Posted on 09/13/2011 9:48:06 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Do you remember the old reruns of Gilligan’s Island? The really old ones were in black and white and that famous theme song ended without mentioning the Professor and Mary Anne. The song originally ended, “and the rest are here on Gilligan’s Isle.”
That’s how I’m starting to feel about the GOP presidential field. “and the rest…” are really mucking it up for the real contenders. Let’s face it, this race should be down to no more than four people at this point: Texas Governor Rick Perry, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and that open slot for former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
The rest need to pack it up and go home already. There were only seven castaways, and that was too many to mention. There are still eight of these candidates.
Last night’s debate held at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa provided some fireworks and proved that Wolf Blitzer of CNN is an able and honest journalist, unlike Brian “Obama 2012” Williams of NBC who moderated last week’s debate. Kudos to Blitzer for a job well done and for realizing that the debate is about the candidates, not him.
The fireworks began when Perry and Romney got into it over Social Security. Perry won that one. He stuck to his convictions and didn’t faint in the face of criticism on an issue that has sent many a politician, like Romney, running for cover.
Then more fireworks came as Bachmann and Perry got into it over the human papilloma virus vaccine and the fact that Perry had ordered Texas school girls to get the vaccination as governor of Texas.
Perry apologized and admitted he was wrong – twice – in mandating the vaccination as an executive order. I don’t know about you, but I find that refreshing. I can’t remember the last time the words “I was wrong” or anything like them were uttered by any politician anywhere. Barack Obama would have a stroke just trying to get his lips to form the words. If you’re looking for perfect folks, don’t look at politicians or anyone else on this planet.
Romney was Romney. Romney was just there. He’s been there for four years now. Just always there. He does nothing. He offers nothing new. He’ll flip his position on a dime. He is a super nothing who is just simply there waiting to be anointed as in the days of old by the GOP elite just because it’s his turn.
This vaunted GOP tradition of picking someone to be their presidential candidate just because they’ve hung around the longest (see Bob Dole & John McCain as examples) may come to a crashing halt this year thanks to the Tea Party.
Michele Bachmann lost me last night. I’ve had support and sympathy for the Minnesota Congresswoman for some time now and had hoped she would do well in the race. I did not, however, really expect that she would pull off a nomination. In fact, I suspected that she would implode.
I felt an imminent implosion due to Bachmann’s tendency to say things that are just downright wrong and make her look stupid. Like her August call to wish Elvis Presley a Happy Birthday on the anniversary of his death, and like her gaffe earlier when she moved Concorde and Lexington to a completely different state.
I did not expect her to implode because she would be over the top vicious and accusative of another GOP candidate. Bachmann won the debate about the HPV virus. She had Perry whipped. Rather than take her victory lap and look strong for having won, she went one step further and made an accusation of Perry.
She accused Perry of issuing the executive order because the drug company that produced the vaccine, Merck, and Perry’s former Chief of Staff had a relationship, and because Merck had made a donation to Perry’s campaign. It was a startling accusation.
Had Bachmann let it go there, she might have been okay. However, right after the debate Bachmann appeared on Fox News’ “On The Record” with Greta Van Susteren and was asked if she really believed that Perry had issued the executive order because of “crony capitalism,” and the fact that he had received a $5,000 donation out of the $30 million plus Perry raised.
Bachmann replied that she could not know Rick Perry’s heart and would not speculate.
Speculate?
Rep. Bachmann, you blew right past speculate and straight to out and out accusation mixed with condemnation on the stage during a nationally televised debate. You left speculate in the dust. Okay, people make mistakes. Give her the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, Bachmann won’t let us give her the benefit of the doubt.
Last night Bachmann sent out an email to supporters that read in part:
Tonight, I also questioned why Governor Perry made this executive order. When you look at the facts, the question becomes, is this about life or is this about millions and potentially billions for the drug company?
We cannot forget that in the midst of the executive order, a big drug company made millions of dollars because of this mandate. This drug company's PAC made thousands of dollars in political donations to Governor Perry, and his own former Chief of Staff was working as the lobbyist for this drug company when he issued the mandate. This is flat out wrong.
That’s way more than speculation and it sounds like Michele Bachmann has decided that she can know Rick Perry’s heart. I hope your past is clean, Rep. Bachmann, because you can bet Perry’s people are dissecting every deal you’ve ever been involved with in Congress right about now.
It is already well known that Bachmann, while publicly damning the Obama stimulus and voting against it, then wrote several letters asking for a cut of the money for her district. I certainly hope none of that money went to anyone who ever gave you a campaign donation Ms. Bachmann.
Bachmann smelled blood in the water last night because she had the front runner on the ropes and she went over the top in her accusations and her attack, and is continuing to do so today demonstrating that despite all her objections to the contrary, Ms. Bachmann is just about politics as usual.
And the rest….
Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman does a great Mr. Spock impression, but I’m really tired of him ballyhooing his accomplishments in Utah, a state which has about as many people as does the City of Houston. His accomplishments on that kind of a scale are the equivalent of a big city Mayor’s rather than a real governor. I don’t care that you ride motorcycles and you’ve spent too much time working for Barack Obama. Enough already.
Newt Gingrich is still the smartest guy in the room, darn near any room, but hang it up Newt. No one is ever, ever, ever going to elect you to anything ever again.
Former Senator Rick Santorum, did anyone know that his parents were Italian immigrants? Anyone? Anyone?
Herman Cain is a hoot, but please go home already. Order a pizza.
Ron Paul. Well, Ron Paul went off into loony land again last night agreeing with Osama Bin Laden, and Rev. Jeremiah Wright that the U.S. was responsible for the attacks of 9/11. Rep. Paul please “sell crazy someplace else we’re all stocked up here.”
After last night, I suspect the numbers will tighten at the top with Perry and Romney coming closer together. I don’t believe Romney either hurt or helped himself. Perry did hurt himself. Bachmann did, too. If that happens and Perry and Romney’s numbers get closer together, don’t be surprised to see Sarah Palin jump into this.
Then all bets are off and the debates get really interesting. The rest of you, just go home already.
Yes, that pissed me off too. It's one thing to disagree with the policy in the first place, but, as Perry himself said, to assume he can be bought for a measly $5000, over (my point, not Perry's to follow) an issue I'm sure he knew would hurt him politically far more than the money would have benefited him, is ignorant at best, and downright insulting at worst.
I’m not sure Perry hurt himself, really, at least not as much as Bachmann did or even Romney.
Romney, IMHO, actually did poorly. He usually debates well on first glance, and comes across well. Last night he seemed off and Perry got the best of him.
Bachmann is a good Congresswoman. For a while, before Perry entered, she was my #2 choice next to Cain. However, she has proven that she simply does not have what it takes to win, and is a bit of a loose cannon.
For me it’s Cain ideally, Perry as a close second (but my first choice as realistic nominee) at this point, and that’s unlikely to change barring anything earth-shattering from either of those two candidates.
“It’s Rerry or Romney” For a second I thought this read “Rerry or Promney” allmost lost another keyboard to the mysterious coffee rain!
The more I see of Romney, the more I am sickened. He just hovers like a goon over whomever is next to him on the stage. He seems much more tired, old, desperate, entitled, and wimpy that he did in 2008.
I don’t care what you Perrytard cowards think.
Congresswoman Bachmann has about the same chance at garnering the nomination as I do.”
Newt?
Is that you?
Actually Promney is a pretty funny nickname for Romney, he looks like he’s lookng for a date for the prom.
Perry has his problems, as will every candidate.
Candidates are graded against each other. I grade Perry No 1, for today. I won’t get a vote in the primary, I left the Republican party in 2007, not wanting to be a member of a moderate party. There is no conservative party with any power, so I am partyless.
The decision in the election between Obama and the Republican nominee will be difficult. Do I vote for a quicker collapse or a slower one? I’m undecided.
And your non candidate is going to do nothing but help St Rick. I guess I may as well join the ranks of the Palin bashers if her supporters are like you.
They teach you that in sales (no, I'm not in sales now, once was). Make the close, then stop selling.
After Palin laying into RP over the Merck business in the Greta interview, I seriously doubt she means to help him other than help him get off the stage.
Oh, and BTW, all the Palin-basher positions are filled up right now. More might become available later. I'll get back to you on that. /sarc :)
Maybe you can explain to me how making sure St Rick runs unopposed is supposed to help us out. Seems to be a pretty big gamble to take on the hope Sarah Palin runs.
Um, I guess I am unfamiliar with your argument. You’re not making sense to me. How is Palin attacking Perry over Merck supposed to ensure that Perry runs unopposed? Um, don’t get it. Please explain.
“Congresswoman Bachmann has about the same chance at garnering the nomination as I do.”
Newt?
Is that you?
LMAO, that was good.
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