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August 28th, 2012
07:31 PM ET
Analysts break down GOP convention
Wolf Blitzer hosts a roundtable discussion with CNN political analysts at the 2012 Republican National Convention.
Register here for the next CNN Election Roundtable discussion next Tuesday, September 4 at Noon ET.
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Mitt Romney for President?? What will we get from him. Look at his business history with Bain. Is he really for working, middle class Americans? Mr. Romney has clearly demonstrated that his initiative is about reducing work forces, outsourcing jobs, cutting pay and benefits and more importantly, tucking away millions in his own pocket. Loyal to the American working class? He is very proud of paying 13% on the money he declares or the money he wants us to see, while him and the wealthiest Americans and Corporations tuck the rest of their millions away in Swiss and Cayman Island accounts. Is it just me, or would not those additional tax revenue dollars generated from the wealthiest Americans and Americans Corporations could have helped pay our down National Debt Load when America was at the brink of collapse. Perhaps some knew the collapse had to happen? Why is there such opposition by the wealthiest paying taxes in the same tax structure and under the same tax codes as the rest of Americans and American Small Businesses? Is that they've viewed investing in America's success is risky? Stop hiding your money and do what you and the wealthiest of Americans are expecting of the rest of Americans to do. That, to me demonstrates you know a little something about America's pain. Oh, and since I mentioned pain, I'm certain all those off shore accounts will more than help pay any medical expenses or emergencies that the wealthiest of Americans have, but what about those much less fortunate. Who really speaks for the working Americans, Mr. Romney?
Unless Joe Biden saves the DNC tonight,, both conventions are going to be considered forgettable at best. Joe Biden has been handed a pre-approved script, so I don't expect much more than pavlovian applause to his remarks tonight. If we get lucky though, Joe will take his eyes off the prompter and wing it a little. I feel sorry for the Situation Room Team. What a tough couple of weeks to produce a show.
Quite Frankly, I was bored to death...
Will, I like my mom get someone to the white house?
If so, there [is] a problem with the political process today...
Van Jones is a major reason conservatives can not vote for Obama, to include him as player both in the convention and CNN panel let's us all know where both of you stand on the future of the country and it's so far from what most of us consider 'mainstream' as to be out of touch with all but NY and CA.
"Those are the facts. Wolfe!! It was all in the NEWS, but it hurts your Obama, and that hurts you even more!"
Well your coverage of the RNC is over and now comes the DNC. I wonder if you are going to prove why your ratings are dropping and why Donna, Don and Roland are so irrelevant in a world where everybody has a chance to be whatever they want to be.
The people making a big deal about Clint Eastwood's performance last night seem to be the media. They are keeping the story line going, much as they have been doing the Obama campaign's bidding with other stories like the imaginary "war on women" or the tax return issue. It seems like whatever story line will benefit Pres. Obama the media is only too willing to harp on for days on end.
Hmmm.....the President said he hasn't gone to Louisiana sooner because his being there might distract or take away from more pressing emergency needs.
Isn't that exactly what Pres. Bush said after Katrina? The same reason that Democrats and the mainstream media would not accept as a valid reason. So why is Obama getting a free pass now?
The difference between Katrina and Isaac is not only it's strength, but the competency of the state and local officials compared with the last time around.
There was nothing wrong with Clint Eastwoods speech! He did not upstage Romney in any way. I would say 99% of the people loved it. Everyone was laughing and enjoying him. . Clint is an icon, for heavens sake! That's just the way he talks! Everyone is talking about it, because it was FUNNY! There always has to be someone to make something out of it that wasn't, just to make themselves look good. It's too bad those people don't have a sense of humor!
Wolf, I'm watching the situation room now, what is the problem with Clint Eastwood? It was entertaining, it WAS funny, it wasn't disrespectful. Lighten up, man. And I don't even know who I am going to vote for yet. Delayed the program? the program was already running late.
Wolf in theory the concept of your interview sounds good but you have to look at the people you have answering questions and commenting. First off they are not elected officials they are analysis and that is all they are. they have no more authority with their opinion then the tooth fairy.
I will give you a classic example. You can ask Donna Brazille anything you want but she will always speak ill of republicans simply because she is a democrat. To be honest that gets old. She is so biased that she can not speak the truth she can only speak democrat talking points. Frankly the lady is a bore.
Asking analyst anything is not going to the source it is merely pulling the strings of a puppet and watching them dance. Unfortunately analysis's have no standing and the one thing they do have is an agenda and that agenda is their own.
I was going to sign up for the next one but after watching this one it would be a waste of time. You should be talking to real and current politicians and asking them these questions not some want to be analyst who no mater what they say means nothing. It is their opinion and that is all it is. My dog has an opinion and I trust his judgment far more then some so called analyst.
Wolf, thank God for your handling of the interview with Eric Cantor this afternoon wherein you didn't let him spew partisan talking points without pointing out that he and Ryan were omitting information that cast a very different light on much of what they say. What a breath of fresh air! It's sickening to listen to these candidates get away with half-truths or outright lies and have no one present who will call them on it. Oh for more moments like that. The look on Cantor's face was priceless!
These speaches are bland and uninspiring. Paul Ryan just got up there and overemphazed his words and spread lies and had no true visionary leadership about their actual policies. Ryan is so corny and look like OPy or somebody from the little rascals. How are they building their theme champaighn on a lye...saying Obama said you didnt build that, when he clearly says we didn't build the infrastructure, roads, system that our businesses clearly benefit from. If you can't use a road, or go over a bridge....I don't care how hard you try, you will not get to any Businesses on the other side so that they can get your money. GOP just gets passes and are allowed to keep uttering lies without being held accountable. THE WHOLE INTERVIEW SHOULD SHUT DOWN WHEN THEY LIE LIKE THAT...AND TOTALLY FOCUS ON THE LIE, REPLAY THE TAPE AND PUT THEM ON THE SPOT WITH THEIR LIE WHICH THEY SHOULD APOLOGIZE FOR.
How can a multi millioner understand the needy,of the poor, middle class. Romney gave a good single as to what his intention are when he pick Ryan for VP, he the Butcher of Medicare, medicate, social security, Obama care, watch out for this guy bad to the bone. In the convention hall they(RNC) are showing the national debt that they then self created with two unpaid war of under Gorge Bush, they think we the people do not understand their BS.
Yes, how can a multi-millionaire like Barack Obama understand the plight of the middle class?
He attended private prep schools and high class Ivy League schools. I guess that makes him out of touch as well.
Hi,
I think Mr. Romney as a backward Robin hood , He will rob the poor and will give it to the reach people.
Thank you,
Dear Amin , I totally agree with you that Mitt Romney is a political Robin-Hood born again . He surely would Rob-Peter-n-use-it-to-pay-Paul Ryan . Mitt Romey is a man who believes in the RICH-GETTING-RICHER-n-THE-POOR-GETTING-POORER . He is a KISS-N-TELL-KIND-of-A-Man . He is really out of touch in everything about America . Bravooo
I would like CNN to validate the statements made by the Major Politicians with a TRUE or FALSE follow up after each speech. This would greatly help the American Public and would be a plus for CNN in gaining more viewers to their net work.It would so much educate the American Public and would bring a change to our politicians honesty and character if they know that they are access of what statements they make.CNN please help the American population and our country by doing this.
Thanks
Sheik Mohamad, I agree. A truth-ometer should be applied to each speech. Things have degenerated to the point where there is almost 100% falsehood uttered in the speeches of a number of politicians.
I've found myself to become such a news junky and political junky but I'm somewhat confused on why no one in the media has asked those in the GOP about "The Pledge" that some many of them have signed. If they (both sides) wanted to fix this country they would set aside there party difference and fix the country but because there are some many that wants the President to be a one termer they are willing to put the future of the country at risk. I believe I vote to the less of the two evils and it's really sad to see the "Dog & Pony" show of the Presidential process. The congress hasn't done anything for the country since the day the President stepped into the white house. I would be nice to see the people of the USA come together and firer all of them.
And that was with Pres. Obama having 2 years of a Democrat controlled Congress that many times was filibuster proof. Instead of working on the economy's problems, Mr. Obama chose to waste 18 months chasing the holy grail of liberals, "healthcare reform" (which was only insurance reform).
I just finished watching the Situation Room where Mayor Mia Love explained that the Republicans were basically trying to cut food stamps and other programs to force Americans to get up and stand on their own two feet ( not a direct quote), but what I don't understand is what about the Americans who cannot help themselves. There are millions of Americans who are truly disabled, and desperately in need of help, myself inclulded. I got very ill a few years ago and you know what? The insurance company that I had dropped me WHILE I WAS STILL IN THE HOSPITAL! only because I turned of age. And you know what else they did? They stopped paying for a medicine that I coudn't afford that I desperately needed without even notifying me! When I was finally released from the hospital after 3 months of sezuires, stokes and kidney failure, they even refused to pay for the medication that I was sent home with.It's not that I don't was to work or take of myself, The fact is that I CAN'T. So yes, There are people in ths world who truly need help. It is NOT a black or white thing. It is NOT a man or woman thing. It s an AMERICAN THING!!!
I agree......but there are so many who CAN work but WON'T work. They just have their hands out saying gimme, gimmie, gimmie. Yes, they're many who can't work; that's not who they're going after. They're going after the freeloader! 🙂
And why can't those who are able to work, but collecting welfare do something to "work it off"?
There are plenty of parks that need trees cut down, senior citizens who have lawns to be mowed, etc.
If you are able bodies and collecting unemployment or welfare, you should be required to do some community service work.
Arlene,
It would be great to actually see and hear in detail the Republican platform but that is not likely to happen. Even if it did guys like Griff and Jim thomas are too far gone to bring back to reality. They have fallen victim to the true strength of the right wing political machine. This machine churns out "talking point" that reach for the gut reaction and rely on the minds of its target audience to construct a logic to support the feeling absolutely never letting something like facts get in the way. After all facts are just the products of the "intellectual liberal elite" and should for that reason be ignored.
And in response to John's comment about Obama dehumanizing the pain of war I seem to recall one President G.W. Bush banning photographers from covering anything that might allow us to see the tragedy of the 10 year multi-trillion dollar tar-baby that he balled us up in. Life with blinders......ignorance is bliss!
Didn't Obama say he was going to be different?
By the way, where has the anti-war left gone?
We still have ongoing wars, Obama escalated the war in Afghanistan, he is killing civilians with drone attacks across borders, he is assassinating American citizens, Gitmo is open. So where are those anti-war types like cindy Sheehan or Code Pink? Where are the protests at obama events or in front of the White House? Seems the left is only anti-war if a Republican occupies the White House.
"Obama, is not Isaac, and there is no way he can steal any of Romney thunder!"
"I think Mrs Anne Romney was pretty good last night, knowing all her kids were sat out there, and kids love to rib there mum or dad about their speaches; and then there was Mitt sitting watching her on screen somewhere."
the republican showed once again how out of touch they are with the latinos, that yesterday at the rnc convention chant usa usa when zoriada fotenella walked to the podium what a disrepect
Mr Romney,his family,and complete staff are needed NOW.He will be the best President that we have had in years so put him in office NOW,not later.Jim Thomas Phx.Az.
The Texas Delagation all wore the same costume Tuesday. They all looked like Roy Rogers in red, white and blue colors, and cowboy hats. I read somewhere that they are going to retire tuesdays outfits, and wear completely new outfits today.
Wolf you said it was going to be an exciting convention, what happen?
I'm not interested in hearing that Anne Romney loves her husband or to watch Chris Christie's audition for a future bid for a presidential nomination. I want someone to talk about the Republican platform contents. It's pretty obvious that isn't going to be done by any of the speech makers. Americans need to know what this party represents and what it will cost them to get it. Please talk about what matters.
I agree. I want to hear details about the platform. As a woman, I was uncomfortable with Ann's speech. There was no substance. If her audience was supposed to be narrow-minded, non-thinkers, then I guess she did a good job. But for the vast majority of the rest of us . . . it was quite lacking in any substance or depth. It was like an assignment to write a story about your life . . . and make sure you use all the party-line key words. Ugh.
Why should the Republicans have to talk about specifics at their campaign? That is not what the convention is for, and I don't recall Barack Obama doing that in 2008. If Mr. romney needs to give specifics about his plans, why is the same not currently being demanded of Barack Obama?
You know Wolf everyone is talking jobs debt and deficit which is important but here is one other thing that I beleive is important. You made your bones during the Iraq War and you have seen pain. I am a parent of a career soldier and being so how do the parents, wives, husbands, sons and daughters tell someone that their love one died because of green on blue violence during an overseas contingency operation? How do you say my love one was killed during a workplace violence incident at Ft. Hood. This President trying to be politically correct has dehumanized the pain of war. You are the only one at CNN who should stand up for are soldiers. We all know why Candy, Roland, Don and the rest don`t they are the Martin Bashir`s of CNN but you should speak up why don`t you?
Tell Wolfe and Erin that the word they were looking for for explaining the look Mitt Romney had on his face while Gov. Christie was talking was: HUMBLE!