Equal Time for the Republicans

Submitted by Collins Parker on November 28, 2007 - 7:52pm.

Let's start with Wednesday night's CNN/YouTube debate.

I'll have to admit.

This is the most entertaining debate format of the season.

While many of the questions are dumb, I like that the candidates are uneasy and having to roll with the punches.

Here's a wrapup of the Republican version on Wednesday.

But the biggest disappointment for me was that the guys at Red State Update didn't make the cut this time.

Back in the summer, they were the hit of the Democratic Debate with a question about Al Gore. (see Joe Legge's Blog)

But this time, they're questions were too long and too mean to air.

However, that doesn't mean we can't enjoy them.

So here are all 13 questions they submitted for the debate (my favorites are the Reagan quesiton, Rudy & Ron Paul)

All the Candidates (Who is the Reaganiest?)

All the Candidates (Is this the best we got?)

All the Candidates (When Hillary becomes President...)

All the Candidates (The Christian vote formula)

Fred Thompson (the softball question)

Fred Thompson (do you like my painting?)

Duncan Hunter (wasted question)

Rudy Giulliani (call from his wife)

John McCain (the Woodstock Museum)

Mitt Romney (what are you scared of?)

Ron Paul (bathroom break)

Tom Tancredo (Spanish language debates)

Mike Huckabee (losing weight)

Finally, a Red State Update invitation for a YouTube Debate alternative for Republicans.

If you want to check out the real guys behind Red State, check out the Nashville Scene profile after they became "internet famous" this summer.

We now have some first hand experience with the Ron Paul internet legions ourselves.

Our Republican poll last weekend got Ron Pauled.

Fred Thompson was cruising until the Paulies found our poll and tipped the scales.

We shut it down for a few days because of the deluge, but I've opened it back up in case you want to vote & engage the Paulies on the comment line.

Okay, I've got to give you one more Red State take on Ron Paul nation.

So far, I've shown you the Fred Thompson ads running in Iowa, the latest democratic ads, and may favorite, the infamous Mike Huckabee/Chuck Norris ad.

So now I owe you some more republican ads.

These are ads released in the last couple of weeks, mainly for Iowa and New Hampshire.

Rudolph Giulliani's ad is called "Tested." He lays out his record in New York City.

No celebrities in this Mike Huckabee ad, just the former Southern Baptist pastor talking about his faith.

Ron Paul #1 - I don't have a copy of his ads. So in the true spirit of his campaing, let me link you to a couple of them. First up, you've got to love an ad with a testimonial that says "actually, I agree with him most of the time. I really do." And it's good to see he didn't waste his campaign money on professional actors.

Ron Paul #2 - I kind of like this old fashioned ad. Turn on the camera & the candidate tells you what he'll do.

Mitt Romney: "Take Charge" talks about his track record of addressing problems.

Mitt Romney: "American Family" introduces you to his wife and kids.

Fred Thompson: "Service" highlights Thompsons past in the Watergate hearings and Blanton prosecution.

Fred Thompson: "Marie" features the woman who blew the whistle in the Blanton scandal, and inspired the movie of the same name that began Thompson's acting career.

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Fred Thompson for President!

Submitted by Regina (not verified) on November 29, 2007 - 4:41am.

They Said It: Thompson Social Security Plan Applauded as ‘Courageous,’ ‘Honest,’ and ‘Substantive’

Courage & Honesty

Republican presidential contender Fred Thompson’s plan to save Social Security and protect seniors, which he introduced Friday afternoon in a Washington, D.C., hotel, differs starkly from standard election year pablum on the subject in one key way: He’s actually treating voters like adults. (ABC, 11/9)

Thompson...is seeking to show he is willing to take on tough issues if elected in November 2008, telling a news conference in Washington he was the only candidate to offer an extensive Social Security plan. (Reuters, 11/10)

“You certainly have to admire his courage for putting this out,” said Alan Viard with the American Enterprise Institute. (Tennessean, 11/10)

Supporters contend that Thompson’s willingness to take on the so-called third rail of politics will impress voters. (Bloomberg, 11/10)

Conservative economic experts applauded Thompson for offering specifics on an issue considered to be politically dangerous. (Tennessean, 11/10)

“He’s not afraid to be brutally honest with the American people about the challenges that lie ahead,” said Representative Zach Wamp, a Tennessee Republican who is working to recruit supporters for Thompson. “People can tell the difference between a strong leader telling the truth and a weak leader talking politics.” (Bloomberg, 11/10)

Substance

[Thompson is] the first candidate of either party to offer a detailed proposal to fix the nation’s retirement system. (WP, 11/10)

The Republican candidate laid out a detailed, four-page proposal (WSJ, 11/10)

Mr. Thompson’s plan...was more specific than what the Bush White House put on the table when it sought to overhaul the system. It also varied substantially from the traditional conservative approach of focusing primarily on personal investment accounts. (NYT, 11/10)

Economist Jason Furman said Thompson deserves credit for offering a detailed plan to address the projected Social Security shortfall...(Bloomberg, 11/10)

In discussing policy, Thompson was in his element. (Politico, 11/9)

He’d prefer to talk about substance. (Politico, 11/9)

Thompson’s plan draws on ideas favored by conservatives: a reduction in benefits, rather than an increase in payroll taxes; and a shift toward private accounts, rather than government-provided payments. (WP, 11/10)

Rivals

[Thompson] ventured Friday into an area few rivals have tread: advocacy of a fundamental overhaul of Social Security. (WSJ, 11/10)

Although all of the presidential candidates have spoken, when asked, about the need to fix the Social Security system, none has offered such a detailed plan nor talked so eagerly and often about the issue. (WSJ, 11/10)

Among Republicans, former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney have talked in general terms ... but none has offered a specific plan. (WP, 11/10)

Mr. Thompson is the only one of the Republicans running for the White House who has made Social Security a central theme of his campaign. (NYT, 11/10)

He is the only presidential candidate so far to make Social Security an anchor of his campaign. (WSJ, 11/10)

But with less than two months before the 2008 voting begins, candidates have generally been reluctant to confront the Social Security issue. (WP, 11/10)

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Saving and Protecting Social Security
A Plan to Ensure Retirement Security for All Americans
http://www.fred08.com/virtual/socialsecurity.aspx

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