The Republican debate in Ames had all the earmarks of a race to the bottom. Fortunately, new ideas is not the subject here. If that were so this would be the end of the article. The eight candidates present goose-stepped in lock step, and none distinguished themselves in any real way. The most interesting news about the campaigns actually occurred away from the debate, so lets look at both.
Minnesota rivals Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann sparred bitterly Thursday night during an eight-candidate Republican debate, seeking to break out of the GOP presidential pack ahead of an Iowa test vote with huge consequences. Each seeks to become the main challenger to Republican front-runner Mitt Romney.
Their efforts were newly complicated by Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who stole some of the spotlight from afar by making it known hours before the debate that he was running for the GOP nomination. That was the latest twist in the most consequential week yet in the 2012 Republican presidential nomination fight.
Though everyone on the stage assailed President Barack Obama, it was clear from the quarreling between Pawlenty and Bachmann during the feisty two-hour debate who had the most on the line ahead of Saturday’s straw poll that could well winnow the field.
On stage just a few minutes, Pawlenty, who is struggling to gain traction, went after Bachmann, accusing the congresswoman of achieving nothing significant in Congress, lacking executive experience and having a history of fabrications.
"She’s got a record of misstating and making false statements," Pawlenty said…
Inserted from <Boston Globe>
I have to admit that I agree with that last statement by Tim Pawlenty.
Here is post-debate analysis from Lawrence O’Donnell, Chuck Todd, Ed Schultz, Jonathan Alter and Eugene Robinson.
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All promised to veto $10 in spending cuts for every $1 in tax increases on millionaires, billionaires and corporate criminals, even though an overwhelming majority of Americans support raising their taxes.
Rachel Maddow gave us an excellent rundown on the Republican race to the bottom, including "undeclared" candidates.
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You have to give Perry credit for cagey timing. Sarah Palin, aka Blood-libel Barbie, just wants to cash-in on the attention. Romney had a terrible accident. He told the truth. It could well be his "Howard Dean scream" moment.
Overall there were no winners in this field of losers. If any one of them becomes President, the biggest loser of all is America.
12 Responses to “Republicans Race to the Bottom”
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The new buzz… I read somewhere… is ‘entertainment is the opiate of the people’ … and fox is the biggest pusher of the cheapest drug around. That wasn’t a debate, that wasn’t a forum, it wass the Gong Show… with suits and ties.
Jim, that’s an excellent comparison.
It boggles the mind- that any one of these mindless , insipid , foolish , empty suits can be even considered as a potential Leader of the Free World– the single most powerful position in the world – trusted to the judgment of one of these losers
Doesn’t it. though?
What a complete waste of time for American viewers. Between all of those contestants, there wasn’t a single worthwhile proposal on how to swiftly create JOBS for the unemployed, which is far and away our most pressing need at the moment. Sarah Palin is just a vain and immature publicity whore.
Jack, here is the complete list of worthwhile Republican proposals we will see between now and the election.
[end of list]
Didn’t watch it … didn’t need to. After hearing these twits in the past, I could probably give their canned, pre-scripted lies.
Plus, you are the only person I know who could post links to everything said, before they said it.
Personally, if a Repub were to become President, I would hope it would be Romney. He’s the least crazy of all of them.
He would treat the US just like the companies he acquired as a corporate raider.
14 trillion in debt, and ALL of their candidates absolutely rule out tax increases. Insane.
Tom, if they were sane, they would not be Republicans.