Live Thread - NBC News/Tampa Bay Times GOP debate tonight on NBC

.2012presidentialelectionnews.com ^ | 1/23/12 | nate

[TexasFreeper2009]

All four remaining GOP candidates have been confirmed for tonight's debate sponsored by NBC News, the Tampa Bay Times, The National Journal and the Florida Council of 100. The debate will take place at the University of South Florida in Tampa. This will be the first of 2 debates this week focusing on the Florida GOP primary on Tuesday, January 31st. Note the air times on the east and west coast.

Television Air Time: Monday, January 23rd at 9pm ET, 8pm CT and 9pm PT on NBC

Live Streams: (airing 9pm ET) NBCPolitics.com, National Journal, and TampaBay.com

Participants: Gingrich, Romney, Santorum, Paul

[ConservativeInPA]

You, sir, are succinct. Excellent reply. I think I was taking the drinking game too seriously.

[af_vet_rr]

Actually the analysis by NBC has been rather favorable to Newt I think. Not so much for Romney.

Either they are trying to make this race last, or because Newt's the man of the moment and most likely the long haul. After what ABC did to Newt, he's snubbing them. NBC is tanking hard in the rankings and can't afford to lose access to Newt.

[logitech]

WOW! 1500 Hits. I was gonna ask if anyone else noticed the two vampires behind Brian Williams? Nevermind.

[BobL]

“Perry was buried here at FR because he didn’t oppose his state’s giving in-state tuition for illegals...And Here Gingrich seems to support some part of the federal dream act, which Perry opposed. “

I don’t remember Gingrich calling people that disagreed with that position ‘heartless’ - which is EXACTLY the contempt that Perry has always had towards conservatives that disagree with him. That’s more what killed Perry, otherwise you’re right, Santorum would be in the running.

[uncbob]

Problem is Romney was up in the early voting ( I think it was around 12% of the voters )by those who didn’t see the first debate so Newt starts out behind

[glock rocks]

Yep. Chris is a three syllable name in many parts of the south :o)

[untwist]

It really is a heavy situation and I view Newt’s statement as a call out to Conservatives in general and the Tea Party specifically. The moderates are killing us. We need Tea Party conservatives. We need a president who has the guts of Wisconsin governor Scott Walker. Walker can’t do it alone. He will need a fighting army to defeat the wild union recall effort. I think this is the track Newt is on.

[llandres]

“Her loaded question on “the threat of an oil spill” was shot down by Santorum. Her question regarding government documents and campaigning is just as stupid.”

And - what about the other guy’s question about the Everglades???

Sheesh - liberals are so obvious.

[greeneyes]

I think Newt postitioned himself well with people over 65, the cuban, and hispanic communities.

[j.argese]

The Establishment may want warfare but I’m thinking they won’t once it starts and sure as Hell won’t when it’s finished.
The American people do not want a second term for nObama.
The RINOs are going to look exactly like the guys who laid them off and put them out of their houses.
Result, the RINOs will be extinct ...

[nicmarlo]

Newt took the stark comparison of the state killing an innocent citizen versus the appeals granted a condemned murderer.

You say Jeb didn't "wimp out"; he began boldly to defend and promptly caved to Judge Greer, George Felos, and Michael Schiavo.

Exactly! And Newt should have gone further by stating that Terri Schiavo DID NOT give permission to off herself, IN WRITING, if in a vegetative state; that was hearsay lies promulgated by the very person who would benefit from her murder: Michael Schiavo. Therefore, absent consent, the default position should have been LIFE, as guaranteed under the Constitution.

[exit82]

Thanks, I had forgotten Palladin’s card on the TV show!

[Will88]

I just don’t become a big fan or supporter of very many individual politicians, but look at where they stand on the issues. Wanted Palin to enter, then hoped Cain would follow through on his surge, but...

Now I see problems with all those left, but the most important thing is to get Obama out of the WH. Am mostly an observer now and will support the eventual nominee. But, yes, there does seem to be a lot of shifting emphasis on the illegal immigration issue and the various proposals.

[50mm]

Have Bile Will Spew reads the card of a trollman.
A troll without honor in a FReeper land.

His forked tongue for hire head's the breaking wind.
A spewer of nonsense is the troll called Palladin.

Palladin, Palladin
Where did you go?
Palladin, Palladin,
ZOTted doncha know!

To be added or removed from the Viking Kitty/ZOT Ping List, FReepmail Darkwing104 or 50mm.

[WalterSkinner]

..NBC's top brass probably carefully observed how Newt played off of and inspired the audience in SC and were dedicated to having a hall with a little more life than a morgue--It was bizarre

Also there seemed to be an effort to rehabilitate Romney, who looks weak and desperate. Santorum had a good night because he backed away from the whining--somebody talked to him

Newt didn't hit any grand slams tonight but he got several hits...

[ConservativeInPA]

Thank you very much. He made my blood boil. Now let’s figure out a way to ZOT Barry.

[glock rocks]

I view Newt’s statement as a call out to Conservatives in general and the Tea Party specifically.

I got the same impression.

[LibsRJerks]

Oh, I noticed them. Vampires — good description! Very Big Brother liberal looking... weirdness.

[Girlene]

I missed it. What was it?

Newt described the difficulties he saw in anyone who became president. I'm TOTALLY paraphrasing here - basically talked about all the entrenched interests that make it difficult to ever make real change in govt. Talked about if he was elected pres. he would need the support of us. This was not a top down fix it approach - we'd be in it together.

[RitaOK]

>>> The ones in charge would rather preside over the wreckage than give up their positions of power. <<<

You know, untwist, if the Establishment cuts the legs out from under Newt, by dropping Romney (with whom I believe they are DONE) and they go and bring in Jeb, or Daniels, there will be open warfare in the Republican Party.

What you said above “” is going to have to be said by Newt in EXACTLY the same way. Voters need to know what he is up against because it is also what WE are up against. Obama benefits from disarray and skates..... Newt is going to have to say it eventually, I believe.

[hoosiermama]

OTOH could it be that Newt's actions toward Juan and King is getting noticed in the MSM and they're cleaning up their act?........a little respect......

Naw!!!!!!

[untwist]

“Problem is Romney was up in the early voting ( I think it was around 12% of the voters )by those who didn’t see the first debate so Newt starts out behind”.

Krauthammer spoke on this tonight and we know he is no fan of Newt. His figure is close to what you quote. He said that 1 in 7 voted already and this is with an expected 11% poll advantage for Romney. Basic math is that with 83% pending, Newt would only need to beat Romney by 2% to win. Given that Newt is on average up 9% in FL right now, this is a big problem for Mitt.

[LibsRJerks]

I think whoever had the idea that we need to stop allowing liberals to interview GOP candidates is right. If this continues, we ought to not just insist, but DEMAND that Obama be interviewed by our best right wing spokespeople.

Or dare him to. And if he doesn’t ...pull the BIAS card!

[Absolutely Nobama]

LMAO!

[reaganaut]

That doesn’t mean there wasn’t much more to the story. As I have said before, I don’t think Newt did or would have done anything wrong, that doesn’t mean that Brit doesn’t think Newt wasn’t involved somehow based upon beltway rumors.

I don’t think the rumors about Newt are true (I do think the gay affair between Brit’s son and the other guy part is though), but if Brit believes Newt was involved it would explain his seething hatred for Newt.

[Kennard]

NBC's top brass probably carefully observed how Newt played off of and inspired the audience in SC and were dedicated to having a hall with a little more life than a morgue

Newt, uniquely, needs that audience feedback. It's part of his makeup. I think NBC figured that out and worked out a way to deny Newt the audience response. Perhaps Romney's campaign had a hand in it. If Newt prevails, watch for Obama's campaign to stipulate no audience applause in the debate rules "to keep decorum".

[mylife]

..NBC's top brass probably carefully observed how Newt played off of and inspired the audience in SC and were dedicated to having a hall with a little more life than a morgue--It was bizarre

What stinks here, is that in the first 'closed' primary, we still have the Dem media shaping the outcome.

[txhurl]

Rick Perry is a gun that wants to work for free. He ain’t in it for the money.

Newt wrote the forward to his book Fed Up. You may not see or hear Perry in Newt’s administration, but you will know he’s there by the targets he drops.

He’ll be Newt’s Chief of Soon-to-be-Ex Staff.

[katiedidit1]

However, many times the earmarks are included in the legislation and that is how congress gets it passed. Earmarks are hurting taxpayers. If you get the time...check out the Citizens Against Government Waste site...fantastic

[Old Sarge]

"He shoulda armed himself..."

[Windflier]

Palladin already rode the lightning.

Yeah, I noticed.

IATZ. Story of my life .. LOL

[Williams]

All the questions were from the left like why can’t we have Spanish as a national language, and won’t you promise to let Iran have a nuke?

But most of all Brian Williams is a deadly bore, even worse than Tom Brokaw, oh my Goodness it was dull and pretentious.

[kristinn]

Thanks for providing the background on this. The rumor was spammed on FR all day during the March for Justice Clinton Impeachment Rally on October 31, 1998. It was ugly. (This was before FR had moderators.)

[xzins]

I remember Newt’s ethics charges. The democrats loaded on dozens and dozens of bogus charges just because they could. All charges except 1 were quickly dismissed.

Trying to go through them all would be insane on Gingrich’s part since they had no substance and answering them would put totally false stories on the air. Why would anyone do that?

So, there was one charge that was initially upheld, but eventually found to be wrong.

Get ready for it. This is real big.

Newt taught a history class.

What was wrong with that? Opponents said it had a political bias. (That was later proven to be wrong.)

Did he take a bribe, engage in fraud, run a scam, use his power to run over people?

Nope.

He taught a class.

[Windflier]

Palladin got the ZOT in post 1420, by Jimrob.

Yep, I saw that.

I may be in after the zot, but I do gots good instincts! ;-)

[tcrlaf]

“I think whoever had the idea that we need to stop allowing liberals to interview GOP candidates is right”

Yeah...
I thought the NBC question about continuing a Federal Swamp Recovery Program was just SPELL-BINDING! Didn’t you?

So much more important than any discussion of gas prices, jobs, the Failure-In-Chief, food stamps, unemployment, welfare, yada, yada. Doncha think???

[nicmarlo]

I agree, but if they’d all vote against spending, period, that could really turn things around. Just like we have to when times are tough. You can’t manage life very well when there’s more going out than coming in.

I’ll check out that site. thanks

[JLAGRAYFOX]

Romney just can’t get a theme out!!! Newt Gingrich handled this evening with both smarts. plan and pragmatics!!! Mitt was ill prepared once again!!! It is really hard to understand how Romney just doen’t get it!!! If Romney repeats his lackluster performance again on Thursday evening, Gingrich is going to win Florida in a cakewalk!!! Also, NBC with Brian Wiliams was a waste!!! His two cohosts were both empty suits with poorly thought and asked questions!!! It’s NBC, the ‘liberal dirt bag” network!!!

[badpacifist]

Newt did just what he should have done. He went in with a plan. Controlled his tongue knowing full well he wouldn't be given time for a full explanation of some Romney attacks. He appealed the to groups he needed to in the “not decided yets.” He was concise with out ever being petty. He did not insult the intelligence of those taking a look at the new front runner. He taught.

[Parley Baer]

I will be very happy if no Florida voters change their minds tonight and Newt maintains a nice lead over Mitt. GO NEWT GO!

[bray]

Andrea has the perfect face for radio and the voice for silent movies.

Pray for America

[nicmarlo]

And Romney KNOWS all of that. He’s scum, trying to throw whatever he can against the wall, hoping that some of it will stick in people’s minds, regardless of how baseless the accusations.

I can’t stand liars. (Telling part truths is not truth-telling; it’s call a lie/deceit.)

[CedarDave]

See this thread:

The Gingrich Ethics Probe (Washington Post compilation of story articles)

[bondserv]

Newt Tweeted Chuck Norris’ endorsement might earn a a cabinet position: Secretary of Attack

Perry could be the Secretary of Southern Border Security and work closely with Chuck Norris on the to make it happen by 2014.

Get to it Texas Rangers!!!

[PhilDragoo]

I will stipulate Newt would have proceeded along the lines you indicate were there world enough and time. The takeaway question: will Jeb read the subtext and know to refuse Rove's entreaty later this year.

[txhurl]

Charles: stop worrying about who we, the army, have as our leader. We are our leader, we just need a candidate to carry while we mow down Zero.

Remember November 2010: Grassroots slaughter of rats and rinos. We’re going to do it again and it frankly doesn’t matter which candidate rides us.

Don’t you see? This is what the Founders envisioned and provided for us.

Our ability to tsunami out the dreck AS A PEOPLE. Stop thinking externally, think wolfpack for now.

[katiedidit1]

I was trying so hard to be lady like it was making me ill...lol but then I thought of Ann Coulter and turning into a shrill shill and that was worse.

[Vendome]

Have you lost your freaking mind?

You’ve been here long enough to make me think we are at least the same age and you should still retain a decent memory.

What? Oh, you’ve been suspended for roughing the passer...

[Williams]

Exactly, if you go back and analyze it just about every question asked boils down to “Isn’t the Obama policy right and it’s impossible to do anything else?”

The invisible elephant in the room is not a single question recognizing taht Obama has the country screwed up.

My God there was even a “Don’t we HAVE TO negotiate with the Taliban?” question.

[BobL]

“You know, untwist, if the Establishment cuts the legs out from under Newt, by dropping Romney (with whom I believe they are DONE) and they go and bring in Jeb, or Daniels, there will be open warfare in the Republican Party.”

You may be on to something. By NBC saying that Newt won the debate, when they easily could have called it a draw, or even called it for Santorum, with credibility, tells me that they clearing the field for someone new to come in, such as Jeb, Daniels, or Christie. Unfortunately, if they don’t do that really quickly, the base may bond with Newt and it will be game over...and The Establishment will look like total idiots.