Open thread: The last, best hope for conservative kind; Update: Mitt backs off on Super Tuesday ads?
posted at 7:41 pm on January 30, 2008 by Allahpundit
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8 p.m. ET on CNN. Romney gets a rare opportunity, at the Reagan library no less: If he figures out a way to take down McCain, he’ll capture the base’s imagination instantly. People were aching for someone to hammer Huckabee about his squishiness and ol’ Fred came through, winning ecstatic praise but not having enough support by that point to do anything with it. Mitt is a different story. If he lays Maverick out by channelling the frustrations you’re hearing elsewhere in conservative media today, he’s got a shot at (finally) getting some people excited. If he doesn’t, he’d better pray Limbaugh et al. have some sort of doomsday weapon in reserve.
Huckabee has an unusual opportunity too, to cement the non-evangelical base’s loathing of him by hammering Romney on McCain’s behalf. If it becomes too obvious a game of good cop/bad cop — especially with Maverick ducking Romney on Meet the Press — the rivers of anti-Huck venom will flow tomorrow like the mighty Mississip, which should be enough to finish off the dumb rumors about him being on the ticket.
Sound off below, and look out for some questions in this vein especially given the dust-up this weekend over timetables. The Arnold endorsement is coming soon, possibly even tonight, and some key southern endorsements are on tap for tomorrow. Exit question: At what time precisely will Hugh Hewitt’s “Romney won the debate” post be published? It’s already mostly written, I’m sure. Over/under is 10:32.
Update: Throwing in the towel?
In a major boost for John McCain, Republican presidential rival Mitt Romney signaled Wednesday he’s not ready to commit to a costly campaign in the states holding primaries and caucuses next week.
Several officials said that on the heels of a defeat in Tuesday’s Florida primary, Romney’s campaign was not attempting to purchase television advertising time in any of the states on the Super Tuesday calendar…
Officials familiar with Romney’s plans cautioned they could yet changes. They said that paradoxically, the Florida defeat had been followed with a particularly strong day of online fundraising. But they added that in discussions so far, the former Massachusetts governor had selected the least costly of a variety of options prepared for his review.
Why wouldn’t he go for broke, unless he thinks he’s throwing his money away?
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He is blinking too much about the judges.
CrimsonFisted on January 30, 2008 at 8:49 PM
Mitt wins that round.
BKennedy on January 30, 2008 at 8:50 PM
Paul is getting the bum’s rush.
imshocked on January 30, 2008 at 8:50 PM
Home run on judges Mitt!
Bringing out Scalia as a favored type. That is singing my song.
SimplyKimberly on January 30, 2008 at 8:50 PM
Just lost my drink on that one
flyboy777 on January 30, 2008 at 8:50 PM
HAHAHA!!!
Ugly on January 30, 2008 at 8:50 PM
This CNN panel couldn’t be any softer if Larry King was chairing it. Barf.
fiatboomer on January 30, 2008 at 8:50 PM
Yeah. Forget Alito and Roberts, give us Thomas and Scalia.
Spirit of 1776 on January 30, 2008 at 8:50 PM
Wow….Romney goes against Reagan on the O’Conner question.
Balls.
The Ugly American on January 30, 2008 at 8:50 PM
Commercia break time. Paul is going off to cavort with some Twoofers.
William Teach on January 30, 2008 at 8:50 PM
woah, no timelimits? Yeah, not when he’s gonna cut you off.
- The Cat
P.S. Yeah Mitt on the Roberts/Alito/Thomas remark
MirCat on January 30, 2008 at 8:50 PM
wohoo break time!
Break out the cheese sticks and lederhosen.
Weebork on January 30, 2008 at 8:51 PM
I agree he won. But just barely and he left a lot of us gagging.
Oldnuke on January 30, 2008 at 8:51 PM
Why does it seem that every time Huck answers a question it is as if he is giving a salvation call?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on January 30, 2008 at 8:51 PM
how many times has mccain completely lied or ignored questions tonight? ridiculous. also…anderson cooper is not a liberal…he’s not a conservative either..but still. hes a lot more neutral than 95% of journalists today.
therightwinger on January 30, 2008 at 8:51 PM
Oh…now that’s funny.
The Ugly American on January 30, 2008 at 8:52 PM
I like Romney, but he just doesn’t inspire me. He’s clearly smart, and I think he’ll make a good president. But he doesn’t inspire me about his philisophical commitment to conservative principles.
TX Mom on January 30, 2008 at 8:52 PM
mccain will turn over the border issue to his new adviser Juan.
mustang1 on January 30, 2008 at 8:52 PM
Anderson Cooper is bi.
Deety on January 30, 2008 at 8:52 PM
“Your boy dances on the graves of some unlucky commuters to make an insignificant policy point. He looks like crap every time he does it.”
Do you always talk about fellow-conservatives that way?
“Dances on the graves”?
Do YOU realize what an absolute stretch that is?
Obviously, your Reagan-conservative credentials are not as sound as the Baptist you loathe.
Al-Ozarka on January 30, 2008 at 8:53 PM
No! You don’t ever want Rush as president, or any elected office. We need him to hold all their feet to the fire. Rush is perfect where he is, he’s good at it.
Oldnuke on January 30, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Either Cooper sucks, or his producer sucks. Even Tim ‘Howdy Doody” Russert presses harder on questions than he does.
fiatboomer on January 30, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Schwarzenegger to endorse McCain Tomorrow.
From the campaignspot.
“I am eendorsing Jan McCain because in tooo-tousand, he vas defeated. He vas knocked down like a little girly man! But he said, ‘I’ll be back!’ And now he is back! He cannot be terminated! He is the running man! He does not offer any True Lies! “
Complete7 on January 30, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Dude! I had to run for the remote. The local commercials are way loud, and I have little ones in bed! I’m awake!
TX Mom on January 30, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Heh.
fiatboomer on January 30, 2008 at 8:54 PM
I like Romney, but he just doesn’t inspire me. He’s clearly smart, and I think he’ll make a good president. But he doesn’t inspire me about his philisophical commitment to conservative principles.
Unfortunately, he’s all we’ve got left in the race… besides a couple of lying 2 faced liberals RINO
colep on January 30, 2008 at 8:54 PM
So, as a recap, when McCain throws out a bunch of names, expect a weak answer or dodge to follow.
“Ok, Rep Paul, you’ve got 30 seconds total to answer my question, and I’m going to take up 20 of those seconds setting up the question.. you have 10 seconds to respond… Go”.
Sad.
Weebork on January 30, 2008 at 8:54 PM
Why would anyone be on the CNN blog for a REPUBLICAN debate? Except to cheer for McCain?
CrimsonFisted on January 30, 2008 at 8:54 PM
Oh, goody. Come back from commercial break to tell us they are taking more commercials.
William Teach on January 30, 2008 at 8:54 PM
“Why does it seem that every time Huck answers a question it is as if he is giving a salvation call?”
Maybe for the same reason the truths he speaks makes your knuckles clutching the remote white.
Al-Ozarka on January 30, 2008 at 8:54 PM
Well, movie time for me.
I’ve got got “Pan’s Labyrinth” in the DVD player.
I’m guessing it will be less creepy than listening to Ron Paul.
Slublog on January 30, 2008 at 8:54 PM
Don’t you hate that? I’ll be watching television late at night and some low-budget commercial will come on blaring loud through the room.
amerpundit on January 30, 2008 at 8:54 PM
Because the only thing that’s worked for him is the preacher shtick, so if it’s all you know, there’s no other choice.
darii on January 30, 2008 at 8:54 PM
If you’re comfortable taking him at his word, based on his record, then that’s your choice to make. But I’m not–his entire career is based on stabbing conservatives in the back every time he craves the adulation of the Democrats and the enemedia. He brags about it. Turning around and screwing all of us again completely fits his pattern of behavior.
Haven’t you only been a McCain guy for like a week, Jetboy?
ReubenJCogburn on January 30, 2008 at 8:55 PM
LOL. Keep on cheering the Chameleon and avoiding reality.
huckfan on January 30, 2008 at 8:55 PM
I think everyone throws around the “strict constructionist” label without really knowing what that is. Justices Scalia and Thomas are originalists with respect to the Constitution and textualists with respect to statutory interpretation. CJ Roberts is widely considered a judicial minimalist. All are conservatives, but there is a difference.
Sorry, but law school has taught me to note these kind of differences
kc2ige on January 30, 2008 at 8:55 PM
Anderson Cooper is going to catch HELL from the Ron-Zombies!
Al-Ozarka on January 30, 2008 at 8:55 PM
I’ll bet if the debate studio looked a bit more like a church sanctuary, the old Huckster would pass the collection plate around to help with campaign expenses.
a capella on January 30, 2008 at 8:55 PM
I was wondering if that was just the local feed in Raleigh. Guess not.
William Teach on January 30, 2008 at 8:55 PM
CNN replaying the attach question, classy
MirCat on January 30, 2008 at 8:55 PM
I hear that. I think he is head/shoulders smarter then the rest of the candidates, but he doesn’t project political convictions like career politicians.
Spirit of 1776 on January 30, 2008 at 8:55 PM
LOL
darii on January 30, 2008 at 8:55 PM
McCain is stumbling badly on several of the questions. Agreed? I also think Mitt handled himself very well in responding to McCains BS and I noticed the charges Mitt led against McCain were met with the same old “I’m very proud of my record”…
kcd on January 30, 2008 at 8:56 PM
Sigh.
Looks like I’m gonna have to get my money back from Mitt. The only way he could fire everyone up now would be to bitch slap McCain right out of his chair.
BacaDog on January 30, 2008 at 8:56 PM
And could McCain’s voice be any more monotone?
He sounds like someone reciting the contents of a cereal box.
The Ugly American on January 30, 2008 at 8:56 PM
Yup. But, hey, now I know there’s going to be a rodeo. Like there isn’t one every year at the same time.
TX Mom on January 30, 2008 at 8:56 PM
Yes, just like McCain has learned his lesson on immigration. Just ask Juan Hernandez, Lindsay Graham and Mel Martinez.
amerpundit on January 30, 2008 at 8:56 PM
“Because the only thing that’s worked for him is the preacher shtick, so if it’s all you know, there’s no other choice.”
You have something against preachers?
Bigot!
Al-Ozarka on January 30, 2008 at 8:56 PM
O.K, o.k. FIRST LOOK AT PRESIDENT FILL-IN-THE-BLANK!
I`m just trying to do my part. :)
ThePrez on January 30, 2008 at 8:57 PM
He’s trying very hard to stay calm and not lose his cool.
TX Mom on January 30, 2008 at 8:57 PM
Fred!
infidel on January 30, 2008 at 8:57 PM
Goody, BDS from Anderson.
William Teach on January 30, 2008 at 8:57 PM
kcd,
I have noticed that McCain is stumbling a lot. I guess his powers are only effective the closer he is to D.C.
Weebork on January 30, 2008 at 8:57 PM
Only thirty minutes left? Wow.
darii on January 30, 2008 at 8:58 PM
I honestly don’t know how these guys do this. I would be so exhausted I wouldn’t be able to think straight, much less spout out facts like they do.
TX Mom on January 30, 2008 at 8:58 PM
Speak the truth, Mitt.
The Repubs are not better than 8 years. Partially because of McLame.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on January 30, 2008 at 8:58 PM
Again applause for Mitt.
Lovin’ it.
The Ugly American on January 30, 2008 at 8:58 PM
Ha ha ha “The other side was “What, Me Worry?” LOL.
BKennedy on January 30, 2008 at 8:58 PM
Yeah, commercials always pull that crap to get you to notice them. I used to work in appliance repair, and people would ask me if I could fix that on their TVs. Sorry, folks, it’s in the signal, not the TV.
ReubenJCogburn on January 30, 2008 at 8:59 PM
Democratic candidates = “horror” when discussing Iraq.
Sweet, Mitt.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on January 30, 2008 at 8:59 PM
Has anyone noticed how McCain squirms when he is lying to America? His answers on Immigration were plain, flat-out lies. Nobody contested him.
cannonball on January 30, 2008 at 8:59 PM
Peggy Noonan is a conservative. She just got tired of Dubya dissing the base.
fiatboomer on January 30, 2008 at 8:59 PM
Mitt just got applause on the Bush has kept us safe statement. Go Mitt!
kcd on January 30, 2008 at 8:59 PM
And those aren’t comfy chairs.
- The Cat
MirCat on January 30, 2008 at 8:59 PM
Wow, Mitt.
amerpundit on January 30, 2008 at 8:59 PM
Homerun…
repvoter on January 30, 2008 at 8:59 PM
Yes Mitt!
Stay in the house that Reagan built.
SimplyKimberly on January 30, 2008 at 8:59 PM
Mitt is getting the bulk of the applause from the audience.
imshocked on January 30, 2008 at 8:59 PM
daril,
Yeah… it’s been sixty minutes? (Doing my best Keanu Reeves “Neo” impersonation) “Woah…”
Weebork on January 30, 2008 at 8:59 PM
Keep hammering the entitlements, Mitt. Show people because of McLame why the gov will be reaching more into their pocket.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on January 30, 2008 at 9:00 PM
Yep…since about 24 hours after Fred dropped out. *sigh*
Again, and not to sound cliche, McCain ain’t perfect, but I cannot trust Mitt Romney. Not at all. And, as it stands, McCain is the best, by far, hope of a Republican keeping the White House.
JetBoy on January 30, 2008 at 9:00 PM
Why are these guys sitting at what appear to be 5th grade school desks?
MrC_5150 on January 30, 2008 at 9:00 PM
“We’re in the house that Reagan built . . .” good answer!
TX Mom on January 30, 2008 at 9:00 PM
Wow. I LIKE that. “We are in the house that Reagan built. Let’s STAY in the house that Reagan built.”
Thank you.
I have tears.
CrimsonFisted on January 30, 2008 at 9:00 PM
Good, clear this up in front of everyone.
Spirit of 1776 on January 30, 2008 at 9:00 PM
Can someone slap the smirk off of McLame?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on January 30, 2008 at 9:00 PM
I was thinking the same thing!
TX Mom on January 30, 2008 at 9:00 PM
It’s okay Mitt……..call out McCain’s bold-faced lie
The Ugly American on January 30, 2008 at 9:00 PM
Mitt smacks McCain again.
BKennedy on January 30, 2008 at 9:01 PM
Look at McVain with his smug as smirk.
p0s3r on January 30, 2008 at 9:01 PM
Dammit Mitt! Stop stuttering!
fiatboomer on January 30, 2008 at 9:01 PM
McCain makes me physically ill.
TexasBella on January 30, 2008 at 9:01 PM
Bitch slap him Mitt!!! Out of his chair!!
BacaDog on January 30, 2008 at 9:01 PM
What is McCain laughing at?
- The Cat
MirCat on January 30, 2008 at 9:02 PM
Clear as day!
Spirit of 1776 on January 30, 2008 at 9:02 PM
Mitt slams McCain, uses Reagan against McCain.
amerpundit on January 30, 2008 at 9:02 PM
McCain’s already smirking.
“Candidate of change” linecoming?
Deety on January 30, 2008 at 9:02 PM
Suck it easy, McCain.
fiatboomer on January 30, 2008 at 9:02 PM
Yes!!! Mitt!!!
mikeyboss on January 30, 2008 at 9:02 PM
DANG IT! My tivo flipped over to Lost! right when Mitt was saying “Absolutely, unequivically…” ? ? ?
What did I miss?
cannonball on January 30, 2008 at 9:02 PM
To huge cheers. GO MITT!
BKennedy on January 30, 2008 at 9:02 PM
I’ll bet when it’s McCain’s turn, he brings up how he was instrumental in the strategy change in Iraq.
Weebork on January 30, 2008 at 9:02 PM
I know, but it is interesting how that article managed to work its way into the debate.
William Teach on January 30, 2008 at 9:02 PM
Hoo Boy! Mitt’s going after Juan on the timetable issue.
a capella on January 30, 2008 at 9:02 PM
Mitt sounds like he could go all night with this.
Impressive.
The Ugly American on January 30, 2008 at 9:02 PM
It’s a slightly more refined version of Bush’s language problems.
darii on January 30, 2008 at 9:02 PM
reprehensible!
go mitt!
ctmom on January 30, 2008 at 9:02 PM
McLiar don’t like having his lies pointed out.
SimplyKimberly on January 30, 2008 at 9:02 PM
JetBoy on January 30, 2008 at 9:00 PM
Do you trust Sean Hannity’s judment? He reasured a caller today that if she had any doubts about Romneys sincerety, she should lay them to rest. He said Mitt is genuine.
kcd on January 30, 2008 at 9:02 PM
I wanted Mitt to SMACK the smug off McCain.
CrimsonFisted on January 30, 2008 at 9:02 PM
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