Eight Republican Hopefuls Get Ready to Rumble at Iowa Debate
DES MOINES, Iowa – Eight Republicans vying to replace President Obama will face off Thursday in a high-stakes debate in American's heartland that could separate the contenders from the pretenders.
The debate promises to answer many questions about the candidates. Can Rep. Michelle Bachmann repeat her winning performance from the last debate? How will former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman do in his first national debate?
Can former House Speaker Newt Gingrich revive his flagging campaign after losing all of his braintrust? Will former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty attack his rivals, which he didn't do a last debate? How will former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney handle the attacks likely to come from all sides as the front-runner? Related Video
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High Stakes in Iowa
Republican presidential candidates head into debate
Fox News, the Washington Examiner and the Iowa Republican Party are sponsoring the debate, which kicks off at 9 p.m. ET.
Watch the 2012 presidential debate Thursday live on Fox News and on FoxNews.com. Coverage will start at 8:45 pm ET at http://live.foxnews.com.
Earlier Thursday, Romney held his own in an exchange of tense words with protesters at the Iowa State Fair. A group of liberal activists with the Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement ambushed Romney, accusing him of wanting to "slash Social Security."
After being repeatedly interrupted, Romney raised his voice, telling the riled-up protester, "If you want to speak, you can. But right now, it is my turn to speak."
"I'll give you my answer. If you don't like my answer, you can vote for someone else," he said. "I'm not gonna raise taxes. If you want someone to raise taxes, then you can vote for Barack Obama."
Romney concluded by joking about the protesters, calling them "a few people in the front here."
"My guess is that they won't be voting for me. That's fine. They can vote for Barack Obama."
A Fox News Poll released Wednesday showed that Romney remains Republican primary voters’ preferred candidate.
But all risk being overshadowed by one Republican who won't be on the stage -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who will make "a definitive announcement that he is in the 2012 race for the presidency Saturday," Perry aides told Fox News. He will visit the early nominating states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina this weekend.
Coming off a national day of prayer for America forum last weekend, Perry is acceptable to most socially conservative Republicans worried about family issues such as abortion and birth control.
At least two declared candidates -- Bachmann and Pawlenty -- are hoping for a last-minute boost before an important weekend test vote that could make or break their campaigns.
Huntsman is looking to make a strong impression in his first debate, while Texas Rep. Ron Paul is out to prove his libertarian ideas are more mainstream than fringe.
Others struggling to gain traction -- Gingrich, ex-Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and businessman Herman Cain -- are simply seeking to promote their issues and maybe even boost their profiles.
"This is the official opening of the season," said Republican strategist Terry Holt. "It's the debut and you better have your best stuff ready. That raises the stakes."
Romney, who lost the Republican nomination in 2008, is hoping for a repeat of a June debate in New Hampshire, where he emerged largely unscathed. He enjoys a commanding lead in fundraising and strong poll numbers and wants to protect both by sticking to his message.
"He will focus on jobs and why his 25 years of experience as a businessman and entrepreneur gives him a unique set of skills to lead on the economy," Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said.
Romney was a successful businessman who founded a venture capital firm before entering politics, a resume he can contrast with Perry, who has never held a private sector job and has held elected office or government positions for the last 27 years.
His top rivals are determined to deny Romney a chance to take on Obama. Pawlenty, whose performance in a previous debate was panned when he initially refused to repeat the "Obamneycare" epithet he coined to link Romney's health care law in Massachusetts with Obama's national health overhaul, looked to repair his image and start anew.
"This is Pawlenty's last chance," Republican strategist Rich Galen said. "If he doesn't do well, I suspect it's three strikes and you're out."
The other candidates are struggling just to gain their footing.
In recent weeks, Huntsman has seen a raft of departures from his campaign, including his campaign manager.
That shake-up has paled in comparison to the one Gingrich suffered when his entire brain trust resigned earlier this year.
Laden with debt and having trouble raising money, Gingrich has severely curtailed his campaign schedule and is not participating in the straw poll. Santorum, too, has faced fundraising and polling troubles but has worked the grass-roots activists in Iowa to build support among social conservatives.
Fox News' Serafin Gomez and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Well the Republican Debate is tonight at 8:45 on Fox anyone going to watch?
Im going to be watching to pull for Ron Paul...he is going to be on there...im curious to hear what the guy has to say
Romney didn't really do anything to hurt himself. Neither did Bachmann.
Gingrich may be a strong VP contender if he can't make up ground. He really took the attack to the press, and to Obama.
Pawlenty hurt himself badly. Santorum didn't do anything to help himself.
Ron Paul and Herman Cain really have no chance.
Rick Perry announced that he's entering the race.
Man ... there really isn't anyone in this field who excites me greatly. I admire Bachmann's fire and principles ..... but she has so little experience. I like Gingrich's experience shepherding cuts through Congress .... but I don't know that he comes across as Presidential to a majority of voters. Pawletny all but eliminated himself tonight. Cain is interesting .... but has way, way too many faux pas that his political opponents would jump all over to make him look incompetent. I don't see Ron Paul as a likely nominee. His strict isolationism scares me. We have to look out for the US, but also take our place in the world, and the world economy. Santorum was kinda ..... blah. I like some of his positions ..... but he just didn't distinguish himself as a powerful presence. Romney presented himself as the most Presidential .... but I don't like a lot of things he has supported and put into effect in the past.
Rick Perry is getting in late. I don't know what to make of him. I don't know if he can overtake Romney at this point.
If I had to guess at this point, I would say that I could see a Romney/Gingrich ticket as a strong ticket. Gingrich would bring a strong conservative presence and can definitely attack the President's policies effectively. That's my early handicapping of the race ... for whatever that's worth.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
I have absolutely nothing of value to add to this, sorry in advance, BUT when I read your prediction I instantly had an image of "Beavis and Butthead" come to mind.
I thought Romney, Huntsman, and Santorum came across fairly well if not unspectacular (although I fell asleep at about 10:30 and might have missed something).
I really do like Ron Paul. When he was talking about the medical system in this country, you could tell he really knows the system and what might make it work. Seeing as that is probably our number one long term budget problem, as well as each of our personal finance problems of the future, I like that. Many other countries out there are delivering better, more universal health care at a fraction of the cost this country is, so there has to be a better way. While I agree with his stance on the current wars, I can't agree with total, complete isolationism either.
I agree with you, Pawlenty might be out already. His answers just seemed too forced and he didn't seem at ease. It's like some political staffer just said "attack" and he did so in all directions. When Bachmann defended herself against Pawlenty's attacks by questioning his record, instead of listing why she was wrong, he basically just said "she makes stuff up." Not real credible.
I have to say that several of the candidates went on the attack against the press. After a few times, I just started getting the feeling the whoever was doing it was acting in a very arrogant fashion, as if they were above reproach. Did the reporters twist a few words or take them out of context? Yes, but the heart of what they were getting at was certain perceptions that are out there, right or wrong. They were just giving the candidates the opportunity to address those perceptions. I felt in a couple of cases that Gingrich could have just addressed the perception rather than basically saying many questions were "mickey mouse."
I really don't get it because he seems like an intelligent guy. He has to be careful if he is really serious about the presidency, b/c this is exactly the type of thing that probably killed Al Gore. A general smug, above the questioner attitude (although Gore's disdain was mostly reserved for President Bush).
As far as Bachmann, she did ok. She really strikes me as the Republican version of Obama from 08. Not a lot of experience, not much of a record, and very pie in the sky. I respect that she holds her principles so strongly (no matter how much I disagree with many of them), yet at the same time at some point she will have to help get something done. She made a big point of "fighting for this and that," but fighting only gets so far. Saying that she will never compromise on certain things sounds like the Republican version of "I'm going to change Washington" that Obama said in 08. I thought Santorum made an excellent point that compromise is what gets things done using the example of welfare refrom; you never get 100% of what you want, and if that's the bar, then nothing will ever get done.
Actually, recent polls have Perry trailing Romney by only 2 points, and that was before any announcement that Perry was running. I heard that his spokesman said yesterday that Perry was "in", and would officially announce Saturday. I believe one of these two will be the candidate - as long as Palin stays out. All bets are off if that happens.
Quote: Would have liked to hear the end of that... or is that one of those edit jobs that cut out the explaination of what was meant?
daman...I'm sure you can find it...just do a little search.
...if you were willing to take the time to make this post...if you really wanted to hear more, why not take the initiative to do your own search to find the info?
Here's the context, from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
The Republican presidential frontrunner was arguing that there are “various way” the country can keep promises made to its citizens in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
“One is we could raise taxes on people: That’s not the way . . .” Romney began.
“Corporations!” shouted an audience member.
“Corporations are people, my friend,” Romney shot back.
“No they’re not,” came a rejoinder.
“Of course, they are,” Romney argued. “Everything corporations earn ultimately goes to people.”
Several in the audience laughed. “Where do you think it goes?” Romney asked in reply.
“In their pockets.”
“Whose pockets? People’s pockets,” Romney replied. “O.K., human beings, my friend.”
**********
Somewhere on Youtube, you can probably find the entire confrontation between Romney and hecklers, which actually lasted 3-4 minutes, as opposed to the 48 second bite that Mac provides. I heard the whole exchange on the radio and Romney actually did a good job with a difficult situation.
If I had to guess at this point, I would say that I could see a Romney/Gingrich ticket as a strong ticket. Gingrich would bring a strong conservative presence and can definitely attack the President's policies effectively. That's my early handicapping of the race ... for whatever that's worth.
The ultra-safe Romney wouldn't let Gingrich anywhere near his ticket. The guy's a walking campaign disaster. He's got no staff (they all walked off the campaign en masse), his campaign is already over $1 million in debt, and his fundraisers are jumping ship. And that's all without mentioning the skeletons in his closet.
Don't get me wrong, I think he's an intelligent guy and I like a lot of his work as a commentator, but the only way Newt's making it to the White House is as a dinner guest, IMO.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
If I post a video where I say "I hope you die" ....... but the context is that it was part of a longer sentence where I said "I hope that we can, one day, have a society where no one ever says to another person, "I hope you die" ....... then it would be out of context.
The video mac posted tried to make it look like Romney was saying that corporations are living beings ..... right along with the "heartbeat" line ... when the larger point, made in the expanded version is that corporations are shareholders ..... who are people.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Diehard, yes, your own words are biased if a small snippet of them is taken and used out of context. BOTH SIDES are great at doing this in campaign season. I hate this practice (along with the practice of having hecklers with video cameras in the first place).
I gotta tell you, I didn't like it when conservatives attacked Obama in town hall type meetings, and I don't like it when liberals attack Romney any better.
That's not the way to conduct business, that's not the way to find out what a candidate is all about..Yelling at the top of your lungs at a rally like that won't get you the answer you need.
Sometimes I think that the Media or political rainmakers hire guys like the one that said he was a teacher, to harass candidates and disrupt sound discourse.
What an Arse some of those people made of themselves..
Romney handled that pretty well I thought. I got his message and I understood it.
OH,, MAC,.,, next time you post a video, you may want to post an honest version. rather than a cropped version. Soundbites.. that's all you know..
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe." Damanshot
Many hate to admit it, but corporations are people. The CEO doesn't sit in his office and collect paycheck without having hundreds or thousands of workers out there doing they're job, getting paid BY THE corporation. And most corporations I know do a lot within the communities where they have offices and plants. People tend to forget that.All they see if the fat check the CEO gets and forget about the thousands of other lives tied to that corp.
We don't have to agree with each other, to respect each others opinion.
Corporations are also owned by shareholders ..... or .... people.
Many corporations have far, far more owners than private companies do. Joe's plumbing is probably owned solely by Joe. Coca Cola, by way of contrast, has hundreds or thousands of shareholders .... or owners.
That's one of the things that so many people misunderstand about corporations. If you own stock on the NYSE or NASDAQ, you own part of a corporation. I am amazed at how many people rail against corporations ... yet answer yes when asked if they own stock or have a 401k. They are literally fighting ..... and ranting ........ against themselves.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Presidential candidate Mitt Romney is by far the richest candidate in the race, regardless of party. He is worth approximately $250 million, qualifying him as one of the "super-rich".
He likes to brag about his business acumen, and how that sharp business sense helped him to take his company (Bain Capital) to the top. But you won't hear him talk much about exactly how he accomplished this feat. That's because most Americans probably wouldn't like it.
Most Americans pay their taxes, and don't like it when others use tax shelters and other loopholes to avoid paying the taxes they owe. It doesn't look like Romney broke any laws, but he did set up shell companies in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. These companies were used to allow investors to funnel money through them and into Bain Capital.
This allowed the investors to completely avoid paying any United States income taxes. By using these tax-avoidance schemes, Romney was able to draw billions of dollars of investments into Bain Capital, and not a penny of the money his investors earned were subject to income taxes.
It was legal, but not very ethical -- not when you consider that these tax shelters force a larger part of the tax burden on the middle and working classes, who actually pay their taxes.
Once we know about the Island shell companies, who have no employees -- only a mail box, it is easy to see how Romney amassed his vast fortune. He did it on the backs of American workers.
I don't like that stuff one bit. I wish that we could get the tax laws changed.
In fact, I would quite happily trade off a lower corporate tax rate for closing up loopholes like that, a lowered rate on capital repatriated to the US by companies, and a small national sales tax that would hit US and foreign made products equally.
We could then lower individual rates as well.
So, a US corporation could lower their price slightly because of the lowered corporate tax rate. This would allow them to compete better with foreign made products. The sales tax would apply to all good sold in the US, whether US or foreign made. The government could then lower the lowest tax rate from10% to 9% ...... and so on. This rate changes across the board.
We then eliminate most of the tax deductions. Business tax credits should be structured towards hiring only at this point. Real equipment should return to a realistic depreciation schedule.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Many hate to admit it, but corporations are people. The CEO doesn't sit in his office and collect paycheck without having hundreds or thousands of workers out there doing they're job, getting paid BY THE corporation. And most corporations I know do a lot within the communities where they have offices and plants. People tend to forget that.All they see if the fat check the CEO gets and forget about the thousands of other lives tied to that corp.
I guess this depends upon the context in which you are making this statement.
Is a corporation comprised of people? Absolutely.
Is a corporation a person (and thus entitled to everything an actual citizen is)? Hell no.
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
Quote: If I post a video where I say "I hope you die" ....... but the context is that it was part of a longer sentence where I said "I hope that we can, one day, have a society where no one ever says to another person, "I hope you die" ....... then it would be out of context.
The video mac posted tried to make it look like Romney was saying that corporations are living beings ..... right along with the "heartbeat" line ... when the larger point, made in the expanded version is that corporations are shareholders ..... who are people.
Right. That's exactly what Romney said and that's how I listened to it as. I'm still not seeing where it's biased to post that video clip where he tells the obnoxious audience member how he feels about it.
I agree that most of mac's post have a slant to them. I get it. But to call this example biased using someone's own words (as opposed to some slanted pundit or knucklehead analyst super slanted take), I was a bit
------------------------------ *In Baker we trust* -------------------------------
I'm not a huge Romney fan, but I think we could do much worse than having him in office. He was born into politics, which I think is a huge part of the problem in Washington. He has, though, a mind for business and finance, and has managed successful business ventures. He also took over the Salt Lake City olympic comittee and made the games a financial success.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
Quote: In fact, I would quite happily trade off a lower corporate tax rate for closing up loopholes like that, a lowered rate on capital repatriated to the US by companies, and a small national sales tax that would hit US and foreign made products equally.
We could then lower individual rates as well.
So, a US corporation could lower their price slightly because of the lowered corporate tax rate. This would allow them to compete better with foreign made products. The sales tax would apply to all good sold in the US, whether US or foreign made. The government could then lower the lowest tax rate from10% to 9% ...... and so on. This rate changes across the board.
We then eliminate most of the tax deductions. Business tax credits should be structured towards hiring only at this point.
Exactly!!!!
Flat tax across the board for everyone with the only credits to be given based on a corporation's layoff/hiring.
------------------------------ *In Baker we trust* -------------------------------
It's still very early in the game, but I don't see how the Republicans don't run Romney.
He'll run into problems when it comes to knocking Obamacare, but he's the safest candidate, and the GOP isn't exactly looking for a home run candidate, just really someone who can stand there and point a finger (a la John Kerry in 2004).
Obama didn't do himself any favors wilting on the recent manufactured debt ceiling debate, and I don't see him growing a spine any time soon.
Quote: In fact, I would quite happily trade off a lower corporate tax rate for closing up loopholes like that, a lowered rate on capital repatriated to the US by companies,
Oddly enough, this has been the exact subject of Bill Clinton's speeches lately.
Quote: In fact, I would quite happily trade off a lower corporate tax rate for closing up loopholes like that, a lowered rate on capital repatriated to the US by companies,
Oddly enough, this has been the exact subject of Bill Clinton's speeches lately.
I don't necessarily see it as odd ... that sort of thing sounds right up Willie's alley.
I was listening to a talk radio show the other night and a caller asked the conservative host 'How does it make you feel that as the dust settles, Bill Clinton comes out by far as the most conservative and fiscally responsible president we've seen in modern history, far more so than Reagan'. The host stammered something about Clinton being a liberal and the conservative Congress reigning him in. And, of course, Reagan being the embodiment of conservatism.
Now, I don't agree with the caller - Clinton wasn't conservative. And he wasn't fiscally responsible, either. His moves are responsible for a great deal of our current woes. But if we're using the idea of conservatism as it's pitched in politics, then, yes, I think those statements hold merit. And he certainly beats the pants off of Reagan under those standards.
Most Americans pay their taxes, and don't like it when others use tax shelters and other loopholes to avoid paying the taxes they owe. It doesn't look like Romney broke any laws, but he did set up shell companies in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands.
So, don't rail against the person or people that follow the tax laws - rail against the tax laws.
You yourself said he didn't break any laws, so don't be mad at him - be mad at the laws, and the people that WROTE the laws. (although, as we find out almost monthly, the people writing and voting on the laws don't even read them, but I digress.
Not calling you out, just pointing out: don't gripe about the people following the laws. Make sure your congress people know how you feel - THEY are the only ones that can change the laws. If they won't, vote for someone else.
Quote: OH,, MAC,.,, next time you post a video, you may want to post an honest version. rather than a cropped version. Soundbites.. that's all you know..
Daman...I'm sorry that you are TOO LAZY to do any research on your own.
I clicked on a link and up pops a video about Romney's comment "Corporations are People"...I listen to it and thought it was interesting...so I posted the video....so sue me for not posting the video "YOU" wanted to see of Mitty's entire question and answer period...geeez...
BTW, I didn't edit anything from the video that I posted...it came just as I posted.
Here is a story along with a video concerning Romney's comment, "Corporations are people".
Mitt Romney's America: "Corporations Are People"
Washington, D.C. August 12, 2011
Speaking to a crowd at the Iowa State Fair Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney stated that "corporations are people." Asked by members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement as to why he was focusing on cutting Social Security and Medicare as a means of deficit reduction over asking corporations to share part of the burden, Romney said: "Corporations are people, my friend ... of course they are. Everything corporations earn ultimately goes to the people. Where do you think it goes? Whose pockets? Whose pockets? People's pockets. Human beings, my friend."
George Goehl is the Executive Director of National People's Action. Goodner is an organizer at Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, the group whose members questioned Romney. Goehl said today: "The corporations Mr. Romney believes are filling people's pockets are the ones who crashed our economy and hijacked our democracy. Mr. Romney's comments demonstrate once again that the interests of big business and big banks come before everyday people.
"Corporate money is locked in at Wall Street and not getting to Main Street. Instead of paying their fair share of taxes, or lending to small businesses, the nation’s banks are sitting on a historically high level of cash reserves of $1.64 trillion."
In 2010, Murray Hill Inc. became the first corporation to run for Congress. Eric Hensal is its "designated human" representative.
Last night the corporation announced its support for Mitt Romney’s public statement in support of corporate civil rights: “While our position is that people get in the way of politics, Murray Hill Inc. greatly appreciates a bodied person candidate willing to speak the truth to the American People -- that the Supreme Court says corporations are people too! Mitt Romney, a major party candidate who received a significant anonymous corporate contribution, was brave enough to publicly agree with corporate personhood and our right to give large, unchecked donations to the political process. When corporate civil rights history is written years from now, content providers will point to this moment as a significant turning point in U.S. politics."
I have little doubt that Mitt Romney believes Corporations Are People...
America's founding fathers likely turned over in their graves when the GOP Supreme Court ruled that Corporations Are People and should be allowed to contribute to political campaigns as if they are human beings...BUT, to hear a Presidential candidate say that "Corporations Are People" and mean it....
...that's "insane"
...it has to be the dumbest thing I have ever heard any Presidential candidate say....
Just how out of touch with average Americans, is Romney?...his comment that Corporations are People might be a good indicator.
Look Dude, you posted a video that made one thing appear to be fact, when in fact, it was only a sound bite that when seen in it's entirety, made a completely different point.
If you think that nobody knows it already, then you are fooling yourself.
I'd tell you what I really think of people that do that, but I'd get booted off this board, and frankly, you aren't worth that..
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe." Damanshot
That's one of the things that so many people misunderstand about corporations. If you own stock on the NYSE or NASDAQ, you own part of a corporation. I am amazed at how many people rail against corporations ... yet answer yes when asked if they own stock or have a 401k. They are literally fighting ..... and ranting ........ against themselves.
And that goes for the public employees as well. Unions also..........it amazes me how those people - ya know, the ones that think they are entitled pensions after 25 or 30 years of work, then they get paid each month, with health benefits...........it amazes me how those idiots don't understand that the money they pay in as they work is INVESTED in these companies they hate.
There isn't a union around that isn't invested in oil. Yet people like to hate on big oil. Or drug companies - these idiots don't even know they/their union, etc, are invested in these companies that actually make a profit.
Do they honestly think the $200 or so a month they put away for 30 years is enough to give them pension benefits with health insurance for another 30 years? Like it's self funded????? Like they're getting back only what they paid in?
Quote: I respect that she holds her principles so strongly (no matter how much I disagree with many of them),
I'm actually quite afraid of both her and Perry. They're the classic, "I reject your reality and insert my own!" type of people. They're not exactly rolling in large amounts of rational thought and intellectual acumen. That's not something that should be lacking in one of the most influential people in the country.
Quote: They're not exactly rolling in large amounts of rational thought and intellectual acumen. That's not something that should be lacking in one of the most influential people in the country.
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