First up a is a quick video I made the other day. It’s got a couple of those “gotcha” basic, simple questions that illustrate the fundamental issues with the Republican worldview in the 21st century. That’s here…
My liveblogging notes are below. A couple things that I’ve noticed in retrospect: 1) Every single candidate endorsed or doubled down on George W. Bush’s policies. If you thought he was an anomaly, forget it. He’s the model of a 21st century Republican. 2) They never, ever mentioned the last guy who did what they want to do, or how that led directly to economic catastrohpe and the need for a “failed stimulus”.
Live notes are below…the full transcipt can be read here.
RobotPirateNinja: So far, five ads have loaded and launched perfectly. The debate itself, however, crashes every time, on every browser.
CNN, this is why you’re a joke.
RobotPirateNinja: Wow, the EPA stands for “Job Killing Administration”. I did not know that. (Bachmann)
RobotPirateNinja: Looks like “cut taxes” is the answer to everything, including the debt.
RobotPirateNinja: Everyone does know that “right to work” means “right to get fired for any reason” right?
RobotPirateNinja: I love how after the car bailout worked, it’s now a failure. Wild. All of these folks wanted to sell GM to China.
RobotPirateNinja: Newt: “We can’t go to space anymore. Those robots on Mars? Obviously the opposite of innovation.”
RobotPirateNinja: ”NASA is in the way of the future.” – Newt….wild…this is crazy trumping crazy, multiplied by nuts.
NEVER, EVER, HIRE SOMEONE FOR A JOB THAT HATES THE JOB.
You wouldn’t hire a dogcatcher that hates dogs, why elect a President that hates government? A window washer afraid of heights? No.
I’m watching this “who can hate government the most contest”…and then I’m thinking…all of these people are running for a government job…and they hate government…this is insane. It does explain most of their positions, though.
RobotPirateNinja: Hermain Cain is going to put 13,000,000 people to work…by not spending a dime. He’ll tell you how right after he’s elected.
RobotPirateNinja: Why do these folks want to keep sending money to the private sector, when private profits have never been higher, and public debt is the same (never higher)?
My god, Romney just said we need to return money to the private sector…THEN TALKED ABOUT THE DEBT. These people don’t even get the basics…or maybe it’s the people they are trying to appeal to that don’t understand.
RobotPirateNinja: oooh, fun, the Ryan Plan….Pawlenty…we’re just screwing over your kid, it’s all right.
RobotPirateNinja: Check that, Pawlenty has his OWN plan…the rush from Ryan begins.
RobotPirateNinja: John King is pathetic…”uh…uh….uh…..uh…….uh…….uh.” Just cut their dang mic.
RobotPirateNinja: Newt points out that the Ryan Plan is toxic….oh…but he’s killing Medicaid. (which largely goes to poor…old people).
RobotPirateNinja: Santorum jumps in with two feet. Ryan Plan all the way. This is why he’s not a serious candidate.
RobotPirateNinja: Herman Cain, the reason we have problems is because they haven’t been solved yet. Yes…Herman…the Ryan Plan *does* throw that grandkid out the chair…ummm…you just railed against your own idea.
RobotPirateNinja: Chil-ay. Cool place, I guess.
RobotPirateNinja: Here comes the Galveston fact-check, I’m guessing Herman loses…we’ll see… [Ed: I was right. They aren’t even close to the same thing.]
Debt Limit question…lady asked it wrong (we’ve already hit it, did a month ago, we are currently smashing piggy banks to pay bills)
Romney…we won’t raise it unless Obama stops being all socialisty….but not leading like his hair would. … Romney goes on to bash the U.S. economy and our debt….never mentions the word Taxes…or how the budget was balanced 10 years ago. I wish a questioner would mention how Bush said his tax cuts in 2001 would wipe out the deficit by 2009. [or how his 2005 Budget would “cut it in half” by 2009].
RobotPirateNinja: Bachmann on debt ceiling – I voted to default…and will again.
RobotPirateNinja: Bachmann: “Pay the interest first, the soldiers and seniors later.”
RobotPirateNinja: Wow…Pawlenty…first amendment says nothing about keeping religion out of Government. Really…wow…
[Pawlenty quote: “Well, the protections between the separation of church and state were designed to protect people of faith from government, not government from people of faith.”
This statement says a great deal about the current state of the Republican party. They really do think imposing religion on government is o.k., it’s just the opposite that is bad (oh, and Muslims are bad).]
RobotPirateNinja: Pawlenty – Founders were all the same religion as me.
RobotPirateNinja: Frothy Mixture – I use faith and reason…when reason backs up my faith, otherwise, faith all the way.
RobotPirateNinja: Frothy Mixture was going for a standing ovation…he got silence.
RobotPirateNinja: Ron Paul – People can’t learn to be moral. Jeez, you can’t make this stuff up.
[Note: I missed Ron Paul’s other stunning revelation about the Constitution of Paultard land…there is no separation of Church and state, and the first amendment was written specifically to protect Christians:
Ron Paul: “But the Constitution addresses this by saying — literally, it says no theocracy. But it doesn’t talk about church and state. The most important thing is the First Amendment. Congress shall write no laws — which means Congress should never prohibit the expression of your Christian faith in a public place.“]
RobotPirateNinja: Herman Cain informs there are two types of Muslims, peaceful and THOSE THAT WANT TO KILL US. He doesn’t like the second one. He will NOT IMPOSE SHARIAH LAW. Jeez…
[Actual exchange:
“Q:Are American-Muslims as a group less committed to the Constitution than, say, Christian or Jews?CAIN: First, the statement was would I be comfortable with a Muslim in my administration, not that I wouldn’t appoint one. That’s the exact transcript.
And I would not be comfortable because you have peaceful Muslims and then you have militant Muslims, those that are trying to kill us.
And so, when I said I wouldn’t be comfortable, I was thinking about the ones that are trying to kill us, number one.”]
RobotPirateNinja: Romney – Rational one about Muslims…comes from being in a cult, and knowing how it feels to be looked down on for that.
RobotPirateNinja: Woah…Newt goes out on a “limb” and would require loyalty oaths…cause, you know…Muslims lie.
[Actual derp: GINGRICH: “I just want to comment for a second. The Pakistani who emigrated to the U.S. became a citizen, built a car bomb which luckily failed to go off in Times Square was asked by the federal judge, how could he have done that when he signed — when he swore an oath to the United States. And he looked at the judge and said, “You’re my enemy. I lied.”
Now, I just want to go out on a limb here. I’m in favor of saying to people, if you’re not prepared to be loyal to the United States, you will not serve in my administration, period.”
It should be noted that lying on loyalty oaths is totally not cool in a time of war, which is why they work so good.]
RobotPirateNinja: Herman Cain on pizza preference – “Deep Dish”…first thing he’s said tonight that was a clear answer.
RobotPirateNinja: Missed the gay-bashing segment.
RobotPirateNinja: Bachman – I would support an Amendment banning state marriage, but I’m not going to mess with states. She was able to contradict herself in a single question.
[BACHMANN: John, I do support a constitutional amendment on — on marriage between a man and a woman, but I would not be going into the states to overturn their state law.]
Herman Cain – I wouldn’t have let gays die openly for our country, but I wouldn’t change it.
Pawlenty – As CinC I would let me generals tell me what do to.
Paul – We shouldn’t have an army.
Romney – DADT should be kept until we “win” the War on Terror.
Newt – Blah, blah, blah, no answer.
Bachmann – I would go back to DADT, and Newt’s answer.
[Note: Bachmann “would want to confer with our commanders-in-chief and with — also with the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” Note for the non-idiots: Bachmann is actually running to *become* Commander-in-Chief (hint: there’s only one).]
Can we vote her off this show?
RobotPirateNinja: Santorum – I hate gays, and we should go back and punish everyone who came out under the new, fair, policy.
RobotPirateNinja: Look at Santorum’s record….you lost your last election by 18%. You are off the island.
RobotPirateNinja: Bachmann – I’m so pro-life I think woman who are raped and get pregnant should be thankful God blessed them with that LIFE.
RobotPirateNinja: Pawlenty mentions the NRO as a self-back pat…ugh.
RobotPirateNinja: Legal vs. Illegation softball question….here comes the derpfest…
RobotPirateNinja: Santorum – Jesus said to love and care for everyone, except illegal immigrants, who we should kick out of hospitals.
[Santorum: A lot of folks run for president as pro-life and then that issue gets shoved to the back burner. I will tell you that the issue of pro-life, the sanctity and dignity of every human life, not just at birth, not just on the issue of abortion, but with respect to the entire life, which I mentioned welfare reform and — and the dignity of people at the end of life, those issues will be top priority issues for me to make sure that all life is respected and held with dignity.
vs.
SANTORUM: Well, I’m the son of a legal immigrant in this country and — and believe in legal immigration. That is a great wellspring of — of strength for our country.
But we cannot continue to provide — the federal government should not require states to provide government services. [note: like HOSPITALS]
RobotPirateNinja: 5-year old kid walks into a hospital…should the priority be to check his green card…Ron Paul…Yes, he should not get healthcare if he’s not American.
RobotPirateNinja: ”Freedom has SOLVED these problems before!?!” – Ron Paul
[Actual derp:
KING: A 5-year-old child of an illegal immigrant walks into an emergency room. Does the child get care?
PAUL: [Random derp about what Paul calls “freedom”.]
KING: But should they get care? Should they get care? Should taxpayers have to pay for that care?
PAUL: No, they should not be forced to, but we wouldn’t — we shouldn’t be penalizing the Catholic Church, because they’re trying to fulfill a role. And some of the anti-immigrants want to come down hard on the Catholic Church, and that is wrong.
PAUL: (making it absolutely clear that Doctors should first check greencards) “But, no, if you have an understanding and — and you want to believe in freedom, freedom has solved these kind of problems before. You don’t have to say, oh, you’re not going to have care or there won’t be any care and everybody is going to starve to death and — and die on the streets without medical care. That’s the implication of the question. That’s just not true, and you shouldn’t accept it.”
See folks?! Who need medical care when you have FREEDOM from medical care?]
RobotPirateNinja: Birthright Citizenship…should be change the entire nature of this country and what it means to be American?
Cain – Immediately.
Pawlenty – Supports Alabama and Arizona law. No more birthrights for citizens.
RobotPirateNinja: Newt – Blames America’s problems on the hyperbole of partisans. Really, he does this with a straight face.
RobotPirateNinja: Newt – Put DHS people…I guess the BSA…like the TSA (i.e. created “small government Republicans”) on the Border.
RobotPirateNinja: Paul – Right now we don’t own our land, get off my yard, really, get off my yard!
RobotPirateNinja: Romney – Drill, drill, clean coal….clean coal? Has that been invented yet? No…then why did he…oh…
RobotPirateNinja: Sanatorum – 5 more years of ethanol subsidies (Hi Iowa!) but then no more…just enough to get him elected twice…
Question from soldiers dad: Bin Laden is Dead…should we leave Afghanistan…(guessing no one will slam Obama for killing him.)
Romney – Gives effuse praise to…the guy asking the question. Wants the Afghanistanis to fight against the Ta…liban by themselves, I wonder if he knows where the Taliban is from.
[Actual Derp: ROMNEY: Let me — let me continue. That is I think we’ve learned some important lessons in our experience in Afghanistan. I want those troops to come home based upon not politics, not based upon economics, but instead based upon the conditions on the ground determined by the generals.
But I also think we’ve learned that our troops shouldn’t go off and try and fight a war of independence for another nation. Only the Afghanis can win Afghanistan’s independence from the Taliban. Thank you. ]
Paul – Actually says, and probably doesn’t realize it because he’s on a rant…that he would “spend that money” here. (No he wouldn’t, he’s against spending money here, or there or anywhere there might be green eggs and ham)
RobotPirateNinja: Libya
Bachmann – We should have watched Quadaffi slaughter them. She wouldn’t “lead from behind” by not even being involved. FRANCE! That’s all we need to know. “I deal with the nation’s classified secrets…which I will now casually reveal to you…oh…um…Al Qeada was there, which is why I wouldn’t have not led from behind.”
[Actual Derp: KING: Congresswoman Bachmann, should the president have supported and jointed more U.S. presence, but now a NATO operation? Was that the right thing to do? Is that in the vital national interest of the United States of America?
BACHMANN: No, I don’t believe so it is. That isn’t just my opinion. That was the opinion of our defense secretary, Gates, when he came before the United States Congress. He could not identify a vital national American interest in Libya.
Our policy in Libya is substantially flawed. It’s interesting. President Obama’s own people said that he was leading from behind. The United States doesn’t lead from behind. As commander in chief, I would not lead from behind.
We are the head. We are not the tail. The president was wrong. All we have to know is the president deferred leadership in Libya to France. That’s all we need to know. The president was not leading when it came to Libya. ”
She goes on to imply that Quadaffi is fighting Al Qaeda…I’m not sure at this point if she thinks we should be on *his* side.]
RobotPirateNinja: Newt – 10 years from 9/11 our intelligence is so innaccurate…we got Bin Laden you jackass.
[Actual Derp: “But I think what Congresswoman Bachmann just said ought to really sober everybody about how much trouble we’re in. Ten years after 9/11, our intelligence is so inadequate that we have no idea what percent of the Libyan rebels are, in fact, al Qaeda. Libya was the second largest producer of people who wanted to kill Americans in Iraq.”
Looks like Newt is warming up to Quadaffi as well. Truly, this is bizarro world.]
RobotPirateNinja: Newt – would cut and run as quickly as possible from everywhere. Then he’d gather intelligence.
Cain – Again says we didn’t understand the problem. We don’t know. Grandma says “they are are not simple situations, it’s an absolute mess. And we can’t make a decision until we learn from the commanders in the field whether or not to deploy commanders to the field.”
[Actual derp: KING: Mr. Cain, take 30 seconds, please. People might say he’s a businessman. He has no experience in government. How would you look at your responsibilities, draw that line, vital U.S. national interests as commander in chief?
CAIN: It starts with making sure we understand the problem, which I don’t think we did. We didn’t have the intelligence. Number two, is it in the vital interest of the United States of America? If the answer is no, then we don’t go any further. If it’s not in the vital interest of America, To paraphrase my grandmother, with the situation in Libya and many of these other situations, they’re not simple situations. It’s a mess. It’s just an absolute mess.
And there’s more that we don’t know than we do know, so it will be very difficult to know exactly what we do until, like others have said, we learn from the commanders in the field. [NOTE: Q: When you don’t have commanders in the field, like we didn’t in Libya…what do you do? A: Derp!]]
RobotPirateNinja: Question: Military Funding…debt…hullo?
Santorum – Clinton did that…but anyway…we need a strategy, to, uh, asymmetric terrorism, so we need that base, and attack, anywhere and everywhere. The Soviets might attack at any time.
RobotPirateNinja: Santorum – Everybody in the world hates us, which is why we had to go it alone in Libya.
RobotPirateNinja: Missed the weak field question…kinda been pointing that out all along.
RobotPirateNinja: Who made the best choice for VP in 2008?
Pawlenty – Laughs, slams Biden, repeatedly…some something that isn’t happening. Palin is qualified to be President. And we’re done there…
Romney – We’d all be better than Obama. Obama doesn’t have a foreign policy…nice sarcastic contratulations on getting Bin Laden…that will be a headline tomorrow.
RobotPirateNinja: Bachmann – let’s do it American Idol style…sick…
RobotPirateNinja: Ron Paul – Can you stomach any of these people? No. FEDERAL RESERVE!!
RobotPirateNinja: Frothy Mixture impressed. Bachmann learned more in two hours about the goodness of the American people (she never finished the “than” part of that butt-kissing).
Paul – We can be civil slamming the President for everything he’s done and hasn’t done.
RobotPirateNinja: Hermain Cain – It’s about the children and grandchildren…which is why I want to get rid of Medicare for them. …..
And we’re done here…it’s spin time.
PREDICTION: Romney’s sarcastic praise of Obama for killing Bin Laden will be the lede.
UPDATE: I was wrong…seems lot of other media folks don’t like pointing out obvious logical contradictions and think Bachmann did well. Wild.
Robot Pirate Ninja 