Newt Appalled...Astounded, Are You Kidding?

thedailybeast.com

Newt Gingrich had fun last night and once again, made a tactical decision to go after the Republican Party's favorite nemesis, the vaulted "Elite Media" at the Southern Republican Presidential Debate.  From the opening bell and John King's first question to Gingrich, grand theatre would be played out on the North Charleston stage.  Using words such as appalled and astounded, Gingrich managed to deflect the whole question from CNN's King and turn it to his favor with roaring support from the Republican faithful in house. 

The question was the "open marriage" issue that surfaced from an ex-wife in an ABC interview.  Newt rolled the dice knowing full well that the Tea Party Patriots would rally to his side with thunderous support. 

The debate itself was extraordinarily the best of the bunch so far.  There were superb moments for each of the candidates.  Rick Santorum made every effort to draw distinctions between himself and frontrunners, Romney and Gingrich.  He performed brilliantly but everyone was overshadowed by Newt Gingrich who continues to elevate his performance at these debates playing to the party base.  Ron Paul even had a few strong moments but clearly was a sidebar to the battle among the top three. 

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Santorum's discussion on immigration was probably the best crafted response I have heard from any candidate anytime on this divisive issue.  His stance is clear and concise with no wiggle room.  He believes if you entered the country illegally, you are an illegal and need to leave.  Straight-forward and to the point.  I give him credit for having a valid and supportable argument even though I don't agree with it entirely.  His stance is solid and unwavering on this issue and his fellow candidates should probably endorse it.  It would be in stark contrast to the Democratic position and one worth debate. 

Mitt Romney continues to drop the ball on the release of his tax returns.  This will plague his campaign seriously until he does so.  Upstaged once again by Gingrich who beautifully timed the release of his tax returns online during the debate itself and announced by CNN's King.  Unfortunately, for Romney, the standard set for release of tax returns was set by his own father, George Romney, who released 12 years of tax returns.  Both Santorum and Ron Paul easily deflected the tax return issue by Santorum saying his were on his computer at home and he isn't home to complete them and Ron Paul indicating that he doesn't have comparable income to the other candidates. 

It was clear at the end of the Southern Republican Presidential Debate that this Republican campaign season is far from over.  Gingrich won the night with Santorum easily outdistancing Romney for second.  Gingrich will win South Carolina's primary.  The real question is if Santorum will overtake Romney for second place.  What was once considered a walk for Romney is now up in the air.  The Romney campaign is in trouble and will need to rethink their way forward. 

Appalled and astounded...sure you were, Newt.  John King and CNN played right into your hand and you knew they would.   Gingrich was ready.  He pounced on the question taking full advantage of the support he knew he would garner from the Tea Party faithful.  Newt's tactical strategy was effective and the results will clearly be in his favor Saturday Night when the State of South Carolina pushes him to the top of the heap.        

Just A Hunch - Occupy Romney - May Be In The Wind!

theskunk.org

I have a feeling that a few folks may be thinking like I am that there is a soft, gentle breeze blowing in the direction of the fruit basket.  This soft, gentle breeze could quickly turn into a gale wind should Mitt Romney's tax records become public and scrutinized for all to see.  I am confident that Romney has paid his taxes in full and has nothing to hide with regard to meeting the letter of the law.  Having said that, I am also confident that release of his tax records will open the eyes of the 99% and Occupy Romney will begin to take shape. 

Truth of the matter, I am confident that much of the 1% have already voiced their concern with Newt Gingrich's campaign about opening this window.  If Newt does as well as I suspect in South Carolina's primary this Saturday, I suspect the Super Pacs will get to work in short order doing their best to attack Newt and state his shortcomings.  As far as we know, all of the tax advantages that Romney enjoys are within the letter of the law.  I think we can be confident of that.  What will startle most folks is that he is paying a smaller percentage of his earnings in taxes than you and I. 

Less tax than school teachers, fireman, police officers, hospitality workers, sales representatives and the list goes on and on.  This revelation will harm his campaign significantly unless they are able to spin it in such a fashion that makes it more palpable to the American people.  I suspect that will be a hard sell and count on the Democrats to put their very own spin on his financial holdings.  This is a huge wild card for the Romney campaign and they should have been prepared to deal with the fallout. 

It won't be easy though.  Romney's $10,000 bet offer with Rick Perry.  His notion of worrying about a paycheck.  These were small signals that Romney was out of touch with the regular citizen and his campaign is going to have their work cut out for them. 

If indeed, as has been reported, he has significant holdings off-shore, look for it to get even messier.  This will be all acceptable and practical to the 1% but I can't imagine how the 99% are going to respond.  This message is the one trumpeted by the Occupy Wall Street movement and Mitt Romney is just going to give it legs again.  I don't know that the Democrats will need to do much in way of attacking Romney as I suspect Newt, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum will do the dirty work for them. 

Will the tax issue be enough of an issue to propel Gingrich or Santorum to the top?  Too early to tell but the Republican race could become very interesting in a hurry.  The Romney camp has been exceptionally slow to respond since Monday Night's Debate request both by Gingrich and Perry for him to release his tax records.  Chris Christie, the popular New Jersey Governor, told him to release them as well.  Everybody is waiting now and this very issue will be the lead story for every news cycle for days to come. 

The prime networks, the cable news operators and every newspaper in America will have their financial investigative reporters on the story.  Once they start digging, there might not be any wrong doing but rest assured, the message will not be an attractive one for Mitt Romney.  Occupy Romney - Here We Go!

My First Presidential Debate - Exciting, Disappointing & Energizing



washingtonpost.com

I walked away Monday Night from the Presidential Debate right here in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina knowing a little more about each candidate seeking his party's nomination for the Presidency.  I also learned that manners really do matter and there were quite a few in attendance that should be taken out back behind the tool shed and taught some.  The setting was grand.  Lots of star power with Fox News, the Governor and of course, the five candidates. 

Even though I share few of the ideological beliefs that the five candidates do, I was impressed once again in how great our nation is.  I really felt a part of our democracy at work.  It really does matter that we participate in this exercise every four years.  I would not have missed the opportunity for anything, well, maybe an evening with my best friend.  It was a special experience for me even though I am not a Republican.  I enjoyed the back and forth between the candidates and I learned more about their views and what is important to them.  The questioning by the panel was excellent.

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There were two significant revelations for me on Monday Night.  One, Mitt Romney is concerned about releasing his tax information.  Two, Ron Paul is out of touch with the reality of living in a dangerous world.  Romney was non-committal about his tax returns and today, we see first-hand the media latching on to this very issue.  Paul thinks we can ignore a nation like Iran as well as relieve ourselves of any international involvement. 

In the end, I'm not sure it matters much what Ron Paul thinks or says.  He has a solid group of supporters but not nearly enough to lead him to the nomination.  Romney on the other hand, will need to take the release of his tax returns seriously. 

Based on Newt Gingrich's performances in the debates, especially here in Myrtle Beach, I'm already saving my money in hopes of grabbing a ticket to Newt's dream of debating President Obama should he somehow win the nomination.  He is absolutely a great debater and I suspect an Obama-Gingrich debate would be record-setting television.  How much fun would that be.  Wow!

Rick Santorum is indeed the true conservative.  He has convinced me.  Just a little too much ideology for me.  Rick Perry just needs to return home and run his great State of Texas.  He seems to be hanging on in hopes of fashioning a future run perhaps.  He should be just a little more careful about what he may have to back away from in the future.  Some of his ideas are out there.  I must admit that I was disappointed that Jon Huntsman had resigned his quest.  I would have enjoyed the opportunity to hear him speak. 

I arrived at the convention center not knowing if I would be able to sustain myself for the entire evening.  I had slept all day trying to fight the effects of having the flu.  I took my seat not with chills of anticipation but the chills associated with a high fever.  I just couldn't miss the opportunity that I worked so hard to grab a ticket for.  Although disappointed in the crowd's behavior, I left the convention center that evening feeling excited, exhilarated actually by being a very small part of our nation's history.  It really is great being an American.           

Debate Crasher - One Tough Ticket For A Liberal!

communities.washingtontimes.com

Attending events at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center is not new to this writer.  Over the years, I have attended training events, boat shows, festivals, concerts, basketball games, trade shows and numerous other events at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.  I have purchased supplies and capital needs from vendors at the Hotel and Restaurant Show; I have interviewed hundreds of job seekers at the Annual Job Fairs and watched my daughter play high school basketball on the converted court. 

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All of these will pale in comparison to my visit to the Myrtle Beach Convention Center tomorrow, Monday Night, January 16.  I will be crashing the Republican Presidential Debate as the lone liberal.  Crashing might be somewhat overstated as I do have a ticket.  How a blue blood Democrat secured a ticket to this Republican event is an entirely separate story.  All I will say is that bartering took place, promises were made and money changed hands.

Although attending a Republican Presidential Debate has not made the "bucket list", it does stand tall among the many events I have attended in my lifetime.  This will be my first presidential debate and I am looking forward to seeing behind the curtain.  Presidential debates in our nation have significant history and tradition behind them.  Even though this debate is leading up to the nomination process, it is an important part of our free democratic society. 

upi.com

Who would not have wanted to be in the audience when Abraham Lincoln debated Stephen A. Douglas in 1858.  The two candidates had 7 debates in all and they remain in history as the most celebrated oratorical debates.  They debated slavery and The Union.  What about the Kennedy-Nixon debates of 1960.  They shared the stage four times and much of their debate focused around communism, Cuba and our nation's security. 

The issues facing these Republican candidates vying for their party's nomination are different than the issues that faced Lincoln and Douglas and even Kennedy and Nixon but every bit as significant for our nation today.  Today's issues of jobs, debt, security, immigration and a whole list of others make for a spirited forum to debate.  Unfortunately, much of tomorrow evening's debate will be about bashing President Obama and each other rather than trying to draw distinctions between candidate's views and plans. 

breakthematrix.com

Nevertheless, it should be a spirited event and one that I am looking forward to.  I am not a heckler and certainly not a protester so you won't be seeing me on camera trying to upstage this event.  As the lone liberal in the crowd, I will keep a rather low profile.  I do fear that a few of my Republican friends in attendance might think that I am considering a change in party affiliation.  Rather, I will be a part of this great nation's political process as these candidates try to work their magic in hopes of gaining support for their party's nomination. 

You never know, maybe some of the conservative, ideological viewpoints will capture my imagination and propel me to consider a new affiliation.  We shall see.