Live Thread (CNN Presidential Debate from Mesa, AZ, Feb 22, 8 PM EST)

CNN.com ^ | 02-22-2012 | parksstp

[parksstp]

LIVE DEBATE THREAD (Is it too early to start?)

[altura]

I really like Newt and his answers were totally refreshing, honest and incisive.

However, Newt was not attacked tonight. Romney and Paul did a double team on Santorum. Paul is a nasty little weasel and either has a personal vendetta against Santorum or is working with Romney.

Considering the vileness and constancy of the attacks, I didn’t think Santorum did badly.

I don’t think one debate will return Newt’s momentum, though I wish it would.

I wish we had a better candidate. Would have loved to see Perry on the stage instead of in the audience. He should have stayed in.

[eyedigress]

The last thing the Commie News Network wants to figure out is a Gingrich-Obama debate. Their little dictator will get his ass handed to him and they know it.

[Christie at the beach]

I am sorry for my typos/hard to type while on the go.

[Josh Painter]

Actually, Newt DID win some tonight even when he wasn’t talking. Every time Romney and Santorum were trashing each other, Newt was winning.

[Invincibly Ignorant]

The problem is most Rick supporters are not that bright. You have to be intellectually challenged to turn down a really smart conservative candidate in favor of one that is nowhere near on the same intellectual level. These are either people who don't have the intelligence to recognize Newt's intelligence or they feel threatened by Newt's intelligence because they have felt inferior to smart people like Newt all their life. They probably have done poorly in school and work compared to more intelligent people. Therefore these Rick supporters can't win the argument on the merits and need to resort to insults and spreading lies about Newt. Rick's supporters write some of the most incoherent, sloppy, garbled posts on here and many seem functionally illiterate.

Or perhaps wisdom sometimes trumps knowledge genius.

[llandres]

“One thing I notice about Paul is, he loves to attack Santorum and whoever the conservative frontrunner is, but I never see him go after Romney who is arguably the most liberal candidate. Why?”

Because Paul’s liberal, NOT conservative:

http://thebandofpatriots.com/blog/2011/8/2/its-conservatism-stupid-or-why-i-wont-ever-support-ron-paul.html

[hoosiermama]

Go to Newt.org.
Find contact tab at the bottom and you can leave a message there. The donate tab is for actions not money.

[pghoilman]

Pledge Pin?!

[altura]

Biggest misconception was a gotcha question and nobody answered it.

You’d have to say, people think I ... blah, blah, blah, and what good would that do you?

[altura]

Which candidate was it who reminded Mitt that the military is under civilian control?

Newt went hard after that general who has the stupid viewpoint about Iran and Syria.

[ConfidentConservative]

Newt is a Statesman with a HUGE background in history and MILITARY HISTORY as well...he will surround himself with good people....as I have said, I like Santorum, but our country is in such deep chit now, we do not need another POTUS that has a big “learning curve” and Santorum would have that! Santorum may be better served by stepping back and LEARNING for a few more (like 8) years...then give it a go...at this point in American history, we NEED a statesman...we NEED Newt! (My name is Mag, and I approve this message)

My name is Caww and I support your message!

My name is ConfidentConservative and I support your message as well!

[Irenic]

Speaker of the House: Paul Ryan
**************

Yes, we REALLY need to be rid of Boehner. After ditching Obama, Pelosi and Boehner are next on my list. Equally.

[hoosiermama]

Not only was he winning. He was laughig at them.

[luvie]

Well, I trust both of them. :)

I have been toying with the idea of Santorum, but from what
I read here, he’s not ready for prime time.

[altura]

I think the fact is that most conservatives have serious doubts about all the candidates.

They’re just trying to figure out who they hate the least.

[max americana]

Yup. Newt again allowed the other 3 to go to war against each other while Newt turned into Switzerland. He did the same thing in November with Perry, Cain...

[luvie]

That’s good! I haven’t been able to “get” Twitter, but there is a lot of chatter on Facebook in favor of him and that said he hit a homer tonight.

[altura]

Oh, please. I know freepers can be mean but you don’t even know what brutally attacked is unless you were on the Rick Perry threads when he was running.

Those attacks were not only vile, but they were organized. They had a ping list to summon all the Perry haters to defecate on the threads. I think they were inspired by Cain who they all supported at that time. Cain hated Perry.

[mylife]

I want to like the guy but something about him nags me.

He nagged me again tonight.

[Strategerist]

Paul and Romney are genuinely close friends; their families are close, as well.

Was a Washington Post article on this a couple of months back.

Which is why people should mentally count Paul delegates as Romney delegates; and one of the infinite number of reasons there’s ZERO chance of a “brokered convention.”