DE BATE, NEW HAMPSHIRE —BobZaguy As you know, seven TeaPublicans debated in New Hampshire. While the debate was held in that state, there was no intent by any participant to play to that state — rather the play was pushed to Iowa and the rest of “Real America”.
Two hours is a long time to have to sit still, even with 3 beer breaks. So here’s a shorter distillation of what each person said relative to questions that were asked, even Tweeted, by a number of mostly anonymous people, John King included. This is intended for those who tried to stay awake for the whole time, but couldn’t. It’s also OK for anyone who didn’t watch at all to go through this and get a fix on what went down.
As you can readily see and appreciate (thank you very much!), the replies here have been stripped of their bloated party boilerplate and now stand naked (hat tip – A. Weiner) before your eyes for all to consider. Of course, in a place or two, spare bits of translation and explanation have been appended to give clarity to the comments and statements. Where the obvious has been left unsaid, the unsaid is now in words. Some are a bit cheeky and made in fun, most aren’t. Liberties have been taken.
Tim T-Paw Pawlenty, unemployed, MN
This is the second in our 7-part series on this topic. Each day this week we’ll cover one of the between six and eight debaters that appeared.
I’m Tim Pawlenty. I’m a husband. I’m the father of two beautiful daughters, Anna and Mara. I’m a neighbor. I’ve seen the blue-collar communities and their struggles. I was even in a union for six or seven years.
So I’ve seen that firsthand. I grew up in a manufacturing town. We have to take the rocks out of the rocksack. Just get the government off my back. As president I will. I don’t think we should be eliminating the space program as Newt just said.
I’m going to have my own Medicare plan, and I’ll lead on this issue. This is key, we need to include seniors in controlling costs. Seniors, your Medicare is going to be cut, starting in 2014, there will be rationing of care from the top down. What Ryan and Santorum want to do is not radical. Rationing of care, because seniors are involved in controlling costs, is the right approach for Medicare.
The separation of church and state were designed to protect people of faith from government, not government from people of faith. National Review Online said, based on results, that I was probably the most pro-life candidate in this race.
And I haven’t just talked the talk about things; there are people in Minnesota who know that I’ve done it. Case in point: President Bush asked all us governors to volunteer their National Guard to go to the Texas border to help reinforce Operation Jump Start. I was one of two or three governors who did it.
I sent Minnesota’s National Guard there to reinforce the border, and it works. I’m the only one up here – I believe I’m the only one up here – who’s appointed solidly, reliably conservative appointees to the courts.
Coke it is, a good, swift answer there. You bet. I know I speak for everyone in this room and all across this country when I say, if there are individuals I, as president, God willing, have intelligence on, or groups in Yemen that present a threat to our security interests in that region or the United States of America, you can bet they will hear from me and we’ll continue the bombings. Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Iran.
For running mate, I think Governor Palin is a remarkable leader. I think she’s qualified to be president of the United States. She would have been as strong of a president as Joe Biden. He’s so wrong on everything.
More on the other debating candidates:
– Debate Summary: Mitt Romney (1 of 7)
– Debate Summary: Tim Pawlenty (2 of 7)
– Debate Summary: Herman Caen (3 of 7)