Republican Debate Thread

Have at it. (It's on Fox and I'm listening as I do some other work.)

9:30: "Many of your supporters consider themselves 9/11 Truthers." God bless you, merry moderators.

Comments

[LevStrauss]

Why is FOXNEWS brodcasting CMT right now?

[SIV]

National Anthem ........ YES!!!

In your face you GODLESS COSMOPOLITANS!!!

[SIV]

Romney said "working families"
Socialist/statist "codewords"

FAIL

[sage]

Uh, there's a debate?

[P. Vostrel]

Romney: nice tie

[LevStrauss]

Wonder if McCain is going to be an asshole tonight?

[Jacob]

I am too busy WORKING HARD FOR THE MONEY, some of which I am putting aside in a special savings account to help pay for Hillary's ideas.

[cold666pack]

McCain - stop the spending

Right. Like the Governator right?

[Jacob]

Ronbot is in attack mode. They better watch out or they will get lynched!

[Bingo]

The cosmotarians are not pleased... the sound of a thousands microbrews being opened while macbooks are slammed shut

[My Name Is Robert]

He likes that "make 'em famous" line.

[n0rd1x]

Was that the Osmand's singing?

[ColbyCo]

Bored with the Miss Congeniality crap from McCain every debate.

[eebakcuh]

Vote time: How many times will
A. God
B. Evolution
C. Religion
D. The Bible or
E. The WOT as it pertains to "Islamofascism"

be mentioned here tonight?

[SIV]

Huckabee

"Foreign oil in de cold cold ground"

[John]

Huckabee: "Health care costs. And another thing, education costs."

Thank you for identifying the problem. Solutions?

[BakedPenguin]

Wonder if McCain is going to be an asshole tonight?

Don't you mean you "wonder if McCain will act like an asshole tonight? I mean, I don't think there's any doubt he is an asshole

[P. Vostrel]

there's no dynamism in microbrews

[theblacks_theblacks!!]

Ban my name, joe.

[ColbyCo]

F. Ronald Reagan

[Ali]

Did he just say "Austrian economics"?

[SIV]

Austrian Theory of the business cycle.....

Do I drink?

[eebakcuh]

Here in Arkansas, no kitten, puppy or goldfish will ever be denied an education, healthcare, or possible release from prison should they commit some heinous act against their fellow animals.

[My Name Is Robert]

Name drop for the Austrians.

[Bingo]

Romney looks intrigued!

[f]

ABCT!!!
on MSM TV!

[My Name Is Robert]

Fred Thompson's responses always seem like he is reading a copy and pasted wikipedia article.

[ColbyCo]

Ron hits them with a little bit of Hayek. Go Ron.

[Fluffy]

OK, despite the fact that I officially called myself "out" as a Paul backer in another thread, I really, really wish Paul would just stop in the middle of one of his sentences, walk over to Giuliani, say, "Laugh at this, one-ball!" and crack him in his face. BAM!

I would seriously donate to the campaign again if he did that.

[dogzilla]

"Austrian Economics" yes, but he didn't mention Mises by name...

[John]

In all seriousness, I'm putting 50/50 odds that Ron Paul melts down if the moderators ask if he's a racist. I'm not sure which way I'd like that to go. On the one hand, Ron Paul is better than all of the other candidates. On the other hand, I've lost almost all faith in his candidacy and seeing him go off the handle about the drug war on The Situation Room was hugely satisfying and I'd love to see him scream at all of the Republican candidates and Fox News hacks on national television.

[f]

again ABCT!
I simply cannot believe it...

[cold666pack]

What a huckaphony my skin is crawlin

[John]

"Mandatory abortion services"? That sounds frightening.

[Bingo]

Okay guys which military are we competing with?

[SIV]

Romney subsidizes baby-killing with taxpayer $$$

Campaign Carl deals Mitt the coup de grace in South Carolina

[Bingo]

STOP WHINING THOMPSON

[SIV]

Go Fred Go!!!

[n0rd1x]

Man, what is up with Thompson? Guess the viagra kicked in.

[John]

Huckabee has used six different god damn folksy analogies to shrug off criticism in every debate.

[Fluffy]

Thompson vs. Huckabee -

CRACKER FIGHT!

[Bingo]

Does anyone else think the dual mics look like a pair of fuzzy testicles?

[cold666pack]

Wow! Fred comes alive. They never give him the good questions, glad he demanded the chance to answer it.

[Reinmoose]

Maybe the RNC convinced Thompson to take a dive and take Huckabee down with him.

[John]

Giuliani needs to stop bugging his eyes out every fifteen seconds.

[Kinanik]

Uh, so it looks like Ronald Reagan is going to win the nomination.

[John]

Holy shit this fucking question.

[SIV]

Go Ron Go !!!

Fuck the Truthers

[Druth]

Paul is looking like a serious candidate. The Truther question was an obvious attempt to make him look fringe-y and answered it well. And he calmly talked about the Fed, which makes him look not crazy.

[JL]

Fox News is absolutely ridiculous! I'm glad Ron asked to participate in the current discussion. How embarrassing for them to ask that.

[Matt]

I used to respect Carl Cameron...I wouldve expected it from Brit Hume.

[Bingo]

You know, that whole newsletter debacle really doesn't seem that big of a deal compared to the talking points of the other Pols

[Matt]

Good on ya, Ron, for sayin please.

[LevStrauss]

Governor Huckabee, many of your supporters think the earth is six thousand years old. They think science is the "devil" and jews are necessary for the rapture and that is about it. Do you actually believe this and will you tell them to stop voting for you?

[Kolohe]

Ah the Iranians. This should be good.

[Taliesin]

Wave that not-yet bloody shirt, Elmer

[Kolohe]

"Gates of Hell" You get him, Farragut!

[LevStrauss]

And Huckabee did speak at Hagee's church. Gingrich and McCain have attended as well. They openly court these guys.

[John]

Congressman Paul, many of your supporters are pedophiles. That being said, why are you a racist? And when will you stop holding dogfights in your Satanic coven?

[Bingo]

Do we really need to paint every single Iranian as some sort of insane frothing-at-the-mouth ready-to-die lunatic?

[Kolohe]

Damn, what did thompson say that got applause?

[SIV]

Giving Paul a chance to disavow the Truthers is a good thing.

[Kolohe]

A nuanced response from Rudy?

[Druth]

Did Giuliani just suggest the NIE's report was wrong because of this event?

[John]

&SIV:

He already has. Several times. On Fox News. Months ago.

[Taliesin]

Fred dittoed the Huckster, and made a crack about 40 virgins.

[Reinmoose]

Kolohe -
He said something about sending those Iranians to the virgins they so look forward to

[Kolohe]

Good answer from McCain.

[cold666pack]

One more step and the Iranians would be seeing them virgins they've been holdin out for. Great line.

[Taliesin]

serious situation of the utmost seriousness...now that's some serious seriousness.

[Bingo]

They weren't passive they were talking about sending them to hell, argggggh

[Taliesin]

Romney, what a scoundrel.

[MCW]

BushCo is clearly looking for his Gulf of Tokin. Hello, World War III.

[Reinmoose]

oh boy, here's Romney asserting that he would know what to do in Foreign Policy

[joe]

Wow, even the people who laughed at Paul were booing Romney's cheap slur.

That guy should just have a blinking sign that reads "a-hole" on his forehead.

[Matt]

Ron couldve done alittle better on the speedboat question.

[Q]

Paul should pull an Edward Norton (american history x) on Romney.

[Kolohe]

Decent response from Paul at first.

But the part of Paul's answer re: destroyer vs speedboat: USS Cole

He overall response should have condemned the action by Iran but urged caution.

His questioning of what happened is not wrong, but sounds awfully trutherish.

Hume's response was appropriate and Paul muffed it.

But Mitt's response was a cheap shot.

[cold666pack]

Matt: you think? Ron looked like a fool, i was afraid a giant hook was about to come out & yank him.

[toddb]

I never pay attention...does McCain always speak this slowly or did he take a few belts before the debate?

[Reinmoose]

Anyone who uses the phrase "My Friends" automatically looks old

[Matt]

Yea, Romney gets no love.

I like how they keep showing McCain et al. sighing when Ron gives his answers. Think we'll get 'arrogant' sighing stories a la Al Gore 2000 debates? Naaaaaaa.

[Patrick O\'Connor]

Emperor McCain!

[Taliesin]

So much for the Constitutional concept of civilian leadership of the military, thanks, McSenator.

[cold666pack]

wendell looks like a jester with that tie.

[Chris Webb]

He blew that question. Very embarrasing.

-cw

[Jon]

Ron couldve done alittle better on the speedboat question.

Understatement of the ____. He was at a loss for words on the point that the others supported caution. Did they say something warmongering?

[Reinmoose]

Who else thinks that McCain probably has nudie daddy pictures on his bedroom walls with General Petraeus's face pasted on them?

[My Name Is Robert]

McCain always seems to wink at the camera at strategically the right times.

[joe]

Hey, Guiliani, heard of blowback yet?

[cold666pack]

McCain stayed up all night writing the burka joke. so lame

[Fluffy]

I guess the Huckabee line about blasting Iran and Thompson's laugh line mocking Islam weren't warmongery enough for ya, huh Jon?

[Chris Webb]

THATTABOY!

-cw

[LevStrauss]

Smackdown on McCain. It was a shitty joke anyway asshole.

[toddb]

Go Ron...rockin' this topic!

[Bingo]

homerun from paul

[SIV]

McCain=Asshole

Paul is doing better explaining his foreign policy than any previous debates.

[Reinmoose]

Ron grew a pair over the past few days it seems

[Mr. Chartreuse]

Who else thinks that McCain probably has nudie daddy pictures on his bedroom walls with General Petraeus's face pasted on them?

That just gave me the best laugh of the day.

[joe]

You can't ignore those cheers from the Paulistas. God, Fox must hate you people.

[Kolohe]

Pakistan question.

This should be a good contrast with the dem's last week

[cold666pack]

Fred - great dig on NYT!

[Chris Webb]

Vote Thompson/Huckabee 2008 for the President/VP of the United States of FUNNYASHELL. I'm rollin' over here.

[Matt]

Yeeeowwwwww!

not a Paultard, but Ron hits one out of the park...been waiting for that for a while. McCain looked slimy, 'dont want to trade for no burkhas'

[Reinmoose]

Mr. Chartreuse -
I'm honored, but it wasn't really a joke 😉

[Jay D]

Paul is doing better explaining his foreign policy than any previous debates.

Nothing to lose. He's relaxing up.

[Dedalus]

He overall response should have condemned the action by Iran

Condemn what action? The Iranians sending a few little mini-boats to check out the massive fucking nuclear attack ships in its backyard? Yeah, how dare the Iranians be concerned! USA! USA! USA!

[Druth]

Does it seem like to anyone else that the candidates have a bunch of one-liners they've prepared before-hand and are just waiting for a chance to use them?

[pilight]

I know John McCain is old, but was he really talking about the Barbary Pirates when asked about his naval service?

[Q]

Why doesn't Ron mention Michael Scheuer when he's talking about foreign policy? I think that would help.

[Jon]

Fluffy, they did say that. Touche. But they all said they supported the restraint the Cole's captain showed (as much as you can show being off the coast of a foreign country with a warship).

[Bingo]

Druth: Huckabee most notably.

[Kolohe]

Dedalus-

You obviously have no concept of international maritime law nor the principles of good seamanship.

[joe]

Who the heck is General Kiyani?

[Matt]

Who the heck is Wendell Goler's tiemaker?

[Reinmoose]

joe, don't you understand? Not only did Romney never say anything about not needing foreign policy experience, but he has the *most* foreign policy knowledge of anybody running 🙂

[Bingo]

Does anyone else just blank out when Huckabee starts talking?

[pilight]

Huck blinks more when he's talking about foreign policy. I think he's overcompensating for his usual deer-in-the-headlights look when those things come up.

[Dedalus]

You obviously have no concept of international maritime law nor the principles of good seamanship.

Yeah, I'll park my tank in your front yard and aim the cannon at you and you better not peek out the window to see what's going on or I will consider it a provocation and have to shoot you!

[dhex]

God, Fox must hate you people.

that's why you keep coming back, joe.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Dedalus,

I sail boats in big harbors and when the military vessels are coming in, you steer clear. Even in the US, driving a high speed boat directly at a naval warship will get you blasted. You just don't fucking do it.

[Reinmoose]

Paul's going to talk about how Israel has nukes

[cold666pack]

Who the heck is Wendell Goler's tiemaker?

Jack Nicholson?

[Chris Webb]

cheers, Cheers, CHEERS.

[pilight]

Everybody wants to poke at RP rather than debate each other.

[David]

Who is this "we" that these dickholes keep jabbering on about?

[cold666pack]

Rudy kissing donor butt now.

[toddb]

Good defense from Ron...and they all line up to repeat their neocon talking points..

[Kolohe]

The Strait of Hormuz is an international strait where vessels of any flag or type may effect transit passage unmolested by anyone.

I stand by my statement of your knowledge of being a prudent mariner and international law.

[Bingo]

Ron only needed to say about half of what he did, but I think he got his point across.

[Reinmoose]

ooooo, Fred Thompson trying to pick on the unconventional candidates! Isn't he the great bully.

[Fluffy]

Regarding Iran:

Doesn't anyone think that maybe, just maybe, the fact that we casually and nonchalantly debate among ourselves whether or not we should bomb Iran and/or invade and occupy her and/or exterminate her people and/or send them all to re-education camps to be converted to Christianity might have something to do with the fact that some members of their flat bottom navy wanted to fuck with us when we were 12 miles off their coast?

What do you think our reaction would be if the Iranian parliament was debating whether or not to attack the United States?

Speaker One: "I say we should bomb just their military installations!"

Speaker Two: "No, that will not work. We need to bomb their nuclear facilities, including power plants!"

Speaker Three: "No, my friends. We can never be safe until all Americans have been re-educated! We must invade and occupy them!"

And so on.

[justatroll]

You obviously have no concept of international maritime law nor the principles of good seamanship.

Yeah, your mom knows semen though. Quarts of that shit.

[Matt]

Not bad points by Ron. I wish he'd get a little more forceful here, especially in light of some of the cosmopolitan controversies of the last couple days. something like

"they wanna kill their enemies and we keep gettin in the way"

BTW is everyone else waiting for the newsletter question to come up? think it'll be Hume or Wallace?

[Reinmoose as John McCain]

Fluffy! Your assertion that Iranians can feel the same way that we AMERICANS feel is patently offensive, sir!

[Kolohe]

This is also why McCain's answer was the best to the Iran question. He didn't (just) go for being a poseur of being against Iran.

He specifically identified the foreign policy geopolitical interest of the US: maintaining freedom of the seas.

[toddb]

ah yes...change

[LevStrauss]

I think it will be Wendell Goler that asks "the question" if they do. FOX likes to pile it on thick.

[Bingo]

McCain/Surge '08!

[cold666pack]

My god, McCain needs to get them droopy jowles fixed. He is so dull its painful.

[pilight]

What do you think our reaction would be if the Iranian parliament was debating whether or not to attack the United States?

What do you think our reaction would be if there was an Iranian warship 12 miles off our coast?

[Mr. Chartreuse]

Fluffy, I think that is the gist of the criticism against US foreign policy. We never walk in the other guy's shoes and think about how we would like it if another country overthrew our government, because we think we're always in the right.

[joe as Rudi Guiliani]

You said that Iranians have feelings like we do. That's really an extraordinary statement. I've never heard that before.

[Franklin Harris]

Thompson vs. Huckabee -

CRACKER FIGHT!

That's a vile, racist slur, and I'm never donating to your campaign again, Fluffy!

[Druth]

What is McCain's "Sheriff" supposed to imply? I don't quite get why he keeps bringing it up.

[charlie]

Not to mention 150,00+ Iranian troops directly across our border...

[toddb]

This question to huck makes me think ron will get the newsletter question

[Lost_In_Translation]

Jesus Christ,

We almost blow a small high speed Iranian boat out of the water and we're the ones talking about attacking Iran. You know, I think our military would have been justified, in light of recent events (the USS Cole), destroying that little idiot speedboat, however, why would our destruction of a small speedboat justify us invading another country? Did I just land in Bizarro world?

[SIV]

I'll bet the Ron Paul newsletters never come up.

It was in The New Republic fer Christ's sake.

[Derrick]

BTW is everyone else waiting for the newsletter question to come up?

From what I know of the Fox News audience, I kinda think racist statements would be a selling point with them.

[Lost_In_Translation]

pilight,

We'd probably point a whole bunch of guns at it and make sure it stay 12 miles off our shore.

[Druth]

Huckabee: FOR TEH CHILDREN!

[cold666pack]

I love how they keep setting up Huckaphony to be smacked by Fred.

[pilight]

Fred really likes to go after Huck.

[joe as Rudi Guiliani]

I'm just glad Thompson doesn't answer questions by saying things like "Well, when the possum and the hound dog meet under the porch..." any more.

[joe]

Actually, that was me as myself.

[Derrick]

joe, why are you here?

[alan]

Vote time: How many times will
A. God
B. Evolution
C. Religion
D. The Bible or
E. The WOT as it pertains to "Islamofascism"
F. Reagan
be mentioned here tonight?

This being Reason we should snort a line of coke every time any of those are mentioned.

[Gene Trosper]

I'll bet the Ron Paul newsletters never come up.

It was in The New Republic fer Christ's sake.

That would be nice, but it's unrealistic to think Fox would purposely pass on an opportunity to smear Ron Paul. Fox thrives on "gotcha" questions, especially if they are aimed at Ron Paul.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Derrick,

Joe likes a good pig wrestling match as much as the rest of us.

[Bingo]

McCain should just say he's going to authorize a surge at everything.

[joe]

What, is there a cover charge?

[Fluffy]

Huckabee: "I raised taxes so children could play on highways. Or something."

[Matt]

>>>It was in The New Republic fer Christ's sake

CNN covered it today and Crabcakes Cameron asked Paul a truther question.

[cold666pack]

huck goes for the class warfare crowd again.

[Derrick]

Joe likes a good pig wrestling match as much as the rest of us.

You're right. He seems to be having as much fun as the rest of us. I retract my question.

Now if I actually had a TV I could see what's going on...

[Gene Trosper]

This being Reason we should snort a line of coke every time any of those are mentioned.

Cocaine is sooooo cosmopolitan.

[toddb]

Welcome to the Republican all comic review....

[Druth]

Stop with the bad one-liners, you just look like idiots.

[joe]

"...is to take the change out of your pocket."

tink tink tink.

Sorry, Mr. Mayor, I dropped my pin.

[Bingo]

"the democrats are gonna take the change out of yer pocket" Thanks Rudy

Seriously, all these guys with the one liners its worse than Hit n Run

[cold666pack]

jeez, again with the arab prince

[SIV]

Gene,

South Carolina is the debate audience. They are used to accusations of racism. It wouldn't be a smear. The newsletter issue is small potatoes outside cosmotarian circles.

[charlie]

Rudy: I have personally assaulted at least half of the world's heads of state.

[joe]

Gee, what did you all think of McCain's "not for profit, but for patriotism" line?

B+? A-?

[Fluffy]

I don't get why no one asks Rudy why he thinks it's great that he took money out of the pockets of a charity effort so that he could feel good about himself.

[alan]

Mr. Chartreuse | January 10, 2008, 10:08pm | #
Fluffy, I think that is the gist of the criticism against US foreign policy. We never walk in the other guy's shoes and think about how we would like it if another country overthrew our government, because we think we're always in the right.

Funny how Cosmotarian foreign policy mirrors the desensitized and bigoted towards the rest of the world foreign policy of these Neocons. Is that Cosmopolite? Think not.

[Kolohe]

What do you think our reaction would be if there was an Iranian warship 12 miles off our coast?

Straits of Hormuz is an INTERNATIONAL STRAIT!

We have an international strait as well. It's called Strait of Juan de Fuca. And you know what happens? Dozens of ships including military ones of every type and of numerous different nationalities pass though w/o incident every single fucking day.

This is what happens in countries that act like grown-ups have an international strait on their maritime boundaries.

(Postscript: I desire neither naval conflict with the Iran, nor any other type of armed conflict, nor the U.S participation in any kind of regime change.)

[David]

I would like to see Paul get angry, and really light into these guys, but I don't think he has it in him.He has valid points up there, but he's a little too "Frank Perdue" to make them stick. Still, I give him credit for trying.

[charlie]

Is McCain not the most mind-numbingly dull orator?

[Reinmoose as John McCain]

My friends, I'm going to have to give you a little straight-talk. I am so horribly condescending it makes my opponents want to kick me to the ground and stone me to death.

[cold666pack]

women need to submit? Fox introducing a bit o' S & M? I love it.

[sage]

McCain looks he stepped out of the grave to take a piss.

Remember when Guiliani had the Red Sox hat on? He needs two of those hats: one to shit in and the other to cover it up with.

[toddb]

Did RP wander off the stage or something?....

[n0rd1x]

I feel the TNR question coming on

[toddb]

Wow....I need to go hug my wife...

[cold666pack]

oh my god, huckster had a great opportuntiy, and he blows it with scripture.

[Bingo]

gotta say Huck gets credit for clearing that up

[Gene Trosper]

South Carolina is the debate audience. They are used to accusations of racism. It wouldn't be a smear. The newsletter issue is small potatoes outside cosmotarian circles.

The question would be for the benefit of the debate audience, it would be to get massive airplay across the nation and be political Viagra for bloggers at Little Green Footballs and Red State.

[Jim Bob]

And God, and the Bible.

[Lost_In_Translation]

toddb,

why, is she trying to get away?

[Chris Webb]

"Do you have any, sir?" DICK!

[alan]

Cocaine is sooooo cosmopolitan.

Those cosmopolitans picked it up from us double shift working proletarians.

[charlie]

Kolohe --

And how many of those foreign navies operating near the U.S. are from governments that regularly threaten to annihilate the U.S., or have invaded and occupied two of our closest neighbors?

[sage]

Kolohe, when's the last time a middle eastern military vessel passed through the strait of juan de fuca?

[joe]

No no, Huckabee's right about that. But he should have added that you have to switch off once in a while to keep things from getting boring.

Huh? He meant what?

Naw, that's just nuts.

[David]

The moderator is a colossal fuck face.

[toddb]

Good....RP with some edge

[Mr. Chartreuse]

Cosmopolite....is that the drink or the magazine?

[Kolohe]

Paul is definitely "finding his voice" as they say

[the chad]

sage: nice.

even the straight of hormuz would be more of a threat.

[Gene Trosper]

Yes! Ron Paul is going for the offensive for once.

[John V]

good answer dr. paul. love the snark!

[SIV]

Ron is kicking ass by expectation standards.

[Lost_In_Translation]

charlie,

You're not going to win this argument. This wasn't a defensive action by Iran, standing off to make sure the warship stayed in international waters, this was harassment, and those little speedboats risked getting their ass blown to kingdom come for no good reason.

[BG]

"Congressman Paul, a general question about electability; do you have any sir?"

Nothing subtle about that.

He handled it well, mostly, though I cringed a little at the "empire" thing.

[charlie]

God, I love pissed off Ron Paul

[Q]

Ron just stuck his foot in that guy's rectum.

[Chris Webb]

"Borrow money from China to give to Pakistan... to promote democracy in Iraq?"

Dead on, Mr. RP.

Anyone else feel that whenever he gets right on the issue, that damn bell rings and says "No mas!"?

BTW, an English teacher for the death of the DoE!

[the chad]

Why didn't he mention 20,000 donations totally 6 million in ONE DAY???? We the people...

[joe]

Paul's bit about borrowing money from the Chinese, through gong to war to bring democracy to Iran, was brilliant. And he it's the last thing before the break.

Oh yeah. They're gonna bring up the newsletters.

[Reinmoose as Hilary Clinton]

Paul is definitely "finding his voice" as they say

Actually, Kolohe, that's what I said.

Ha, HA-HA-HA!

[My Name Is Robert]

Damn, Ron knocked it out

[Chris]

I think TNR woke up the beast.

Notice how none of the other candidates raised objections when Paul said he is the most conservative guy on the stage.

[LevStrauss]

Yup that newsletter was the best and worst thing that ever happened to him. It really fucks his chances but the whole ordeal really pissed him off and he doesn't like these shitty questions.

[chico]

Ron Paul Smack down... The rest of those clowns should be ashamed. The line about borrowing 10 million from China so that we can hand it over to a military dictator... priceless!

[Brad]

Paul is irritating the others. Keeps reminding them what real conservativism looks like. If he would only go away...we could get back to neo-con nirvana

[Kolohe]

sage-
not sure about middle eastern, but IIRC there have been both Chinese and Russian warships over the last few years.

(IIRC caveat- not sure if they visited Pacnorwest; they may have only come to Southern California and/or Hawaii)

[joe]

The only reason Ron Paul hasn't said "fuck you people" is because he's more a gentleman than I.

[Bingo]

joe: They've had a nasty question for each candidate so far (McCain representing the establishment, the Huckabee submit thing) so there is no question that they're going to bring it up.

Although all of Paul's questions have been nasty so who knows.

[SIV]

Do you get the Dr Hugh Cort for President ads or are those on my local cable system?

[Chris Webb]

Betting vs. the question coming up this time.

[John V]

I hate the immigration issue.

BORING.

[The Chad]

I like McCain on the border. Go high tech, and we don't need to build a wall, or waste peoples money. UAVs on patrol

[Chris]

Dr. Paul's debate Questions:

Do you denounce your crank supporters as cranks?

Why are you here?

And....

Let me guess... When did you stop being a racist?

[matt]

we,ve got to emailbomb Carl Crawford.

You Dick!

[Reinmoose]

oh Cheesem Crackers!
Ron's going to talk on Immigration

[charlie]

Doesn't the Iranian boat thing prove to us that maybe, just maybe, we shouldn't be stationing heavy military firepower half-way around the world? I'm sure the Iranians are a bunch of idiotic punks, but is that worth risking an all-out conflict? Every day we have American warships in the Gulf we risk a war. An American government actually committed to the defense of America would have those ships in the Gulf of Mexico -- not the Persian Gulf.

[Bingo]

Weak rambling answer from McCain on the border thing.

Wow they really don't stop trying to single Paul out... why would Fox exclude him he actually makes the damn debate interesting!

[toddb]

Mitt fears the Paul!!!

[Ali]

I like pissed Ron too! Mean! Cool!

[SIV]

I'll say it again the newsletter issue will not be raised by the moderators. The candidates have no reason either. TNR thinks all these guys are racist.

[sage]

im n yr db8 kckn yr ases

Did I do that right?

[David]

The only reason Ron Paul hasn't said "fuck you people" is because he's more a gentleman than I.

This is why our primary process sucks. The Italian equivalent to Ron Paul would've smashed that podium over McCain's smirking face.

I can't wait to hear Rudy lie about NYC being a sanctuary city.

[toddb]

I think he gets the question...

I just wish he would go with some variation of "I screwed up" and then go straight on the offensive with his public record and statements. He has been to equivocal in his answers so far.

[Jim Bob]

Maybe they should just all fling feces at each other.

[Kolohe]

Doesn't the Iranian boat thing prove to us that maybe, just maybe, we shouldn't be stationing heavy military firepower half-way around the world?

Well, this was part of Paul's answer on the immigration question.

[Chris Webb]

Guys, I heard something during the Town Hall meeting about immigration and a point was made about Canada vs. Mexico---anyone remember what that was? I don't want to go and watch that whole thing over again right now...

[pilight]

Funny how they stop trying to be Reagan when immigration comes up.

"If there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here"

[cold666pack]

huckster panders, they outta live in the light, not the darkness. Yes, everybody's legal

[Bingo]

Paul did good job on the immigration question.

[LevStrauss]

Did Huckabee just gaffe?

[OohOooh the Gorilla]

Maybe they should just all fling feces at each other.

I demand you take back that comparison of Republicans to my kind, you speciest!

[joe]

Illegal immigrants! On the streets!

I guess that's how you have to phrase it with this crowd.

I swear to God I was not being humane!

[cold666pack]

rudy shut the fuck up.

[javier]

no newsletter

[Kolohe]

Rudy's answer I think was the best, but only because it's pretty much what I think

[Chris]

I like Ron Paul Prime.

WTF a vote text, waffles... I guess they never learn.

[The Chad]

Why can't illegal immigrants just be made to take a citizenship test? If they can't, then kick them out.
If people want to be in America, they should want to be American. They are here to get a piece of the American dream, to join enjoy capitalism

[toddb]

Good night for Paul!...as opposed to goodnight for Paul

[Chris]

See any more familiar "Frank's Friends" in the Focus Group?

[charlie]

Any thoughts on why Fox didn't bring the newsletter "thing"? I mean, they already called him an unelectable 9/11 truther, why not just go for the jugular?

[Kolohe]

4 quatloos that Paul wins the post debate text poll.

double or nothing that this result is 'adjusted' by Fox news when they report the result

[joe]

No newsletter.

[The Chad]

The foxnews debate: brought to you by Thompson for Prez

[SIV]

I was right about no newsletter questions.

There is no issue there outside small circles.
Now if Paul got the GOP nomination.......

ain't gonna happen!

Paul kicked ass relatively speaking, he needs to keep running through to the convention just to piss people off and get the message out.

[cold666pack]

it's UMER, not humor in SC.

[Gene Trosper]

Knock me over with a feather. No newsletter questions.

[sage]

One of Rudy's advisors was on the daily show last night. Jon Stewart pointed out that Ron Paul is the most conservative of the GOP candidates yet he was excluded from the debate the other day. The guy said something like "Ron Paul - the more you know him - is a pretty disturbing guy." Stewart said something like "UH, you should take a look at your guy." It was good.

[Bingo]

Thompson lovefest

[grue]

sage | January 10, 2008, 10:29pm | #

im n yr db8 kckn yr ases

Did I do that right?

Nope. Remember, your capslock key is cruise control for cool.

PAUL PWNED.

[javier]

F*ck you Frank!!!!

[Kolohe]

so far, only the younger white woman sounds like an actual South Carolinian

[Dedalus]

Any thoughts on why Fox didn't bring the newsletter "thing"?

Because only TNR and certain Reason types are obsessed with it and normal people view its (lack of) relevance in perspective?

[joe]

charlie, I can only assume they thought it would help him.

Ohnoes teh EmEssEm be callin me rassist! might get the crowd on his side.

[LevStrauss]

Drugs are rampant in Luntz's studio. Fred won? Even if I was a Neocon Fred would have had me snoring.

[My Name Is Robert]

F*** you Frank

[FUCKYOUFRANK]

FUCK YOU FRANK!

[n0rd1x]

Of course Ron Paul was the loser. Frank Luntz what a dope.

[The Chad]

Wow, my last comment applies even more.

[joe]

Paul is more of a gentleman than javier, too.

[My Name Is Robert]

LOL @ FRANK

[joe]

So, Dedalus, is CNN part of the Reason empire, or a subsidiary of the New Repubic?

[Eric Dondero]

Oh my Gosh. The entire South Carolina panel for Frank Luntz post-Debate, every single hand held up high in the sky, pronounced "Ron Paul as the Loser." Luntz said, "there you have it, the big loser of the night is Ron Paul."

Libertarian movement this is real bad. We need to mainstream libertarians ASAP! away from the Paul-itarian approach. It ain't working for us.

This was the most monumental denuciation of a Libertarian ever by mainstream Americans.

[SIV]

The Truther question is good for Paul.
Those people are on the ground with/as his supporters. He should disavow their belief on a regular basis so sympathetic voters won't think he supports their views.

[toddb]

"he needs to keep running through to the convention just to piss people off and get the message out." yep...which is what this has been about all along...wishful thinking notwithstanding

[Tim]

haha. The question and answer session thing after the debate: Hilarious.

[LOLOL]

Like who? Like you, Dumbdero?

[My Name Is Robert]

Dungdero making an appearance.

[Chris]

This just in:

Frank's Friends Hate Ron Paul!

[Isaac Bartram]

Condemn what action? The Iranians sending a few little mini-boats to check out the massive fucking nuclear attack ships in its backyard? Yeah, how dare the Iranians be concerned! USA! USA! USA!

No shit!!

Can you imagine what kind of USN flotilla would show up (quite properly, I might add) if a squadron of foreign warships showed up a few hundred miles off our coast.

I'm not watching the debate but that was my reaction when I heard the report on NPR this AM.

[joe]

This was the most monumental denuciation of a Libertarian ever by mainstream Americans.

What, did they truck some into Strom Thurmond country?

[charlie]

Eric --

Since when did a fucking Fox News Republican focus group represent "mainstream America"? Much less a Fox News focus group hand-selected by Frank Luntz?

[The Chad]

isaac: very few. but then the USN would have taken out this squadron before it even came close.

[Chris]

Lutz's focus groups are like playing Where's Waldo.

[Matt H]

Luntz's last group were all for Romney in New Hampshire, that worked out well

[Kinanik]

John Stossel 4 Prez

[Bingo]

Dondero, I forget who said it but someone a few days ago mentioned that the election is about who makes people feel good, not about ideas.

Paul isn't the most eloquent speaker but he gets the raw message out and the message excites people. Which is a hell of a lot more than you've done for the libertarian movement.

Anyways in a few years some cosmotarian will run and be eloquent and dashing. He'll sweep the public off their feet and do the whole "superman flying under a moonlit sky" thing with them and they will love it. But he won't be able to do it without Paul making a run this year.

[Dodsworth]

LOL. Dondero thinks Frank Luntz is a reliable source.

[Dedalus]

So, Dedalus, is CNN part of the Reason empire, or a subsidiary of the New Repubic?

Did you watch it, smart guy?

Here's a summation:

Wolf: So this racist stuff about you is all bullshit, right?

Ron Paul: Totally.

Wolf: Cool.

[DonderoForPrez]

DONDERO FOR PRESIDENT!

DONDERO 2012!

WAR AND ABORTIONS FOR ALL!

[RP > Neocons]

Ron Paul RWNED this debate. He tore these neocons a new ahole...I actually feel sorry for them...(nnnot )

NEXT MONEYBOMB...MLK DAY BABY
http://www.freeatlast2008.com/

To all the trolls that have tried to sidetrack RP's campaign, to Dondero, to Edweirdo...YOU FAIL, ...AT LIFE. Full steam ahead baby.

[toddb]

OK...so they are saving the newsletter stuff for Hannity...assuming that they have Paul up for a chat

[SIV]

Ohnoes teh EmEssEm be callin me rassist! might get the crowd on his side.

joe,

You are partially right here. South Carolina GOP voters are widely regarded as racists by liberal yankees and cosmopolitans. Accusing Paul might make them more sympathetic. Sort of like yelling "Iron My Shirt !" at Hillary with women voters..

[Dodsworth]

According to to Dondero the great cosmotorian is now running. He is that great friend of tolerance, Benito.

[Joe Allen]

RP kicked ass! Damn, I'm proud of that guy.
Where's my wallet?

[Geoff]

This was the most monumental denuciation of a Libertarian ever by mainstream Americans.

...and I haven't heard a bigger load of shit since the last time you posted, Dondero. I'm on the fence about Paul, but your utter faith in Luntz and a couple dozen people is rather weak regardless of whether or not I support the campaign.

You're just looking for any straw you can grasp onto and twist, aren't you?

!!!!!!!OOOOOOOOOOREDNOD

[charlie]

I'd just love to see Eric Dondero go on national television and do his whole pro-Muslim genocide schtick just to see how "mainstream America" would react.

Oh wait, I forgot, Giuliani has already been doing that...

[Reinmoose as Mitt Romney]

Not only do I now support Reagans policies, but I support them more than any other candidate!
Not only have I not pulled out of South Carolina, but I am running harder here than any other candidate!

[Kolohe]

Mr Bartram-
Can you imagine driving a semi on a public rural road, and have a bunch of rednecks come out of the woods on ATV's and drive right at you?

[Dave W.]

I don't like his latent racism, but I love his latent trutherism.

[Chris]

Pump up the Antiwar Dems for Ron Paul in MI, since they got their delegates stripped. Thanks Sean!

[Tim]

Holy Shit, Fox News is awesome. You know in the movie "Private Parts" where it talks about Howard Stern's largest audience are the people who hate him and the reason they listen to him to hear what he will say next?

I think I am like that with fox news. I find myself watching the O'Rielly factor more and more because it is so funny. PINHEADS OF THE DAY!!! hahaha. so sweet.

That Focus group was seriously awesome.

[Reinmoose]

Sooooo, what happens when Ron Paul wins the text poll? Do they just not show the results for the sake of Sean Hannity's health?

[SIV]

Romney was the real loser tonight.
I wish Huck was too.

[Bingo]

Guys back off, this is the same Eric Dondero that helped the Libertarian Party get a whopping .5% in the general election! Obviously a master of political strategy

[Kolohe]

Can you imagine driving a semi on a public rural road,

Make that a Stryker, the analogy works better.

[dondero4prez]

DONDERO! HE'S CATCHIN' ON!

[phalkor]

Gadzooks! Right after the debate a room of 20 or so people who all agree that Ron "lost" the debate??? Say it isn't so! Or am I naive in thinking that fox new is unbiased?

[Chris]

Can you imagine driving a semi on a public rural road

No, I've seen Pet Semetary.

[JR]

And here's simon bar sinister.

[Kolohe]

I agree Mitt is toast.

They all ('cept Paul) got off half-assed one liners, but Romney's were fully-assed.

[Truther]

If I'm a '9/11 skeptic' does that make me a '9/11 truther'?

And was I a 'Saddam doesn't has WMD' truther when I didn't believe that story either?

And is Lee Hamilton now a "truther" when he recently said the White House withheld information from the 9/11 Commission for their investigation? Need clarification on this.

[Dodsworth]

Yes, cut Dondero some slack. He left the Paul campaign because of those racist newletters......oops I forgot Dondero left because Paul had "changed" his foreign policy and only cared about the racist newsletters (which he helped prepare) when they became an ssue.

[sine]

Hey URKOBOLD people, can you post an FAQ or primer or something on cosmopolitarianism (sic) for those of us who are out of the loop?

Cheers.

[Peter]

Um Ron needs to mention that all the other candidates answer to immigration is to spend more money were as Paul's is not only more effective it will cost us less money.

[Geoff]

So...

...did anyone else catch the overt racism in McCain's 'burqa' line?

[Lost_In_Translation]

If I'm a '9/11 skeptic' does that make me a '9/11 truther'?

If you believe that planes did not fly into the World Trade Center, you might be a truther...

If you can't understand the temperature at which jet fuel burns might create enough heat to collapse building supports, you might be a turther...

if you lack a basic understanding of demolition, you might be a truther.

[Dodsworth]

Please note that McCain has still not fully apologized for his post-newsletter Gook comment.

[SIV]

Kolohoe,

As I said earlier, highlighting RomneyCare= taxpayer funded baby killing is a death sentence in the SC GOP.

[Geoff]

You mist be referring to this one.

[[e-mail]]

Hey- I only caught the last ten minutes. Listening to Rudy Corleone:

Rudy--I can talk to Mushareff, and he will get Bin Laden. (I'll make him an offer he can't refuse.).

I am best buds with the President of Israel. We have a special relationship with Israel. They are our biggest allies.
( Hyman Roth is my friend. You will do nothing to hurt Hyman Roth.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Dodsworth,

The vietnamese are not black...

[Kolohe]

The fundamental problem with the Republicans is that Reagan's vision of the free world struggle against communism was basically correct.

Trying to apply this same vision to "the war on terror" is not only incorrect, it is counterproductive.

[Frederick Paxson]

FRED THOMPSON is the best person to lead this country. He is a true conservative and has been his entire life. All one has to do is check his record to see this.

During my time in the Army as an Intelligence Analyst, I served under both Presidents Carter and Reagan (as my commanders in chief). Without argument, President Reagan was the best commander-in-chief a military person could ever have served under. Fred Thompson possesses the same qualities and vision as President Reagan in that he is strong on national defense and sees a dire need to secure our borders and control immigration.

I can think of no better person to lead this country and fix the problems we have. He is the only candidate from either party who has specific and detailed plans on border security and immigration reform; revitalization of America's armed forces; saving and protecting Social Security; and tax relief and economic growth. These are detailed on his Web site at http://www.fred08.com . I challenge you to find any other candidate who has laid out specific plans to fix anything.

Fred Thompson has published his first principles, some of which are mentioned above. In addition to those, he strongly believes in individual liberty, personal responsibility, limited government, federalism, traditional American values, the rule of law and is a strong proponent of the Second Amendment - all concepts established during the birth of our country and documented in our Constitution.

Again, try to find any candidate who has laid out their plans to "fix" this country. You will find they all speak in vague and abstract terms on their plans.

For those who have heard Fred Thompson speak, you will usually hear him say that the Fred Thompson you see today is the same Fred Thompson you saw yesterday and is the same Fred Thompson you will see tomorrow. He stands by his principles and values and doesn't shift his positions based on polls or public opinion; in other words, he doesn't say what the voters want to hear just to get elected, but remains steadfast on his views and convictions.

During his time in the Senate he focused on three areas: to lower taxes, strengthen national security and expose waste in the federal government. Fred Thompson has foreign policy experience, having served as member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Senate Intelligence committees.

As chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, he opened the investigation in 1997 on the Chinese government's attempt to influence American policies and elections, and this investigation identified connections with the Clinton administration (documented in the committee's report).

As a member of the Finance Committee, he worked tirelessly to enact three major tax-cut bills. Fred Thompson remains steadfast and even though a person may not agree with all his views and he understands some may disagree with him, you can count on him to be consistent and unwavering.

Don't be fooled by his laid back approach and what critics call his "laziness." As a former assistant U.S. attorney, he earned a reputation as a tough prosecutor and he possesses the toughness this country needs in order to tackle today's and tomorrow's issues.

I ask that you take a hard look at what this country needs, then take a hard look at all the other candidates' views, policies, their records and their track record on consistency. Fred Thompson possesses integrity, loyalty, commitment, energy and decisiveness, all traits of an effective leader, and will emerge as the best person to take this country boldly forward.

Please help Fred win in South Carolina:
https://www.fred08.com/contribute.aspx?RefererID=c637caaa-315c-4b4c-9967-08d864cd0791

[Bingo]

cosmotarians are the coke-snorting limpwristers of the libertarian movement that are afraid of adversity and controversy. Spend most of their time attached to their macbooks typing up policy papers in their hip urban flat and riding their scooter to the local Whole Foods store. Would rather moan about the state of liberty in America than actively work to improve it.

[joe]

Did you watch it, smart guy?

You mean the 15 minute segment they dedicated to it? Yeah, yeah I did.

[Chris]

35%, and Hannity can't wait to talk shit I'm sure.

[Geoff]

dodworth: I bring up the 'burqa' line from McCain because, well, that's not going to play well in the state with the highest concentration of Arab-Americans in the U.S.: Michigan.

[Reinmoose]

Holy Schnikes!
The Fred people are back!

[proctology for fun and profit]

Since Rittberg/Dondero knew who wrote the vile, racist trash that appeared in the newsletters, but didn't do a damn thing about it, that makes him an enabler to racist writings.

[dodsworth]

Cosmortorians are always heading their bets, while never taking a stand (even for Rudy!)

[charlie]

It's perfectly okay for McCain to call asians "gooks" and to engage in anti-muslim bigotry (in fact, that's a selling point in the GOP) because he's a war hero, don't ya know!

Never mind that he was bombing a Vietnamese lightbulb factory when his plane went down -- a civilian installation... and a war crime for those who care.

[dodsworth]

That's hedging.

[joe]

Dodsworth, was cosmotorian a typo, or did you just coin the term for cosmopolitan authoritarian?

Since you were referring to Rudy, it totally works.

[SIV]

Bingo,

BINGO !

excellent description

[Michael Fernwood]

Luntz must have some of them cosmopolitan republican types in the room with him. They're all atwitter about the New York DA.

Really, though, it's sweet how Fox makes a reasonable accommodation that allows a mentally retarded individual like Luntz (and Hannity) to work there.

Troof is though, the newsletters are going to help with those South Carolina guys that drive a pick-up truck with a Confederate Flag in the back to Howard Dean wanted the Democrats to be the party of, too.

[The Chad]

McCain hyped up his military record, he's been involved in all conflicts over the last 40 years. Any guess how the next 4 years would be with him?

[Chris]

Cosmowhat? WTF are you talking about? Sounds like nothing but another bullshit ism for people to wonk out about to me.

[Kolohe]

that's not going to play well in the state with the highest concentration of Arab-Americans in the U.S.: Michigan

Very true, but as I think Ali pointed out, they don't vote Republican anymore.

Also, McCain needs MI much less than SC, where this sort of thing will probably help him on the margin.

[Bingo]

Geoff: good point. I hope Pauls message gets out there, most of them are hard-working selfmade business owners that oppose the war and are attracted to fiscal conservatism. A very natural constituency for Paul (and any Republican that isn't ready to nuke brown people).

[LevStrauss]

Fred Thompson is a member of the AEI. Sorry I don't appreciate closet atheists who encourage religion to accept war.

[Dr. Roxxo, Cosmotarian Clown]

I Do Cocaine!

[Tom Walls]

I heard from a source that Mark Sanford was going to endorse Thompson tomorrow. Anyone else?

[Yogi]

Why didn't the newsletters come up? Simple.

Everyone already assumes that all the Republicans are racist bigots. It's something that would make all Republicans look bad. It would make Paul look more Republican, not less. The truther question is something unique to Paul, and that's why that came up.

[dhex]

cosmopolitan authoritarian

he bangs women who aren't his wife before winning 9/11.

[Kolohe]

Ah, O'Reily that muckraker. Ferreting out the truth of Britney and Ms Puerto Rico. Truly the Upton Sinclair of our time

[phalkor]

Wonkism! and fuck you frank!

[joe]

So Paul generated lusty cheers several times from the audience who saw the debate.

And yet every single person in the Luntz focus group declared him the biggest loser of the evening.

'Kay.

[Kolohe]

Eh down to 33%; the Paul machine is slipping.

[toddb]

Nice choice of intro clip for Huckabee...if you didn't see the debate you think Huck scolded Paul and then of course don't get to see Paul's response.

[joe]

he bangs women who aren't his wife before winning 9/11.

They put on the tape of "Guiliani Time" and do a little blow.

[Reinmoose as Colmes]

I'm a sniveling moron who is supposed to represent democrats on a "fair and balanced" program dominated by an arrogant schmuck.

[Chris]

DO YOU LOVE REAGAN? HEY! I LOVE REAGAN TOO!

EVERYONE LOVES REAGAN!

[Chris]

WAYNE DUMANTE! LAWL!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kolohe]

Yay drug war! Yay electric chair!

[obi juan]

Why didn't FOX bring up the TNR article concerning Paul's association with racist neo-confederates who are pro-secession? Because this was a GOP debate in South Carolina and FOX didn't want the audience to start singing Dixie.

[toddb]

Huck...If Ronald Reagan raised taxes...we should all get behind raising taxes!! I'm the true Reagan Republican!

[Chris]

So, did they just skip talking to Ron Paul?

[toddb]

Who thinks Hannity spends all of these commercial breaks texting his fingers off trying to help Thompson catch Paul in the text poll...

[Kolohe]

Based on Colmes' throw to commercial, looks like no 1 on 1 Paul interview

[proctology for fun and profit]

Goldwater wasn't a racist, but look at the support Klan members gave him in '64.

[SIV]

Everyone Cosmopolitans already assumes that all the Republicans are racist bigots.

fixed

[Jake Boone]

Eric Dondero has a point about the Luntz panel. Sure, Luntz may be a dishonest halfwit with a predilection for obsessive collection of his own navel lint, but we have to face one important fact: Luntz is on television, and we're not.

It doesn't matter to the average American voter that Luntz was lobotomized as a teenager in a tragic, self-inflicted drill press accident, and that he's been arrested fourteen times for exposing his genitals to children in Virginia state parks, because the average American voter will never discover that; what matters is that they see this guy on television and believe that what they are seeing is the truth.

No, Eric is, once again, spot on; I absolutely cannot deny it. This is an utter disaster for liberty, and for Ron Paul.

[Kolohe]

With accolades like this how the frack did he win this focus group?

[dodsworth]

If the American people believe a creep like Luntz, then they deserve to get it good and hard from President McClinton.

[Reinmoose]

why don't most of these people have southern accents?

[chico]

Yeah looks like Ron Paul is getting skipped. Nothing to see here folks. Move along.

[Chris]

No Ron Paul? Oh well, look at this picture of the Gipper instead:

http://chrissinnard.com/rally.jpg

[Kolohe]

"Thompson is smarter than anyone thinks"

No one makes that mistake with you, eh Mr Fucia Shirt?

(I keed, I keed)

[toddb]

Did any of these tools actually mention a policy position that caused them to love Fred?

[Chris]

And Luntz just predicted the Dem winner with his pwnage Focus Group!

[SIV]

Luntz panel member says Fred has no Dynamism

[Fluffy]

Boone, you are a douchebag.

If liberty can be "dealt a blow" because Fox News lies and manipulates, then liberty's dead and we may as well just say Fuck It.

Because:

1) Fox News isn't going anywhere

2) Fox News hates liberty

3) Fox News will lie any chance it gets

[Dodsworth]

i don't mind Paul being skipped by Hannity this time. Coverage of the debate itself will not probably trump the newsletter.

[Kolohe]

fuschia

No one makes that mistake with me neither

[RP eats neocons for lunch]

No post RP interview on Fox eh? Awe, what a surprise. These lying manipulative scumbags are shitting their pants, lol

[Reinmoose]

oh man

"You have all these situation in the world!"

[dodsworth]

That's now trump. Getting late

[SIV]

Most of Luntz's group wanted to see Paul in debate

[rico]

"why don't most of these people have southern accents?"

as a southerner myself, i assure you we aren't all slack-jawed yokels. and frank probably bussed that focus group in from NY.

[Kolohe]

Did the group say that Paul should or should not have been included? My dad heard yes he should from the group, I thought a raised hand was "no"

[toddb]

Thanks Focus Group...please collect your paycheck at the door and remember to update your contact info so we can call you for the next debate.

[Bingo]

Who cares what a 20 person focus group says, Ron Paul is getting the message of liberty out there to more people than ever before even if he doesn't win the nomination (which he won't).

[Hooter_McBoob]

::Did any of these tools actually mention a policy position that caused them to love Fred?::

Do any Americans care about policy?

[Hooter_McBoob]

That cute brunette in the front row will vote for Paul.

[William R]

Shammity won't even interview Ron Paul post debate. Then Frank Luntz ask if he should have even been included. Is that a dead rat on top of Frank Luntz's head

[toddb]

Wooohooo...bombs away...no civilians were injured in this necessary ass-ripping of Al Qaida evildoers

[Kolohe]

Nothing says "successful surge" more than 2 kton of air dropped ordnance.

[Reinmoose]

rico -
I assure you, I'm no stranger to the south. But these people.. seemed unusually unsouthern.
(not all of them, obviously, but some of them, certainly)

[Kolohe]

That cute brunette in the front row will vote for Paul.

To paraphrase Cary Elwes, unlike some SC voters, she can speak with a Carolinian accent.

[toddb]

32-22...a few more commercial breaks and Hannity is going to push fred over! Keep texting Sean!

[Kolohe]

But how many quatloos?

[Kolohe]

Dude, a little less hair pomade, a little more of that new Head and Shoulders stuff that just came out.

[Kolohe]

Colmes really defines down "all-star" doesn't he?

[toddb]

Who's Colmes?

[Kolohe]

dude on the far right (on the tv screen)

[toddb]

I know...just joking

[SIV]

Who's Colmes?

Where do these people come from? The n00bs, I mean.

[toddb]

Hard to spot Colmes sometimes under the mighty shadow of The Hannity...

[Kolohe]

At first, I just thought toddb was pointing out I was spelling the name wrong.

I should have figured it was a Hannity joke

[SIV]

kolohoe,

a raised hand was Yes he should be included

I'm outta here

[toddb]

Sorry to take up your space SIV...been reading the blog and occasionally posting for several years...can't spend my whole life here like some...

[Fred Thompson]

I love war and acting on TV. Vote for me.

[Kolohe]

SIV-
Arigatoo.

[Ben]

I'm sorry I unmuted my TV when Luntz started talking about Ron Paul.

And why hasn't the good doctor been interviewed? That's BS.

[SIV]

toddb,

Didn't realize your colmes ref was a joke
there have been a lot of new commenters since the newsletter thing came up.

[Tim]

Wow, they really cherry picked that "audience response meter." It is almost laughable. So when an audience doesn't react to anything it means it is negative? Ron Paul got some of the loudest and passionate reactions to some of the foreign policy questions. Why is Fox News so scared of Paul? He isn't going to win.

[SIV]

kolohe,

sorry for the mis-spelling of your name

[EZE]

Tim - as if there was any doubt that the "audience response meter" was rigged...that was absurd - especially since Ron was stating mostly facts.

[cold666pack]

They just said RP was invited but declined!

[LevStrauss]

Ron snubbed FOX. I like it.

[toddb]

Tim,
"Why is Fox News so scared of Paul?"
I don't think anyone is scared that RP can win, but they ARE scared that he could revive the libertarian wing of the Republican Party that was left for dead by the neocons over the last decade. If they want to reassemble the "Reagan" coalition that everyone is supposedly in love with, policies will have to change...and they don't want to change.

[Peter]

Anderson Cooper just did a thing on the newsletter

[crimethink]

Frank Luntz better wear running shoes the next time he meets a group of Paul supporters.

[Brandybuck]

Cosmotarian: I love it when a meme comes together!

[The Wine Commonsewer]

cosmotarians are the coke-snorting limpwristers of the libertarian movement that are afraid of adversity and controversy. Spend most of their time attached to their macbooks typing up policy papers in their hip urban flat and riding their scooter to the local Whole Foods store. Would rather moan about the state of liberty in America than actively work to improve it.

Jesus Chrysler, that was funny.

[Taktix?]

Four hundred eighteenth post!

[Anonymous]

Paul just scored a victory with viewers! 35% of respondents said he won the debate.

[horsewithnonick]

Do we really need to paint every single Iranian as some sort of insane frothing-at-the-mouth ready-to-die lunatic?

"It's coming right for us!"

[F.A. Llujah]

"If you can't understand the temperature at which jet fuel burns might create enough heat to collapse building supports, you might be a turther..."

But jet fuel doesn't burn hot enough to cause "intergranular melting capable of turning a solid steel girder into Swiss cheese". A jet fuel fire does not explain how eutectic reactions caused sections of steel beam to partially evaporate. And, even if jet fuel could do those things (it can't), WTC7 wasn't hit by a plane so jet fuel explains nothing.

[John C. Randolph]

" Luntz said, "there you have it, the big loser of the night is Ron Paul.""

So, Luntz said it, and dunderhead seconded it. That's about all I need to convince me that Ron won it hands-down.

-jcr

[John C. Randolph]

"But jet fuel doesn't burn hot enough"

It sure can if you give it enough ventilation. How do you think blacksmiths have worked for millenia? Charcoal and a bellows.

-jcr

[John C. Randolph]

"Why is Fox News so scared of Paul? "

Ron Paul is the conscience of the Republican Party. His voting record constantly reminds them that they violate the principles they purport to uphold.

It's the same reason that any hypocrite will try to denounce an honest man.

-jcr

[John C. Randolph]

"moan about the state of liberty in America than actively work to improve it."

One friend of mine has described that faction as the "povertarians". Those who want to make damned sure that the LP can never actually accomplish anything.

-jcr

[jkii]

A jet fuel fire does not explain how eutectic reactions...

Eutectic. Nice word.

My rage became eutectic when I heard that Burger King stopped selling Whoppers and my Country Wide stock value plummeted.

[Reinmoose]

Maybe Countrywide's stock keeps having issues because the company was named to sound like an all-you-can-eat buffet

[Jim Bob]

Or the collection of giant fat asses I see every day here in SC.

[Butler T Reynolds]

Regarding Frank Luntz: F--- You Frank!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cjHZZonCQc

And why did FOX not bring up the newsletter? B/c they knew his response. They did not want him to talk about the Republicans' other failed war: the War on Drugs. Especially not in South Carolina.

[VM]

Jake Boone | January 10, 2008, 11:21pm

once again, Jake highlights the salient aspects of the discourse.

In fact, upon further reading of Jake's thoughts, a Kudos to him is in order!

[J sub D]

F.A. Llujah,
Seek help! Immediately.

[VM]

J sub - FAL should take Prof. Jerry Hathaway's advice: "up the voltage".

[pilight]

RP blew the 9/11 Truthers question. The best answer would have been something along the lines of...

"I don't tell people what to think or believe. I don't tell people how to act. That's governor Huckabee's platform. All I can do is tell you what I believe..."

[TrickyVic]

"""he bangs women who aren't his wife before winning 9/11."""

Winning 9/11? That's funny since it wasn't much of a fight.

[VM]

there's a mayor who's sure
that his positions are pure
and he's running on nine--- eleven.

your position he'll twist,
blame the islamofascist,
cuz he's running on nine--- eleven.

(with apologies and credit to Capitol Steps)

[Mark D]

You show there is something fishy with Ron Paul, but this is a *HUGE* issue for libertarians and we *NEED* Reason to do a full investigation not a piecemeal one!!!!
Is the Ron Paul newsletter really replete with these sorts of comments? or is it only a couple issues in the 1990-1992 timeframe? If its only in the 1990-1992 timeframe, why? what changed? I want tables!!! Is there a bigger issue in the 2008 elections for libertarians? Answers! I want answers!