GOP Debate Post Mortem

I think the most telling moment in last nights GOP at the Reagan Library came here.



Cheering that people were executed. I can't think of a more accurate summation of the conservative movement today...

Given this sort of behavior it's not surprising that the candidates (with the exception of Jon Huntstman) took facts and chucked them out the window. Both AP and Politfact have broken done their ridiculously devoid of fact statements.

Here are a couple of my favorites.

PERRY: On global warming, "The science is not settled on this. The idea that we would put Americans' economy at jeopardy based on scientific theory that's not settled yet, to me, is just, is nonsense. ... Find out what the science truly is before you start putting the American economy in jeopardy."

THE FACTS: The scientific consensus on climate change is about as settled as any major scientific issue can be. Perry's opinion runs counter to the view of an overwhelming majority of scientists that pollution released from the burning of fossil fuels is heating up the planet. The National Academy of Sciences, in an investigation requested by Congress, concluded last year: "Climate change is occurring, is very likely caused primarily by human activities, and poses significant risks to humans and the environment."

National Academy Schamational Academy...the right wing blogs say otherwise...it's a plot by the left to steal the fruits of my labor, damnit!

And who could forget this old classic...right up there with "Obama's A Socialist!"

PEERY: Social Security is indeed a Ponzi Scheme.

THE FACTS (via Mitchell Zuckoff, author of "Ponzi's Scheme,"): "First, in the case of Social Security, no one is being misled. Social Security is exactly what it claims to be: A mandatory transfer payment system under which current workers are taxed on their incomes to pay benefits, with no promises of huge returns.

"Second, A Ponzi scheme is unsustainable because the number of potential investors is eventually exhausted. That's when the last people to participate are out of luck; the music stops and there's nowhere to sit. It's true that Social Security faces a huge burden — and a significant, long-term financing problem — in light of retiring Baby Boomers...But Social Security can be, and has been, tweaked and modified to reflect changes in the size of the taxpaying workforce and the number of beneficiaries. It would take great political will, but the government could change benefit formulas or take other steps, like increasing taxes, to keep the system from failing."

"Third, Social Security is morally the polar opposite of a Ponzi scheme... At the height of the Great Depression, our society (see "Social") resolved to create a safety net (see "Security") in the form of a social insurance policy that would pay modest benefits to retirees, the disabled and the survivors of deceased workers.By design, that means a certain amount of wealth transfer, with richer workers subsidizing poorer ones.That might rankle, but it's not fraud... None of this is to suggest that Social Security is a perfect system or that there aren't sizeable problems facing the incoming administration and Congress. But it's not a Ponzi scheme. And Ponzi himself, who died in a hospital charity ward with only enough money for his burial, would never have recognized it as his own."

So, to recap, applause for death, no facts...sounds about right for the right.

Overall, here are my thoughts on each candidate in attendance in order of whom I thought did the best.

Jon Huntsman: Languishing down in single digits, Huntsman has no hope of winning the nomination with the GOP being as far right as it is. It's too bad because he's one of the last good conservatives out there and his comments last night were very honest and poignant.

Mitt Romney: For once, the ol' Mittster looked very comfortable. His command was excellent, he went toe to toe with Perry and struck a a stark contrast with him intelligence wise, and actually had a few things to say that weren't all that bad.

Ron Paul: Ever eternal and infinite, Paul said all his usual stuff and could spoil Perry's chances in states where he has big following by sucking away votes from the Texas Governor. This will benefit Romney.

Rick Perry: I guess you could say he did well in the red meat department but his doubling down on Social Security is going to hurt him with seniors.

Cain, Santorum, Gingrich:Who cares? But they still did better than...

Michele Bachmann:Sad, but I think last night was the end of the Shelley experiment. The Spring romance with her is over and many of her supporters have gone to Perry. Does this mean Palin will get into the race?

Hmmm...what if she runs as an independent?