Rick Perry, Mitt Romney square off in Republican presidential debate

[alp227]

Source: The Washington Post

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. — Appearing together for the first time on a debate stage, the two leading contenders for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination squared off Wednesday over the question most likely to shape the race: Who is better equipped to restart the country’s economy?

Seizing the spotlight in his national debate debut was Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who has vaulted to a lead in the polls over one-time front-runner Mitt Romney since joining the race three weeks ago.

Although Perry has had relatively little experience in such a setting, he was at ease — and occasionally combative. The Texas governor appeared unflustered and unapologetic as he took fire on his record and on some of the inflammatory statements he has made.

After declaring Social Security “a monstrous lie to our kids” and “a Ponzi scheme,” Perry added: “Maybe it’s time to have some provocative language in this country.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/rick-perry-mitt-romney-square-off-in-republican-presidential-debate/2011/09/07/gIQA8t5iAK_singlePage.html

[opihimoimoi]

1. The Fool was suicidal tonight....better now than later as we found W a FOOL

[adhd_what_huh]

2. Tonight my elderly right wing parents came to the realization that Republicans

want to end social security. I had to keep rewinding the DVR for them.

[Bryn]

3. Why would MSM shine on those nuts?

Huntsman sounded much more reasonable than the rest of them. Maybe Koch Brothers are paying MSM?

[harmonicon]

5. I think you hit the nail on the head.

That is, compared to the rest of them, Huntsman is sensible. He's at least a human being. That doesn't fly in the modern Republican party. More importantly, the media had chosen their narrative regardless of whether or not Huntsman ran. They've decided that this is the story, and they're sticking with it. They really tried to push Romney last time, but it didn't work out in the end.

They also chose Obama and Clinton as two Democrats that were acceptable.

[No Elephants]

7. I am not longer sure that the media is doing the picking, not Party leaders.

And, in the case of the Democratic Party, the DLC wing (almost all of them now) in particular.

The firing of Cenk taught me that at least a portion of the media wants to be "estabnlishment," however they define that.

[harmonicon]

9. The two are so incredibly intertwined now....

I think there's very little difference between them. How many people have come out of politics and into the media or vice-versa lately?

[alp227]

4. update: NY Times has a fact-check article about this debate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x625660

[stockholmer]

6. I hope all realize that the crazier, the more thuggish, the more strident Perry becomes (especially

if he truly starts to run away with the Republican primaries), the more corporatist and Republican Obama will become, (especially in his actual policies) driven by his mistaken fear of moving towards a truly progressive platform.

In fact, if you are as cynical as I am, one might even conclude that Perry's mad-dog extremism act actually will allow Obama to really rip and claw apart anything on the left's tattered agenda, as he knows he can get away with more and more betrayals, owing to the spectre of Perry's 'Reich n' Roll Circus' driving all wavering traditional Democratic support to him as the default roadblock.

[RickFromMN]

8. We should know, in a week, if calling Social Security a Ponzi Scheme, was political suicide.

Perry has a lot of very faithful supporters who will only hear what they want to hear.

Perry has lots of money. I think I read, in another thread, it was something like $55 million.
He will try to drown out opposition voices so his is the only voice they hear.

He will build himself up and tear down his opposition. It will be an ugly Republican Primary.

Romney is a Mormon. Religion will not be spoken out loud, but will be whispered behind closed doors.
Romney is from the "liberal" North East, a corporatist, a smooth talker. Romney is not "one of us".
Romney is not a "Good ol' boy". Perry has enough super PAC money to define Romney.

Perry should have more problems in the general election with the Ponzi Scheme remark; I hope.

Unfortunately, Perry will tack to the middle for the general election.
He will tell his followers to keep the faith and trust him; he needs to get elected.
Once elected he will do what he did in Texas...and from what I've heard so far,
what he did in Texas does not make me happy.

Perry has enough super PAC money to redefine himself as needed.
Perry has enough super PAC money to tear down his opposition.

I hope Perry and Romney leave each other so badly damaged, neither can win the general election.
If they do not, Perry and his super PAC money will make life miserable for Obama, and later, for us.

[and-justice-for-all]

10. There was a lot of idocracy on that stage....

Mittens and shrub/Perry had a little back and forth that was not very amusing, just lame. I am already sick of that clip that the M$M keeps playing over and over...

and Perry carrying on as normal as his state burns is unacceptable, but then again what else should we expect from a bush deciple.