Bloodstar

Yeah, here we go… Again!

Will Romney go Gingrich with all guns blazing?

Will Santorum go after Gingrich?

Will Paul get more than 5 minutes airtime?

Will Gingrich stay sane?

Let’s find out!

No Intros! Yay!

Electability … ooo

Gingrich thinks if the conservative is solid and stands up to the Washington establishment. Even if he was a part of it.

Now he avoids mentioning he was ousted.

Romney your turn! Can you connect?
It’s all about leadership! again the canned phrases. then turns to whack Gingrich for ‘resigning in disgrace’
Romney has a good point about the Olympics.

Gingrich tries to turn positive and wants to avoid arguing. Yeah, now that you’re ahead you want to be positive. and then pounds Romney for ‘lying’

Romney points out he won conservatives in New Hampshire. then whacks on Gingrich again for the speakership and for being a ‘lobbyist.’

Romney discovers what Gingrich discovered. being attacked from all sides sucks, particularly when you don’t fight back.

Gingrich now whines and complains. then points out that only one charge stuck, not mentioning that it was probably a plea bargin.

Santorum gets in to the fray. He’s from Pennsylvania! and he won Pennsylvania, except when he didn’t. He ambles on and on.

I like this moderator he’s making pretty good follow up questions without hyperbole. Santorum lost Pennsylvania, but he points out he wasn’t the only one.

Paul, you don’t seem interested.
Well, I win the kids and I do well against Obama. It’s all about the delegates. then whacks Gingrich.

Would you go third party? I don’t have plans to.

Gingrich tries to point out he’s more like Paul.

Romney, tell us about your taxes.
Well, there are no surprises, I promise. then pivots to american taxes.

Much better early on for Romney.

Gingrich wants to complicate the tax code. And Romney points out that he’d pay no taxes under the Gingrich model.

Romney claims they’re weapons of the left.

Santorum, you’re attacking Romney? No I’m not! I just don’t like destructive capitalism.

Santorum doesn’t realize that it would have been a total melt down of the entire economic system.

Gingrich, you only had one year released. wha? I’m not a lobbyist!

Gingrich tries to avoid the question, and then claims that he never lobbied.

He’s been planning this for 12 years?

He was hired by the chief lobbyist. according to Romney.

Gingrich stumbles!

Gingrich now attacks Romney for his attacking style. and defends Medicare Part D.

I wonder if Santorum and Paul are just as happy letting Gingrich and Romney beat on each other and stay on the sidelines. If they had enough money to put some ads out there, maybe.

First Break

Well, Romney drew blood. that might be enough by itself to stop the Gingrich train but it won’t give Romney back what he’s lost.

Santorum! Was it too easy? and did the Government help?
Yep! and it’s all the Democrats fault!

Paul says that the homeowners deserved a free market. and that the entire bubble was manufactured. and the Government needs to get out.

Do we help them?
Of course we help them! Romney.
Repeal Dodd Frank! Gingrich. It’s all Dodd Frank fault.
Romney says things were poorly regulated. but we need regulation. that’s up to date.

What do you do about the half million refugees from Cuba. Romney doesn’t answer.
Gingrich says we should go to war in Cuba.
Paul points out we propped up Castro with our sanctions, giving them a scapegoat. It’s not 1962 anymore.
Santorum they’re too close to us, so we gotta be hardcore against Cuba. And they’re terror bases!

Is closing down the strait of hormuz an act of war?
Romney, hells yes! our navy is smaller than anytime since 1917? I… doubt that.
Gingrich if it is an act of war what do you do? Ummm we don’t like war. Claims Obama is weak.
Romney says never quit in Afghanistan until you’ve won.
Paul points out that we’ve committed acts of war.
Santorum where do you limit the airstrikes. Better to not limit it and just blast away. I’m not sure Al Queda is in charge of Iran.

So, is 5000 jobs worth the risk of a million jobs? Santorum thinks that energy is too imporrtant to not drill.

Gingrich thinks there are too many languages in America, so we need English only. Gingrich doesn’t realize that Languages are dying off.

Romney thinks we need english. That’s not encouraging, that’s requiring.

Paul thinks english at the federal level, but not the state level.

the DREAM Act. Military only.

Romney would basically keep doing what’s being done.
Santorum self deportation works!

Cane Sugar versus Beet Sugar? yeah, local issues.

Romney works on the swing state of Florida.
I don’t think we’re heading to a Greece type of collapse.

Santorum why should the government have more intervention than family.
Gingrich thinks there should be a judicial review.
Paul points out living will.

Romney says more space money! Have everyone spend money!
Gingrich thinks we can spend more money.

And Gingrich thinks less taxes rock!

Romney how have you helped conservatism?
I have a family! and I worked!

Gingrich – Reagan!

Santorum – Obamacare! well. I guess Santorum had to try to bring up Obamacare again.

Paul – what is conservatism? Liberty!

I’m not sure if making someone take a mortgage out to win against you is a good thing Romney.

Gingrich tries some more Paul pandering.

Romney closed out with something, I don’t remember what.

So, What happened?
I think Romney got some good shots in. Gingrich took a few dings. Not sure if it’s enough. But it should have checked Gingrich’s momentum.

Santorum and Paul both did well with the time they had.

Ok, So we’re down to 4 major contenders. What do I think is going to happen? Well both times I underestimated Romneys support by about 5 percent. And over estimated Santorum (in Iowa) and Huntsman (in New Hampshire) by a similar amount.

South Carolina is a different game, I’ll be impressed if anyone really has a strong impression on what’s going on but I’m going to go with the latest trends.

Gingrich is going to hit 37 percent – He’s just got too much momentum to really get stopped at this point – at least in South Carolina.

Romney will be 27 percent – He hasn’t really lost support, but he’s not getting any additional support.

Ron Paul will get 19 percent of the vote. He’s just got a strong base, not enough to win, but enough to still make a difference.

Santorum will hold on to about 14 percent. Which isn’t bad, but he’s bleeding support to Gingrich.

I think 3 percent will go to various other people.

We’ll find out.

Gingrich is appalled but doesn’t answer the question. He finally claims it’s false. And now he’s blaming the Elite Media

Mind you I’m slightly late starting this.

So the candidates don’t feel the issue is worth mentioning.

So Ron Paul thinks the government get out of the way, sound currency, and the ability companies to pollute, I mean have less regulation.

So Gingrich wants to kill dodd frank, get more oil and make the corp of engineers to let people do whatever they want.

Romney is ANNOYING. He avoids the question entirely. Yeah, Romney is trying to answer by running out the clock and distracting.

I’ve noticed that Romney has canned speeches. They sound good, but they’re not really that substantial.

Santorum is for the working man, but not the working woman I imagine.

Ok that first question failed. John King, not a good start.

Now should the Federal government help veterans?

Ron Paul is pointing out world war II went fine afterwords. Makes a good point of health care for veterans.

Santorum says that Veterans should get first dibs.

Romney says let the states do the veteran stuff. and that Obama is evil and going to lead us to doom and we need military mega uber strong forever and ever!

Gingrich points out the GI Bill and tax cuts after world war II.

Romney says executive orders need help and gives a good answer, but I can’t seem to bring myself to care. but it sounds remarkably like what Huntsman wanted to do.

Gingrich is asked how. it’s a Republican love fest and Obama bash.

Santorum, Goes after Gingrich and Romney. And Takes Romney apart.

Romney tries to defend and Santorum isn’t backing down.

Gingrich and Santorum go at it.

Ron Paul finally gets a word in. Ron Paul has a rosy view of the 60s, then goes after Santorum for creating Medicare Part D. The Gun and Butter Argument.

First Break, I’ve noticed that the general attitude is a little more anti Obama and less us against them. Are they now afraid of continuing their attacks for fear of angering voters and having it backfire?

I’m also not terribly impressed by John King so far.

Santorum goes after Gingrich. Gingrich turns the attack around with a nice bit of Ju-Jitsu. Santorum then goes after Gingrich HARD. Gingrich works on his rebel credo. Mind you I don’t think the empire.

God Romney, can’t you answer the question And you sure as hell didn’t live on the real streets.

Romney covers up that he’s lost track of what the question originally asked.

Romney desperately tries to claim that it’s all Democrats fault.

Meh… I don’t care so much about this right now.

Something about apple and china… Santorum has a plan, let companies move back for free.

Ron Paul meanders into a point. make things better for companies. and tries to explain a complicated point. He did a pretty good.

SOPA – Gingrich tries to turn it into a comedy act. Romney agrees with Gingrich. Paul points out that things should work together and civil liberties as a unifying force. Santorum thinks we should do something. What…he has no clue.

Another Break. Yeah, Romney is still having trouble.

Woo Gingrich is all about the internet!

That was a good line Romney. a little cheesy about Obama.

Santorum wouldn’t change a thing.

Paul wants to deliver more message.

Illegal Immigrants!

Gingrich – control the border with a big ole wall. english language. make it easier for legals and harder for illegals and

Romney doesn’t really answer the question.

Santorum want to take no prisoners and send em all home.

LIFE!!!

Who cares. a bunch of whatever on who can outlife whom.

So? What just happened?
Ron Paul was marginalized. But when he did have time, he was calmer and more relaxed than we’ve seen in a while.

Romney flailed around and tried his best to recover, but he still suffers from a startling inability to stop and actually answer questions without some sort of canned speech.

Gingrich came out angry and swinging, but took some whacks from Santorum.

and Santorum actually seems to have won the debate though I think Gingrich gave a good second place.

If Romney’s campaign doesn’t get mortally wounded by this…

But tax experts tell ABC News there are other reasons Romney may not want the public viewing his returns. As one of the wealthiest candidates to run for president in recent times, Romney has used a variety of techniques to help minimize the taxes on his estimated $250 million fortune. In addition to paying the lower tax rate on his investment income, Romney has as much as $8 million invested in at least 12 funds listed on a Cayman Islands registry. Another investment, which Romney reports as being worth between $5 million and $25 million, shows up on securities records as having been domiciled in the Caymans.

Official documents reviewed by ABC News show that Bain Capital, the private equity partnership Romney once ran, has set up some 138 secretive offshore funds in the Caymans.

While there is a segment of people who will think, good for him, there’s going to be a tremendous number of people who are going to think it shady, unfair, and underhanded. Taking advantage of his wealth and position to gain an even larger advantage over people.

Personally I think it’s another example of tin ear. Romney just can’t comprehend how it looks to people who aren’t making hundreds of millions of dollars. And honestly I don’t think he ever will get it. You’ve heard the phrase, ‘first world problem’? well, Romney has, “.1% problems” and can’t comprehend how the other 99.9% live.

Do you really think someone who lacks that empathy could make an effective president?

Sometimes blogging is a little bit like a treasure hunt. Since i don’t live in Washington DC, nor am I on the inner circles of anyone in the know, I usually am on the search for stuff that I think is interesting enough to entertain me, and hopefully entertain my readers. But what I’ve found is that sometimes there simply isn’t anything out there that seems interesting enough to write about.

Which is frustrating, because I’m sure there is something out there. But in the meantime, I’m listening to the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo score, and it’s a fantastic bit of dark ambient. I could write on about it, but if you’re not into dark ambient, then you likely won’t give it a chance. I could write about other albums I’ve picked up, or movies I’ve seen, or concerts I’ve been to. But… ugh.

And then I’ve realized that TVs really are evil. Commercials in particular are incredibly distracting out of the corner of your eye. They pull you in and the next thing you know, you’ve lost your entire train of thought and have to try to retrace what you were thinking. Blergh.

BTW, God called. He said He’d be late.

“… is not very much.” – Mitt Romney

And that exemplifies why Romney will likely lose the nomination.

Here we go… refresh for updates

Really? Perry is in the debate? WTFMate?

5 people left…. ugh

woo a whole 1:30 for answers

Some sort of stuff about MLK, it’s MLK day.I imagine MLK is probably spinning his grave.

Gingrich admits that staying positive is only good for positive for the other people attacking him.

Gingrich continues to defend, but Fox really doesn’t want Gingrich to attack.

Romney, gets to talk all about his stuff, what his surrogates have done, well we’ll ignore that.

Perry, do I have to talk about him? really? Though he actually points out that Romney hasn’t put his taxes out there. People like what he says,

Romney is such an ass… he’s trying to control the moderators… smarmy.

I wonder if Romney is lying about the union v non union? somehow I think he is.

He’s a great dodger, avoiding the answer on taxes.

Paul gives Santorum a whack.

Juan Williams gives Santorum an opening…

Santorum Shoots, he scores!

Wow, Romney looks awful. He’s struggling from Santorum… good lord.

Romney is saved by the commercial bell.

We’ll see if Romney can rally or will they keep pummeling him.

So far, if Santorum can keep up the momentum, He’ll absolutely lap Gingrich and Perry.

Romney again lies about his original stance. Will anyone fact check it.

Perry attempts to dodge… and he really uses the ‘war’ statement a lot. Does Perry really think South Carolina is at war with the US again? And really is Obama at war with everything?

Santorum is given a softball question.

Gingrich food stamps Obama.

Romney gets a veiled reference to Obama and solar power and doesn’t answer the question.

Romney lies again about the markets.

Wow Paul is on a roll and pissed.

Wow, it’s a race to the bottom! how low can the taxes go!?

Paul gets confused on inflation.

Romney simply cannot say yes.

Romney hates on the brown people. And given the phrasing of the question, it made Romney look good.

Santorum is once again given a question on Blacks and poverty.

So far this has all been softball and dumb questions. Nothing really of interest.

Gingrich gets pissy because Juan questioned his answers. Good ending for Newt.

Woo Foreign Policy Time:

Interesting, they don’t press Romney when he doesn’t answer a question, but they’ll press Paul. Interesting answer. Can you tell that they hate Paul.

Gingrich and Romney are all for endless war. We’re under attack! OMG we’re all gonna die! let’s go to a permanent state of war.

Santorum attacks Obama and avoids answering. But insists we should remove Assad.

Perry just called the Turkish government Islamic Terrorists. Why is he still in this debate again?

Romney goes crazy and Santorum gets it right amazingly.

Perry speaks… who cares. It’s like Magic Fairy Dust!

Again, I’m losing interest in the debate. Romney is trying to run out the clock.
Not going to give a blow by blow, but Gingrich took some hits.

Ok, so now we’re looking at Domestic Issues. This should be entertaining.

Romney, you hate guns? so how will you advocate? Romney responds by claiming the President is out to take your guns away.

Santorum goes after Paul… not sure why?

Stuff about SuperPACs and Perry wants to militarize the border.

What a softball question to end the debate. oh well.

Romney didn’t get killed, but he got winged. Santorum looked very good, Perry needs to drop out. Gingrich got some good moments in. Paul was Paul.

see more epicfails

see more ICHC After Dark

Source: Toothpaste for Dinner

The obvious answer is, Romney Wins. But that doesn’t mean it’s the total answer. Romney has been bleeding support over the last week, and I think 40% is now impossible for him, and 35% might also be unworkable. But I don’t think He’ll drop below 30%. If he does, he’s in a world of hurt. 30 – 35% would also hurt, but more a winging. 35% to 40% is meeting expectations, not quite a total success, but it’ll suffice. and a 40+% would be a clear and convincing win for Romney.

Ron Paul is going to get his ~20%

Perry Should have dropped out.

That leaves us with Santorum, Gingrich, and Huntsman. Interestingly enough, Santorum and Gingrich have both stalled out around 10% each. Huntsman is *finally* gaining traction, and I think he’ll have at least a clear third place finish. If Huntsman breaks 20% he’ll get another look.

So, Now what?
Romney 33%
Huntsman 24%
Paul 21%
Santorum 11%
Gingrich 10%
Everyone else 1%

In Otherwords, Paul is going to once again finish a solid third place. Huntsman will have momentum and Gingrich will be wondering what went wrong, and Santorum will be hoping for South Carolina.