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BLITZER’S BLOG: Get ready for ugly, nasty campaign
By Wolf Blitzer, CNN
Get ready for a really ugly general election presidential campaign.
The negative ads are going to be intense no matter who wins the Republican nomination.
If you had any doubts about the effectiveness of negative attack ads, just take a look at what has happened in Iowa these past few weeks. The anti-Newt Gingrich attack ads were non-stop. When I was in Iowa this week, I couldn’t watch TV without seeing Gingrich pummeled. They came from the pro-Mitt Romney super PACs and from the Ron Paul and Rick Perry campaigns. They were powerful and effective. They worked in helping to collapse Gingrich’s momentum in only a few weeks.
The former House Speaker tried to take the high road and refused to take the bait. He didn’t fight back with his own attacks. That was clearly a mistake.
Only this week, during an interview with me in Dubuque, Iowa, did he start to push back against Ron Paul and Mitt Romney. He blasted both of them. But this is very late in the Iowa game.
Once the Republican dust settles, we will see the Republican groups begin to launch their attack ads against President Obama. They will be fierce.
The Obama re-election campaign and the Democratic National Committee have already started their own attacks against Romney. They assume he has the best chance of winning the GOP nomination. They also think he has the best chance potentially of defeating the president.
The bottom line: If the Republican and Democratic political strategists weren’t convinced before Iowa, they are certainly now. Go negative early and often.
This is going to be a very nasty and ugly – and probably personal – campaign. Both sides will be ferocious and non-stop in their attacks. We should get ready for that.
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Post by: Filed under: 2012 election • Iowa • Republicans • Wolf Blitzer |
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Review how our economy is very good when unemployment realistically left more than 6,000,000 people unemployed in 2011, and went up to where our economy. Where the deficit we are attacking us with the increase in taxes and the continuation of unemployment at an ever increasing layers
When the corporate "citizens" really pour in the money for campaign ads, I hope all of those who support the Citizens United ruling by Supreme Court activists appeciate the broadcasts of disinformation, hatred, swift-boating, and other dishonest messages. "Government by the people" is now "government: buy the people."
Santorum + John King + Controversial Comments ! Compare & Contrast ! CNN has what he said during this speaking engagement as he makes an inference or references black people. Why did he lie about it to John King last night ? How does he feel and what does he mean ? Is he confused and he tells John King that he's seen the clip and says he said something else. No he didn't and that's why John King is making the point to ask to begin with because the comments could have been misconstrued and are controversial . It was Santorum's opportunity to be clear but instead ......his nose grew like a fairy tale. 10 min later CNN plays his speaking engagement and you hear exactly what he said and he referenced black people but what's going on with this ? Why lie about it on John King and can we clarify to get to the bottom of this ? What Santorum says he said vs what he said but most importantly,what did he mean and then why lie about it ? Find his speaking engagement and then head for John King's interview last night to compare. Doesn't reflect very positively on him or his honesty in this particular situation.
An this surprises you?!
Santorum needs to remember this is the 21st Century. There are cameras everywhere and they all have a replay button.
Those running for office really don't have to take out smear ads, the news media reminds us every few minutes of every mistake or misfortune any candicate has every gotten into. Seriously, each year gets worse! Af far as I'm concerned our news media providers are stearing every inch of this election campain. Constantly reminding us of every short coming of each candidate.
The general election will be the nastiest ever run, is my prediction. It will be based on lies, racism, hate, fear, innuendo, and deep social divides. I'll let you decide which political affiliation will use some of those choice words, but if you thought the last presidential election was ugly, you ain't seen nothin' yet!
It's sad, my own analysis is that this is born out of our 24/7 world of red meat, hot rhetoric talk radio and cable shows, where it's important to take a hard core stance on everything from bombing Iran to clubbing baby seals.
What Costella( the GOP strategist who smiles with sarcasm) needs to remember is the fact he has forgotten that this election is about the same issues as that of 2008, where Iraq war and the melt-down. Iraq war exploded our debt level ( though GOP wants another war NOW) and meld-down destroyed all the JOBS which Obama had to fix, and there is no miracle happening as it is taking its toll( i.e time)!
Hence the issues are the same !!
Yes, it will be ugly but President OBAMA will weather though it and the American People will win in the end.
One half of him knows just how ugly the GOP can and will be because he has heard and seen all of it all his life.
The problem is, a lot of Americans will find out just how ugly their fellow Americans really are. Your right, 2008 was just
a warm up
Republicans have never had any plan other than to reduce all burden on the wealthiest individuals and biggest global transnational corporations. At the expense of first the poor, and then steadily the middle classes and finally lower upper income domestic professionals. They do it by playing to the prejudices of uneducated rubes. Party of God indeed. Good one. While it's been a smashing success for them and their wealthy donors, it has been a disaster for everyone else.
If you all can't see this by now then I don't know what to tell you or what you need. For an archangel to come down from heaven and deliver you a personal statement perhaps?
Yep, the media will keep the gasoline pouring onto the fire of the election process..The media at large is so blindly supporting the left that anything and everything will be tossed into the fire to keep things ignited and the turmoil running rampant..Just look at what the media did with the "teaparty" and the "occupiers"..
Wow! Another earth shattering insight from Blitzer! I can't believe a political campaign will be nasty!?!?!
They have nothing to say so attack ads are the way Nothing but smoke and mirrors Maybe we need a new system of government and the way we hold elections the gov it seems are no longer concerned with its citizens only their corparate friends and how to retain power at all costs
I do enjoy your show because of your objective reporting. It is an unbiased reporting especially where politics is concern unlike your chief political analyst, she can not hide her contempt and hatred for the president and the Democrats. You can see through her how much she wants them to fail. She has nothing possitive to say about the president, on the other hand every thing about the GOP is positive and it is what America needs. Tell her to lighten up some and do a balancing reporting. Kudos to you and keep up your good work/reporting.
This is exacty the kind of stuff that turns me off to voting. I declare no winner, all of these fools do not met my threshold for presidential material. I do not see the positive American spirit, willingness to make unpopular or difficult decisions that are in the best interests of America and it's people, and a galvanizing and motivating charecter that brings the people together, like Presidents of yesteryear. I saw these qualities every now and then in our more recent presidents, but for the most part they have been confused and decion making distorted by the current geopolitical configuration, the global economic crisis, and most importanly the state of the bipartisain political system.
the more uglier the better and to think of it that you people would make a lot of money reporting it, does Jack think he is getting fill-fee rich just from just commenting on it -- I wish I made that kind of money
I doubt that it is Romney's SuperPAC ads sinking Newt. It is Newt's forty-year record of alienating moderates, the poor, and minorities that is sinking Newt. It is Newt saying "poor kids don't work unless it's illegal" as he takes millions in taxpayer funds for the Gingrich Foundation that is sinking Newt. It is Newt outright telling a gay man to go vote for someone else that is sinking Newt. In short, it is Newt Gingrich, and Newt alone, who is sinking the Gingrich campaign.
Hard to know whether Obama is a good president since Congress has been nothing but an obstructionist institution. One thing for sure I'd rather a leader that concerned with 80% of the population than the other way around
Do you seriously not realize that typical Americans wish for an entirely different government altogether? I've noticed that those who support Obama are completely out of touch with the constitution. Homie the clown has spent more money than was spent between George Washington and Clinton. The bail outs and spending bills, among other things, are unconstitutional. Dont you dare try to tell me that they are required. What exactly do you stand for?
I've reached the point where they won't be talking to me me....I"ve had it with the nasties,smart mouths and lies. I won't be listening as they go on with their diatribes and I believe I'm not alone!!! We are all sick to death of a small group of lying,cheating bird brains ranting on about what the president hasn't done and what they will do. Lies,lies lies!!!..Heaven help one and all!!!!
.
Its going to have to get nasty...we are in trouble. Voters are going to have to make a decision as to the direction they want this country to take... The democratic party has been hijacked by Marxists, in effect destroyed. The GOP is now center left and the voters are sensing this as per the elections of November 2011. We independents and center of the road Americans are going to clean house in 2012...and not just on the left side of the isle. What is to come is higher taxes for all A/mericans and the reigning in of social programs and defense spending. We will have leadership that believes in America and her exceptional ideals. NObama NOvember 2012.. lets get our country back!
ok–but how are you going to get it all done if you don't have the votes on Capitol Hill?? LOTS would have been done had the GOP not decided to do all they could to sink Obama from day one! In some ways, they encouraged this Tea Party and I really think they should have been more careful what they wished for!! I understand wanting to vote Independent, but after seeing these last few years, I would rather vote more of one party in so that we don't have another DO NOTHING CONGRESS. I don't think even 1/3 of each would work!! It would just clog every intersection even more.
Center left? Marxist? That is just dumb
Come on Jerry. You really think the GOP is gonna give you your country back? Or do you really mean "back" from who? The GOP wants to bomb Iran "because they have nuclear weapons." But the GOP won't dare try and bomb Russia, China or Korea, even though they have thousands of nuclear weapons. You can blame Obama until the rooster crows but the GOP is not going to help America. You can count on it.
When you have a billion dollar war chest backing Chicago Style politics it can't help but get ugly.
I got news for you. Its already been ugly and nasty. Just ask FOX tv, Rush, Boehner, Cantor, McConnell, the making Obama a one term president GOP, Koch brothers, grover norquist, need I say more. Not this time though, voters will not be fooled.
May the entire GOP field of lunatic candidates implode! They're certainly on track to do so.
Well, Mr. Blitzer, it looks like the Presidential campaign may not even begin until next summer as the GOP contenders may very well be still duking it out amongst themselves until then. A few may drop out after Iowa, but I see Romney, Paul and Gingrich fighting it out for the long-term.
We'll if they want MY vote, they need to tell me why they are better than the other guy, not why the other guy is worse than they are.
Well said. I'm not interested in candidates from either side whose only purpose is to tell me how much everyone else is awful. Show the nation what CAN be done as a President, not what the opposition can't.
If I was an American I would be so angry right now. I consider myself a center right conservative but I don't see any point in electing a leader who got to his position by being better at negative attack adds, not based in fact (lies), than the other candidates. What these attack adds are really saying is that Americans are to stupid to think about the real issues or problems America has and pick a leader who best fits there plan for dealing with them. The media are not going to help because they like the stories generated and the rating they bring. Don't get frustrated America. Do the work for yourself. They all have websites that discuss what they want to do as GOP leader. It's time to grow up and stop letting the media lead you around like some prize bull with a ring through his nose.
Just another annoying reality television show disguised as campaign 2012.
The Republican nominee better start producing their long form birth certificate soon.
Watch for a lot of whisper campaigning. THe Republicans most effective negative campaigning will evolve around latent racism and I don't believe that even network ad sales will accept screeds using the "n" word.
Willy Horton, swift boats, birth certificates... Yeah, I'll be shocked if the Generally Oppressive Party runs a negative campaign.
Republicans are masters of the attack ad. They are also the group most likely to be swayed by them. The longer the Republican nominating process goes on, the more damage they will do to their own cause.
"Ugly" and "nasty" describe what the Republicans have been engaged in ever since President Obama was sworn into office. Why should we expect anything else from now until November 6, 2012?
Does everyone know the president is elected before they count our votes in Alaska? Talk about fair elections. Our vote is for nothing! Maybe next election vote counting could start in Alaska. Come on USA let's be fair!
The Republicans want us to forget what happens when they get power in this country. But most of us do have a memory and we have not forgotten. We tried the Republican way already. It does not work.
Like nasty campaigns are anything new! How soon we forget the "call at 3 am ads"! How soon we forget the legal fights about Florida only counting as half because of early primary. How soon we forget "he playing the race card"!
Oh hi. I support what Tyran says.
-Bob Smith
Bob I also agree with Tyran's wisdom. This is truly amazing. –Wendell Ernest Johnosn
Barack the best prez ever. Michelle will be prez after him. Then the girls. Then the mother in law. Then the dog. Then Barack again. Suspend elections now. No need. Because we have Barak.
The GOP hate Obama more than they love America. They are destroying it to get reelected.
Best government money can buy.
Don't blame the campaigns for the nastiness; blame the American people. They only sell us what we'll buy and trash sells.
RON PAUL 20121!! Don't screw this up IOWA.. This could be our last chance for America...
Sadly, I'm afraid this is exactly what we're likely to see. Facts and objective discussions are probably doomed.
It's a wonder why the GOP hates him. Obama has advanced successfully, more policies favored by Republicans than any President since Reagan. That's why the GOP field is so full of crazy far right ideologues. None of them can be a moderate centrist Republican. Obama is already in that spot.
Is it any surprise to anyone that the Republican CONServatives are resorting to negative campaigning among each other? It shouldn't be! They have shown their true colors before and since they have literally no platform of ideas on how to move this country forward, Attack Ads are their main goal and all they know in the hopes of winning the White House. But it will not be with any substance or plans but rather with the same ol', same ol' rhetoric. We simply cannot afford to go back to the Failed Policies of the Republican's past! For everyone who believes in Keeping their hard-earned benefits they have paid into for so many years during their working years, like Social Security, it takes a Democrat to Save It For You! Republicans fail at this, time and time again and only wish to diminish what working-class Americans, the Middle-Class, minorities, and the poor look forward to receiving in their golden years. If you are independently wealthy, Vote Republican! If you are the other 99 percent, your only Chance and Hope is to Vote Democrat!
Yea it's going to be ugly. First the Republican don't really have a plan for the future. I have never seen a Republican that could look to the future for answers to our economic problems. They always think Reagan. The truth is Reagan would have a very hard time getting elected today. After all he raised TAXES to balance the budget.
On the other hand the Democrats want to be all things to all the people. Well that not going to happen. We are going broke with all the spending and zero tax collection to pay for programs. Like the Republicans. The Democrats don't want to raise taxes to pay for the programs they demand. Yes now and then the Democrats yell for more taxes on the rich but that is never going to happen.
What we need is an end to organized political parties in Washington D..C. We need to send Americans to Washington to work together to pass laws that are a benefit to the whole nation. Yes some taxes would be increased. Yes some government programs would be phase out because they are not needed by the vast majority of the people.
America is a great country the only problem we have is to many people thinking about themselves rather than thinking
about what's good for the country.
My mute button is all ready!!
Yeah, so glad, I get my tv via Hulu now, so I won't be constantly bombarded with stupid campaign commercials.
Yes, it is going to be ugly, and we can count on the media to make the ugly uglier...as for Newt taking the high road, he took the high road because he does not have the money to take the low road.
It is certainly going to get ugly as the GOP have hated Obama since he took office. Nothing they come up with will shock us though, as most of it is lies made up out of thin air! Sad this is how we now elect a President!
You are so true with your statement, all the good that the President has done, the republicans don't like it, but if it was a Republican that have done all the good that the President has done thus far nothing would be said.
The main stream media will defend Obama in 2012 as they did in 2008.
No need to lie, President Obama's dismal record, actually complete lack of any success, speaks for itself.
Are you kidding? McCain was easy on Obama during the last election. There is sooo much that can be said about him, some of which was also said before. I'm seeing all of these articles about Ron Paul and his book, but you didn't see much about Obama and he saying he was using drugs in college, hanging out with people who bombed police stations at one time, and so many other things. Where's the Hope and Change he babbled about last election? He said he could do it in four years. All the opponents have to do is replay his speeches from the pep rallies and go down the line on what has and hasn't changed. He blamed Bush last election and this election he wants to blame Congress. He had 2 years without the Republican dominated congress(and Clinton served most of his time with a Republican dominated Congress) so what happened the first two years? All he does is spout BS, looking to get re-elected. HE DOESN'T DESERVE IT!!
Politicians lie.
my dear,bo has done a great job of dividing America...live by the sword and well...you know...
You people divivde the country and you know who you're.
@jerry
Apparently you didn't notice: the country was divided before he took office. Its just the other side doing the hissing now.
OB has to go negative due to his inept and horrible record. He has already started his negative campaign of lies. Gonna be fun to watch OB go down, one termer.
Why does Texas inflict on this nation so many bad politicians? By bad I mean those that supported or led from high office in policies and positions that wrecked the economy and more of this nation? Phil Gramm, Dick Armey, "The Hammer" Tom Delay, George Bush just to name a few.
As opposed to Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid that have created policies and laws that will bankrupt the country.
Well, it's like this (tongue in cheek), oilmen have LOTS of money so they have moved/cheated
their way into politics in Texas; Please don't judge all Texans by Texas oilmen. We have a
campaign going here called Texans Against Rick Perry and not all of us wear pistols, holsters,
have oil wells or become male yell-leaders on the University level like Perry and Bush.
Texas breeds corruption under the guise of "free market".
Good question but easily answered if you want to hear it. Here in Canada we have our own Texas so to speak, it's called Quebec. Every time they don't get their own way they start screaming about separation from Canada. People in Texas having been talking their own country for decades. I've heard it myself.
I think they want people in power to so weaken the US that when they make their move there will be nothing strong enough to stop them.
and chicago has really given us some great ones...hahahha many of which are in jail...
The situation of the times are horrible what are you really going to do for the little guy/gal who truly does the daily struggles who works hard to make ends meet to pay the bills puts food on the table who supports the family who in deeds pay your way and what do we get in return.would you answer this?
give them the opportunity of a good job...work that is!
And what, pray, do you intend to do to those of us who have been sent off to retirement and are having to struggle on fixed incomes? Let me guess...discount funerary services.
Wouldn't it be great if they would put the knives away and try to tell the truth?
But they won't.
So it's up to us to ignore the campaign ads, do our homework and vote for the candidate with the best chance of leading our country out of the doldrums.
if they can't act right now, how are they going to be President, I would not want any of the Republican that are running to be my President.
As long as you register months ahead of time and bring your government ID with you. We wouldn't want to inconvenience voting booth workers. This is a sad, sad time in US history.
It's gonna be nasty Blitz.
Sigh...and some people really wonder why the majority of americans are so upset at a branches of government? Our elected "leaders" prance around on television like they are on a reality show! In the meantime, the actualy country is suffering from their in ability to do anything right. Unless, of course, you are on a reality show too, which would be at about 20% of the country by now.
I'm sure some of them sit in their extravagant offices and say "Hey, let's keep bickering between each other instead of actually working and let's vote ourselves another raise while we're at it. But, don't vote for a raise for those folks making minimum wage. They're not real people anyway."
For the future of our country, please teach your kids well and ensure they don't fall pray to the machine. If we continue to get it wrong, they're our best hope. Fair and reasonable people are becoming an endangered species!
Love your neighbor, be it the guy next door or a woman across an ocean! Love your country so much that you work everyday to make it a better place for everyone blessed enough to live here!. Finally, love yourself enough to ensure that when it is time for the next step in life, you know that you had no regrets in this one!
And the hell of it is that everything out of the Republican/TeaParty will be lies.
What lies? The truth is that not one policy that President Obama has pushed through has been successful. The truth is that one President has in 3 years put us in more debt than all the other Presidents combined. The truth is that the President won't work with anyone, it's "my way or the highway", and his way has been proven time and time again to be a dismal failure.
Think for yoursel instead of just reguritating the Liberal talking points. It's freedom that has made this country great. It's opportunity that is the American Dream. Nothing is going to get better in this country until the government let's go of it's strangle hold around the neck of the private sector. Government controlled economies have failed all across Europe, everytime it's been tried, it's failed. Why? Because no one is going to work hard to succeed if they can't benefit from it. Productivity goes down and so does the gov't revenue. In the meantime, the gov't is borrowing even more money to fulfil promises it never had resources to keep in the first place, and it continues a downward cycle until it collapses.
No system is perfect, but the truth is, that all of us, even the poorest of the poor, are far better off under a system of freedoms and opportunities than under a gov't controlled system. To quote JFK, a far better Democrat than President Obama could ever hope to be, "a rising tide lifts all boats". And of course, the opposite has been proven true, a lowering tide sinks all boats.
OB lied to get elected repeatedly, the sad part is the lemmings bought them.
There seems to be a virtual reality encompassing the republican race this year, now, more than ever before. Its hermenautism pure and simple, perceptions trump substance.
The Republican primary is almost over, Romney has it in the bag. You can tell he's already gearing up for the general election, he's not even going after the other Republican candidates any more.
They are the GOP, so of course this is going to be ugly, nasty and just so full of lies, half-truths and propaganda, it's what they do.
It's what they've done since Lee Atwater. You can thank him – or you could if he was living.
You must have a short term memory. The Democratic Primary in 2008 was the nastiest political fight of modern history. Hilary and Obama not only went after each other, they tried to use the legal system to disqualify the other.
The media is as much to blame as anyone. Every perceived slight is discussed ad nauseum by talking heads whose job it is to ignoire issues and instead focus on non-news spories like if Gingirich crying will help his campaign. The 24 hour news cycles and the desperation of CNN and their ilks' infotainment centers desperately cling to their advertisers mean that 2012 will be the worst year for journalism ever. And tv "news" anchors love every minute of it...
Fully concur with you, Miguel. One solution would be to shorten the entire campaign time frame. Nothing until the calendar year of the election. Any one who 'campaigns' outside that time period would be significantly fined. And have regional primaries with all of them in April, giving us just six months of post-convention campaigning. At least this would minimize our suffering through all the negativity. And it would allow for more candidates to last money-wise - as it is now, it's gotta be tough to campaign two years for some.
It is interesting if there is any American is or will be surprised about their ugly, nasty campaign, isn’t it?
Maybe someday they will look for the good in others, what kind a person are we voting for, do we really need someome who will lift up or tear down as our leader.
This always happens in the general elections. Bold prediction there wolfie
Negative ads work because the average American voter is the same type of person who watches the Jerry Springer Show – easily driven by emotion with little higher intellectual acumen at work. The GOP would not know how to do anything except negative campaign ads because they have no real plan for America upon which to build a positive campaign. The Democrats are only slightly better. The difference will be that Obama will have $1-1.5 Billion to use against Romney (or whoever else the GOP finally nominates), and they will be able to blast the GOP AND tell a positive story about the things Obama has done, though in reality it is far too little and a lot less than he promised when campaigning 3-4 years ago.
Good point. Sad admission of some of America. I'd compare Springer watchers to Fox Noise junkies (likely the same sheeple). They won't stray from Fox to get meaningful and unbiased coverage; they thrive on Obama bashing. They need to be absorbed in like-minded BS. My own brother is one, and he can't have meaningful conversation without regurgitating exactly what he hears on Fox. Makes me sick and sad at the sam time; rather pathetic.
Our country has been on the negative for so long we don't do anything different. That's what is so disappointing no matter what your views are instead of focusing on what's important most Americans will believe a negative ad and vote based on perception.
Not surprised. GOP has been thriving in negative campaign. That's how they fool the voters.
Ugly, nasty campaign reflects an increasingly ugly and nasty America–so sad.
I can't wait for the President to start debating the GOP candidate. Intelligence goes a long way.
This election is not about Republican vs. Democrat... no, its about America's Middle Class... you and me and our children.
Make sure you have your facts straight before you pull that handle in 2012. This Republican will be voting Straight Democrat in 2012. Not only will I give our President the chance to do the job he was voted into my the majority of our nation but I will also give him the House and Senate in order to get us out of this mess. I know for a fact Obama and Democrats know what needs done and they will stop earmarks, close loopholes, raise taxes, fix our tax system, fix SS and Medicare... they know. I will give them what they need to get it done.
If this country could give an incompetent like George Bush two terms to get it right, I'm okay with doing the same for Obama.
So what you're saying is that you're not a republican; you're a democrat.
...and so will I! President Obama 2012! Democratic House and Senate 2012! Yes we can!!!!!
In the last week, we have seen the GOP turn on one of its own: Ron Paul. All the other candidates now FINALLY find common ground, but with a shameful act, attacking Ron Paul. No Newt, Paul's positions are now outside the mainstream of decent American's (with his desire to dismantle the Federal Reserve, etc.); rather he is ONLY outside the views of the mainstream/propoganda MEDIA, who do nothing but push the views of the global elites while ignoring others. Earlier in the race, you totally shunned Ron Paul (you couldn't even seem to remember his name when discussing frontrunners in the polls); and then you, in a level even beneath you, invite him on one of your shows, again only in an attempt to ambush him, and again, he showed us his dignity and firmness with the media, while you edited your own show to show only highlights in an effort to put him in a bad light. Ron Paul fully understands, like most Americans now, that the banking cartels OWN the Congress, that they have manipulated the economy for years, for their benefit, through their vehicle of the Federal Reserve; and as Congress shows its unwillingness and disregard of the Constitution with their recent passage of the NDAA allowing the detention of Americans, that they have broken their oath of office-and they won't even impeach those who violate the Constitution, because the majority of them are guilty of treason. No one believes your labels of "isolationist" rather we understand there is a difference between that and a "non-interventionist" who WILL stand up for his country, but will do it the right way, and through the right vehicle if necessary, the U.S. Congress to declare war, not like the past umpteen presidents who have violated that and bypassed them; and each of them should have been impeached on those grounds alone.
Too true.
He's crazy....simple as that. Most of us aren't fooled by his rhetoric, just look at the son he raised; speaks volumes.
Considering that for the past three years all we've been hearing from the right is that Obama is a Kenyan Indonesian Muslim Socialist Communist Fascist terrorist intent on destroying America, I shudder to think at how it could possibly get any worse.
..they (Republicans) will find new lows...you can bet on that
Actually, he's a Keynsianist. A believer of the Keynesian theory of economics, or rather half a believer, since he only believes in spending your way out of debt, not the other half of the Keynesian theory that requires a cut in spending. Which is why Keynsian Economics has not worked anywhere it's ever been tried. Followers only believe in the first half, and ignore the second.
Agreed. I can't imagine the sore-loser GOP could come up with any more outlandish lies about our President, but I'm sure they'll try.
The only thing that will teach the GOP/TP a lesson is voting strait Democrat in 2012. Perhaps after that they will get THEIR house in order!
the candidates will get nastier and nastier as their desire to gain power grows and grows... none of the GOP candidates are worthy of consideration. they are rather an embarrassment to American politics....
Wolf I have been a dedicated follower of your program both now and even back when you were reporting from the Clinton years from the White House lawn. As a Canadian, I always view reporting objectively because I have no affiliation with any of the parties. One thing that you do very well that attracts objective viewers to your show is that you are not driven by politics only by objective and accurate reporting of all issues.
With respect to the Gingrich interview – I found you to be extremely fair and engaging and as always intriguing. I look forward to the 3 January caucus meeting in Iowa and educational reporting will be as exciting as the actual events.
I must also say your trip into North Korea last year was absolutely fascinating. Further investigative reporting on North Korea would be also very interesting.
It is silly to pit two documentaries iaganst each other. Folks gain knowledge here a little and there a little having the ability and responsibility to separate the wheat from the chaff. I hope the point of Ghetto Physics is to introduce the necessity and feed the juices for independent, critical thinking.
No big deal. More money = More advertisings = More attacks. Especially now that corporations can spend unlimited amounts of moneys on political ads.
Does that mean the CNN will begin to report on Ron Paul's association with the KKK the way they did with President Obama's association with the Rev. Wright? Or that you will report more on Romney's refusal to release his tax returns as intensely as you reported on Rev. Wright? Or will there be more bias reporting on your part?
What association?
if these candidates cant seem to agree on anything and get behind each other then how in the h do they suppose they will defeat the most dynamic politician in modern history
By using their best friends; hate and fear. Better throw in some misinformation as well.
Very telling. During the Dem primary the mainstream media calls it "debating the issues". During the GOP primary the same people call it "bickering". Do they really believe Americans don't notice them doing this crap?
I pray that Americans see whats goin on in the world today . America is not weak because of President Obama its because of president Bush Cheney and Rumsfeld sending our kids to die to fulfill their egoes . Now Obama inherited their 8 year mess and some Americans wants it cleared up in 4 years . For America to be strong again we all have to stand up behind our president . Obama does not love America they say and so do all those wealthy senators and congressmen . Its not over, all this patisan politics will truly send america into the ground
The GOP has taken the stand to play ostrich on that one; bury their heads in the sand and have no answers for how the Bush/Cheney wars were to funded nor how the tax breaks (temporarily as they were suppose to be!) were to be paid for. It's way more convenient to pile the burden on Obama alone, even though I recall he voted against the wars, no? It's like the cat crapping in the sandbox and blaming the dog, "he did it!"
It a shame we have come to this. It all comes down to $$, and don't mean on the campaigns. It is the $$ in Washington politics that will do this country in.
Anything that helps to collapse Gingrich is boffo by me.
C'mon Wolf you Liberal Media types not only let Obama skate on his campaign but drove George Bush into the dirt. Obama was never vetted by the Liberal media. Did you ever do a show interviewing people that worked with Obama? Acorn members that he taught? School grades? Who paid for his education Where are the probing questions about his past? A girl scout leader on her first night had more experience than Obama when he took the oath of office. I must hand it to you liberal media people for helping to elect the very first president with no experience. Its why we are in the mess we are.
Oh for Pete's sake!! That's pretty good.
Pete, why don't you list some examples of some nation building/moving legislation the GOP has come out with recently...the last 3 or 4 years or so, I mean other than deregulating Wall Street. Maybe they just focused their energy on people like you so you can megaphone "Obama's bad" like forever and ever. OK. Go ahead. Give us the GOP accomplishment or at least attempts:
@pete
You are living in lala land. Your affection for stupid fixednews talking points is exposed. You opened your mouth and removed all doubt
This "ugliness" is a charade – like professional wrestling.
This is not news, Wolf. They've been nasty and ugly for 20 years. Tell us something that's actually new.
Don't like it? Vote Ron Paul.
Ron Paul? Are you nuts? You want this bozo to turn us into a third world country. No government – just let everyone run wild. Well I have live in one and its no fun. If you want a country with no government, there are many that will welcome you. Crazy.......................
I wish some of the ads were comical and designed to make you laugh. Didn't Lincoln use that approach. It would make voters think you're a good candidate.
Republicans are unable to run on any policy. THEY ARE BANKRUPT as far as ideas go (and mostly as far as ethics go). Hence, the only thing they can do is appeal to the worst possible instincts of their supporters. Look for more and more shrill attacks. As it becomes clear they will lose the presidency and possibly control of the House, they will become positively and hysterically unglued.
Sorry, but the only hysterical one here is you. The bankrupting is thanks to our Liberal gov't that hasn't yet realized that money doesn't grow on trees. If you would listen to what the GOP has to say, you would realize that the GOP has but forth many bills that actually address our economic problems and look to solve them, but the Democratic controlled Senate has refused to vote on any of them. So don't say the GOP hasn't offered anything, they have, everything from an actual budget, which we haven't had since Obama has been President, to top to bottom reforms of gov't spending, entitlement programs, you pick a topic and the GOP has put forth solid policy, that won't even be considered by the Dems because the Dems live in a fantasy world.
People complain about the negativity yet they respond to it. People complain about congress yet it's exactly what they voted for. People complained when Obama started changing things when they voted for change. Anyone seeing a pattern here?
Just a great example to our kids. Be mean and you'll win. Be nice and you'll lose. Nice job as always, politicians.
Perhaps when we think of our children, we should be thinking of the 30K plus debt and growing by the minute, we have put each and every one of them into before they even get out into the world?
"But you have never seen Obama's Mother! Only the (eleged) adopted-mother. After the fact of many years, in denial!"
Facts are one thing.Nasty personal attacks and lies are another, and even if the candidate himself or herself doesn't make the attack, if it is being done by their surrogates; or shadowy outside groups on their behalf, it's not acceptable; and should be disavowed by someone who wants to be president.
Why are they still bickering. They need to tell us about what they can do for us Americans about "JOBS". And what they can do to improve the economy, I haven't heard any of that yet.
That's because they don't actually have any constructive ideas on how to create jobs.
What many people don't realize is that political campaigns in the USA have always consisted of personal attacks on the other candidates. This should neither come as a surprise to any politcally-savvy citizen nor should it make either side seem less capable of the presidency.
I know it, my fellow voters know it. Those in the media know it (Boston Globe – guts to say it). These field of candidates is horrible and not one of them is Presidential material or can they convince the entire nation that they are Presidential material. That is why we do not see current Republican office holders rushing out to endorse anyone. "We are going to wait and see" yeah right cowards. I also see a trend in many new sites that I read. The trend is you can see those reporters that are anti-Obama (FOX, ABC, NYT) and those that are pro-Obama and those reporters that are truly unbiased. For me the Washington Post seems to have a good balance of pro/con for everyone and that is good unlike this field of GOP candidates.
It all balances because the current holder isn't presidential material either and has proven this repeatedly, but that's Bush's fault isn't it.
Whover the GOP nominee is, I'll take them any day of the week and twice on Sunday, to what the Democrats have to offer. Each and every one of the GOP candidates has a proved record of success, versus our current President who has none.
Yes you are right, they have a great success record of taking tax payer money, destroying jobs, sending jobs overseas and sending our young off to die to put money in their pockets and do not forget they were great at figuring out if they put their money and tax cuts off shore they do not have to pay taxes to pay for the military that they love to use.
Yep, all of them and the GOP have been very successful so far.
The other cool thing is, It does not matter which of them gets the GOP nomination. If (and that is a big if) either of them gets into the White House, it will be the Kock Bros, along with the rest of the Oil Companies, Wall Street and Corporations that will be running the US just as it did for the Bush Admins. And we all saw how well that went for all of us.
They will clean out the rest of the Treasury with tax cuts for their friends and sell off the US section by section to the highest bidder. Of course the Banks are already starting to do a good job of this on their own. They just need the GOP to make it "Legal". After all they are very good at making money remember.
Sorry no tax cuts for you, you see, someone has to pay for the tax cuts for the JOB creators. Do not worry I am sure Newt (if he wins) will expand his new plan to allow your kids to help the poor kids clean out bathroom at the private schools for the 1%ers kids so they can learn good work ethics and make a few bucks at the same time.
Wonder what the TP will think once the GOP does away with their safety nets and figure out since they are not 1%ers and as such are not in the 1% plans. I am sure they will thank them for their support.
Yes your are right they are all successful. In the mean time I hope you know how to speak Chinese, you know, just in case.
...well what is it YOU do not like Terry?
YOU agree with what Santorum said, “…That's the mission here, who can defeat Barack Obama."?
And that is all that matters; no support solving our economic problems, not moving us forward in technology and manufacturing, not taking steps to make sure we are a populous of healthy, educated, employable people? No, it is all about defeating the tall, fit, erudite, handsome, charming, intelligent, respected, classy, accomplished man that makes the GOP/TP members feel so inferior?
President Obama 2012, Democratic House and Senate 2012!
(anagram_kid)
WRONG. He IS the only presidential material we have and the one that will win. If Obama is so bad that anyone thinks they can beat him, then why don't they run? Because the fact of the matter is Obama will cream them. Chickens run away.
it would be so lovely to see and hear americans support their president in the way that south korea supports its leader. at the end of the day,if the usa or the uk lose, I lose. where is the common sense of normal people...is it always the idiots that have the headlines today?
It is hard to support a president that is so far disconnected from reality that it makes one cry. The shambles he has put us into is a right mess. How's that unemployment feeling now in the minority community. The great one, the community organizer has surely fixed the community. LOL
I am sick of people blaming the current President for the current state of the economy. You cannot clean up a mess the second Bush administration made in 3 short years. Money has to come from somewhere to support billion dollar a day war efforts. And as far as the Republicans no new tax pledges, simply cutting spending isn't going to help in the long run. You are going to need additional income streams to get the economy fixed and the federal deficit under control. Why do you think people work second and third jobs when their debt becomes unmanageable? Ive had to do it. Sure the current President isn't perfect, but you can't blame him completely for the current mess.,
...with how much help from the GOP/TP? The party of NO, H E L L NO??? ...right!
The one that has put us in shambles was Bush and the one keeping us there is the TEA party. We will stay there too if we don't throw these nuts out.
Let the Mudslinging began Wolf...
I agree – nasty Presidential campaign. Republicans don't have anything positive to say, they have no plan, no vision all they can offer are opponent's destructions and they're doing it to themselves - any other vision for our country other than cutting taxes for the rich and wealthy?
Yeah, they have a plan beyond cutting taxes - it's deregulation to benefit corporations. In the guise of "job creation" they want to get away with murder (literally) by swamping us with bad air and using our precious water (mixed with chemicals) to frack oil and gas. The sad part is that, if they had ANY responsibility to the populace, they could afford to generate power and develop oil without spoiling either and STILL MAKE PROFITS! But the corporations are now legally citizens and, by corporate definition, are motivated only by profit and not by social responsibility. That in itself would be OK if corporate decisions benefited all stockholders but they don't == they benefit the handful of puppeteer execs who make atrocious bonuses and ship jobs overseas. They have NO care about the middle class, even to the point of destroying middle class purchasing power. The Citizens United decision by our rigged Supreme Court will go down in history as the one key decision that dropped us from world leadership into a fascist third-rate nation. Hello, Italy.
...thank you! So well said! Happy new year!
Well they also want to do away with social sercuity, medicare, medicade. e.p.a. and quite a few other things. that way they have more money to give to the wealthy.
You're so right, Hawk, about those programs and what Republicans want to Cut and Remove from the American people! Just this afternoon I was listening, just for kicks, to the Rush radio program and he had a guest who was strongly saying that Social Security was a Ponzi scheme, as Rick Perry has said, and that Congress could, at any time, take away that program as there is no contract with the government to receive the benefits millions upon millions have paid into! Can you only imagine that! No contract with them, but it was certainly good enough for them to take each hard-working person's money during their working years now wasn't it! And now, all Republicans are bent on doing is to Take It Away From the Middle-Class, Minorities, and the Poor who worked hard to get it in their golden years and who need it the most. Let's face it, Republicans continue to show us they do not need those monthly SS checks as they are independently wealthy and can cover ALL of their expenses in the future, I mean, how can it get any closer! They are the One Percent. We are the other 99 Percent! That is why we Can Not afford to have a Republican in the White House or God forbid, both Houses of Congress! The Middle-Class would be left out to dry, after the Republicans have thrown us under the bus that is!
Such lies. Do these women even have a clue what they're talking about? Isn't that what a BUDGET CUT is all about? Axing the non eetinssals? PP is not essential. It is supposed to be a private non profit organization. Trust me, with handing our abortions left and right at $600 a pop they can more than support themselves. How many women will sand with me and say that is not what we want to be paying for with our tax dollars? I know I can't be the only one with good sense.
Nitin:
You are pro-life, I am pro-choice, have no problems with some of my taxes supporting Planned Parenthood. I am all for the right of gay couples to marry, guessing you are against gay marriage. I support legalization of marijuana, and peoples First Amendment Rights to protest right in front of the buildings where world leaders gather, rather than been caged blocks or even miles away from an event, and guessing you do not.
Face it, this is going to be an ugly election because we are a nation divided, and there is no space/place in the middle where compromise can be found on these very important issues...especially when those in the religious right feel they have the right to legislate their morality onto the rest of America, even if we having a different value system than your own.
I will not vote for Romney for one very simple fact...over the past few years, he has earned $36,000 a day in the private sector without even having a job...no man earning that kind of money understands my life, nor the trials and tribulations I go through in trying to make ends meet, and he proves his lack of understanding almost every time he opens his mouth. Here is a clue...the working stiffs in the lower and middle class create the wealth that he and others like him in the one percent have. If it were not for our hard labor, if it were not for us doing the work that he and others like him think they are too good for, those companies would shrivel up and die...so, the upper class may make jobs with the wealth they have, but it is the 99 percent who create that wealth.
Nitin:
You are obviously pro-life, while I am pro a woman's right to choose. I have no problems with some of the taxes I pay going to Planned Parenthood, while you do. I am against my taxes going to support war efforts in Afghanistan through until 2024, and am guessing you are fine with that. I support a gay couples having equal rights (not equal but different) so am supportive of gay marriage, and guessing you are opposed to it. I support legalization of marijuana, and I support peoples First Amendment Rights to protest right in front of the buildings where our leaders gather, not having those protesters corralled blocks or miles away, as that is not the redress our constitution envisioned...guessing we differ here as well.
We are a nation divided, which is why this election will be so ugly. On these important issues there is no middle ground on which compromise can be found...primarily because the far right of the Republican Party feels they should have the right to force their MORAL VALUES on the rest of the nation through governmental enacted laws, want to ignore separation of Church and State.
I will not vote for Romney...not because of the moral values he holds, not because he is Mormon, but because ANY ONE who earns $36,000 a day over the past few years while not holding down a real job has NO CLUE about the trials and tribulations I and the rest of the lower and middle class face day in and day out just trying to make ends meet. He is a member of the one percent, and believes his wealth, the wealth of his peers creates jobs...well, lets turn that on its head. Fact is, it is the working class stiffs just trying to make ends meet who create the wealth people like Romney have...it is us working in his factories, groceries stores and other businesses that CREATE THE PROFIT THAT CREATES THE WEALTH that he and his ilk do not wish to share. His ignorance to this basic reality is why America is heading ever closer to another civil war fought along class lines.
I am afraid I have to agree with you, Wolf. We all get fired up by the constant bickering. I yell at the TV often. sad. really sad. My husband and I watch you every night of the week. You have the best News program on cable TV. Thanks. and also, thanks for your unflappable even handed approach to your guests. I especially liked how you got Newt to open up about the negative ads. Your interview has been talked about everywhere.