NBC ‘Rock Center’ GOP Debate From Tampa Bay Tweet-By-Tweet

Mitt Romney with former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist. Romney’s “Charlie Crist” problem is this: Romney’s chief campaign strategist and several of his most senior campaign staff were Charlie Crist’s top political advisers — the same ones who crafted Crist’s moderate, ignore-the-tea-party strategy epitomized by Crist’s famous “hug” of President Barack Obama. That strategy led Crist, once the most popular Republican governor in the nation, to defeat. Caption & Image Credit: NewsMax

NBC ‘Rock Center’ GOP Debate From Tampa Bay Tweet-By-Tweet

With barely enough time to soak in the resounding and unexpected win in the South Carolina primary by former insider turned outsider, Newt Gingrich, NBC News Rock Center with Brian Williams is conducting the first of two televised GOP field debates before the Florida primary.

The primary result in South Carolina (Newt – 40% vs Mitt – 28% … a 12% spread) put egg on the faces of many recognizable Republican leadership faces, the most recognizable of which was the 2008 presidential election’s Republican nominee, John McCain, New Jersey Governor Chris Cristie, and past Republican Political Party leader, Hailey Barbour. This potential Republican ‘ruling class’ drubbing may continue in Florida if the most recent polls from Rasmussen are to be believed:

This excerpted and edited from Rasmussen Reports -

2012 Florida Republican Primary
Florida GOP Primary: Gingrich 41%, Romney 32%
Monday, January 23, 2012

Less than two weeks ago, Mitt Romney had a 22-point lead in Florida, but that’s ancient history in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Following his big win in South Carolina on Saturday, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich now is on top in Florida by nine.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Florida Republican Primary Voters, taken Sunday evening, finds Gingrich earning 41% of the vote with Romney in second at 32%. Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum runs third with 11%, while Texas Congressman Ron Paul attracts support from eight percent (8%). Nine percent (9%) remain undecided.(To see survey question wording, click here).
[Reference Here]

Further, the liberal press is having a field day trying to raster and vector their definition of Gingrich to the point that they are dredging up ghosts of the past … by over 40 years – EXAMPLE:

JON MEACHAM in TIME, “Meet Newt Nixon: Forget Reagan. Gingrich’s real political analogue is another angry striver: Richard Nixon”:

“Like Nixon, Gingrich is smart, with a wide-ranging and entrepreneurial mind. Like Nixon, Gingrich is a striver who seems insecure around traditional establishment figures even though he has achieved much more than nearly all of the politicians, editors, and reporters he seems to at once loathe and fear. Like Nixon, Gingrich is fluent in the vernacular of cultural populism, brilliantly casting contemporary American life in terms of an overarching conflict between ‘real’ people and distant ‘elites’ …
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“There is another element of the 2012 story with antecedents in 1968 that is yet to play out. ‘Watching George Romney [the father of Mitt Romney] run for the Presidency,’ said the then Governor of Ohio, James Rhodes, ‘was like watching a duck try to make love to a football.’ I’m not entirely sure what that means, except that it was an undertaking that did not quite work.”
(ht: Mike Allen – Politico Playbook)

With three winners in three primaries, pretzel logic from elites of all stripe pervades the first round of primaries and continues on to Florida. The Republican elite love to claim that Mitt Romney is the most electable candidate for presidential nominee, but this flies in the face of the fact that now, after South Carolina, Mitt has only won 9 of 25 electoral races he has been entered and campaigned in … as per Rush Limbaugh. Further, NewsMax reports that Romney’s advisers in Florida were former Governor Charlie Crist’s GOP defecting political advisers … gotta’ love them ‘moderates’.

Lastly, the vote in South Carolina reflects the fact that Conservative Republicans are tired that no Republican candidate ever takes the Democrat Political Party and it’s supporting power arms in the Mainstream Press, the Courts, and Labor Unions to task … does Romney? – NO … does Santorum? – NO … does Paul – NO … does Gingrich – YES!

Participating in the NBC Rock Center debate event from Tampa Bay, Florida: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.

The following audit trail of real-time postings are 140 character (or less) responses and reactions found on Twitter in this and this is a process of reporting termed “Tweet-By-Tweet”!

BEGIN
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TheEDJEEdmund Jenks – IT’S OVER FOR MITT – Romney Campaign Run by Charlie Crist’s Political Aides tinyurl.com/7n97zh3 #tcot #tlot #loser #fldebate #politisite

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politicalmathPoliticalMath – I’m watching the debate tonight (in 15 minutes) over here on.msnbc.com/xZ5IMp

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theblazeTheBlaze.com – VID – Watch and Chat LIVE: Republicans Take the Stage at University of South Florida Debate theblaze.com/stories/join-t… via @theblaze TG

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START OF DEBATE – Rules: 60 seconds/30 seconds

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jdhenchmanJoe Henchman – TiVo tells me that tonight’s Republican debate is actually “Fear Factor: Leeches & Shaved Heads & Tear Gas Part 1″

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Jamie_WeinsteinJamie Weinstein – Gingrich looks tired, no?

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AlexPappasDCAlex Pappas – First question of the night goes to Gingrich on electability

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CommentaryCommentary Magazine – RT @tobincommentary: Is Brian Williams ready to get attacked by Gingrich? #FLDebate

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LibertyLynxR – Another debate? What time? Why? How? And then the State of the Union tomorrow? It’s too much. No one can possibly survive this.

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secuppS.E. Cupp – Brian Williams opens the debate by pointing out that Ron Paul is only candidate not to have won a primary.

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politicalmathPoliticalMath – RT @fivethirtyeight: Gingrich played the Reagan Card a world record 3.26 seconds into the debate.

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TPMTalking Points Memo – Newt saying he “took responsibility” and left Speakership on his own, wasn’t dragged out at all

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politicalmathPoliticalMath – How does Romney connect? With a high-speed LAN! Get it?!?

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrissey – so the debates are now a forum on ads and campaign attacks. Yeah, that’s valuable.

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DLoeschDana Loesch – Romney likely won’t mention Gingrich was cleared. #FLdebate

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hughhewittHugh Hewitt – #hhrs #tcot “The members of his own Congressional team moved to replace him and 88% of Republicans voted to rebuke him” #hhrs

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ToadonaWireL – How long do we spend on electability? Can we talk about REAL issues? #nbcdebate #FLdebate

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secuppS.E. Cupp – Counting down seconds before Ron Paul or Rick Santorum interject to ask if they can play too.

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politicalmathPoliticalMath – RT @philipaklein: Sounds like Romney has read his @tpcarney bit.ly/zL4VZ3

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Finally … Santorum, Paul must be in the on-deck circle

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rightstaceStacey – Mitt -stop Newt-bashing! — how does that help America?

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TPMTalking Points Memo – Romney on Gingrich: An “influence peddler” in Washington

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mattklewisMatt K. Lewis – I kind of miss the applause.

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politicalmathPoliticalMath – Santorum: “Any kind of prediction is going to be wrong” Except for that one.

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CommentaryCommentary Magazine – RT @tobincommentary: Santorum brags about his Pennsylvania victories again. 2006 landslide defeat goes, as always, unmentioned. #FLDebate

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hughhewittHugh Hewitt – RT @fatherz: Ss answer about loss in PA was pretty good. #gop #fldebate #dickmorriss #hhrs #catholic #hhrs

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And finally … Ron Paul

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politicalmathPoliticalMath – Ron Paul: “If you’re looking at the kids these days, I’m a huge winner.” Yeah, the AAYP beats the AARP every day of the week.

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FlapGregory Flap Cole – Ron Paul hammers Gingrich on not being re-elected to Speakership = Newt did not have the votes and he didn’t! Ron Paul for historian

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craig_crawfordCraig Crawford – Brian Williams told debate crowd they can’t react, should have handed out gags with NBC logo

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IngrahamAngleLaura Ingraham – Tepid Qs from Rock Left.

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GaltsGirlMichelle Ray -@PWKennedy Everyone should snort beer during GOP debates. It’s the only thing that makes them tolerable.

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mattklewisMatt K. Lewis – Romney pivots from talking about his taxes to talking about the American people’s taxes. Nice segue.

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brooksbaynebrooks bayne – romney is proud of paying lotsa taxes. weirdo.

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politicalmathPoliticalMath – Romney: “I don’t a dollar more taxes than I owe” Good line.

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DonIrvineDonIrvine – What kind of a question was that? He’s wealthy and pays taxes.

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hughhewittHugh Hewitt – Second tax return question. #hhrs

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ToadonaWireL – So far, we have had 23 minutes of fail #FLdebate NBC Brian Williams sucks

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politicalmathPoliticalMath – RT @daveweigel: Romney tax returns to reveal that he constantly makes, loses $10,000 bets to people. #FLdebate

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secuppS.E. Cupp – Mitt on attacks on his wealth: Yes, I was surprised to see Republicans pick up the weapons of the left.

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GPollowitzGreg Pollowitz – Romney should say, “my tax return will show I paid what I owed, unlike Geithner, Sharpton, Daschle, Rangel…”

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politicalmathPoliticalMath – RT @JonahNRO: Brian! Not so loud! You’ll wake the audience.

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SooperMexicanel SOOPer – this debate is so dull without an audience it won’t matter who wins it. #FLDebate #hhrs

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michaelemlongmichaelemlong – bit.ly/yvkMq7 Gingrich Super PAC Head: Romney Is a Medicare Fraudster but Will It Matter? #tcot #tcot_talk #teaparty #sgp #right #gop

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CommentaryCommentary Magazine – RT @tobincommentary: Romney talks about creating jobs in his career and not apologizing for free enterprise. His best argument. #FLDebate

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DonIrvineDonIrvine – I don’t think this debate is going to change anyone’s mind, but it should stop the bleeding for Romney. #FLdebate

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brooksbaynebrooks bayne – no newt axes! #fldebate

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CommentaryCommentary Magazine – RT @alanagoodman: Romney backs Gingrich into a corner on his claim to work as an historian for Freddie Mac #FLdebate

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jdhenchmanJoe Henchman – Gingrich on his Freddie deal: “I offered strategic advice, largely based on my knowledge of history, including the history of Washington”

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CommentaryCommentary Magazine – RT @tobincommentary: Romney reminds Gingrich he said he was paid as a historian. Says historian don’t get paid that kind of money. #FLDebate

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craig_crawfordCraig Crawford – One-Percenter Smackdown: Bain vs. Freddie Mac

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Crawford is an idiot … Freddie MAC is a one-percent that was funded by the taxpayer and ended up killing our economy, and it is still there screwing the American people

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrisse – “Ill say this in Florida” I don’t think Medicare Part D is terribly unpopular there. #FLDebate

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mattklewisMatt K. Lewis – Gingrich says he is proud to have advocated Medicare Part D.

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BREAK

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Read The Rest @ Politisite>>

Let’s Try Four – CNN SCGOP Debate Tweet-By-Tweet

Ron Paul gives an answer during the last debate before the primary vote in South Carolina. Image Credit: CNN

Let’s Try Four – CNN SCGOP Debate Tweet-By-Tweet

With three days to go until the first-in-the south primary, Mitt Romney remains in the lead in the Palmetto State, but according to a new poll, his advantage over Newt Gingrich is rapidly shrinking.

A CNN/Time/ORC International poll indicates that 33% of likely South Carolina Republican primary voters say they are backing Romney, with 23% supporting Gingrich. The former Massachusetts governor’s 10 point advantage over the former House speaker is down from a 19 point lead two weeks ago. According to the survey, former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania is at 16%, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas is at 13%, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry stands at 6%.
(ht: CNN)

The following presidential hopefuls are participating in the event: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.

The following audit trail of real-time postings are 140 character (or less) responses and reactions found on Twitter and this is a process of reporting termed “Tweet-By-Tweet”!

BEGIN

AlexPappasDCAlex Pappas – Think Progress, The Other McCain and TPM are only ones in press filing center standing for pledge yfrog.com/kgo4rstj

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LessaTLessa – My thoughts: Marianne #Gingrich behavior is of a bitter,angry women out for revenge & $ #Wicked

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IngrahamAngleLaura Ingraham – Make sure to watch me on The O’Reilly Factor tonight at 8pm!

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Yeah …. riiiiiiight!

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stix1972Doug Welch – RT @ohconservatism: Prediction for the night. Most people still hate everyone who isn’t their guy. Many end up drunk. Few change their mind.

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kerpenPhil Kerpen – I really can’t take anything Wolf Blitzer says seriously after seeing Andy Richter embarrass him on Jeopardy.

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PolitisitePolitisite – Watch the CNN Debate – Charleston, South Carolina GOP Debate Coverage #CNNDebate tinyurl.com/7zcsxc7 #sctweets

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INTRO With John King

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrissey – Say his name 3 times in the mirror …. RT @rsmccain: Jon Huntsman, we miss you. (Just kidding.)

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FlapGregory Flap Cole – Seriously, the CNN intros are laboring at best….get on with it!

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pinkelephantpunTabitha Hale – So wrong. But not. RT @BlameTelford: Question for Gingrich: do you support gay open marriage? #CNNDebate

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrissey – “The Fight for the South”? Er … #scdebate

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EditMeDavidDavid Martosko – any one getting game-show deja vu as they emerge from between the set pieces?

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kiradavis422Kira Ayn Davis – A year ago I’d have said u were effing crazy if 2 of the last 4 GOP candidates would be Newt and some guy named Santorum #CNNDebate

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mattklewisMatt K. Lewis – “I’m the only U.S. veteran on this stage tonight.” – Ron Paul

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AKaczynski1Andrew Kaczynski – Shorter Ron Paul : Newt is a draft dodger!

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So, Newt, do you want to comment on comments made by your ex-wife?

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jamiedupreeJamie Dupree – Gingrich gives John KIng the Juan Williams treatment: “I AM APPALLED”

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mattklewisMatt K. Lewis – Newt starts off on in his wheel house — hitting the media.

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DrtySxyPoliticsDirtySex&Politics – NOOOOOOOOOOO WAAAAAAAYYYYY!!! They are really effing going there! Assholes. #CNNDebate

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrissey – Well, Newt won this debate. Let’s all watch Knight and Day now.

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrissey – Wow … this is a smackdown to end all smackdowns. #cnndebate

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pinkelephantpunTabitha Hale – RT @KatiePavlich: “I am frankly astounded that CNN would take trash like that and use it to open a presidential debate” -Gingrich

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mattklewisMatt K. Lewis – “I am tired of the elite media protecting Barack Obama by attacking Republicans.” – Newt

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TheFixThe Fix – Smart by Romney too. “Let’s get on to the real issues.” #cnndebate

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PolitisitePolitisite – Yeah, What about the corporations that run the media #Paul #cnndebate tinyurl.com/7zcsxc7

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrissey – John King: OK, let’s get started now that I’ve thoroughly embarrassed myself and my network #cnndebate

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SalenaZitoTribSalenaZito – Who knew that Ron Paul would be the first normal part of the debate? #CNNDebate

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IngrahamAngleLaura Ingraham – Ron Paul on wife of 54 yrs…nice…

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daveweigeldaveweigel – RT @AlexNBCNews: Speaking of Newt… where are his tax returns? They were supposed to come out tonight… #decision2012

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FreedomWorksFreedomWorks – Ron Paul: “what about the corporations that run the media?” #CNNdebate #tcot #teaparty tells “govt. to get outta the way”

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DanRiehlDanRiehl – OK, Newt, now try to not look at John King like u want to chew his nuts off on live TV.

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IngrahamAngleLaura Ingraham – Newt needs to drop Bain Capital attacks…counterproductive for conservatives.

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pinkelephantpunTabitha Hale – RT @StevenErtelt: Crony capitalism? Someone was listening at #BlogCon in Denver…

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thebookguyPeter Marx – #CNNdebate I give John King credit for letting Gingrich clear the deck right off the bat

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GottahrdtKarl – @@Politisite @alexwagner What a pile of crap #departed

#CNNDebate

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DonIrvineDonIrvine – It is capitalism and freedom that makes America strong. @MittRomney #cnndebate

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TPMTalking Points Memo – Romney on capitalism: “We’re going to stuff it down [Obama's] throat.”

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CommentaryCommentary Magazine – RT @tobincommentary: Santorum goes populist and says he’s for capitalism for working people but not “high finance.”#CNNdebate

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DonIrvineDonIrvine – Keep the focus on Obama. #cnndebate

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RadiobloggerDuane Patterson – Good rhetoric by Santorum. People are living in obama-caused economic squalor. #hhrs

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Role Of Government

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lesliecarbonelesliecarbone – Aren’t most of the Reagan Democrats dead by now?

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DickMorrisTweetDick Morris - #cnndebate #hannity #tcot #gop #talkmaster Romney really scored with his answer and Newt made it an anti-Newt answer by his own attacks

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrissey – Good answer from Santorum, who also chooses to attack Obama rather than Romney. #CNNDebate

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DanRiehlDanRiehl – RT @ktumulty: Ron Paul says they dnt need any “special programs” 4 military returning from WWII. Has he not hrd of the GI bill?

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pinkelephantpunTabitha Hale – RT @JazzShaw: Nobody has boo’d Ron Paul yet. We must still be talking domestic policy. #cnndebate

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CommentaryCommentary Magazine – RT @tobincommentary: Ron Paul uses question about unemployed veterans to brag about military support. #CNNDebate

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BeregondTom Reynolds – Mitt is almost right, then he says “bundle it and send it to the state level.” That leaves DC in charge via strings. #CNNDebate

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DailyCallerThe Daily Caller – SC treasurer on Romney endorsement: ‘There were some problems’ – thedc.com/yIsziy

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BlameTelfordErik Telford – The American People, fresh off their Herman Cain endorsement, are really killin’ it in this debate tonight.

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prismsincRic = AmSpec: Newt Gets Two Standing Ovations bit.ly/zAkinT #tcot

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DickMorrisTweetDick Morris - #cnndebate #hannity #tcot #gop #talkmaster Romney is winning. Newt is so smart, but somehow it seems a sidebar to Romney’s focus on today

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sanuzisSaul Anuzis – #cnndebate Santorum goes on the offensive – attacks both Romney & Gingrich – about to get womped back I’m sure:)

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Romney – “Thank You.”

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RichLowryRich Lowry – “playing footsies w/ the left”–rick s came ready to play on health care

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DLoeschDana Loesch – This is a fantastic answer from Santorum. The best attack on Romneycare of the debates. If only the rest of his record matched.

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politicalmathPoliticalMath – Just tuned in. Who is the new guy? He looks like Rick Santorum, but he’s also an effective speaker. I’m confused.

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IngrahamAngleLaura Ingraham – Mitt as good as possible on Romneycare…but Rick scored a few pts…

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CommentaryCommentary Magazine – RT @tobincommentary: Santorum’s point about how Obama will attack Romney is right. Strong moment for Santorum. #CNNDebate

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mboyle1Matthew Boyle – Romney just took Santorum to school on healthcare. If you wanna be gov of MA, fine. I wanna be president.

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foxnewspoliticsfoxnewspolitics – Gingrich: I’ll have Lincoln-Douglas debate with Obama. He can use teleprompter, I’ll just use knowledge

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Jamie_WeinsteinJamie Weinstein – Newt finds it amazing that Santorum thinks he would have trouble debating Obama. DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM, RICK?

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ColorMeRedOpionionated – Woo Woo #Newt! Let Obama use a teleprompter…I’ll rely on knowledge #CNNdebate

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BREAK – Tease: Gingrich released tax returns online … we will ask what is in there!

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DavidLimbaughDavid Limbaugh – Romney says he wants the federal government out of healthcare but he just said he wants to impose pre-existing coverage.

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EditMeDavidDavid Martosko – NOTE: Newt’s 2010 tax return shows $19,800 for alimony. #cheap thedc.com/yNEEBV

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SooperMexicanel SOOPer – ROn paul is a one trick pony.. he could turn a question about his favorite color into a slam against zionism #CNNDebate

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Back From BREAK – Asked to get out of race

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politicalmathPoliticalMath – RT @freddoso: SANTORUM: “Grandiosity has never been a problem with Newt Gingrich.”

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Santorum – I’m steady, I’m solid, I’m here

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WSJWall Street Journal – New filings: Gingrich and wife earned adjusted gross income of $3.1 million in 2010 and owed $994,708 in federal taxes

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No Question By CNN On Newt’s Taxes

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mattklewisMatt K. Lewis – Margaret Thatcher was also pushed out by her own party. I’m always surprised Gingrich the historian never mentions that.

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jeff_poorJeff Poor – Here’s where Newt can win it all by saying he is on par with Churchill, Thatcher, Julius Caesar… #CNNdebate

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Jamie_WeinsteinJamie Weinstein – Newt: I invented the airplane and I wasn’t even born yet, Rick. How do you like them apples?

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Santorum slams Gingrich

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foxnewspoliticsfoxnewspolitics – Gingrich: Long before Rick came to Congress I was a rebel. For 16 years — those are facts even if inconvenient for his campaign

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ZekeJMillerZeke Miller – Yep RT @GarrettNBCNews: This battle between Santorum and Gingrich is Romney’s best moment of the night so far. #cnndebate

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lesliecarbonelesliecarbone – Gingrich has ditched two wives. Of course he’s unreliable. Duh.

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pinkelephantpunTabitha Hale – Santorum is having a really good night. First time I haven’t loathed his presence.

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Dean_LDean_L – #cnndebate Mitt Romney’s holier than thou moment. He should have let Newt and Rick bash each other. But he couldn’t resist the face time.

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EditMeDavidDavid Martosko – Mitt says he’s lived “in the real streets of America” — the ones paved with gold, perhaps?

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrissey – GREAT line by Mitt: I don’t recall a single day when I said Oh thank heaven for Washington. #CNNdebate

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mboyle1Matthew Boyle – Romney to Newt: You’re mentioned ONCE in Ronald Reagan’s diary. My dad was even mentioned once!

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Jamie_WeinsteinJamie Weinstein – This is a losing argument for Gingrich methinks

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OHCONSERVATISMAndrew Staroska – Who gives a crap about the damn tax returns. FFS!

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hughhewittHugh Hewitt – Romney: A president who has played 90 rounds of golf….Keystone again… #hhrs #tcot

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robertcostaNRORobert Costa – Noooooooo. As an avid golfer, who respects the prez’s bad lefty swing, i must object to this attack on O.

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prismsincRic – RT @MicahSquires: So now @NewtGingrich is taking credit for his work in govt making the business environment better? PALEEEZE! #cnndebate

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TPMTalking Points Memo – Newt on Mitt’s tax returns: “If there’s nothing in there, why not release it?”

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foxnewspoliticsfoxnewspolitics – Santorum: I do my own taxes and they are at my computer at home. No one is there to get them. I will when I get home

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SaveJerseyThe Save Jersey Blog – I really like Santorum’s tax return answer! Three cheers for #turbotax. #cnndebate

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sanuzisSaul Anuzis – #cnndebate “I am not going to apologize for being successful.” — Mitt

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andreamsaulAndrea Saul – .@MittRomney: I’m going to be able to talk to @BarackObama in a way no one else can #WorkedInRealWorld #CNNDebate

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politicalmathPoliticalMath – RT @JonahNRO: Really, John. Apple’s success takes your breath away? Really?

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ZillaStevensonZilla Stevenson – Tax returns? How about releasing the docs relating to Obama’s name change from Soetoro? Was he ever repatriated from Indonesian citizenship?

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RadiobloggerDuane Patterson – santorum going on too long about this china issue. clouding it rather than concise and with clarity. #hhrs

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michaelemlongmichaelemlong – bit.ly/yQSlH8 Rush: ABC’s Goal Was To ‘Take Mitt Out This Week,’ Newt Next Week – But Drudge ‘Messed Them Up’ #tcot #tcot_talk #right

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SOPA & PIPA Question

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Gingrich: You are asking me, a conservative, to weigh in on protecting the rights of Big Hollywood!

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SueDTweetsSueDTweets – #CNNDebate Newt favors freedom and won’t let gov’t censor the internet!! He gets points!! #tcot —-

RadiobloggerDuane Patterson – Romney understands SOPA, too. Very reassuring to me as an Internet guy. #hhrs

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foxnewspoliticsfoxnewspolitics – Santorum on #SOPA: I’m all for free, but our products made in USA being stolen and sold back here … there oughtta be a law or something

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BREAK

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DLoeschDana Loesch – Poor, more big government answer from Santorum. Again, this is why I question him.

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mattklewisMatt K. Lewis -Disappointed so little time has been devoted to gay marriage and contraception.

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daveweigeldaveweigel – Weird. Santorum doesn’t like the idea of “anything goes” on the Internet. I’ll google his name and figure out why

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrissey – New debate horror movie: I Know What You Did Last Marriage.

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brooksbaynebrooks bayne – santorum gave an answer about individual liberties vs ip rights circa 1999 and napster. time machine response. geez. zzZZzzz..

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christinakbchristinakb – yikes – it sounds like Santorum is quitting “to be here in the final four…” #cnndebate #tcot

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Back From BREAK – Audience – Immigration

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Gingrich – FIRST, control the border | English as official language | etc., etc.

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DrtySxyPoliticsDirtySex&Politics – It’s really difficult watching the GOP debates and NOT use the following words..crazy, pussies, anger issues, certifiable

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mmshowalter1Monica Showalter – Love Newt’s response on illegals, making it easier to immigrate legally than illegally! #cnndebate

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Jamie_WeinsteinJamie Weinstein – How would Newt deal with an illegal grandfather or grandmother who is apart of a El Salvadorian gang?

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JonahNROJonah Goldberg – These local draft-immigration boards wouldn’t attract bribes at all.

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RMA_DougDoug Winegardner – No bueno pic.twitter.com/BmD43lif

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brooksbaynebrooks bayne – my family came here via lord balitimore’s commission in 1633. we didn’t sneak across the border. we just pushed indians aside. #CNNDebate

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mboyle1Matthew Boyle – Santorum: Romney has flip-flopped on immigration/amnesty for illegal ALIENS. Just like other issues.

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prismsincRic – SANTORUM great answer on immigration! #tcot

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RadiobloggerDuane Patterson – santorum trying to pick nits w/mitt over immigration, when mitt is very clear what his position is, & it’s near identical to rick’s. #hhrs

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kirstenpowers10kirsten powers – Romney always says that illegal immigrants shouldn’t get ‘preference.’ TOTAL STRAW MAN. Ted Kennedy agreed they shld go to back of line.

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brooksbaynebrooks bayne – ron paul has no lips. #CNNDebate #importantissues

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secuppS.E. Cupp – Ron Paul doesn’t like laws that prosecute illegal immigration, wants more legal immigration, but tighter borders to prevent immigration.

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DickMorrisTweetDick Morris – #cnndebate #hannity #tcot #gop #talkmaster Ron Paul is wrong. Texas does not have to provide medicaid to illegals

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JasonBWhitmanNatl Policy Chairman – There is a reason why I have been calling Santorum the Angry Candidate. Can’t hide it forever… #cnndebate

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dmataconisDoug Mataconis – RT @Tom1247: Santorum has less than 27 minutes to keep this from being a 3-man race in Florida. My bet is he doesn’t make it. #ByeByeRick

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MySecondEmpireChris Jones – I haven’t seen four white dudes with less stage presence since Bread.–

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hughhewittHugh Hewitt – #hhrs #tcot #CNNdebate Romney should bring up Mary Ann Glendot -

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CommentaryCommentary Magazine – RT @sethamandel: Santorum whispers into microphone. Not creepy, not creepy at all. #CNNDebate

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benshapirobenshapiro – Mitt Romney’s attempt to run from his pro-abortion record in MA is weak in the extreme.

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HowardKurtzHowardKurtz – Rick says Newt downplayed social issues as speaker. Problem is that most voters don’t care about internal House battles of the ’90s

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SooperMexicanel SOOPer – Ron Paul is being marginalized at the kiddie table.. where he belongs. #CNNDebate

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secuppS.E. Cupp – Haha. Audience reminds John King that Dr. Ron Paul is also on stage. How hard can this be? There are only four

of them now.

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kathrynlopezKathryn Jean Lopez – that might be romney’s best defense of his record on life as governor ever

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BREAK

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TPMTalking Points Memo – First time Mitt says ‘Romneycare’? tpm.ly/xlnTJP

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DavidMDruckerDavid M. Drucker – “I wasn’t even thinking about you when I was giving my opening statement so you were overly sensitive.” @RonPaul to Santorum #CNNdebate

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HotlineReidReid Wilson – Paul, to Santorum: “Just for the record, I wasn’t even thinking about you when I was giving my statement, so you are overly sensitive.”

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mkhammerMary Katharine Ham -#ronpaulfacts RT @KarolNYC: Ron Paul doesn’t even think of Rick Santorum.

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Back From BREAK – John King: Closing pander comments please

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politicalmathPoliticalMath – OK. Ron Paul should *never* say “my modest proposal”. It frightens me.

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conor64Conor Friedersdorf – Looks like John King won’t ask anything about Iran, contra his comments on Hugh Hewitt’s show. #CNNDebate

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TPMTalking Points Memo – Newt: “I want to thank CNN.”

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christinakbchristinakb – Newt: “… a Saul Alinsky candidate who is incompetent cannot be re-elected …” zzzzzzzing! #teaparty #tcot #cnndebate

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ToniNoBolognyToni Backdahl – Harry Reid makes the trend and Ron Paul doesn’t! That means that they r purposely blocking Ron Paul from trending on Twitter -

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michaelemlongmichaelemlong – bit.ly/Abbe3o Is Newt Gingrich About to Be Herman Cained? #tcot #tcot_talk #teaparty #sgp #right #gop #con

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SooperMexicanel SOOPer – WHo else calls Obama an Alinskyite? NO ONE. thats why i’m #WithNEWT #CNNDebate

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hughhewittHugh Hewitt – #tcot #hhrs #CNNdebate @RickSantorum the question is who is the best person to take on Obama. That is the right question.

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mattklewisMatt K. Lewis – Santorum calls himself a “conviction conservative.”

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ToniNoBolognyToni Backdahl – Because the tweets were comparing Harry and Ron Pauls abortion records.. so that means if Harry trended Ron Paul should have too! #CNNDEBATE

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END OF DEBATE

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FlapGregory Flap Cole – Santorum’s debate performance was the best, Newt was OK and held his own, Romney was shaky and if he doesn’t win on Saturday is in trouble

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fivethirtyeightNate Silver – Here are those much loved/hated debate grades: Santorum A-, Gingrich B+, Paul B-, Romney C.

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FoxieNewsDebbie – RT @ReconChesty: Tonight Newt will leave the Debate with John King Strapped to his Truck Hood!!! LMAO!! #CNNDebate #tcot // Heck Yeah!!!

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrissey – Winners: Gingrich, Santorum, Paul. Romney fumbled the taxes question again, but otherwise did no harm. #CNNDebate

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brooksbaynebrooks bayne – RT @irishspy: Of course, Santorum forgot to mention the race against a Democrat he lost… #CNNdebate

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allahpunditAllah Pundit – Newt should have mooned King at the beginning for emphasis

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sanuzisSaul Anuzis – #cnndebate Santorum had a good night & strong close; Romney perfermed very well under attack; Newt strong start then waned; Paul consistent

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JohnAvlonJohn Avlon – Newt drinking game – “radically” or “fundamentally” -

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DeanClancyDean Clancy – OK, so which guy is the conservative, again?

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JsrRogerRogersdaughter – #cnndebate Newt Gingrich knows how to take on Obama – the others aren’t tough enough…or experienced enough to do it and win.

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jdhenchmanJoe Henchman – Gingrich taxes: chipped into the presidential election campaign fund, lost $74 selling Campbell Soup stock, donated 2.5% to charity.

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DrtySxyPoliticsDirtySex&Politics – Highlights tonight were Mitt using the term “Romneycare” Santorum crying and Newt throwing his shoe at John King #CNNDebate

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secuppS.E. Cupp – Thought Santorum won the debate. Mitt lost. Newt and Paul were predictable. Anyone else miss Perry?

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ENDS

We, at MAXINE, found this experiment at documenting a political debate through the New Media Social Media portal of Twitter, Tweet-By-Tweet interesting but may be better used to be in addition to other assets in order to become more descriptive in capturing the moment.

Thank you for your time and involvement in reviewing this experimental effort.

UPDATE:
Mitt Romney won the primary to lead the Republican Political Party into the 2012 election cycle to replace the 44th President, Barack H. Obama. Romney lost in a humiliating defeat primarily because he never fully defended the positions of strength through Capitalism a free market economic approach holds for all and the fact he had no response to the fact that ObamaCare (imposed upon the nation through a one-party political process - NO Republican Political Party votes) socialized medical insurance approach (as opposed to free market) was based on the state plans Romney implemented in Massachusetts during the time he was Governor.

He remained off of the political scene over the next three years until the next election cycle.



TAGS: #CNNdebate, CNN, Coverage, Debate, GOP, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, online, Republican, Rick Santorum, ricksantorum, Ron Paul, scdebate, SCGOP, South Carolina, MAXINE

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>

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>

Palin Delivers Hope In Protecting Freedoms For Americans

Sarah Palin and Joe Biden after Thursday's vice presidential debate. Image Credit: Ron Edmonds, Associated Press

Palin Delivers Hope In Protecting Freedoms For Americans

While gaining confidence throughout the evening, Governor Sarah Palin delivered a message of Change and Hope better than the Democrat talking point delivery of Senator Joseph Biden.

Sarah stayed on point while not allowing the thrust and parry of minutia in the questions to divert her from showing the difference between the inbred stance of Washington insiders and a “mainstreet” living Governor from and energy producing state that has a lot to contribute.

Sarah Palin was in a good mood while the Senator of 35 years was stuck in “senate speak”. Palin showed an energy and acted like an everyday person … better than expected.

In a post debate interview conducted on Fox News by Dr. Frank Luntz, several people in the crowd strongly felt that Sarah Palin would be ready to lead if the events came about where she had to step in. They felt that her executive experience and her performance in the debate brought them around to understand that our country needs an outside point of view to help refresh the leadership to run politics in Washington.

Plain talk can not be discounted in our country at this unique time, and it does not come cheaply. In the end, Governor Palin stated that it would be the goal of a McCain administration to help protect the freedoms each preceding generation has fought for and that these freedoms would not be eroded on their watch.

Charles Krauthammer, when interviewed in a post debate segment on Fox News felt Joseph Biden may have won on points but looked very sour in the end.

Note to Chuck Todd, NBC’s chief political observer, who had stated on Morning Joe this morning that the presidential race was over … the race is not over, not just yet!

This excerpted and edited from USA Today –

Fact check: Context of key debate claims
By Ken Dilanian and Richard Wolf, USA TODAY

A look at some of the claims made by Sen. Joe Biden and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in the vice presidential debate Thursday night in St. Louis:

Tax votes

The claim: Palin said Sen. Barack Obama voted 94 times to increase taxes.

The facts: Non-partisan FactCheck.org called that count, which has been cited before by Republicans, "inflated and misleading." Examining the 94 votes at issue, FactCheck.org found that 23 were for measures that would have produced no tax increase at all; they were against proposed tax cuts.

Seven were in favor of measures that would have lowered taxes for many, while raising them on a relative few, either corporations or affluent individuals, according to FactCheck.org, which is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania.

The 94 tally includes two, three and even four votes on the same measure.

Tax rate changes

The claim: Palin said Obama's plan to raise the top income tax rate would affect "millions of small businesses." Biden responded that the vast majority of small businesses do not report more than $250,000 in income.

The facts: The liberal Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, citing 2003 data from the non-partisan Tax Policy Center, said in a report that 436,000 tax filers with small-business income — 1.3% of the 32.8 million filers with small-business income — were subject to the top income tax rate. Another Tax Policy Center analysis concluded that "roughly 97% of small businesses would not be affected at all by increases in the top two tax rates."

Health care

The claim: Palin said Obama wants a "universal, government-run program" and "health care being taken over by the feds."

The facts: Obama's health-care plan does not call for a government takeover. In fact, it isn't even universal. It would only cover all children. Obama's plan would give Americans the opportunity to have government health insurance, but they also could pick a private plan.

Energy

The claim: Biden said he has "always" supported clean coal. He said "a comment made at a rope line was taken out of context" by John McCain's campaign.

The facts: In the video, recorded at the beginning of Biden's bus trip across Ohio last week, he is seen responding to a question about why the campaign is supporting clean coal. "We're not supporting clean coal," he says. "Guess what? China is building two every week, two dirty coal plants. And it's polluting the United States, it's causing people to die."

As the exchange continues, Biden says: "China's gonna burn 300 years of bad coal unless we figure out how to clean their coal up, because it's gonna ruin your lungs, and there's nothing we can do about it. No coal plants here in America. Build 'em, if they're gonna build 'em, over there and make 'em clean because they're killing you."

Mortgage crisis

The claim: Biden said McCain said he was "surprised" by the subprime mortgage crisis.

The facts: McCain's use of the word "surprised" came in response to a leading question in New Hampshire last December. At the time, he compared it to the dot-com collapse of the late 1990s, adding: "I was surprised at other times in our history. I don't know if surprised is the word." Later in the same interview, he said, "When I say 'surprised,' I'm not surprised when in capitalist systems that there's greed and excess."

Troop funding

The claim: Each vice presidential candidate said the opposing presidential candidate voted against funding U.S. troops in Iraq.

The facts: Palin's charge that Obama voted against funding the troops is true. But Obama said at the time that he wanted to fund the troops, but the bill in question didn't include a requirement that President Bush begin bringing troops home. Similarly, Biden's charge that McCain also voted against funding is true — because the bill in question included a timeline for withdrawing troops, and McCain opposes timelines.

Diplomacy

The claim: Biden said Obama did not say he would meet with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. "This is simply not true about Barack Obama," he said. "He did not say sit down with Ahmadinejad."

The facts: At a news conference in New York City in September 2007, Obama was asked, "Senator, you've said before that you'd meet with President Ahmadinejad … would you still meet with him today?" He replied: "Yeah, nothing's changed with respect to my belief that strong countries and strong presidents talk to their enemies and talk to their adversaries."

Reference Here>>