah, they’re all dumb. Can’t help it. What ever they are smart about is mitigated by how stupid they are at everything else. LOL, Perrry standing Texas style, legs apart, while Mitt touches him on the shoulder. Oooh, can’t make it up. Everyone else, trying to be seen. And Santorum, sounding like a GOP Democrat, all worried about folks. I think I’m laughing.
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To recover from this debate, Rick Perry will use a crow bar to unclench his jaws.
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Yeah, hah, that was a funny and creviced smile. His alph stance did not help him: helped George though. Back then, just standing with your legs apart made you a hero.
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Legal immigration requests into the US dropped by 24% in the last two hours.
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tweeted,funk! lol
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BREAKING NEWS: After watching the GOP debate, Americans are now mobbing the Mexican border to get into that country.
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Maybe the GOP should go: food’s good, taxes are low and there’s no government
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Yep. Isn’t that the “tea party” fantasy?
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Just climb the fence.
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But it’s electrified! Ron Paul was right! The fence wasn’t to keep them out, it’s to keep us in!
Soylent Green is people!!!
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Only if you believes theys people
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Wear wooden clothes, and don’t piss yourself. Trust me.
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I love this!!
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FUNK! Lucky me, I don’t have the flu. Just a sick spouse. But the Blov is recovering nicely. (see note somewhere about pie)
Why do men get so affectionate when they get sick? I bought two giant jars of Lysol wipes, a bunch of Dial soap and hand sanitizer. let me tell you – I’m not afraid to use them!
There is a HILARIOUS video on the man cold – I’ll post it for you in TOOT.
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AB, you should get the flu more often! LOL!!
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Well, I’m sober damnit, I picked “my jobs program” for the drinking game and only got two sips.
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Darn. Should have picked “illegals”… Or “9-9-9″. “My jobs program” contains too many big words for that crowd.
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Either that or any mention of Bush.
Like early post-war Germany there seems to be a glaring gap here about a certain so-and-so.
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Bito, lucky you, I picked “Smoot-Hawley” and am looking at a full fifth.
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Well tell that Hawley fella to give you a Snoot-Full.
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Oh bito…http://www.sadtrombone.com/
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Awww, funk, not a ba-da-boom-shiiish.
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Rick Perry’s wife will substitute for him in the next debate and instead of rebuttals, will kick Romney in the balls after each attack.
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You are on a roll this evening, my friend.
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Your props make it very rewarding, thanks back to you, my friend!
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The next debate will take place in a mud wrestling club.
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Oh shoot, I was thinking greased hog chasing.
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Newt Gingrich resembles that remark!
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He truly resembles the hog. The rest remind me of when the “cowboys went to Bush’s ranch early on with their cowboy hats. Lookin like a barbershop quartet in costume. Harrrr
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Hey, I said that too. I didn’t copy, honest.
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Great minds, Escribacat!
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E-Cat, I got your back on this one.
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We left the Pup at home, glued to the debates. Wow – what have we wrought, teaching an Afghan about ‘Merican Repuglican tactics/intelligence.
You know that Romney moment with his hand on Perry’s shoulder? That’s a “biggest dog in the back yard” moment. Ask any animal behaviorist.
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Alpha, wow how did a Texan not shoot him? Move OK? Hubby OK? Strong lady.
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Hey Foodchain – gun is at house, we are at hotel. Nuff said.
We are about 1/2 moved, with all necessary stuff at house we sre still living in. Hub is much better, on computer. Scared the crap out of me though.
Thanks so much for asking.
EDIT: GUN COMMENT MEANT FOR BLOV ATTEMPT TO STEAL MY PIE. NOT RICK PERRY. CANNOT SPEAK FOR AN IDIOT.
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give me time to learn the speak. I think I like it!
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Any non-American watching those guys should be really worried about a republican led USA. The way we worry about Putin.
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Hey Ecat! The Pup has learned well. When he came for the year of high school, he loved Bush. Now he laughs at all the appropriate moments, when the Repugs say stupid things (OK, he laughs a lot). Does a mama proud.
Staying here in Texas, although you know how I love Colorado. Will drop you an email sometime soon.
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