Open thread: The “And then there were four” debate; Update: New Mitt ad mocks McCain
posted at 7:30 pm on January 24, 2008 by Allahpundit
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9 p.m. ET on MSNBC. “And then there were two and a half” would be more accurate. Giuliani’s still in the mix but he’s pulling only 11% on InTrade; Huckabee barely rates. If trends hold it’s Mitt versus McCain for all most of the marbles on Super Tuesday with Rudy and Huck hoping and praying (respectively) for miracles. McCain can expect flak from Romney on immigration and the economy and Rudy on that catastrophe fund he keeps bringing up to try to remind people of 9/11. Will Huck rally to Maverick’s side or let the other two take him apart? Look out for pandering praise for ol’ Fred too to try to win over any ‘Heads still on the fence. Mitt’s web team already has a little bait on the hook. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him attack MSNBC for laughing at Fred’s concession speech last weekend if the opportunity presents itself.
As for what McCain might have waiting for Romney, how about some straight talk about his mad economic skillz?
Video highlights later/during; as always, sound off below. While you wait, shed a tear for former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich as he inadvertently joins the vast right-wing conspiracy. (Ten years and going strong!) This is amusing too, from one of the lefty blogosphere’s leading lights. Follow the comments, as always.
Update: That didn’t take long.
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Ron Paul: Do you stand by the papers of racism and bigotry that were endorsed by your name?
LordMaximus on January 24, 2008 at 9:45 PM
Yes, but that’s the playing field. Right now Democrats have the inside track for the Presidency and the questions merely represent that. Doesn’t bother me, but to each his own.
Spirit of 1776 on January 24, 2008 at 9:45 PM
Good catch!
bnelson44 on January 24, 2008 at 9:45 PM
Actually, Mitt was very smart not to ask McCain a question. The last thing Mitt wants is to give McCain airtime. Think about it.
locke on January 24, 2008 at 9:45 PM
No joke. Just get to the question, governor.
Slublog on January 24, 2008 at 9:45 PM
Easter eggs….
HuckaBigots “Jesus” comment.
Was it good for you?
csdeven on January 24, 2008 at 9:46 PM
I like Limbaugh’s voice impression of McCain…makes me laugh.
ColdBore76 on January 24, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Churches hold easter egg hunts and crap like that all the time, which is why I said churches, not Christianity, now quit crapping on my jokes…
doubleplusundead on January 24, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Mitt softballs Rudy taking the high road and being a “Nice” guy LOL. AWESOME strategy!
-Wasteland Man.
WastelandMan on January 24, 2008 at 9:46 PM
This question and answer segment is ridiculous.
fourstringfuror on January 24, 2008 at 9:46 PM
To me Rudy seems a lot better tonight than at the last debate.
He got a good and well-deserved slap at Bill Clinton for gutting the military in the 90s.
ReubenJCogburn on January 24, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Fair tax question will trip HuckaGantry up me thinks.
csdeven on January 24, 2008 at 9:47 PM
odds are Paul ask Rudy a question.
paultards hate rudy as much as the left do
jp on January 24, 2008 at 9:47 PM
I was actually hoping he wouldn’t. I’d hope that he punks McCain vis a vis immigration in the course of the debate. I hate to have a question come up and McCain get the last spin on it.
Spirit of 1776 on January 24, 2008 at 9:47 PM
it’s more of a drive-by crapping. A strafing affect, if you will.
ColdBore76 on January 24, 2008 at 9:47 PM
Nice. Giuliani hits the Clinton defense cuts.
Slublog on January 24, 2008 at 9:47 PM
Rush impersonating McCain:
“Shut up, shut up, I was a POW and didn’t want amnesty. SHUT UP”
LordMaximus on January 24, 2008 at 9:47 PM
Tis sounds like its kind of it turning into a Love fest! I hope so cuz I’m sure the MSNBC clods are wanting a pie throwing fight.
-Wasteland Man.
WastelandMan on January 24, 2008 at 9:47 PM
lol
Spirit of 1776 on January 24, 2008 at 9:48 PM
Huckabee’s response is reasonable. Not perfect, but reasonable.
fourstringfuror on January 24, 2008 at 9:48 PM
Sigh. Am I the only one missing Fred’s feistiness in this debate?
michaelo on January 24, 2008 at 9:48 PM
Hate to go here, but I agree with Huck on trashing the income tax.
fiatboomer on January 24, 2008 at 9:48 PM
Huck just quoted DR PHIL?
:/
Ugly on January 24, 2008 at 9:48 PM
Dr. Phil quoted at debate.
World ended.
malan89 on January 24, 2008 at 9:48 PM
If you want to stifle activity, you tax it. The fair tax would stifle purchasing.
csdeven on January 24, 2008 at 9:49 PM
Zing!
fourstringfuror on January 24, 2008 at 9:49 PM
Who did McCain throw that softball to? It was a lame questions by McCain and he just handed a major issue to Huck! What the hell is he thinking?
AUINSC on January 24, 2008 at 9:49 PM
I can’t believe Stallone is backing McCain…ughh.
ColdBore76 on January 24, 2008 at 9:49 PM
Coming from a Mitt supporter: Hell no. He’d shut Brian Williams up on the stupid lights thing immediately.
malan89 on January 24, 2008 at 9:49 PM
Russert is a ho. He doesn’t even know his facts.
fourstringfuror on January 24, 2008 at 9:49 PM
lol Huck. Non-Republicans. FUNNY. That was a good line about no more underground economy too.
Spirit of 1776 on January 24, 2008 at 9:49 PM
Good point. In today’s economy, we certaintly don’t want to discourage spending.
malan89 on January 24, 2008 at 9:50 PM
ok huckabee just killed it with the Fair Tax.
SMACK DOWN froms Huckabee
(as sad as that is)
-Wasteland Man.
WastelandMan on January 24, 2008 at 9:50 PM
csdeven on January 24, 2008 at 9:49 PM
Show me a study that concluded an imbedded sales taxes decrease the purchasing of anything in any state.
ColdBore76 on January 24, 2008 at 9:50 PM
Huckabee looks silly whenever he says, “prostitutes, pimps, drug dealers”.
Wow. Tim Russert with an intelligent follow up question.
joncoltonis on January 24, 2008 at 9:50 PM
Dr. No lets ‘er rip!
fourstringfuror on January 24, 2008 at 9:50 PM
No, which is why I keep wanting Mitt to smack McCain.
He’s fighting Hillary and Oprah for the brainless housefrau vote.
doubleplusundead on January 24, 2008 at 9:51 PM
Paul asked a calm, rational question? Mon Dieu!
fourstringfuror on January 24, 2008 at 9:51 PM
Paul just nutshotted McCain.
p0s3r on January 24, 2008 at 9:51 PM
McCain is stumped and is dropping names to bail himself out.
It’s obvious he has no clue what to say.
csdeven on January 24, 2008 at 9:51 PM
THe look on McCains face when being asked that question. Wheres AP or Bryan with the Screencap magic?
-Wasteland Man.
WastelandMan on January 24, 2008 at 9:52 PM
Good job Paul, exposing McCain’s loose economic understanding.
Spirit of 1776 on January 24, 2008 at 9:52 PM
McCain to Ron Paul: “DERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR”
MrSteve on January 24, 2008 at 9:52 PM
Yeah, that’s some real effective name-dropping there, John. All us under-30-year-olds have a strong affiliation with Jack Kemp.
askheaves on January 24, 2008 at 9:52 PM
God, McCain is just babbling. Paul really might have just saved America!
p0s3r on January 24, 2008 at 9:52 PM
Yea, but it seemed kind of an obscure question, or I misunderstood it.
bnelson44 on January 24, 2008 at 9:52 PM
Uh-oh, Huck just went at Mitt’s weak spot.
doubleplusundead on January 24, 2008 at 9:52 PM
2nd Amendment question! w00t
Ugly on January 24, 2008 at 9:52 PM
HERE WE GO. Answer that you Romney ass.
muyoso on January 24, 2008 at 9:52 PM
I made in,snark ohoy,nice line from Huckabee
on the pimps and prostitutes aren’t Republicans,
thank the lord.hehe
canopfor on January 24, 2008 at 9:52 PM
To be fair to McCain, the question was asked by Ron Paul…
Slublog on January 24, 2008 at 9:53 PM
Yes! Great question, Huckabee.
fourstringfuror on January 24, 2008 at 9:53 PM
Rock on mah Britha Rock ON!
-Wasteland Man.
WastelandMan on January 24, 2008 at 9:53 PM
circle o friends mumble mumble
mccain sucks
I call win for Romney
windansea on January 24, 2008 at 9:53 PM
Poor answer against by McCain – he would rely on other people to do things for him as President. This is the second time he has endorsed himself by promoting his “support team” as opposed to his own strengths.
ApartforHaShem on January 24, 2008 at 9:53 PM
But what did he ask?
bnelson44 on January 24, 2008 at 9:53 PM
BOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Sorry Mitt, bad answer.
doubleplusundead on January 24, 2008 at 9:53 PM
ohhh Huck that hurts but I am curious for that answer too!!!!
-Wasteland Man.
WastelandMan on January 24, 2008 at 9:54 PM
Romney’s answer was fair. It is an individual right, not a state right.
fourstringfuror on January 24, 2008 at 9:54 PM
Mitt just said he would sign a assault weapons ban
William Amos on January 24, 2008 at 9:54 PM
Huck slaps Mitt on the 2nd Amendment and scores! Somebody didn’t do their homework….
AUINSC on January 24, 2008 at 9:54 PM
Agreed
Ugly on January 24, 2008 at 9:54 PM
This is Mitt’s weakest point, imo. I don’t worry too much about it because I don’t think it’s a big issue in the next few years, but man can Mitt hurt himself on this issue.
Spirit of 1776 on January 24, 2008 at 9:54 PM
I think Mitt and Rudy are best buds. they have the Yankees and Redsox, Giants and Patriots afterall
jp on January 24, 2008 at 9:55 PM
Whatever, I’m feeling generous, +1 for the Paulnut for smacking McCain.
doubleplusundead on January 24, 2008 at 9:55 PM
Gang up on Romney now…
BLEH….
-Wasteland Man.
WastelandMan on January 24, 2008 at 9:55 PM
there you go Hollowpoint
no new assault weapon bans
happy?
windansea on January 24, 2008 at 9:55 PM
The Corner didn’t understand Paul’s question either:
Whaaa? [David Freddoso]
Paul’s question for McCain — what was that about?
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZTdhZWRmMjBmNmNiNTRhNWQ0Y2Y1YWU1NjM4NDkyNjQ=
bnelson44 on January 24, 2008 at 9:55 PM
Good question Rudy.
Spirit of 1776 on January 24, 2008 at 9:55 PM
In what way? I’m a life member of the NRA and I thought he handled himself well.
davenp35 on January 24, 2008 at 9:55 PM
Bad decision by Mitt…
Vizzini on January 24, 2008 at 9:56 PM
@ windansea on January 24, 2008 at 9:55 PM
Not happy here. He will sign anything that comes to his desk, that is the impression I got. He doesnt “support” it, but he sure will sign it if it makes its way to his desk.
muyoso on January 24, 2008 at 9:56 PM
what was?
ColdBore76 on January 24, 2008 at 9:56 PM
i wonder if Rudy and Mitt agreed to low-ball each other. oooo scandal!
McCain’s face when Paul was asking him that question was pretty priceless.
locke on January 24, 2008 at 9:57 PM
Huh? I’m still trying to decipher what Mitt said- in earlier debates and interviews he said he’s for it, he say’s he’d sign it… but he’s against it.
It’s bad enough to be “for it before you were against it”, but Mitt seems to be “for it AND against it” at the same time.
He gave a waffling non-answer. Color me unimpressed.
Hollowpoint on January 24, 2008 at 9:57 PM
He needs to back away from this support of Nanny Bans, the 2nd voters will destroy him if he doesn’t play along after they fought for ten years to get the Clinton Nanny Ban sunsetted.
doubleplusundead on January 24, 2008 at 9:57 PM
I want Mitt asked these questions so he is very clear on his position.
Oh Jezze! McCain slips in the global warming rhetoric. What a liberal.
csdeven on January 24, 2008 at 9:58 PM
I think he was trying to be polite and answer a question that I don’t think anyone understood.
bnelson44 on January 24, 2008 at 9:58 PM
“Increase the risk pool.”
Sounds like socialism to me.
fourstringfuror on January 24, 2008 at 9:58 PM
Mitt’s response on the weapon ban. I’ll defer to VodkaPundit for the analysis.
Vizzini on January 24, 2008 at 9:58 PM
We should appoint Al Gore to stop the global warming so houses don’t get attacked by the bad weather – problem solved.
ApartforHaShem on January 24, 2008 at 9:58 PM
Ah, John McCain, friend of Gaia.
AUINSC on January 24, 2008 at 9:58 PM
“more and more violent weather patterns take place…” – hmm
Ugly on January 24, 2008 at 9:58 PM
Color us surprised.
csdeven on January 24, 2008 at 9:58 PM
He also said that the laws currently on the books, if enforced, are adequate to protect people and provide for the right of individuals to bear arms.
Troy Rasmussen on January 24, 2008 at 9:59 PM
Global warming! McCain’s favorite subject!
fourstringfuror on January 24, 2008 at 9:59 PM
Aww, geez, here comes the Global Warming crap.
ReubenJCogburn on January 24, 2008 at 9:59 PM
Actually, it’s just saying that we should allow private industry to assume less risk.
Slublog on January 24, 2008 at 9:59 PM
Yep. Of course he can’t change that position publicly at the moment without creating a ton of flip-flop fodder.
Spirit of 1776 on January 24, 2008 at 9:59 PM
oh laaaaawwwwd McCains is talking about how the weatherpatterns are getting worse YEESH Indis and Libs cant vote for you in this primary dumbass you dont need to pander to the Gloabal warming swindlers.
-Wasteland Man.
WastelandMan on January 24, 2008 at 9:59 PM
McCain: I will stop Global Warming like I stopped the North Vietnamese
LordMaximus on January 24, 2008 at 9:59 PM
McCain surely did not.
csdeven on January 24, 2008 at 9:59 PM
Russert, you whore! How much is McCain paying you?
fourstringfuror on January 24, 2008 at 9:59 PM
Russert, you loathesome Gorebot.
fiatboomer on January 24, 2008 at 9:59 PM
I feel like a total douche quoting myself, buuut,
And let’s not forget how big a role the AWB played in the 94 Revolution.
doubleplusundead on January 24, 2008 at 9:59 PM
See – I was ahead of the game. I answered two questions with one answer.
ApartforHaShem on January 24, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Ah, Tim Russert, friend of Gaia!
AUINSC on January 24, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Tell me it was a strong, definitive answer. I dare ya.
Hollowpoint on January 24, 2008 at 10:00 PM
@ Troy Rasmussen on January 24, 2008 at 9:59 PM
Which they arent.
muyoso on January 24, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Global warming is a national security issue? WTF?
fourstringfuror on January 24, 2008 at 10:00 PM
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