The Haze Filter

Yet Another Republican Debate ::

Sounds like Mittens came to fight tonight. For your viewing pleasure here is a graphic for you:

I'm waiting for the questions about the Newt's space plans!

Newt didn't have enough to say about his space plan.

Paul certainly knows how to work a crowd!

Finally, the space question, but it was immediately posed to Romney. I'm waiting for the Gingrich plan to colonize the moon within 9 years.

I think we need to petition CNN to fire Blitzer after the inane question about the candidate's wives. The only upside is listening to Santorum stammer.

Time to pander to the Cuban population of Florida.

Now it's time to pander to the Israelis!

Here's a great question bout Puerto Rico.

Santorum is pitiful tonight!

They pretty much blew off the Puerto Rican lady on the question of statehood.

Now it's time to pander to the religious crowd!

It's over--time to take some Excedrin!

I don't see where anyone candidate came out ahead tonight.

CNN Poll After The SOTU Address ::

Interesting! I wonder what the result would be if the same poll was posted on the Faux News site.

Gabby Giffords Resigns From Congress ::

The only thing that surprises me about her resignation is that she took so long to come to this decision. As someone who lives with a person with a traumatic brain injury I know intimately that the loss of cognitive and physical ability impacts not only the victim, but everyone close to that person. Also, keep in mind that she has had a level of therapy that is simply not available to most people just because of her position. When my wife had her accident she spent 2 months in the hospital, 5 weeks of that in a coma, and then another 2 months as in inhouse patient in a rehab facility. The medical personnel were under constant pressure from the insurance company to discharge her regardless of the amount of care that was still required. Also keep in mind that almost all rehab facilities are private institutions and without insurance or a very hefty bank account there is no rehabilitation available unless the facility scholarships a couple of weeks. I saw that happen to a man whose wife broke her neck in an auto accident. He had no insurance, but the rehab facility gave him two weeks in order to teach him how to care for his wife and there was very little actual rehabilitation.

Needless to say that I support the implementation of the Affordable Care Act all the while wishing for a single-payer health care system.

Republican Debate, Tampa Style ::

I watched most of last nights debate primarily to see how Mitt would go after the Newt and he tried hard, but, in the end, I felt that he failed to draw any blood. Not to mention that Mitt seemed to stammer and stutter more than usual and he certainly didn't do himself any favors. Santorum continues his failed quest with his proclamations that "The Family" can solve all problems.

Oh yeah, and aren't they a bloody bunch, with the exception of Ron Paul? Mitt, The Newt, and Santorum never met a country they wouldn't like to bomb to oblivion!

The Newt Wins In S.C. ::

Now this republican primary season should get very interesting with Santorum remaining in the race in order to position himself for the vice-presidential slot. Ron Paul hangs in just to spout his nuttiness and pave the way for his equally challenged son to take his place.

I'm looking forward to Florida and the debates that will be held there. At this point I don't think that a brokered convention is out of the question!

Winning In South Carolina ::

Today is primary day in S.C. and it's going to be interesting to see who walks away a winner with this one. Until earlier this week Romney seemed to have the winner's slot tied up but Gingrich, with his performance in last Thursday's debate, has at least pulled even, if not ahead. I also expect Ron Paul to do well although I can't see that he will have the numbers to be anything more than be a spoiler for Santorum and Santorum will be the next exit, probably after Florida.

As a native of South Carolina, who long ago had the good sense to leave the state, I eagerly await this evenings results since this local race is generally touted as historically selecting the eventual republican nominee.

The Republican Debate ::

Sounds like Newt came to fight!

[ update ] Santorum is not doing too badly in the fight either!

[ update ] Romney is getting creamed by everyone on the stage and is relegated to stammering and stuttering!

Debate Time Tonight ::

So, we get to be treated to yet another round of the same angry white men standing on stage pandering to a rabidly partisan crowd tonight. I actually watched the "debate" last weekend and found it pretty interesting as much for the hidden messages to the audience as well as the overt falsehoods that were spread. I'll probably watch at least a portion of this one tonight, but I certainly don't expect anything new.

We also have the news that prior to the debate ABC will air an interview with the the 2nd Mrs. Gingrich, Marian, who promises to that she has enough information about Newt to shut down his campaign. This should make the debate even more interesting, but I'm still waiting for everyone to try to pile on Romney. My impression is that all of the other candidates are running for the vice president slot!

An Interesting CNN Poll ::

Found on the CNN web site the morning after the republican debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C.:

Last night's debate was the first that I'd watched in its entirety, painful as that was, and I was most interested in the crowd reactions as this crowd seemed to be the most vocal of any of the debates that I had watched portions of and I never felt that they were behind any one candidate in any sort of solid fashion.

Perry and Paul both showed their delusional view of how foreign and domestic policy should be conducted and I certainly don't see them going anywhere. I can't see where Gingrich helped himself any, but I felt that Santorum held his own and the crowd responded to his warped religious view.

I think that South Carolina, my home state, will go for Romney, then Santorum, then Paul, followed distantly by Gingrich and Perry. I don't see any surprises in the future.

Sad, But Probably True ::

And we have no political will to change this course of events, especially given the austerity measures being promulgated. Not only will the Chinese surpass us, but I look for the Indians to do so also.