Thursday, September 27, 2007
Health Care Inequality
Suarez is now asking a lengthy question about Hispanics and blacks having less health insurance, more diabetes. What does your health care plan contain to address these inequalities, he asks.
Hunter: Says that New Jersey policyholders should be able to buy cheaper California policies. Talks about massive malpractice insurance burdens. Wants to bring back family doctors. Refers to the "barrio" quite a lot...
Keyes: Says before bringing back the family doctor, you have to bring back the family. Two-parent households. But *how* Alan? How are you, or the federal government, going to do that? Also says that in areas where blacks and hispanics live, we have to encourage entrepreneurship.
Huckabee: Problem with health care system is that it is intervention-based, rather than prevention-based. Again, this hints at vast statism: remember, Huckabee has said he likes the idea of a national smoking ban. He's going to screen us all for alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and transfats!
Paul: We have managed health care and corporatism because of the tax code, we have a monopoly created by the code--the HMOs and Big Pharma. Talks about how inflation wipes out the Middle Class. Prices go down when you don't have government involved. "There's a doctor monopoly out there." Says we need to rein in the FDA. HUGE applause, biggest yet of anyone tonight.
Brownback: Says he wants "more markets," but doesn't say anything specific as Paul did. Totally anodyne remarks. oh, now he gets to the point: health savings accounts. That's his panacea.
Tancredo: Says it's the individual's responsibility to stay healthy. Precisely: "we have to first look to ourselves, individually." Tancredo is very right about some things: too bad he's a loose cannon on foreign policy and an ultramilitarist. Supports reimportation of drugs from Canada--excellent!
Now Juan Williams is asking about black military heroes, calls attention to the first African-American combat pilot in U.S. history, who is in the audience tonight. Williams corrects himself: first *female* African-American combat pilot. When he gets to his question, it's about the war in Iraq, and the fact that minorities overwhelmingly oppose it. What do the candidates say to that?
Keyes: "An effort to defend the United States of America to a ... threat that came against us." Yeah, as if Iraq attacked the U.S. Keyes is blathering. Says G.W. Bush put too much emphasis on democracy in Iraq, not security in America. Ok, but if he'd put the emphasis on our security, he would never have invaded Iraq in the first place.
Huckabee: Says we need a federal "Veterans Bill of Rights" to make sure veterans benefits are the first thing to be drawn from the federal treasury. Says nothing about Iraq.
Paul: Says we shouldn't get into these wars, and if we do we need to declare wars. There were no weapons of mass destruction. Lots of applause. Points out Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. If we live up to our principles, we would have fewer injured veterans, and if we stopped sending the money overseas, we'd have more money to care for wounded veterans. Bravo!
Brownback: Lies through his teeth, says we declared war. Gets applause for saying military is doing a superb job. Says that the political situation is not working in Iraq, however, and wants to divide Iraq into three ethno-religious areas with a weak federal structure. Wishful thinking.
Tancredo: Says Congress must declare war and either fund or not fund the war. Says Congress should not dictate how the war is fought. "If you dont' want it, don't fund it, but you cannot micromanage it from the Congress of the United States." Applause.
Hunter: Refers to his son being in Afghanistan, tells Bernice, the pilot lady, that she might be in Afghanistan soon. Kind of a bad thing to stay. Says Iraq has a free government and needs a reliable Iraqi army. Wants more combat tours to create battle-hardened battalions. Gets some applause for saying we have to leave Iraq in victory.
Now Smiley says questions will be restricted to 30 seconds. Cynthia Tucker asks about Darfur. Huckabee says we must first address the genocide in America, abortion. Gets HUGE applause for this line. Says we have to fight poverty at home, "there's poverty in the Delta."
Paul: "The U.S. government has no authority," constitutional or moral, to get involved in Darfur. Says that we'd be getting involved in a civil war. We must keep our objective as our own national security, we should come home from everywhere, "bring our troops home from Iraq." HUGE applause.
Brownback Says he "couldn't disagree more," and gets a lot of applause. He wants war--says we shouldn't put our own troops in Darfur, but he's being shifty: he wants every measure that would lead to war.
Tancredo: No troops, but like Brownie, he wants war, under U.N. auspices.
Hunter: The UN and African Union can't do it, we need a "humanitarian corridor" with armed convoys of UN or African Union forces, and teach the villages self defense.
Keyes: Says he's appalled at the idea of retreating into Fortress America, says we have a "universal mission." He's a global imperialist without varnish.
Suarez asks Paul about the death penalty, whose support is fading. Whites support it more than blacks. There is a federal dimension to it. Is the death penalty carried out justly?
Paul: Says he's changed his opinion about the death penalty, says it should not exist at the federal level, it's unjust, it favors the rich over the poor who are more likely to be convicted. Huge applause.
Brownie: "We need a culture of life in the United States" (but we'll bomb the rest of the world!), "I have difficulty with the death penalty." He's temporizing. Says we should have very limited death penalty.
Tancredo: Almost entirely a state issue. Tancredo supports continuation of death penalty for crimes like treason. Gets applause.
Hunter: Says the death penalty is justified by deterrence. (This is a pretty problematic claim, actually.) Says it might only deter 5 percent. Actually, it might not even do that much.
Keyes: "I support the death penalty." Says it has a basis in universal justice and in the respect for life. Says most murders are of black people, and we would cheapen the significance of that if we didn't execute the killers.
Huckabee: Claims he dislikes the death penalty more than anyone else on the stage because he had to carry it out as Arkansas governor. Said he did it because it was the only conclusion that he could come to. Says "God help the American who has a cavalier attitude about the death penalty," but he supports it. Says we must emote, but not stop the policy. What hypocrisy.
Williams is asking about the achievement gap in schools. Is the Supreme Court right to say that school integration is no longer key to equal results?
Brownback says we still need integration, on a voluntary and "incentivized" basis, as much as possible. (But clearly if it's not possible freely, he'll force it.)
Tancredo: Says it's racist to claim that blacks can only learn by sitting next to whites. Wants more charter schools, vouchers.
Hunter: Population of schools should depend on communities, not forced mandate for government integration.
And that's it.
Hunter: Says that New Jersey policyholders should be able to buy cheaper California policies. Talks about massive malpractice insurance burdens. Wants to bring back family doctors. Refers to the "barrio" quite a lot...
Keyes: Says before bringing back the family doctor, you have to bring back the family. Two-parent households. But *how* Alan? How are you, or the federal government, going to do that? Also says that in areas where blacks and hispanics live, we have to encourage entrepreneurship.
Huckabee: Problem with health care system is that it is intervention-based, rather than prevention-based. Again, this hints at vast statism: remember, Huckabee has said he likes the idea of a national smoking ban. He's going to screen us all for alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and transfats!
Paul: We have managed health care and corporatism because of the tax code, we have a monopoly created by the code--the HMOs and Big Pharma. Talks about how inflation wipes out the Middle Class. Prices go down when you don't have government involved. "There's a doctor monopoly out there." Says we need to rein in the FDA. HUGE applause, biggest yet of anyone tonight.
Brownback: Says he wants "more markets," but doesn't say anything specific as Paul did. Totally anodyne remarks. oh, now he gets to the point: health savings accounts. That's his panacea.
Tancredo: Says it's the individual's responsibility to stay healthy. Precisely: "we have to first look to ourselves, individually." Tancredo is very right about some things: too bad he's a loose cannon on foreign policy and an ultramilitarist. Supports reimportation of drugs from Canada--excellent!
Now Juan Williams is asking about black military heroes, calls attention to the first African-American combat pilot in U.S. history, who is in the audience tonight. Williams corrects himself: first *female* African-American combat pilot. When he gets to his question, it's about the war in Iraq, and the fact that minorities overwhelmingly oppose it. What do the candidates say to that?
Keyes: "An effort to defend the United States of America to a ... threat that came against us." Yeah, as if Iraq attacked the U.S. Keyes is blathering. Says G.W. Bush put too much emphasis on democracy in Iraq, not security in America. Ok, but if he'd put the emphasis on our security, he would never have invaded Iraq in the first place.
Huckabee: Says we need a federal "Veterans Bill of Rights" to make sure veterans benefits are the first thing to be drawn from the federal treasury. Says nothing about Iraq.
Paul: Says we shouldn't get into these wars, and if we do we need to declare wars. There were no weapons of mass destruction. Lots of applause. Points out Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. If we live up to our principles, we would have fewer injured veterans, and if we stopped sending the money overseas, we'd have more money to care for wounded veterans. Bravo!
Brownback: Lies through his teeth, says we declared war. Gets applause for saying military is doing a superb job. Says that the political situation is not working in Iraq, however, and wants to divide Iraq into three ethno-religious areas with a weak federal structure. Wishful thinking.
Tancredo: Says Congress must declare war and either fund or not fund the war. Says Congress should not dictate how the war is fought. "If you dont' want it, don't fund it, but you cannot micromanage it from the Congress of the United States." Applause.
Hunter: Refers to his son being in Afghanistan, tells Bernice, the pilot lady, that she might be in Afghanistan soon. Kind of a bad thing to stay. Says Iraq has a free government and needs a reliable Iraqi army. Wants more combat tours to create battle-hardened battalions. Gets some applause for saying we have to leave Iraq in victory.
Now Smiley says questions will be restricted to 30 seconds. Cynthia Tucker asks about Darfur. Huckabee says we must first address the genocide in America, abortion. Gets HUGE applause for this line. Says we have to fight poverty at home, "there's poverty in the Delta."
Paul: "The U.S. government has no authority," constitutional or moral, to get involved in Darfur. Says that we'd be getting involved in a civil war. We must keep our objective as our own national security, we should come home from everywhere, "bring our troops home from Iraq." HUGE applause.
Brownback Says he "couldn't disagree more," and gets a lot of applause. He wants war--says we shouldn't put our own troops in Darfur, but he's being shifty: he wants every measure that would lead to war.
Tancredo: No troops, but like Brownie, he wants war, under U.N. auspices.
Hunter: The UN and African Union can't do it, we need a "humanitarian corridor" with armed convoys of UN or African Union forces, and teach the villages self defense.
Keyes: Says he's appalled at the idea of retreating into Fortress America, says we have a "universal mission." He's a global imperialist without varnish.
Suarez asks Paul about the death penalty, whose support is fading. Whites support it more than blacks. There is a federal dimension to it. Is the death penalty carried out justly?
Paul: Says he's changed his opinion about the death penalty, says it should not exist at the federal level, it's unjust, it favors the rich over the poor who are more likely to be convicted. Huge applause.
Brownie: "We need a culture of life in the United States" (but we'll bomb the rest of the world!), "I have difficulty with the death penalty." He's temporizing. Says we should have very limited death penalty.
Tancredo: Almost entirely a state issue. Tancredo supports continuation of death penalty for crimes like treason. Gets applause.
Hunter: Says the death penalty is justified by deterrence. (This is a pretty problematic claim, actually.) Says it might only deter 5 percent. Actually, it might not even do that much.
Keyes: "I support the death penalty." Says it has a basis in universal justice and in the respect for life. Says most murders are of black people, and we would cheapen the significance of that if we didn't execute the killers.
Huckabee: Claims he dislikes the death penalty more than anyone else on the stage because he had to carry it out as Arkansas governor. Said he did it because it was the only conclusion that he could come to. Says "God help the American who has a cavalier attitude about the death penalty," but he supports it. Says we must emote, but not stop the policy. What hypocrisy.
Williams is asking about the achievement gap in schools. Is the Supreme Court right to say that school integration is no longer key to equal results?
Brownback says we still need integration, on a voluntary and "incentivized" basis, as much as possible. (But clearly if it's not possible freely, he'll force it.)
Tancredo: Says it's racist to claim that blacks can only learn by sitting next to whites. Wants more charter schools, vouchers.
Hunter: Population of schools should depend on communities, not forced mandate for government integration.
And that's it.
Juan Williams Won't Get to the Point
He's asking a very long question. Ok, now it turns out, about six or seven sentences in, that he's talking about crime. Asks what the candidates will do to assure blacks and Latinos get treated fairly in the criminal justice system.
Brownback: "I may be the only person on this stage that's spent a couple of nights in jail, of my own volition." If only they had kept him there! I can't stand this sanctimonious pinko, or his twin, Huckabee. "If you go to prison, the chances of you going back are two thirds." That's bad news for Brownie, I guess. Talks about "mentorship and work programs." Federal alms.
Tancredo: "Far too many criminal statutes at the federal level ... especially drug laws, mandating certain penalties." Hey, that actually is a great answer! Mild applause. Talks about the black family, "the welfare state has helped create this." The welfare state can be the breadwinner, but it cannot give you morals, he says.
Hunter: Says he doesn't know much about the facts in this particular case, referring to the Jena episode, which Williams referred to in his meandering introduction. Hunter has no sympathy for the Jena 6 -- good for him. "There must be accountability if in fact a young man was kicked in the head while he was unconscious." He gets applause for that -- African-Americans in the audience evidently don't support thugs. Smiley is now jumping in, wants Hunter to mention a particular policy he would support to create a "fairer" equal justice system. Hunter says you can't be more fair than for people who are tried for criminal acts to be tried by a jury of their peers. Too bad he's for suspending habeas corpus in the spurious "War on Terror." What a fraud!
Keyes: Talks about community policing, justices of the peace, etc. Says if young people are treated the right way, they might get put on the right path -- this is a good point; throwing young people in jail when not absolutely necessary is obviously destructive.
Huckabee says we don't have a crime problem, we have a drug and alcohol problem. Well, he's a holy roller and he wants prohibition, or at least that's how I read it. He says we should have drug rehab instead of long-term incarceration. No, we need to get rid of these victimless drug crimes. You don't do that by trying to expand Prohibition, which I suspect -- though he doesn't say so explicitly -- is what Holy Huckabee wants.
Paul: Minorities are punished unfairly in the war on drugs. Blacks are 14 percent of drug users, but over 30 percent of those charged with drug crimes are black. Says "we need to repeal the whole war on drugs, it isn't working! Prohibition didn't work. Prohibition on drugs won't work. ... That is one way you can have equal justice under the law." Huge applause at several points.
Cynthia Tucker is now asking about voting rights for D.C. and rigid voting ID laws, including photo ID laws (which I am against, by the way).
Tancredo says D.C. is not a state and not entitled to representation. Says the district must be split up if it wants representation, split between D.C. and Maryland. Tancredo supports the photo ID requirement, "it's not that difficult to obtain." Lot's of applause, but of course it's a precursor to a national ID. Awful!
Hunter: Says if citizens in D.C. could keep and bear arms, he might support D.C. representation. Lots of applause for that. Says first 21 black congressmen were Reconstruction-era Republicans. Says he doesn't agree with poll taxes, but fears illegals voting. So he's a ID-maniac too.
Keyes: D.C. is supposed to belong to the nation, he says. Wants to "maintain that symbol" of our unity. Sheesh. Says if you don't like it, move to Maryland or Virginia. What grandiose b.s.!
Huckabee: Says D.C. should have representation, even if it requires amending the constitution. Lots of applause for that. Says they ought to be able to vote, regardless of color or political representation. Of course, Huckabee is for photo ID. Take note: these clowns are all for a national ID, an internal passport, a breathing license...
Paul: Need to amend constitution to give D.C. representation. Says states can set their own ID policies. But a national ID is another thing -- "I am positively opposed to any move to a national ID card." Lots of applause.
Brownback: Says he supports D.C. representation, if it's by amendment.
Brownback: "I may be the only person on this stage that's spent a couple of nights in jail, of my own volition." If only they had kept him there! I can't stand this sanctimonious pinko, or his twin, Huckabee. "If you go to prison, the chances of you going back are two thirds." That's bad news for Brownie, I guess. Talks about "mentorship and work programs." Federal alms.
Tancredo: "Far too many criminal statutes at the federal level ... especially drug laws, mandating certain penalties." Hey, that actually is a great answer! Mild applause. Talks about the black family, "the welfare state has helped create this." The welfare state can be the breadwinner, but it cannot give you morals, he says.
Hunter: Says he doesn't know much about the facts in this particular case, referring to the Jena episode, which Williams referred to in his meandering introduction. Hunter has no sympathy for the Jena 6 -- good for him. "There must be accountability if in fact a young man was kicked in the head while he was unconscious." He gets applause for that -- African-Americans in the audience evidently don't support thugs. Smiley is now jumping in, wants Hunter to mention a particular policy he would support to create a "fairer" equal justice system. Hunter says you can't be more fair than for people who are tried for criminal acts to be tried by a jury of their peers. Too bad he's for suspending habeas corpus in the spurious "War on Terror." What a fraud!
Keyes: Talks about community policing, justices of the peace, etc. Says if young people are treated the right way, they might get put on the right path -- this is a good point; throwing young people in jail when not absolutely necessary is obviously destructive.
Huckabee says we don't have a crime problem, we have a drug and alcohol problem. Well, he's a holy roller and he wants prohibition, or at least that's how I read it. He says we should have drug rehab instead of long-term incarceration. No, we need to get rid of these victimless drug crimes. You don't do that by trying to expand Prohibition, which I suspect -- though he doesn't say so explicitly -- is what Holy Huckabee wants.
Paul: Minorities are punished unfairly in the war on drugs. Blacks are 14 percent of drug users, but over 30 percent of those charged with drug crimes are black. Says "we need to repeal the whole war on drugs, it isn't working! Prohibition didn't work. Prohibition on drugs won't work. ... That is one way you can have equal justice under the law." Huge applause at several points.
Cynthia Tucker is now asking about voting rights for D.C. and rigid voting ID laws, including photo ID laws (which I am against, by the way).
Tancredo says D.C. is not a state and not entitled to representation. Says the district must be split up if it wants representation, split between D.C. and Maryland. Tancredo supports the photo ID requirement, "it's not that difficult to obtain." Lot's of applause, but of course it's a precursor to a national ID. Awful!
Hunter: Says if citizens in D.C. could keep and bear arms, he might support D.C. representation. Lots of applause for that. Says first 21 black congressmen were Reconstruction-era Republicans. Says he doesn't agree with poll taxes, but fears illegals voting. So he's a ID-maniac too.
Keyes: D.C. is supposed to belong to the nation, he says. Wants to "maintain that symbol" of our unity. Sheesh. Says if you don't like it, move to Maryland or Virginia. What grandiose b.s.!
Huckabee: Says D.C. should have representation, even if it requires amending the constitution. Lots of applause for that. Says they ought to be able to vote, regardless of color or political representation. Of course, Huckabee is for photo ID. Take note: these clowns are all for a national ID, an internal passport, a breathing license...
Paul: Need to amend constitution to give D.C. representation. Says states can set their own ID policies. But a national ID is another thing -- "I am positively opposed to any move to a national ID card." Lots of applause.
Brownback: Says he supports D.C. representation, if it's by amendment.
The Competition Winner
A lady who won a contest on a on-line radio station to ask a question is now up. "I believe that most black Americans who will vote in teh year 2008 are not able to name even one Republican president in teh 142 years since Lincoln's death who have left a positive and significant legacy for African-Americans." Question is, what "positive and significant legacy will they make for black Americans?
Huckabee tells her that Eisenhower was the one who supported the integration of Little Rock high school. Says he wants to treat cocaine and crack the same, in terms of punishment--but does he want to lower sentences for crack, or raise them for cocaine?
Paul: "If we had a freer society, it would take care of blacks and whites equally." Emphasizes that we're all individuals. Says that we should repeal the drug laws, and that's the way to address the mistreatment of blacks in the legal system. Talks about property rights, the military industrial complex, individuals, and fair distribution of goods and services in a free economy. Huge applause again!
Brownback: Wants to focus on "rebuilding the family." Do *you* want Senator Brownback to "rebuild" your family? Maybe kind of like "rebuilding" Iraq? Says we need an official apology from the U.S. government for segregation and slavery.
Tancredo: Says a number of Republicans have done great things for black Americans, mentions that Ronald Reagan did something for all Americans by increasing liberty. Says it's destructive to focus on race. To increase economic opportunities for every American, he says he will reduce the flow of immigration into the country. Pretty big applause for that.
Hunter: "What a wonderful question," he says. Also praises Eisenhower. Says the '64 Civil Rights Act was passed with a greater proportion of GOP votes than Democratic votes. Says that African-Americans, and all Americans, need to be shielded from pornography. Now he quotes Jack Kemp. He says nothing about the drug war or the Iraq War.
Keyes: "I don't believe there is this deep divide" between blacks and whites. "The core of that community is not race ... it's the more consensus that we are all created equal..." he's going Jaffa-ite again, and says we have to honor the creator God, and that we must "empower every parent in this country" to send children to schools that reflect their faith and values. Lots of appaluse, but he's way over time, and Smiley isn't taking any of it.
Next set of questions come from Cynthia Tucker, Ray Suarez, and Juan Williams. Starting with Tucker and Huckabee.
Tucker asks about race and unemployment. 33 percent higher unemployment rate for black high school graduates than for white high school dropouts. Huckabee says that the opportunities aren't the same and there's still racism. "That's something government can't change" but leadership can do something about, he says. More platitudes. Something about "the heel of someone's boot" on people's heads. Totally substance-free remark.
Paul: Walter Williams, a very astute free market economist, has studied this extensively, says Paul, and he cites Williams's conclusion: the minimum wage is to blame, because it eliminates opportunities. Says the economy is sound only when there's sound money, minimum taxes, wise foreign policy, etc. Says he has a bill in that will help everyone who is trying to get a start: no payroll taxes on waiters and waitresses. HUGE applause!
Brownback: "We still don't have a color blind society." Refers to a federal racism museum, or something, that he's building. Good grief. An "optional flat tax"--what an idiot, since flat taxes are regressive and would hurt blacks more than whites.
Tancredo: Says he can't agree with the race-baiting comments about why we have these problems. Blacks were moving up the ladder, he says, and families were in better shape in black America than in white American before the rise of the welfare state, which pays people to not be in the home. Lots of applause. Also cites importation of millions of low-wage workers who depress wages, "and it's got nothing to do with race."
Hunter: Republicans initiated legislation three times to reform welfare under Clinton, he says, and finally passed it. The number of jobs for single moms increased after that, jobs increased in places where welfare decreased. "We did very, very well by breaking the cycle of welfare." Says if we help the small businessman, "we'll do it."
Keyes: The disproportionate impact on black morals that government programs have had is to blame. "When you allow the family to break down" you create the conditions that lead to poverty. Now he's orating about promiscuity. He's overtime again, and Smiley is cutting him off.
Suarez for Paul: There are 12 million illegals in the U.S. Is it desireable or practical to try to send them all home? Will he sign a path to citizenship?
Paul: Says he didn't hear the last part of the question, the path to citizenship part. Paul says he would not sign the bill Suarez describes, it would be amnesty. Also says it's impractical to round up 12 or 20 million people. We have to stick to our guns on obeying the law and not reward illegal immigration. Illegal immigration is a consequence of a welfare state--immigrants get free hospital care, education, etc. You don't round 'em up, you don't reward them, you don't give them amnesty, you take down the welfare state. Pretty big applause.
Brownback: The American people are for immigration, he says, but not illegal immigration. Says he will not support new paths to citizenship (which doesn't seem to rule out amnesty, exactly.)
Tancredo: Laughs at Brownback's claim that we'll secure the border, since Brownback had never supported that before. (And I doubt he does now.) This is Tancredo's issue, so his answer here is a bit more polished than his others: says by enforcing the law, you will diminish illegal immigration without a roundup.
Hunter: Talks about how drywall contractors are undercut by illegal immigrants. "That's not fair," he says. "You have to build a border fence, you have to have a real border." Says he wrote the law that extends the border fence 854 miles. "They've got to knock on the front door, because the back door is going to be closed."
Keyes: talks about border control. Says we have to remember why we lost control, and he blames big business, and says blacks are most hurt by this. He cites Katrina, says blacks are always hurt the most. Keyes is shouting quite a bit.
Huckabee: More smooth lies. Says we live in a country people are trying to break into rather than break out of, and we should thank God for that. Suitcase, dirty bomb, etc. Talks about cracking down on employers. "Another version of slave labor" he says--wow. No applause for that. He really wants to go after employers--well, he is a socialist.
Huckabee tells her that Eisenhower was the one who supported the integration of Little Rock high school. Says he wants to treat cocaine and crack the same, in terms of punishment--but does he want to lower sentences for crack, or raise them for cocaine?
Paul: "If we had a freer society, it would take care of blacks and whites equally." Emphasizes that we're all individuals. Says that we should repeal the drug laws, and that's the way to address the mistreatment of blacks in the legal system. Talks about property rights, the military industrial complex, individuals, and fair distribution of goods and services in a free economy. Huge applause again!
Brownback: Wants to focus on "rebuilding the family." Do *you* want Senator Brownback to "rebuild" your family? Maybe kind of like "rebuilding" Iraq? Says we need an official apology from the U.S. government for segregation and slavery.
Tancredo: Says a number of Republicans have done great things for black Americans, mentions that Ronald Reagan did something for all Americans by increasing liberty. Says it's destructive to focus on race. To increase economic opportunities for every American, he says he will reduce the flow of immigration into the country. Pretty big applause for that.
Hunter: "What a wonderful question," he says. Also praises Eisenhower. Says the '64 Civil Rights Act was passed with a greater proportion of GOP votes than Democratic votes. Says that African-Americans, and all Americans, need to be shielded from pornography. Now he quotes Jack Kemp. He says nothing about the drug war or the Iraq War.
Keyes: "I don't believe there is this deep divide" between blacks and whites. "The core of that community is not race ... it's the more consensus that we are all created equal..." he's going Jaffa-ite again, and says we have to honor the creator God, and that we must "empower every parent in this country" to send children to schools that reflect their faith and values. Lots of appaluse, but he's way over time, and Smiley isn't taking any of it.
Next set of questions come from Cynthia Tucker, Ray Suarez, and Juan Williams. Starting with Tucker and Huckabee.
Tucker asks about race and unemployment. 33 percent higher unemployment rate for black high school graduates than for white high school dropouts. Huckabee says that the opportunities aren't the same and there's still racism. "That's something government can't change" but leadership can do something about, he says. More platitudes. Something about "the heel of someone's boot" on people's heads. Totally substance-free remark.
Paul: Walter Williams, a very astute free market economist, has studied this extensively, says Paul, and he cites Williams's conclusion: the minimum wage is to blame, because it eliminates opportunities. Says the economy is sound only when there's sound money, minimum taxes, wise foreign policy, etc. Says he has a bill in that will help everyone who is trying to get a start: no payroll taxes on waiters and waitresses. HUGE applause!
Brownback: "We still don't have a color blind society." Refers to a federal racism museum, or something, that he's building. Good grief. An "optional flat tax"--what an idiot, since flat taxes are regressive and would hurt blacks more than whites.
Tancredo: Says he can't agree with the race-baiting comments about why we have these problems. Blacks were moving up the ladder, he says, and families were in better shape in black America than in white American before the rise of the welfare state, which pays people to not be in the home. Lots of applause. Also cites importation of millions of low-wage workers who depress wages, "and it's got nothing to do with race."
Hunter: Republicans initiated legislation three times to reform welfare under Clinton, he says, and finally passed it. The number of jobs for single moms increased after that, jobs increased in places where welfare decreased. "We did very, very well by breaking the cycle of welfare." Says if we help the small businessman, "we'll do it."
Keyes: The disproportionate impact on black morals that government programs have had is to blame. "When you allow the family to break down" you create the conditions that lead to poverty. Now he's orating about promiscuity. He's overtime again, and Smiley is cutting him off.
Suarez for Paul: There are 12 million illegals in the U.S. Is it desireable or practical to try to send them all home? Will he sign a path to citizenship?
Paul: Says he didn't hear the last part of the question, the path to citizenship part. Paul says he would not sign the bill Suarez describes, it would be amnesty. Also says it's impractical to round up 12 or 20 million people. We have to stick to our guns on obeying the law and not reward illegal immigration. Illegal immigration is a consequence of a welfare state--immigrants get free hospital care, education, etc. You don't round 'em up, you don't reward them, you don't give them amnesty, you take down the welfare state. Pretty big applause.
Brownback: The American people are for immigration, he says, but not illegal immigration. Says he will not support new paths to citizenship (which doesn't seem to rule out amnesty, exactly.)
Tancredo: Laughs at Brownback's claim that we'll secure the border, since Brownback had never supported that before. (And I doubt he does now.) This is Tancredo's issue, so his answer here is a bit more polished than his others: says by enforcing the law, you will diminish illegal immigration without a roundup.
Hunter: Talks about how drywall contractors are undercut by illegal immigrants. "That's not fair," he says. "You have to build a border fence, you have to have a real border." Says he wrote the law that extends the border fence 854 miles. "They've got to knock on the front door, because the back door is going to be closed."
Keyes: talks about border control. Says we have to remember why we lost control, and he blames big business, and says blacks are most hurt by this. He cites Katrina, says blacks are always hurt the most. Keyes is shouting quite a bit.
Huckabee: More smooth lies. Says we live in a country people are trying to break into rather than break out of, and we should thank God for that. Suitcase, dirty bomb, etc. Talks about cracking down on employers. "Another version of slave labor" he says--wow. No applause for that. He really wants to go after employers--well, he is a socialist.
In the Money
A few days ago the Ron Paul campaign challenged supporters to raise $500,000 before midnight September 30, the official end of the third quarter. The response caught everyone unaware: they've already raised the $500,000 and now have their sights set on a cool million. Join me and thousands of others by going here to donate.
This is Starting to Get Weird
For those of you unfamiliar with Ron Paul girl, she's a Ron Paul supporter who makes videos praising Paul while also doing some PG-13 striptease. You may have doubts about the intellectual quality of these videos, but I think this one is pretty clever.
Ron Paul Girl - Worker Bee? - video powered by Metacafe
I ain't a workin' bee no more.
Ron Paul Girl - Worker Bee? - video powered by Metacafe
I ain't a workin' bee no more.
The Debate Begins
I've just sat through about five minutes' worth of commercials. Not that PBS is really ad-free, but this was a little much.
This debate, as Tavis Smiley's hosting suggests, focuses on African-Americans. It's held at "historically black Morgan State University" in Baltimore. The pre-debate emcee is cracking jokes about Fiddy Cent and Kanye West. He gives a shout out to those viewing at home--like Romney, Thompson, Giuliani, and McCain.
And now he's paying tribute to one of the kids involved in the Jena imbroglio, Michael Bell Good grief!
"Let's loosen up everyone--you don't have to wave your hands in the air, but at least unfold them," the host says. This is all a bit parodic.
Now Smiley is up.
Michael Steele is up, too -- he's introducing the candidates. We'll see whether he's warmed up at all to Ron Paul since he was calling for him to get out of the debates not so long ago. Hey, Michael, notice that Ron is one of the only five Republicans who shows up for the African-American debate? Your top-tier candidates don't give a damn, but Ron Paul does.
There's a HUGE applause for Paul as he's introduced, much bigger than for the other candidates. Keyes gets the second loudest applause.
First question is the predictable one: candidates are asked why they decided to show up for this debate and what they think about those who didn't. Huckabee says he got 48 percent of the black vote in Arkansas. Otherwise, he's just emoting a lot.
Paul is next. HUGE applause again! This is a Paul audience! Says he goes wherever he's invited to talk about freedom and the Constitution. Says if you have the fruits of your labor, he would like you to keep them -- under a freedom philosophy, we would be more prosperous because we would not be policing the world. Big applause for that.
Brownback is next: no applause. He apologizes for the candidates who aren't there. Moderate applause. Suggests that African-Americans pick an early primary state, register Republican, and vote for one of the six candidates who has shown up.
Tancredo is next: I didn't think he would be there. (I thought I'd read earlier that he'd declined it.) Mentions his attendance at the NAACP convention. Gets pretty good applause for that. "The promise of America is something we all actually have to share in." Rather bland statements so far, and he's a bit poorly spoken tonight.
Duncan Hunter: got some laughs from the audience with a joke about families talking about missing members at gatherings. Mentions Iraq War, border control (and narcotics), and his little grandson, who asked for his teacher's vote.
Keyes "thinks it is a little unfair to assume" that the no-shows didn't show up because they were sending a negative message to African-Americans. But then he mentions that they didn't show up at the Values Voters debate either. Now he's talking about himself, and how he's been barred from the Michigan debate. Great, Alan, it's about you. "They may not be afraid of all black people, but there seems to be at least one black person they're afraid of." Lots of applause.
This debate, as Tavis Smiley's hosting suggests, focuses on African-Americans. It's held at "historically black Morgan State University" in Baltimore. The pre-debate emcee is cracking jokes about Fiddy Cent and Kanye West. He gives a shout out to those viewing at home--like Romney, Thompson, Giuliani, and McCain.
And now he's paying tribute to one of the kids involved in the Jena imbroglio, Michael Bell Good grief!
"Let's loosen up everyone--you don't have to wave your hands in the air, but at least unfold them," the host says. This is all a bit parodic.
Now Smiley is up.
Michael Steele is up, too -- he's introducing the candidates. We'll see whether he's warmed up at all to Ron Paul since he was calling for him to get out of the debates not so long ago. Hey, Michael, notice that Ron is one of the only five Republicans who shows up for the African-American debate? Your top-tier candidates don't give a damn, but Ron Paul does.
There's a HUGE applause for Paul as he's introduced, much bigger than for the other candidates. Keyes gets the second loudest applause.
First question is the predictable one: candidates are asked why they decided to show up for this debate and what they think about those who didn't. Huckabee says he got 48 percent of the black vote in Arkansas. Otherwise, he's just emoting a lot.
Paul is next. HUGE applause again! This is a Paul audience! Says he goes wherever he's invited to talk about freedom and the Constitution. Says if you have the fruits of your labor, he would like you to keep them -- under a freedom philosophy, we would be more prosperous because we would not be policing the world. Big applause for that.
Brownback is next: no applause. He apologizes for the candidates who aren't there. Moderate applause. Suggests that African-Americans pick an early primary state, register Republican, and vote for one of the six candidates who has shown up.
Tancredo is next: I didn't think he would be there. (I thought I'd read earlier that he'd declined it.) Mentions his attendance at the NAACP convention. Gets pretty good applause for that. "The promise of America is something we all actually have to share in." Rather bland statements so far, and he's a bit poorly spoken tonight.
Duncan Hunter: got some laughs from the audience with a joke about families talking about missing members at gatherings. Mentions Iraq War, border control (and narcotics), and his little grandson, who asked for his teacher's vote.
Keyes "thinks it is a little unfair to assume" that the no-shows didn't show up because they were sending a negative message to African-Americans. But then he mentions that they didn't show up at the Values Voters debate either. Now he's talking about himself, and how he's been barred from the Michigan debate. Great, Alan, it's about you. "They may not be afraid of all black people, but there seems to be at least one black person they're afraid of." Lots of applause.
Tavis Smiley Debate
Ron Paul is one of the five candidates who showed up for tonight's Republican debate on PBS, organized by Tavis Smiley. The big uglies boycotted it, so no Romney, Thompson, Giuliani, or McCain. In addition to Paul, Duncan Hunter, Alan Keyes (why, Lord, why?), Brownback (I think), and Huckabee are taking part. Starts in a few minutes, and I'll do some live blogging...
I Love How Ron Paul Thinks - Tax Free Tip Act
This bit is from Lew Rockwell's blog, and it is the best idea to come out of Washington in 10 years. Of course, it is a bill sponsored by Ron Paul.
We all know friends and family in the service sector, and Americans jealously protect the tradition of tipping a server ONLY what they deserve (sometimes less!). Not taxing the income is the least this country can do, especially since this law would also decriminalize those who don't report tips.
A pox and a curse on any politician who tries to fight this bill.
"Many service-sector employers are young people trying to make money to pay for their education, or single parents struggling to provide for their children. Oftentimes, these workers work two jobs in hopes of making a better life for themselves and their families. The Tax Free Tips Act gives these hard-working Americans an immediate pay raise. People may use this pay raise to devote more resources to their children's, or their own, education, or to save for a home, retirement, or to start their own businesses.
"Helping Americans improve themselves by reducing their taxes will make our country stronger. I, therefore, hope all my colleagues will join me in cosponsoring the Tax Free Tips Act."
We all know friends and family in the service sector, and Americans jealously protect the tradition of tipping a server ONLY what they deserve (sometimes less!). Not taxing the income is the least this country can do, especially since this law would also decriminalize those who don't report tips.
A pox and a curse on any politician who tries to fight this bill.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Colin Powell: It's a Civil War
Gen. Colin Powell, architect of the Gulf War and Secretary of State during the Iraq War, has this to say about the situation we are in right now.
So even the "cakewalk" brigade saw this coming, only they did nothing. Ron Paul is right, at this point, we just need to leave.
"That was the big mistake. Don had written a list of the worst things that could happen, but we didn't do the contingency planning on what we would do about it. So we watched those buildings get burned down, and nobody told the divisions, 'Hey, go in there and declare martial law and whack a few people and it will stop.' Then the insurgency started, and we didn't acknowledge it. They said it wasn't an insurgency. They looked up the definition. They said it was a few dead-enders! And so we didn't respond in a way that might have stopped it. And then the civil war started at the beginning of last year. I call it a civil war, but some say no, it's not a civil war, it's a war against civilians. In fact, we have total civil disorder."
So even the "cakewalk" brigade saw this coming, only they did nothing. Ron Paul is right, at this point, we just need to leave.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Pro-American Iraqis Are In Danger Regardless
In addressing Dan's point below on the fate of pro-American Iraqis, their fate is grim, and of little real concern to the United States at this point. The New Yorker has a great article discussing this betrayal. The article exposes the fact that even those Iraqis most sympathetic to the American cause face many dangers from neigbors and former friends. And even if the danger is obvious, American policy is to not issue them armor or space on the base, and if they wish to leave the country, they need to talk to the Europeans because Americans want "to keep the 'good Iraqis' in Iraq."
The article is 15 pages long - but here is a substantial quote that covers the essence of the problem.
While Americans' security is paramount, the fact that we allow our natural allies to be daily targets simply goes to show the depth of disregard the government has for "good Iraqis." As Dan stated, there doesn't seem to be any solution to get this toothpaste back in the tube.
The article is 15 pages long - but here is a substantial quote that covers the essence of the problem.
Negroponte had barely expressed his condolences when Firas, Ahmed, and their colleagues pressed him with a single request. They wanted identification that would allow them to enter the Green Zone through the priority lane that Americans with government clearance used, instead of having to wait every morning for an hour or two in a very long line with every other Iraqi who had business in the Green Zone. This line was an easy target for suicide bombers and insurgent lookouts (known in Iraq as alaasa—“chewers”). Iraqis at the Embassy had been making this request for some time, without success. “Our problem is badges,” the Iraqis told the Ambassador.
Negroponte sent for the Embassy’s regional security officer, John Frese. “Here’s the man who is responsible for badges,” Negroponte said, and left.
According to the Iraqis, they asked Frese for green badges, which were a notch below the official blue American badges. These allowed the holder to enter through the priority lane and then be searched inside the gate.
“I can’t give you that,” Frese said.
“Why?”
“Because it says ‘Weapon permit: yes.’ ”
“Change the ‘yes’ to ‘no’ for us.”
Frese’s tone was peremptory: “I can’t do that.”
Ahmed made another suggestion: allow the Iraqis to use their Embassy passes to get into the priority lane. Frese again refused. Ahmed turned to one of his colleagues and said, in Arabic, “We’re blowing into a punctured bag.”
“My top priority is Embassy security, and I won’t jeopardize it, no matter what,” Frese told them, and the Iraqis understood that this security did not extend to them—if anything, they were part of the threat.
While Americans' security is paramount, the fact that we allow our natural allies to be daily targets simply goes to show the depth of disregard the government has for "good Iraqis." As Dan stated, there doesn't seem to be any solution to get this toothpaste back in the tube.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
More Debts the State Can't Pay
Matt's points below are very well made. With honor, as with currency and strategic risk, the Bush administration has long since incurred debts that it cannot pay--that, indeed, nobody can pay. The question is: if we stay longer, do we start to make payments, or do we only incur more debt? I think the answer is woefully obvious. It's true that there's a chance that pro-American Iraqis--however many of them there are--may be endangered if we leave expeditiously. But, of course, they'll be endangered if we leave slowly, too. And, in fact, they are likely to be more jeopardize the longer we stay, if University of Chicago Professor Robert Pape is correct in his well-documented theory that occupation is what drives insurgencies and terrorism.
Mike Huckabee, who was appropriating a lot of lines from a lot of sources in last week's debate (he ripped off Newt Gingrich's crack about FedEx finding illegal immigrants), used Colin Powell's old Pottery Barn rule: you break it, you bought it. But wait: what would Pottery Barn think about a kid of, in attempting to pay for the pots he's broken, says he'll stay and clean in the store--in the process knocking even more merchandise off the shelves?
There is no honor in this war. The sooner we leave, the less harm to Iraq--and to the U.S. That's not at all a perfect solution, unfortunately it's the only solution at all.
Mike Huckabee, who was appropriating a lot of lines from a lot of sources in last week's debate (he ripped off Newt Gingrich's crack about FedEx finding illegal immigrants), used Colin Powell's old Pottery Barn rule: you break it, you bought it. But wait: what would Pottery Barn think about a kid of, in attempting to pay for the pots he's broken, says he'll stay and clean in the store--in the process knocking even more merchandise off the shelves?
There is no honor in this war. The sooner we leave, the less harm to Iraq--and to the U.S. That's not at all a perfect solution, unfortunately it's the only solution at all.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
What Honor, Gov. Huckabee?
Growing up in rural Missouri in the 1980s, honor meant a lot - especially in the schoolyard. If a bully threatened you - and you wanted not give up your lunch money, have girls like you, avoid having your friends abandon you, or even just exist in a public middle school in peace - you had to fight him. You had to beat him up, if you could, or at least injure his pride to the point that he would search for easier prey. That was schoolboy honor.
To some extent, that honor is replicated in the honor among nations. Nations that are strong like Switzerland are rarely touched throughout history, and nations that are weak like Belgium often are. The key point, however, is that honor is tied to the ability of a person or nation to defend herself from aggression or invasion.
The United States government invaded Iraq, successfully. American soldiers lost no honor; Iraqi soldiers and their leaders lost plenty. If we left today, as Rep. Paul advocates - most would applaud our good sense, and hope we don't try that stunt again.
However, the United States government lost honor during 9/11. Even though the FBI and the Border Patrol had information on the hijackers, we failed to catch them. Because of current restrictions, the pilots had no arms to defend themselves - never mind many airline pilots are qualified to do so. For the first time in history, NATO patrolled the skies over New York and Washington, instead of our own planes. Every fumble, including Giuliani's insane decision to put an emergency center in a former (and future) terrorist target, lost honor for all involved.
The only way to restore that honor is not to honor the dishonorable, but completely revamp how things were handled that day. Cut the bureaucracy that silenced the analysts who knew what UBL was up to, and change our foreign policy from one of aggression to one of vigilant peace and mutual prosperity. That is the American way, and the honorable way.
To some extent, that honor is replicated in the honor among nations. Nations that are strong like Switzerland are rarely touched throughout history, and nations that are weak like Belgium often are. The key point, however, is that honor is tied to the ability of a person or nation to defend herself from aggression or invasion.
The United States government invaded Iraq, successfully. American soldiers lost no honor; Iraqi soldiers and their leaders lost plenty. If we left today, as Rep. Paul advocates - most would applaud our good sense, and hope we don't try that stunt again.
However, the United States government lost honor during 9/11. Even though the FBI and the Border Patrol had information on the hijackers, we failed to catch them. Because of current restrictions, the pilots had no arms to defend themselves - never mind many airline pilots are qualified to do so. For the first time in history, NATO patrolled the skies over New York and Washington, instead of our own planes. Every fumble, including Giuliani's insane decision to put an emergency center in a former (and future) terrorist target, lost honor for all involved.
The only way to restore that honor is not to honor the dishonorable, but completely revamp how things were handled that day. Cut the bureaucracy that silenced the analysts who knew what UBL was up to, and change our foreign policy from one of aggression to one of vigilant peace and mutual prosperity. That is the American way, and the honorable way.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Bomb Iran?
Up next, the candidates are going to be asked to respond to a "scenario."
Ah, it's about war with Iran. They must have got the Cheney memo (to which Arnaud de Borchgrave has alluded) about building up a case for war with Iran.
Paul: the president doesn't have the authority to go to war. He goes to the Congress and finds out if there is any threat to our national security. We didn't have to have a nuclear confrontation during the Cold War. We should be talking to Iran right now, we shouldn't be looking for the opportunity to attack them. [Paraphrase.] "Instead of looking at a scenario where it's inevitable we have to attack," we should be looking for how to have peaceable relations, as we did with China and the USSR. Massive applause once again: a very antiwar audience, or at least parts of it are.
Edit: I was mixing up Borchgrave's column on Bush's plans to attack Iran with George Packer's piece in the New Yorker on-line about Cheney's plans to whip up war with Iran. The latter is the one that's relevant to the Fox News scenario.
Ah, it's about war with Iran. They must have got the Cheney memo (to which Arnaud de Borchgrave has alluded) about building up a case for war with Iran.
Paul: the president doesn't have the authority to go to war. He goes to the Congress and finds out if there is any threat to our national security. We didn't have to have a nuclear confrontation during the Cold War. We should be talking to Iran right now, we shouldn't be looking for the opportunity to attack them. [Paraphrase.] "Instead of looking at a scenario where it's inevitable we have to attack," we should be looking for how to have peaceable relations, as we did with China and the USSR. Massive applause once again: a very antiwar audience, or at least parts of it are.
Edit: I was mixing up Borchgrave's column on Bush's plans to attack Iran with George Packer's piece in the New Yorker on-line about Cheney's plans to whip up war with Iran. The latter is the one that's relevant to the Fox News scenario.
The Crowd Loves Paul
Massive cheers for Paul over abolishing government agencies and departments, including the CIA. Question is, how would President Paul know what was going on without the CIA? Paul points out that the inefficiency of the bureaucracy prevents these agencies from doing much good.
"This whole idea that we're supposed to sacrifice liberty for security ... don't we remember that when you sacrifice liberty for security, you lose both?" Mentions national ID card, FISA, secret prisons, etc. -- "That's un-American." Massive cheering again; there are some decent people in the audience. Hope yet for the Republic?
"This whole idea that we're supposed to sacrifice liberty for security ... don't we remember that when you sacrifice liberty for security, you lose both?" Mentions national ID card, FISA, secret prisons, etc. -- "That's un-American." Massive cheering again; there are some decent people in the audience. Hope yet for the Republic?
The Party of Torture
Giuliani and Hunter, unsurprisingly, are very pro-Guantanamo, with Hunter describing it as a luxury spa. This is a party that, if it should have power for 20 years, would probably abolish all vestiges of habeas corpus. It'll start with Guantanamo, but why should it end there?
The Anti-Civil Liberties Candidate
Romney has just said he would wiretap mosques and churches. Claims the most important civil liberty is the right to be kept alive by the government. Good Lord.
And Tancredo is talking about his love of torture again, though he thinks waterboarding isn't torture. (What is it then? A recreational activity.)
McCain says he's anti-torture. But he's not to be trusted on this point. The audience is cheering his anti-torture line, which is good. Just hope they don't believe he's as good as his word: McCain was responsible for watering down the anti-torture bill a year or so ago.
And Tancredo is talking about his love of torture again, though he thinks waterboarding isn't torture. (What is it then? A recreational activity.)
McCain says he's anti-torture. But he's not to be trusted on this point. The audience is cheering his anti-torture line, which is good. Just hope they don't believe he's as good as his word: McCain was responsible for watering down the anti-torture bill a year or so ago.
Romney's Sons Are Fighting a War By Electing Him President
The Slickster just got a very harsh question from a "man on the street" referring to Romney saying that his children are kind of like the young men and women fighting in Iraq because they're fighting to elect him president. I'm sure Romney meant it when he said it, though of course he regrets it now.
He was asked whether he has an endgame. He's not giving any specific ideas. Says he can't say whether the surge is really successful until he hears from Petraeus. He gets no applause at all for his response. The audience has spotted a fake.
He was asked whether he has an endgame. He's not giving any specific ideas. Says he can't say whether the surge is really successful until he hears from Petraeus. He gets no applause at all for his response. The audience has spotted a fake.
More War: Paul vs. Huck
Brownback wants to stay in Iraq and the Middle East permanently, "invited" by the Kurds and the various Iraqi regions. (The Rebuilder makes a concession to reality and realizes that partition is the most likely fate for Iraq.)
Huckabee: "We have to consider the surge." Uses the old Colin Powell / John Kerry line about "you break it, you bought it." Grief.
Big back-and-forth between Huck and Paul. Goes something like this:
Ron Paul: "The American people didn't go in. ... A small number of people called the neoconservatives hijacked our foreign policy ..."
Huckabee: "We have to be one nation. We can't be divided."
Paul: "When we make a mistake, it's the obligation of the people, acting through their representatives, to correct the mistake, not continue it."
Huck is talking about "honor." Paul asks him how many Americans we have to lose to "save face."
Huckabee: "We have to consider the surge." Uses the old Colin Powell / John Kerry line about "you break it, you bought it." Grief.
Big back-and-forth between Huck and Paul. Goes something like this:
Ron Paul: "The American people didn't go in. ... A small number of people called the neoconservatives hijacked our foreign policy ..."
Huckabee: "We have to be one nation. We can't be divided."
Paul: "When we make a mistake, it's the obligation of the people, acting through their representatives, to correct the mistake, not continue it."
Huck is talking about "honor." Paul asks him how many Americans we have to lose to "save face."
Who's More Pro-War?
Romney and McCain are now arguing over who is more pro-war: Romney, who says the surge is apparently working, or McCain, who says that it is not apparently working, but absolutely, positively, unquestionably, how-dare-you-suggest-otherwise working.
Now Paul is being addressed again, about minimizing the bloodbath if we pull out, leaving troops in the region, etc. "The people who say there will be a bloodbath are the ones who said it would be a cakewalk." Huge applause from the audience. "Yes, I would leave. I would leave completely." Points out that one of the reasons we were attacked on 9/11 was because of our troops on the Arabian Peninsula. Points out, also, that sabre-rattling toward Iran is making us less safe. "We need a new foreign policy that says we ought to mind our own business, bring our troops home, defend our borders" -- MASSIVE applause. This is a pro-Paul audience.
Moderators are now trying to bait Paul, say we're taking marching orders from al-Qaeda. Paul says no, this is taking our marching orders from the Constitution, which says war has to be declared. Ghouliani-ites and Fox Fascists are booing this response.
Brownback is now blithering. Says he wants a political surge. Maybe he should suggest having the U.S. federal government rebuild the Iraqi family...
Now Paul is being addressed again, about minimizing the bloodbath if we pull out, leaving troops in the region, etc. "The people who say there will be a bloodbath are the ones who said it would be a cakewalk." Huge applause from the audience. "Yes, I would leave. I would leave completely." Points out that one of the reasons we were attacked on 9/11 was because of our troops on the Arabian Peninsula. Points out, also, that sabre-rattling toward Iran is making us less safe. "We need a new foreign policy that says we ought to mind our own business, bring our troops home, defend our borders" -- MASSIVE applause. This is a pro-Paul audience.
Moderators are now trying to bait Paul, say we're taking marching orders from al-Qaeda. Paul says no, this is taking our marching orders from the Constitution, which says war has to be declared. Ghouliani-ites and Fox Fascists are booing this response.
Brownback is now blithering. Says he wants a political surge. Maybe he should suggest having the U.S. federal government rebuild the Iraqi family...
Brownback Gets Booed
Fox asked a man--actually woman--on the street whether there should be a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. She said no and quotes the state motto, "live free or die." Brownback says yes, and gets applause--but also boos. Gee, don't New Hampshirites trust Brownie to "rebuild" their families?
Guns
The audience went wild when the moderator asked Giuliani whether the Virginia Tech shooting might have been averted if the students had been carrying guns. NH is a reliable pro-2nd Amendment state.
Giuliani says he'll let states make the decision about who can carry a firearm.
At last, Paul is being asked a question, about whether 9/11 might have been averted if the passengers had been armed. Goler is asking this question, asking whether jumpy passengers can be trusted with guns. He's misquoting Paul, and Paul is now pointing that out: the airlines are responsible for the passengers, and they, not the federal government, should make the decision. We shouldn't assume the government is going to take care of us.
"Here is one example where the federal government was involved. They messed it up." Paul is getting huge applause. I suspect it'll be another 20 minutes before he gets another question.
Giuliani says he'll let states make the decision about who can carry a firearm.
At last, Paul is being asked a question, about whether 9/11 might have been averted if the passengers had been armed. Goler is asking this question, asking whether jumpy passengers can be trusted with guns. He's misquoting Paul, and Paul is now pointing that out: the airlines are responsible for the passengers, and they, not the federal government, should make the decision. We shouldn't assume the government is going to take care of us.
"Here is one example where the federal government was involved. They messed it up." Paul is getting huge applause. I suspect it'll be another 20 minutes before he gets another question.
Watching and Waiting
Another question for Huckabee. Paul is getting completely excluded. It's flagrant.
Larry Craig's Family Values
Brownback is blithering away about "rebuilding the family." Do you want your family rebuilt by Sam Brownback?
Duncan Hunter is speaking again. Says the Dems would make Larry Craig chairman of a committee. Audience likes it. "What did you do for America today -- that's my model of a Republican," says Hunter. Good grief.
More Romney. It's notable that precisely one candidate on that stage has yet to be asked a question. We're about 10 minutes in, I think...
Duncan Hunter is speaking again. Says the Dems would make Larry Craig chairman of a committee. Audience likes it. "What did you do for America today -- that's my model of a Republican," says Hunter. Good grief.
More Romney. It's notable that precisely one candidate on that stage has yet to be asked a question. We're about 10 minutes in, I think...
Immigration
"People don't go to their contractors and inspect the IDs of their employees"--this is Romney's line for why didn't catch the illegal immigrants working in his own front lawn. I doubt this is going to cut any ice with the public.
Ghouliani says that he made New York a sanctuary city for illegal immigrants only in order to deal with the high crime rates: he wanted illegals to report crimes committed against them, without fear of deportation, so that the criminals can be caught. The audience seemed to like this.
The moderators are asking Huckabee about his claims that immigration restrictionists are racists. He's using the old Newt Gringrich line now about FedEx tracking people. What he hell--who wants the U.S. federal government tracking people as efficiently as FedEx? As if that tracking would be limited to illegal immigrants!
Tancredo is getting the same question about mean-spirited and racist restrictionists. He's accusing Huck, the Ghoul, and the Ken doll of opportunism. That's true, I suppose, and Tancredo may not be an opportunist. But he's a bigger warmonger than any of them, which is really saying something.
Duncan Hunter, zzzzzzzzz.......
Now it's going back to Giuliani and Romney again. I get sick of Fox giving so much face time to these guys. If you have a debate with all the candidates, give them all face time. Not that one expects fairness from this network--or any other!
McCain is seguing from immigration to war, talking about the conferring of citizenship upon foreign nationals who sign up to fight in Iraq. He'd like Max Boot's idea of an American Foreign Legion, I suspect.
C'mon, let's hear from somebody who's for less government -- not this joker Romney, who just said he would cut federal funds to "sanctuary cities." Why not just cut the federal funding regardless of whether they're "sanctuary cities"?
Ghouliani says that he made New York a sanctuary city for illegal immigrants only in order to deal with the high crime rates: he wanted illegals to report crimes committed against them, without fear of deportation, so that the criminals can be caught. The audience seemed to like this.
The moderators are asking Huckabee about his claims that immigration restrictionists are racists. He's using the old Newt Gringrich line now about FedEx tracking people. What he hell--who wants the U.S. federal government tracking people as efficiently as FedEx? As if that tracking would be limited to illegal immigrants!
Tancredo is getting the same question about mean-spirited and racist restrictionists. He's accusing Huck, the Ghoul, and the Ken doll of opportunism. That's true, I suppose, and Tancredo may not be an opportunist. But he's a bigger warmonger than any of them, which is really saying something.
Duncan Hunter, zzzzzzzzz.......
Now it's going back to Giuliani and Romney again. I get sick of Fox giving so much face time to these guys. If you have a debate with all the candidates, give them all face time. Not that one expects fairness from this network--or any other!
McCain is seguing from immigration to war, talking about the conferring of citizenship upon foreign nationals who sign up to fight in Iraq. He'd like Max Boot's idea of an American Foreign Legion, I suspect.
C'mon, let's hear from somebody who's for less government -- not this joker Romney, who just said he would cut federal funds to "sanctuary cities." Why not just cut the federal funding regardless of whether they're "sanctuary cities"?
Thompson is AWOL. Does it matter?
That's the first question. Paul says he welcomes Thompson into the race, saying that T. is pro-war and will therefore dilute the pro-war vote, to the benefit of the traditional, antiwar Republican position. Excellent.
Huckabee was kinda funny in his response to the question of why Thompson wasn't there, but McCain just got a bigger laugh with his crack about it being past Thompson's bedtime. (There seems to be a McCain contingent in the room, too.)
Huckabee was kinda funny in his response to the question of why Thompson wasn't there, but McCain just got a bigger laugh with his crack about it being past Thompson's bedtime. (There seems to be a McCain contingent in the room, too.)
"First in the Fall" Debate
The New Hampshire debate is beginning. We'll see whether Wendell Goler again tries to put words in Ron Paul's mouth. This is sponsored by Fox News, so I suspect that's exactly what will happen.
Huge applause for Paul -- vastly bigger than for Tancredo or Huckabee. At least equal to Giuliani, who got a lot of boos as well as applause. Lots of applause for McCain, too, of all things. A moderate amount for Romney.
Sounds like there's a Paul contingent in the audience. There oughta be, this is New Hampshire, after all, home of the Free State Project.
Crikey, the first question is about Thompson. Who cares?
Huge applause for Paul -- vastly bigger than for Tancredo or Huckabee. At least equal to Giuliani, who got a lot of boos as well as applause. Lots of applause for McCain, too, of all things. A moderate amount for Romney.
Sounds like there's a Paul contingent in the audience. There oughta be, this is New Hampshire, after all, home of the Free State Project.
Crikey, the first question is about Thompson. Who cares?
Ron Paul Wins Again, This Time in MD
Ames, Iowa gets most of the attention, of course, but Ron Paul has been doing very well in straw polls elsewhere. The latest is his win in Maryland, where the state party's first vice chairman, Chris Carvey, had this to say:
“The final vote showing Ron Paul won is a lesson for all campaigns of how grassroots politics can make all the difference. The Paul campaign repeatedly e-mailed their base of support to turn out at the State Fair to cast a vote for Dr. Paul, and in doing so, demonstrated that a small organized operation can beat the odds.” Cavey continued, “The Maryland Republican Party’s booth at the State Fair was a huge success. By contrast, the Democrat Party’s booth was a ghost town. Where were the Democrats? They were at our booth signing our petitions opposing tax increases.”
Ames is not the whole game; while Brownback and Huckabee, not to mention Romney, staked just about everything they had on that contest, Paul has been building up, getting his activists out across the country. And his fundraising for this quarter is, I think, going to astonish the establishment. His MeetUp groups competition, which concluded Aug. 30, should net $1-$4 million by itself.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
