Saturday Night Debate - Gingrich vs Romney

The exhibition games are over.  Now, the real debates begin. There is just a month to go before the Republican Primary season begins in Iowa. There have been so many Republican Presidential debates until I can't keep count of them.  But, tonight, the Iowa debate at Drake University in Iowa, is the first real debate between Romney and Gingrich since Newt became the front runner. Of course, the other Republican candidates will be there along with Ron Paul and Rick Perry.  But, this debate will probably focus on Gingrich and Romney.  The rise of Gingrich has been nothing short of amazing since he was in single digits just a month ago.  But, now, Gingrich has a double digit lead over Mitt Romney.  Romney just doesn't seem able to forge ahead of the 25% of support that has held steady since the first debate early this year. Newt Gingrich seems to be surging.  But, now, Mitt Romney will take the kid gloves off and go after Gingrich with all that baggage he carries into the Primary season.

Of course, Gingrich surging to the forefront is good news for the Obama campaign.  Newt Gingrich is their nominee of choice.  They really don't want to face the moderate Mitt Romney even with the albatross of Romneycare that Mr. Romney carries.  Gingrich will certainly go after Romney on that issue tonight.  In turn, Romney will go after Gingrich on his support of the individual mandate for national healthcare.  Both candidates have baggage.  It just appears that Newt Gingrich has more than Romney.  This will be the most interesting debate so far.  It will eclipse the bitter backbiting between Perry and Romney of the past couple of months.  Gingrich has tried to stay "above it all" during the more nasty mudslinging of prior debates.  I am willing to wager he won't be able to do it tonight.

Newt Gingrich's New Immigration Plan

I'm not sure I've ever come across a man more in love with himself than Newt Gingrich.  At one time, I admired him simply on his ideas alone.  But, it seems he comes up with ideas without thinking them through.  A good example is Newt Gingrich's latest immigration plan.  Newt says he wants to present a more humane approach to dealing with illegal immigration.  If you have been here 25 years, committed no crime (again what part of illegal do you not understand?), or partaken of the social services (which will eliminate approximately 75% of all illegals immediately) then you would be eligible for legal status under his plan.  How many illegals would even qualify under this new plan by Gingrich?  How many illegals will even come forward and register, which is a big part of the Gingrich immigration plan?  Let's say that one-million come forward and are eligible.  I think I'm being generous, but let's take one-million.  What about the other 10, 15 or 20 million still prancing around illegally in this country?  Big government and business Republicans say this is a bold, new plan.  There is nothing bold or new about it.  It is just another fancy way of saying "amnesty."   Gingrich says they will not qualify for full citizenship.  But, they can gain legality.  Ask how many really care about citizenship anyway.  Most want to just live and work in this country so they can send money back to Mexico. Honduras, or whatever country they came from originally.  

Mitt Romney and Michelle Bachmann immediately attacked Gingrich over this plan. He talks about controlling the border.  Every President talks about controlling the border (some even lie and say it is under control now, hint, hint).  It has never been done and most likely will never be controlled until we stop taking our marching orders from Mexico.  Why one country has so much influence on U.S. domestic and foreign policy I will never understand.  Back to Gingrich....at least he has brought the illegal immigration issue off the backburner.  I agree Illegal Immigration needs to be dealt with and dealt with after we kick Obama out of office.  However, giving any form of a break to illegals, regardless of how long they have been in this country, will only encourgage more illegals to swarm across the border.  We cannot keep encouraging people to illegally enter our country.  Democrats have no regard for border enforcement since they see illegal aliens as instant Democrats.  We must do as Gingrich stated (and I agree), put fully armed National Guardsmen on our border to stop this invasion.  We must make e-verify mandatory in both the federal and private sectors of employment.  Deny any social services to a household with an illegal alien.  You don't have to deport illegals.  They will deport themselves when the magnet(s) drawing them over here is gone; jobs and government social services.