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Republican Florida Debate Live Blog: Part One

The debate starts with a discussion of the stimulus package announced today.

Romney liked it want to go further. Not enough tax cuts.

More on the flip.

McCain. I want to cut taxes more. I voted twice to make the Bush tax cuts permanent.

Rudy. I want to abolish taxes. (Not really but almost.)

Timmah asks McCain about his statement that he does not know much about economics. McCain says I do to know about economics. Ronald Reagan!

Huck. I balanced budgets AND I hate the Chinese.

Romney. I balanced the budgets. Worked with Democrats. Massachusetts is a model. Attacks McCain for voting against Bush tax cuts and for voting against making them permanent. I am a private sector businessman and I know about business.

Timmy asks McCain if Romney raised taxes when he raised fees. McCain says yes. Then pivots and talks about restraining spending. If Bush had listened to me, we could have further tax cuts.

The theme of the night, if you missed it, is TAX CUTS!!!!!!!!

Ron Paul. You want to cut spending - end the Iraq Debacle! Hey, I like that. Uh oh. I voted against Sarbanes-Oxley.

BTW, so far, do you notice anything different from a Democratic debate involving Airhead and Timmah?

I have no idea what Rudy is babbling about. Sorry.

Timmah - which party better on the economy, Dem up 18 in NBC poll. Ticks off W's failures.

McCain. Dems will increase spending. Increase taxes. Republicans to blame for something or other. Blasts pork barrel bills. A Bridge to Nowhere. I will veto those bills. I will impose fiscal restraint. I hate China too!

Query for McCain. Pork barrel spending is not the casue of the deficit. Explain how you will balance the budget.

Huck. I was not in Washington. Timmah, so it is Bush's fault. Not just Bush. Congress too. My opponents said a few months ago the economy was great. I was the lone voice saying if you are at the top that is true, but not for the rest of America. Sounds his populist theme. And say he could tell the economy was in trouble because those folks were hurting.

Timmah asks Romney if the bush record is one to run on? Romney repeats his businessman mantra and says he'll run away from that "Washington" record. Romney hits on anti-Washington theme.

Rudy brags about "turning NYC's economy around." That is a bald faced lie. The stock market boom, fueled by PResident Clinton's policies, is what turned NYC's economy around. A Mayor has no effect, none, on the NYC economy. His line is nonsense.

McCain on Iraq. We'll be there for a hundred years. (Not really.) Al Qaida!! We're defending freedom!! What a crock. He is a clown. Sorry J., on this issue I can not be civil.

Romney asked about the size of the Army and the recommendation to double its size. He wants to expand iut by 100,000, diffferent than the 400k mentioned. Discusses how he raised the level of national guard in Massachusetts. Romney says Dems want to cut and run.

I guess they want to run on the Iraq Debacle. I do not know exactly what Mittster is talking about, but attackig Hillary is always a winner in a GOP debate. Also at daily kos . . .

Will you run on the Iraq Debacle?

McCain, I slammed Rumsfeld. The war was right and now we are going the right way because of those 21,000 troops we have surged. This man is a fool.

Rudy, I hate Hillary TOO!!! Timmah, I was for it, I am for it, I will be for it. but remember, I HATE Hillary Clinton!!

Ron Paul - You know what he thinks. He hates the Clintons too!

Huck, I love the war, there was a "potential" of WMD. We did not find the weapons does not mean they were not there. What a loon. Just because we made a huge mistake, gosh darn it, that does not mean we admit that and stop making that same mistake.

Mittster - same song, different singer.

< Dennis Kucinich Drops Out, No Endorsement | Republican Florida Debate: Live Blog, Part Two >
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  • Display: Sort:
    Camera catches Rudy showing his teeth (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by andgarden on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:21:35 PM EST
    in a funny way.

    Double yikes (none / 0) (#26)
    by chrisvee on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:24:09 PM EST
    And unfortunately, they just caught him looking as if he was sneering at McCain's remarks.

    Shorter McCain: You can trust me to clean up the mess we made while we've been in control of the government because I say so -- trust me, the Democrats will be worse even though they cleaned up our mess the last time!

    Parent

    skeletor.... (none / 0) (#30)
    by Stellaaa on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:25:23 PM EST
    Romney promises to cut "entitlements" (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by andgarden on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:27:18 PM EST
    That's Republican code for Welfare and Social Security.

    Wow (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by chrisvee on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:29:47 PM EST
    We're pouring money into Iraq but entitlements are our problem.  Thank goodness he explained that to me!

    Parent
    Rudy's miracle (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by Stellaaa on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:28:06 PM EST
    Rudy's economic miracle was during the Clinton administration

    Romney gets night's first applause (5.00 / 1) (#54)
    by andgarden on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:34:04 PM EST
    for making sexist remark against Hillary Clinton (Called here "general")

    no more taxes ever! (none / 0) (#1)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:09:10 PM EST


    I say again (none / 0) (#13)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:15:09 PM EST
    no more taxes ever!!

    Romney

    Parent

    McCain clueless on the Economy says Tim (none / 0) (#2)
    by andgarden on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:09:24 PM EST


    McCain petulant; lies (none / 0) (#3)
    by andgarden on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:09:35 PM EST
    no more sarbannes-oxley! (none / 0) (#4)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:09:54 PM EST


    and what else can we sell to other countires (none / 0) (#23)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:22:13 PM EST
    you know, we still have souls.

    Rudy

    Parent

    I was at the French Revolution! (none / 0) (#5)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:10:43 PM EST


    and the bridge to nowhere (none / 0) (#16)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:16:51 PM EST
    is to blame for the lack of trust in the GOP.

    McCain

    Parent

    Huck: build infrastructure (none / 0) (#6)
    by andgarden on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:12:42 PM EST
    Geez, sounds like a a Democrat.

    McCain looks SHORT compared to McCain (none / 0) (#7)
    by andgarden on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:13:09 PM EST


    *Romney* (none / 0) (#8)
    by andgarden on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:13:20 PM EST
    the first one (none / 0) (#19)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:19:40 PM EST
    rang true.  Oddly.

    Parent
    NY Times endorses Clinton and McCain (none / 0) (#9)
    by LadyDiofCT on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:13:30 PM EST
    No endorsement for Rudy, HA
    http://www.nytimes.com/?emc=na


    the chinese give us money to buy chinese! (none / 0) (#10)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:13:51 PM EST
    and poor little kids dont have parent to watch them at recitals.

    Huckabbe

    Mitt: Taxachusetts! (none / 0) (#11)
    by andgarden on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:14:12 PM EST


    I zoned out (none / 0) (#12)
    by spit on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:14:32 PM EST
    did Huckabee really just spend like half of his time talking about the horrors of traffic? Was I hallucinating?

    the children (none / 0) (#14)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:16:08 PM EST
    will need shrinks to save them from parentless dance recitals.

    It is a HORROR

    Parent

    and moms (none / 0) (#33)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:26:31 PM EST
    can't get to soccer games due to traffic jams.

    Parent
    Jeralyn stop!! (none / 0) (#38)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:28:25 PM EST
    I wont be able to sleep tonight!

    Parent
    Paul: Gold Standard!!!! (none / 0) (#15)
    by andgarden on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:16:49 PM EST


    and governent (none / 0) (#17)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:18:32 PM EST
    is about lowering taxes and getting rid of regulations!!!!!

    Parent
    Rudy looks confused (none / 0) (#18)
    by andgarden on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:19:14 PM EST


    well sarbannes oxley (none / 0) (#20)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:20:29 PM EST
    ia confusing.

    Parent
    Yikes! (none / 0) (#21)
    by chrisvee on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:21:24 PM EST
    The constant refrain about tax cuts is almost obscene.  And here goes Rudy with his story about the check he refused for the 9/11 fund.

    It's always good to have a Republican debate because it level sets my reality.

    BTD asks (none / 0) (#24)
    by andgarden on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:22:24 PM EST
    BTW, so far, do you notice anything different from a Democratic debate involving Airhead and Timmah?
    Nope. but the names still seem apt.

    they are all being so polite (none / 0) (#25)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:22:41 PM EST
    was this pre-arranged to signal a difference between them and the Dems?

    we will spend the taxes we dont raise wisely (none / 0) (#27)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:24:19 PM EST
    McCain

    They can't say what the economic (none / 0) (#28)
    by oculus on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:24:32 PM EST
    drain is:  Iraq war.  But how can they keep saying it is the Democrats' fault?

    Seems like Huck is having a good night (none / 0) (#29)
    by andgarden on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:24:49 PM EST
    But I'm not a Republican. Maybe Rudy is winning. . . .

    Agreed, so far (none / 0) (#42)
    by spit on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:29:41 PM EST
    but some of those answers aren't going to please his party's establishment. Infrastructure? Single moms? Trickle up?

    I mean, the Club for Growth already disliked him, but that whole economic conservative end just had their eyes boggle out.

    Parent

    Once we (none / 0) (#31)
    by athyrio on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:25:42 PM EST
    come together we will pummel these fools into the dirt....

    surge and trickle (none / 0) (#32)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:26:11 PM EST
    you can trickle up and you can trickle down.  You need someone who knows the difference.

    Huckabee

    Huckabee/Paul (none / 0) (#34)
    by Stellaaa on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:27:07 PM EST
    In a way, Hucakbee's populism and Paul's anti militarism would make a good hybrid dem.  (taking cover)  This is the first time I have seen those perspectives in Republican debates

    Romney reminds me of the Governator. (none / 0) (#36)
    by oculus on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:27:48 PM EST
    Too perfect.

    Romney disses everybody!! (none / 0) (#39)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:29:14 PM EST
    and confusee me for the rest of the night.  I cant even make fun of him.

    Plus (none / 0) (#45)
    by chrisvee on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:30:21 PM EST
    he looks kinda hot.  It's confusing me!

    Parent
    he looks like he got (none / 0) (#48)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:31:50 PM EST
    his hair done with grampa munster.

    Parent
    heh (none / 0) (#53)
    by chrisvee on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:33:39 PM EST
    I kinda like the blue suit/blue tie and black hair against the blue background, though.  He pops!

    Although he just dissed Hillary so now my world has righted itself.

    Parent

    heehee (none / 0) (#58)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:36:41 PM EST
    He's very good looking (none / 0) (#74)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 10:36:41 PM EST
    I was a few feet from him at a house party in Iowa -- close enough to get a good look.  He looks younger than his age and now that he's letting a touch of his sideburns show some gray, he looks less like a mannequin.

    It was disconcerting because he really reminds me of Warren Beatty (when WB was younger) and their views are so opposite.  

    Parent

    hmmm (none / 0) (#77)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 10:59:03 PM EST
    what year?

    he reminds me of ted danson post "cheers"

     

    Parent

    Charlie Crist in the audience (none / 0) (#40)
    by andgarden on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:29:23 PM EST
    looks like he got WAY too much sun.

    Those podiums are weird looking. (none / 0) (#41)
    by oculus on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:29:37 PM EST
    Not only are the candidates all white males, the audience seems to be entirely Caucasian.

    The people in Broward County are not (none / 0) (#75)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 10:41:01 PM EST
    all white. I've been to enough jails there to tell you that. But if you don't trust that as a yardstick, try the demographics: Broward is 25% African American and 23% Hispanic.

    Boca Raton, where the debate was, is in Broward County, one north of Dade (Miami) and one south of Palm (Palm Beach.)

    Parent

    I don't doubt that a bit; but doesn't (none / 0) (#76)
    by oculus on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 10:43:07 PM EST
    look like ethnic minorities attended this debate.  

    Parent
    McCain: Democrats will Surrender!!! (none / 0) (#44)
    by andgarden on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:30:03 PM EST


    well, Hillary at least. White flag. Pretty good. (none / 0) (#46)
    by oculus on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:30:49 PM EST
    Yep (none / 0) (#47)
    by chrisvee on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:31:04 PM EST
    McCain called Hillary a surrender monkey earlier today. We can win if we just stay for a 100 years!

    Parent
    McCain hates the French! (none / 0) (#56)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:35:37 PM EST
    cheese eating surrender monkies.  is he calling Hillary FRENCH?

    Parent
    Sort of hard (none / 0) (#49)
    by Stellaaa on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:32:01 PM EST
    Hard to justify sustaining super power status in light of the super toilet economy...

    Me Me Me Me (none / 0) (#50)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:32:38 PM EST
    I am the only one here to say...something.  And I was right!

    McCain

    No follow up to McCain? (none / 0) (#51)
    by GOPmurderedconscience on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:33:06 PM EST
    He didn't answer the question and he lied.

    What will we win? (none / 0) (#52)
    by Stellaaa on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:33:09 PM EST
    What are we going to win?

    Tim surprise (none / 0) (#55)
    by Stellaaa on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:34:41 PM EST
    Wow...Tim a tough question to Repugs?

    Wow (none / 0) (#63)
    by chrisvee on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:39:33 PM EST
    Ron Paul is the only one willing to tell the truth about the war.  

    Let's remember McCain's answer for our attack ads.  Rudy is ridiculous, spinning the answer to something ridiculous about Hillary and polls.  

    Oh wait, Huckabee is even worse.  We should thank George Bush for saving us from the slim possibility of WMD because even though there were none there could have been and better to be safe than sorry???

    Parent

    I agree that (none / 0) (#57)
    by athyrio on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:36:04 PM EST
    the clintons must have skin as tough as an elephant to take this kind of abuse and keep on coming back and never making it personal....

    United around lies (none / 0) (#59)
    by Stellaaa on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:38:10 PM EST
    Wow...we were united cause we were lied to, so how does it make it right?  Is there something missing?  Pass the koolaid...

    Thank you Mr Bush! (none / 0) (#60)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:38:14 PM EST
    for being so wrong on those easter eggs!

    Huckabee

    Have (none / 0) (#67)
    by chrisvee on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:43:15 PM EST
    some kool-aid with your easter eggs.

    Is easter egg some kind of code word?

    Parent

    goes great with (none / 0) (#71)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:47:14 PM EST
    squirrels and popcorn.

    Parent
    You go to war for a potential? (none / 0) (#61)
    by GOPmurderedconscience on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:38:37 PM EST
    Huck id clueless.

    notice that they (none / 0) (#62)
    by athyrio on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:39:11 PM EST
    dont hate Obama??? why??? because they view him as an easier candidate to beat...

    Are those just Ron Paul supporters (none / 0) (#64)
    by oculus on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:40:06 PM EST
    applauding to get out of Iraq?

    Is it worth the cost in blood and treasure?  How about details:  number of dead, 30,000 U.S. military wounded, how many Iraqis wounded, displaced, refugees, cost of Iraq war to date.

    They all insist we stay until victory (none / 0) (#73)
    by Boraxo on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 09:02:25 PM EST
    ...but nobody asks them to define what victory in Iraq means.  And how that's different from what happens if we announce a timetable for withdrawl and force the Shias in the green zone to deal with the other players.

    They don't define victory because at this point it would look an awful lot like the definition of peace.  Peace means the killing stops.  Which you acheive by getting the troops out and stopping the, you know, killing.  

    Parent

    Why only 90 min? (none / 0) (#65)
    by GOPmurderedconscience on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:40:53 PM EST
    Republicans are afraid to debate?

    3 Dems agree to 120 min and 5 Repug agree only to 90 min?

    What's up with that?

    I am flagging (none / 0) (#66)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:41:33 PM EST
    These folks are from Mars.

    Where's Molly Bloom? Come take over Molly!!

    Thank Gawd! (none / 0) (#68)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:43:27 PM EST
    J. is taking over the live blogging.

    Parent
    These should be (none / 0) (#72)
    by chrisvee on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:47:33 PM EST
    mandatory viewing for all Dems.  It puts everything in perspective.

    Parent
    Part Two live blog (none / 0) (#69)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:45:10 PM EST
    is here.  Come on over!

    china - we will have an opportunity to sue (none / 0) (#70)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 08:46:18 PM EST
    if we handle it right.

    Rudy.