GOP Debate at Simi Valley, California

Posted on | September 7, 2011 | 27 Comments

9:49 p.m. ET: And it’s over! Let the spin begin. If you’re watching this on MSNBC, you’ll get to see Rachel Maddow hosting the post-debate show with Chris Matthews, Ed Schultz, Al Sharpton and Lawrence O’Donnell. I think I’ll skip it myself.

9:47 p.m. ET: Brian Williams references LBJ in asking a question of Ron Paul about school lunches.

9:46 p.m. ET: Hey, a question for Herman Cain at last! Cain once again promotes his “9-9-9” tax plan.

9:45 p.m. ET: Another question for Perry. Death penalty.

BTW, it’s been 30 minutes since we’ve heard from Herman Cain. We’ve heard from Governor Asterisk twice during the past half-hour. Because NBC is racist.

9:42 p.m. ET: Mitt Romney gets a tax question and turns it into an attack on Obamanomics. Agrees with Gingrich that Bernanke should be fired.

9:40 p.m. ET: Newt would fire Ben Bernanke tomorrow. Wants to audit the Fed.

9:38 p.m. ET: Bachmann wants to drill in the Everglades. Why doesn’t everybody else want to drill in the Everglades?

9:37 p.m. ET: Rick Perry hates him some science! Why doesn’t everybody else hate science?

9:35 p.m. ET: Governor Asterisk loves him some science! Why doesn’t everybody else love science?

9:33 p.m. ET: Santorum gets a question on Libya. Criticizes what he calls the “isolationist” stance of Huntsman and Paul.

9:31 p.m. ET: Bachmann’s turn at foreign policy. Praises our troops. Criticizes Iran, supports Israel. Gets a follow-up and bashes Obama on Libya.

9:29 p.m. ET: Perry is offered a chance to criticize George Bush. Declines, and instead praises Obama on foreign policy, then denounces Obama’s Keynesian economic policy. Even when offered a follow-up chance to criticize Bush directly, he declines.

9:27 p.m. ET: Governor Romney says the economy sucks. Figures the guy in the White House is the problem.

9:26 p.m. ET: Governor Asterisk is against signing pledges and gets a follow-up question. Another minute of my life I’ll never get back.

9:25 p.m. ET: The Smilin’ Minnesotan. Bachmann likes Ronald Reagan. Controversy ensues?

9:24 p.m. ET: Smilin’ Texan time again. He’s for the Balanced Budget Amendment.

9:23 p.m. ET: Romney’s pro-Tea Party.

9:22 p.m. ET: We’re back after a commercial break. Now the “Lightning Round” that’s not a lightning round.

9:18 p.m. ET: Ron Paul wastes another minute of my life I’ll never get back.

9:16 p.m. ET: Governor Asterisk wastes another minute of my life I’ll never get back.

9:15 p.m. ET: Herman Cain: “Empower the states to do what the federal government hasn’t done and won’t do.”

9:14 p.m. ET: Bachmann loves her some Cubans!

9:12 p.m. ET: Rick Santorum brags about being the son of Italian immigrants.

9:11 p.m. ET: Newt Gingrich brags about his own record of support for amnesty.

9:10 p.m. ET: Mitt Romney talks tough on immigration.

9:09 p.m. ET: Perry advocates using Predator drones on the Mexican border.

9:08 p.m. ET: Brian Williams introduces a token Hispanic to ask a token question about immigration.

9:07 p.m. ET: Newt Gingrich talks about supporting Obama’s education policy. No cheers.

9:05 p.m. ET: Brian Williams lectures Perry about how stupid Texans are.

9:04 p.m. ET: Governor Asterisk again.

9:03 p.m. ET: Herman Cain agrees with Ron Paul!

9:02 p.m. ET: Ron Paul points out that we didn’t have FEMA until 1979. Good point — it’s a Carter-era agency.

9 p.m. ET: Ron Paul calls TSA a “monstrosity,” wants to privatize airline security. Blames government for 9/11 — not in a “Truther” way.

8:59 p.m. ET: Newt Gingrich talks about the Department of Homeland Security.

8:57 p.m. ET: Santorum also uses parental rights to attack Perry.

8:56 p.m. ET: Perry talks about the “opt-out” on the HPV mandate. “I will always err on the side of saving lives.”

8:55 p.m. ET: It seems to be open season on Perry now. Bachmann bashes the HPV vaccination mandate as an infringement of parental rights.

8:54 p.m. ET: Ron Paul goes after Perry on the HPV vaccination mandate. “He did it with an executive o0rder!”

8:52 p.m. ET: Herman Cain jumps in without waiting to be asked, endorses the Chilean model to “eliminate the current system.”

8:51 p.m. ET: Perry: “Maybe it’s time to have some provocative language in this country.”

8:50 p.m. ET: Mitt Romney defends Social Security, attacks Perry.

8:49 p.m. ET: Now Rick Perry is asked about his book’s slam on Social Security. Still the smilin’ Texan. “It is a Ponzi scheme . . . a monstrous lie to our children.” He doesn’t back down or apologize.

8:44 p.m. ET: Obligatory video tribute to Nancy Reagan.

8:43 p.m. ET: In non-debate news, Mila Kunis is beautiful. And stupid.

8:38 p.m. ET: I’m back. Did I miss anything important? Now Rick Perry and Ron Paul are going at it. Rick Perry’s got that smilin’ Texan thing down cold, doesn’t he? And now — a commercial.

8:35 p.m. ET: Governor Asterisk again. This looks like a good time to take a break.

8:35 p.m. ET: Mitt Romey talks energy. Then Michele Bachmann talks energy. Speaking of energy, when’s the commercial? I’m about ready for a cigarette and a cup of coffee.

8:33 p.m. ET: Rick Perry is asked stupid question about income disparities between blacks and whites, doesn’t even pretend to answer it. Nobody seems to mind.

8:31 p.m. ET: Rick Santorum brags about his role in passing Welfare Reform, and says we should apply the same principle to food stamps and other programs.

8:29 p.m. ET: Herman Cain adds a denunciation of RomneyCare to his denunciation of ObamaCare.

8:27 p.m. ET: Newt Gingrich just won the “Let’s Denounce ObamaCare” Derby.

8:26 p.m. ET: Michele Bachmann says she wants to repeal ObamaCare. And will take in all the uninsured as foster children.

8:25 p.m. ET: Governor Asterisk again. He looks like a game-show host, doesn’t he?

8:23 p.m. ET: Now healthcare. Perry bashes RomneyCare. Romney bashes ObamaCare. Now it’s back to Perry again. Politico editor John Harris messes with Texas. Perry bashes Washington, D.C.

8:19 p.m. ET: Newt Gingrich reminds us of his claim to being a Reaganite.

8:17 p.m. ET: Ron Paul, who placed second in the Ames Straw Poll, is the seventh candidate who gets a question in the debate. Paul gets a follow-up question, rambles about bureaucracy and lobbyists.

8:15 p.m. ET: Took them a quarter-hour to get to Michele Bachmann who — it’s important to remember — actually won the Ames Straw Poll three weeks ago. Bachmann plays the “I’m a mom” card. Nobody else on stage can challenge her on those terms, after all.

8:13 p.m. ET: Now the question for Jon Hunstman, a/k/a “Governor Asterisk.” Question is about China, answer is about something else.

8:11 p.m. ET: Rick Santorum says “I’ve done things” and recites his record in Congress. Herman Cain talks about his “9-9-9” economic plan. Interrupted by spontaneous applause.

8:09 p.m. ET: Brian Williams follows up with a question to Romney about “career politicians,” then goes to Perry for a “rebuttal.” Now back to Romney. Now back to Perry. Now back to Romney. So we’re nine minutes into the debate and have heard from only two of the candidates.

8:05 p.m. ET: Now Mitt Romney’s turn to talk jobs. His message: “Elect the smilin’ Mormon.”

8:03 p.m. ET: First question to Perry. Brian Williams messes with Texas. Perry smiles and deflects the attacks. His message: “Elect the smilin’ Texan.”

8 p.m. ET — We’re live! With Brian Williams and a snappy special-effects intro!

PREVIOUSLY: Yes, I’m live-blogging tonight’s Reagan Library debate — 8 p.m. ET on MSNBC — from here in my basement, which offers a significant savings in terms of travel expenses. The New York Times offers its “Five Things to Watch” debate preview, with such questions as “How Does Perry Perform?” Because you needed the New York Times to tell you to keep an eye on that, right?

Dave Weigel offers suggested anti-Perry attacks for the other GOP candidates.

Ace of Spades HQ is doing their usual debate thing.

I’m sure Vodkapundit will be drunk-blogging the debate.

Allahpundit has an open thread at Hot Air.

I’m watching the MSNBC pre-debate coverage hosted by Chris Matthews. Lotta talk about Jon Huntsman. Liberals just love that guy, don’t they?

Category: Debates, Election 2012, Michele Bachmann, Republicans, Rick Perry

Comments

27 Responses to “GOP Debate at Simi Valley, California”

Steve in TN
September 8th, 2011 @ 12:44 am

@thehermancain 999 sounds good, but could he get it passed? Nope. Therefore irrelevant.
Steve in TN
September 8th, 2011 @ 12:44 am

@thehermancain 999 sounds good, but could he get it passed? Nope. Therefore irrelevant.
Steve in TN
September 8th, 2011 @ 12:56 am

@thehermancain His Chile model for SS? On the mark.
Anamika
September 8th, 2011 @ 1:07 am

Hey, who preempted my Rachel Maddow?
Charles
September 8th, 2011 @ 1:22 am

Because we all know how great Chile’s retirement system is.
Steve in TN
September 8th, 2011 @ 1:39 am

via @jimmiebjr

http://www.cato.org/pubs/journal/cj15n2-3-1.html

“After 15 years of operation, the results speak for themselves.
Pensions in the new private system already are 50 to 100 percent
higher–depending on whether they are old-age, disability, or
survivor pensions–than they were in the pay-as-you-go system.
The resources administered by the private pension funds amount to
$25 billion, or around 40 percent of GNP as of 1995. By improving
the functioning of both the capital and the labor markets, pension
privatization has been one of the key reforms that has pushed the growth
rate of the economy upwards from the historical 3 percent a year
to 6.5 percent on average during the last 12 years. It is also a
fact that the Chilean savings rate has increased to 27 percent of
GNP and the unemployment rate has decreased to 5.0 percent since
the reform was undertaken.

More important, still, pensions have ceased to be a government
issue, thus depoliticizing a huge sector of the economy and
giving individuals more control over their own lives. The
structural flaw has been eliminated and the future of pensions
depends on individual behavior and market developments.

The success of the Chilean private pension system has led
three other South American countries to follow suit. In recent
years, Argentina (1994), Peru (1993), and Colombia (1994)
undertook a similar reform. In the four South American countries,
around 11 million workers have a personal retirement account.”

“More on the Chilean privatized Social Security system: http://www.cato.org/pubs/journal/cj15n2-3-1.html and and http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=5981
Steve in TN
September 8th, 2011 @ 1:53 am

I’m no Cain or Newt fan, but I thought they did best stating their positions with Romney close behind. And that hurts to say about Romney…

Perry had some good moments but seemed ill prepared. Maybe because the of wildfires.

Santorum and Bachmann were almost invisible.

Paul was nutty as usual.

Why is Huntsman still here?
Shawn Gillogly
September 8th, 2011 @ 2:13 am

Wow, alright, why does Governor Asterisk, who has no support and is a non-starter to anyone but the media, get more questions asked to him than Ron Paul? And why was EVERY question to Ron Paul, “You want to abolish ‘x’ doesn’t that make you evil?”

Ok, I know the answer to the second, because MSNBC thinks government must own everything and do everything for everyone. But really, Gov. Ast shouldn’t even be ON STAGE.

It’s pretty clear that Perry is the one to beat, not because he had a great debate. But because even in a mediocre one, he was still the target for everyone (second only to the Zero). But it also seems to me that Romney pretty much has to abandon his prevent defense if he’s going to get back INTO the race, and do it fast.

And saying “I love me some Social Insecurity” isn’t going to do it.
Shawn Gillogly
September 8th, 2011 @ 2:14 am

Have to +1 here. Chile’s retirement plan is solid. And Cain is right on this.
Charles
September 8th, 2011 @ 2:27 am

Whose great idea was it to schedule a Republican debate to be followed by analysis from MSNBC’s lean leftward lineup?
JeffS
September 8th, 2011 @ 2:53 am

I’m about ready for a cigarette and a cup of coffee.

That’s part of the post-coitus wind down routine. At least wait until the end of the debate.
Anonymous
September 8th, 2011 @ 2:58 am

“Why is Huntsman still here? ”

Because he’s the demonrats short position on zero’s reelection.
Charles
September 8th, 2011 @ 3:05 am

I read the Cato Journal article up to the phrase “finance large transition deficits.” For the U.S., would that mean financing the $15 trillion social security liability?
Brickmuppet
September 8th, 2011 @ 3:07 am

Although it was the Perry/Romney show, Cain’s responses were remarkable for their specificity. I think he and Newt gave the best answers of the night.
Paul Zummo
September 8th, 2011 @ 3:32 am

I agree. Based purely on style points, they were the two best guys on the stage.

I’m not sure what the lowlight of the evening was. I’m torn between Romney’s rank demagoguery on social security and Paul’s “they’re building a fence to keep us in” rant.
ThePaganTemple
September 8th, 2011 @ 3:40 am

What about Huntsman’s “You have to say what most people want to hear if you want to get elected?”
Garym
September 8th, 2011 @ 4:21 am

Come on guys, we all know that Ron Paul won this debate. Go look at all the internet polls.
Do I have to use a sarc tag?
Jorge Emilio Emrys Landivar
September 8th, 2011 @ 4:50 am

Seems Paul said mostly stuff you liked and agreed with. Ok, so you are 80% a libertarian.
ThePaganTemple
September 8th, 2011 @ 4:58 am

One thing I noticed about the post-debate coverage on MSNBC is that everybody there is writing off Michele Bachmann. What do you guys think? Maybe its just me, but I thought she did better than Perry and maybe better than Romney as well. She was calm, yet strong and seemed natural in her responses.

Herman Cain gave good answers, but he seemed rehearsed, probably because he appeared rushed. Huntsman actually did okay until he started down the “tell the voters what we want to hear” road. Who does that? Santorum-meh, alright, but I doubt this is going to be a breakout night for him. Gingrich, feisty and combative as usual with the moderators, saying just what needed to be said.

Paul did his usual stand-up routine.

Sorry, but I have to give Bachmann a slight edge over a second place Romney. Perry just did okay but I would have to put him in fourth behind Gingrich at third, with Cain fifth, Santorum sixth, with Paul and then Huntsman bringing up the rear.
Adjoran
September 8th, 2011 @ 5:02 am

Probably some softball player.
Anonymous
September 8th, 2011 @ 6:42 am

I followed Vodka Pundits drunk blogging. His most insightful comment was that no matter how you rearrange the letters in Rachel Maddow’s name you can’t spell MILF.
Anonymous
September 8th, 2011 @ 10:05 am

MSNBC only leans to the left? If that’s leaning, then the Tower of Pisa is lying horizontal on the ground.
Republican Debate Reaction Round-Up: Romney vs. Perry; Huntsman WTF? : The Other McCain
September 8th, 2011 @ 7:15 am

[…] my point of view, the two biggest questions about last night’s Republican debate were, (a) why was Jon Huntsman on the stage and (b) why did he get so much time? It is absurd to […]
Anonymous
September 8th, 2011 @ 11:32 am

Thx Stacy, linked at my place

What Was The Reagan Library Thinking, Bringing-In Duplicitous Obama Administration Shills as ‘Moderators’?
Paul Zummo
September 8th, 2011 @ 12:46 pm

His mere presence on the stage was a lowlight. In all seriousness, not only is he a moderate bore but he’s a moderate bore who offered nothing but platitudes all night.
Shawn Gillogly
September 8th, 2011 @ 12:46 pm

Romney’s SS demagoguery. You expect Paul to be rabidly pro-freedom, even if that means freedom to get yourself killed. Romney was a flat out liar, and then his campaign couldn’t wait to run down to the spin room and say, “SEE! SEE! Perry wants to abolish Social Security!” When Perry never said anything like it.

Disingenuous, self-serving, egomaniacal, “It’s my turn, get out of my way,” flip-flopping, jellyfish for a spinal column jackass.

Oh, and Karl Rove, Go crawl back under your rock. Conservatives never needed YOU anyway.
Arab Spring? Try ‘Islamic Winter’ « The Camp Of The Saints
September 8th, 2011 @ 2:37 pm

[…] What is a scandal is that so little time was spent in last night’s debate discussing foreign affairs. Share this:TwitterEmailFacebookMoreStumbleUponRedditDiggLike […]