An American President's Christmas Message From America To All

An American President's Christmas Message From America To All

It may amaze one to ponder that only 30 years ago (December 23, 1981), a President of the United States felt it was his leadership duty to speak directly about the reason for the season and assure all, whether they believed in Christianity or not, that our country and its citizens were protected here as one, under "Faith and Freedom" ... regardless of belief or circumstance.

May God bless the memory of Ronald Reagan. A message as poignant and timeless in 1981 as it is here in 2011.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

It Is Time To Dump John Boehner As House Leader

Congressman Boehner caves to the nonfactual position and political tactics of the Senate Democrats led by the 44th President of the United States on tax policy extension. Image Credit: johnboehner.house.gov

It Is Time To Dump John Boehner As House Leader

John Boehner is the worst leader of the Republican party in the House of Representatives in over sixty years (maybe longer). The latest evidence of this horrible level of leadership is shown on how he continues to have trouble closing the door on original arguments made and legislation passed when the opposition is able to out-and-out lie and get away with it.

Facts are facts, and lies are lies ... it is time that the American people have a leader of the Republican party in the House of Representatives that knows how to communicate the difference and stand for the truth.

This excerpted and edited from The White House - Office of the Press Secretary

Remarks by the President on the Payroll Tax Cut
South Court Auditorium - December 22, 2011, 1:00 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everybody. (Applause.) Please have a seat. Good afternoon to all of you. Merry Christmas. Happy holidays.
----
Now, on Saturday, we reached a bipartisan compromise that would do just that -- make sure that people aren’t seeing a tax cut the first of the year; make sure that they still have unemployment insurance the first of the year. Nearly every Democrat in the Senate voted for that compromise. Nearly every Republican in the Senate voted for that compromise. Democrats and even some Republicans in the House voted for that compromise. I am ready to sign that compromise into law the second it lands on my desk.

So far, the only reason it hasn’t landed on my desk -- the only reason -- is because a faction of House Republicans have refused to support this compromise. [this is because the Republicans and some Democrats in the House of Representatives passed an extension that was for one year and received back a bill to approve that was for only two months]

Now, if you’re a family making about $50,000 a year, this is a tax cut that amounts to about $1,000 a year [WRONG - the compromise amounts to only 1/6th of this amount or about $160.00]. That’s about 40 bucks out of every paycheck [for two months as opposed to what the House of Representatives had approved ... 12 months]. It may be that there's some folks in the House who refuse to vote for this compromise because they don’t think that 40 bucks is a lot of money. But anyone who knows what it’s like to stretch a budget knows that at the end of the week, or the end of the month, $40 can make all the difference in the world [the President is arguing for a continued return of $160.00 as opposed to $1,000.00].

And that’s why we thought we’d bring your voices into this debate. So many of these debates in Washington end up being portrayed as which party is winning, which party is losing. But what we have to remind ourselves of is this is about people. This is about the American people and whether they win. It's not about a contest between politicians [NO - this is all about the President and Senate Democrats only wishing to extend the tax policy for two (2) months as opposed to all of the Republicans in the House passing a bill for one (1) full year].

So on Tuesday, we asked folks to tell us what would it be like to lose $40 out of your paycheck every week [the President and Senate Democrats for eight (8) weeks as opposed to House Republicans fifty-two (52) weeks]. And I have to tell you that the response has been overwhelming. We haven't seen anything like this before. Over 30,000 people have written in so far -- as many as 2,000 every hour. We’re still hearing from folks -- and I want to encourage everybody who's been paying attention to this to keep sending your stories to WhiteHouse.gov and share them on Twitter and share them on Facebook.

The responses we’ve gotten so far have come from Americans of all ages and Americans of all backgrounds, from every corner of the country. Some of the folks who responded are on stage with me here today, and they should remind every single member of Congress what’s at stake in this debate. Let me just give you a few samples.

Joseph from New Jersey talked about how he would have to sacrifice the occasional pizza night with his daughters. He said -- and I'm quoting -- “My 16-year-old twins will be out of the house soon. I'll miss this.” [I thought that Michelle Obama and "My Plate" wanted the American people to eat healthier - no pizza | the President and Senate Democrats only wish Joseph and his family to have an occasional pizza night with his family two (2) months as opposed to all of the Republicans in the House passing a bill for a one (1) full year extension]

Richard from Rhode Island wrote to tell us that having an extra $40 in his check buys enough heating oil to keep his family warm for three nights. In his words -- I'm quoting -- “If someone doesn't think that 12 gallons of heating oil is important, I invite them to spend three nights in an unheated home. Or you can believe me when I say that it makes a difference.” [The President and Senate Democrats only wish Richard from Rhode Island to have fuel to heat his home for two (2) months as opposed to all of the Republicans in the House passing a bill for a one (1) full year extension]

Pete from Wisconsin told us about driving more than 200 miles each week to keep his father-in-law company in a nursing home -- $40 out of his paycheck would mean he'd only be able to make three trips instead of four. [The President and Senate Democrats wish to allow Pete from Wisconsin to visit his father-in-law in a nursing home for two (2) months as opposed to all of the Republicans in the House passing a bill for a one (1) full year extension]

We heard from a teacher named Claire from here in D.C. who goes to the thrift store every week and uses her own money to buy pencils and books for her fourth grade class. Once in a while she splurges on science or art supplies. Losing $40, she says, would mean she couldn’t do that anymore. [The President and Senate Democrats wish to allow Teacher Claire from D.C. to visit the thrift store every week and use her own money to buy pencils and books for her fourth grade class for two (2) months as opposed to all of the Republicans in the House passing a bill for a one (1) full year extension]

For others, $40 means dinner out with a child who's home for Christmas, a new pair of shoes, a tank of gas, a charitable donation. These are the things at stake for millions of Americans. They matter to people. A lot. [NO - this is all about the President and Senate Democrats only wishing to extend the tax policy for two (2) months as opposed to all of the Republicans in the House passing a bill for one (1) full year]

And keep in mind that those are just the individual stories. That doesn’t account for the overall impact that a failure to extend the payroll tax cut and a failure to extend unemployment insurance would have on the economy as a whole. We've seen the economy do better over the last couple of months, but there's still a lot of sources of uncertainty out there -- what's going on in Europe, what's going on around the world. And so this is insurance to make sure that our recovery continues. [NO - this is all about the President and Senate Democrats only wishing to extend the tax policy for two (2) months an maintaining UNCERTAINTY as opposed to all of the Republicans in the House passing a bill for one (1) full year thus eliminating UNCERTAINTY for 12 months]

So it's time for the House to listen to the voices who are up here, the voices all across the country, and reconsider. What’s happening right now is exactly why people just get so frustrated with Washington. This is it; this is exactly why people get so frustrated with Washington. This isn’t a typical Democratic-versus-Republican issue [NO - this is all about the President and Senate Democrats only wishing to extend the tax policy for two (2) months as opposed to all of the Republicans in the House passing a bill for one (1) full year]. This is an issue where an overwhelming number of people in both parties agree {to extend current tax policy for one full year as opposed to a minority of Democrats holding this issue hostage and have it be talked about in another two months}. How can we not get that done? I mean, has this place become so dysfunctional that even when people agree to things we can't do it? (Applause.) It doesn’t make any sense. [NO - this is all about the President and Senate Democrats only wishing to extend the tax policy for two (2) months as opposed to all of the Republicans in the House passing a bill for one (1) full year]

So, enough is enough. The people standing with me today can’t afford any more games. They can’t afford to lose $1,000 [another lie - two months is only $160.00 as opposed to the $1,000.00] because of some ridiculous Washington standoff [by you, Barack Obama and the Senate Democrats]. The House needs to pass a short-term version of this compromise, and then we should negotiate an agreement as quickly as possible to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance for the rest of 2012 [NO - all of the Republicans in the House passed a bill for one (1) full year already]. It's the right thing to do for the economy, and it's, most importantly, the right thing to do for American families all across the country.

This is not just my view. Just a few hours ago, this is exactly what the Republican Leader of the Senate said we should do [NO - this is all about the President and Senate Democrats only wishing to extend the tax policy for two (2) months as opposed to all of the Republicans in the House passing a bill for one (1) full year - Senator Mitch McConnell needs to be dumped as well for he will not stand for the truth over lies]. Democrats agree with the Republican Leader of the Senate. We should go ahead and get this done. This should not be hard. We all agree it should happen [all Democrats and one Republican in the Senate]. I believe it's going to happen sooner or later. Why not make it sooner, rather than later? [EXACTLY - agree to the one full year extension NOW ... not later] Let’s give the American people -- the people who sent us here -- the kind of leadership they deserve.

Thank you, everybody. (Applause.)

END
1:08 P.M. EST
[Reference Here]

The fact of the matter is that we will hear the following on the Sunday news shows ... pre-taped for Christmas Sunday.

SNEAK PEEK - CBS News correspondent predictions for 2012, pre-taped for Christmas Day edition of "Face the Nation":

--Nancy Cordes, Congressional Correspondent: "I think a day of reckoning is coming between House Speaker John Boehner and his number two man, Eric Cantor, because they have been on opposites sides of almost every major fight this year."

--Bob Schieffer, Chief Washington Correspondent and "Face the Nation" anchor: "I think we'll see a wholesale turnover in the congress. I think we'll see more incumbents turned out of office, both Republicans and Democrats, than in any time since I've been in Washington, and that's been a long time." (41 years!)
(ht: Politico)

Again, facts are facts, and lies are lies ... it is time that the American people have a leader of the Republican party in the House of Representatives [an the United States Senate] that knows how to communicate the difference and stand for the facts.



<Article first seen as It Is Time To Dump John Boehner As House Leader at Technorati>

Sioux City Iowa Final GOP Debate Tweet-By-Tweet

Seven candidates have taken the stage in Sioux City, Iowa, for the final debate before the Jan. 3 caucuses. Image Credit: FOX News

Sioux City Iowa Final GOP Debate Tweet-By-Tweet

The gloves will be thrown on the ice in tonight’s debate from Sioux City. The debate should be “Zany” and wholly “Madcap”! Good god, what in the H E double-toothpicks is Romney thinking and who uses language like this as an ad hominem attack, let alone in a “today” conversation. Leave It To Beaver (original series) hasn’t been on the air in nearly 50 years!

We follow the reactions via 140 characters or less via Twitter in a process entitled Tweet-By-Tweet:

pinkelephantpunTabitha Hale

All pumped up to livetweet #iowadebate! WHO’S EXCITED??!!?!?11!

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PolitisitePolitisite

New Post Fox News Live – Video – Fox News politisite.com/?p=34376 #tcot #p2 #PS

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TeamSantorumTXTeamSantorumTX

Why This Iowan Is Supporting @RickSantorum… for Now – Yahoo! News news.yahoo.com/why-iowan-supp… via @YahooNews

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lesliecarbonelesliecarbone

If beating Obama is No. 1 goal for Repub’s, they seriously need a more robust vision of success.

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DonIrvineDonIrvine

This has got to be better than the biased #abcdebate last week. #iowadebate

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CommentaryCommentary Magazine

RT @tobincommentary: Electability? Can’t wait for Santorum to brag about winning in 94 and 00 & omitting landslide loss in 08. #IowaDebate.

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pinkelephantpunTabitha Hale

Orrin Hatch has a higher ACU rating than Newt. I’m unimpressed, Newt. #iowadebate

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prismsincRic

Paulbrow again #IowaDebate

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paconnerPaul Conner

Newt says he balanced the budget four straight years. Actually, it was two years bit.ly/sD5bfg

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freddosofreddoso

RT @StevenErtelt: Paul: “Anybody up here could probably beat Obama” – totally avoi

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michellemalkinMichelle Malkin

Santorum wants people to catch fire. Yikes.

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BryanLongworthBryan Longworth

9:08pm: The reply from Rick Santorum was an #ANSWER live.foxnews.com

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrissey

Santorum takes shot at Newt’s personal life? #iowadebate

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SmalltalkwithtT

Ron Paul’s foreign poilcy is not American majority. #IstandwithIsrael #iowadebate

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mboyle1Matthew Boyle

Romney’s makes the private sector case against the field again

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hopeforamericahopeforamerica

Romney: “I know what it takes to put Americans back to work with high paying jobs.” So they can afford $10,000 bets. #iowadebate

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foxnewspoliticsfoxnewspolitics

#iowadebate Michele Bachmann not afraid to tell people her age — 50 years being a “real person,” five as a congresswoman = 55

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sanuzisSaul Anuzis

The GOP debate is on, good start and I agree with Paul…any of these candidates can beat Obama.

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrissey

Rather than have this round of Qs for 15 mins, why not just allow the candidates a 1-min opening statement? #iowadebate

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mboyle1Matthew Boyle

Rick Perry plays the Tim Tebow card….

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pinkelephantpunTabitha Hale

“I’m the Tim Tebow of the Iowa Caucus.” – Perry #iowadebate

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currentCurrent TV

Huntsman uses his first question to take a shot at Donald Trump, who already pulled out of debate. #politicallydirect

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JimPethokoukisJames Pethokoukis

Keep it family friendly, Huntsman “We are getting screwed as Americans”

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michellemalkinMichelle Malkin

MUTE BUTTON #iowadebate #huntsman

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pinkelephantpunTabitha Hale

Forreal. Ugh. RT @michellemalkin: MUTE BUTTON #iowadebate #huntsman

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HeresAnotherTipUncle Mike

9:18pm: The reply from Rick Perry was a #DODGE live.foxnews.com

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justin_hartJustin Hart

Santorum is a really good guy. He needs to work on his head shaking. Hold still. U will come across better #iowadebate

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hopeforamericahopeforamerica

Newt just mentioned Saul Alinsky. #RedMeatForIowaConservatives #iowadebate

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stix1972Doug Welch

Geez who needs to watch the debacle in Iowa when you have twitter #Iowadebate. snarkfactor is a 10

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CommentaryCommentary Magazine

RT @sethamandel: It’s a good way for Romney to trumpet his experience, but reminds voters he wrote bills w/Teddy Kennedy. #iowadebate

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justin_hartJustin Hart

Newt’s tenor always has this underlying: “Everyone knows this to be true” quality #iowadebate

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ReconChestyGunny Highway

Ron Paul…. Kooky as ever!!! Sheesh!! #tcot #IowaDebate

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amandacarpenterAmanda Carpenter

There is something about John Huntsman that distinctly reminds me of Mr. Rogers.

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guypbensonGuy Benson

I don’t think I learned anything in that first segment, except that Romney blew it on Jet Blue. #iowadebate

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BREAK

Read More (Politisite.com)

Mitt - Gingrich Out-Demonize Each Other In Obama-Style Class-Warfare Attacks

Trading accusations of greed, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich challenged each other Monday to return millions made in private business as the race for the GOP presidential nomination turned increasingly acerbic and personal at the start of a three-week sprint to the Iowa caucuses. Image Credit: StarTribune

Mitt - Gingrich Out-Demonize Each Other In Obama-Style Class-Warfare Attacks

Yesterday, Mitt Romney made a point that Newt Gingrich should pay back monies he was paid by Freddie Mac, a money loosing, quasi-government mortgage funding organization, for a consulting services contract he had made with the management.

Newt Gingrich felt compelled to jump ugly back into the fray at Mitt Romney by saying Romney should pay back the monies he made through downsizing corporations to make them more efficient and profitable.

This is a lose-lose tennis match where on one side, it is no one's business what one gets paid for consulting services (just, why is Freddie Mac, and its partner organization, Fannie Mae in business on taxpayer money in the first place?), and on the other hand, the Communist/Socialist argument on Capitalism where corporate leaders are able to benefit personally from an increase in profits due to making a company, and its products more attractive to consumers and the needs the company's efforts fill.

This excerpted and edited from the StarTribune -

Greed is the issue this time: Romney and Gingrich trade barbs as 3-week sprint to Iowa begins
Article by: KASIE HUNT and STEVE PEOPLES , Associated Press - Updated: December 13, 2011 - 1:00 AM

Far from Iowa, the two men campaigned miles apart from each other in next-up New Hampshire, where Romney has long dominated in polls but where Gingrich is aggressively working to make inroads. Romney called on Gingrich to return the estimated $1.6 million he received for providing strategic advice to Freddie Mac, the quasi-government agency that guarantees home mortgages. Gingrich has said he acted as a historian, not a lobbyist.

"That would make him the highest paid historian in history," Romney told Fox News Channel during an interview from the Chez Vachon diner, a regular New Hampshire stop for presidential candidates. He suggested that Gingrich was an ultimate insider who leveraged his position as a former House speaker to line his pockets when he left office. Said Romney: "One of the things that I think people recognize in Washington is that people go there to serve the people and then they stay there to serve themselves."

Gingrich, campaigning in nearby Londonderry, countered quickly, saying that Romney should give back the millions he made working at Bain Capital, a venture capital firm that sometimes laid people off as part of its efforts to make businesses more efficient. "If Governor Romney would give back all the money he's earned from bankrupting companies and laying off employees over the years at Bain, then I would be glad to listen to him," Gingrich said. "But I bet you $10 — not $10,000 — that he won't take the offer." That was a dig at Romney's offer of a $10,000 wager with Rick Perry at Saturday night's debate.

Unbowed, Romney chided Gingrich anew, saying: "There's a big difference between working in the private economy and working on K Street, and working as a lobbyist and working as a legislator, and working to connect businesses with government." Romney's campaign also pressed the notion of Gingrich as a Washington insider, with news releases labeling him an "unreliable leader" and pictured with House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.
[Reference Here]

If one were to side with the Gingrich argument (in retort), one would be siding with Barack Obama and continue the the cultural and economic slide into the abyss of socialist class-warfare and Euroism. If one were to side with Romney in his attack on Gingrich, while this argument points out how one, as a Washington insider gets to support themselves, it is none of anyone's business what one gets paid for consulting services as long as these arrangements are legal.

What is much more important as a takeaway from Romney's query, however, is with all of the Government resources (read, TAXPAYER) laid at the doorsteps of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, why were the executives who ran Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae able to walk-away while making bonuses in the millions of dollars as these organizations took the worldwide economy into the massive junk-mortgage tailspin of a property value downgrade we find ourselves now? Four words (two hyphenated phrases): Ruling-Class Slush-Fund!

Next debate from Sioux City Convention Center in Sioux City, Iowa, to be aired on FOXNews, Thursday, December 15, 9:00pm ET ... the gloves will be thrown to the ice and it might be time for the more recognized Conservatives as seen in Rick Santorum or Michelle Bachmann to rise above the fray in the ugly, ankle-biting "Newt Romney" back-and-forth, Iowa Caucuses.


<article first published as Mitt - Gingrich Out Demonize Each Other In Obama Style Class Warfare Attacks on Technorati>

ABC News Republican Debate At Drake University - Tweet-By-Tweet

Sheslow Auditorium at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, is decked out with digital screens, high-tech video and sound equipment, and fancy lighting for the nationally televised Republican presidential debate. Students stand in for Diane Sawyer, George Stephanopoulos and six GOP presidential candidates during a rehearsal for the Dec. 10 debate sponsored by ABC News, Yahoo, The Des Moines Register and the Republican Party of Iowa. The debate aired live from 8-10 p.m. Central Time on ABC networks nationwide. Image Credit: Drake University via Flickr

ABC News Republican Debate At Drake University - Tweet-By-Tweet

Diane Sawyer, George Stephanopoulos, and YAHOO question six of the seven remaining GOP candidates Santorum, Perry, Romney, Gingrich, Paul, and Bachmann. Noticeably, maybe not so noticeably, absent is Huntsman.

The following log was created through following 140 character responses to the action of the debate on Twitter. Hence, this is the debate as seen Tweet-By-Tweet.

Gingrich gets to respond first on a query by Diane Sawyer as to what makes him uniquely qualified (distinguishing idea) to run for President ... followed by Mitt Romney, and Ron Paul.

politicalmath PoliticalMath
Romney plans to kill Rick Perry w/ his eyes tonight.

pinkelephantpun Tabitha Hale
I get so excited when Perry talks flat tax.

EdMorrissey EdMorrissey
Good start for Perry.

amandacarpenter Amanda Carpenter
Yes. Perry nails Fed for their $7T secret program. Would have liked to see him spell it out a bit more tho

politicalmath PoliticalMath
Rick Perry uses 3rd person. Drink!

prismsinc Ric
Rick Perry reminds us of one of those evil geniuses in a sci-fi movie LOL #ABCdebate #GOP #tcot #teaparty

EdMorrissey EdMorrissey
You stole it from Charlie Sheen, didn't youRT @daveweigel: Bachmann is plagiarizing my #winning #winning #winning plan.

prismsinc Ric
Watch these moderators use their snubbing of Trump against them. Watch ... #ABCdebate #GOP #tcot

Flap Gregory Flap Cole
Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann look better tonight. Ron Paul's jacket is too big again #IOWADebate

prismsinc Ric
BAMO! @RickSantorum hits Obama 1st #ABCdebate #tcot #GOP

politicalmath PoliticalMath
Or ask Obama that question. RT @TPCarney: Sawyer should ask them to pinpoint the gas price.

EdMorrissey EdMorrissey
Very good response from Santorum on the idea of predicting job creation

ericfido Eric Bearse
first petri dish mention

LarrySabato Larry Sabato
Mitt thrilled that teacher Diane has saluted his answer. Headed for an A.

RichLowry Rich Lowry
when santorum isnt complaining or bragging in these debates, he's usually quite strong

ToadonaWire L
Santorum realizes Government doesn't create jobs! I like that.

DonIrvine DonIrvine
Right on. Payroll Tax cut is just a temporary gimmick by Obama.

Commentary Commentary Magazine
RT @sethamandel: There will be fewer questions tonight in light of the time it takes for Sawyer spit out a complete sentence.

TPM Talking Points Memo
Bachmann: We have candidates here on stage who are standing with Obama on the payroll tax cut tpm.ly/oYzwjR

instapundit instapundit.com
STEPHEN GREEN IS Drunkblogging The Iowa Debate….: STEPHEN GREEN IS Drunkblogging The Iowa Debate. bit.ly/vWt4Rv

pinkelephantpun Tabitha Hale
Romney is so orange.

politicalmath PoliticalMath
Bachmann actually gives a solid "anti-payroll tax cut" answer. But she'd never raise taxes. #Confused

FLPolPress FL Political Press
@ToadonaWire Perry gets nervous when Perry speaks!

mmurraypolitics Mark Murray
So far, Romney is taking all of his swings at Obama, though the questioning hasn't allowed for any engagement with Newt, others

ToadonaWire L
Newt chuckles at Mitt's dumb joke!

politicalmath PoliticalMath
Romney: "Certain individuals raise the entire economy". So... which of *his* sons is named "Rand"

Commentary Commentary Magazine
RT @sethamandel: Santorum forcing smiles. Awkward, but a step in the right direction for his demeanor. #iowadebate

pinkelephantpun Tabitha Hale
RT @moelane: Mitt... I've seen your poll ceiling. You don't really have any room to talk about popularity.

pinkelephantpun Tabitha Hale
Great answer from Newt. "the only reason you're not a career politician is because you lost [to Ted Kennedy]."

TPM Talking Points Memo
Newt: "It's a bit much" on Romney's claim saying he isn't a "career politician" tpm.ly/oYzwjR

EdMorrissey EdMorrissey
Wow -- Newt hits Mitt hard on the "career politician" attack. Audible reaction here in the filing room.

pinkelephantpun Tabitha Hale
RT @toddstarnes: Gingrich just mussed up Mitt's hair. #iowadebate

jonkarl Jonathan Karl
Should the payroll tax cut be extended? Republicans split 3 - 3. Bachmann, Santorum, Perry opposed. Romney, Newt and Paul in favor.

politicalmath PoliticalMath
Newt's "Lets put poor kids to work" theory just seems off putting.

EconomicMayhem Blame Government
RT @JeedBe: RT @donnabrazile: Following the #iowadebate. The candidates are discussing job creation. Weird they ... m.tmi.me/jdH0x

prismsinc Ric
NEWT ON FIRE! Look at pretty boy Romney's mad look! Hahaha! #ABCdebate #GOP

Commentary Commentary Magazine
RT @sethamandel: Gingrich's response: You've messed with the bull. Please enjoy these here horns. #iowadebate

TPM Talking Points Memo
Paul hitting Gingrich on his stint as a "historian" for Freddie Mac tpm.ly/oYzwjR

Flap Gregory Flap Cole
If Romney loses another exchange with Gingrich as bad, Mitt may end up behind Ron Paul in the polls #tcot

MelindaDC Melinda Henneberger
Mitt just gave up on 'career politician' rap against Newt by admitting that yeah, he woulda been one, too, hd he beaten Ted Kennedy in '94.

LarrySabato Larry Sabato
SO MUCH FOR NEWT STAYING POSITIVE! His above-the-fray stance lasted 20 minutes.

Commentary Commentary Magazine
RT @alanagoodman: Did.the audience just clap or break out into laughter over Gingrich's comments? #iowadebate

ToadonaWire L
My 11 yr old son just said "I like that old guy" -Ron Paul. I have a libertarian in the house. #abcdebate

pinkelephantpun Tabitha Hale
Obviously. RT @whitneypitcher: Bachmann's been a businesswoman since she was 5?!?

pinkelephantpun Tabitha Hale
RT @AlexPappasDC: Bachmann hits "Newt-Romney"

mattklewis Matt K. Lewis
Knute Rockney?

politicalmath PoliticalMath
RT @daveweigel: Newt-Romney really rolls off the tongue #iowadebate

JennyErikson Jenny Erikson
RT @TXTrendyChick: Bachmann's strategy: distance herself from Obama and make Newt & Romney one entity #IowaDebate

SethAMandel Seth Mandel
Big diff between Dem and GOP debates. GOPers compete over "most conservative." Dems rarely admit "I'm the liberal here!"

michaelscherer michaelscherer
Totally agree. Most stunning thing. RT @benpolitico: The learning curve in these debates has been amazing. They're all pretty formidable.

ToadonaWire L
I like Bachmann way more than Newt.

Commentary Commentary Magazine
RT @sethamandel: "Newt Romney" is going to help Bachmann exactly as much as "Obamneycare" helped Pawlenty. #iowadebate

pinkelephantpun Tabitha Hale
Did Perry take a nap after his first answer? I mean. It was a good one.

TPM Talking Points Memo
Perry: "I'm stunned, Michele hit the nail on the head when it comes to the individual mandate." tpm.ly/oYzwjR

EconomicMayhem Blame Government
RT @usernamenuse: RT @2012_GOP: Newt #Gingrich: endorsed an individual healthcare mandate as recently as May of ... m.tmi.me/jdHZe

TPM Talking Points Memo
Perry, Bachmann, Paul, all piling on Mitt and Newt tpm.ly/oYzwjR

EdMorrissey EdMorrissey
Bachmann did a pretty good job going on the attack, Perry walking through the door she opened up. Romney & Gingrich on defensive.

NathanWurtzel Nathan Wurtzel
The trouble with MA plan as 10th Amendment example is federal money is involved. Not just contained within state.

JennyErikson Jenny Erikson
"The fact of the matter is you're for individual mandates."-Perry to Mitt

amandacarpenter Amanda Carpenter
Smart. Perry follows Bachmann and starts lumping Mitt and Newt together on the individual mandate.

strongthought Carolyn
RT @Leo_Pusateri: Personally, I'm really looking forward to the primaries, so we can begin making (cont) tl.gd/elg1ar

EdMorrissey EdMorrissey
Back to the Gardasil government needle, Mitt? Yecch.

JennyErikson Jenny Erikson
RT @hughhewitt: Romney wins the Perry-Romney exchange and shows how, if he is the nominee, he will tackle the Axelrod line of attack

Commentary Commentary Magazine
RT @sethamandel: Romney is coming apart at the seams. #iowadebate

hollybdc Holly Bailey
Romney buys his golf clubs at K-Mart but he tries to make a $10k bet with Rick Perry. Hmm. #iowadebate

current Current TV
Mitt Romney wants to make a $10,000 bet on national TV. Is that legal? #politicallydirect

politicalmath PoliticalMath
In terms of prep, Romney makes everyone else look like an amateur.

GingerGibson Ginger Gibson
Santorum on Bachmann, "She's been fighting and losing. I fought and won."

pinkelephantpun Tabitha Hale
RT @bdomenech: RT @lheal: Perry should have said "Sure, Mitt. I'll bet you Iowa." #abcdebate

EconomicMayhem Blame Government
Paul doesn't have any faults to explain. RT @mattklewis: Newt and Romney are both very good at explaining their faults.

pinkelephantpun Tabitha Hale
Remember when you endorsed Arlen Specter and LOST, Santorum?

Commentary Commentary Magazine
RT @tobincommentary: Romney cornered by Perry offers him a $10K bet that he isn't right about his book. Not his finest moment. #IowaDebate.

nansen Nansen Malin
This is a good debate because the moderators aren't talking. #iowadebate

prismsinc Ric
LOL RT @Dana_Marie215: Oh, ABC, you're liberal with more things than time. #Iowadebate

Flap Gregory Flap Cole
As a LDS Mormon, I though Romney would be opposed to gambling - so what is up with the 10K bet remark? #Mittlookingbadtonight

bethanyshondark Bethany Mandel
Funny how those who are polling in the single digits (Bachmann & Santorum) only speak about themselves. "I did this..." #IowaDebate

EdMorrissey EdMorrissey
Stick to the rules, because we can't have you all DEBATING EACH OTHER! What were you guys thinking?

pinkelephantpun Tabitha Hale
RT @Atlasshrugs: oy, Diane Sawyer ....get over yourself

TobinCommentary Jonathan S. Tobin
Santorum reminds Newt that not all conservatives backed the individual mandate in 1994. True. #IowaDebate.

hughhewitt Hugh Hewitt
"we fought and we figured out a way to win". Rick Santorum

BREAK

DonIrvine DonIrvine
Commerical time. Time to get mom ready for bed.

politicalmath PoliticalMath
I need a huge drink. Maybe cyanide.

politicalmath PoliticalMath
Tonight's big winner so far: Huntsman. #NotShowingUpIsHalfTheBattle

bspward B SP Ward
I wonder which of these GOP candidates will be doing ads for reverse mortgages in 4 years? #GOPDebate

EdMorrissey EdMorrissey
Beats a booth review. RT @guypbenson: ABC already playing "highlights" of this debate? What?

EconomicMayhem Blame Government
Republicans and Democrats putting up commercials in favor of internet censorship j.mp/tS2n86 #tcot

mattklewis Matt K. Lewis
Possible General Election slogan: "Newt-Romney All-American: Win one for The Gipper."

TPM Talking Points Memo
Perry: If you would cheat on your wife, then you'd cheat on your business partner, or anybody tpm.ly/oYzwjR

hughhewitt Hugh Hewitt
Cutting to Newt is cheap, cheap tv during this segment

TobinCommentary Jonathan S. Tobin
Bachmann and Santorum looking feisty. Gingrich looking confident. Romney holding on by his fingernails. #IowaDebate.

pinkelephantpun Tabitha Hale
Perry handled that well, actually.

mattklewis Matt K. Lewis
"I would not say it's a disqualifier." - Santorum on marital fidelity

EdMorrissey EdMorrissey
I like Santorum's answer, which allows for redemption.

politicalmath PoliticalMath
RT @BlameTelford: Rick Perry has been in fidelity with his spouse. He speaks english real good. #IowaDebate

pinkelephantpun Tabitha Hale
I'm squirming FOR Newt right now.

Commentary Commentary Magazine
RT @tobincommentary: Camera pans to Newt who is working hard not to change his expression. #IowaDebate.

Flap Gregory Flap Cole
Holier than thou discussion on marriage fidelity will swing independents to Obama - be careful here GOP

mattklewis Matt K. Lewis
I like Newt's line about American's "loaning" the presidency.

pinkelephantpun Tabitha Hale
RT @rickklein: Gingrich: faith is a "real issue." "People have to render judgment." #iowadebate

Steele_Michael Michael Steele
Kudos to Bachmann, Perry, Romney, Paul and Santorum for keeping their answer on marital fidelity out of the gutter. Nice touch by Newt.

Commentary Commentary Magazine
RT @sethamandel: Only at a GOP debate. You could never ask the party of Clinton, JFK, and FDR about marriage fidelity. #iowadebate

DonIrvine DonIrvine
Immigration time! #Iowadebate #abcdebate

JennyErikson Jenny Erikson
"Half marathoners on the right!"-Diane Sawyer #insidejoke

politicalmath PoliticalMath
Sawyer: "Of course you want to secure the borders, so shut up."

politicalmath PoliticalMath
RT @greggutfeld: would diane sawyer say to Obama, "we get it, enough with 'fair share?'"

current Current TV
What do you think about the questions being asked? What questions do YOU want answered? #politicallydirect

hughhewitt Hugh Hewitt
Diane Sawyer trying to skip over the most important distinction between GOP and Obama. Nice for Obama

BestPhotosEver -
"So many people talk about immigration at their dinner tables." -@dianesawyer Right Diane, thats the topic at dinner. #sarcasm #iowadebate

JennyErikson Jenny Erikson
How about this? DEPORT THE ILLEGALS THAT COMMIT CRIMES. #IowaDebate

JennyErikson Jenny Erikson
Hahahaha-> RT @djcronin: @JennyErikson How about this? LET THEM ALL IN, WE NEED TO WIN THE WORLD CUP AND GET SEXIER.

ToadonaWire L
“@toddstarnes: What's wrong with Miss Sawyer's eye?”/Botox injection gone bad?

hughhewitt Hugh Hewitt
Romney's answer on immigration makes enormous sense re incentives

JennyErikson Jenny Erikson
RT @MonicaCrowley: Diane Sawyer calls them "undocumented," not "illegal immigrants." #LibPC

DonIrvine DonIrvine
Gingrich loses the immigration debate. #Iowadebate #abcdebate

TobinCommentary Jonathan S. Tobin
Romney swings hard to the right on immigration. He has to wonder why conservatives haven't made Gingrich pay for his plan. #IowaDebate.

EconomicMayhem Blame Government
RT @NewWorldRadical: Dear #TeaParty, Why don't you see #RonPaul is everything you've been fighting for. Wake up!

mattklewis Matt K. Lewis
Watching Perry debate is like rooting for the Skins: You know they won't dominate; you just hope they keep it close & kick a late field goal

prismsinc Ric
Would you have a special exception for an illegal immigrant that commits an act of heroism in your immigration plan? #IowaDebate

EdMorrissey EdMorrissey
Perry did a pretty good job on the immigration question. Next Q: Are Palestinians an invented people? Er ... topic, please?

Commentary Commentary Magazine
RT @tobincommentary: Ron Paul responds first reminding us why he's no friend to Israel. #IowaDebate.

mattklewis Matt K. Lewis
Gingrich hitting his stride now. 1st time tonight he's been aggressive.

TPM Talking Points Memo
Big applause line from Newt: "Time for somebody to stand up and say: Enough lying about the Middle East." tpm.ly/oYzwjR

hughhewitt Hugh Hewitt
Romney winning this argument with Gingrich on allowing Israel to speak for itself

Commentary Commentary Magazine
RT @jpodhoretz: The book that makes the argument Newt is talking about is "From Time Immemorial" by Joan Peters. #IowaDebate

hughhewitt Hugh Hewitt
Mitt: Sobriety, care, stability. I am not a bomb thrower...wow

mattklewis Matt K. Lewis
"Bibi" Netanyahu's a good friend of mine. You're no "Bibi" Netanyahu...

deadvoter deadvoter
Bachmann's not getting much opportunity to talk

justin_hart Justin Hart
The Romney / Newt exchange on Gingrich's comments abt Palestine was compelling on both sides. #iowadebate

BluegrassPundit Howard Notelling
Majority in my unscientific debate poll say Newt. Romney is 2nd choice.

DonIrvine DonIrvine
Why is Steffy asking #TeamBachmann who got the better of the Gingrich-Romney argument? Dumb question. #Iowadebate

Commentary Commentary Magazine
RT @tobincommentary: Gingrich says its time for America to have the courage to tell the truth about the Palestinians. #IowaDebate.

hughhewitt Hugh Hewitt
Santorum is going to surprise in Iowa.

TheRickWilson Rick Wilson
Yep RT @jmartpolitico: Yeah, the "evil empire" comeback is gonna break the focus group button

JimMerrillNH Jim Merrill
Speaker Gingrich compares his incendiary words on Palestinians to President Reagan telling Gorbachev to 'tear down this wall'. Simply, no

nansen Nansen Malin
Perry pulls a Newt - attacking the media for asking dumb questions #iowadebate

mattklewis Matt K. Lewis
Leading from the "rear"?

kerpen Phil Kerpen
New Perry strategy is the old Gingrich strategy; criticize the question and pivot to attack Obama!

pinkelephantpun Tabitha Hale
RT @ianessling: Perry: "This president is the problem, NOT something Newt Gingrich said." #iowadebate #tcot

BREAK - Then YAHOO Questions!

MajoratNJ Major Garrett
Santorum dissection of difference between Israeli-Palestinian situation and Soviet gulag prisoners nuanced, smart. #iowadebate

politicalmath PoliticalMath
RT @jstrevino: Sure, ABC, the president of the Center for American Progress is a totally appropriate debate analyst.

TPM Talking Points Memo
Video of Romney offering Perry a $10,000 bet. WATCH: tpm.ly/ulNUP5

prismsinc Ric
Next question by the moderators: isn't it true that poverty is always the fault of the #GOP ??? #IowaDebate #fail

EdMorrissey EdMorrissey
This is a great question for Perry, who grew up in poverty.

nansen Nansen Malin
With this question - the drinking games are in full swing!

Flap Gregory Flap Cole
Sorry but Rick Perry just fades during the middle of his anwers and is painful to watch...

TPM Talking Points Memo
Romney: "I didn't grow up poor." [but I grew up with a dad who grew up poor and he imparted values - we had jobs]

amandacarpenter Amanda Carpenter
MT @MonicaCrowley: Question is all about, "tell us how rich you are & therefore how you can't relate to the average person."

MelissaTweets Melissa Clouthier
RT @BlameTelford: I bet you $10,000 that Romney didn't grow up poor.

HeresAnotherTip Uncle Mike
What is sad, that their are 2 liberals posing questions to the candidates to beat obama

Commentary Commentary Magazine
RT @tobincommentary: Romney: I didn't grow up but my dad did. Does that count? #IowaDebate.

DonIrvine DonIrvine
I do think that this question is meant to try and portray the GOP as being out of touch with the less fortunate, #Iowadebate #abcdebate.

EdMorrissey EdMorrissey
Good manipulation of question by Santorum to bring up social conservativism.

hughhewitt Hugh Hewitt
Moms are doing heroic work trying to hold things together--Another Santorum answer that will connect with some caucus goers

ElianaBenador ✡ Eliana Benador ✡
#RickSantorum is right on target on the #marriage institution with #Mother and #Father, not Partner one and Partner two as this Adm has done

TPM Talking Points Memo
Bachmann: "We're still coupon clippers today." tpm.ly/oYzwjR

howardfineman Howard Fineman
Newt grew up above a gas station, but now shops at Tiffany's.... the American Dream

DonIrvine DonIrvine
Give me your poor, your tires, your biased mainstream media. #Iowadebate #abcdebate

politicalmath PoliticalMath
Mitt: "States can do whatever the heck they want to do." Finally.

EdMorrissey EdMorrissey
It's official. ABC has begun recycling questions from earlier in the debate. Time to go home now?

philipaklein Philip Klein
@KatiePavlich Huntsman wasn't polling well enuf in iowa to be included

JennyErikson Jenny Erikson
MITT! We are learning from Romneycare that mandated health care doesn't work. #AdmitItDude

politicalmath PoliticalMath
Gingrich to Mitt: "You make me want to throw up" yfrog.com/kfpf2p

EdMorrissey EdMorrissey
What the hell? Diane Sawyer is asking questions based on her single visit to a pharmacist?

Politisite Politisite
Ahead of a #trumpdebate we are going on record to NOT cover a realityTV debate - #iowadebate

KatiePavlich Katie Pavlich
Diane Sawyer: I went into the land of peasants and visited a pharmacy #patsselfonback

Bret_Baier Bret Baier
Ron Paul is more than just formidable in iowa - he's a contender RT @BourbonDemocrat @Bret_Baier Ron Paul is gainin... tl.gd/elgsv0

drginaloudon Gina Gentry Loudon
I will bet $10,000 that if Ron Paul would fix his eyebrow, his polling would go up. #PaulBrow

current Current TV
Diane Sawyer asks softball about what to do about obesity. Or is it the usual challenge to Paul's libertarianism? #politicallydirect

TobinCommentary Jonathan S. Tobin
Paul: All government power is the use of force. Gets to the heart of libertarian ideology. #IowaDebate.

BREAK

ToadonaWire L
“@StarlaMBrown: @angelamcglowan I miss Herman Cain”/ his absence is very noticeable

hughhewitt Hugh Hewitt
Best debate by far, and it is because no bogus time limits and two candidates less allowing for better pacw

mattklewis Matt K. Lewis
My take: Newt "wins" by surviving as the frontrunner. Mitt does well (as always). Bachmann has very strong night--which may hurt Newt.

Flap Gregory Flap Cole
So far in this debate, nothing has changed. Newt unhurt and no big gains by Romney or any of the others. Bachmann and Perry better though

mattklewis Matt K. Lewis
Newt lived in an apartment over a gas station; Reagan grew up in an apartment above a store. (Modern day "log cabin"?)

hughhewitt Hugh Hewitt
Nixon wouldn't debate in '72, and I wouldn't be shocked to see Obama dodge Romney or Gingrich or limit to one rather than 3.

EdMorrissey EdMorrissey
I'll take that over the here's-the-pinata questions RT @LarryColson: oh no, the "say something nice about each other" moment

mattklewis Matt K. Lewis
Santorum seems more likeable tonight than normal.

deadvoter deadvoter
Diane Sawyer asks the Rodney King question

Commentary Commentary Magazine
RT @bethanyshondark: Santorum just called Newt old. #IowaDebate

ToadonaWire L
Perry is smart to mention @SteveKingIA He's a great conservative. #gopdebate

Commentary Commentary Magazine
RT @tobincommentary: Perry says Ron Paul got him interested in the Federal Reserve. Scary thought. #IowaDebate.

TPM Talking Points Memo
Newt giving gold stars to Perry and Santorum.

AlexPappasDC Alex Pappas
How much is Ron Paul loving that Rick Perry said he got him to read about the federal reserve?

JonGarthwaite Townhall - HotAir
I found another good use for my TIVO. Political debates. Skip commercials AND questions. Watch the answers and try to guess the question.

current Current TV
Bachmann really wants Herman Cain supporters. She's referenced him a few times. #politicallydirect

politicalmath PoliticalMath
Quick! Someone tell Bachmann's prep team that Cain isn't in the race anymore. #NeinNeinNein

pinkelephantpun Tabitha Hale
Ron Paul: I am awesome. RT @KatiePavlich: candidates to each other, "no you're awesome, no you're awesome, no YOU are awesome"

prismsinc Ric
Michele Bachmann just had her best moment ... #IowaDebate

Debate Ends

politicalmath PoliticalMath
RT @fivethirtyeight: My debate grades. Pretty high all around. Bachmann A, Perry A-, Gingrich A-, Santorum B+, Paul B, Romney B-

EdMorrissey EdMorrissey
My quick take: Perry, Santorum helped themselves significantly. Newt & Bachmann held position with good performances. Paul same as ever ...

Flap Gregory Flap Cole
Winner by default is Newt. Loser is Romney. Santorum and Perry are better. Bachmann = sideways along with Paul

marisanicole87 Marisa Papsin
My opinion is that Ron Paul not only won this Iowa GOP Debate but he may have just won over a lot of new voters. #iowadebate

TobinCommentary Jonathan S. Tobin
Biggest winner: Gingrich. Loser: Romney. His $10k bet will haunt him even if he was right about Perry misquoting him. #IowaDebate.

politicallogic Joel Palmer
RT @benshapiro: Perry really making a comeback in this debate.

JennyErikson Jenny Erikson
Ok. I have to say that I'm totally excited to go to the Iowa Caucus after this debate.

politicalmath PoliticalMath
Expect Romney to know every bad thing Newt has ever done by the next debate.

EdMorrissey EdMorrissey
... Romney blew that early attack on Newt and made a big blunder with the $10,000 bet challenge. Weird.


<Article first published as ABC News Republican Debate At Drake University - Tweet-By-Tweet on Technorati>

USC Trojan Fan Tries To Explain NCAA Sanctions to UCLA Bruin Fan

USC Trojan Fan Tries To Explain NCAA Sanctions to UCLA Bruin Fan

The USC Trojan football program in 2011 was limited to playing only the games that were scheduled within the first year of play within the PAC12 conference by the NCAA.

In this YouTube video conversation, that takes place after the USC - UCLA game, where USC Trojans drubbed the UCLA Bruins FIFTY points to ZERO points (50-0) to decide who would have the best record of competition within the Southern Section of the PAC12, a Trojan fan attempts to explain that USC, as a school program, did not cheat ... but were sanctioned by the NCAA for not being aware of a rules infraction perpetrated by an individual, Reggie Bush, whose college career ended in 2005.

Under the ruling by the NCAA, USC could not participate in any post season play in any Bowl games for two years (2010, 2011). If USC could participate, because it beat UCLA 50 to 0 in the PAC12 Southern Section play off, USC would have had to play against the PAC12 Northern Section winner, Oregon, who the Trojans had beat earlier in the season.

UCLA Bruins were able to score points (as opposed to not scoring any points as with USC) against Oregon in the playoff game ... but lost to Oregon, Dec 2, 2011 at Oregon, 31-49 ... and the game wasn't as close as the score suggests. By winning against UCLA's "gutty little Bruins", Oregon will represent the PAC12 against the Wisconsin Badgers in the Rose Bowl. So, the gutty little Bruins of UCLA, with its 6 win and 7 loss record, will be allowed to play in a post season bowl game (they will meet Illinois in the KRAFT Fight Hunger Bowl) as per the NCAA. This post season Bowl game is scheduled to be played in San Francisco on Sunday, December 31, 2011. It features a matchup between a team with a losing record (UCLA) against one entering the bowl game on a six-game losing streak (Illinois).

AP Top 25

Sun Dec 4, 2011

1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma St.
4. Stanford
5. USC
6. Oregon
7. Arkansas
8. Boise St.
9. Wisconsin
10. South Carolina

How did the UCLA Bruins get their nickname - the "gutty little Bruins"?

When the late Tommy Prothro coached football at UCLA, some of his over-achieving teams were known as "the gutty little Bruins." That designation was originated by Dean Cromwell, USC's track and field coach during the 1940s. When asked once about his next opponent, Cromwell, whose teams never lost to UCLA, said, "Oh, we're going to meet [former UCLA coach] Ducky Drake's gutty little Bruins." Since then, all UCLA sports teams have picked up the tag "gutty little Bruins."

So, the gutty little Bruins, with their gutty little 2011 6 win and 7 loss season football record, gets to play in a post-season Bowl game which is generally awarded to teams with a ... wait for it ... winning record! This re-defines the depths of the word "GUTTY".

Fight On!

Occupy LA Hits The Snooze Button

Los Angeles City Hall where for seven weeks now, a bunch of imported professional agitators set up shop on the 1.5 acre South lawn park in downtown LA. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

Occupy LA Hits The Snooze Button

All citizens of Los Angeles want to do is wake up, go to work, have fun, and live their lives with definition ... the definition they choose to have for their lives. For seven weeks now, a bunch of imported professional agitators set up shop on the 1.5 acre South lawn park at City Hall, in the name of the Occupy Wall Street Movement. All they have been able to accomplish is attract a bunch of homeless, out of work students, and some media attention to the fact that .... and is the only consistent point ... they are there to "Occupy". All other potential political points to be made are subservient to the concept To Occupy.

Civilized cities call what these people have been doing in terms of "Occupy" is to trespass.

Today, this morning, we citizens of Los Angeles have been treated to wall-to-wall television coverage of the Los Angeles Police attempting to restore some order to this trespassing hoard. The Occupy crowd was prepared for a confrontation of eviction because, after seven weeks, the Mayor decided that trespassing will finally not be tolerated on the South lawn park area of the Los Angeles City Hall. With a 72 hour notice that the laws would be enforced at 12:01am PT Monday morning, all the people the Occupy Movement could muster, what with the imported protesters from San Diego, Oakland, and other cities was an estimated 700 to 1,200 people on the South Lawn.

The crowd, wanting to create more tension, spilled on to the street surrounding City Hall, and for about six hours, the Los Angeles Police Department packed the area with personnel dressed in "tactical response gear" (the Occupy Movement wanted the media gathered to report "riot gear"). The LAPD, after broadcasting via bullhorn that the streets will be cleared at 5:00am PT, started to move people off of the streets. Some shouting ensued, objects were thrown (a couple of bamboo poles/spears and bottles), and about five people were arrested and removed from the scene.

One of the news reporters stated that this Occupy LA encampment represented the largest gathering of Occupy protesters in the nation. So wrapped up was this reporter at romancing this event, she stated erroneously that this started seven weeks ago and had grown into this major protest. If this were the Tea Party, and folks were given 72 hours to gather at a specific park, there would be far more than an estimated 700 to 1,200 people standing around. In fact with a seven week notice from Glenn Beck, the Tea Party folks were able to amass over 750,000 people on the Mall in Washington D.C. prior to the 2010 elections.

The television coverage, after about an hour of dedicated Occupy coverage, with helicopter shots and on the street interviews, has resumed to its normal morning news coffee talk. The weather here is Santa Ana wind beautiful and the temperature is expected to hit the low 80's.

As for the LAPD, they seem to have employed a strategy of "show up and wait" with intent of wearing out the cell phone batteries of the Occupy LA protester's iPhones and boring them to death with the intensity of presence.

Time to hit the snooze button.



<article first appeared as Occupy LA Hits The Snooze Button at Technorati>

Post CNN Debate: The Trouble With Gingrich/Romney And Conservative Reality

Republican presidential candidates from left, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, Texas Congress man Ron Paul, Texas Governor Rick Perry, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, businessman Herman Cain, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., and former Utah Governor/former U.S. Diplomat under two presidents Jon Huntsman before the CNN AEI, Heritage Foundation debate on foreign policy. Image Credit: The Heritage Foundation

Post CNN Debate: The Trouble With Gingrich/Romney And Conservative Reality

Just as in the process of panning for Gold, debates help to have the heavy metal collect at the bottom of the pan. The 11th debate between GOP candidates for president of the United States sponsored by CNN and two of the most recognized conservative policy institutions, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and The Heritage Foundation, helped to have the heavy Conservative metal show itself at the bottom of the pan and, on immigration, Newt's (and by comparison - Mitt's) metal began to pour out of the pan.

Newt Gingrich is pithy and well tested in the public arena. He generally gives great answers to many of the problems a (as polls show time and again) politically Center-Right citizen populous confronts in a Big Government world. However, when one begins to peel away the layers of a Gingrich onion, one finds a person who has made his career on governing from a "Ruling Class" and liberal position that government can and should effect people's lives over the Rule-Of-Law, the Bill Of Rights, and the Constitution.

Let us take a simple comparison between Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney on the issue of a health care system based on a government mandate. Mitt Romney has trouble with Conservatives as being "Ruling Class" and liberal because he implemented "Romney Care" in Massachusetts that many say the Democrats based the national "Obama Care" mandated health care law on. It was only a few months ago that Newt Gingrich was comfortable with a national mandate for health care but Mitt Romney has always come down on the side of a States solution to health care and that a government mandate for a health care system had no place in this country. On this point, Newt was for a large federal government solution, Mitt felt that any health care solution applied to a populous, should come exclusively at the state government level - this is a more Conservative position, not great ... but more Conservative.

Last night, Newt Gingrich articulated a position on immigration that may completely knock him out of the top tier of candidates for a Republican President of the United States, and rightfully so.

This excerpted and edited from Fox News -

Gingrich on Top of GOP Polls, Takes Big Risk Articulating Illegal Immigration Policy
Published November 23, 2011 | FoxNews.com

The Republican presidential hopeful, who has sprung to the top of the polling charts in the past two weeks, warned against a policy that proposes deporting illegals who have been in the country for 25 years. Gingrich said he would not "expel" those who have come to the United States illegally if it happened decades ago.

And in an appeal to family values, he said long-residing illegal aliens shouldn't become citizens, but neither should they be torn apart from their families.

"I don't see how the party that says it's the party of family is going to adopt an immigration policy which destroys families which have been here a quarter century and I'm prepared to take the heat for saying let's be humane in enforcing the law," he said.
[Reference Here]

Okay, so let's say anyone of us legal citizens did not pay their taxes for 25 years, but we were good citizens and good neighbors ... would the IRS just ignore the tax laws and not prosecute us and throw us in jail?

We were guilty of breaking the law for 25 years and now we have to pay the penalty ... would our family be able to join us in jail?

No, but those people who have been breaking the immigration law for 25 years, with nice families, been good neighbors, and good citizens can have their families join them when they leave the country if the current immigration laws were enforced.

In a 2007 Meet the Press interview, Mitt Romney outlined his views on illegal immigration and states the 12 million, or so, illegal immigrants should be granted citizenship (which allows for voting). During last night's debate, Newt Gingrich, on the other hand, only advocated for legality through amnesty, not citizenship ... a more Conservative position.

Without parsing, the "Gold Standard" for Center-Right voters has been, and will always be, the Rule-Of-Law, the Bill Of Rights, and the Constitution of the United States. Sadly, both Mitt Romney (with his lead in the polls, experience in business, and government leadership) and Newt Gingrich (with all of his smarts, historical Speaker of the House accomplishment/perspective, and articulatory gifts) are not members ... on immigration ... of the Gold Standard and should be slipping from the pan.


Up next: The CNN Debate from Arizona, sponsored by the Republican Party of Arizona - November 30, 2011.



<First published as Post CNN Debate: The Trouble With Gingrich/Romney And Conservative Reality at Technorati>

“The [CBS/National Journal] Commander-In-Chief Debate” From South Carolina

Image Credit: CBS News via Politisite


“The [CBS/National Journal] Commander-In-Chief Debate” From South Carolina

With the focus on National Security and Foreign policy, CBS News and National Journal partners with the South Carolina GOP to present the first Republican Presidential Primary debate on broadcast television.

The debate, the second in the last four days, is scheduled to be broadcast live for one hour only [given the local schedule] starting at 8:00 pm ET and is to be broadcast on all CBS stations nationally.

“The South Carolina Republican Party is excited to be a partner on the first nationally televised, broadcast network debate of the Presidential Primary season,” said Chad Connelly, Chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party. “Presidential candidates and Republican activists across our nation know South Carolina’s historic tradition of successfully choosing the Republican nominee, a tradition uninterrupted for over thirty years. We look forward to the debate on Wofford College’s beautiful campus and continuing to demonstrate that in South Carolina, ‘We Pick Presidents.’”

The expectation is that these topics of National Security and Foreign Policy should play to the benefit of former Utah Governor, John Huntsman (also, former ambassador to China for the Obama Administration, he also served as ambassador to Singapore under George H.W. Bush and as a Deputy Trade Representative under George W. Bush.), Former leader of the House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich, and Former Senator, Rick Santorum. The rest of the field, it is assumed, will be coming in with a crash course understanding of the issues and there lays the entertainment ... and the challenge of moderators, Scott Pelley (anchor and managing editor of the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH SCOTT PELLEY) and Major Garrett (former Fox News standout and current congressional correspondent for National Journal).

A short but possibly sweet debate #10 for the Republican field of presidential/Commander-In-Chief hopefuls.

In order for all to see the debate in total, we were instructed by Scott Pelley to see the last 30 minutes of the 90 minute debate by going to one's computer and log on to CBS.com.

The biggest contention with this format and debate is the adherence to time. Of course, Rick Santorum has trouble with this right away because he gets bogged down in the tall grass with describing policy.

Huntsman's first answer is short and probably the most popular. He looks to isolation and extraction from current involvement save some small force for intelligence and training the government forces of the country we are leaving.

Gingrich hits the problem on the head recognizing this problem is much larger and complex than the way we are addressing it. Then Gingrich goes on to make the case for defending Christians throughout the world from Muslim persecution.

Perry turns the focus back to Foreign Aid and spending as the first issue that informs our foreign policy.

Bachmann on Pakistan - A difficult area and harbors terrorism. They have Nuclear weapon and worldwide connections are aligned against Israel ... we need to stand with Israel.

Gingrich agrees with the Perry approach starting with Foreign Aid at zero every year and have countries that we currently support argue for its maintenance.

Santorum on the Nukes - Pakistan must be handled as a friend because they have the bomb. It is important to keep a solid and stable relationship. Money on foreign aid is spent here in this country first on the manufacture of weapons before they are used to secure our relationships.

BREAK

Gingrich stiff arms Major Garrett on a question relating to how he characterized Romney [as a good manager] on a national radio show - Laura Ingraham | 9:00am to 12:00pm ET - by shaking his head NO! "We are here to replace Barack Obama" as president and we all would be better than the current president.

Parry makes a pitch as being a decision maker [over others hopefuls] as Commander-In-Chief.

Bachmann - Obama has the ACLU managing the activities of the CIA.

Paul - Water boarding is torture. Torture is uncivilized.

Huntsman - Recites his resume then comes down on the side that water boarding as torture.

Pelley then asks Romney about Obama's killing of an American born terrorist in Yeman by an unmanned missile ... Was Obama correct in this act?

Pelley begins to argue with the people taking part in the debate about the Rule-Of-Law. Gingrich fires back that individual people who are creating war with America are defined by a panel as "Enemy Combatants" and therefore not subject to America's Rule-Of-Law (to uproarious crowd applause in agreement with Newt's point of order).

Major Garrett gains control of the direction of the debate by asking Foreign Trade questions of Romney and Perry.

Pelley allows himself a follow up question with Romney on Foreign Trade ... taking precious time away from other respondents.

Huntsman - We do not need a trade war with China. We need to engage the younger, internet connected generations in China on issues of trade for them to have an effect on the Ruling Class ... Author comment - this does not make sense.

BREAK

A Twitter question asks of Gov. Perry if Israel would start at zero in foreign aid? Perry said YES and that this should be applied to the budgets of all of the Federal Departments he had trouble naming in an earlier debate.

BREAK - most people throughout the nation either miss this part of the debate or they tune in to CBS.com on their computers.

In Palm Springs, the affiliate cut away for local news and so the internet came into play.

There was a problem with the transmission and it seems that the internet connection did not have enough bandwidth to handle the demand – choppy video and consequently, choppy audio. Further investigation found that this bandwidth problem was actually with the main server contracted for use by CBS ... REALLY?!

CBS is a bush-league outfit to schedule a Republican presidential debate, title it “The Commander-In-Chief Debate”, and broadcast only a portion of the debate on a national basis, then provide inadequate internet service to carry the balance of the debate.

Hey CBS, why sponsor and hold a debate if you are not serious enough to carry the whole debate?

If this were a Democrat Political Party debate with eight contenders, would you have only enough television broadcast time slot bandwidth to carry a percentage of the whole debate and after debate spin?

Why on Earth would the South Carolina GOP [and the NRCC] agree to such a half-handed set-up … is this the best they could negotiate?

How weak.

WOW!

Baylor University's Sponsored Illegal Immigrant Activism ... Sparks Response

Baylor University school of Law has 89.8% of graduates get job offers upon graduation. Image Credit: law-school.findthebest.com

Baylor University's Sponsored Illegal Immigrant Activism ... Sparks Response

Hispanic leaders in Texas are joining a student’s fight against a political culture they say seeks to pigeon-hole minorities as reliably liberal. Daniel Cervera, a senior at Baylor University, filed legislation at his school’s student government in response to what he describes as selective enforcement of university policy. “The school essentially sponsored a speaking platform to an illegal immigrant enrolled in our law school, who then used that platform to speak in favor of civil unrest to push a political agenda,” said Cervera.

Greg Torres, a member of the student senate, agrees to the proposition the University’s decision to sponsor illegal immigration activism violates established policy and precedent, “It’s embarrassing for all Hispanic students whose families have worked hard to make a name for themselves, as opposed to doing it illegally and in a way that university policy clearly opposes.”

One university official defended the school's decision claiming that Cervera’s proposal threatens to stifle debate on campus. Dr. Elizabeth Palacios, Baylor University’s Dean for Student Development, is quoted in the November 3, 2011 edition of the campus newspaper with the following, “As a university, we are never going to be Tier 1 if we censor thoughts that are incongruent [with our beliefs].”

Garrett referenced a report from the March 4, 2011 edition of the campus newspaper, with Palacios defending the private Christian school’s decision to deny the Sexual Identity Forum, a GLBT-advocacy group, an official charter.

“When it’s apparent that there is a stance being taken by the language, by the spirit or by the intent of a group, then it takes on a different purpose and it takes on a different slant,” said Dr. Palacios, explaining the school’s decision to deny a student group charter.

Duke Machado, president of the Hispanic Republican Club, says Cervera’s action marks the importance of minorities becoming more independently engaged. “It needs to start with us,” said Machado, “It’s important that minorities aggressively counter abuses of racial identity for political gain.”

Felipe Reyna, a retired appeals court justice and Baylor Law graduate, also weighed in on the matter, “For a Baylor Law student to speak favorably of engaging in unlawful activity to push a political view is really shameful. I sincerely hope university administrators will rethink their decision to defend sponsoring such an event.”
(ht: Baylor YCT)

We, at MAXINE, believe it is time for all citizens to embrace the concept of defending legal immigration and the right of citizens to pour value back into the proposition of actually being a citizen of the country they wish to have protected and defended.

<Article first seen as Baylor University's Sponsored Illegal Immigrant Activism ... Sparks Response at Technorati>

Tea Party vs Occupy Movement - Boston Herald's Confusing Take

The Media’s Guide to Protestors - Image Credit: William Warren via Liberty Features (2011)

Tea Party vs Occupy Movement - Boston Herald's Confusing Take

Over the weekend, the Boston Herald posted an article that tried to make the case of commonality between the Tea Party Movement and the Occupy (wherever) Movement. The proposition that the article tried to make from a national poll with 1,005 American adults (no background on demographic ... assume random) was that people were becoming tired of public political activism.

While the title of the article delivered a direct comparison and linkage of the Occupy Movement to the Tea Party Movement, the first five paragraphs were devoted to the Occupy Movement, the next three paragraphs were devoted to the Tea Party Movement, and the balance of the analysis placed the two movements side-by-side with the conclusion as follows:

This excerpted and edited from the Boston Herald -

Thumbs down for Occupy, Tea Party in new nationwide poll
By Joe Battenfeld - Originally posted November 6, 2011

The Occupy Wall Street movement may be starting to lose its luster with the American public, with four in ten now saying they have an unfavorable view of the protests, a new nationwide UMass Lowell/Boston Herald poll shows.
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But the UMass Lowell/Herald poll shows one clear trend — that Americans have a more negative view of the Tea Party movement than the Wall Street protests.
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More than 71 percent of all American adults have an unfavorable impression of the federal government, including 72 percent of Occupy Wall Street supporters and 86 percent of Tea Party sympathizers. And about three-quarters of all Americans say that political action committees and large corporations have too much influence in politics.

This indicates the most successful strategy for winning office in 2012 would be running against both Washington and Wall Street — a strategy already being tested in Massachusetts by Democratic Senate challenger Elizabeth Warren and the current incumbent, Republican Sen. Scott Brown.

But while Tea Party and Occupy supporters may share some views, they don’t have much else in common, according to the UMass Lowell/Herald poll.

Nearly two-thirds of Tea Party sympathizers describe their political views as conservative, while just 14 percent of Occupy Wall Street backers call themselves conservative.

A third of those who have a favorable view of the Occupy movement say they are liberals, while just 5 percent of Tea Party backers describe themselves as liberal.
[Reference Here]

The following poll was featured in the sidebar on the right side of the Boston Herald article:

Herald Pulse

Where do you stand on the Occupy and Tea Party movements?

27% - Occupy campers annoy me
14% - I back what Occupy has to say
7% - The Tea Party annoys me
36% - I’m all for what the Tea Party stands for
4% - I like them both
12% - I dislike them both

Total Votes: 2,018

What if the poll answer choices were arranged a little differently as in like-with-like questions:

Positive
36% - I’m all for what the Tea Party stands for
14% - I back what Occupy has to say

Negative
7% - The Tea Party annoys me
27% - Occupy campers annoy me

General Attitude
4% - I like them both
12% - I dislike them both

When arranged in this way, one comes away with a completely different picture of the attitudes of the two thousand plus Boston Herald reader respondents.

For those having a positive view of either approach, just add "I like them both at 4%" to the affirmative question posed for each movement.

For those having a negative view of either approach, just add "I dislike them both at 12%" to the negative question posed for each movement.

Tea Party Movement
Positive - 40% / Negative - 26%
(66% response attention)

Occupy Movement
Positive - 18% / Negative - 39%
(57% response attention)

Last Comparison
TP Positive - 40% | OM Negative - 39% = 79% similar attitude camp

OM Positive - 18% | TP Negative - 26% = 44% similar attitude camp

Sorry, it just seems that the Boston Herald has its focus on the wrong set of information numbers and thereby performs a disservice to its readers with the conclusions they choose to highlight and put forward. The media seems bent on using polls to shape opinion as opposed to inform opinion.

Why doesn't the Boston Herald look at their own reader respondent poll which seems to be as vetted and directed (with twice as many responses - over 2,000) as the poll they used for the development of the original article that ultimately tries to paint the Senate seat contest between Democratic Senate challenger (OM attitude camp) Elizabeth Warren and the current incumbent, Republican Sen. (TP attitude camp) Scott Brown as ... wait for it ... a toss-up.

A deeper look at the sidebar poll seems to suggest a different projected outlook.



<Article first appeared as Tea Party vs Occupy Movement - Boston Herald's Confusing Take at Technorati>