1st Presidential Debate: Trump Well-grounded

So kids, did you watch the presidential debate at Hofstra University last night? In case you missed it, Donald Trumpelthinskin snorted, sniffed, drank, gesticulated  and then snorted, sniffed, drank and gesticulated some more. And Hillary Clinton? Well, this is all you really need to know.

Mittsie: The Bête Noire of Governor Little Ricky Goodhair

From The New York Times:

AMES, Iowa — Mitt Romney became the target of mocking criticism on Sunday from several of his Republican presidential rivals — except Newt Gingrich, whose silence underscored his growing confidence as the party’s nominating contest enters a critical week featuring the final televised debate of the year.

A day after Mr. Romney unwittingly created a fresh punch line when he extended his hand during a debate and tried to make a $10,000 bet with Gov. Rick Perry of Texas to settle a disagreement over health care, Mr. Perry said that the exchange was the latest sign that his opponent was out of step with most voters.

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Another Rethuglican Duhhh-bate

From THE HILL:

Republican Presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.) came out swinging against rival GOP contenders Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich on Sunday as she aimed to paint them similar to President Obama on healthcare, cap and trade and the bank bailouts, dubbing them “NewtRomney.”

…snip…

The Minnesota congresswoman slammed former Massachusetts Gov. Romney and former Speaker of the House Gingrich for being “on the same side” of the healthcare issue as Obama a charge she levelled at her opponents during Saturday’s GOP debate.

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Ratched-ing Up the Crazy

From The Washington Examiner:

Rick Santorum just might get his wish to debate Newt Gingrich head-to-head again before the Iowa caucuses next month.

Santorum and Gingrich are currently the only confirmed participants in the Donald Trump-moderated debate on ION Television December 27.

…snip…

Santorum said he was excited about the possibility of the debate turning into a two-man show.

“I think it’s great,” Santorum said. “I’d love a head-to-head with Newt Gingrich. I’d like to head-to-head with anybody in the field. I think those are the best debates.”

Republican stategist Mark McKinnon:

And this Trump debate is proof the inmates have taken over the asylum.

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ION TV? No, ION Embarrassment

From The Note at abcnews:

What started out as a simple dismissive email from Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul rejecting a Donald Trump-moderated debate has turned into a full blown war of words between the two men.

The exchange got personal, with Paul questioning Trump’s financial competency, accusing him of mismanaging his finances, and Trump issuing a statement saying Paul was “willing to lie” and “either very jealous of Mr. Trump, stupid, or a combination of both.”

The exchanged started earlier today when Paul joined fellow presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman in bowing out of a Trump-moderated presidential debate sponsored by conservative website Newsmax.com and planned for Dec. 27 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Paul’s campaign chairman, Jesse Benton, distributed a scathing press release saying that Trump’s participation “is beneath the office of the Presidency and flies in the face of that office’s history and dignity.”

Like the past debates have been presidential and dignified!

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He even flip-flops on his name!

From THE HILL:

Early stumbles at Tuesday’s GOP foreign policy debate had little to do with policy — instead, the Republicans vying for their party’s presidential nomination struggled with names.

First, Mitt Romney tried to play off of a joke by debate moderator Wolf Blitzer. Blitzer asked candidates to give short introductions, joking, “Here’s an example of what I’m looking for:  I’m Wolf Blitzer and yes, that’s my real name. I’ll be your moderator this evening and I’m happy to welcome each one of you to our debate.”

When the introductions turned to Romney, he opened with, “I’m Mitt Romney and yes, Wolf, that’s also my first name.”

But as political watchers were quick to note, Romney’s first name is not Mitt — it’s Willard. Mitt is Romney’s middle name.

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Oops!

From Mail Online:

Oops, there goes Rick Perry’s bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

The Texas governor sensationally self-destructed in one of the most cringe-worthy moments in debate history last night when he forgot one of the chief elements of his own economic plan.

Trying to explain the three government agencies he would axe, the one-time Republican favorite crashed and burned as he tried in vain to remember them all.

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Rethuglican Poo Fight

From MEDIAITE:

Many in the Republican Party considered tonight’s CNN debate a make-or-break event for Rick Perry, and he came out swinging against the frontrunner Mitt Romney, particularly on an issue close to the hearts of Texans, illegal immigration. In one of what would become a number of crosstalk bits where referee Anderson Cooper had to split up the fighters, there was clearly little love lost between the two from the moment Perry accused Romney of holding a position on immigration that was “the height of hypocrisy.”

Actually, he said the “heighth of hypocrisy.”  WTF?  There is no such word as heighth!!!!!!  (Can you tell that’s one of my pet peeves?)  By the way, Governor Little Ricky Goodhair likes to brag that he was educated in Texas.

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