MSNBC Republican Debate Jan. 24

[ClydeR]

Watch for the moderators in tonight's debate to try to derail Romney (leading in some polls in Florida) and elevate McCain (slipping in Florida polls) because the media loves McCain. I wanted to say that now so I can say I told you so tomorrow.

[Parkbandit]

I have it TiVo'd.. going to watch it tonight before bed.

[Hulkein]

Watch for the moderators in tonight's debate to try to derail Romney (leading in some polls in Florida) and elevate McCain (slipping in Florida polls) because the media loves McCain. I wanted to say that now so I can say I told you so tomorrow.

Looks like you were wrong.

Romney did real well. No one did bad imo.

[ClydeR]

I knew the moderators would go after Romney. One of the first questions was, "Governor Huckabee, are you comfortable with the fact that Governor Romney raised fees a quarter of a million dollars as governor of Massachusetts? Do you trust him as a tax cutter?"

Russert's question to Huckabee was an invitation to criticize Romney.

I've come to the sad conclusion that my favorite candidate, Huckabee, cannot win the nomination. I think my second favorite candidate will be Romney, but I am not fully committed.

The media is in love with John McCain. Look at this question and answer from the debate.


RUSSERT: Sen. McCain, you have said repeatedly, "I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated." Is it a problem for your campaign that the economy is now the most important issue, one that, by your own acknowledgement, you are not well versed on?

MCCAIN: Actually, I don't know where you got that quote from. I'm very well versed in economics.

I was there at there at the Reagan Revolution. I was there when we enacted the first, or just after we enacted the first tax cuts and the restraints on spending. I was chairman of the Commerce Committee in the United States Senate, which addresses virtually every major economic issue that affects the United States of America.

I'm very well versed on economics, and that's why I have the support of people like Jack Kemp, people like Phil Gramm, people like Warren Rudman, people like Doug Holtz-Eakin, people like Marty Feldstein. That's why I have a strong team around me that respect my views and my vision. And that's why The Wall Street Journal, in a survey of economists recently, that the majority of economists thought that I could handle the nation's economy best.

And I have been a consistent fighter to restrain spending and to cut taxes. And my credentials and my experience and my knowledge of these economic issues, I think, are extensive. And I would match them against anybody who's running.

McCain has repeatedly said he does not know much about economics, and the media let him get away with lying about it last night.

When Ron Paul got a chance to ask McCain a question, he asked an economics question that McCain should have know, but it was evident (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDuirJaVzS8) that McCain had no idea what he was talking about.

[Hulkein]

They weren't unfairly nice to McCain. You said that beforehand and you're trying to justify it now. They asked tough questions to everyone, Romney and McCain.

[TheEschaton]

Wait a minute, how is Tim Russert saying "You said you were an idiot in economics, and now this campaign is about economics. What the fuck?" somehow equatable to the media propping up McCain?

[Hulkein]

He isn't making any sense E, he's trying to justify his prediction and he's looking like a dumbass in the process.

[Gan]

McCain has repeatedly said he does not know much about economics, and the media let him get away with lying about it last night.

Then it should be very easy for you to back that up with sourced links/information.

We'll wait for it here.

[BigWorm]

wtf? clyder's posts almost make sense in this thread

[CrystalTears]

The line that was quoted was posted in a Wall Street Journal op article:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110007600



On a broader range of economic issues, though, Mr. McCain readily departs from Reaganomics. His philosophy is best described as a work in progress. He is refreshingly blunt when he tell me: "I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated." OK, so who does he turn to for advice? His answer is reassuring. His foremost economic guru is former Texas Sen. Phil Gramm (who would almost certainly be Treasury secretary in a McCain administration). He's also friendly with the godfather of supply-side economics, Arthur Laffer.

Take that for what you will.

[ClydeR]

If you want more proof that the media loves McCain, just look at the transcript of last night's debate. The transcript (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/us/politics/24text-debate.html?pagewanted=all) omits the part of Russert's question where the provides the McCain quote. If you don't believe me, look at it for yourself. I provided the link above, and it's a link to the New York Times, which I imagine many of you would trust.

[ClydeR]

Then it should be very easy for you to back that up with sourced links/information.

That is a reasonable request. I should have done that in my initial post without waiting for somone inevitably to ask for it. In addition to the quote that Crystal Tears was able to find so quickly, McCain also said (http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/12/mccain_its_abou.html) almost the same thing on a different occasion in September. McCain said, "The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should. I've got Greenspan's book."

[Hulkein]

The media may love McCain and the NYTimes may cut something out in their transcript but the questions asked last night were fair.

[Gan]

The line that was quoted was posted in a Wall Street Journal op article:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110007600



Take that for what you will.


Thanks CT.

It helps to see the actual words instead of someone's interpretation or 3rd party recantation.

I dont interpret what McCain said as quoted by the WSJ as saying he's ignorant on the economy, just that he knows more about military and foreign policy. People have a natural tendancy to know more about some things than others.

[CrystalTears]

Sure, but it looks like he denied ever saying that in the first place.

* I'm not necessarily for or against McCain, and I didn't get to see the debate, just going by what I've read about it so far.

[Parkbandit]

Looks like Rudy's going to lose Florida on Tuesday.. and probably force him to leave.

I'm leaning even harder towards Mitt now..