Posted on 10/21/2007 11:38:01 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache
I am going to post just a small review of my night with 23 Republicans at the Fox News Orlando Republican Presidential Debate.
Luntz was angry early on before camera's went live when he polled the group to make sure everyone there was undecided. A 21 yr old guy raised his hand and said he was supporting Ron Paul. Luntz absolutely lost it on this kid and said "Why in the hell did you not put that on your questionaire that was e-mailed to you? Why does it not shock me that a Ron Paul supporter would pull this kind of crap?"
"If someone else shows up you are being replaced and out of here...this room is for undecided."
I was originally placed in the second row towards the end of the row next to a man named Fred Hawkins Jr. who is running for Osceola County Commissioner. Luntz asked us a bunch of questions with a camera crew and producers in tow behind him and I was the first to answer. I was the first person to use the word "socialism" and it spread like wild fire.
I said the concept of America voting a socialist like Hillary Clinton as President should be motivation enough for Republicans to get their act together. I reminded Luntz of the Hillary quote saying "This is the same woman who is quoted by the San Francisco Chronicle saying "We will have to take things away for the common good." Luntz had this smirk on his face and he knew I handed him gold.
After 3 segments it was time to go live. By the time you saw what you did at home we had already gone through 3 rounds of questions and I was lighting up the joint with what I call the biggest crisis this campaign.
What do any of these men who are running for President plan on doing to combat the extreme hatred of anyone who is a Republican by the mainstream media and how bad the liberal blogs, Soros, and just about everyone who has some sort of journalistic power slimes Republicans on a daily basis. Who is going to have the spine to stand up to it and how do they plan on doing it when the Bush Administration has been knocked out time and time again with no fight.
WHO IS GOING TO PREVENT THE PERCEPTION THAT REPUBLICANS ARE NOT WAR MONGERING NAZI'S WHO ARE OUT FOR OIL COMPANIES AND THE RICH?
Luntz definitely told us through his polling and research that as of today Hillary Clinton will win in a landslide. He was putting all of his money on her. I said you are going to go broke. He said Republicans are too disorganized and the focus group proved that.
I said not it does not. I said if you want to see motivation and organization? Put Hillary Clinton against any Republican and you will see Republicans vote like you have never seen before, the alternative is too grave. Whether we can stand it or not Republicans will do everything in their power to elect anyone else but Clinton.
You saw my exchange later on saying we have long memories and do not want to live through that hell again.
The Ron Paul comment I made was simple and sweet and every single person except the Ron Paul supporter all said "perfect" with regards to that remark.
Luntz walks over and says "you are good...you are going down to the front row...keep talking."
We taped about 70 mins worth of discussion. More clips will be aired at 6:20 AM on Fox and Friends First and then 8:20 AM on Fox and Friends. Then more clips from the debate will be aired on tomorrow's Hannity and Colmes as well from 9-10.
I am sure this is when you will see how hardcore it got in there.
I called out the room at the end of it all..when I saw how many people put their hands up that Rudy was the only one who could beat Hillary I said "I am really saddened to see how many people think he is their answer. That is very telling that the fire that was there earlier tonight for all of us agreeing that we want a true Conservative is gone already and that makes me sick as a true Conservative."
To me the top winners tonight were Romney, Huckabee, Thompson, and blech...I hate to say this but Rudy. His night was not that bad but he certainly is not my top choice for President.
I called for a thining of the herd. Paul, Tancredo, and Hunter need to go. They virtually played zero in the room. It was sad because I really like Tom and Duncan and said that if a Republican wins the White House in 2008 they should all be given cabinet posts ASAP.
Except Paul...which who by the end of the night lost his one supporter...the 21 yr old guy who didn't raise his hand when asked if anyone supported him.
Finally...Luntz. A nice guy but can be insulting. When he compared a moderate conservative to a major serious conservative he wanted a show of hands...then he added "When I say major serious conservative I mean you can hear the German Nazi marching bands and get excited", I then said to him "There it is..exactly what I was talking about." Luntz said "Relax I was only joking." I said "I know you were and it is that kind of talk that I am absolutely disgusted by and sick of...sick of it Frank...enough is enough with the nazi conservative comparisons people have got to speak up for conservatives...true conservatives."
That in a short capsule is it. Met some really nice people and we had a discussion at the end of everything and went our own ways.
I thank Luntz for letting me say whatever I wanted to on camera and speak up for Conservatives and letting me call Ron Paul out on global television.
well stated.
How many?
I agree. I love el rushbo, but I think about Santorum every time he says that.
However, I note that Rush doesn’t call people like Rudy or people who support Rudy “babykillers” and “aboritionists” and I am completely convinced that Rush will come out swinging & support whoever the nominee is. He realizes what is at stake. Some people could learn from him.
As long as you don’t think the second amendment includes “assault weapons” you are correct, Mitt is a second amendment supporter. What, I wonder, does he think an Assault Weapon is? He’s pretty clear in his statements that they don’t belong in the population- I feel he’d act on his feelings as president.
Romney, like Hillary and Bill Clinton, Sarah Brady, John Kerry, and Ted Kennedy have always stated that they support the Second Amendment. You won’t find a statement from Mitt to the contrary or from Hill, Bill, Sarah, or Schumer.
He has stated, though, that he is opposed to citizens owning “assault weapons” and supported the federal ban, and supported and signed a permanent Massachusetts ban on “assault weapons” and “big magazines”. He reaffirmed his opposition to citizens owning deadly things like “assault weapons” on Steffi’s show in February while affirming his support for the Second Amendment.
He also supported the Brady Act waiting period and background check.
So his support of the Second Amendment includes banning undefined broad classes of firearms, waiting periods, and Federal background checks.
Add to that his statements that he owns guns, and is a lifelong hunter (without owning guns or being a hunter) and I get a pretty clear picture of Governor Mitt Romney’s stance on RKBA.
Feb 18 transcript in which Romney supports banning certain classes of firearms:
Stephanopoulos: Let’s talk about guns. You were supportive of the Brady bill, the handgun waiting period, in the past. You signed an assault weapon ban into law and you said, in the past, “I don’t line up with the NRA.”
Now, you…
Mitt Romney: Well, on that issue.
Stephanopoulos: Now you’re a member of the NRA.
Mitt Romney: Yes, and I know the NRA does not support an assault weapon ban. So I don’t line up on that particular issue with the NRA, either does President Bush. He likewise says he supported an assault weapon ban.
Today we don’t have the Brady bill because we have instantaneous background checks. That’s no longer a operative or needed measure. [So I should be immune to criticism that I once supported it].
But I’m a strong proponent of Second Amendment rights. I believe people, under our Constitution, have the right to bear arms. [Just not “assault weapons”]
We have a gun in one of our homes. It’s not owned by me, it’s owned by my son, but I’ve always considered it sort of mine. [I didn’t really lie when I said I owned a gun but didn’t]
Stephanopoulos: When did you join the NRA?
Mitt Romney: Within the last year and I signed up for a lifelong membership. I think they’re doing good things and I believe in supporting the right to bear arms.
I’ve been a hunter all my life, not frequently, but as a boy, when I worked on a ranch in Idaho, we used to go out shooting rabbits, because they were eating all the barley, and I got pretty good with a single shot .22 rifle, and been quail hunting more recently.
So I’m a hunter and believe in Second Amendment rights, but I also believe that assault weapons are not needed in the public population.
[end transcript]
So, Spiff, any thoughts on what Mitt thinks an assault weapon is?
I’ll read through them, but for chrissake, this is from Steve Gillard’s blog...he was a huge lefty blogger that was one of the originators of the Daily Kos and an affirmed Republican hater...
Ditto! I will too.
I hope in the end there will be few "broken glass inactivists." ---the "true conservatives" who intend to sit at home and pop a cork to Hillary's inauguration because it gives them perverse revenge on the party.
I think there's more of those people on FR per-capita than in the real world, I hope.
But even a lefty blog couldn't make up indictments that are public record.
Godspeed
When you settle for the lesser of two evils you will still end up with evil. Settling for some socialism will only beget more socialism. Your strategy prevents the line from being drawn for too much socialism. That rationalization will also lower the bar by tolerating candidates who are a little more socialistic then those in the previous election. Eventually the country will have been completely converted to socialism. It’s the frog in the pot routine who doesn’t realized the heat is being gradually turned up. Eventually it is cooked without ever knowing. It is this type of slippery slope thinking that caused the GOP to lose control of Congress in 2006 and has put itself in the current predicament of a split in the party. The irony is the GOP never expects the socialist Democrats to sacrifice their principles. I suggest you read post #33 for an enlightening perspective.
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Well responded and I do hear you. This is by far a no win situation. So what does one do? I truly do not want another Clinton Presidency. You bet I’ll vote for Fred Thompson in the primary but when it comes to the general, its like the graveyard chills running up and down my spine. What will you do?
I am praying that Ron Paul is not going to be the Ross Perot of the 2008 election.
I enjoyed the focus group and you so much that I backed it up and recorded it.
Maybe they’ve run out of doobie, and that’s making them all irritable.
Perhaps we can send them some weed and the Paulistinians will mellow out?
Missed the debate last night and your appearance in the focus group. It sounds great. Applause, applause, applause. Any links to catch this on video?
Videos are listed here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykxT8wWxPRk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjjDtOzaXdw
According to the YouTubers we were all scripted hacks for Fox News. Nothing could be further from the truth.
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