CNN Republican Debate, January 30 2008

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By Bill | January 31, 2008 | Email This Post

Hello All… I was hoping to continue my series of liveblogs covering the debates last night, January 30th. Unfortunately, I was stuck sitting on an airport tarmac for a couple of extra hours, because apparently USAirways couldn’t get fuel to the plane… at least that was the explanation given about halfway through the ordeal. Nice work guys.

Anyway, in my absence, I asked a friend of mine to take over for me. Prior visitors will notice some stylistic and probably some editorial differences. I like her, but she’s occasionally hopelessly misguided in her politics…

It’s her first time blogging, so everyone give her your support!

Guest Blogger for Only A Bill

I’m a female friend of Only a Bill’s, filling in for him tonight. I don’t claim to be as politically savvy or as interesting but I’ll do my best to cover the debate and offer insights where I can. I will summarize the debates and put any comments or thoughts I have in parentheses. So here it goes…

Anderson Cooper opening the debates, standing with Nancy Reagan in front of Air Force One.

Huckabee, Paul, McCain, and Romney come out and shake hands with Nancy Reagan: From here on referred to as H, P, M and R.

Question to R: Are Americans better off than 8 years ago.

R: Michigan is better off having me as governor. Losing jobs and budget gap…interrupted by Anderson to say this is about American, not Mass. Blow to R—asks if he’s running for governor or president. Points out things Bush did well and things he did not. Finally turns to economy.

M: Same Question. Says Americans are better off….(not sure that’s what they want to hear). Now talks about housing crisis and economy. Says he has a plan for the housing problem. Cooper says it sounds like M is saying we aren’t better off. He contradicts still believing we are better off (I think a lot of people will raise their eyebrows at that statement)

H: Same Question. He says he doesn’t think we are but blames congress and not Bush. Says W is not fully responsible. Starts talking about the problem of new home sales and the people it affects—mentions builders and truckers. Says it isn’t going to get better without strong leadership.

P: Same Question. We are worse off. Administration and Congress’s fault. Bad economic system and bad foreign policy. Bogged down in wars and policing the world. Standard of living is going down and middle class is getting wiped out. Says that poor countries don’t have a middle class. People of this country begging for a change in policy.

R: R accused McCain of following a liberal policy—M says his views are out of mainstream Republican—drilling in Amwar, M voted against tax cuts, Immigration Policies (bill with Kennedy mentioned) Talks about M adding more taxes to gas. Endorsed by New York Times.

M: Rebuts by saying he was endorsed by Romney’s hometown papers—the ones who know him best. M says he’s “reaching across the aisle” with his policies. Attacks some of Romney’s policies as governor—gave Mass a big debt because of health care system. Points out many conservatives are endorsing him.

R: Rebuts by pointing out liberals that support McCain. Missed a bit here but he’s trying to defend his record. Still says economy was better when he was governor. Proud of his record.

H: Rush says Huckabee would be a disaster for the Republican party. Says that he’s wrong. Points out his record as Governor—his support of human life amendment and marriage amendment. Created a Tax Me More Fund.

R: Reader Question: As Gov. of Mass you raised taxes and passed a healthcare bill that forced purchase. How can you say you are a conservative when you raised fees in Mass. Said many could afford insurance but didn’t because they said they could get free care at the hospital. Said if you can afford insurance you should have it but not get a free ride.

M: Gov. Schwarzenegger wants tough environmental standards for CA. Asks if he sides with Bush Admin or CA. M says he is a Federalist and supports states deciding what goes on within their states. Says he cares about environment and disagrees with Bush about not taking measures to improve the environment. Says we need a global environmental agreement.

R: Asks about M responses. M says he sides with states’ rights. Policies re greenhouse gases and environment. Says America should become energy independent. Thinks that M’s plan would cost America more. Says companies that use a lot of energy would just more to China.

H: Interjects and says CA should carry out plan because other states will follow. Says that the system works because states try it and if it works all states copy it—Otherwise you mess it up on a national level.

P: Says CA should do what it wants. Says one thing that hasn’t been emphasized is property rights.

H: Troubled Economy—are income tax rebates best way to spend money—H believes widening I 95 would be best way to use money. Says that we will stimulate China’s economy not ours. Spend money on highway construction to give jobs and stimulate economy.

M: Agrees that investment in infrastructure is a good thing. Says that want be an immediate fix to the economy problem.

R: Says the money should be spent at home. Cut spending—free the market, have faith in commerce. Monetary system, (3^rd time he’s mentioned this)

M: Plan to help people with bad credit keep their homes? Get lower interest rates? Don’t lend money to people who can’t pay it back. Says that Norway is affected by housing crisis. Says that you should clean up mortgage. Issue of rebates is psychological—says recession isn’t inevitable.

M: Making tax cuts permanent—says that M opposed the tax cuts and voted against them. Says that M opposed tax cuts because they catered to the wealthy. (2^nd time M mentions Reagan revolution. Oops, third time he mentioned Reagan Revolution.)

R: Says Bush offered tax cut that M didn’t sign but Reagan would have. Government spending is 60% entitlement. Says can’t go after others without entitlement problem.

M: Give citizenship to children born only to parents who are legal citizens—says Supreme Court has ruled about that but that won’t fix the problem. We need to build a fence. People here should get in line like everyone else.

R: Immigration plan to deport illegals? No amnesty to illegals. If come recently, no time. Families get to finish school year or organize affairs and go home—no special pathway to citizenship. M plan allows illegals to stay here if they pay 3K.

M: Would he vote for his original proposal. Says it won’t come to a vote because people want to secure the borders first….says that’s what different. Says his original bill is not where we are now. (I think he wants this question to go away…)

H: Reagan’s appointment of O’Connor-was it the right decision. Why issue of right to life is important. Everyone has value. Sanctity of human life is about more than abortion. Claims that founding fathers thought everyone was equal. (Is abortion still an issue that people decide their votes on?)

P: Said he wouldn’t have voted for her. (This is the second time Cooper has cut Paul off, he is clearly trying to marginalize him.)

M and R: Think hindsight proves she wasn’t the best choice.

Break.

R: Noonan says Bush destroyed Republican party. R says the party is not better off but doesn’t blame Bush, blames “Washington” (um, okay, isn’t Bush the head of that?) Says 9/11 took him off course but also says Bush has kept us safe. Audience claps. Says there are problems with Bush, agrees with No Child Left Behind (oh, geez, really? Your kids must be in private school…. Audience liked this.)

R: Says he doesn’t have a timetable for exiting Iraq. Says he was misquoted in interview and implies that M was selecting sound bites to support his purpose. (McCain is smiling while Romney answers, I can’t help but think M looks arrogant) R says he brought it up right before Florida primary in effort to win.

M: Says that R really did want a timetable and that R was trying to appease the Democrats. Says R was using the buzzword of the time, which was “timetables.” Now M and R are interrupting each other and R wants to know why M says he’s the expert on R’s response. Audience is clearly on R’s side and keep cheering his answers. Cooper reads the quote (and it does sound like M is twisting the words here—I think M needs to let it go, it isn’t a really valid point unless he can dig up more.)

R: Was asked in Dec. 06 what his position on the surge was and he said he wouldn’t take a position. Says that as a governor he really didn’t have all the info to make a statement. Says that he supported it only after getting all the information (happened to be right before he announced he was running for Pres.) R keeps saying he has not set a date. Says McCain is using Old Style Politics trying to slander. Says that the media is on his side and know that M is wrong. (I still think M looks bad. He’s trying to bring up R’s negative ads but he’s digging himself a hole here.) They clearly look upset with each other and physically turn away as they move to another question.

P: Do you agree with McCain that US Troops might be in Iraq for 100 years. Says that the dollar is crashing and M is talking about technicalities (gets applause from audience). P:How many men are we willing to let die for this? (Cooper is cutting Paul off again here. He’s not cutting any of the others off like this.)

H: Points out that the questions are leaving him out? Says we need to leave Iraq with honor—says he hopes it doesn’t take 100 years. Says we shouldn’t send troops in vain.

M: Says that we are going to be in Iraq for some period of time. Says it is matter of national security interest and says we are succeeding. M brings in another timetable jab (let it go John!) Says will stick with principles no matter what.

H: What H says about Putin. Says he looks at actions. Says he has human rights violations. Says foreign policy needs to reflect strength—strong military. We can’t continue to have a stretched army.

R: Putin—says he follows pattern of old Russia and wants to be a super power. Elimination of free press, unexplained murders. Brings up Russia, China, Al Qaeda and US. Says US only one that believes in freedom. (He really sounds like he knows what he’s talking about).

M: What makes M more qualified than R on economy. He says he knows how to lead. He can hire managers but he has the leadership qualities needed. Iraq and another timetable jab (okay now I’m getting really tired of this, McCain is going to regret this, he’s looking bad and slightly senile to keep bringing this up…)

R: Is M a better leader for economy? Says no, he respects M’s military record. Says Governors have better experience as leader. Brings up Olympics (is anyone else as sick of this story as I am?) Says the economy is root of US strength and is the basis of everything else.

(Cooper still not letting Paul talk.)

R: Why can you be commander in chief. Says that you don’t have to serve in military to be good commander in chief. Says the challenges of the future are not the challenges of “old.” (a subtle jab at M)

M: Is R ready to be military commander? Makes a joke about managing business. Then says country can’t afford on-the-job training. Says many in military are supporting him.

P: Why is he capable of leading Economy or Military. Says that constitution doesn’t support pres. Managing economy. (M and R look slightly amused as Paul is answering, he’s really being treated like the cute little two year old who everybody thinks is cute but doesn’t take seriously.)

H: (Make a very Baptist preacher joke about showering with questions and turning spigot off.) He agrees with R’s line that a governor would make a better president overall. Says minimal government interference.

H: Asked about his leader should be the guy you work with. Says that a leader should understand all levels of people and government—must understand all.

R: Ronald Reagan would endorse him because he is committed to Iraq, lower taxes, pro life, marriage amendment. Continues and brings up M’s tax on gas and says Reagan wouldn’t want it.

M: Says yes, jabs at R saying R wouldn’t approve of someone who keeps changing positions. Says Reagan stuck with principles just like he does.

P: Says he supported Reagan. Says Reagan liked the Gold Standard and thought no great nation could be great without gold standard. (Interesting choice.)

H: Says question is presumptuous. Says he endorses Reagan because he inspired the country to believe in itself. Says we should recapture the Reagan spirit and makes Americans love their country.

Following the format of Only a Bill, Final Thoughts:

Cooper did all he could to make this a two way debate between R and M. They seemed to be treating H as a possible VP candidate. P was clearly marginalized and was obviously irritated about it. I would be too. But the truth is his ideas are just too different for main stream America. Maybe he’s on a different planet or just ahead of his time but either way, it is not in the cards for him to be president. However, he should not have been marginalized quite as much as he was.
Huckabee: A good VP candidate? What do you think? Who would he fit better with as a running mate?
Paul: I’m not sure he has a spot in any future administration but he certainly has brought up issues that might make more involved and intellectual Americans think.
McCain: I think he looked bad tonight. He’s got that arrogant swagger back and he brought up the “timetable” issue ad nauseum. Old or not, experienced or not, nobody likes arrogance. He needs to tone it down.
Romney: He kept his cool much better tonight and kind of came off as the victim of McCain’s dirty politics. Whether this is true or not is another question—it is the perception that counts and he clearly seemed like he was playing the innocent victim.
It will be interesting to watch this play out on Super Tuesday. I’m not convinced yet that McCain is the clear winner of the Republican nomination. I’m also not convinced that, if he is, he would play very well against Clinton or Obama.