The stakes are huge, with Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich running neck-and-neck in the polls.
Let’s see what happens with the Final Four…
bradwarthen.com
All The News That Gives You Fits
The stakes are huge, with Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich running neck-and-neck in the polls.
Let’s see what happens with the Final Four…
“Oh say kahn you see?” I don’t think I like this highly affected rendition of the National Anthem. Sorry, Citadel cadets…
Romney: “I’m married 42 years,” unlike some people I could mention…
Ron Paul has been elected 12 times, he said. So does that make him a career politician?
“No, but I will…” and the crowd roars. If Newt ain’t got nothin’ else, he’s got attitude…
It’s really astounding that people could cheer anything that self-serving…
This crowd is really well-trained.
Santorum doesn’t think it’s just a matter of the big mean media picking on poor little ol’ Republicans…
Astounding! Both Romney and Paul, after milking this by noting how long they’ve been married, join Mitt in pretending this isn’t a legit character issue. Wow.
It was a most unfortunate lead by CNN. Not smart.
Mark, you’re right. But the Spiro Agnew routine we got from Newt was ridiculous. Can you say “nattering nabobs?” And the crowd roars…
Saving GM actually looks like a smart move by Obama’s advisors. Not sure why pick on that.
Yeah, I had my doubts about the GM bailout, but it came out pretty well…
True. I thought Newt should have stopped at “no.”
Does Santorum actually believe that Obama’s aim is to make Americans more dependent? Really? Not sure the crowd does…
Yes, Mark. That would have been principled, without dripping with hypocrisy.
But he had to milk it…
Yeah, Ron, we didn’t need any “special programs” after the war. No GI Bill or anything…
Romney thinks there’s something wrong with the federal government helping veterans?
Too bad the candidates laud the Veterans Administration but despise Obamacare. Not saying don’t do more for veterans, just amazed at the choice of models.
He thinks that’s a state function?
Then what IS a federal function?
Mitt just made a nice faux pas saying $360,000. Wrong question!
Good for Newt for explaining the facts of life to Paul, re the GI Bill!
If Nikki succeeded in exempting SC from Obamacare, THAT I would never forgive. Whatever else she does…
So weird to hear Mr. Romneycare trying to heap more calumny on Obamacare than anyone else…
If Romney wins Saturday, does that mean we won’t have to hear this hyperpartisan Democrats-are-the-devil stuff any more?
The VA is centralized medicine!
Santorum: The most important issue facing the nation is “the robbing of our freedom” under Obamacare. Well, we know HE has no sense of proportion…
That was the first time, just now, that the crowd cheered an attack on someone else on the stage, instead of on Obama…
Santorum forgets people want to live in Massachusetts, and they have the jobs and incomes to prove it.
These two guys were playing footsie with the Left? Is Santorum saying they’re gay?
Romney just mentioned compassion. First Newt mentions GI Bill, now this. We’re getting somewhere…
Santorum says Romneycare was basis for Obamacare. He’s right. Romney should embrace the fact…
Romney sure creamed Santorum.
Newt says he wants a Lincoln-Douglas debate with Obama. He means it, too…
Santorum’s on the attack because he has to score points NOW. But I like him less this way…
Ron Paul gets points for speaking truth on likelihood of repealing Obamacare… before going back to the usual stuff.
Wow, Ron’s losing ALL those points now, ranting about spending in foreign parts…
At least the candidates have gotten better at this format.
Santorum knows he’s out. He has that look…
Santorum fighting his corner well as the humble guy against the “grandiosity” of Newt. “I’m steady.”
But Newt comes back well by talking about the grandiose stuff he’s actually done. Well played, sir.
Of course, it may be true, but he still comes across as an arrogant jerk saying it.
Santorum comes back with the check-kiting thing. Weak, by comparison…
Yeah, Mark, they’ve gotten better at debating multiple opponents on TV. Too bad that’s not a requirement of the job.
One problem with live-blogging, especially when you’re watching it on the computer, is that you don’t SEE them. Hope I’m not missing too much.
Anybody looking at Newt’s tax records? See anything? I can’t stop to look right now…
So… why can’t Romney release his past tax records NOW. He just said he knew he’d have to. Why wait?
I love it: Where are your tax records, Romney? Answer: “Obama killed Keystone!” Lame.
Good point, Newt! “If there’s anything in there that will cause us to lose the election,” we should know before the nomination. Yup.
Tried to go to newt.org — but it’s overloaded right now!
Wow. Romney is just looking sleazier on this by the moment. He just brushed off his father’s good example. Wow.
That’s why Romney only wants to release end of April.
All this self-aggrandizement… I think we should go back to the 19th century model, when candidates didn’t personally campaign…
Do you suppose he chooses April because it’s too late to hurt him in primaries, but early enough to be forgotten by November?
Its hard to say you made $30 million in a year when one didn’t work a day. Hypothetically.
Yup. So he keeps paraphrasing Ralph Kramden: Homina, homina, homina…
I hope they explain SOPA so I can understand it…
SOPA/PIPA is a very fine line between creators and providers.
I keep appreciating Santorum. He’s the guy most likely to say, “Wait a minute, there IS a problem here we should address…”
Santorum did beat them all there. And what was Paul saying – he is a coalition builder? Say what?
I thought about going to Charleston for this, but dreaded going all that way and getting stuck in a press room with wi-fi problems, unable to blog. That happened to me once this week already. It bites…
Newt regrets trying to be a normal candidate. I can see that…
Really? Romney’s running for the GOP nomination, and wished he had talked more about Obama? That’s what he always does, when he can get away with it…
I liked Santorum’s response. Again, humble guy, glad to be here…
Barak Obama is in way over his head? Romney overstates. Santorum just gave up. He’s done.
Again with the illegal aliens! Do we really HAVE TO go to audience questions?
Oh – I didn’t like his response. I thought it sounds like someone who’s lost — I think it was the “I just feel lucky to be in the final four” part.
No, Mark, I liked Santorum’s approach. I don’t know… with all that ego on the stage, he’s refreshing…
Different strokes…
I liked the latter part of Newt’s answer, but not the nativist pandering at the start…
I guess it’s not TOO bad to pander, if you then go on to say relatively sensible things.
Romney: “We’re not going to round them all up and deport them.” Everybody hear that? It’s true.
Disagree. People want a larger than life President who can maintain the facade of leadership. Aw shucks is for congressmen.
Romney looking at Santorum with an “urge to kill” expression…
Oh, you’re right, Mark… The last couple of weeks, I keep thinking I like Santorum more than the others. But I can’t picture him as president.
Likability isn’t everything when looking for a leader…
Someone told Romney to keep one hand in his pants pocket. Odd. He looks like he’s fibbing.
That’s the essence of Ron Paul: The Army should only exist to protect us from those scary Mexicans…
Mark, he’s staying in touch with his money. Maybe it’s reassuring…:)
Folks, if voters are making up their minds tonight, Newt wins it. So far.
Santorum can’t out-grandiose the others, but he can definitely out-pro-life them. Gotta give him that.
… and Romney does…
Abortion is the one thing that I agree with Ron Paul on, but: public money is fungible, and private money is not?
Nobody but a psychopath is anti-life. This is such a downer. At least Paul isn’t completely out of touch. He’s just wrong.
Did Romney just call his Massachusetts health care plan “RomneyCare”?
Your comment about Paul and Mexicans is sad.
Doug, maybe you wouldn’t put it the way I did, but haven’t you said you want to bring the troops home from all over the world, and reinforce the border? Do I malign you, or Paul, by saying that?
When you can’t win the argument, call the other guy a a racist.
I’m not asleep; it’s just that these wrap-up comments are pretty generic…
Who did that, Doug?
Santorum goes out on a high note.
I said, “scary Mexican.” Is it racist to say, “scary Nazis.” I think they were scary. Unlike many of my friends, I don’t see the Mexican influx as a big threat. Nothing about racism in that…
Dang it! My wife says he finished well, too. I missed it because I was too busy arguing with Doug. I spend a lot of time doing that. Dang…
What did he say?
Your comment is a lie from start to finish. The “only” reason Paul wants the army to exist? You know that is untrue. He never said anything about Mexicans. To imply he is afraid of Mexicans is you projecting your desire to paint people who want to enforce laws as racists. Even Lindsey Graham learner that was a dumb strategy.
Hmmm. He was talking about the Rio Grande. Specifically. Near as I recall, that is NOT the border with Canada.
But Doug, I just hate it that you and I get into these snits. This morning I was bugged that you were representing me. Now you’re upset because you say I’m misrepresenting Paul. I regret that. I hate that we have such acrimonious arguments. You’re a good guy, and I hate that that happens…
You definitely miss something if you can’t see their facial expressions. It was interesting to see Newt looking smug and disgusted and Santorum looking righteously indignant as they took each other’s responses apart.
During this pause: Newt Gingrich and his wife paid nearly $995,000 in federal taxes on adjusted income of $3.14 million in 2010, according to tax documents released by the campaign late Thursday.
I thought Santorum did score with a strong closing statement. Romney was on the defence a goodly part of the night but a terrible answer on tax returns. Newt was an expectantly over dramatic…probably has strong chance on Saturday if most voters are men….but I think he can kiss the women vote good by. Paul a well rounded conservative is probably UN electable because of age. in our generational demographic. How do you project a Saturday winner and whoever he is can he win going forward ??
Is it a requirement that GOP hopefuls diss their parents to show how tough or capable they are? I still wince at W’s talk of “a higher father” before he launched the Iraq War. Now Mitt says he’s a self-made man. Didn’t George Romney have something to do with that?