Category: Politics

Sunshine State Spin

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Rick Santorum talks to the press after Monday’s debate.

TAMPA, Fla.
No debate is complete without the post-debate spin, and here are a few photos and videos of the action in the “Spin Room” after last night’s debate at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a “spinner” for Rick Perry, is swarmed by media.

Tea Party Express spokeswoman Amy Kramer talks to reporters.

Herman Cain talks to reporters.

They’ll let anyone in the spin room: Even Democrats like Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Fox News correspondent Carl Cameron. It was weird seing Carl with a CNN-issued media credential hanging from his neck on a CNN lanyard.

OK, now here’s video of Rick Santorum’s entrance to the spin room. Notice how the reporter tries to work his own angle into the interview, which clearly irritates Santorum:

And here’s video of Herman Cain talking to the press about the same issue, Rick Perry’s Gardasil mandate:

Tough Talk, But Who Will Campaign On Eliminating The TSA?

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by Smitty

Libertarian Republican echoes The Hill quoting Ron Paul from the GOP debate on TSA thuggery:

Texas Congressman Ron Paul let it rip on TSA abuses of airline passengers (via TheHill):
“If the perpetrators were a gang of criminals, their headquarters would be raided by SWAT teams and armed federal agents,” he continued. “Unfortunately in this case, the perpetrators are armed federal agents.”

It is Obama-esque to talk vaguely about cutting the need to cut spending. Until we’re backing candidates offering specific discussion of which acronyms to elide from the federal budget, it’s not much more than posturing.

Let’s keep up the pressure on these politicians to recover the country from the Euro-weeny pit, people. Homo bureaucratus must not prevail.

4th Circuit Court To Virginia: If We Say You Lack Standing, We Can Ignore You

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by Smitty (via Lisa Graas)

I don’t want to get too upset about this horrendous abortion of a legal opinion handed down from the 4th Circle of Hell, emphasis mine:

The decision is no surprise given the stacked nature of the panel, as computers at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that randomly selected the panel of three judges from the appeals court to conduct oral hearings on the legal debate surrounding the law picked three judges from a evenly-divided court who are all Democrats. All three judges listening to two legal challenges were appointed by Democrats — Judge Diana Motz, the senior member of the panel, is a Clinton appointee while Judges Andre Davis and James Wynn were appointed by Obama.

The three judges dismissed the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the national health care law’s individual mandate by saying the state lacked the standing to sue. As a result of the decision, the panel did not delve into the merits of the case itself and whether the Obama administration has the Constitutional ability to compel citizens to purchase health care, which could pay for abortions with taxpayer funds and include rationing. The judges disagreed with Virginia’s contention that it was an injured party because it passed a law before Obamacare making it so Virginia residents are not required to purchase health care insurance.

Thanks, judiciary, for kneecapping my state’s efforts to protect my liberty from a rapacious federal government. You craven judges draw much vacuum. Thankfully, the Cooch responds, via email:

RICHMOND, VA (September 8, 2011)- Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli responded today to the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Virginia’s lawsuit against the federal government’s health care reform act.

“Obviously, we are disappointed in the ruling. Our disappointment not only stems from the fact that the court ruled against us, but also that the court did not even reach the merits on the key question of Virginia’s lawsuit-whether Congress has a power never before recognized in American history: the power to force one citizen to purchase a good or service from another citizen,” said Cuccinelli.

In summarizing the ruling, Cuccinelli noted that, by resting its decision on an alleged lack of standing by the commonwealth to even bring its lawsuit, the court dismissed Virginia’s claimed injury as illusory.

“Contrary to the court’s suggestion, this suit has always been about vindicating the power of the Virginia General Assembly to legislate about a subject that has historically been viewed as falling within the areas the Constitution left to the states. Health, safety, and welfare issues have long been recognized as being part of the powers reserved to the states by the Constitution,” Cuccinelli said.

Cuccinelli noted that the court’s stated reasons placed the ruling’s reasoning at odds with constitutional design. “In rejecting Virginia’s right to bring the action, the court said that allowing such suits would allow the states to serve as ‘roving constitutional watchdogs.’ This was exactly a role that the Founding Fathers planned for the states to have. As James Madison wrote, under the Constitution, ‘the power surrendered by the people is first divided between two distinct governments…Hence a double security arises to the rights of the people. The different governments [state and federal] will control each other…'”

Cuccinelli continued, “Not only does the court’s opinion reject the role of the states envisioned by the Constitution, it dismisses an act of the Virginia General Assembly-the Health Care Freedom Act-as a mere pretense or pretext. It is unfortunate that the court would be so dismissive of a piece of legislation that passed both houses of a divided legislature by overwhelming margins with broad, bipartisan support.”

Cuccinelli vowed to appeal the court’s ruling.

Diana, Andre, James: may the Almighty have mercy on you.

Update: More at Legal Insurrection and Ace of Spades.

Republican Debate Reaction Round-Up: Romney vs. Perry; Huntsman WTF?

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From 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 include the man I’ve dubbed “Governor Asterisk” — denoting his status as an irrelevant footnote to the 2012 campaign — while excluding, inter alia, Thad McCotter and Buddy Roemer.

Huntsman represents the “re-elect Obama” wing of the Republican Party, so the MSM types consider him legitimate, and therefore his inclusion is not questioned while all the media focus on the “fireworks” between Mitt Romney and Rick Perry:

Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) began sparring over their respective jobs records less than 10 minutes into Wednesday’s Republican presidential debate.
The highly-anticipated fight between Romney and Perry, the two front-runners for the GOP nomination, largely lived up to expectations, with extended spats between the pair throughout the debate. . . .

(“Highly-anticipated” by whom? The media, of course.)

[Romney] saw his opportunity to pounce later, when Perry doubled down on remarks in his book calling Social Security a “monstrosity,” and likening it to a Ponzi scheme.
“The issue in the book ‘Fed Up,’ governor, is you say that by any measure, Social Security is a failure,” Romney said. “Our nominee has to be someone who isn’t committed to abolishing Social Security, but who is committed to saving Social Security … I will make sure that we keep the program and we make it financially secure, and under no circumstances would I ever say by any measure it’s a failure.”

Here’s video of that exchange:

Here’s the lead of the New York Times front-page story:

The fight for the Republican presidential nomination began narrowing into an intense and ideological battle at a debate here Wednesday night, with Gov. Rick Perry of Texas and Mitt Romney sharply clashing over Social Security, health care and each other’s long-term prospect against President Obama.
A series of spirited exchanges between the two men, which revealed differences in substance and style, offered the first extensive look into the months-long contest ahead. They traded attacks on each other’s job creation records and qualifications to be president, overshadowing their opponents in the crowded Republican field.

Never mind, of course, that the fight between Perry and Romney was incited by Brian Williams of NBC ahd John Harris of Politico like a made-for-TV spat on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Let’s just pretend the televised drama was spontaneous and cover it as a preview of a “months-long contest,” because the media have decided it’s now all about Perry and Romney, just like they’ve decided that Governor Asterisk is a legit Republican candidate.

Stanley Kurtz at NRO proclaims Perry the winner. But a Romney adviser sees it otherwise: “[Perry] has lost. No federal candidate has ever won on the Perry program to kill Social Security. Never has. never will.” So Rick Perry has either (a) indisputably triumphed or (b) failed disastrously.

Governor Asterisk, meanwhile, played the role of liberal stalking horse:

Reviving a minor debate with his Republican presidential primary opponent, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman warned Wednesday night that the GOP shouldn’t “run from science.”
“Listen, when you make comments that fly in the face of what 98 out of 100 climate scientists have said, when you call into question the science of evolution, all I’m saying is that, in order for the Republican Party to win, we can’t run from science,” Huntsman said at a Republican debate.

Might as well invite Al Gore to the GOP debates.

A press release from the Herman Cain campaign notes: “During the 1 hour and 45 minute debate, Cain received a total of five questions for less than six minutes of speaking time.” But Cain is an actual Republican, whereas Governor Asterisk worked for the Obama administration and favors gay civil unions, so we know who gets the media love, right?


GOP Debate at Simi Valley, California

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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?