Tavis Smiley's Republican Presidential Forum

Juan Williams asks about school integration

Prometheus 6 — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:25:30 -0700

It must be killing him to act as though he cares. And I know it was last so folks didn't REALLY have to answer.

Tavis Smiley's Republican Presidential Forum

Death penalty

Prometheus 6 — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:25:04 -0700

Paul: No death penalty...DNA evidence changed his mind

Brownback: Um, I forget.

Tancredt: Kill 'em for treason

Hunter: Death penalty needed for deterance

Keyes: Death penalty needed to send a message that we support life...especially when the killer is Black. F#*k you, Alan.

Huckabee: We need it,

Tavis Smiley's Republican Presidential Forum

Darfur

Prometheus 6 — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:18:59 -0700

Huckabee: Abortions!

Paul: You know how I roll...

Brownback: ...is all over it, as long as there are no troops involved.

Tancredo: what he said. Stick it to the UN.

Hunter: Humanitarian convoy (cool), and teach the locals self defense (WHOA! Foreign policy disaster!)

Keyes: Sorry, I wasn't paying attention. Seriously.

Tavis Smiley's Republican Presidential Forum

And you know what I wish?

Prometheus 6 — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:11:36 -0700

I wish I could see the audience to see just who is applauding when.

These guys are real comfortable talking about Iraq. They need no commentary. It may be nonsense but it's well delivered nonsense.

Tavis Smiley's Republican Presidential Forum

Health care

Prometheus 6 — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:06:30 -0700

They got no plan, so...

I am not, off the top of my head, seeing any alignment between the questions and the covenant.

And I am wrong. These answers are interesting in a weird way. Hunter suggested more price fixing and new tax regulations in one minute that I've ever heard in as short a timeframe. Keyes says improve health care by strengthening the family! Huckabee and Paul were predictable...

The difference between the Democratic and Republican forums are interesting.

Brownback is talking about his slumming experiences again.

Tavis Smiley's Republican Presidential Forum

ID cards for voting

Prometheus 6 — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:59:14 -0700

Tancredo: DC is not a state. If they want representation, split it into Virginia and Maryland.

Hunter: DC should be able to keep and bear arms. Bullshit about voter fraud. Get an ID.

Keyes: DC residents want to vote, move.

Huckabee: DC residents should be able to vote, even if it takes a Constitutional amendment. Issue photo id when you register...not bad.

Paul: DC needs a constitutional amendment, State id is okay, national ID is out.

Tancredo: DC needs a constitutional amendment,

Tavis Smiley's Republican Presidential Forum

Jena! Where's the equal justice?

Prometheus 6 — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:53:07 -0700

What will you do to insure equal justice?

Brownback: I been slumming...he promotes a "Second Chance Act"? Never heard of it.

Tancredo: Who has been denying race has any impact...cut madatory sentencing (not bad)...the Black family, the welfare state, you need morals, values and discipline.

Hunter: All he knows about Jena is a white boy got knocked out. We should all join the Army.

Tavis: You didn't answer the question. Hunter: That's right.

Keyes: Wants to extend government down to the neighborhood level.

Huckabee: Drinking and drugging should be handled by rehab instead of jail.

Paul: We know...no laws at all. Props for ending the War on Drugs, though.

Tavis Smiley's Republican Presidential Forum

Immigration reform

Prometheus 6 — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:43:46 -0700

Personal note: I don't write about immigration much...said a long time ago you have to catch it at the employers and employers won't pay but so much and so it won't happen.

Paul: Nope. Immigration problem is due to the welfare state.

Brownback: Secure the border, enforcement at the worksite, no path to citizenship.

Tancredo: Don't call it "rounding people up."

Hunter: They gotta go.

Keyes: He's PISSED...agrees with Hunter.

Huckabee: Yup, get the employers, stop the creation of another kind of slave labor (nice rhetorical touch)

Tavis Smiley's Republican Presidential Forum

Race and Unemployment

Prometheus 6 — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:36:06 -0700

Huckabee: The gimme first...racism, which government can't change but can influence.

Paul: Minimum wage law is to blame (see Walter Williams). Confusion between sound economy and sound society.

Brownback: Need to be colorblind (we made great progress). Stimulate the economy by allowing flat tax locally??? JESUS, you think the tax code is hellishly complex now?

Tancredo: The problems are not because of race. Oh, he's an ass...I can iugnore him and edit the Brownback comment.

Hunter: Cut taxes. Help small businessman.

Keyes: Same as Tancredo, different supporting rhetoric. Special emphasis on how immoral Black folks are.

Tavis Smiley's Republican Presidential Forum

Second Question

Prometheus 6 — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:28:56 -0700

Huckabee: Gives credit to Ike vs. the Democratic Governor re: Little Rock. Gets on equal justice and support for closing health disparities

Paul: Admirable consistence

Brownback: Wants to support families, open the African American History museum and an apology for slavery...admits it's all symbolic

Tancredo: Let's not talk about race. A rhetorical slap in the face for mentioning Reagan.

Hunter: Pornography?? C'mon...

I can break in here to say we got no specifics on this stuff

The Brother Ambassador: PREACH!

He did NOT pay for that mike.

Tavis Smiley's Republican Presidential Forum

First question

Prometheus 6 — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:21:39 -0700

Huckabee was kind of bland

Paul was pure Libertarian.

Brownback apologized, but his South Carolina plan (all Black folks in SC should register as a Rep.) was amusing.

Tancredo showed. I don't remember where I heard he wouldn't be there.

Hunter won't say bad things about Republicans, and is on that immigrant ass.

Alan Keyes actually made a good point about the other players not making it to the Values Voters forum

Tavis Smiley's Republican Presidential Forum

What, no puppy?

Prometheus 6 — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:14:49 -0700

Michael Steele...okay, I had to expect him to slip in some "only because we're Republican" rhetoric.

Tavis Smiley's Republican Presidential Forum

Keeping the house lights low

Prometheus 6 — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:07:44 -0700

It's not quite a full house. And a lot more white folks than there was at Howard.

Nice shot at the non-attending candidates by Tom Joyner.

DIRECT shot at the "colorblind" concept.

Tavis Smiley's Republican Presidential Forum

What I expect

Prometheus 6 — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 10:40:46 -0700

Lotta Republicans are expecting nothing but "gotcha" questions, which lets you know THEIR level of race consciousness. Meanwhile, the three reporters are people quite comfortable with Republicans,,,Juan Williams, Cynthia Tucker and Ray Suarez.

That's right...Ray Suarez of PBS. They ran out of Black folks willing to take them seriously.

So the questions should be as interesting as the answers.

Tavis Smiley's Republican Presidential Forum

Changes already!

Prometheus 6 — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 07:08:06 -0700

Tom Tancredo is out, Alan Keyes is in. Joy pervades every corner of the kingdom.