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NBC's David Gregory talks to TODAY's Matt Lauer about Thursday's Republican debate, a final chance for the candidates to connect with Iowa voters before they cast the first crucial votes in the GOP contest.
As seven Republican presidential contenders began their sprint toward the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3, each of the top candidates ran through a gauntlet of challenges in their Thursday night debate.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich came under fire from Rep. Michele Bachmann, R- Minn., for his consulting work for the government-sponsored enterprise Freddie Mac. Gingrich made more than $1.6 million for his Freddie Mac work.
As he has in previous debates Gingrich said that he had done no lobbying for the agency and that his consulting work was simply a private business endeavor.
But Gingrich won big applause from the crowd in Sioux City, Iowa when he accused President Obama of caving in to “left-wing environmental extremists in San Francisco” by refusing to approve the Keystone oil pipeline from Canada.
Bachmann sharply criticized Rep Ron Paul, R- Texas for saying that there was no evidence that Iran is close to building a nuclear weapon, dismissing it as “war propaganda.” Such thinking, said Paul, “is how we got into that useless war in Iraq.”
“I have never heard a more dangerous answer,” said Bachmann.
This prompted Paul to defend himself by saying, “I don’t want Iran to have a nuclear weapon” -- although earlier in the debate he’d said he could understand why the Tehran regime, surrounded by nuclear-armed powers, would want to acquire nuclear weapons.
For his part, Mitt Romney turned much of his fire on President Obama, assailing him for asking the government of Iran to return the CIA drone that crashed on Iranian territory. "A foreign policy based on 'pretty please?' You’ve gotta be kidding," Romney said.
He accused Obama of thinking that “if we appease or accommodate the tyrants of the world, that the world will be safer.”
Late in the debate, Romney came under repeated questioning from the moderator for supporting gay rights when he was governor of Massachusetts. Romney said he opposed same-sex marriages but also opposed discrimination against anyone based on their sexual orientation.
Earlier in the debate Gingrich warned against “judicial dictatorship” and defended his plan to subpoena federal judges to testify about some of their controversial rulings.
He compared himself to Thomas Jefferson and Franklin D. Roosevelt as presidents who had tried to limit the power of federal judges. (Roosevelt’s plan to expand the size of the Supreme Court was defeated in 1937.)
Paul called Gingrich’s proposal “a real affront to the separation of powers.”
In an unexpected sign of détente between Gingrich and Romney, Gingrich praised Romney for helping to inspire the bipartisan Medicare redesign that was proposed Thursday by Housed Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan and Sen. Ron Wyden, D- Ore.
Gingrich denied that he had specifically criticized Ryan by name when he said on Meet the Press in May that Ryan’s previous Medicare reform plan was “right-wing social engineering.”
Although turnout at the caucuses is small relative to states such as Florida that have primaries, the outcome in Iowa will define the race and seems likely to winnow out some of the Republican hopefuls who fail to finish in top four.
In 2008, about 118,000 Iowa Republicans took part in the caucuses. Mike Huckabee, the ex-governor of Arkansas, defeated Romney in Iowa, hobbling Romney as headed into the New Hampshire primary the following week.
With the social conservatives’ votes split among Bachmann, Gingrich, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and former Sen. Rick Santorum, some Iowa Republican activists sense that Paul has a good chance to win the caucuses, due to the intensity of his supporters and the mobilization efforts they have made.
Striving to head off a win by Gingrich in Iowa, Romney on Wednesday played on the theme of the former House speaker’s penchant for exotic ideas.
“Zany is great in a campaign,” Romney told the New York Times. “It’s great on talk radio. It’s great in print, it makes for fun reading, but in terms of a president, we need a leader, and a leader needs to be someone who can bring Americans together.”
Gingrich got a good laugh from the crowd at Thursday night's debate when he said, in a humorous prelude to his Keystone pipeline comments, "I sometimes get accused of using language that is too strong, so I've been standing here editing -- and I am very concerned about not appearing to be zany."
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Let the circus begin!
Who will win? Will it be the crooked lying corporate lackey wheeler dealer? Which crooked lying corporate lackey wheeler dealer you ask?
The only honest man up there is an Ayn Rand groupie. Ayn Rand, a sociopath who fell in love with a man who murdered and dismembered a little girl. And Ron Paul worships her.
Pick one.
Ah hell...I thought the headline said candidates "poisoned"for Iowa debates.....nevermind....
I thought they gave them some of that OBAMA kool-aid....That would be ZANY !!!!!
Mitt has taken off the gloves !!!...and his little hands are chaffing.......
Oh please! No one wanted to go to Vietnam because everyone who went was either killed or came back with catastrophic injuries. We lost 50,000 American Soldiers in Vietnam.
Nobody, but nobody "thinks [they] should have gone" to Vietnam!
Rob Paul may be crazy, but I hope he gets the nomination. Anything but establishment PLEASE!!!
Play by play so far. Question number 1, Ron Paul won. And he did not take 5 minutes and break the rules and go over the time limit like Grinchrich just did. The Grinch got small cheer. Big cheers to Paul- same question. said anyone could beat Obama, and excellent Constitutional, civil libertys protected type answers. 2nd question. Santorum. Over time limit. Speaks of himself as a 3rd person. Very small cheer. Question 3, Romney- goes over time limit by a couple seconds. No cheer
Perry just spoke but who cares. We all know he should not be there. Made a joke, got a good cheer. The Presidency is not about being a joker. Huntsman just made good sense. Nice cheer. Hope you guys are watching! Picking our President is our largest obligation to our country.
Ever notice the first 3 to 4 posts on these vines are always the most clueless Libs. Then the IQ usually begins to rise from there.
Paul / Huntsman 2012 so far again.
Hey, Drummer50...your lookin' at your chart upside-down.
But, that's par for the course for you looney neo-nuts. Whine on...!
BTW: Obama/Biden win again in 2012! No doubt!!
The sad part of political debates today is that the candidates are all essentially the same. They are all very far to their respective side. No candidate is truly a moderate, as the parties have become diametrically opposed on nearly every issue. And, the candidates very rarely explain why they are the better choice, but rather simply attack the other candidates and the incumbent. As a result, most people simply choose the candidate that they dislike the least as opposed to a candidate who actually represents their interests. This is due in large part to the over-entrenchment and excessive power that the Republicans and Democrats have created for themselves. They have done this, and managed to keep any other third party from becoming a legitimate candidate, by setting up balloting rules and Congressional procedures that greatly favor these two parties, and also by setting up campaign finance rules that allow them to economically bully any third party out of the race. And, once elected, all members from these two parties do is vote and act in a manner that is best for the party and the party's few large contributors. This is not how a democracy is supposed to work and it must stop. I encourage everyone to check out the American Overhaul Act (www.americanoverhaulact.org), which attempts to correct these problems through a set of proposed Constitutional amendments. The amendments are focused on six separate areas of concern:
- Congressional Term Limits: A maximum of two four-year terms in either House or Senate, and 12 years total in Congress.
- Federal Campaign Finance Reform: The vast majority of funds any candidate spends on a federal election campaign must come from a federal election campaign fund. These federal election campaign funds will be doled out equally to all candidates running for a position (candidates must meet certain pre-determined minimum requirements), and at least three candidates for any seat must receive funds.
- Congressional Size Limits: Membership in the House of Representatives will be permanently fixed at 300 members.
- Congressional Compensation: Congressional salaries will be fixed at four times the median household income. Additionally, health insurance will only be provided to members while they are actually serving in Congress (no lifelong healthcare) and pensions for members of Congress will be eliminated.
- Eliminate Party Favoritism: This amendment will require the elimination of all laws, rules, or regulations that favor or disfavor, either by inclusion or exclusion, any elected official or candidate for an elected office, based upon affiliation with any political party, or lack of affiliation with a political party.
- Federal Budget-Deficit Reform: The federal budget must be balanced, meaning the total amount of federal government spending must not exceed the amount of money collected by the federal government. There will be exceptions to allow for extra spending in times of national crisis, but the excess crisis spending will be limited in amount and duration, and must be corrected by an equal amount of underspending in the years that follow.
I urge you to check out the Act at www.americanoverhaulact.org, and ,if you agree with the proposals, show your support, and also share it with your friends and family
I can tell we are on FOX... WAR, WAR, MORE WAR, BOMB.BOMB,BOMB, BOMB BOMB IRAN
@ Allen, just trying to be fair and open minded. But you sure are right. Look at his good buddys. Hes more of the same, though I agree w/ him on china. Trade wars are very dangerous. Paul knows how we get through this better because these trade wars are the product(root) of central bankers. Ron Paul 2012
Everyone up there wants more war but Ron Paul. This is insane. I have been told that Iran was going to have a nuke within 4 years in 1985. 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, and now in 2011. It may have been going on even longer. What top leader from Iran has ever said they would destroy Israel? Amejad or what ever his name is? He's a nobody, 18th down on the food chain. War mongering. You want WW3 then pick one of these nuts because China w/ nukes and Russia w/ nukes will come in on this one and when it resorts to boots on ground, we are way out maned. All over the bully's land of God.
I'm sure Huntsman would accept the VP spot, but Ron Paul would likely pick Gary Johnson, one of the lesser known Republican candidates, as Johnson is almost identical to Paul in his libertarian philosophy.
Bachmann calling somebody a profiteer...lmao. That girl is a War lobbyists if there ever was one, and she is another Palin when it comes to just sticking it out for financial gain.
Democrats knew Obama would be the front runner in 2008 clear back in 2004. The Right still doesn't have a clue...just like everything else they do - no plan.
So Fox was pitching war? Murdoch and his agendas...ugh!
Comment # 1 restored for clarity.
Not restoring comment # 2 because it is off-topic.
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the RIGHT
they were bloody and battered from their own ugly fight
Newt has a plan and mitt wants to foil it
so all of our kids don't have to clean toilets
Michelle,a campaign debt she now has to pay
unless her strange husband can PRAY IT AWAY
and Rick Perry keeps hanging,but I think its too late
since he guessed that the high court must only have 8...
Ron Paul the good doctor,his hopes are still high
but if you don't have good health care he'll cheer you to DIE
Santorum has tried hard,but hasn't done well
when asked what had happened he said"don't ask,and don't tell !"
On Mitty on Ricky on Ronnie on Newt, yelled Santa as his reindeer took flight
Obama is going to kick all your a$$es,Merry Christmas to all,and good night !!!
You should well know about don't ask don't tell brokeback mountain boy.
Cliffy Clavin is in the house....
Rick Perry just stated that he would look foreward to the debates with Obama and discuss the wide range of differences between. That is easy for the casual observer to determine as Obama has more than one brain cell.
Cute poem. Ron Paul 2012 & my son is on government health care. So what does that say? It says we will tough it out when government drops us. But my family understands, if government is out, the bills for care will fall to where we wont pay 650. for a small plastic trach tube. I would much rather not be a part of bankrupting my country.
Another excellent question answered by Paul. End government sponsored enterprises. Summed up, look at thieves like the gingrinch who made millions off a sponsored enterprise at our expense and the whole mess it created. The grinch stole Christmas at my house. You?
Hilareous!
They are all terrible. What an awful collection of candidates!!!
Agreed!!!
Great Poem, but WRONG....Obie will continue to KICK YOUR ASS as well, Cowboy17....by they way is that your age or IQ?
Beautiful! But don't Christians view death as the gateway to heaven and not something to be feared? Isn't death when we're at last called home? When my mother died after a long illness our Presbyterian minister said we shouldn't be sad. "This should be a celebration," he said. "Then why did we spend so much money to avoid having it?" I replied. Sterling Greenwood/Aspen
Yes Aspen,yer right,Ive always noticed how afraid of death all the nonbeleavers are. Plus theres the benefit of No Obama in heaven. All the candidates are better than Obama.
"Bachmann sharply criticized Rep Ron Paul, R- Texas for saying that there was no evidence that Iran is close to building a nuclear weapon, dismissing it as “war propaganda.” Such thinking, said Paul, “is how we got into that useless war in Iraq.”
How absolutely attached these weasels are attached to defense contractors? Ron Paul will not be allowed to win. When JFK said, " I want to shred the CIA into a thousand pieces and scatter them to the four winds." He died shortly after. If Ron Paul were to win the Republican Primary, the defense contractors would work with our crooked ass CIA and insure that he got to ride in a convertible in Dallas also.
While I don't like most of his domestic policies, but I have this odd admiration for the man, his consistencies, and the way that he doesn't take cash from the lobbyists.
Same-old debate and a lack of answers (look at all these problems)...would ya'll make up your minds or NOT!!! (as by not voting...you still have made a choice)
Please explain your comment ron17571 - in what way are "all the candidates better than Obama". There is lots of rhetoric from the right, but no real substance. The right thrives on sound bytes, all fuzzy and oblique. The right has yet to provide any factual information to support claims that Obama is so terrible, all the right does is support elected officials who ensure that nothing of consequence gets accomplished in Washington. Obama can't "lead" the completely ignorant. That takes a Republican.
I will vote for anyone who can beat Obama. As a gay person, this only makes sense if I value my country and its prosperity more than myself. It won't matter who I can marry if our most basic liberties and freedoms are taken away. This administration has shown itself as anti-American, anti-free market, and pro-big government. Despite pleas from the right and left, Eric Holder refuses to resign, Pelosi continues to praise "protesters" though she has participated in creating loop holes for her husband and Wall Street cronies, and Obama passes the costliest entitlement in history though 2/3 of 'THE PEOPLE' do not want it. I've never seen such arrogance in any administration, and I pray the American people wake up before it's too late.
well ur gay so ur voice doesnt count
"BOB" is a palindrome just like "BOOB."
Funny magnificent.... you take a long-winded shot at empty rhetoric, and then you end with empty rhetoric. Can you back up your blowhard statement about Republicans? You know, with factual information you so proudly demand? You see some of us do believe that Obama has been a failure. A factual failure. He claimed through his administration that spending an extra near $1 trillion would keep unemployment under 8% - that was factually incorrect. He claimed we had to pass the stimulus to fund those "shovel ready jobs" and then had the "audacity" to laugh about it a year later as he enjoyed his millionaire status while most Americans were worried, struggling, or both. Another fact. He has called Republicans and Tea Party folks all kinds of names - this is the behavior of a school yard bully, not a President. Another fact. He claimed that if he didn't fix the jobs problem by year 3, that he would be a 1-term president. Another factual lie, as now he is running for a second term, with not only an unemployment problem, but also an under-employment problem. There are 2 million fewer American workers than when he took office. With average growth there should be more than 3 million new jobs since he took office. That is a net loss of 5 million jobs. Another fact. You see, there are not only these facts but many others that make some of us Americans, taxpayers, want to elect someone else. Maybe just someone who is a bit less arrogant, someone who is a bit less of a know-it-all, someone who has a track record of working across the aisle. Lord knows that Obama is not that kind of politician.
And Rock on Donna - there are many conservatives who are supportive of your right to be happy.
"We need a leader, and a leader needs to be someone who can bring Americans together.” So I guess Romney supports Ron Paul, as several have commented on the way he brings all different demographics together, apparently even some fellow candidates.
And, Donna--"as a gay person" and then you rant on that Tea Party Express minutia. Think---repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". In the middle of a blog about the 5 millionth time these same mental midgets get on the stage, you feel the need to tell the 6 people that read it--that you are a minority within the GLBT community. That being, voting with a party that has such a "small tent" that my 3 and 4 year old grandchildren could fit, toe to toe.
Let the mention of income taxes arise and every one in that "I, me, Mine" world becomes Ayn Rand. Why are you remaining 28% not understanding that the the 72% of us do approve of--taxing the nation's highest earners at a higher rate. Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Bush I--all GOP, all grew the national debt, and all taxed the nation's wealthiest at a higher rate than they are now. The gap is widening and my class will be extinct--the middle class.
If the Cons would just stop conning folks and shilling for their 1% club, we'd cut the debt in a big way. If the wealthiest continue to take the jobs abroad--there will be a revolt and it won't come from the right. It will be peaceful and effective. Voters will have an epiphany, left and right and demand that the taxes go up on the rich. If a child of a wealthy person goes missing--what does society afford that person? Enormous resources are drained by these people. If a poor kid from a poor neighborhood goes missing---cops--we'll get around ot it. Don't even pretend that you can't see that massive divide.
Well Bob I'm gay and post went up just fine.
Hi Keko--agree.
I'm straight and hate reading this bull@!$%# rambling by any one that begins their's with "Im gay".Did I @!$%#ing ask?
Peace
Sandtrich: You obviously have issues far beyond reading message boards. You wrote, "you feel the need to tell the 6 people that read it--that you are a minority within the GLBT community." I never used the word "minority," and it makes even less sense to say I'm a minority within the GLBT community. That doesn't even make sense. READ YOUR WORDS AGAIN. If you had the interest in reading between the tiny lines in which you allow yourself to exchange ideas, you'd see that I was praising my great country rather than playing a victim. Read slower next time; it may be helpful.
I'm gay and I think anyone who even watches these unending parade of Fox Commercials for the Right has no life.
I mean a few of them OK...but how many have they had?
I'd rather listen to a Judy Garland record with a 65 year old drag queen ... talk about tired
Apologies. I have a MacBook. The tracking pad was wet and when I did a copy and paste from a note pad. It picked up unrelated lines on the page that had nothing to do with the topic. I enjoy the exchange of ideas, yet didn't see why you started the post with "I'm gay." If you vote GOP though, you are in a minority of the GLBT community.
We didn't wake up one day and were $14T in debt. It took some serious miss-planning that goes back 60 years. President Obama has done the very best that any one could have done. Minus the bailouts, I can't imagine how far this country would have sunk. Every one on the GOP side, other than Ron Paul, has stated that they would spend more on the military. Defense related spending for 2012 represents $1.2 to $1.4T with forecasted revenues at $2.2T. Without the wars, Post WWII, this country would have no debt. I'm fine with President Obama's leadership, yet not Congress.
Oh yeah--and Bob is a troll that goes from board to board posting nonsense.
Watched the debate tonight. Ah oh, Barry, pack your bags.
StopTheMarxist-3864834
You have got to be kidding, I must say your standards for a President are incredibly low. Just a suggestion; you should limit your Fox News viewing to no more than one hour per day other wise your risking permanent brain damage. This is serious, because your already displaying advanced symptoms
BigAl has little brain. This anti-American racist is on his way out. You need to have the pernicious MSDNC removed from your TV.
Obama's socialist destruction of this country has gone far enough. He and Holder should be impeached and tried for treason.
The only person Ron Paul "worships" is Jesus.
"Ron Paul the good doctor,his hopes are still high
but if you don't have good health care he'll cheer you to DIE"
More like he would offer to treat the person to the best of his abilities and not ask for payment than to cheer.
I should have used the word Idolized instead. And he does.
He named his son after her.
Give it..I lost the hopes I had for Ron Paul when he was asked about the cancer patient who was dying and the teaple in the crowd yelled let him die...and they all cheered..and Ron Paul said NOTHING...That was it for me !!!!
@cowboy Ron Paul answered "NO" to that question. You may have not heard his answer due to the crowd noise or doctoring by the media. You can find it on Youtube if need be.
He,as did all the others missed a chance there,and Ron really missed a chance to show the major difference between he and the others...and he didn't...and I fear the reason was that he didn't want to piss off the Tparty...and there in lies the problem..THE TAIL IS WAGGIN' THE DOG...
TO: Give it a rest!:
I think you must have missed the Republican Debates.
Whereas Newt would have cancer patients suffer and jailed. He once proposed the death penalty for anyone with a carton of cigarettes worth of marijuana. Having smoked it himself, he stated in a '96 interview that when he smoked it in the '60s it was just illegal but now it is both immoral and illegal. Then he literally said that is why contemporary users get to go to jail and he doesn't. So he must think that the propaganda spewed by the govt. dictates morality, and that questions of morality cannot be left to the individual. This man is insane. Morality is not subject the the position of the authority. Britain thought our fight for independence was immoral now didn't they. This clearly shows that he is in favor of a dictatorship.
@Cowboy. Never has, never will. He stands by the constitution, nothing else. Do you think our constitution is a dog?
I've never such such a Political Clown Circus in my life as these thieves, Liars and Flip Flopper's. None of these clowns are qualified to run an Out House, Yea the House of Representatives now more commonly considered an Outhouse run by the Pee Party ops I mean Tea Party who have run it into the ground along with the entire country. Absolutly pathetic.
We tried Ron Paul's libertarian type of government. It was called the 1890s and it was terrible. He should remember those days he was in medical school then. Which party was in office when the great depression started? GOP. Which party was inparty when our current depression started? GOP. That tells me all I need to know.
Come on people wise up to these people!! Romney, Newt and Obama, they are all going to tell you what they think you want to hear to get elected. we are all going to get the same results! Let's really make a change!! Vote for "Ron Paul"!! He really stands for change. Are all his idea's right? No, but he is the only one on OUR side!!!!
Since when does wanting to go back to the principles that the constitution and the Bill of Rights become wrong?From what i have read the 1890s were economically and the corruption were very much like they are today.What is wrong with wanting to fix our own country first before we fund some other country that would help to blow us off of the face of the earth?What is wrong with bringing our troops home from around the world and protect our own country first?What is wrong with holding corporations and financial institutions accountable for their actions? What is wrong trying to fix our economic problems before we try to fix some other countries problems.Why not vote for a man that you can trust that has an answer to these questions? Ron Paul 2012
Gotta love love liberal history buffs who ignore what causes the messes 10 years later...liberal policies.....
Here are my worst,or best fears...they all cannibalize each other tonight and the Donald McRonald,still hurting from the ego beat down he took from the cancellation of his debate,(two and a half men),will announce next week,again,that he is BACK IN THE RACE !!! ...and his VP will be...yep you guessed it...Sarah whatsherhoohoo !!!!!!!! You heard it here at CNN (cowboy news network) first !!!
The winner of this debate will be the same candidate who has won all of the teapublican debates so far ---- President Obama.
Where the hell is this REINCE PRIEBUS...or better yet WHAT is a Reince Priebus...isn't he supposed to be in charge of these clowns !!! I have seen him on TV ONCE...and he said,"well guess what" about 50 times !!! THE GOP IS IN A FREE FALL !!!!! and I am LOVING IT !!!!! OBAMA 2012 !!!
So how come I had to hear about Newts deferments from Ron Paul !!! I am liking Paul more all the time. He is going to beat Newt in Iowa...and then..... thats about it....as far as Newt goes..if we ever have a President that took deferments from a war then we already forgot about all the kids Dick Cheney sent to battle that didn't come home...screw that !!!!
Newt is way more uptight than Cheney. Easily more fascist. Like all other overbearing egomaniacs, he has a Napoleon complex. His weakness is evident in how many times he has been influenced to flip-flop.
Cowboy, I second that sentiment. Gingrich, Cheney, Bush = Two draft dodgers and a deserter. That, alone, should have any REAL American running for the exit.
Newt, LOL!! Guy's named after a slimey lizard-like creature that lives under a rock. Seems his parents were wacko, too.
The big question of the night is; Will Ron Paul wear those fake eyebrows again or not?
Groucho.....
lol
Not fake. Neither are the brows.
I see we are up to a bakers dozen in debates now, and still a year left before the elections.
When you have too much of the same thing, people lose interest.
Tell me again why we have politicians campaigning two years before an election.
There is a way to stop it before the 2014 or 2016 elections. Go to www.faircampaignreform.us and join the Popular Amendment Movement in their petition drive for two constitutional amendments: Election/Campaign Finance Reform and Term Limits. For those too lazy to go to the link and download the petitions, here they are (note Section 2):
Petition for US Constitutional Amendment For Election Reform
We, the undersigned US citizens, duly registered voters in our respective states/territories, do hereby petition for our state to approve the following amendment to the United States Constitution by the method noted below.
Election Reform:
1. Abolish the Electoral College (Repeal Amendment 12)
2. ONE NATIONAL primary date to be held on the Tuesday eight (8) weeks prior to the General Election day for Congressional offices and for the President. Candidate petitions must be filed with the local/state elections boards 60 days prior to the Primary Election date. Federal election petitions shall be uniform in every state and shall include a “contract with the voters” that spells out clearly what that candidate stands for on all issues that they may have to address in elected office. They shall be held accountable in court for breach of that contract if elected and any/all terms are not met.
3. NO campaigning allowed for any elective federal office more than 60 days prior to the National Primary Date.
4. NO campaign contribution shall be donated to any candidate of more than $200 from an individual or $500 maximum from a family (spouses/children living in the same household.) No donations shall be made to a candidate more than sixty days prior to the primary date. No candidate shall contribute from their own funds more than 60% of the total donations from other private individuals.
5. NO campaign contribution from any PAC, corporation, union, non-profit organization, special interest group, etc. shall be allowed for any elected federal office.
6. NO third party campaigning (separate PAC ads, corporate ads, etc.) for/against any candidate shall be allowed at any time during or before the election season.
7. NO party conventions shall be held to select the presidential candidates. The selection must be done at the ballot box in the primary election.
8. The One Man/One Vote Supreme Court ruling shall be enforced by this Amendment, namely that NO federal candidate selection shall be by any means other than the ballot box on Primary/General Election Dates.
9. National Party Organizations shall NOT raise money for or donate to specific candidates of their party prior to the dates outlined above.
10. PAC’s shall NOT be granted tax-exempt status by the IRS, and any non-profit organization who uses their funding for political purposes shall lose their tax-exempt status.
11. All lobbyists shall be outlawed from influencing Congress at all times.
This amendment shall be approved ONLY by State Constitutional Conventions to be called within 90 days of this petition being submmitted to a state’s Secretary of State. A minimum of 25% of the registered voters in each state shall be required to further this petition to the respective Secretary of State.
Name Signature State Address
Petition for US Constitutional Amendment For Congressional Term Limits
We, the undersigned US citizens, duly registered voters in our respective states/territories, do hereby petition for our state to approve the following amendment to the United States Constitution by the method noted below.
Term Limits for Congress:
1. Representatives to Congress shall serve no more than two two-year terms in the House.
2. Senators shall be elected to no more than two six year terms in the Senate.
3. No elected official shall serve more than six terms in office in any combined elected offices (House/Senate/Presidency.)
This amendment shall be approved ONLY by State Constitutional Conventions to be called within 90 days of this petition being submmitted to a state’s Secretary of State. A minimum of 25% of the registered voters in each state shall be required to further this petition to the respective Secretary of State.
Name Signature State Address
This sounds like a great bill. What caught my eye was, "11. All lobbyists shall be outlawed from influencing Congress at all times." It would be great if the lobby groups could be completely done a way with but big money would invent new ways to make that happen. Any good lawyer could shout thousands of holes in this bill....but it is a start for change ! ! !
It's not a bill, it is a constitutional amendment and lawyers would NOT be able to destroy it if we can get it passed by at least 3/4ths of the states, per the Constitution's second option for passing constitutional amendments.....see the constitutional link on the website.
Anti
Nice piece of work. Did you write this up yourself or did you have the neighbor come over and help with the spelling?
While some of he sentiment of it is good
The limits on speech are un-American as far as hen they campaign
But I do believe in No PACs,Corporate or Labor Money. And donation limits.
Sorry
And having all the primaries on one day would help the big money or big name candidates and prevent a lesser known one from gaining traction.
A better solution would be to group them with states and territories (Why Obama said 57 is there are about that many delegations that hood primaries or caucuses) from all sections of the country together 10-11 at a time, two weeks apart. IE Group 1 would have 2 Southern, 2 Northeast, 2 Mid America and 2 Pacific etc in it, then Group 2 would have the same...Groups would rotate from going 1st though 5th. Maybe even a small number (5) would lead off 2 weeks earlier making it possible for candidates to campaign in them first at a lower cost, draw them at random from each section of the country) But it will never happen.
The sad part of political debates today is that the candidates are all essentially the same. They are all very far to their respective side. No candidate is truly a moderate, as the parties have become diametrically opposed on nearly every issue. And, the candidates very rarely explain why they are the better choice, but rather simply attack the other candidates and the incumbent. As a result, most people simply choose the candidate that they dislike the least as opposed to a candidate who actually represents their interests. This is due in large part to the overentrenchment and excessive power that the Republicans and Democrats have created for themselves. They have done this, and managed to keep any other third party from becoming a legitimate candidate, by setting up balloting rules and Congressional procedures that greatly favor these two parties, and also by setting up campaign finance rules that allow them to economically bully any third party out of the race. And, once elected, all members from these two parties do is vote and act in a manner that is best for the party and the party's few large contributors. This is not how a democracy is supposed to work and it must stop. I encourage everyone to check out the American Overhaul Act (www.americanoverhaulact.org), which attempts to correct these problems through a set of proposed Constitutional amendments. If you agree with the proposals, show your support, and also share it with your friends and family.
I am glad that this is the last debate because people need to take a break from listenning to all of the stupity spewing out of Romney, Bachmann, Slick Rick and Gingrich( who still thinks that marriage should be no more than a lottery draw ) mouths. These people are no more than a bunch of low life snakes which do what snakes do which is bite people on purpose and then feed them Major B.S about the bite was not suppose to hurt.
I think there are about 10 more scheduled debates so...stock up on TUMS !!!
Many of us Iowans cannot wait until this piece of crap called caucus is over and these jerks leave our state-HOPEFULLY TO NEVER RETURN. Never in the history of the United States Has there been such a gaggle of IDIOTS WHO WANT TO BE PRESIDENT. They all make Sarah Palin look like a Rhoads Scholar. Like ole Forrest Gump says, "STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES". These idiots does STUPID QUITE WELL !!
Now thats funny....and thanks for that VET...I was starting to worry about Iowa a little !! One Wyoming is enough....
Oh , Haha ha ahaahaha......"stupid is as stupid does" hahaha..........you're about the millionth Lib to quote Forrest Gump and think that they are cleverly the first to do it.
So far, the debate on this vine is all Cowboy, talking to himself with an occasional brown noser agreeing with him.
Boooring! Watch the debate losers.
Sure is a sea of blue signs and eagles though huh? RP 2012
What's wrong Drummer50? Have nothing to add so you fling out attacks on other posters?
How mature of you.
There are also over a dozen different people commenting so far.
Must really bother you that there are people out there that don't think like you do.
@ human beings first. Holy (*&^%%*0) did he really sign that today?He had claimed he was going to veto it. That lie'n SOB. When my government declares war on it citizens I'm outta here and as fast as I can. So if this is true add another home for sale to the market tomorrow morning, cheap.. I had thought we had done enough to stop this... Unbelievable... That thing looked identical to the one Hitler used on his own people. Maybe the story the Russian's had put out 11 years ago about Obama being the last U.S. President, before we ever even knew he was going to be a President really was credible. When he was elected it kinda creeped me out, but ofton the old guard knows whats going to happen here well in advance. Since people don't know how to delegate, I thought well I accept that. But war on us people by our own government. Wow. God I hope your wrong on this.
careformycountry, "Maybe the story the Russian's had put out 11 years ago about Obama being the last U.S. President, before we ever even knew he was going to be a President really was credible." Your "fact" is news to me, and I suspect, to the vast majority of Vine readers. Please post a CREDIBLE source for this "fact". You can't? I didn't think so! LOL
Love it or Leave it~ careformycountry is refering to the predictions of Baba Vanga. Baba Vanga is a Russian prophet much like Nostradomus. I'd post the link, but MSNBC doesn't let me post them. So you are correct in believing there is NO CREDIBLE source for cfmc's statement. (unless you believe in prophesies) If you are interested in reading about people like Nostradomus, Baba Vanga is an interesting subject, but that's about as far as it goes for me. Take care! :)
Rhodes Scholar not Roades!
veggiegrlo8, Thank you for acknowledging that there is NO CREDIBLE source for cfmc's statement. I am, however, interested in doing research on Baba Vanga, the Russian prophet. I know nothing about him/her. If you are interested in prophesies and other paranormal (or whatever you want to call it) practitioners, you may want to research Edward Cayce. He's a most fascinating person. Good Cheer!
Coming to a theatre near you, just in time for Christmas !
Brokeback Cowboy 17
Starring a cowboy who's not very good with facts, but who's willing to take one for the team !
Can be viewed in 3D - Dam Dumb DemocRAT
you better not let your boyfriend read that.....
Costarring as cowboy's lover / boyfriend is the one and only actor / director, Michael Moore.
Moore really delivers his finest performance !
Be sure to check out Moore's snake previews !
How cute lawdog. Voted yourself up to help with your low self esteem.
Anyways, enjoy the ban.
Parents really need to password protect their computers better.
lawdog, you are soooo typical of the Republicans: If you don't have a credible opinion, you turn to personal insults of those who don't agree with you. At least you're following the Republican way of doing things! LOL
Cowboy don't bother, we don't even talk to him in the Republican Chatrooms on AOL
I would like, for xmas or New Years if I may, an intellectual debate between Palin and Perry, now that would make a very humorous display. Perry should take note however that Palin keeps her cheat sheet written on the palms of her hands so ifn he gets a lil stumped on something like which country the United States just declared an end of war on, he can edge a lil closer to Palin and maybe get the answer off the palms of her hands.
Another brilliant post based on pop culture headlines. No depth. No intellect.
Next!
Based on pop culture headlines? Based on facts. And that was exactly my point, the republicans bring out their very best, most intelligent and still, they have absolutely no base, no intellect amongst themselves. It"s no wonder to see them want to eradicate public education. In time, without education, they can eradicate every piece of common sense left in America today. The republican motto: If it weren't for all the little poor people, we'd all be republicans. Now with just a few more pre-empt wars, mandatory enlistment of the less fortunates and irradication of any and all public assistance programs, we can eventually get rid of all of them and we'd all be republicans! *insert loud bible thumping sounds*
Did anyone get why Cowboy Ricky wanted to compare himself to a football player? Tebow is not from TX, competed with TX for the national title and is very good at what he does in his day job. How does he possibly relate to Cowboy Ricky? Maybe its the prayer thing? Tebow is genuinely devout. Nope, no match there either.
if they votePaul they will waiste there vote
If you vote for either of the two corrupt parties that have put this country in our current economic mess, ruined our reputation all over the globe, and spent billions on pointless wars that cost thousands of American lives, you have truly wasted your vote.
Isn't it time? I mean really, isn't it time? What is it going to take?
Everyone to cast, or write in if the option ISN"T on their ballot, NONE OF THE ABOVE or in the case of the USVI where we don't get to vote for president - NO VOTE, then push the VOTE button. That will tell every single politician that they are undeserving of your vote.
If your one of the 8% who do actually do cast a worthless paper vote. I mean if your one of the 80 of 100,000 who cast a real vote. The delegate vote. Please do. It only takes a couple voters to make or ruin the country and I would love to see some of you come out and challenge the bitter old gaurd who flip flop for you every 8 years.
Who takes out this debate (the last before the caucuses) takes the presidency.
Who dares wins.
They may take the GOP nomination, but not necessarily the presidency, unless you are including Obama as the winner of the GOP debates, hehe.
Oh you are awful . . . and so are the GOP but Obama is doomed unless the tea party's secret agenda to get Obama a second term works out.
Why bother voting, they do it for you indirectly anyway!
And thats what has happened to our country over the last generation. Not party's. Its our fault. Party's are for your entertainment. We the people need change we make.
I really do not like any of the canidates...
I got a new one
It's a dog and pony show
The way I look at it is vote for the candidate with the smallest winkie so that when he gets elected and tries to screw you in the rear it wont hurt so bad.
I feel so bad for the Iowa caucuses to have to make a pick from what they have to chose from. It's like who is dum or dummiest?
Another clueless Lib. All they can do is name call with no substance.
So which is Obama? Dum, or dummiest? There is no one even thinking about being POTUS who is dumber than Barack "57-state-in-Austrian-Corpse" Obama. ANYONE would do a dramatically better job than Obama.
You lib whiners complaining about the lack of intellectual depth in this field ought to think about that. Someone needs to replace this guy who has done nothing but partisan social engineering since he's been in office, and has all but bankrupted this once-great country.
22 deleted, guardenguy007 posting against Mormons, which is pretty no value but not detailed enough to really be discriminatory - but this comment was. You're suspended for a day for violating #5 of the Code of Honor.
Another clueless Lib.
Drummer50, wlv-1393310, you're each suspended for a day for violating #1 of the Code of Honor. Attacking people running for President is fine; attacking your fellow Viners isn't.
I'm not even sure why they call it a Debate...it seems to me that it is just about seeing who is the most convincingstory teller..be cause none of what they are saying ever turns out to be what they Actually DO...
When are we as a Nation going to stop letting the "Parties" tell us who should be President...now you know where they got the idea for American Idol.
I guess you're fact checking every step of the way huh? Who's telling the real truth? Huh? WHO ?
Here's a fact for you. Neither of these two parties have done anything right for this country for 40 years!! Take the blinders off man. You are part of the problem!!
S'matter, Drummer50...your high I.Q. got you askin' about "truth"? Why don't you asnwer your own stooopid questions?
Troll on, snarkey...! Now...back to the "Republiturd/Baggernut Comedy Debate Show" featuring a bunch of pathetic wanna-be's.
BTW: Obama/Biden in 2012!! No doubt!
Doubt.
I got a better question Vet. When are the American people going to stop the goddam media from picking our presidents? I'd also like to know why the media doesn't go after this creep Santorum. All us Pennsylvanians hate his guts. If GWB would have turned sideways fast enough, he would have broke Santorum's nose!
When are the American people going to stop the goddam media from picking our presidents?
This has been the way of America since The original president Washington; Back in those days if you will notice our governments candidates were war heros. Thats because they were the only people who were talked about nationwide. The newspapers and or story tellers would revere these people across the lands so when it came time to pick a president it would be from a list of the "Popular" people. In our day it is still whomever is famous. Only difference is that we have internet and tv. thus explaining why movie stars and wrestlers end up in congress.
Romney accused Obama of "appeasing the tyrants of the world." Doesn't Romney realize that the U.S. has become one of those tyrants? Meanwhile, Paul was the only GOP contender in the debate who didn't sound bought and paid for by special interest groups. Sterling Greenwood/Aspen
The 7 Dwarfs compared to President Obama! Dopey, Mopey, Perry, Sqawkman, Newtsy, Pop and Sainto. whatever
You better throw slimy Obama right with them
Ron Paul is the only person in the whole thing who doesn't lie through his teeth, change his mind, defer to special interests, etc. etc. etc. I firmly believe that - for better or for worse - Ron Paul will do EVERYTHING that he says he will do if he becomes President. He does not pander to anyone. The rest of them are useless at best and snakes at worst, and let's be honest here - outside of a small handfull of good things, what has Obama really done? Economy is in a tailspin and he has had 3 years to do something about that. My advice is to really listen to and research Ron Paul and where he stands on the issues, as doing that with the rest of them is a waste of time since they won't do 90% of what they say anyway. If you like most of what he says, vote for him. If not, just vote for Obama at least you know what you're getting (high unemployment and more rhetoric among many other things). People, we as a country are in really bad shape and it's only going to get worse. We need to think outside of the box if we want to fix things. Drastic times call for drastic measures. Ron Paul 2012.
Ron Paul in 2012? Yes!!!!
Hey Teabaggers Suck,
Although I agree with your handle, you kill your argument as soon as you use the word 'Nazi.'
I agree that the bill is bad and it scares me a little. These things sneak up on you. But really. As soon as you use name-calling in your argument, intelligent people stop listening.
Just listen to Glenn Beck or Sean Hannity. As soon as they go down the Hitler argument or start throwing the word 'socialist' around (for which they do not know the definition), they sound like fools, and all the rational people change the channel.
Keep up the good fight, but use good intelligent jabs and punches and you will reach a vastly larger audience.
I dont think the country can take much more of Obama,anyone of the republicans would be better.
I like Ron Paul,the others sound a bit to anxious to take on Iran.
The economy will turn around in about 3 years, no matter who's President. I'd rather Obama get unwarranted credit for it than one of these morons.
quantumflux
That is exactly what idid Ron PAul has my vote
Ron Paul 2012
It is a dog and pony show and bachman is the Ugly dawg
Come on now, it could be worse. Hillary could be running again.
amen to that
Hillary is Beautiful, you see Her when she was younger? Clinton/warren 2016-2024
You are absolutely right, she has a strong resemblance to the hood ornament on my 52 Pontiac. Unfortunately she doesn't light up when you pull the headlight switch. Perhaps that's why Willy went on the prowl.
mountain. First, clearly understand I am NOT a Republican. But to resort to name calling like the Republicans do when they have no substance for their opinion is an insult to Democrats and Independents. If Dems and Independents are going to resort to those tactics, then we've allowed ourselves to sink to their level. You can rise above that, I'm sure.
Wow, that Paul guy is a fornicating cretin.
Not a valid comment, even in the world of old sci fi television, Starbuck