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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More process questions: how are you going to win; what your mom said; how do you run against the Clintons; television ads and election budgets? Can we get back to the issues questions, like, um, illegal immigration.
Over30 on January 24, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Russert, why does this matter? Oh yeah, you’re a Democrat.
fiatboomer on January 24, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Nice try, Russert. What a flippin’ moron.
fourstringfuror on January 24, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Go ahead. Most of your comments require an entire salt mine. But you go ahead and keep pretending that you haven’t been in the tank for Mitt since January.
Hollowpoint on January 24, 2008 at 10:12 PM
ooooh I loved it but guess whos in Billary’s sights now
Mitt is public enemy Numbah 1!!!
-Wasteland Man.
WastelandMan on January 24, 2008 at 10:13 PM
“How much of your own money are you spending?” What a weird question! And to be so pushy about it. Let’s focus on the issues facing this nation.
TX Mom on January 24, 2008 at 10:13 PM
OMG Did I just hear Romney say “I don’t care about the voters”?!?!?!????
B-O-M-B
lsutiger on January 24, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Russert is such a punk
jp on January 24, 2008 at 10:13 PM
SCREW YOU…Russert…what is his deal? forget it…I know that anser
LordMaximus on January 24, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Mitt is funding his campaign. He should admit.
bnelson44 on January 24, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Did they ever ask Kerry that question in 2004?
jp on January 24, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Russert: TELL US HOW MUCH YOUR SPENDING!!!
Russert is a D!CK
Troy Rasmussen on January 24, 2008 at 10:13 PM
“I’m not worried about the voters.” – Romney
Quote of the year??
muyoso on January 24, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Russert is a joke as a moderator. Seriously. This is getting ridiculous. I This is like Sean Hannity hosting the Democratic debate.
henzou on January 24, 2008 at 10:13 PM
I hate that freak …
wahhh
what do you think it means, Tim? It means an up-tick in hired interns, rented rooms in the Whitehouse and whore-games.
And Tim, way to promote class and wealth envy…I swear I would take an A&B charge to smack the sh*t out of Russert.
ColdBore76 on January 24, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Tim being a JERK about the money thing
-Wasteland Man.
WastelandMan on January 24, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Russert is really kind of being a jackhole on the money question.
Who cares? It’s his money.
Slublog on January 24, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Um nope. Wrong context.
geckomon on January 24, 2008 at 10:14 PM
He can’t let it go! What a Demwhore.
fourstringfuror on January 24, 2008 at 10:14 PM
This is a stupid question. The guy put some of his money behind his ideas. Why is that a bad thing? Oh, it’s not!
Spirit of 1776 on January 24, 2008 at 10:14 PM
yep, mission accomplished for Russert
jp on January 24, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Glad it isn’t just me.
ColdBore76 on January 24, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Mitt wrapped that up very well. He’s not beholden to some campaign contributor.
p0s3r on January 24, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Spirit of 1776 on January 24, 2008 at 10:07 PM
hope your right
jerrytbg on January 24, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Don’t screw this up Mitt
fiatboomer on January 24, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Ah yes – the Mormon issue. They couldn’t let it go could they?
fourstringfuror on January 24, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Not sure why Russert thinks this is such an important question
bnelson44 on January 24, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Man these as*&holes are after Mitt big-time…it’s disgusting.
ColdBore76 on January 24, 2008 at 10:15 PM
The Drive by media will have a field day with that,,,RIP Romney..who’s next?
lsutiger on January 24, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Issues? Can we get back to the issues?
Over30 on January 24, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Mitt slaps down the MSM gang-bang…good on him!
AUINSC on January 24, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Why do you sign all your comments?
Vizzini on January 24, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Russert has a major attitude problem.
therightwinger on January 24, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Mitt should say:
“Yes I do contribute to my own campaign which is not illegal, unlike some who use foreign bundlers to gather millions to support my campaign!!”
LordMaximus on January 24, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Wow, I’m late coming in; are the moderators biased against Mitt tonight?
geckomon on January 24, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Maybe, but spending $20-$30 million out of pocket might just give the impression that he wants the job just a little too much.
Hollowpoint on January 24, 2008 at 10:15 PM
I guess Mitt’s focus is on HRC now.
fourstringfuror on January 24, 2008 at 10:15 PM
BASTARDS no one else is getting the religious litmus test!!!!!
absoulut ASS_WEASLES!!!!!!
-Wasteland Man.
WastelandMan on January 24, 2008 at 10:15 PM
They’re hitting Romney hard now because they (MSM cretins) are Libs and they fear him. He is the most electable person in the entire race–both sides.
IrishEi on January 24, 2008 at 10:15 PM
NBC is going to go the full 90 minutes without a single question about immigration.
krabbas on January 24, 2008 at 10:16 PM
Ahh undead…too bad we didn’t bet on beer…what’s important in Russert’s feeble little mind? not the illegal immigration-Mormonism…what a f**king Jerkwad.
ColdBore76 on January 24, 2008 at 10:16 PM
Did Mitt say
“I don’t care about the voters, I care about the guys on this stage?”
Hmmm.
Big S on January 24, 2008 at 10:16 PM
What kind of idiot question is that,for Mitt
how much have you spent,ask the Libs that
question Russert,if you dare.
canopfor on January 24, 2008 at 10:16 PM
Tim Russert WTF man? Mitt’s in it to win it, of course he’s gonna invest in his own campaign. Dumbass. I ought to kick you in the balls.
CABE on January 24, 2008 at 10:16 PM
Mitt getting lots of time to make points. The rest of the candidates are squirming. And you know that bigot HuckaScammer just wants to scream some more of his patented religious bigotry.
lol
csdeven on January 24, 2008 at 10:16 PM
That line is gonna be used to bludgeon the hell out of Mitt. Russert gets his scalp. They’re trying to boost JMac.
doubleplusundead on January 24, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Of course not- it’s MSNBC. Mitt handled the question well though.
Hollowpoint on January 24, 2008 at 10:17 PM
That was a solid 2-3 minute stump speech by Mitt. I doubt that is what they had in mind. Nice pair of answers. Enough with the religious test. *cough* unconstitutional *cough*
Spirit of 1776 on January 24, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Paul is right – Social Security is going down the tubes.
fourstringfuror on January 24, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Hollow point, he as a businessman has the most to loose by taking the job, he owns his own world…everyone else is clawing and biting for this job because it is a promotion for all of them..
ColdBore76 on January 24, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Of course they will.
Ugly on January 24, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Why don’t we all?! Yay!
-F I A T B O O M E R
fiatboomer on January 24, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Yes Big S almost per verbatim!
canopfor on January 24, 2008 at 10:17 PM
It appears you totally missed the context.
csdeven on January 24, 2008 at 10:17 PM
I like how Mitt said that spending his own money means that nobody bought him if he gets elected. I’d love to see that question play out if he was running against Hillary, who’s bought and paid for by the Chinese.
ReubenJCogburn on January 24, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Paul – I’ll save the elderly by selling their grandchildren into foreign slavery…
AUINSC on January 24, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Again, who cares?
It’s his frigging money. Let him spend it if he wants. Better he spend his money on this than take “public (read: my) funds.”
Slublog on January 24, 2008 at 10:18 PM
Yep. Look for that from the Hillary or Huck camp in the near future.
Spirit of 1776 on January 24, 2008 at 10:18 PM
lol
ColdBore76 on January 24, 2008 at 10:18 PM
Yeah, that wasn’t good. Not good at all, Russert was looking to trip Mitt up and he got what what he wanted.
doubleplusundead on January 24, 2008 at 10:18 PM
I think I’ll start signing my posts.
-Ron Paul
Ugly on January 24, 2008 at 10:18 PM
Mitt was saying he wasn’t worried about the voters knowing how much he spent, but needed to keep some things quiet as he competes with the other candidates. Taking this out of context would be extremely disingenuous.
mikeyboss on January 24, 2008 at 10:18 PM
I will say Mitt handled those two questions VERY well.. they were pretty tough, pointed, and relentless.
henzou on January 24, 2008 at 10:18 PM
Here comes the class warfare from HuckaBigot.
csdeven on January 24, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Huckabee shoots . . . he misses.
fourstringfuror on January 24, 2008 at 10:19 PM
We know he didn’t mean he doesn’t care about voters, right? Although some dishonest person will spin it as such later on.
geckomon on January 24, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Tacky, Huck.
Graybark on January 24, 2008 at 10:19 PM
:P
-Arthur Vizzini Branch
Vizzini on January 24, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Huck’s answer was classless. What an jerk. Kindergarten, nothing nice to say, keep your mouth closed.
Class warfare candidate.
ColdBore76 on January 24, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Huck goes back to Mitt’s money for a joke. Not sure it is funny to Mitt.
bnelson44 on January 24, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Grrr, shut the hell up, Huckster, you pandering jackass. (Re: his cute little crack about Mitt’s kids’ inheritance.)
ReubenJCogburn on January 24, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Russert is getting slapped by Huckabee, and I like it.
fourstringfuror on January 24, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Only from completely biased intellectually dishonest people.
csdeven on January 24, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Paul is trying to convert the youth to Paleo-land, 1930’s America First insanity…by tying all these issues like Soc. Security’s problems into Foreign Policy. as if there isn’t other things that cost far more.
somewhere, Osama and Ahmadinejad are smiling.
jp on January 24, 2008 at 10:20 PM
You’ve got it exactly right. Thanks to McCain-Feingold, you’ve got to be rich or famous to run for president. Rudy and McCain are famous (as far as politics go). Mitt’s rich. If we really wanted to make a fair comparison as to spending, we should count all the money McCain spent running in 2000 which gave him the national name.
sweetlipsbutterhoney on January 24, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Credit to Huck for stomping on Russert.
fiatboomer on January 24, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Dude, you’re talking about a guy who just referenced Dr. Phil, tackiness is obviously not a concern.
doubleplusundead on January 24, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Wow! Huck impresses me . . . then it passes. Whew!
geckomon on January 24, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Going to the moon was possible with 1960’s technology.
Overhauling the tax system to this degree may not be so easy.
askheaves on January 24, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Who whispered (Raised taxes?) Anyone else hear that?
ColdBore76 on January 24, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Let me sum it up for you Huck:
Say: Save social security by legalizing illegal immigrants to increase the tax base. You know you want to.
Spirit of 1776 on January 24, 2008 at 10:20 PM
The Little Red Book of
Quotes from Chairman Huckabee
“Mitt rich man, rich man bad.”
malan89 on January 24, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Did anyone just hear the whisper after that question? Someone whispered “raise taxes”. Tipping off Romney so he doesnt sound like an idiot?
muyoso on January 24, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Holy smokes, there’s a debate tonight? That’s what I get for watching some sci-fi reruns.
Better throw some thoughts in.
If I hear the word “steward” from McCain one more time, I am going to go nuts. Stupid focus group words.
I can’t wait for it to be down to three.
Weebork on January 24, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Of course he can spend it as he wants- but my point still stands. One of the problems with politicians is that they are primarily motivated by the desire to win re-election instead of how to best serve the country.
Hollowpoint on January 24, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Exactly!
davenp35 on January 24, 2008 at 10:21 PM
@ColdBore76
I heard it.
askheaves on January 24, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Either that, or you’re a paulbot obsessed with conspiracy theories.
Slublog on January 24, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Has Russert been asking these “trick” questions all night?
geckomon on January 24, 2008 at 10:21 PM
I heard it.
fourstringfuror on January 24, 2008 at 10:22 PM
i.e., you, the youth, are paying into Social Security and other programs and will get nothing from it all because of “unneccassary wars” and our “Empire”…blah, blah, blah.
its all over youtube and myspace, being communicated to the youth/young adult demographic.
jp on January 24, 2008 at 10:22 PM
FTFY
doubleplusundead on January 24, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Way to grab that third rail and hold on, Mitt!
fiatboomer on January 24, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Well, by my clock they only have 8 minutes and they haven’t touched it yet… I think they are trying to protect JMac. Either that or their just that inept that they wouldn’t ask questions about one of the biggest issues in this election.
krabbas on January 24, 2008 at 10:22 PM
It was a class-warfare cheap shot.
Hollowpoint on January 24, 2008 at 10:22 PM
russert’s questions started out as tough but fair, then become tough and pointless at the end.
locke on January 24, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Wrong. HuckaDummy did that to avoid answering for his stupid proposal that has no chance of passing.
csdeven on January 24, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Right on. Great point about McCain.
I think external wealth is fine, helps us break out of only career politicians representing our country.
Spirit of 1776 on January 24, 2008 at 10:22 PM
I heard it
Deety on January 24, 2008 at 10:22 PM
geckomon:
Yes.
ColdBore76 on January 24, 2008 at 10:22 PM
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