[The GOP debate is on CNBC right now. Let's use this as an open debate thread -- Pach]
Guess who’s back in the news, thanks to his appointment as Chairman of Fred Thompson’s Leadership Team? Howard “What did the President know and when did he know it” Baker of Tennessee, former ranking member of the Senate Watergate Committee, and mentor to Fred Thompson.
Fred’s brought Howard Baker out of retirement, so perhaps he can answer some questions about Fred’s role as counsel to the minority on the Watergate Committee. Specifically, inquiring minds want to know if then-Senator Baker was aware of Fred’s role as White House mole. Did then-Senator Baker know:
The day before Senate Watergate Committee minority counsel Fred Thompson made the inquiry that launched him into the national spotlight — asking an aide to President Nixon whether there was a White House taping system — he telephoned Nixon’s lawyer.
Thompson tipped off the White House that the committee knew about the taping system and would be making the information public. In his all-but-forgotten Watergate memoir, “At That Point in Time,” Thompson said he acted with “no authority” in divulging the committee’s knowledge of the tapes, which provided the evidence that led to Nixon’s resignation. It was one of many Thompson leaks to the Nixon team. …
Fred Thompson’s career in politics and acting was launched with his service on the Watergate Committee. Won’t Howard Baker tell America whether Fred’s mole-role was authorized by the GOP membership of that committee? In other words, does acting with “no authority” mean he acted without your authority, Senator Baker? And if you did know about his mole-role, did the chairman of the committee know as well?
I can’t imagine North Carolina Senator and Watergate Committee Chairman Sam Ervin being happy that your main staffer was a direct pipeline into the Nixon White House.
Fred writes in his memoir:
“Even though I had no authority to act for the committee, I decided to call Fred Buzhardt at home” to tell him that the committee had learned about the taping system, Thompson wrote. “I wanted to be sure that the White House was fully aware of what was to be disclosed so that it could take appropriate action.”
Senator Howard Baker: Do you really think America needs yet another President who is entirely comfortable acting with “no authority?”
(YouTube Nixon Watergate montage by Plug)
P.S. I may have additional questions for Fred Thompson’s Leadership Team Co-Chairs at a future time. They are Liz Cheney (daughter of Darth) and George “Macaca” Allen.
Related posts:
- FDL Book Salon Welcomes Howard Dean, Howard Dean’s Prescription for Real Healthcare Reform
- Howard Dean: “$1 Trillion Is NOT New Money”
- Happy 10th Birthday CEPR, Dean Baker & Mark Weisbrot!
- Let’s See Who Else Owes Howard Dean an Apology Today
- Howard Dean: Reconciliation Will Cause Public Option to Be Available Sooner
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hola!
I have not watched any GOP debates. I will watch tonight.
Some where out there, I have a zed on a dead thread.
and I was agreeing with OK’s candidate list on the dead thread.
Rudy, Mittie and Freddy. The creme of the Republican crop. Good gawd.
It’s the Blame the Brown People debate!
Oklahoma kiddo @ 2
It’s on CNBC now
Well, that pretty much makes it official. Fred Thompson is an untrustworthy creep.
Is anyone watching the debate.
EvilDrPuma @ 8
a lazy untrustworthy creep…
JPL @ 9
There’s a debate?
Sorry, had to share with the world-
Liberty U grad, Friend of Falwell, Minister dies in bizarre sex play
Some things are better unexplained.
who will be the first to start the moveon.orgy?
EvilDrPuma @ 8
There was a doubt?
JPL @ 9
Not if I can find a crappy old movie somewhere.
tommy yum! Hola indeed! where you been?
Paddy @ 12
Out of respect for the dead, I’m trying very very hard to not laugh out loud.
What time is this GOP thing on tonight? What channel?
TJ @ 14
Not really, but I don’t like to stick my neck out too far.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 18
Right now.
Actually I can see lots of commercials for our nominee from this. McCain said that hedge funds paying 15% taxes and average citizens 30% was fair. He tried to backtrack but not convincingly.
JPL @ 7
Thanks.
Ooh a few shots exchanged between Boody and Mutt about who reduced taxes. boody talking about beinghonest! Wow.
he is sooooooooooooooooooooooooo much more honorable than junior
bwahahahahahaha
Who’s asking the questions?
JPL @ 21
I expect we’ll see that on McCain’s tombstone: “He tried to backtrack but not convincingly.”
“Richard Nixon is a no good, lying bastard. He can lie out of both sides of his mouth at the same time, and if he ever caught himself telling the truth, he’d lie just to keep his hand in”. Harry S. Truman
Howard Baker? Man…. That’s a name out of the past. Several pasts, actually.
I still having problems with Fred’s “Soviet Union” pronouncement the other day. I haven’t wrapped my mind around this new one yet. However, I am also thinking that he might be rather easy to beat to a pulp if he were the nominee for the GOP.
Tancredo wants to fix or end Social Security. Thompson is uming a lot.
zeppo @ 28
it would be a bloody mess
JPL @ 29
Let me guess: “fix” means “privatize.” So what he means is that he wants to end or end Social Security.
Duncan is helping Thompson answer his question. Kinda cute really.
JF @ 20
On CNBC. Same old Republics: arguing about who will has and will cut taxes more because everyone knows that’s why the economy is the way it is. Wish they’s ask them why the Canadian Dollar’s worth as much or more than a US dollar now. WHy’s an Ausi dollar worth about the same?
Freddie Fizzle does not look or sound particularly good.
Replay tonight on MSNBC @ 9:00
1,622 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..
Citizen TeddySanFran and the Firepup Freedom Fighters:
With all due respect but WHO THE HELL CARES ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN DEBATE??!!
Bring me up to the minute news from Iowa (Jesus Christ, IOWA!)…the future of democracy is bein’ settled in Iowa fer God’s sake!!
KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION…THE BATTLE AGAINST FASCISM IS BEIN’ WAGED IN IOWA!!
Tweety and some TH I don’t recognize asking the qs
NorskeFlamethrower @ 35
We don’t want no fascists ’round here. They don’t subsidize farmers.
I’m not sure what McCain is saying. Wish I had tivo so I could listen again. I don’t think that he likes spending money on dna for bear study.
do-si-do @ 36
Maria Bartiromo.
do-si-do @ 36
thanks!
Tancredo on his immigration rant.
I can’t believe I am watching this tripe.
JPL @ 41
I just love it when rich white guys rant about immigration.
JPL @ 41
Yeah! Being loud makes it right!
Oklahoma kiddo @ 42
Is your brain oozing out your ears yet?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 42
Glad it’s not me.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 42
It’s fun especially when you try to repeat what they say. Try it. It like transcribing bull s..t
Question to Mitt: are you a Bush Republican on trade?
Mitt Romney spent most of his “career” inheriting money.
JPL @ 9
not me.
i’ve had c-span on all day, ‘cuz i don’t want to miss anything on fisa… and so, for the last few hours i’ve been listening to speeches on the necesity of naming a variety of post offices after various people i’ve never heard of, a law to require that gas canisters must be sold with a child proof cape even when sold empty… apparently there’s a law for child proof caps for the sale of gas filled gas canisters – who knew?, and a bunch of other stuff i’ve thankfully forgotten.
if i try to watch the debate now, it’ll push me right over the edge.
Trust Fund Mitt wants to offer himself as a business expert
Paddy @ 12
That certainly is OT, but I would note that the setting as described in the police report http://www.thesmokinggun.com/a…..cuba2.html (go to the top of the second page of the report on the Smoking Gun site) does not sound like something you could arrange all on your own!! Straps around wrists and ankles and more?? and _2_ wet suits? One is hard enough to put on! (for legitimate purposes …)
Naah. ‘autoerotic’ doesn’t cover it.
do-si-do @ 51
Let’s let him offer himself to Iran. That has to count as an economic sanction.
Thompson, Baker, Liz Cheney and Macaca Allen?
That’s a fucking joke right? I’m having a very horribly casted dream right?
Someone wake me the hell up! Please!
Dear Lord, please rapture Boody.
Hey kiddo what’s Guiliani saying. I think all the poor chinese are going to start buying our products.
from the post: P.S. I may have additional questions for Fred Thompson’s Leadership Team Co-Chairs at a future time. They are Liz Cheney (daughter of Darth) and George “Macaca” Allen.
‘Tonedeaf’ doesn’t begin to describe this team. What do you suppose the projected demographic for this candidacy must be? Not too pretty at all.
The woman sounds a bit
like a harpybrusque?All of them still think that “cut taxes” are magic words.
Badwater @ 59
It’s like a dog whistle to Republicans.
Romney needs a cheer leading skirt.
Tweety and Maria Bartiroma(or something like that) are asking questions. She is a financial news guru on CNBC. She is pretty good on questioning.
JPL @ 56
I thought the Chinese already made women’s clothing.
does mutt’s cheery condescending “everyone likes me because I’m rich and handsome” act wear thin on anyone else?
Freddie Fizzle obviously didn’t rehearse the Reagan role enough to be ready to debate.
EvilDrPuma @ 63
Well he did mention that we could export health care and energy independence. Just not sure how happy the poor chinese children will be opening a package of energy independence.
SassySandy @ 62
The “Money Honey” does carry a little baggage of her own on conflicts and such
behindthefall @ 57
Calling Darkblack! Calling Darkblack!
Please create a demographic graphic :)
SassySandy @ 62
Close. It’s Maria Bartiromo.
JPL @ 66
Export health care? Who the fuck on this planet would want American health care?
Badwater @ 65
He doesn’t want to there. He just wants to beam and smile reassuringly at everyone, and that should be enough! [applause please]
do-si-do @ 71
BAWAHAWAHA! standing ovation
So, The answer is Yes.
I was stuck downstairs all by my lonesome.
And, being Blonde, it took me a minute to figure it out.
But, as they say, better late than never.
Fred Thompson is a lot taller than Rudy.
And, he’s an idiot too.
Sorry, was cranky for being left out.
Rudy sez, “Don’t throw the tar baby out with the blackwater” or some shit. I’m surprised the building doesn’t lift off with the all the hot air. Fred “Wilfred Brimley” Thompson looks like he’d rather be having a scotch and soda than this debatin’ crap or whatever.
Thank the lord a break watching this is hard work.
EvilDrPuma @ 70
I caught that too!
Typical USA is #1 attitude. WE don’t have problems! Other countries have the problems and we have WINNERS!
I bought a Levi’s denim shirt today. Made in Indonesia.
Since they are most all very wealthy, how about asking each Republic candidate what jobs they created with their part of the Bush tax cuts?
I got to the ‘debate’ about 1/2 hour late. Has there been questions about Iraq and Iran yet?
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York unveiled the second biggest domestic policy idea of her Democratic presidential campaign today, proposing to spend $20 billion to $25 billion a year to create 401(k)-style retirement accounts for all Americans and provide federal matching money of up to $1,000 to middle-income people.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10…..mp;emc=rss
What the hell is she doing? It looks just like a version of Bush’s privatized Social Security that would be handing over Billions$$$ to Wall Street. And what exactly happened to Social Security as the government retirement plan? If she’s not handing over a boondoggle to the Insurance companies with her mandatory Health Insurance then she’s in bed with Wall Street Investment Banks.
Hillary = Republican Lite, Corporate Heavy
Oklahoma kiddo @ 77
Braggert ;)
Oklahoma kiddo @ 77
Practically all our seafood comes from Indonesia…my insides must be fully lined and very easy to wax and clean now.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 79
It’s on the economy or something like that.
Tail between our legs.
They wish it was that long. I say.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 79
dont’ think so. Mostly a pissing match between mitt and boody about who cut more taxes in their career and who is more honest, hah!
No Fred. The largest threat to world peace is the GOP.
RockPaperScizzors @ 80
RPS
Like I said last week…
arrangements have been made.
Now stop putting the truth out there and just go along with the program, alright? ;)
Can we just administer a lie detector test to the candidates?
I want each of them asked at what point they will lower taxes to. Zero? Would zero taxes be best, with everyone paying Blackwater as private guards for their own gated communities?
Fred’s suit jacket doesn’t fit right. It always amazes me when rich guys have clothes that don’t fit.
Mitt “looks like” a President — in 1962. How are they gonna sell him, though, without the “who’d you like to have a beer with?” question? Who’d you like to be polygamous with? Who’d you like to wear funny underwear with?
Fred: It was a failure (Iraq) before it was a success. Now it’s a resounding success.
McCain: service before self. Good John…but no points for all the ass-kissing of the Preznit in between.
JPL @ 88
MRI for empathy please, or any gray matter…
do-si-do @ 85
Are the walls of that place crumbling yet? Any spontaneous fires? Swarms of locusts? Anything?
RockPaperScizzors @ 80
that’s fucking nuts. if her buget has an extra $25 billion a year floating around – put it into social security or medicare. wtf is this? a pay off to her wall street donors who will make lots of fees when people invest it?
Ron Paul just said we are a neo-Colonial power. Well, duh.
Fred’s suit jacket doesn’t fit right. It always amazes me when rich guys have clothes that don’t fit.
You care about Style.
They don’t. Don’t get about presentation, unless you can lie your way out.
Mr. McCain how to you serve the cause of peace by shopping for rugs in Baghdad?
kdh22 @ 92
Just the usual kneedeep bs
Jo Fish @ 94
It’s only the second time he was allowed to speak. His other answer had to do with the rich getting richer at the expense of everybody else.
Jo Fish @ 94
Ron Paul actually makes sense in this part of the debate. He’ll never get elected and will probably be effectively removed from the Republic Party by the Bush goons.
demi @ 95
Maybe he forgot to wear his receiver under it.
demi @ 95
Maybe it’s supposed to look lived-in to match his pickup.
TeddySanFran @ 89
LOL
He’s the one I want to go shopping with…
I wonder if Thompson had to pay for the center podium?
Yo Fred. Sadaam was at one time very much ‘our guy’.
Somebody needs to tell Thompson that Pakistan has nukes.
do-si-do @ 97
Underachievers aren’t they? :)
Sam Brownback: We went to Iraq because of Terrorism. Saddam Hussein bad, Bush Administration good. Brownback-Biden Tripartite Act in the offing. [Oh, please save me]
Fred O’Hollywood: Saddam had WMD (Not!) caveat: back in the 80’s and 90’s. Saddam would still be there murdering their neighbors instead of US-supported Shi’a death squads.
Mitt: Lawyers needed to interpret constitution for prez to go to war…(is it really that hard Mitt?)
Nucularized?
Oh, thank God Fred is here today to show us how to use language.
Mitt’s gonna sit down with his attorneys to find out if he needs to ask Congress to go to war on Iran.
kdh22 @ 105
Yes, but they are trying today. I think they’re starting to throw it at each other a little. Just a little…
Badwater @ 100
But all they all wearing their lapel pins? This is of utmost importance when one is trying to bs the public about their
corporatismpatriotism.Do you think, Mitt, that the Iranians are still smarting from our setting up of the “Peacock Throne”?
lapel pin roll call,
duncan hunter, no pin!
Duncan Hunter sez the Preznit can go to Congress “if you have time.”
ron paul, pin!
do-si-do @ 112
Oh shit! He’s cooked now!
Oh my goodness the knowledge of the constitution is even less than their knowledge of economic.
Ron Paul baffled by asking attorneys — he sez they need to read the Constitution. The thought that Iranians pose an imminent threat is preposterous war propaganda.
I didn’t realize the debate was on in the afternoon. Why wasn’t it scheduled for primetime if Freddie is the “new” Reagan?
Mitt’s the Shitt, but I loves me some Ron Paul!
applause for paul saying disaster to go to war with iran.
I love the stock market crawl at the bottom.
Debate replayed tonight on MSNBC at 9 CDT.
Ron Paul slaps down the chickenhawks using the Constitution. Go Ron!
do-si-do @ 114
But is it a FLAG pin? That guy doesn’t belong up there on that stage with all the ‘real’ candidates. /s
Huckabee talks about the “luxury of going to Congress.”
huckabee no pin!
Clothes that don’t fit = room for a box?
Is that why Gonzo’s suits always looked So Dopey during the hearings?
I’m a girl, what do I know about men wearing clothes that fit?
do-si-do @ 112
treasonous bastard
On the issue of Iraq and Iran, this guy Ron Paul is the only one of the bunch who knows what he’s talking about.
Someone better push McCain’s reset button.
kdh22 @ 124
yes US flag and rather largish for a lapel pins I’ve seen on TV before.
McCain, jeez, I’m having a heart attack, no pin!
Do we only impeach for sex.. These guys are nuts.
Fred sez John has it right.
Freddie, pinned!
Just finished giving a lecture – don’t have a TV – this doesn’t make much sense – are they making the candidates wear wetsuits or something?
do-si-do @ 126
treasonous bastard
Bomb, bomb, Iran! Gawd, I hate these F*ckers…!!!
Ron Paul…ok, he makes a bit of sense…now he makes fun of Mitt and the lawyers. But he seems to never have heard of the War of 1812…I guess the White House self-immolated during that little skirmish.
I’ll watch the lowlights on KO. No way am I going to miss Boston Legal to watch the replay.
Fred: In “a close call, you should go to Congress, as they’ll help you with the American people.”
These dudes are authoritarian fascists, no question.
At least Fred’s southern drawl is probably authentic, not like GW’s fake cowboy drawl.
Badwater @ 123
Yeah, that was awesome.
His flag pin is bigger than Freddie’s, too. Hmmmm.
Hypotheticals? These guys pimping off Hillary.
do-si-do @ 126
He must feel the same as Barack does about ‘Patriotism and The Pin’ :)
Rudi sez it’s “safer” to go to Congress.
CTuttle @ 137
I’m glad that Rudy’s team lost and may Joe be fired just to piss him off.
Rudy is simply nuts.
Boody, pinned!
Same flag size as Ron Paul.
Sorry I can’t listen so this pin thing is getting me through!
Leave it to Guilanni (I Love The Clothes!) to wear a suit that actually fits.
Just saying.
Where in the Constitution do the words “Exigent Circumstances” appear as an out for following the rule of law? It seems to be the favorite phrase of these idiots.
demi @ 148
Mitt’s looks very nice too.
do-si-do @ 149
I figured someone here was gonna need a diversion from the bs being spewed!
Rudi sez we might not have gone to war on Saddam if we were energy independent. Haven’t licensed a nuclear power plant in thirty years. Then lists others forms of energy to support like putting a man on the moon.
Fred – quite a bumbler and Rudy will roo the day he invoked Ron Paul who took full advantage and a bit of Rudy’s time in the bargain. What a bunch of maroons.
demi @ 148
Did Judy select hiis outfit? Has she called yet?
Rudi sez we should be nuclear, France is 80% nuclear.
Do-Si-Do,
Yeah, if you appreciate the tight-assed look!
(i’m grinning at ya.)
Hey Rudy… look at this:
AP – It’s going to be a much more expensive winter for households that depend on heating oil, the government predicted Tuesday, while those that use natural gas should experience only moderate price increases.
TeddySanFran @ 153
You gotta love him for being able to pronounce “nuclear”.
New technology to drill in the everglades and Cali… Rudy? WTF???
Brownback sez you go where the resources are when asked about drilling off the coast of Florida or California.
Brownback, no pin!
Rudy is nuts. Brownback is nuttier, is it the third trimester for his campaign yet?
The problem is: that it takes energy to charge batteries.
TeddySanFran @ 156
And, Sokozy is his BFF.
Tancredo, pinless!
TeddySanFran @ 161
I here the drilling hell is to die for these days.
Tancredo — if you won’t allow drilling of your coast, California, you can’t use energy from Louisiana.
At least Brokeback doesn’t look nuts.
Can we drill their heads???
do-si-do @ 162
That son-of-a-bitch better assimilate!
Higher taxes for oil companies?
According to the Bush people, Iran is nuclear too.
McCain — every state gets to decide whether their state gets drilled for oil.
This is getting tough to take.
McCain sez climate change is real.
A couple of questions they won’t be asked but would like to hear the answers:
Do you believe the earth is flat?
If abortion is made illegal, how much jail time should the woman get?
McCain: “…if pig had wings they would fly, if the big oil companies were good guys they’d use their profits to fund alternative energy research. I believe the latter.”
do-si-do @ 167
This is fuckin’ mutiny! Surely, they’ll all be getting called out on Lou Dobbs Tonight….riiiiight!
TeddySanFran @ 168
So there.. I actually think McCain’s answer is interesting. He wants oil companies to study alternative fuels out of the goodness of their hearts. I now sure whether McCain heard me scream you ahole, they’re OIL companies.
TeddySanFran @ 174
Does McCain thing that every state has oil fields? How about: if you can’t produce oil, you can’t use oil.
TeddySanFran @ 176
Thank Gawd. I thought I was, like, some weird lefty internet fed wierdo.
I’m authenticated.
Huckabee talking about oil profits going to Islamoterrorfascists. That won’t please King Faud.
McCain; get this through your head: many people in the world think George W. Bush and the GOP are the real terrorists.
Ha-ha, Huckabee thinks “Islamofascism” is a word.
Everyone point and laugh.
Jo Fish @ 178
McCain’s fast working himself off of the Bush and Cheney XMas card lists.
demi @ 182
You’re not…???
Huckabee: islamo-fascist terrorists want to kill us! Fear! Fire! Foes! Why, he’s raising the shire.
And he just insulted Jim Nabors and George Lindsay…Fred O’Hollywood just offered to explain who Goober and Gomer are.
Wow… what discourse.
What the hell is Thompson talking about?
Fred: Most economic downturns over the last 25 years have been preceded by spikes in oil prices.
Badwater @ 186
McCain is a case study in the latent effects of torture on the human brain.
My TV just went nuts. The Rapture??
Whoa, Romney beleives in global warming too? First McCain, now the Mittster?
Ctuttle (big hug).
So, this was supposed to be Big Fred’s opportunity?
How do we who are watching feel about that potential being fulfulled?
I say, don’t quit yer day job, fella.
For a religious cultist, Romney makes the most sense of the “front-runners”
Sees a big opportunity in energy efficiency and climate change: yeah, during the Carter Administration, maybe, dude.
Ron Paul: Our currency is non-functional.
Paul is another tax cut freak.
demi @ 194
He didn’t, He’s still acting…!!! ;-)
I am looking forward to the triumphant return of Arthur Branch to Law&Order, um, next week.
Well, it looks like science and technology is going to fuel our advances in energy independance. I think what their real unspoken plan is to extract the BTUs of burning science and engineering textbooks to get that alternative energy source.
TeddySanFran @ 195
Yeah, okay, teddy. But how much of the tight-assed persona are you giving weight to?
Huckabee grew up the hard way with a struggle (take that, rich fellahs!)
Jo Fish @ 200
BRILLIANT!!!!
McCain tells us the American people no longer have trust in government. Wonder why John?
Romney endorses being confident.
McCain: failures in Katrina, yeah, how was the cake and gee-tar serenade at the old folks home that day with Beloved Leader.
“The GOP Debate”
Is this some new sitcom on FX or TBS?
From the comments, it looks like it could be the next “Seinfeld.” You know, a show about nothing.
EvilDrPuma @ 17
Dangit. You made *me* fail…
So, I was going to start in on tie and shirt color combos so I could feel like a real live pundit, but I’ll pace myself.
Nine candidates, three pins!
Ron Paul
Freddie Thompson
Rudy Guiliani
MItt mentions his health care plan, moves on very quickly.
Willard Romney looks like he ought to be cast as a bad guy in a Lifetime movie.
TeddySanFran @ 202
He struggled to keep his hand out of the cookie jar and stop eating fat back.
Is Fred a little drunk?
do-si-do @ 209
that narrows the field!
McCain: American people no longer have confidence in gov’t because of failures during Katrina, failures in Iraq, failues to control spending. Is McCain aware that Bush and the Republics were completely in charge?
Fred O’hollywood: People should accept responsibility… didn’t some other drawling idiot say that like eight years ago…?
do-si-do @ 209
If you know what’s best fer ya, ya’ll just slow down now!
rudy has a er hardon for hillary today.
Grampa Fred has rallied since his initial answer, where he forgot what he was talking about and actually stood there silent for about ten seconds. Sure, he thinks that the economy is going great, and that the tax code is totally fair to middle class voters, because rich people pay more taxes (not sure this is actually true, in terms of the % of total tax revenues), and that the Iraq policy of He Who Must Not Be Named is going great. But he’s speaking in complete sentences. Now.
Ron Paul believes that the Constitution vests the war power in the Congress. Everybody else thinks that the President swears and oath to protect us from Iran, rather than to uphold the Constitution and faithfully execute the laws. Huckabee thinks consulting Congress is a luxury that is nice to indulge in if its convenient. Rudy Giuliani waves the 9/11 flag and suggests that he, unlike Clinton, is willing to nuke Iran. He also suggests that Clinton be asked in every debate whether she agrees with him. Because his views are the standard by which she, if not all others, shoudl be judged.
Romney believes that the way to win back the confidence of the public on the economy is “to be confident.” No doom and gloom for him. He thereby endorses the “I think, therefore it is fact” foreign and domestic policies of He Who Must Not Be Named.
Thompson believes people think Congress sucks. Nobody believes anybody in Washington. Thompson believes that Washington must be honest with the people. Now he’s repeating platitudes about the American Dream.
Julie Annie says that we must convey the image of a robust America. Homo robustus was either before or after Homo Erectus. Or was it Homo habilis. Whatever. Rudy is robustus. Now he is talking about Clinton again. Someone just yawned into a mike. Rudy is babbling about Clinton, clearly, he dreams about her every night.
The dog had to go out did Rudy answer the family values question?
Rudy wants to turn this thing into a Hillary debate. Rudy, you really aren’t very bright. Are you.
Elliott @ 214
They can stop the ‘debate’ now. Three frontrunners have been identified.
Duncan Hunter: be good businessmen and leaders. Gee, Dunc why don’t you and trust-fund Mitt get together on that?
Brownback: “We’re #1, We’re #1!!!”
kdh22 @ 217
I guess I succumbed to GOP political discourse. Ack, I didn’t mean to pollute the lake!
gtg guys. PS to demi, I like the ############# look but it depends on the ass of course! Call me choosy.
do-si-do @ 218
Oh. And, who does he not have one for? Ya think? I bet he even do a fowl-mouthed dfh, internet fed blogger, regardless of gender.
Just my take on him.
Tancredo blames shit on the brown people. Punk ass punk.
Tancredo, Schip veto was good…!!!
Oklahoma kiddo @ 221
Signal a call from Stiletto Judi about now.
Badwater @ 215
Have you seen Matt Taibbi’s latest piece on McCain?
Tom Tancredo sets off a little gaydar bell in my head.
Trancredo. “Stop pandering” to special groups. Good gawd.
Fred appears to be a flop. Looks pretty dumb too.
This, I believe, is Fred’s debut and swansong all in one easy viewing package.
If Rudy’s cell phone rings, he is sooo busted.
JPL @ 220
There’s just something funny about the obvious priorities here! LOL.
Tell your pooch the debate is ostensibly about the economy.
Tancredo: stop pandering.
Tom, without pandering, only the very wealthy would vote for Republics.
TeddySanFran @ 233
How economical!
TeddySanFran @ 233
Thank you, Teddy! Speak it brother.
Lush Rimbaud @ 213
No, he’s 6′5″.
ironranger @ 118
I can’t remember which blogger it was who snarked that it started at 4pm so they could be done by Fred Thompson’s bedtime… *g*
kdh22 @ 228
I’m sure CNBC frisked him prior…!!!
Has Rudy’s cell phone rung yet?
Ish @ 239
Ba – da – bum!
Ish @ 239
Which is the reason I’d like him to continue, next to Rudi, who looks more and more like an evil dwarf next to Fred.
kdh22 @ 243
Thank you. Try the veal.
Ish @ 239
So will Tweety ask which candidate would we want to have a beer with?
Pachacutec @ 242
Wish I had that number
TeddySanFran @ 230
and a bit jumpy as well – IMHO.
ironranger @ 118
Because they are replaying it at 9pm on MSNBC and Hollywood Fred can’t miss his bed time.
Ish @ 245
You’re here all week, right??
TeddySanFran @ 233
Back on Law&Order at midseason?
Fred: Social Security is a major problem we need to come to terms with
Tom “get rid of special interests” Tancredo is busted on the oil-drilling question. From his disclosures:
#3 Oil & Gas $164,217
I’m guessing that might just drop. He got way off the reservation.
Joe Klein’s conscience @ 249
In answer to Maria’s Social Security question, Fred mentions we’ve got to take care of our national parks. On-message, he ain’t
TeddySanFran @ 252
Yup, we are eating our own seed corn. Wouldn’t that chip your teeth?
kdh22 @ 250
Yes, and how about another hand for your bar and wait staff?
Tom wishes he hadn’t given this preznit fast trak
I wish CNBC would chyron these guys’ names. They all look alike to me… except for the bald ones.
Tom also wishes he were taller.
Awwwww…..
Ish @ 257
Sorry, I am saving all my applause for Fredrick of Hollywood…so he doesn’t have to ask for it. What can I say, I’m considerate like that. :)
Tom wishes he could have put summary execution of immigrant Hispanics into CAFTA.
litagatormom!
that was great, thanks!
Jo Fish @ 262
lmao!
MItt wants to improve employer-based health care, not implement HillaryCare. Market dynamics, get everybody insured.
It’s working in his state (which he does not name).
Lush: Pale and Male Club, baybee…
TeddySanFran @ 265
He also did not mention the word mandate.
Maybe to encourage better understanding and civility here at the lake by taking a hint from the questioners here at the debate. We could qualify each comment with, “As you well know…”.
TeddySanFran @ 89
Of course! If tax cuts always increase revenue, then cutting taxes to zero would produce an infinite amount of revenue for the government!
Sadly, conservatives are much better at declaring absolutes than at figuring out their implications. But starting with the answer you want and reasoning backwards to find arguments for it isn’t much good for figuring out what will happen in the real world.
I keep thinking that Willard the Mitt believes that some golden plates buried in a hill were translated by some guy a couple hundred years ago, then the plates went up to the sky with some ghost. And it’s OK to have a bunch of wives, if you want. Do we need this kind of reasoning in our next Preznit? Methinks not.
Teddy – Kudos to Jane and FDL! Look who now thinks “live-blogging” is good journalism:
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes…..an-debate/
Live-Blogging the Republican Debate
By Katharine Q. Seelye
The Candidate Who Isn’t There | 5:09 p.m.: Mr. Giuliani and Mr. Romney are thinking of their possible general election opponent. Mr. Giuliani gleefully evoked Hillary Rodham Clinton, criticizing her for having failed to say whether she would take military action against Iran. Mr. Romney also found a chance to compare himself to the New York senator, saying he’s a doer while she’s a talker.
Mitt “Market Dynamics” Market… so how are those market dynamics working out with, mmmm, security contracting in a war zone there Mitt?
TeddySanFran @ 255
Fred’s just thinking that people have got have nice places to pitch tents when that’s the only housing they can afford.
Ow wow, these mofo’s are all in favor of unions!
JPL @ 267
If Mitt said “mandate,” Tweety would positively melt.
Fresh thread upstairs.
Please Teddy, can I go OT about the kids?
I just read Christy’s post about the special needs kids being attacked by Michelle Malkin and the rest of the Worst People in the World.
Just spent the day with these kids: wheelchairs, walkers, can’t spell, crying, Aspbergers, can’t do math. HOW CAN PEOPLE ATTACK CHILDREN?
How do they face another day after attacking kids who need extra help?
I’m spent.
Are unions good for America?
Ron Paul: you should be able to organize, but not have special privs or benefits
Huck: Unions are gonna take a more prominent role in the future as CEO salaries go up with hedgers making 2200% of the avg worker
McCain: important role in our country, but like other monopolies they’ve had excesses. I’m a right-to-work guy. Against card signup.
MItt: McCain’s right. Some unions are good, some aren’t. Won’t name specific bad unions, when Tweety asks.
Fred: I’m a union member, a Screen Actors Guild member. But I don’t believe you should have to be a union member to work (like you do in my union, he doesn’t say).
Rudi: My mom was a garment workers union member. Won’t sing the union label song. There are good unions.
Hunter: Steelworkers union is a good union, I got them back making SUVs after a strike. Help build a middle class
Brownback: Sure. My mother was a union member, a postal carrier. But it can be abused. Our Labor department is working to stop these abuses.
Tancredo: Picks on Sam’s mom for being in a union on top of her civil service. Creates a conflict. (Clearly hates unions, but won’t say so directly)
Sam: My mother is not an illegal immigrant. (Yup, he said that!)
wow-
Rudy: there are “good unions” “bad unions” never said which is which. I’m guessing Firefighters are in the latter category?
Tancredo: unions good, unions that bring in illegal immigrants, bad.
Fred is a dope.
I believe everyone switched from saying Ronald Reagan(except John McCain) in every other sentence to Hillary. Hope someone checks to see how many times her name was mentioned.
Jesus, Tweety. What a stupid question – how would Rudy “police” the Internet.
Lush Rimbaud @ 282
Do the mods make up the questions?
I want to know if Freddy is going to have Cheney as his VP…
Fred struggles with the question, “Why should we be worried about a weak dollar?” “We should have a strong dollar because it’s good…internationally.”
Rude E. Julie Annie: let’s be positive about our weak dollar. Let’s sell more shit overseas, in a positive way.
Brownback: my economic advisor would be an amalgam. Things move around on you so you need lots of economists.
McCain: doesn’t know whether Fed has cut interest rates sufficiently. That’s why we have a Fed chairman.
Paul: won’t promise to support the GOP nominee unless they end the war and cut spending. Won’t follow down the path that has led us down the tubes. We should run on the Bush “humble” foreign policy of not policing the world.
Tancredo: I am tired of having to choose between the lesser of two evils.
Brownback: our nominee will be great, pro-life and pro-growth. Tweety asks, what if not? Brownback says, he will be. I guess Brownback doesn’t think Rude E. is going to be the nominee.
Rude E.: London will not replace NY as finance capital of the world. “Of corth not.” Shame on us if we do not carry on the tradition of world leadership. Everyone wants to come here. They want to copy us. China and India are trying to be like us. That’s why we can sell stuff to them if we are confident. So why is so much business going to London. Because we over regulate and over tax. Everybody in the world wants to lower corporate taxes except the Democrats.
Mittster: we are the greatest, no one will ever be better than us! The GOP nominee will have my support. This is a lot like Law & Order, it has a large cast, the series goes on forever, and Fred Thompson shows up at the end. HA! HA! The Mittster has been waiting to deliver that one all day!!! Kudos to his speech writer!!!
Fred: He knows the name of the Canadian Prime Minister! We should pay attention to our friends.
Must have been a tough call when to schedule the debate. Too late & Fred misses his bedtime. Looks like they scheduled it too early because he had to wake up from his nap, slow start from the sounds of it.
Republicans veer back & forth betweeb ‘be afraid, be very afraid’ and ‘don’t worry, be happy’.
Badwater @ 33
Now, that’s a fascinating point!