CNN JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA DEBATE

Posted on | January 26, 2012 | 68 Comments

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.
CONCLUSION 1 a.m. ET: Excuse my long absence. Had to go to the spin room for the post-debate action, then write a column for The American Spectator. I was hesitant to say this earlier but, did Rick Santorum kick butt or what?

Because I wanted to believe he did well, I felt that maybe I was prejudiced. But then I saw Guy Benson’s post at Townhall:

What a night for the former Pennsylvania Senator … he definitely made a very serious case that he might be the best Not Romney in the race.

No argument. Newt was off his game tonight, and I’d score Romney the winner — that is to say, I think Mitt did what he needed to do to win here Tuesday. But I suspect a lot of people watched that debate and said to themselves, “Hey, that Santorum kid’s pretty feisty.”

9:30 p.m. ET: Newt talks about the “Romney attack machine,” defends his claim to being a latter-day Reagan.

9:25 p.m. ET: Admit it: Rick Santorum won the Best Wife competition.

9:16 p.m. ET: Rick Santorum wants Marco Rubio in his cabinet. Newt wants Rubio as VP. Romney recites the names of lots of Latinos who haven’t self-deported.

9:12 p.m. ET: Mitt Romney: “We’re insisting on personal responsibility.” This is good for Santorum to be able to go back-and-forth with Romney, thus ending the Mitt-and-Newt Show. Also, he name-checked Scott Plakon.

9:07 p.m. ET: Rick Santorum slams Newt and Mitt for their records on health care.

9:03 p.m. ET: Lynn Frazier is unemployed and wants health insurance. Ron Paul blames government for inflating medical costs.

8:59 p.m. ET: Newt accuses Santorum of being “cheap.”

8:58 p.m. ET: Mitt says, “You’re fired.” Accuses Newt of pandering. “We’ve got to say no to this kind of spending.”

8:57 p.m. ET: Newt warns of Chinese dominance of space.

8:55 p.m. ET: Ron Paul wants to send Newt to the moon.

8:50 p.m. ET: Question about NASA and manned space flight, because all politics is local. And galactic.

8:49 p.m. ET: Wolf Blitzer asks Ron Paul, age 76, if he’s willing to release his medical records. Paul makes a joke about age discrimination.

8:48 p.m. ET: Ron Paul talks about currency. Sound money.

8:46 p.m. ET: Santorum on 28% top tax rate: “If it’s good enough for Reagan, it’s good enough for me.” Get’s a laugh with, “I wish I made as much money as Mitt Romney.”

8:45 p.m. ET: Newt says he’s “the opposite of Obama.”

8:43 p.m. ET: More talk about personal finances. Newt gets caught trying to say he didn’t say what he said. Newt’s in a hole, but won’t stop digging.

8:36 p.m. ET: Ron and Rick get to have their say about Fannie and Freddie. Santorum draws cheers for demanding that they “focus on the issues.”

8:34 p.m. ET: Newt defends himself ably against the lobbying charge. But what was he paid $1.6 million for?

8:33 p.m. ET: Mitt stings Newt on mutual funds, draws cheers.

8:31 p.m. ET: Newt says Romney “has been attacking me inaccurately, and he knows it.” It’s getting nasty again.

8:30 p.m. ET: Mitt Romney gets a question about Fannie and Freddie, and starts talking about Newt Gingrich.

8:28 p.m. ET: Now it’s the Ron and Rick Show. These guys really don’t like each other.

8:25 p.m. ET: Rick Santorum talks about Honduras, accuses Obama of supporting Marxists in Latin America.

8:24 p.m. ET: A lady named Vasquez has a question about trade with Latin America. Ron Paul loves him some free trade.

8:22 p.m. ET: It’s turning into the Mitt-Newt Show again.

8:21 p.m. ET: Newt wants everybody to learn English.

8:20 p.m. ET: Mitt: “Our problem is not 11 million grandmothers.”

8:19 p.m. ET: Romney: “I am pro-immigrant. . . . I want them to come here legally.”

8:18 p.m. ET: Romney accuses Newt of “over-the-top rhetoric,” invokes Marco Rubio twice, gets a big cheer from the audience.

8:17 p.m. ET: Newt Gingrich won’t answer a direct question about his accusation that Romney is “anti-immigrant.”

8:16 p.m. ET: Ron Paul panders to the Vaguely Incoherent.

8:14 p.m. ET: Mitt defends self-deportation. Did you know his father was from Mexico? It’s true. Look it up. Anyway, Romney’s answer is long and complicated.

8:12 p.m. ET: Newt is in favor of a “guest worker” program.

8:11 p.m. ET: On immigration, Rick Santorum wants to enforce the law. This is radical extremism!

8:09 p.m. ET: Candidates say a few words. Rick Santorum introduces his 93-year-old mom, who’s a senior citizen, kinda like Ron Paul.

8:04 p.m. ET: The candidates have been introduced.

8:02 p.m. ET: That was some good pre-debate hype, huh?

8 p.m. ET: And we’re LIVE!

* * * PREVIOUSLY (7:29 p.m. ET) * * *

We’re on the scene here at the University of North Florida where, at 8 p.m. ET, the four remaining Republican presidential candidates will debate on CNN. A few quick headlines for discussion:

Angry Newt Gingrich Attacks
Mitt Romney in Florida
— ABC News

Romney paints Gingrich
as mentally unstable
— Washington Post

4 Sentences: Why Tonight’s Debate Matters
— National Journal

Santorum guarantees he’s
a candidate ‘for a long time’
— CNN

I’ll be live-blogging tonight and I’ll back with more in a bit.

UPDATE: When I walked up tonight, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz was being interviewed outside the filing center:

And here’s video of the media walk-through at the debate hall today:

Category: CNN, Debates, Election 2012, Fear and Loathing in the Sunshine State, Florida, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Republicans, Rick Santorum

Comments

68 Responses to “CNN JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA DEBATE”

SignPainterGuy
January 26th, 2012 @ 8:04 pm

Oh goody, Woof Blister will moderate … again !
CO
January 26th, 2012 @ 8:05 pm

Now Woof, …
CO
January 26th, 2012 @ 8:06 pm

Good Anthem, well done.
SignPainterGuy
January 26th, 2012 @ 8:09 pm

Gee whiz, is 12 terms not enough for Paul ?
Finrod Felagund
January 26th, 2012 @ 8:12 pm

Typical. Mitt lies about Newt, Newt defends himself, MSM says Newt is ‘angry’.
Tonight’s Debate In Florida « The Camp Of The Saints
January 26th, 2012 @ 8:14 pm

[…] -Stacy McCain is at the scene and live-blogging it here. […]
smitty
January 26th, 2012 @ 8:22 pm

#CNNdebate I realize it’s a big local issue, but the immigration issue has been thrashed to a pulp. Why can’t they debate economic policy and the Federal Reserve?
SignPainterGuy
January 26th, 2012 @ 8:31 pm

smitty, come on, you know CNNbs can`t have them discussing real issues !

And btw, don`t call yourself a “squid”, it`s uncomplimentary in the motorcycle industry ! Just sayin` !
Quartermaster
January 26th, 2012 @ 8:32 pm

Not surprised that the Newt would shill for a “guest worker” plan. They have just worked so well in the past.

Guest worker programs have been tried in the past, and they resulted in illegal immigration. Santorum is right about enforcing the law. And, yepper, it is a radical idea in these lawless times.
smitty
January 26th, 2012 @ 8:39 pm

We’re most of us liars, we’re ‘arf of us thieves, an’ the rest are as rank as can be,
But once in a while we can finish in style (which I ‘ope it won’t ‘appen to me).
Anonymous
January 26th, 2012 @ 8:42 pm

Man, DSW has thick ankles. About like Hillary.
richard mcenroe
January 26th, 2012 @ 8:47 pm

Rick Santorum is laying about him manfully.
SignPainterGuy
January 26th, 2012 @ 8:53 pm

Santorum IS having a good night !
SignPainterGuy
January 26th, 2012 @ 9:07 pm

I think we need less goobement, tort reform and more pizza guys ! That should do it !
richard mcenroe
January 26th, 2012 @ 9:10 pm

Paul can’t release his medical recprds. You can’t run clay tablets thru a copier.
SignPainterGuy
January 26th, 2012 @ 9:15 pm

Rick is winning this debate ! Woof has suckered Newt and Mittens into bickering and Paul is …… to old, er something !
SignPainterGuy
January 26th, 2012 @ 9:17 pm

Clay can be broken down to size, it`s just a dust issue !
SignPainterGuy
January 26th, 2012 @ 9:22 pm

Cankles !
SignPainterGuy
January 26th, 2012 @ 9:23 pm

Naw, Man, you may stretch the truth a bit, but you`d never lie !
SignPainterGuy
January 26th, 2012 @ 9:25 pm

Bless Mrs Romney`s heart. A CHAMPION indeed !
Adjoran
January 26th, 2012 @ 9:30 pm

I can’t get past the face and hair. It’s as if I am being slowly, painfully turned to stone.
SignPainterGuy
January 26th, 2012 @ 9:32 pm

Woof has been successful at preventing much of substance tonight !
Pathfinder's wife
January 26th, 2012 @ 9:34 pm

Wasn’t that one of Perry’s great ideas early on in the campaign?

I know (from the work I used to be engaged in) that a lot of companies love them some guest worker ideas (and are scared ****less over the idea of getting nailed for illegal workers).
This might be something that the GOP might want to look into (although, again, from the work I used to be engaged in, it opens up a huge can of worms — company I worked for helped pay for a GOP in the state legislature, and his job was basically to make sure that industry’s “needs” were taken care of).

Proof that most average jokers are going to be screwed royally no matter which party wins.
SignPainterGuy
January 26th, 2012 @ 9:35 pm

Wow, Mittens is bucking Woof and sticking to attacking Oblunder; good for him !
SignPainterGuy
January 26th, 2012 @ 9:40 pm

Mitt scoring BIG on the Middle East !
SignPainterGuy
January 26th, 2012 @ 9:41 pm

Newt went way around, but also right on ME !
Zilla of the Resistance
January 26th, 2012 @ 9:41 pm

I hope Rick Santorum reconsiders leaving Florida because he could really score an upset victory after tonight!
SignPainterGuy
January 26th, 2012 @ 9:56 pm

Paul`s constitution must be the first edition, before any amendments and before islam attacked our shipping !
SignPainterGuy
January 26th, 2012 @ 10:04 pm

Rick,Mitt and Newt kept CNNbs from a complete deletion of important issues, but barely. Crazy Uncle Ron can go back to the attic !
Mike G.
January 26th, 2012 @ 10:10 pm

There just aint enough eye bleach in this world.
Mike G.
January 26th, 2012 @ 10:11 pm

You notice how the other candidates shifted their views on an issue after a Ron Paul statement? I noticed at least two or three instances.
richard mcenroe
January 26th, 2012 @ 10:19 pm

Two winners tonite: Rick Santorum and Stacy’s awesome shirt!
http://tinyurl.com/79fg74q
ThePaganTemple
January 26th, 2012 @ 10:21 pm

I like how Romney got all flustered at Santorum and said like he was thinking out loud “this is nothing to get mad about”. Of course none of the RINOs on Fox that are talking about how well Mitt did are going to talk about that.
Pathfinder's wife
January 26th, 2012 @ 10:48 pm

He certainly seems to be finding a stride. I think he’ll find more of one the longer this goes on — the frontrunners are doing exactly what the racing form predicted they would (although Mitt is showing a bit more kick when challenged, which will likely help him — may not be enough for the big match race though).
Anonymous
January 26th, 2012 @ 11:01 pm

So, who won?

From the parts I watched (not all of it) I didn’t think Newt especially distinguished himself. Then again, all he had to do to win was not lose.

Romney had to kick ass to win, and he didn’t seem to. Not quite as shaky/stuttery/stammery as he has been recently, but still a lot like a little kid surrounded by the bullies on the playground, screwing his eyes shut and saying “I am NOT afraid, I am NOT afraid, I am NOT afraid” over and over.

Santorum seemed to do pretty well, but his presence itself tells us what he really considers important.
CNN Republican Debate Recap | The Lonely Conservative
January 26th, 2012 @ 11:09 pm

[…] more angry, and demanding that Santorum drop out of the race so their boy Newt can take Romney down.The Other McCain was there and live-blogged the event. Maggie live-blogged it, too. Politico has a run-down. […]
K-Bob
January 26th, 2012 @ 11:31 pm

The consensus at Scoop’s place seems to be that this was a really good night for Rick Santorum, that Newt didn’t do so well, and that Romney looked petulant and wooden, but still didn’t hurt himself too much.
Adjoran
January 27th, 2012 @ 1:06 am

One of Santorum’s better performances.
Anonymous
January 27th, 2012 @ 1:10 am

The shirt is extra-awesome because I paid like $2 for it at Goodwill.
Adjoran
January 27th, 2012 @ 1:35 am

Haven’t seen the AmSpec piece up yet, but it may have to go through more “layers of editors and fact-checkers” than the crap the NYT prints.

One thing is certain: the Newties better not keep repeating their laughable assertion that Newt would wipe the floor with Obama. Maybe they would let him mop the studio afterwards, judging by tonight . . .
Dave
January 27th, 2012 @ 1:39 am

Love that poem, but it’s not the best of Kipling. I have The Gods of the Copybook Headings framed on the wall by my desk. Every child should be made to memorize it.

When the Cambrian measures were forming, They promised perpetual peace.

They swore, if we gave them our weapons, that the wars of the tribes would cease.

But when we disarmed They sold us and delivered us bound to our foe,

And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: “Stick to the Devil you know.”

On the first Feminian Sandstones we were promised the Fuller Life

(Which started by loving our neighbour and ended by loving his wife)

Till our women had no more children and the men lost reason and faith,

And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: “The Wages of Sin is Death.”

In the Carboniferous Epoch we were promised abundance for all,

By robbing selected Peter to pay for collective Paul;

But, though we had plenty of money, there was nothing our money could buy,

And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: “If you don’t work you die.”

Deny the truth of that, revisionists.
Adjoran
January 27th, 2012 @ 3:19 am

It looks like it cost at least five!
Angry White Man
January 27th, 2012 @ 4:57 am

I predict with 99.99999999% certainty there will be an Amanda Marcotte post discussing how Santorum is a patriarchal oppressor who forced his wife to leave her job and thus betray the Sisterhood
Mike Rogers
January 27th, 2012 @ 7:22 am

I liked it best when Herman called him “Blitz” 🙂
Mike Rogers
January 27th, 2012 @ 7:28 am

I concur with Stacy – Santorum avoided sounding whiny, and stayed on substance.
Newt on the other hand attacked Mitt’s connections to Freddie/Fannie from the wrong angle – the blogosphere has done Newt’s research for him, and two of Mitt’s campaign staff actually took money to keep congress off the case of Fan/Fred.
Instead, Newt seemed to be more concerned with proving that blind trusts were not so blind, and that (gasp) Mitt made money from his investments. Do not insult our intelligence, Newt – that’s not what endears you to conservatives.
Mike Rogers
January 27th, 2012 @ 7:59 am

Santorum’s foreign policy knowledge is FIRST CLASS.
He is the only guy running for ANY office that I’ve heard talk about the way the USA disgraced itself over Honduras.

Santorum had it exactly correct – I studied that issue and frequently told conservatives about it while it was in the headlines – the attitude of Obama and Clinton to a struggling republic enforcing its constitution against a would-be dictator should send chills down our spines.
Bob Belvedere
January 27th, 2012 @ 8:17 am

Me too.
Bob Belvedere
January 27th, 2012 @ 8:21 am

But…but…he’s a grand [or is it ‘grandiose’?] man with grand [or is it ‘grandiose’?] ideas and clearly much, much smarter than we!
Anonymous
January 27th, 2012 @ 8:42 am

Thanks for the tip K-Bob … I’m late, but I will check out RS.
Zilla of the Resistance
January 27th, 2012 @ 9:28 am

Oh SNAP!