MITT ROMNEY TOOK Newt Gingrich to task over immigration, his personal fiannces and his grand ideas in fiery Republican debate in Florida last night, the last before a primary vote next Tuesday.
The two front-runners in the Republican Party’s nomination contest are practically tied in the latest polls in the sunshine state having already won a state each in the race to face Barack Obama in the autumn.
The debate was the 19th since the race for the Republican nomination began last year and the second in four days in the run-up to the Florida primary. While Gingrich may have had the upper hand in previous debates, there was little doubt Romney excelled in last night’s encounter.
The former Massachusetts governor slammed Gingrich, the former House Speaker, for an ad – later retracted under pressure – which said Romney was ‘anti-immigrant’. Gingrich was asked to apologise as Romney described the ad as “inexcusable and inflammatory and inappropriate”.
Watch:
YouTube: UnfilteredView
This issue of personal finances also provided a notable moment.
After revelations earlier this week that Romney paid 15 per cent tax over the past two years - lower than the average American, Gingrich appeared to be well positioned querying Romney’s investments in failed mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
But Romney hit back with an attack of his own on Gingrich’s involvement with the mortgage lenders: “Mr. Speaker, I know that sounds like an enormous revelation, but have you checked your own investments?”
“You also have investments for mutual funds that also invest in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.” The retort effectively shut down the issue as Gingrich responded: “All right.”
Romney also ridiculed Gingrich’s desire to put a permanent base on the moon which would be occupied by humans.
“If I had a business executive come to me and say I want to spend a few hundred billion dollars to put a colony on the moon, I’d say, ‘You’re fired,’” Romney declared.
Predictably there was less focus on the two other candidates in the race, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum are both trailing in the Florida and national polls and are unlikely to secure the nomination.
Former Pennsylvania senator and social conservative Santorum drew applause from the audience when he called on the two front-runners to stop attacking one another and “focus on the issues.”
While Texas congressman and libertarian Ron Paul dismissed questions about his health considering he is 76-years-old. “I’m willing to challenge any of these gentlemen up here to a 25-mile bike ride any time of the day in the heat of Texas,” he said to laughter from the audience and the candidates.
Watch:
YouTube: shaburney
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Frances Fitzgerald burying and smear a whistle blower, shes a disgrace she should be gone and garda commissioner o’sullivan losing her phone gets a great pension and a great new high paid job and leo socky over seeing the health/trolley crisis gets taoiseach, Shane Ross supports the quango Irish water existing and ignores unions pleas for fair pay and a recovery, the harder you fail the people of Ireland the higher you climb in this Irish government
@Matthew O’Kane: FG are trying to imply that Frances could do nothing about the email based on legal advice. The real problem for Frances was that we now have proof that she was well aware from that email in 2015 what the Garda Commissioner and her legal team were up to and that was to destroy Maurice McCabe. Frances publicly kept on backing Noreen knowing what was going on behind the scenes.
@Matthew O’Kane: lets hope if there is an election.. someone comes along an says he want stepaside station to remain closed an gaurds sent to stations an areas that need them
no need for an election, pools suggest people are #FeelingGoodWithFineGael
@frank sullivan: come on journal…..ban him
@Jane: what ever for?
@frank sullivan: patetic comment from a deluded FG slimy troll
@Jane: Barry is very forgiving to Leo and FG after they were shamed into sacking him cos of his offensive sexist and “murderer” tweets.
@Blarneykite: Fitzgerald hasn’t got the integrity to resign. Typical FG arrogance and as for the very devious, lying O’Sullivan , why is she still being allowed to collection her obscene pension?
@frank sullivan: Red thumbs
@munsterman: whats has ones sexuality got to do with their ability to govern? do you have webbed feet by any chance?
@frank sullivan: for being a pain in the hole. You actually do more harm than good to your supposed cause.
@frank sullivan: I say call it and we will see how people like their housing crisis health crisis stagnant wages and tax dodging all helped by this government. Frances Fitzgerald burying and smearing a whistle blower gets tanaiste, shes a disgrace she should be gone and garda commissioner o’sullivan losing her phone gets a great pension and a great new high paid job and leo socky over seeing the health/trolley crisis gets taoiseach, Shane Ross supports the quango Irish water existing and ignores unions pleas for fair pay and a recovery, the harder you fail the people of Ireland the higher you climb in this Irish government
@frank sullivan: #FeelingGougedWithFineGael
@frank sullivan: Pools taken in the FG fraperoom don’t count troll.
@Rob Cahill: Must be the juniors up to their old tricks again
@frank sullivan: you mean swimming pools. I like your swimming pool.
The longer Leo leaves it before Frances is ‘resigned’ will just show his lack of decisiveness for all and sundry.
Take your time leo.
@munsterman: Leo’s sexuality has nothing to with his ablity to do his job. Been a conservative right winger has and unfortunately.
Frank Sulivan might have a point though FG were up in the polls along with the traitors FF.
@frank sullivan: #FeelingcrouptwithFg
@frank sullivan: … then Fitzgerald will be sacked .. should have been done a long time ago … her family must be ashamed of her
@The Risen: The baron would know all about that :D
@The Risen: The baron would know all about that :D
@frank sullivan: When you run one country and show up in several countries when they are having a gay pride March rather than the one you muscled into power of then your sexuality has something to do with the ability to govern. Just for your tired brain no do do not have webbed feet and what would having webbed feet have anything to do with anyone’s ability to form an opinion. Reading the response to your comments I am getting impression that you are one of the few who fall for the political lies being handed out from The Dail on a daily basis. It is not hype, nor is it spin it is pure lies from all of them including your beloved Fine Gael.
@Jane: Don’t ban him..let him troll away..costing FG transfers with every post…
Whistle blowers is just the tip of the election causing iceberg. Housing and health policies need to be forced out of FG & Labour in the campaign.
@Jay Lane: Right on the money Jay !!!!!
Fair play to Sinn Fein for challenging this FG/FF con job which has been screwing the country for long enough. How can FF submit a no confidence motion with a straight face when they are the reason Fitz has a job!? Politics in this country is completely corrupted.
@Dan: not only that but FFs record on whistleblowers and and covering up for garda corruption is worse than FGs.
@Dan: Yeah fairplay to both FF & SF for collapsing the govt 3 weeks before a crucial brexit summit and also collapsing the 8th amendment committee. Hopefully the electorate will reward them appropriately.
@Ricky Spanish: I’d be surprised if there will be an election, not yet anyway. Frances will resign at the 11th hour to stall it for a while. If not, publicly the party will support her but behind the scenes, they will blame her for causing the election.
@Waters Edge: I think you are probably right – FF are taking a calculated risk here over a relatively petty matter which Fitzgerald is no longer even connected to.
But, I bet this is the beginning of the end if they get past this – in 6 months we will have an election either way due to bad blood.
@Cicero: FF have backed themselves into a corner here. Even if Fitzgerald does resign at the last minute, FF have clearly breached the confidence and supply agreement.
@Ricky Spanish: News Flash Ricky: Neither FF or FG want movement on the 8th. They are terrified that the OAP’s that keep them in power will finally turn against them.
Housing and health
Housing and health
Housing and health
The election needs to be fought on those issues
Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have failed Ireland. Both parties truly hate this country.
@Colin Morris: Hate it, on the money their paid for 7 months work and being able to get re-elected by fools every election. Are you on drugs?
Barry,s frape room is alive and well. Time to clean up the journal. Can’t wait for a general election. We need a government to govern 26 counties not one. Ie if Dublin is booming that certainly does not mean Ireland is booming. It doesn’t take a political scientist to figure that out.
@Brendan good post sir.very true
Here is simply why there should be an election. After all the hard times and issues we have gone through off the back of the 2008 Financial Crisis here and everything that led up to that, still today we have NO change. The Regulator and Govt still allowing the Banks to rule the roost plus just look at how coursgeous whistleblowers like Maurice McCabe and Jonathan Sugarman are being treated by the Establishment! These are people who put their necks on the line for the better of all of us as a nation, yet they are being treated dispicably by those in Power who do not want change or accountability. If that is the type of country and society you want into the future and for your kids and grandkids, then fair enough..keep the status quo in place…but maybe there are more people starting to decide that this is not what they want for our country!?
@Nigel O’Neill: wish Jonathan Sugarman would stand for election.
How bad is FGs handling of this latest debacle?
FF won’t even provide cover for them.
That’s pretty bad.
@For Connolly: FG/FF/SF/L, they are the parties that should be wiped out and then we’ll progress as a Country.
if there’s a snap election, i’m voting for “Rhythm Is A Dancer”.
@無: No way!! It’s a source of Cancer…..
No need for a general election if she did the right thing and resigned. But god forbid she put the country first , like she was elected to !!!!
ff fg the corrupt elite
If an election happens a lot of other things are put on hold. Citizens assembly finishes. No abortion referendum in May or June?
@Jane: There’s no reason whatsoever why the next government cannot run the referendum at the earliest possible opportunity.
@The Risen: the committee has to go back to the start and do it all again. It’ll be a delay tactic for whoever is our new government. That’s the way it works.
@Jane: Why? Article 46(2) says
Every proposal for an amendment of this Constitution shall be initiated in Dáil Éireann as a Bill, and shall upon having been passed or deemed to have been passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas, be submitted by Referendum to the decision of the people in accordance with the law for the time being in force relating to the Referendum.
It doesn’t say anything about committees or assemblies. I can’t see any reason why a new govt can’t reconvene the assembly or just go straight to the Dail.
@Ben McArthur: because it’s a gift wrapped reason to delay it further.
FG lack integrity …#FeelingCorruptWithFineGael!!!
@Paddythewatersprite: #FeelingGoodWithFineGael
@frank sullivan: #FeelingFraudulentWithFitzgeraldAndFG
@frank sullivan: Good man Frank. Your good work will do no end of damage to FG.
#Don’tBanFrankSullivanFromTheJournal! BMHL
@frank sullivan: FeelingFailWithFineGael
@Brendan Mason: #fiannaFAILwithfineFRAUD
The uttet corruption from all corners of the Dáil is sickening. Mrs. Fitzerald ought to step aside now before making an utter fool of herself.
@Daniel Donovan: too late she already made a fool of herself
@Gus Sheridan: Your comments on here don’t exactly cover you in glory for that matter.
@Cicero: you are welcome to your opinion as I am, be nice if you had the balls to come out from behind that silly name
@Gus Sheridan: I didn’t realise you knew the woman and therefore have a justifiable personal opinion on her “maggot”ness (as you mentioned above).
FYI: If I was insulting people personally on the internet, I would not use my real name. It would just be embarrassing for my kids.
There’s no getting away from the reader demographic on The Journal.
But for a different opinion, for me it’s a question of do I believe this is a Government conspiracy stretching from the Office of An Taoiseach, the Justice Department, the Tánaiste and potentially other senior government ministers OR do I believe that it’s possible for someone at the very top of any department/company to forget about an email they read 2 and a half years ago even as significant as this.
And to be clear, I don’t believe there’s any conspiracy here.
@Shipwreck: “There’s no getting away from the reader demographic on The Journal.”
True that.
@Shipwreck: agreed – this is just being blown out of all proportion. The minister isn’t even connected to the department any more.
Given the issues being worked on at the moment, the last thing we need is an election and 3 or 4 months of horse-trading where there is no government like the last time for what, in the end, will be broadly the same result.
Simples : Because between them, FG and FF dont know how and when to stop lying and spinning to the Public to the point where its almost embarassing and they know some sort of action must be taken in order to retain some credibility and not totally undermine our parliamentary democracy. Plus the fact that so so much mud is now been thrown out onto the Public wall, to use such an analogy, that more and more of it is beginning to stick….and all this mud should have been cleaned up and dealt with correctly by the government but hasnt been done
@Nigel O’Neill: Simples ? What does that mean, surely you mean ‘Simple’ ???
@eastmer how could that even be a name….’eastmer’ . Come back to me when youre not hiding behind a username
Varadkar has been put in a no lose situation by SF/FF. He has little to lose politically by going for an election as SF/FF pull this stunt. He will certainly increase the FG vote. Alternatively he can play the ‘put the country first’ card with Fitzgerald resigning as a martyr (and of course topping the poll next time) as no one wants an election with Brexit etc. going on. Some strategy from SF/FF!
@Bill O’Brien: it is not a tactical issue.It is an issue over the gross maltreatment of a fine and noble man. Not all of politics is a petty party political game of chicanery.
@Fiona deFreyne: My comment was on the political naivety of SF/FF. I’m afraid its the case that Maurice McCabe is being used for political ends by both sides of this particular argument. Maurice McCabe’s treatment was abominable but no price is ever paid by the faceless civil servants and garda management who actually put him through this because we don’t do consequences in this country. There is never any follow through. Politicians are feeding off him for their own ends.
I’m not a legal expert but isn’t challenging the credibility a standard strategy?
@Francis Devenney: challenging the credibility of a witness
@Francis Devenney: Commission of Investigations are not court cases. Therefore not adversarial. It investigates McCabes allegations. His credability is not investigated just his allegations. And he is supposed to be protected by whistleblower legislation too! Minister of Justice should have understood that.
If she cared, she might have.
@Paddythewatersprite: That makes a kind of sense, but shouldn’t the character and motivation of anyone making allegations be up for questioning?
@Francis Devenney: Whistleblower legislation is there for that reason. If McCabes allegation are found to be untrue he still has to be protected once they were made in good faith. And that’s the crux, good faith and bad faith allegations. The Garda Commissoner was going to engage in a bad faith character assasination of McCabe. The Minister for Justice turned away from this and was allowing the Commissioner carry on unchecked.
@Paddythewatersprite: Fair enough but how do we discover whether someone making allegations is acting in good faith without challenging their veracity and credibility? I have to admit I find this whole system deeply flawed and a little confusing.
@Francis Devenney: Commission of investigation will determine if there is truth/credibilty to the allegations. The motivation is secondary to the truth. McCabes motivation was determined justified by the Guerin report. Garda Commissoner decided to use unrelated information in a vile way to undermine McCabes allegations. Justice Minister chose to ignore this. And there was a choice, don’t doubt that for a second. Generally, the truth will come out in the end. Hence a potential election.
And end result out of this..?? Fianna Fáil government in a confidence and supply agreement with Fine Gael and a bunch of independents!! Well that was a waste of time!!
@Mark O’Reilly: At least it’ll wipe the smug look of Leos face… and hopefully now he’ll take up that job in Canada…
@Jason: maybe get a too quality control job in a sock factory, thats all he is good for.
@Jason: unless he comes back with a bigger share of the seats which according to the polls is a possibility. Tho I’m sure FGs satisfaction rating will drop during a campaign
@Jason: oh great. Let’s spend millions on an election so we can wipe a smug smile off Leo Varadkars face.
What will an election change?
@Neil Mcdonough: FF and FG will end up with about 50 seats each – not enough to form a government.
The third largest party will be the Political Wing of the Provisional IRA – neither FF nor FG will go into coalition with them.
So, another cobbled together coalition of Independents, and a Confidence and Supply agreement.
No change.
@David Murphey: I think FF just might open the bed sheets to SF/IRA.
@David Murphey: FF and FG would get into bed with Fifi the stripper if they thought that it would keep their fat arses in their nice Dail seats.
@Dr Richard DeWitt: vote FF/FG for stagnation, thats a fact.Nothing will change. SF without Adams might be worth a try, anything to break the corrupt system if people are brave enough.
Fine Gael should not fear losing Francis Fitzgerald if it means keeping their government together. She is not a good minister or Tánaiste. Is it really worth losing everything just to keep that tired old minister in place, when Fitzgerald could be replaced by a younger, more capable member of the Oireachtas?
@John Reid: they don’t have any capable people, thats your problem
Election now please
Smacks of a carve up between FF and FG for a head-head battle for supremacy. January election so doesn’t clash with Xmas plans for people. And latest polls show FF and FG well out in front and neck and neck, at the expense of diminishing support for SF, Labour, Independents and the leftists fringe parties.
FF and FG both increase their share base and clear the decks for themselves in the coming parliament. FF don’t want this confidence and supply arrangement to drag on, while FG want a smaller lapdog to offer a few crumbs to now and then, probably the Greens.
@Ó Connmhaigh: they’d still be too small..
Love the way it has all caught up with fg, and there will be more from charleton.
Is that Hillary Clinton next to Leo
SF & FF ….careful what you wish for…the Trots are pushing SF to militancy…the Shinners are pushing FF to look tougher…So right now Trotskyist nut jobs are pushing the dominoes….
The muppets who elected the likes of Pottinger and Murphy would want to think again.
@SeanGabriel1453: They learnt their tactics in Central America and when they have created an ungovernable State by undermining the Justice and Security departments we end up with drug lords running the place.
I think I will run. sure they’re all hooks bar me.
Answer : FG
We need an election asap. No longer should we as a people except the pathetic governance of FG who have attempted to smear a man as a child abuser to further their own agenda and line their pockets with massive political salaries and pensions.
It needs to stop.
An election won’t be called because Fine Gael stand to gain most from it.
@EK: Not if they get the blame for collapsing government, and Varadkars recent comments on homelessness won’t go down well either. They will lose on the homelessness issue if FF can convince people they are the ones that can build houses.
@Niall Sullivan: I can’t see Fine Gael getting the blame for collapsing the government. They are the only party looking to preserve the current government by forwarding a vote of confidence in Fitzgerald’s favour. The last time Fianna Fail got houses built there was the recession that in part led to this homelessness issue.
Think Francis is about to be thrown under the bus- as she will resign – say she did nothing wrong – Leo will say for the good of the country the FG/FF coalition goes on
If a General Election does nothing but remind our smug politicians, most of whom belong to the SS&S Party of Scheme, Spin and Scam, that they are as dispensable as they like to think we are, then it will be money and time well spent.
There’s a major issue missing from this article! It has nothing to do with Francis Fitzgerald or emails but it’s all to do with political manoeuvring. Gerry Adams announced he wouldn’t stand in the next election therefore assuming Mary Lou McDonald is elected leader of Sinn Fein it would make them more appealing to the electorate. Fianna Fail know this and realise they need to move quickly to prevent Sinn Fein gaining votes at their expense!
The biggest lose here will be Leo
Flanagan and Fitzgerald knew about this email and said nothing
Both of them are part of the Old school in FG and they totally undermined leo by not informing him ( or so we are told)
Leo should have take Fitzgerald to one side and told her to go or be fired
Then he would have take control of FG and not be another puppet like Kenny
Great pic. Franny trying to look all business and Leo W@nker trying not to explode.
A biger question is what the F**k is going on in the department of justice and who is running it?
Flanagan has to fin out what is going on in there
Never thought i would say this but Alan Kelly is a smart bloke and knows where to look and what to highlight.
whats incredible is that the shinners think they have a part in all of this. the majority rainbow government that is FFFG plus nutjobs is there for all to see.
the shinners would do well to continue to destroy the credibility of current corrupt politicians and civil servants and judiciary. thinking that Mary Lou could bring them to any other significant role is basically feasting on your own BS.
FF need to get rid of Michael Martin. forget everything else about him as it fades into insignificance aainst the fact that he is from Cork. We have all had a belly full of those me feiners for long enough.
I started reading this then i just said B O L L O X i couldn’t be bothered.
@Red hurley: short attention span Red?
Be careful what you wish for. In truth, there is not a great choice or selection out there. Do you vote for anarchy, instability or more of the same?
Despairingly, there really is no credible alternative. More independents mean more trouble so you are really down to party politics. The FF / FG marriage is over. Will Mary Lou and Micheal finally get it together?
No matter which way you look, there is trouble ahead. At a time of grave national importance, vis-a-vis Brexit timing, how can we all be so irresponsible.
@Peter O’Donnell: What we have now is anarchy. Leo’s spin department may fool some but out in the real world the country is a mess.
If the government lose a confidence motion in a minister they do NOT have to call a general election. They do need to do the right thing and get rid of her.
The Taoiseach has the prerogative NOT to call an election. Confidence and Supply has not been breached yet – no votes have happened yet.
Do the right thing Frances FitzGerald and fall on your sword….
@Ciarán FitzGerald: maybe better the hag stays and brings FG down
FF needs to go in shame, and FF need to lose seats
This is another shameful episode,she will probably resign with an excellent pension to come and the possibility of another little earner sorted out for by the Government.
Noreen winds up in a handy job,bankers who stole from people will not face charges and Consulants will not have to repay the money they got from the state for work not done.
One law for the rich and privileged and one for ordinary people,so little has changed.
Country needs a Lord Sutch. Monster Raving Looney.
@Michael Lynch: it has one its called Fine Gael
Tits on a bull are more useful
have your say