The 2012 ABC/Des Moines Register Republican Presidential Debate

[Marx]

The next debate in the 2012 election cycle takes place December 10th at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. The debate will air on ABC at 9pm. Will you be watching?

(In keeping with the tradition of the 2008 election season...all debates, primaries, and caucuses will have their own threads to ensure that the political forum continues to run smoothly.)

Discuss.

 

[hippie_hunter]

I'm really curious to see how Gingrich does in this debate when he'll be forced to deal with scrutiny, other candidates going after him, and actually produce answers of substance.

 

[enterthemadness]

Yea, Imma watch..cause you reminded me so nicely Marx.

Paul and Romney and Huntsman gonna bring it.

Who's not gonna bring it? Rick S, Rick P, Newt G, Michele B.

In fact, why don't those 4 drop out now, and we can add Gary Johnson to the mix?

 

[Marx]

I'm really curious to see how Gingrich does in this debate when he'll be forced to deal with scrutiny, other candidates going after him, and actually produce answers of substance.

I have a funny feeling that they'll all stick to the usual talking points...

 

[Excel]

first debate that has really mattered. Gingrich will either hit a home run or be a disaster...

Romney won't stick to his talking points. I am expecting a very impressive performance from Mitt Romney tonight, myself. I expect him to make Gingrich....make himself look like a buffoon

 

[Chris B]

I think this, and the debate next Thursday, will really be Rommey's and the other's last chance to try and halt Gingrich's rise. It's either try and do it themselves that or hope that he shoots himself in the foot sometime between now and Iowa.

 

[hippie_hunter]

first debate that has really mattered. Gingrich will either hit a home run or be a disaster...

Romney won't stick to his talking points. I am expecting a very impressive performance from Mitt Romney tonight, myself. I expect him to make Gingrich....make himself look like a buffoon

I'm leaning towards a disaster.

What has made Gingrich excel in the previous debates was that no one paid attention to Gingrich beforehand. Pretty much everything he said lacked any bit of substance, appeared as a Republican uniter, and focused a lot of his attacks of the left wing media.

Along with the lack of scrutiny, the serious setbacks to Gingrich's campaign (lack of infrastructure, the mass quitting of his staff, lack of money, low polling), he came off as very humble. But now that he's considered to be a frontrunner, we're getting the extremely egotistical and arrogant Gingrich that we all know and love.

I expect scrutiny, I expect Gingrich to continue saying things that lack substance (he's as bad as Michelle Bachmann in this department), I expect Gingrich to act like the Old Newt as opposed to the New Newt, and I expect Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Michelle Bachmann, and Ron Paul to savagely destroy Gingrich.

 

[Quetzal]

I am sure Gingrich will have to answer many of his past questions, heck even recently he still is saying silly stuff (like lets reintroduce child labor!).

 

[hippie_hunter]

Or how the Palestinians are an invented people. Or how he helped end the Cold War. Or how he will be the nominee. Or how we're on track of being a secular atheist society dominated by Islamic radicals.

 

[yoshimura]

http://www.newtexposed.com/

 

[SV Fan]

In fact, why don't those 4 drop out now, and we can add Gary Johnson to the mix?

They could have easily added Johnson 3 months ago, and it's made even easier once Cain dropped out. I am guessing Gary gets snubbed because a lot of his stances on Issues go against christian conservative values.

 

[bell110]

first debate that has really mattered. Gingrich will either hit a home run or be a disaster...

Romney won't stick to his talking points. I am expecting a very impressive performance from Mitt Romney tonight, myself. I expect him to make Gingrich....make himself look like a buffoon

I don't know. Gingrich is good at double talking his way out of his buffoonary, and Romney seems too "clean" to effectively look aggressive, making any attack seem clumbsy and awkward. But as hippie hunter said, we're starting to see a more arrogant Newt. It will be an interesting watch.

 

[hippie_hunter]

They could have easily added Johnson 3 months ago, and it's made even easier once Cain dropped out. I am guessing Gary gets snubbed because a lot of his stances on Issues go against christian conservative values.

Gary gets snubbed because he doesn't even meet the polling requirements for attention.

 

[Excel]

Perry speaks in he 3rd person? hahahaha

 

[hippie_hunter]

First question in and Newt already failed to produce a substantial answer that would differentiate himself from the rest of the Republican field.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Perry speaks in he 3rd person? hahahaha

I hope he surpasses Bob Dole.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Wow.....Rick Santorum has actually developed a rather well thought criticism of Barack Obama

 

[hippie_hunter]

Low blow Gingrich. I like it!

 

[Excel]

Low blow Gingrich. I like it!

hahahaha that was terrible.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Mitt Romney is acting human. It's scary

 

[Excel]

Gingrichs "child payer" thing sounds nonsensical.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Dear Rick Perry,

Stop attacking Mitt Romney, you get ***** slapped every time.

 

[Excel]

What, Newt??

Dear Rick Perry,

Stop attacking Mitt Romney, you get ***** slapped every time.

that was rough. Ouchhh. Perry sounds like suuch an idiot. lol Romney wants to bet not good "omg im so rich bet 10grand".

They're completely ignoring Mitt's point which is annoying. The people of mass wanted it, it is a states right. if they want they can have it.

 

[hippie_hunter]

that was rough. Ouchhh. Perry sounds like suuch an idiot. lol Romney wants to bet not good "omg im so rich bet 10grand".

And yet Perry didn't want to take that bet.

They're completely ignoring Mitt's point which is annoying. The people of mass wanted it, it is a states right. if they want they can have it.

That doesn't matter in the eyes of many conservatives. This is a very problematic issue for Romney and should be easy pickings for candidates like Perry and Bachmann. And yet, they still manage to look like complete clowns while Romney is able to manage to defend himself very competently.

 

[bell110]

I love the zingers. I feel like I'm watching a Comedy Central Roast.