Jan 23rd 2012, 18:55 by R.M. | WASHINGTON, DC
FRESH off his win in South Carolina, Newt Gingrich is now leading the pack in Florida, according to some polls. Others, however, show he is loathed by much of the electorate. What is the Republican Party to do? Hold a debate, of course. The candidates gather tonight in Tampa, site of this year's Republican convention. The debate starts at 9pm ET on NBC. Our live-blog will begin shortly before then.
In this blog, our correspondents share their thoughts and opinions on America's kinetic brand of politics and the policy it produces. The blog is named after the study of American politics and society written by Alexis de Tocqueville, a French political scientist, in the 1830s
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I wonder that indeed.
M*&#^%@*$%er!
Blame it on that Pointy-Hair Guy who's the boss at The Economist.
Same rules as last time Doug.
A) I'll fire a bullet and anyone can pile in with replies.
B) Sort the pages "Oldest first", use the Refresh button or F5, and save the link to notepad before you post.
Regards
The good news is that you can (manually) change the high level comments to oldest first.
The bad news is, if you make a comment, it automatically reverts. THAT is a problem which ought to be easy enough to fix, and has no obvious downside. Here's hoping.
Is any one else not seeing the live blog?
I wonder if they've fixed that three first-level comments and out madness.
Sounds like a good way to unwind from a day at the unemployment office.
I planned to tune out after New Hampshire but the debate are more important than ever. Intrade has Newt leading in Florida. That's insanity.
I feel for you. You always have intelligent, well thought out, cogent positions. Yet, you're realizing that rather than being part of the sane majority of a party with a few crazies, the crazies are the majority. The Republicans would be in better shape if they had more people like you, but if they had more people like you they wouldn't be voting for Gingrich.
I feel you, too, RR. You're a good guy. You don't have to defend this freak show, but I wouldn't enjoy it if I felt I needed to defend this freak show.
The solution, and I'm with RR on this, is to simply refuse to defend the freak show. Anybody who cannot point out the errors and follies of his own party is not a citizen, he's a cipher who has substituted allegience for thought. (Fortunately, those sorts of people mostly don't stick around here. Which helps maintain the level of the discourse -- even though we disagree with each other rather frequently.)
New Jersey Public Radio today --
Christie Says He Won't Rule Out Vice Presidency
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie used an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press Sunday to spread his State of the State message to a national audience — and also did not rule out running for vice president.
Christie told moderator David Gregory that he would consider running for vice president this year.
"If I'm approached, I will listen," Christie said. "But my inclination, to make it very clear, is I want to stay Governor of New Jersey."
Smart move. A vote for Romney is a vote for Christie! A vote for Newt is a vote for Palin!
Former First Dude, Todd Palin? He's already endorsed Newt so Sarah said he's now the front-runner.
"[Sarah Palin's] one of the people I’d call on for advice. I would ask her to consider taking a major role in the next administration if I’m president." - Newt
Unfortunately, I don't think the thought of a Secretary of State Palin scares enough Republicans away from Newt.
It's not a wonder. Yesterday she said in an interview (with the media outlet that shall not be named) Christie made a "rookie" mistake. This is a pre-debate-dog-whistle meaning ROMNEY, CHRISTIE AND SANTORUM are new to the game and she is not.
Why not?
Palin flipped a governor's job for a shot a VP.
That's what America needs.
A VP who won't finish a job one is elected to do.
A business flipper and political flip-flopper (Romney) with another political flipper (Christie).
Regards
I want to stay Governor of New Jersey.
Hedgie.
Palin took the bait because she's new to the game.
Christie was reminding her that after she didn't help McCain get the job the former junior senator from Illinois has now, she quit her job as Governor of Alaska after 2 years because she couldn't hack press scrutiny over alleged ethics violations.
Duh.
One finger for every time the camera pans to Romney's terrifying grin, two fingers when Santorum lays into Gingrich's ethics record, and down-in-one at the first open-handed smack.
Well, you are guaranteed to be "feeling no pain" before it is over. However painful it is. ;-)
For the SOTU, 1 finger every time Obama mentions "jobs" and 2 fingers every time he mentions "fairness".
Regards
'1 finger every time Obama mentions "jobs" and 2 fingers every time he mentions "fairness".'
So, you alternate between American and British rude gestures? (Note: In Britain, sticking middle and index fingers up has the same meaning as sticking just the middle finger up in America does)
Anjin-San, it's called "flipping the bird."
Mittens, don't do it!
The Frog is planning a TRAP!
Will there be "Live Blogging" tomorrow night for the President's "State of the Union" (SOTU) address at 9pm?
"Fair and Balanced" slams, ya know.
Regards
Yes, the president gets the treatment too.
Mr Black, here's the Talking Points Memo from yesterday morning's "Meet the Press" segment with Romney supporter Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey (who came on right after Newt)--
MR. GREGORY: You say he's embarrassed the party. How and where do you worry he might do it again that makes him unelectable?
GOV. CHRISTIE: Well, listen, David, we all know the record. I mean, he was run out of the speakership by his own party. He was fined $300,000 for ethics violations. This is a guy who's had a very difficult political career at times and has been an embarrassment for the party. You remember these times, you were here. So the fact of the matter is, I don't need to regale the country with that entire list again except to say this. I'm not saying he will do it again in the future, but sometimes past is prologue.
Google "Meet the Press transcript for Jan. 22, 2012".
Great!
Sunday - AFC & NFC Championship games
Monday - Republican Debate
Tuesday - SOTU
This is gonna be one looooong hangover.
Regards
Are there any set of rules to the Repubilcan Debate/ SOTU? Everytime Private equity is attacked take a sip?