Live Thread (CNN Presidential Debate from Mesa, AZ, Feb 22, 8 PM EST)

CNN.com ^ | 02-22-2012 | parksstp

[parksstp]

LIVE DEBATE THREAD (Is it too early to start?)

[Severa]

Our 12 and 15 yr old sons are still awake so I gotta keep the outloud cussing at a minimum (dammit) Romney’s little smirk is irritating me bigtime and we’re just getting started...

[Reagan69]

Ricky talks too much. yack, yack, yack

[Shelayne]

Stacked audience much? I think they would have screamed and whistled if Mitt said, “I’m Mitt Romney, and I just made a poopy.”

Good grief.

[newzjunkey]

Romney can’t keep it short.

Stumble bum Santorum ran over on his first answer. He tried to be pithy with "remedial math" and failed miserably.

[Cato in PA]

I KNEW IT! Romney takes a huge crap on Santorum before he even gets started. He’s trying to repeat the Florida debates.

[katiedidit1]

GO NEWT!

[sheikdetailfeather]

Did you hear that CNN woman say that if Newt pulls what he did the last time she thinks he will be levelled?

[bray]

Mitt’s attack on Rick is weak, blaming him on the entire Sinate.

Pray for America

[billys kid]

Newt’s tie is pretty purple...is that in honor of the first day of Lent?

Hubby & I said the same thing. I bet he is.

[Vision]

John King doesn't even let everyone answer the first question before he tries to facilitate candidates attacking each other.

[Severa]

In following WWE wrestling, we call that “piping in crowd noise” oh and Newt just got skipped WHAT A SURPRISE...

[CynicalBear]

Mitt going negative on the first question? Newt is going to shine tonight if he stays with his promise to stay positive.

[MagUSNRET]

The audience is so stacked, I fully expected to hear John King say the National Anthem would be sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir!!

[Red Steel]

CNN give mittens the first attack question against Santo by attacking Santo’s spending voting record. ...

[Artcore]

I would enthusiastically vote for Newt or Rick! OK, in full disclosure, I’m more of a Newt Guy...but hey!

[matt1234]

King sets the table for Romney.

[rodguy911]

Newt is going to have to make his own moments CNN will avoid him the best they can.

For sure.

Newt won SC because he stood up to the DBM in the form of John King,question is will he, can he, do it again?

[Jane Long]

Today on Hannity, Milt kept (weirdly) saying “whoever the nominee is”. Kinda strange...he said it at least three times.

[show]

And John King was caught off guard. You can tell John King practiced how he would react to Newt Gingrich in order to lesson Newt’s effect with the audience.

But he wasn’t expecting Newt to nail in his intro and quickly turned his shocked face into a controlled face which he had rehearsed which resulted in John King’s Prune Face.

Someone needs to get Newt’s opening line on youtube stat. And John Kings reaction.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Not watching but listening only. And clearly RON PAUL got the least amount of opening applause. And MITT ROMNEY clearly ran way with the largest amount of applause. In fact I think he bought out the place, quite frankly.

[Red_Devil 232]

Tag team to keep Newt from answering - here we go at attenpting to shut Newt out!

[imchris]

Santorum said Mitt = Occupy Wall Street :)

[mylife]

Peeing contest with Ricky and Myth!

[CAluvdubya]

If this is just going to be Romney and Santorum then there’s no reason to watch.

[2111USMC]

The audience is so stacked, I fully expected to hear John King say the National Anthem would be sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir!!

LOL!

[katiedidit1]

Damn congress talks about entitlements BUT they get a hefty pension for LIFE and the best healthcare if they only serve ONE term=4 yrs.

[KJC1]

This has all the fixins for a Santorum/Romney duel. These moderators start this sh*t from the get-go.

Having said that, I bet Newt is inwardly laughing, lol.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

I am so right there with you.

I think Santorum sounds good tonight.

[mardi59]

Here we go. King gives Romney the opening to attack Santorum and he takes it. Now Santorum goes at Romney. King is not giving the other two a chance.

Romney bragging about himself is getting quite boring.

[Irish Eyes]

Santorum is running on and on and on.

It is going to go back and forth all night with Romney and Santorum , with rebuttal time.

[Red Steel]

Mittens says Santorum raised the debt ceiling 5 times.

CNN now going after Newt of spending. Gingrich pivots against CNN.

[Pravious]

“If this is just going to be Romney and Santorum then there’s no reason to watch.”

A cure for insomnia?

[rodguy911]

We are stuck with a charisma challenged gang of four.That said, any are better than the dear Leader.

[MagUSNRET]

I would love to see a graph (Ala that fella with his “dial a response”)....so show REAL TIME< how much time the candidates are taking to respond....Im guessing Mittens would be off the charts (hence the reason we will never see the aforementioned clock graphs ;-)

[Bronzy]

I hope so. It has been Rick & Mitt so far.

[Toespi]

All Romney all Santorum. Bs

[mylife]

Newt/Perry!

[KansasGirl]

I can’t atand the way Romney sits there staring down Newt! listen and learn, Romney!

[Reily]

To me the applause level between Romney and Newt seemed about the same. Paul seemed to have fewer followers there tonight.

[imchris]

CNN now asking Ron Paul to attack Rick.

[Jane Long]

Newt giving a great answer to the McShame smear.

Great job, Newt!!

[Revolting cat!]

I generally hate vodka, but luv Svedka!

[Red Steel]

CNN now using Paul to go after Santorum.

Calls Santo a Fake!

[KansasGirl]

So I’m just tuning in. It seems Paul is Romney’s attack dog.

[ct_libertarian]

And Newt doesn’t take the bait!!!

[LostInBayport]

Not watching but listening only. And clearly RON PAUL got the least amount of opening applause.

I'm listening only too (gave up satellite tv for Lent). Someone will have to tell us if Ron Paul's eyebrow starts heading south!

[Vision]

Now we all have to watch Paul giggle to himself while he hallucinates.

[Severa]

I’ve seen drunks walk better than how Ron Paul talks. Holycow, he needs to get his thoughts together better. And that little laugh of his...

[Jane Long]

Rick’s looking at RuPaul like the old Chevy Chase on SNL...lol.

[sheikdetailfeather]

I noticed that. Newt won’t even look at him. Romney is trying to intimidate him. Always does that.