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Wolf Blitzer delivers the most important breaking news and political, international, and national security stories of the day. Tune to The Situation Room weekdays 5-7pm ET on CNN.
August 12th, 2011
09:35 AM ET
Do Romney, Perry pose a threat to Obama?
CNN's Wolf Blitzer talks to Obama adviser David Axelrod about the current field of GOP presidential candidates.
RELATED: Perry will announce Saturday
SEE ALSO: CAFFERTY FILE: Destroying Romney right way for Pres. Obama to win 2nd term?
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The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer is the command center for breaking news, politics and extraordinary reports from around the world. Tune in weeknights from 5-7pm ET on CNN.
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Pastor Jeffers of the First Baptist Church in Dallas might want to avoid IRS investigation for jeopardizing his church's tax advantages for so many tax free benefits. The church sits on acres of downtown Dallas expensive property.
H.Thompson
Perry's jobs record is compromised against Obama because they were either low paying jobs or government jobs created by the stimulus. In debate: Perry–"Texas created more jobs than..."; Obama–"You're welcome for the stimulus, Governor." Debate over. Romneycare and flip flopping on everything kill Mitt. Who has more military donations than Obama? Who can take independent and Democratic anti-war supporters who voted for Obama last time away from him? Who actually has an understanding of just how dire the economic trouble we're in goes? Ron Paul. And what about this Gary Johnson guy? He has Paul's ideas AND he's pro-choice. Democrats and independent women are in play with him. Give me a Ron Paul/Gary Johnson ticket. Let them bring in Kucinich as Secretary of Peace, Ventura for Defense, Thomas Sowell for Treasury, Elizabeth Edwards for State and, while we're dreaming, Stephen Colbert for Press Secretary.
Gary Johnson looks to be one of the best in this election. I seem to be the only that's heard of him.
Obama is a threat to himself just by his actions the republicans do not need to do or say very much because of this.
I think six gun Perry poses a threat to the country. Once the voters know what is in his book they should realize that he is as extreme as they come. He is not for the middle class and will turn the country into a corporation.
You said it. Heard him on Fox today surrounded by pro Israeli lobby and cutting loose on Obama. He had to read everything he said, most likely some else wrote his speech. I don't know why Obama has become a target by Israel's lobby? Maybe because he did not bomb Iran or gave the green light for Israel to do the job. The fact is the policy of the US is the same as under Bush. Obama spend a year and a half trying to bring the two parties to negotiate, during that time frame Israel kept building new settlements. I don't think Perry can beat Obama but if he does Israel will gain nothing. This country is not going to another war for another ten years unless someone sends a rocket on our way.
Be fair. Aren't you forgetting that Israel gave up land to the Palestinians in exchange for peace negotiations. The Palestinians took the land but keep puttung off the discussion.
Don't be selective with your facts. Unless you didn't know that.
We need a third party candidate from the independent wing! I'm a Demo. and my wife of 34 years is a Repub. and we both yearn for a man/woman who can think, act, speak and conduct an image for most Americans to approve of and be proud of ... we both like Hillary as a possible runner with her low-key expert, well thought out experience but feel Pres. Obama will only be a four year Pres. Perhaps we just cannot take more than four years from a black person – no matter his skills and honesty... what a shame. By the way, we like him and his honesty but wish the House and Senate could agree! Whoever we support as a Nation in the final end, please pray for our elected officials
. Thank you..
I pray that god almighty cnintoue tobless you mr, prisendent obama as you strive torule the unisted state of America.mr, prisendent, i say god richly bless youand your wife.From William F. Brewer.From the republice of liberia.Thanks you mr, prisendent.
You all forget voters are stupid and mostly un-informed. It will all come down to the price of gas on election day. People care a LOT about a 25 cent difference in gas price.
They pose a threat to the america people and that is a big problem for all.
Either on will be a huge improvement over Obama. He is a total FAILURE!
Roomey is no match to Obama. Perry or whatevr he calls himself is a another Bush which will not diggest down well with the american. Boochaman will never be the first female US president while Hillary is on the line after Obama. Read my lip.
Nice comments, but get yourself a dictionary and learn how to spell. You are part of the problem.
Probablly support the DUMBocrat controlled educational system.
Rick Perry was disrespectful to the office of the President. With his temper I doubt he would be as polite as Obama was to him in response. No matter what he thinks of the president he needs to show respect. After his remarks about Texas seceding does he expect Texas to become part of Mexico. Mexico is not doing well economically. What is wrong with Perry? After his recent performance I would not trust him representing the U.S. with other heads of state.
They pose NO THREAT, but RON PAUL does!!!! RON PAUL 2012!!! Join the rEVOLution!
Yawn. Does anyone care about these has been & proven inefficient parties. Ala
Democrat Republican. ZZZZZZ
no he is not a threat
I agree with all of the above but they should be tougher rules for all the politicans so they only get what we get,and they really donot deserve that.Jim Thomas Phx.Az.
Sorry Wolf,
If this is the best of the republicans, we are in serious trouble.
Romney has no clue what he stands for, he never gives a definite answer to any question.
And unfortunately we need more than just the Three Ps Prayer, promises, and politics as usual.
I think Mitt Romney stands the best chance of defeating president Obama. Rick Perry is too far out there and would be another George W Bush which is why we find ourselves in this situation we are in. I would like to know more about why governor Rick Perry let a person get executed when there was enough evidence for at least a stay of execution.
It is all over Texas that Perry is either bisexual or gay. There was fire-works in the Governers Office and it is all over the internet. He is not the man.
Not a major threat by either candidates. Romney has his roots from Wall Street, helped companies down-size in US and move operations to places like China and has a horrible record as govenor of MA. Perry is a religious zelot and his record as governor of Texas will be revealed and it will not be as impressive as he and his chronies assert. America is moderate in terms of religious beliefs and values, and in terms of politics. Conservative Republicans, please read the polls and adjust accordingly if you want to have a chance to win the Whitehouse (but God help all of us if you do)!
Not really. Romney has a lot of baggage that can be exploited, not the least of which is being on both sides of some issues at one time or the other. And, Perry's heretofore hidden background history as a Texas politician other than jobs, and his overt mixing of religion and politics will show extremism that will turn off many voters.
To my liberal friends!
Start the 28th Amendment!!
The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc.
Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.
I'm asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.
Congressional Reform Act of 2011
1.. Term Limits. 12 years only, one of the possible options below..
A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms
2. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 10-1-11
The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves .
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.
This has been floating around for some time and each time I send it to everyone in my address book. We just keep sending and sending this and nothing ever actually gets done. How do we get it done? We just keep talking about it. You know the people in Congress will not vote for it, so how in the world do we get it done. It needs to be done. Now!!
Awesome....can you even imagine? Except I think 12 years is too long for congress....
Great ideas, but a little extreme. Congress would never go for most of it. What congress really needs to do is stretch a arm across the aisleway and put bipartisan politics aside and correct the situations that past and current congresses and administrations have put in front of us. The conservatives and tea partiers need to grasp reality, and the liberals need to stop whining and wasting everyone's time with ridiculous legislation aimed at coddling the lazy and keeping unintelligent from hurting themselves. Anybody read "The Greatest Generation?" We need to concentrate on getting back to that. Citizens that care about their country and see public service as a privilege. We need a congress that cares about what's best for the country and what it's constituents want, not what's going to further their party's platform (see: "Profiles in Courage"). I also feel like none of these GOP candidates (if you can call some of them candidates) really want to be president, I think some of them just want to win the world's biggest popularity contest. They're all so concerned with the competition aspect of the race, that I don't believe some of them have actually thought past November 2012. And to the gentleman who said Obama is a total failure, I think you've missed the mark a little bit. This man inherited a terrible situation from an administration that inherited a massive surplus and turned it into a massive debt, used the floor of the Stock Exchange as a personal casino, and started a totally unecessary war in a volatile region who's culture we still have yet to fully understand. Obama did manage to kill Osama Bin Laden in 3 years, something G.W. couldn't do in 8. So, total failure? I think not. And I'm not even a fan of the President by any means. As a veteran, a father and husband, an American, I'm more concerned with the fact that our Congress is essentially useless, than I am with Obama or the GOP presidential candidates. Also Bachman and Perry are the biggest threat to this country, next to Congressional ineffeciency.
I like that idea.. Congress have too much power. They are really more powerful than the president due to most of them stay there in office for over twenty years... I wish I could go to work and vote for a raise, who is going to veto it.
Actually Congress now has a 12 yr limit. Just FYI