Tag Archives: Newt Gingrich

CNN Presidential Debate

The GOP Presidential candidates invaded Las Vegas Tuesday to participate in the CNN Western Republican Presidential Debate.  Anderson Cooper was the moderator.

Headlines today range from “Candidates come out Swinging” to “Sparks fly at GOP event” to “GOP Front-Runners Catch Heat” to “Republican rivals get rough in Las Vegas debate.”  They are all true.

It was nasty.  It was contentious.  Some observers are wondering if the GOP will be able to unite after the primary is over.  Let’s take a look at it! Continue reading →

Debates and Football

Gee whiz CNN – you should never schedule a CNN/Tea Party debate when there’s a super-duper double helping of Monday Night Football on.  C’mon man…what were you thinking?

CNN has the debate divided into four sections on their website.  So I watched it.  Today.  I nodded off during a Michele Bachmann tirade regarding Rick Perry and 12 year old girls.  Continue reading →

The Republican Debate

I happened to catch the Republican Presidential debate last night at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.  It was televised by MSNBC. I tweeted during the debate that it was like “anything you can do, I can do better” time.

I decided to sleep on it and then write this column (besides I was listening to a baseball game).  So, here are a few short lines about each of the eight contenders.  I give medals (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) to the three who made the podium.  Enjoy and discuss. Continue reading →

Caught My Eye…

Happy Friday – we made it again!  Summer vacations are winding down and school starts soon – what a freaking bummer – but we do have about three weekends left before “the end.”

For the new folks, Caught My Eye is the (almost) award-winning weekly column where I take a look at some of the stories I did not have time to write about during the week.  I offer some brief comments about the stories and sometimes add just a touch of sarcasm!

This week I talk about the Iowa debate, the Downpour Music Festival, I check the e-mails in my political inbox, I comment about rural air service, talk about the supercommittee and much more!  So please read on… Continue reading →

Government Shutdown: All In?

I am kind of looking forward to March 4, 2011. That’s the date that the Republicans and Democrats in Washington must come to an agreement on a new spending plan or the Federal Government will cease most operations.

The spending by Washington is out of control and that is a fact. The two sides (Republicans and Democrats) have different ideas on how much to cut and how much to spend.

The biggest question is can the Republican leaders in the U.S. House and Senate handle this shutdown better than they did in 1995 and 1996 when they lost the public opinion game big time. Back then the Federal Government shutdown November 14-19, 1995, and December 16, 1995, to January 6, 1996.

During that time, President Bill Clinton came out the winner and House Speaker Newt Gingrich lost his mojo. Some reports say that Speaker Gingrich was miffed at Clinton for making him sit in the back of Air Force One and decided to take his toys and go home. Clinton’s approval rating climbed and he easily beat Bob Dole for President in 1996 (379 electoral votes to 159).

Gingrich never had much power after that. Continue reading →