Trump Debate Draws GOP Fire

06 December 2011 |permalink | email article

Republican strategists were up in arms Monday about the circus prospect of a presidential debate on Dec. 27 just days before the Iowa caucuses hosted by reality TV star Donald Trump. Newt Gingrich, surging in the Iowa polls, made the pilgrimage to kiss the ring of the billionaire real estate mogul who is a good bet to endorse him early next year. Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman rejected invitations to participate while it was unclear about Mitt Romney’s presence. Mark McKinnon, a strategist for George W. Bush, said the proposed debate is not good for the candidates, or the party but only for Donald Trump. He said media organizations have “wrested complete control over how and when primary debates are conducted. And this Trump debate is proof the inmates have taken over the asylum.”

Gingrich, Pelosi Engage

The Republican presidential candidate and former House Speaker went ballistic when a reporter asked former Democratic House Speaker about her comments on TPM about releasing ethics committee information about him “when the time is right.” Politico noted that Gingrich went on at length about the ethics case against him in the 1990s, when reporter Maggie Haberman said “it was one of the only times I’m aware of him speaking about it during the campaign.” Gingrich sarcastically added, “I want to thank Speaker Pelosi for what I regard as an early Christmas gift, adding, “That is a fundamental violation of the rules of the House.”

California Politic

Gov. Jerry Brown, as expected, announced Monday a November 2012 ballot initiative to raise taxes on sales and wealthy earners. The proposal would raise an estimated $7 billion annually over five years. Brown’s Open Letter to the People of California said that without new tax revenues, “we will have no other choice but to make deeper and more damaging cuts to schools, universities, public safety and our courts.” The broadest tax hike is the half-cent increase in the state sales tax which would be retroactive to January 2012 while the sales tax increase would increase Jan. 1, 2013. Both would expire at the end of 2016. Brown blamed Republicans for blocking a similar tax vote this year. Single filers earning $250,000 would pay an additional 1 percentage point on income up to $300,00, and an additional 1.5 percentage points on income between $300,000 and $500, and an additional 2 points above $500,000. Brown emphasized the new 7 billion in revenues would be spent only on education, a major disappointment but which may free general fund money toward other state programs.

Read ‘em and weep

“Here’s a guy who is saying, I’m going to endorse one of you’ so that sort of gives him some leverage over them,” Karl Rove told Fox News on Monday. “So should a guy who’s going to endorse be the “impartial moderator” of a debate?” 

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