Interactive Election Game: 2016 (TURN 5)

[NHI]

Mine may be up an hour or so later. Things haven't been going well for me.

Please take as much time as you need.

[NHI]

Yes, 11 PM EST

[NHI]

Next Round: December 9-16

Major events have rocked the 2016 race for President. First, in November a terrorist attack rocked the city of the Paris, resulting in order 100 deaths. Second, in early December 14 people were killed in San Bernadino, CA following a mass shooting at a workplace Christmas party. The FBI has labeled the event an act of home-grown terrorism.

Candidates are both sides of the aisle have rushed to condemn the attack, as well as take an opportunity for political gain, in our polarized electoral environment. As a result of the recent attacks, Senator Maroc Rubio, has seen a boost in support both nationally and in the early primary states. His more hawkish policies and tough stance against terrorism are receiving high marks by voters, whereas more dovish position by other candidates have seen a decline.

The race between Senator Rand Paul and Marco Rubio, began heating up as summer turned to fall, and while Paul has seen a decline in the polls after support begins to consolidate around Rubio; the two are continuing to trade barbs, particularly over immigration reform. Paul blasted Rubio for supporting opening borders, something which Rubio denied and claims was never part of his original bill, dubbed "the gang of eight bill", which included Democratic support.

The race between the two senators illustrates the divide between base and establishment Republicans.
Paul, has pretty much united much of the activist base, while drawing in more libertarian leaning Republicans and even some moderates. Rubio, has become the establishment favor and choice of moderate and middle of the road Republicans.

Jerry Moran, continues to play a role in the race, with Iowa being the strongest state for an good showing. His social conservative is a plus for the state, and with Paul seen by some conservatives in the state as a fringe candidate, along with Stephen Pearcy, Moran appears poised to do quite well in Iowa.

The other major event to take place on the Republican side involved candidate Stephen Pearcy, who while campaigning in South Carolina who was attacked by a man, later identified as a Neo-Nazi supporter. All candidates condemned the vicious assault on a candidate for President. The attack on Pearcy, marks an uptick in aggressive political support, as well an emergence from far-right groups seeking to disrupt the process.

Pearcy, who is still seen by many as a fringe candidate, has gone on the attack after Marco Rubio, but has so far reserved his criticisms for Rand Paul, who he says he respects. Pearcy, has been trying to change his image and rise in the polls. He recently, appeared on Saturday Night Live to good reviews, and has taken a strong stance against the recent terrorist attacks. He even called Isis the 'coming of the Fourth Reich'.

For Pearcy, like Moran his campaign needs a good showing in the early primary states, particularly New Hampshire. However, Pearcy needs to cut into Rand Paul's support, who continues to lead in New Hampshire.

The Republicans are set to Debate on December 15 in Las Vegas.
Endorsments:

PAUL:
Economist Mark Skousen

Representative from California Tom McClintock- Tom

Representative from Illinois Joe Walsh

RUBIO:
Ron Johnson
Steve Graines,
William H. McRaven,
Frank Carlucci,
Sheldon Adelson,
The Economist
Rick Snyder,
Cory Gardner,
Jeff Duncan,
Henry McMaster,
Paul Cook,
Duncan D. Hunter,
Johny Isakson,

On the Democratic side, the candidates have all denounced the recent terrorist attacks, as well as the attack on Senator Pearcy, but the return of terrorism as a political issue has affected the Democrats, with many in the country laying blame on the Obama Administration for failing to properly deal with the growing threat.

This has affected Vice President Joe Biden the most. He has slipped nationally and in the early primary states, allowing both Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders to gain momentum. For Warren, her position has always been to appear as the progressive, who can win, as well as become the alternative to Biden. She has seen her numbers rise in Iowa, a state where she is staking much of her campaign on. She has also unveiled a new list of supporters, including former Vice President Al Gore.

- Howard Dean
- Lisa Blunt Rochester
- Chris Coons
- Carolyn McCarthy
- Tom Daschle
- Blanche Lincoln

Sanders, meanwhile continues to campaign in Iowa, and in New Hampshire. He's also partnering with the band Green Day for a fundraising tour. The tour will likely raise millions for a campaign, which has been successful in small donations.

Most political pundits see Iowa and New Hampshire as the deciding factors in the race between Sanders and Warren, over who becomes the liberal/progressive candidate.

The Democrats are set to debate on Dec. 19th in New Hampshire.

[NHI]

Republican Primary: Gallup Poll (December 1-5 2015)

Marco Rubio: 35%
Rand Paul: 19%
Jerry Moran: 17%
Stephen Pearcy: 13%
Undecided: 16%

Democratic Primary: Gallup Poll (Dec. 1-5 2015)

Elizabeth Warren: 32%
Bernie Sanders: 27%
Joe Biden: 21%
Undecided: 20%

Iowa Caucuses: Gallup Poll (Dec. 1-5 2015)

Marco Rubio: 33%
Jerry Moran: 21%
Rand Paul: 20%
Stephen Pearcy: 16%

Iowa Caucuses: Gallup Poll (Dec. 1-5 2015)

Elizabeth Warren: 34%
Bernie Sanders: 30%
Joe Biden: 22%
Undecided: 14%

New Hampshire Primary: Gallup Poll (Dec. 1-5 2015)

Rand Paul: 33%
Marco Rubio: 29%
Stephen Pearcy: 19%
Jerry Moran: 11%
Undecided: 8%

Match ups:

Marco Rubio: 47%

Elizabeth Warren: 40%

Marco Rubio: 47%

Bernie Sanders: 37%

Marco Rubio: 46%

Joe Biden: 41%

Rand Paul: 44%

Elizabeth Warren: 39%

Rand Paul: 45%

Bernie Sanders: 38%

Joe Biden: 44%

Rand Paul: 43%

Elizabeth Warren: 44%

Stephen Pearcy: 39%

Bernie Sanders: 41%

Stephen Pearcy: 41%

Joe Biden: 46%

Stephen Pearcy: 37%

Elizabeth Warren: 45%

Jerry Moran: 39%

Bernie Sanders: 42%

Jerry Moran: 39%

Joe Biden: 47%

Jerry Moran: 39%

This round will last until Thursday at 9 PM EST.
I will PM the Republican candidates questions for the debates.

[NHI]

JOE BIDEN'S EXIT FROM RACE CHANGES DYNAMICS

Daily Tracking Poll; Democratic Primary

Elizabeth Warren: 43%
Bernie Sanders: 34%
Undecided: 23%

[NHI]

When is the next update?

I think the next turn will start tommorrow at 9 pm since Bernie Sanders and Rand Paul asked for a 24 hour extension.

Noted. Extensions are fine.
I'm wondering if everyone is agreeable, about extending until Sat 12:00 PM EST. I'm going to be driving back tomorrow and will not be back until late.

Does that work?

[NHI]

2016 Presidential Game: Republican Debate

Good evening to everyone watching this debate, I am senator Rand Paul and I hope you consider me and vote for me when the time comes in the primary.

How do you propose defeating radical islamic terrorism?: Firstly, I think we should cooperate with countries in the middle east for this, but I would try to work with countries that we are more sure that aren't being actually good to terrorists, we should work with our NATO allies and even Russia, they might not be our good friends, but for the cause of finishing terrorism, I think we should do it. My plan is also to stop funding rebels we don't reallt know, becuase we can be funding radical ISIS fighters without knowing, instead of arming the people we don't know, I would arm the Kurds, they want a state? Give them a state in exchange of helping us against ISIS, meanwhile this, my plan to prevent attacks made by this radicals here in the US is to make it clear that you will not enter this country if we don't know who you are and where are you from, your citizenship will be revoked if you join  them and I will also make it clear that if you see a suspect action YOU NEED TO REPORT IT regardless of what you think some people will call you, you can be saving lives by denouncing so if you see strange and suspect things, denounce it.

You've attacked Senator Rubio for what you call his support of amnesty. Where is wrong on immigration reform and how would you address it?: Actually, I want to point out that what I attacked was a contrast between what he said in 2010 and what he said in 2013. I do think there should be some type of immigration reform, the status quo in immigration, at least in it's current point,  is something hard and pretty much untenable, I support that we should secure our borders and I would let the states help with it normally, I think we should not fund sanctuary cities, I think we can replace a pathway to cizenship with work visas, we could give temporary visas to the illegal immigrants who actually pay taxes and are good people so they aren't undocumented anymore, these people who receive the visa will not be put ahead of anyone trying to enter the country, so they would have to wait to become legal immigrants.

You have not advocated building up the defense budget and have suggested America needs to focus more on its affairs at home. In your words what is the Paul Doctrine or the Paul foreign policy?: Well, in the shortest way possible, I would describe it as "looking more to internal problems and defense", I don't think we should topple dictators, yes they are bad guys, but many times the opposition is just as bad or even worse, the fall of the dicator means the desestabilization of the country. I think we shouldn't be the world police or anything like this, we should focus more on our own problems from our country.

The recent attack on fellow candidate has sparked an uptick in extremism in the 2016 campaign. What is the cause and how do you stop it or address it?: I want to remember that being involved with groups like Al Qaeda and Nazi Groups can have their citizenship revoked, and I willl make it clear to enforce this as president. Now... You asked what is the reason behind it, and to me it is simple, the person looks to Obama, looks to the Democrats, looks to Warren and Sanders,  and don't like them, it looks to Bush, the Republicans, Marco, me, Pearcy, Moran, and don't like us, this person has extremist ideas that don't fit in any party, this person see itself as a third way, in this case nazism, the person manifests it's radical views and disgust for both parties.

What is the main difference between you and President Obama when it comes to dealing with the nation's economy?: Well, my economic plan has as base the Austrian School of Economics, the place known for Rothbard, Hayek and Mises, I support more freedom in the market, this worked very well in numerous countries like Switzerland, Scandinavian countries and our country, America, and yes, I said the Scandinavian countries, because despite what people like Bernie might say, before becoming this big welfare state, Scandinavian countries embraced economic liberalism, or economic conservatism for american standards, so my answer to the original question is that I'll always look for the "let the free market decide" and "let the government out of this" solution in the economy.

Closing Statements: Our country os changing fast, if the current rithym continues, our sons might live in a worse condition than us, America needs a true economic conservative and someone with answers to fix this all, and I hope you will consider me when the time to vote comes.

[NHI]

Thank you Wolf.

It's really amazing to be back in Las Vegas. I spent six years as a child growing not far from where we stand tonight. I use to sit on the porch of our home and listen to my grandfather tell stories as he smoked one of three daily cigars.

One of the things my grandfather instilled in me, was that I was really blessed because I was a citizen of the greatest country in the history of our mankind. But there have always been people in American politics that wanted America to be more like the rest of the world. And In 2008, one of them was elected president of this country and the result has been a disaster.

Today you have millions of Americans that feel left out and out of place in their own country, struggling to live paycheck to paycheck, called bigots because they hold on to traditional values.

And around the world, America's influence has declined while this president has destroyed our military, our allies no longer trust us, and our adversaries no longer respect us. And that is why this election is so important.

America is at war. Our enemy is not some unnamed malevolent force. It is radical Islamic terrorist. We have a president who is unwilling to utter its name. We need a president who understands the first obligation of the commander-in-chief is to keep America safe. If I am elected president, we will hunt down and kill the terrorists. We will utterly destroy ISIS. We will stop the terrorist attacks before they occur. Border security is national security and we will not be admitting jihadists as refugees.

That's why I'm running for president. And that's why I'm going to ask you for your vote tonight. If you elect me president, we will have a president that believes America is the greatest country in the world and we will have a president that acts like it.

To all Candidates: How do you propose to defeating radical Islamic terrorism?

Here's what we're going to do when I'm President in order to defeat radical Islamic terrorism. We will stop the flow of refugees from Syria and Iraq into the U.S. in order to stop terrorists from getting among refugees and cross our borders and commit terrorist attacks. We will increase budget for the FBI and TSA in order to give them the necessary tools to stop terrorism. We will increase military budget in order to reinforce our military and our troops' readiness. We're going to make the U.S. armed forces' mission, including for ground troops, total destruction of ISIS. We will establish a no-fly zone in Syria in order to intensify airstrikes against ISIS. And we will build strong military coalitions with our European and Middle Eastern allies. And because a part of the money we send every year to oil-producing countries by importing their oil ends up in the hands of terrorist organizations, we have to reduce our dependency on foreign oil, which requires promoting oil drilling here in America and taking advantage of all of our sources of energy, which will deprive terrorists of the necessary funds to prepare terrorist attacks. That's how we're going to defeat radical Islamic terrorism and lead America to victory.

Senator Rubio: Please weigh in the back and forth between you and Senator Paul over immigration; including your previous support for the Gang of 8 Bill?

Well, I suppose that Rand did not read the entire bill in order to understand all the measures included in the Gang of Eight bill. Because it includes billions of dollars used to reinforce our borders and to add more border agents. So if it includes these security measures, it's far away from being in favor of amnesty. If I were really in favor open borders, this bill would not have been 1,198 pages long while doubling the size of border patrol.

As long as immigrants get back of line, pay fines and learn English, there will be no amnesty. And that's another element of my agenda on this issue.

My plan is to hire 20 000 new additional border agents, to complete the construction of the 700 miles of fencing and walls our nation needs. We will put in place a mandatory E-verify as well as a a mandatory entry/exit tracking system and until all of that is in place, we can prove that illegal immigration is under control. We will put a halt on new admissions of refugees from Syria and Iraq in order to make sure that terrorists will not cross our borders and harm our people. I do believe this country has a right to know who  they are and why they are coming. And that's why I've been clear, when I am the president of the United States of America, we don't know who you are, and we don't know why you're trying to come to the United States, you are not going to get in, because the radical threat that we now face from ISIS is extraordinary and unprecedented and when I’m President, we’ll keep ISIS out of America.

And all these elements in my immigration plan are reasons that's why Ted Cruz, one of the most anti-amnesty senators in America, endorsed me over Rand. So saying that my plan brings amnesty is simply not true.

And when it comes to stop terrorists or criminals from crossing our borders, I have no lessons to receive from Rand Paul who, on November 2013, alongside 50 Democratic Senators, voted « NO » on an amendment that I co-sponsored with Senator Kelly Ayotte for the National Defense Authorization Act for the Fiscal Year 2014 and that would have prohibited the Department of Defense from using funds for the transfer or the release of individuals detained at Guantanamo Bay. This amendment was supported by 40 Republican Senators (including me) on 45. In fact, at that time, Rand supported a measure aimed at loosening restrictions on transferring detainees out of Guantanamo Bay, which is bad for national security because terrorists detained in Guantanamo are too dangerous to be released or transferred in the United States or anywhere because they can seize any opportunity to escape, to be on the run once again and to commit terrorist attacks against the United States.

So if Rand seeks to stop terrorists or criminals from crossing our borders and harming the American people, he can't have it both ways. If you want to see the facts, go on Google and type the following key words : « Rand Paul Guantanamo Detainees 2013 ».

I believe that if we capture any of these ISIS fighters alive, they are going to Guantanamo Bay, and we're going to find out everything they know, because when I'm President, unlike Barack Obama, we will keep this country safe.

Rubio: Part I (Debate Answers)

[NHI]

Senator Rubio: How would your leadership differ than Pres. Obama when it comes to dealing with terrorism?

Under my leadership, there will be no negotiation with terrorists. The choice will be very clear, terrorism's victory or America's victory. So we have to put them on the defensive. Unlike Barack Obama, I will not hesitate to call the enemy by its name, which is radical Islamic terrorism. I will not take the risk of putting America's national security in danger by closing Guantanamo. We will put a halt to the flow of Syrian refugees coming in America in order to stop ISIS from passing. I will make one of our anti-terrorist fight's mission the capture or death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS. Thanks to the establishment of great and powerful military coalitions with our European and Middle Eastern allies, to our military power as well as India's Turkey's military powers, and to the numeric advantage of American and allied troops in Syria and Iraq, we will cut ISIS resources and surround ISIS' territory. ISIS will be forced to divide its forces for the defense of all the corners of their territory. That way, we will defeat ISIS more easily just like we defeated Hitler during World War II partly because of the division of its forces on Western and Eastern Europe. That way, we will locate al-Baghadi's refuge, assault it and capture or kill him, thus weakening ISIS, leading progressively to its extinction through our efforts, which will bring peace, stability and justice back in the Middle East.

To all the candidates: The recent attack on fellow candidate has sparked an uptick in extremism in the 2016 campaign. What is the cause and how do you stop it or address it?

What happened in Pearcy's rally is unacceptable. Any attack against a candidate for office is an attack against democracy. We can't tolerate such madness. This is a democratic republic and we must protect all Americans' inviolable rights.

In America, we are a nation that is better than anger, cursing and rage. America is not a place for extremism, racism, anti-semitism and xenophobia. These are all values that we've always fought throughout America's history, including during World War II, and we must keep fighting this evil.

And no matter wins the nomination and the presidency, we have to work together to defend liberty against neo-nazism and against extremism in general.

Senator Rubio: Is more military spending the answer?

Well Wolf, we can't carry on as if the terrorist threat doesn't exist. We can’t act like Hillary Clinton and the Obama administration did about their responsibility for the security lapses during the attack in Benghazi where 4 of our brave U.S. ambassadors were killed by radical Islamic terrorists on September 11 2012, after which Clinton arrogantly answered « What difference at this point does it make? » about the reason why these Americans died. How many Americans and other innocent people around the world must die before we understand that Barack Obama’s foreign policy has failed to keep us safe and that we must take real action against terrorism?
   
We must have the courage to tell things like they are and tell the truth to the American people. We are facing a serious threat imposed by radical Islamic terrorism. We’ve got Russia who already increased its military spending at almost the equivalent of one-fifth of America’s defense spending, we’ve got North Korea who is seeking to trigger nuclear attacks against its neighbors and against America and we’ve got China who is seeking to pursue its expansionist policies in the South China Sea and to trigger an arms race in that region

The world is better and safer when America has the strongest military in the world. So military spending will help us to reinforce and modernize our military, to ensure our troops’ readiness to fight and defeat the enemy and together, with our allies and all our military powers combined together, we’re going to defeat radical Islamic terrorism, including ISIS. And by putting in place anti-missile shields between Europe and the Middle East as well as on the Pacific, we will be able to take down any nuclear missile launched by Iran or North Korea, thus avoiding hundreds of thousands of deaths and avoiding nuclear wars.

And you know, even though Ronald Reagan increased America’s military spending so drastically, it has not prevented the United States from getting to economic prosperity. Ronald Reagan increased America’s military spending by 40 %, which helped our country to keep its status as the strongest military power in the world after a time of uncertainty, of economic downturn and growing geopolitical threat by the Soviet Union who was about to take the upper hand against the United States and possibly win the Cold War. So it helped us to promote peace through strength and to win the Cold War against the Soviet Union. And at the same time, despite increasing our military spending, we managed to cut taxes, regulations and government spending to spur economic growth, to curb the money supply and reduce inflation. As a result, at the end of the Cold War, inflation was reduced from 12.5 % to 4.4 %, we saw an average annual growth of real GDP of 3.4 %, America’s unemployment rate was reduced from 7.5 % in 1980 to 5.4 % in 1989 and 16 million new jobs were created, 16 million.

So we can increase military spending and ensure economic growth as well as America’s economic prosperity at the same time. And that’s what I will do as President of the United States.

Closing Statements :

Thank you. I want to wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all those who are sitting here in this audience or watching this debate at home. As we near the end of this year, we enter one of the most important elections in a generation. For what's at stake in this election is not simply what party's going to be in charge. But our very identity as a people and as a nation. For over 200 years this has been a special country. A unique place where anyone from anywhere can achieve anything. But now millions of Americans feel like they're being left behind. Insecure in their future and unsafe in the face of terrorism. This election is about electing a president that will restore our economic vibrancy so that the American dream can expand to reach more people and change more lives than ever before. And rebuild our Military and our intelligence programs so that we can remain the strongest nation on earth. Tonight I ask you for your vote.

If you do this, we will rebuild this country, and together we will usher in a new American century, the greatest era in the history of this great land.
[/i]

[NHI]

Stephen Pearcy



1.I was busy campaigning about the economy and stuff but as soon as I heard some anti Semitic slurs I saw a man beating up one of my own supporters and I was terrified. Now lucky he is alright and I even visited him at the hospital which was like a dream come for him.

As for the attacker? Hopefully he is rotting in jail.

2.I think the Patriot Act has been terrible and just helps the terrorist more. The homeland security throughout the last decade was terrible in trying to get this type of people. And my opponents expect for Senator Paul voted in 2011 to renew the Patriot Act and since then it's been going about the same.

I believe if I am President I will increase the toughness of the border portal who I think are the one doing the best in protecting these type of wackos coming into our country.

My tax plan across the board was rated the most conservative by National Review and a lot of economists have said it would give the economy the biggest boom since the 1980s.

My tax cut plan will be the biggest tax cut in history and will cut taxes for 20% to small businesses and middle class families.

3.I am against these types of attack on free speech on any candidate even my democratic opponents. I believe there are many good reasons to criticize them but not because of their race age gender or sexuality.

I strongly disagree with President Obama on a lot of things but I always found it hateful that some people would hate him out of all the things because he is black. Come on!! That's one of the worst excuses I have ever heard!!


4.When I say Nationalist I mean I am a strong supporter of my country and its values. I want to make it great again, I want to put it on the top of the world again, I don't want it to sell out to China or something like that.  I'm less of a nationalist than President Teddy Roosevelt was to put in bluntly.

I am against these free trade deals and the globalism that the elites want to push on us and that what it is Nationalism and Populism are against globalism!

Rand Paul seems to be more constitutionalist while I seem to be more populist and more well moderate on some social issues that's the main one. And we have a disagreement on the Keystone Pipeline I personally think if it is gonna happen we should find a way to make it work and try to put it in a place where it doesn't interfere with private property.


5. If we are gonna defeat ISIS then we need to stop arming these people we know nothing about. The FSA for all we know could be good friends with ISIS and just think it. Prob going on now in Syria two CIA and US funded groups are shooting at each other and we don't even know!!

In a presidency of mine I will send in the troops as part of a last resort when seems to be wants gonna happen right now.


I feel like I am leading a revolution of populist. I see all over the Internet of hundreds and thousands of people who wait hours for me to speak and I have dozens of social media groups making pages and groups on Facebook in support of my campaign which really honors me.


I am a different kind of Republican. I am not fighting for big donors and corporations and Wall Street and big Pharma. I am fighting for my country and you the American people.

I believe if you vote for Stephen Percy you are making one of the greatest choices of your life.  That is all

[NHI]

When I first decided to run for president, it was because I was dissatisfied with the current administration. People were telling me they feared the future. They wondered if the American dream was dead. They wondered how they were going to keep their job in this economy. How they would pay off the debt on the family farm. How it  could possibly be legal to end the life a fully alive human based on choice. But even after all their worries, they have hope. We all have hope deep down inside of us that things will be better until we turn on politics, then it seems even worse than usual. So many nasty things being thrown back and forth. That's when I decided I was going to try my best and never run a purely negative campaign against my opponents. I was going to think about those people watching at home and wonder what they think. It is truly an honor to be here in Las Vegas, thank you.

How do you propose to defeating radical Islamic terrorism?
To defeat Islamic terrorism we must have more secure borders. That is why I propose extensive background checks on all people coming from the middle east. Our national security is my number one priority. Then, with our borders secure, we must go and defeat the terrorists where they hide. Helping our allies in the area defeat them is the best solution.

What is the main difference between you and your opponents?
I'm just a Senator from Kansas. I grew up on my family farm in the middle of nowhere. No one expected me to get anywhere near where I am today. I'm not your regular politician. I know the issues and when my constituents ask, I answer. I have held over a thousand town halls just in Kansas. But when it really comes down to it, I remain strong on my issues that I believe in. My ads aren't a bunch of actors telling you how great I am. They are me, telling you where I am and what I want to do for the nation and how I want to make it better.

How would your leadership differ than Pres. Obama when it comes to dealing with terrorism and what policies would you advocate that differ from your fellow candidates?
President Obama has been weak when it comes to the middle east. The Iran nuclear deal is a good example of that. I would draw the line and say enough is enough. Islamic terrorists, we are coming for you. Warren, Biden or Sanders will all continue to be weak in the middle east but not me. We will fight, we will persist, we will win.

The recent attack on fellow candidate has sparked an uptick in extremism in the 2016 campaign. What is the cause and how do you stop it or address it?
Well, the first thing to do is to pray for the victims and attackers. They both need prayers more than anything. I of course offer my condolences to Mr. Percy and his family. But the cause is dissatisfaction with politics. People have become so fed up with government that extremism is coming out in people. To adress it we must continue to fight for what we believe in. Because if we can't do that, there is no reason for even trying.

Do you support President Obama's climate pact with other nations in the G7?
On November 19, I and 36 other senators sent a letter to President Obama telling him what we thought. We told him that he cannot require American tax dollars to go toward international climate change funding without the approval of the Senate. But no, I do not support it. The Paris Agreement is doomed to fail just like all the other pacts made in an attempt to reduce climate change. There is a saying that "those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it". This agreement is very similar to the unsuccessful Kyoto Protocol of 1997. The reason is because the treaty has no legal effect in countries. Even President Clinton didn't act on it back when he signed and President Bush just scrapped it. Because of these precedents, Paris is doomed to fail.

Closing Statements:
I have been the only candidate on this stage willing to stand up for being a true social conservative. Abortion is one of the greatest threats to our society in this day and age. I have time and time again proven to be the strongest candidate on abortion. But abortion is not the only issue. The budget needs balancing, ISIS needs defeating and we need to check the oversteps of the Obama administration just to name a few. We have a lot of work to do but I'm willing to work with you and hopefully you with me to get the right things done. Thank you and God bless America.

[NHI]

Reaction from Republican Debate in Las Vegas

Cooper: We'll turn now to our panel. Immediate thoughts on tonight's debate: Winner, losers?

Navarro: Rubio, clear winner.

Begala: As a Democrat, I thought they all were bad, but stylistically Rubio, and that's what scares me.

Castellanos: Rubio did the best, but I was equally impressed by both Moran and Paul's answers.

McEnany: I'll be the outlier, I thought Pearcy did the best. He was the most natural and plain spoken of the candidates. Rubio, I thought was too polished.

Begala: I agree with Kayleigh on that point, now that being said I don't think he has a chance in hell. If the Democrats nominate anyone other than Rubio, I think we're looking at Obama 2008 numbers or greater.

Castellanos: Oh, come on Paul. Let's be serious.

Begala: I am. Rubio is the one candidate, who as a Democrat, would keep me up at night.

Narrvaro: Exactly, because he's young, articulate and I know Alex will hate me for saying this, but he's not Mitt Romney. He's not even John McCain. He represents the future.

Cooper; We want to hold for a moment as we're getting an early snapshot at what viewers thought of the debate and who they picked as the winner.

✓ Marco Rubio: 29%
Tie: 19%
Paul: 18%
Pearcy: 16%
Moran: 12%
None of the Above: 6%

[NHI]

In the wake of the recent attacks in Paris, San Bernardino, and other cities across the globe, terrorism has increasingly become the central issue in the 2016 Presidential Election.

Beginning first with the Republican candidates, Senator Marco Rubio and Senator Jerry Moran have seen an uptick in support, do to their perceived strengths on foreign policy. Rubio, has come out the strongest, even blasting fellow rival and Senator Rand Paul, including attacking him for supporting a measure aimed at loosening restrictions on transferring detainees out of Guantanamo Bay.

Rubio, continues to dominate as the favorite among the GOP establishment and is widely viewed as the Republican front runner.

Senator Rand Paul, continues to be a thorn in the Florida Senator's side, trading barbs with him in their latest debate over combating terrorism, military spending and immigration reform. For Paul, observers see him as the strongest "Anti-Rubio" candidate; with Paul's main competition coming from Activist Stephen Pearcy, who many appreciate for his straight talk and the fact he is the only candidate in the race who is not a politician.

Pearcy has also received a boost from some high profile endorsements: Including Former Vice President Dan Quayle, and 2008 Vice Presidential nominee and Former AK Governor Sarah Palin

As the Christmas holiday and New Years approaches the race is expected to stabilize, before ticking up again in January as the candidates make a final dash before the Iowa Caucuses in February.

In Iowa, Rubio has taken a lead, but he faces competition from Jerry Moran, who is hoping the states evangelical leanings and conservative base will propel him to an upset. Paul and Peracy are competing in Iowa, but are focused much more on doing well in New Hampshire, where the states libertarian streak is more palpable to their candidacies.

Marco Rubio Endorsements:
George Pataki, former Governor of New York, endorses Marco Rubio due to shared views on economic and foreign policy issues and also because he was Governor of New York on 9/11 and wants a President with strong foreign policy experience and judgement like Marco Rubio in order to defeat radical Islamic terrorism.

Adam Putnam, Agriculture Commissioner of Florida, endorses Marco Rubio because they are from the same state and due to shared views on agriculture, economic and social issues.

George P. Shultz, former Secretary of State under Ronald Reagan, endorses Marco Rubio due to shared views on foreign policy issues.

Marcus Luttrell, retired U.S. Navy SEAL and author of The Lone Survivor, endorses Marco Rubio due to shared views on foreign policy issues.

Jeff Sessions, Alabama Senator,  endorses Marco Rubio due to shared views on economic, social and foreign policy issues and their shared opposition to amnesty.

Bob Corker, Tennessee Senator,  endorses Marco Rubio due to shared views on economic, social and foreign policy issues.

John Warner, former Virginia Senator, endorses Marco Rubio due to shared views on foreign policy issues.

Mark Kirk, Illinois Senator endorses Marco Rubio due to shared views on economic and foreign policy issues and since he's from Barack Obama's home state of Illinois, he's convinced that Senator Rubio is the only one who can bring great and decisive change in America after 8 years of Barack Obama.

Rick Perry, former Texas Governor and 2012 Republican presidential candidate,endorses Marco Rubio due to shared views on economic, social and foreign policy issues.

David Perdue, Georgia Senator,  endorses Marco Rubio due to shared views on economic, social and foreign policy issues.

Rick Santorum, former Pennsylvania Senator, endorsed Marco Rubio due to shared views on economic, social and foreign policy issues.

Rand Paul Endorsements:
Representative from Virginia David Brat - Brat, like almost Republicans has a economic conservative view, he should endorse Paul due to their similariries in the issues of NSA surveillance and other social issues like abortion.

Representative from Tennessee Jimmy Duncan - Same as Brat + he describes himself as a non interventionist.

Stephen Pearcy Endorsements:
Peace org, Former Vice President Dan Quayle, Barry Goldwater Jr, Eddie Trunk and Sarah Palin.




The departure of Vice President Joe Biden, has narrowed the Democratic race to Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Much of the party establishment is uniting, perhaps begrudgingly around the Massachusetts Senator, who is viewed as the more electable candidate, than Sanders.

Warren received a major boost with Biden's departure, as well as his subsequent endorsement; helping to coalesce the party establishment around her candidacy.

However, Sanders continues to make waves in the primary. First, his campaign announced it had raised over $39 million, with the average donation at $27.31, illustrating Sanders' commitment to run a grassroots campaign, and belief that small donors trump big donations. Second, Sanders also announced he intends to run as a Democrat in all future election, further confirming his slow, but full embrace of the Democratic Party.

The challenge for the Democrats is the increasing presence of terrorism as a main campaign issue for voters, and both candidates have struggled to properly address the issue, without either alienating themselves or wrapping themselves around the legacy of President Barack Obama. Fortunately, both Warren and Sanders have no ties to the Obama Administration, unlike Biden, so both are able to distance themselves from the President, without abandoning him completely. Both Sanders and Warren will have a chance to debate one-on-one in New Hampshire on December 19th; the last debate of 2015.
Elizabeth Warren Endorsements:
- Jeanne Shaheen (Previously endorsed Biden),
Tom Vilsack (Previously Endorsed Biden),
Bill Nelson (Previously endorsed Biden),
Terry McAuliffe (Previously endorsed Biden),
Sherrod Brown (Previously endorsed Biden),
Daily Kos,
Tim Kaine,
Al Franken
Eric Garcetti.

Bernie Sanders Endorsements:
Senator Jeff Merkley. One of the most progressive members of the Senate, and a strong supporter of Wall Street reform

Governor Kate Brown. Also from Oregon, Brown is strong progressive and supporter of marijuana legalisation

Harvey Milk Foundation. "Senator Sanders supported LGBT rights when he was still Mayor of Burlington in the 1980s. We are glad to lend this man our support."

Archbishop Desmond Tutu. "I see in Senator Bernard Sanders a man of great integrity and moral conviction, who understand the principles of peace, compassion and freedom for all.

Polling: Republican Primary

Sen. Marco Rubio tops the latest Gallup Poll among Republicans for the GOP nomination.

Marco Rubio: 38%
Rand Paul: 20%
Stephen Pearcy: 18%
Jerry Moran: 15%
Undecided: 9%

Sen. Warren narrowly edges out Bernie Sanders in the latest poll.

Elizabeth Warren: 41%
Bernie Sanders: 36%
Undecided: 23%

The Round will run from: Dec, 17-Dec 31, 2015

We will start the next round on Monday at 11 PM EST

[NHI]

Rubio and Sanders lead in the Iowa Caucuses; the latest poll finds.

Marco Rubio: 33%
Jerry Moran: 22%
Rand Paul: 17%
Stephen Peracy: 17%
Undecided: 11%


Elizabeth Warren: 46%
Bernie Sanders: 39%
Undecided: 15%

Paul leads for the GOP in NH; Sanders & Warren are neck-and-neck

Rand Paul: 33%
Marco Rubio: 25%
Stephen Pearcy: 20%
Jerry Moran: 13%
Undecided: 9%


Elizabeth Warren: 43%
Bernie Sanders: 42%
Undecided: 15%

[NHI]

Allowing a 24 hr extension for GoTfan, per the funeral for his uncle.

I will hold off posting the Democratic update until GoTfan posts.
Republicans will have their turn posted tonight.

[NHI]

Allowing a 24 hr extension for GoTfan, per the funeral for his uncle.

I will hold off posting the Democratic update until GoTfan posts.
Republicans will have their turn posted tonight.

Already did mine

OK Great.

[NHI]

Democratic Debate: Sanders vs Warren

Warren & Sanders Square off in First One-on-One Debate

Bernie Sanders:


- Opening Statements

First of all I'd like to thank the moderator and our hosts for tonight. I'd also like to thank Senator Waren for being here too. Tonight, you are going to see something markedly different from the Republican debates. This is not going to be a popularity contest. This is going to be a debate of policy. Senator Warren and I have worked closely in the Senate for years, and I am honored to be debating her tonight.

Let me begin by saying my campaign focuses on a number of issues: climate change, LGBT equality, legalization of marijuana, rebuilding infrastructure and so on. However, the biggest issue-and one I believe to be the great moral issue of our time-is wealth inequality. I do not believe it is fair that the top 1% in this country get millions, if not billions, of dollars in tax breaks, and leave the middle and working classes to foot the bill. They then go and hide their money in offshore tax havens like the Cayman Islands. This is just unacceptable. Trickle-down economics does not work. On the other hand, raising wages for workers and increasing taxes on the wealthiest earners in this country will decrease the wealth gap. Those of the working and middle classes will have increased purchasing power, and studies show that a lager portion of middle and working class money is spent than upper-class money, which means that increasing wages will mean more money in the system.

This is just common-sense economics. Though common sense doesn't seem to be common in the Republican Party.

Quote
- Senator Sanders: In your own words you described yourself as a "Democratic socialist", to those watching here tonight, could you elaborate what that title means?

A democratic socialist is someone who believes that the richest people cannot, on their own, produce an ideal society, and that the true responsibility in this country lies with the working and middle classes. A democratic socialist is someone who believes that healthcare is a right for all, not a privilege for those who can afford it. A democratic socialist is someone who believes that working two or three jobs and still not earning enough to feed your family is immoral. A democratic socialist is someone who believes that when we all stand as one, we are a better society. We do not advocate for the overthrow of capitalism; that's just the ideology of a handful of fringe lunatics. We want to make capitalism fairer for all.

On the other hand, you have people in the Republican Party-not naming names *laughs*-who are seemingly having a competition to see who can give the richest people the biggest tax cut. That is just insane. I like President Johnson's take on right-wing economics: "Republicans simply don't know how to manage the economy. They keep pushing this trickle-down theory, trying to give the richest corporations the biggest tax break, and before you know it, the whole thing's gone hell in a handbasket."



Quote
- Senator Warren: You're proposing Medicare for all - how do you plan to pay for such a massive overhaul to the nation's health care system?

If i may add an aside here, Senator Warren is absolutely spot-on here. We are the only first-world country that does not guarantee healthcare to its citizens as a right. We can pay for this by closing offshore tax loopholes and making sure our wealthiest citizens pay their taxes.

So Elizabeth, you have my full support in this.

Quote
- Senator Sanders: Do you consider Pres. Obama's nearly eight years in office a success or failure?

I consider it a mixed bag. He has done some very good things. He's been acting decisively on climate change; the Affordable Care Act was a marked improvement over our old system, though it didn't go far enough; and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which was the brainchild of my colleague here.

However, there has been some undeniable negatives. The expansion of domestic spying is a blatant violation of the Fourth Amendment; he has attempted to prosecute people like Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning, both of whom revealed to the world just what was happening. These shortsighted free trade deals that throw workers aside. Endless military intervention; I believe it's seven different countries we're currently fighting in.

President Obama's administraion has been a mixed bad with both positives and negatives. However, he could not have done much better than that, considering what he inherited. He has left the country in a much better shape than before, so there is no excuse for whoever wins this election

Quote
- to Both: What would your plan be as President to confront and stop ISIS?

Military intervention should always be the last resort, never the first, which is why I'm alarmed at the words coming out of the Republican debates, where they seem to be competing for the right to be crowned "Most hawkish".

We need to form a coalition of anti-ISIS nations in the Middle East. Part of this will necessitate working with some unsavory people. Assad in Syria for example. However, we have a common enemy, and offering material and diplomatic support is an excellent way to get some policy concessions from them. The same goes for Iran.

We need to both hold an anti-ISIS Middle Eastern coalition together, and gain concessions from the leaders of these countries.

However, we cannot rely on Saudi Arabia anymore. They are directly responsible for the spread of this foul Wahabbist ideology, and need to be diplomatically confronted about it.

Quote
- to Both: Do you consider yourself a progressive?

Yes. No doubt about it. I have been standing up for progressive causes since the 1960s, when I was arrested for joining civil rights protests.

Quote
- to Both: How do you propose dealing with the nearly 22 million undocumented immigrants in this country?

Amnesty for all, just like the great Republican saint Ronald Reagan. What Republicans don't seem to understand-particularly in regards to Muslim immigrants-is that most criminals in the United States were born and raised here, and didn't immigrate.

However, I would also do border protection. The point is, we don't need a tougher system for immigrants-we have one of the toughest in the world already-we need to make it better. As President, I will reach out to advisers and then formulate the best plan possible.

Quote
- Closing Statements.

Tonight, you have seen an exchange of ideas and policy, not one of personality like the Republicans. Regardless of what you believe, have just one request for everyone out their tonight: vote your conscience, don't vote for policies you don't believe in and don't vote for the person.

Thank you and goodnight.


Elizabeth Warren:
In this debate you will see two proudly progressive candidates. Only one has the ability to defeat any Republican opponent in November, and that is me.

The main difference between myself and Senator Sanders, is that I can win in November. I can defeat a Marco Rubio, Jerry Moran, or Rand Paul, while still providing progressive values.

Obamacare may not be perfect, but it's a heck of a lot better than doing nothing, like the Republicans and insurance companies wanted.

Senator Sanders' proposal is for free tuition for all is too broad. The rich and uber-rich families should have to pay for whatever college they go to, like anyone else does now.

To stop ISIS, I would arm the Peshmerga, and whatever moderate Syrian rebels exist and I would step up airstrikes on ISIS held territory in Iraq and Syria. Under no circumstances should there be American soldiers risking their lives in either Iraq or Syria.

Of course I consider myself a progressive. I wouldn't have the endorsement of Daily Kos if I wasn't one.

To deal with the nearly twenty-two million undocumented immigrants already in this country, I would pursue the deportations of only those who have committed felonies, such as rape and murder. Others, would be admitted into a work program, where if they worked for a set number of years for a salary and paid a fine, they would receive a Green Card.

You have seen two candidates who are both proud progressives, however, only I can defeat the Republicans in November. I hope those of you watching in Iowa, New Hampshire, and around the nation make the right choice.

Instant Reaction to the Democratic Debate

Sanders Edges Warren

✓ Sanders: 41%
Warren: 39%
Tie: 19%
Neither: 1%

Headlines from Democrat's Debate
Politico: "Warren Stresses Electability Against Sanders"

The New York Times: Democrats Debate: Sanders vs. Warren

SLATE: Sanders Calls President Obama's Legacy 'A Mixed Bag'


Viewer's Reactions to Warren vs Sanders

On Sanders:




On Warren:

[NHI]

NEXT TURN: Republicans

January 1-14th

Race Overview:

The Republican candidates are crisscrossing the country, one month before the Iowa Caucuses, and Marco Rubio continues to lead as the favorite for the Republican nomination. He is currently ahead in every state, save for New Hampshire, where Rand Paul leads. Rubio is blanketing the airwaves with ads and racking up endorsements. Rubio's ads, in particular those on foreign policy have received high-marks and the strongest reaction.

However, his fellow rivals remain undeterred, for the heat is on for the Florida Senator who is likely to undergo a lot more scrutiny and attack as the race runs down to the wire.

Rand Paul, currently poses the biggest threat to Rubio in the long run, presuming he prevails in the New Hampshire primary. Paul continues to lead in the Granite State, where his libertarian streak is favored, but he faces some competition from Stephen Pearcy, who's bluntness and libertarian flourishes seem to have an appeal in the state.

While, Rubio faces a clearer path to the Republican nomination, than his rivals, he is still not without challenges. In Iowa, there still exists the likelihood of an upset by Senator Jerry Moran, who has strong support among the states' evangelical base and his conservatism is considered more traditional than Rubio. Only time will tell if Rubio can hold onto his lead. A win in Iowa would help him a great deal in continuing his momentum.

Republicans are set to debate again, in South Carolina.

News:

President Obama Signs Executive Order; requiring purchased guns to undergo a background check

President calls the act, 'prudent and necessary'

Obama Blasts GOP Candidates; Talks 'Containing Isis'

In an interview on ABC, President Obama denounced the Republicans running to succeed him, as 'misinformed' and 'out of step with the American people.' He also called their proposals to combat the increasing terrorist threat 'not based in reality' 'and based in the back channels of the internet'. Obama stressed his Administration is on top of Isis and suggested the threat is contained.

NK Conducts Another Nuclear Test; Obama Administration 'Condemns' the actions, vows to push for more sanctions.


In Final SOTU, Pres. Obama tries to sell optimism to a nervous nation
 
President Obama said, "the state of the union is at its strongest'. He also called on Congress to pass an infrastructure bill, aimed at 'jumpstarting our economy and securing the future'







Carloz Lopez-Cantera, Lieutanent Governor of Florida
James Mattis, Commander of United States Central Command
Robert McFarlane, former National Security Advisor under Ronald Reagan
Ted Yoho, Florida congressman
Chuck Norris, actor,
Richard Burr, North Carolina Senator
Mike Pence, Governor of Indiana
Mia Love, Utah congresswoman,
Orin Hatch, Utah Senator,[/b]
Will Hurd, Texas congressman,
John Culberson, Texas congressman,

Rand Paul Endorsements:
Representative from Virginia David Brat - Brat, like almost Republicans has a economic conservative view, he should endorse Paul due to their similariries in the issues of NSA surveillance and other social issues like abortion.

Representative from Tennessee Jimmy Duncan - Same as Brat + he describes himself as a non interventionist.

Representative from Virginia Morgan Griffith - Morgan should endorse Paul due to their shared views in the economy and in social issues like medical marijuana

Representative from North Carolina Walter B. Jones Jr. - Walter should endorse Paul due to their shared economic views and their shared views of less interventionism.

Stephen Pearcy Endorsements:
 Jesse Ventura, Peyton Manning, Michael Savage, Lisa Kennedy, Clint Eastwood, Gene Simmons and the rest of the bands Ratt and Kiss

Polling:

Iowa:  Rubio +10
Rubio: 33%
Moran: 23%
Paul: 17%
Pearcy: 16%

New Hampshire: Paul +8
Paul: 31%
Rubio: 23%
Pearcy: 22%
Moran: 15%

South Carolina: Rubio +13
Rubio: 33%
Paul: 20%
Moran: 19%
Pearcy: 17%

Nevada: Rubio +7
Rubio: 31%
Paul: 24%
Pearcy: 24%
Moran: 10%

Gallup National Poll: Republican Primary
Marco Rubio: 33%
Rand Paul: 23%
Stephen Pearcy: 20%
Jerry Moran: 16%

General Election Polling:

Rubio: 46% Warren: 40%

Rubio: 48% Sanders: 39%

[/center]

Paul: 45% Warren: 40%

Paul: 46% Sanders: 40%

Pearcy: 39% Warren: 44%

Pearcy: 40% Sanders: 42%

Moran: 42% Warren: 46%

Moran: 42% Sanders: 44%


This turn will last until Friday at 11 pm EST.
Democratic Update will be posted tomorrow.

[NHI]

Democrats are heading for a fierce contest between Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Poll are increasingly showing a close race between the Massachusetts Senator, and the Vermont Senator. Warren continues to stress her experience and electability, while Sanders argues the need for 'bold change'. There is no doubt, both are outside the usual spectrum of their political party, but Warren seems to embracing the establishment more so than Sanders, who is happy to run as the outsider; pledging to reform and rebuild the Democratic Party, much like his plan for the country, from the ground up.

Iowa: Warren +3
Warren: 45%
Sanders: 42%

New Hampshire: Sanders +4
Sanders: 46%
Warren: 42%

Nevada: Warren +3
Warren: 45%
Sanders: 42%

South Carolina: Warren +12
Warren: 48%
Sanders: 36% 

Gallup National Poll: Republican Primary
Elizabeth Warren: 43%
Bernie Sanders: 39%

Elizabeth Warren Endorsements: Dave Loesback (Previously endorsed Biden) Loretta Lynch (Previously endorsed Biden), Jack Markell (Previously endorsed Biden), Bruce Braley, Steven Horsford, Jim Clyburn (Previously endorsed Biden), Dina Titus (Previously endorsed Biden), Al Franken, Eric Schneiderman and Angus King.

Bernie Sanders Endorsements:

[NHI]

Minnesota Caucus Poll:
Bernie Sanders: 46%
Elizabeth Warren: 42%

Virginia Primary Poll:
Elizabeth Warren: 49%
Bernie Sanders: 38%

Texas Primary Poll:
Elizabeth Warren: 47%
Bernie Sanders: 37%

Colorado Caucus Poll:
Bernie Sanders: 46%
Elizabeth Warren: 44%

Democrat's Abroad Poll:
Bernie Sanders: 50%
Elizabeth Warren: 48%

[NHI]

I won't be able to finish my campaign schedule tonight so here is a summary.

Visit Iowa and campaign with endorsers.
campaign in Oklahoma
Senate duties
Debate prep
Campaign in South Carolina with endorsers
Debate

I will get my debate questions in as soon as possible

Would you like an extension until the morning? 9 AM EST?

[NHI]

Marco Rubio: Debate Answers Part I




Opening Statements

Good evening ladies and gentlemen.

This is Barack Obama's last full year in office. This will finally be the end of eight years of weakness and lack of economic progress due to big government policies, higher taxes and regulations that cost jobs across this country, offshored American businesses overseas, made us much more dependent on foreign oil, made us less competitive in the world economy and increased the deficit. This will be the end eight years of international insecurity caused by President Obama's cuts in defense budget and disengagement from the fight against terrorism and from the crusade for freedom, security and democracy, which contributed to ISIS' rise and to waves of terrorist attacks around the world including here in America as we saw it in Boston, in Garland and in San Bernardino, got Iran closer to a nuclear bomb, empowered Kim Jong-un and North Korea's nuclear arsenal and allowed Russia to invade Ukraine and to annex Crimea. But if Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders are elected, we will see a continuation of Barack Obama's anti-free market and job-killing policies and weak foreign policy that will encourage terrorists to conduct attacks against us.

But if I'm elected as the 45th President of the United States, we will promote free market by cutting taxes and regulations on the American people and for business owners to make our people more able to consume and to make our businesses growing again to create jobs, we will get America to energy independence, balance the budget and reform our education system. We will promote real American leadership by reinforcing our military, our alliances and our diplomacy in order to defeat ISIS, to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons and to maintain peace and stability on the Pacific against North Korea. This will be a New American Century marked by American greatness as well as by America's security, prosperity and status as the land of opportunity and as the hope of the Earth.


To All The Candidates: How do protect both American workers and promote free trade around the globe?

Well, I support free trade deals that are good for America. We're 5 percent of the world's population. If all we do is sell things to each other, we can only sell to 5 percent of the people on Earth. We need to have access to the hundreds of millions of people in the world today who can afford to buy things.

The problem is we're a low-tariff country. To import something into the United States is not very expensive, but many of these countries we can't export to because their tariffs are too high. So I am in favor of deals that allow us to bring down those tariffs so that America can sell things to all these people around the world. There are good trade deals and there are bad ones. So for example, in my home state of Florida we have benefited from the free trade deal with Colombia. It allowed flower exporters to come into the United States but it created jobs for hundreds of people who are now delivering those flowers and working in that industry. We have a surplus with Colombia.

On the other hand, you've seen trade deals like in Mexico that have been less than promising in some aspects, better in others. The bottom line is I believe that America, if given access to foreign markets, our workers are the most productive in the world, our people are the most innovative on this planet. If it is a free and fair trade deal, we can compete against anyone in the world, and we need to do it in the 21st century.

Unlike Senator Paul and Mr. Pearcy, I am the only one on this stage who is proposing conservative solutions to the economic challenges facing our country. The reason why we are losing jobs is because the Obama administration is diminishing free enterprise by increasing the size of government and because we have the highest corporate taxes in the developed world. We have a 40 % corporate tax rate while Singapore's corporate tax rate is at 17 %, Canada's corporate tax rate at 26 % and South Korea's corporate tax rate at 24 %. So my plan is to reduce our corporate taxes to 20 % in order to increase our businesses' ability to create jobs and to reinforce America's ability to compete with all these countries, which will promote free and fair trade and ensure job creation here in the United States.

The right way to boost our manufacturing industry is not to rip our trade deals. If we want to revive and boost our manufacturing industry, we have to reduce sales tax on manufacturing equipment, which is exactly what Governor Nikki Haley did here in South Carolina, which partly contributed to a reduction of the unemployment rate in the Palmetto State from 12 % in 2009 to 5 % today. We need to cut taxes and regulations on America's manufacturing industry and our manufacturing businesses. That way, manufacturing business owners will decide that America is still the best place in the world to do business, we're going to make sure that we will keep American manufacturing jobs here in America and that we make our manufacturing industry dynamic again and much more able to be competitive, to produce, to manufacture, to sell and to create good-paying manufacturing jobs. That's how we're going to protect American workers while promoting free trade.

Because America's prosperity comes from the ingenuity and entrepreneurship and hard work of the American people. That's how America will reclaim its economic strength and give to every American the privilege to live the American Dream and to earn prosperity here on the land of opportunity.

[NHI]

Marco Rubio: Debate Answers Part II


Sen. Rubio, one of the knocks against you by your opponents is your relative inexperience. Why are you most qualified to be President?

Well, this was an argument used against Barack Obama when he ran in 2008 while being a first term senator. But Barack Obama is not a bad president because he lacks experience. He is a bad president because of his ideas and ideology that weakened our national defense and our military, encouraged our enemies and contributed to the rise of ISIS and to multiplied terrorist attacks around the world, weakened free enterprise through big government policies such as higher and excessive regulations and taxes that diminished the American people's purchasing power, made America a harder place to do business and to create jobs, made us dependent on foreign energy and increased the deficit. And that's why we are living the slowest economic growth in America's history. As President, I will do the exact opposite by cutting taxes and regulations for all the American people, by encouraging free enterprise, by arming anti-ISIS forces, especially the Kurds, and by reinforcing our military as well as our security measures and our alliances to keep America safe and prosperous.

While some of my opponents, especially Senator Paul and Mr. Pearcy, seek to pursue the same failed foreign policy and the same failed national security policies of the last eight years by cutting in defense budget and weakening our Homeland Security, which will encourage our enemies, decrease our allies' trust in us and hand a victory to ISIS and international radical Islamic terrorism. In addition, Mr. Pearcy called to reinstate Dodd-Frank, which is an anti-free market policy that made big banks bigger, choked small banks, reduced consumer choice and contributed to small businesses' decline by wiping out over 40 % of small and mid-size banks that loan money to small businesses. And Mr. Pearcy would be on the job training if he's elected. The next President must not be on the job training. Our nominee must be ready to be President on Day One and needs to have the experience, judgement and leadership to lead this country in this difficult time of uncertainty, of slow economy heading to a recession, of national division, of growing terrorist threat and of growing international insecurity.

I actually have more experience than Barack Obama had when he first ran for President. As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and as a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, I know what it takes to restore free market and free enterprise, to create jobs, to make American businesses competitive again and to ensure America's prosperity. As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations as well as of the Select Committee on Intelligence, I know what it takes to keep America safe, to fight and defeat radical Islamic terrorism, to make sure that Iran never gets nuclear weapons and to maintain peace and security on the Pacific.

I am the most qualified candidate on this stage to be President because I have a clear and great record of accomplishments. In the Senate, I cosponsored the AGREE Act that increased tax credits and exemptions for companies investing in R & D, equipment and other capital and gave tax credits for veterans opening a business franchise. Three years ago, I cosponsored the Regulation Costs to Small Businesses Act, which required the Small Business Administration to conduct an annual study to estimate the total cost of regulations on small businesses. I successfully sponsored the 2014 VA reform law by introducing a measure that empowered the VA secretary to hold managers accountable for incompetence, negligence and corruption and to care more about veterans than bureaucrats. I pushed for Venezuela human rights sanctions that passed into law in order to condemn the tyrannical Venezuelan regime of Nicolas Maduro and to promote freedom and democracy in this country. Passage of my sponsored Girls Count Act increased U.S. foreign assistance on the establishment of birth registries to properly document childbirth and prevent kids' exploitation, trafficking or exclusion from society. My efforts to defund Obamacare saved taxpayers $2.5 billion that would have bailed out health insurance companies under Obamacare if we didn't act. I authored legislation that became law and that sanctions Hezbollah and, by extension, Iran for supporting terrorism. And now, in order to stop North Korea from reinforcing its nuclear arsenal and to keep us safe against the North Korean threat, I'm cosponsoring, alongside Senator Gardner, the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016 that would increase sanctions against North Korea and against companies or banks that transfer dollars to the regime of Kim Jong-un.

So the bottom line is that I am the most qualified to be President. All my accomplishments that I just mentioned as well as my experience are one of the reasons why I am the only one on this stage who can defeat Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders and that experience will help us to get America back on track and on the right direction once and for all.

To all the candidates: is climate change real, does man contribute to it, and how we combat it?

Well, the climate has always been changing. There's never been a time in Earth's history when the climate has not changed. I think the fundamental question for a policy maker is, is the climate changing because of something we are doing and if so, is there a law you can pass to fix it? When it comes to flooding in Miami, for example, it's caused by two things. Number one, south Florida is largely built on land that was once a swamp. And number two, because if there is higher sea levels or whatever it may be happening, we do need to deal with that through mitigation. And I have long supported mitigation efforts. But as far as a law that we can pass in Washington to change the weather, there's no such thing.

On the contrary, there are laws they want to us pass that would be devastating for our economy or these programs like what the president has put in with the Clean Power Act or all these sorts of things that he's forcing down our throats on the war on coal.

Let me tell you who is going to pay the price of that? Americans are going to pay the price of that. The cost of doing that is going to be rammed down the throats of the American consumer, the single parents who are already struggling across this country to provide for their families, the working families who are going to see increases in the cost of living and the businesses who are going to leave America because it's more expensive to do business here than anywhere else.

So we are not going to destroy our economy. We are not going to make America a harder place to create jobs in order to pursue policies that will do absolutely nothing to change our climate, to change our weather, because America is a lot of things, the greatest country in the world, absolutely. But America is not a planet. And we are not even the largest carbon producer anymore, China is. And they're drilling a hole and digging anywhere in the world that they can get a hold of and India is still going to be polluting at historic levels. So, I am in favor of a clean environment. My children live in South Florida. My family is being raised here. I want America to be a safe and clean place, but these laws that this administration is asking us to pass will do nothing for the environment and hurt our economy.

Here's my plan to face these challenges. We need to reduce taxes and regulations on America's energy industry and to promote oil drilling and production here in America in order to make sure that our country will take advantage of all of our sources of energy, which will create hundreds of thousands of new jobs. We will use a part of the revenues from oil drilling to develop renewable energies such as wind, nuclear, solar and hydroelectric energies, which will contribute to further job creation in America and help us to improve our environmental footprint without hurting our economy.

[NHI]

Marco Rubio: Debate Answers Part III

Sen Rubio, Senator Bernie Sanders has called for a medicare for all system; what is your plan to address health care in the United States, outside of the standard Republican line of repeal and replace Obamacare?

My health care reform plan includes three primary components :

First, I will work with Congress to create an advanceable, refundable tax credit that all Americans can use to purchase health insurance. The value of these credits should increase every year, and we should set the tax preference for employer-sponsored insurance on a glide path to ensure that it will equal the level of the credits within a decade. This will prevent large-scale disruptions and reform a provision in our tax code that has been driving up health costs, hurting those who are self-employed and preventing Americans from having truly portable health insurance plans that travel with them regardless of where they work.

Second, I will reform insurance regulations to lower costs, encourage innovation, and protect the vulnerable. Those with pre-existing conditions should have access to affordable care through mechanisms such as federally-supported, actuarially-sound and state-based high risk pools. Americans should be able to purchase coverage across state lines so they can seek out affordable coverage regardless of where they live. And consumer-centered products like Health Savings Accounts should be encouraged and expanded. Finally, under no circumstances should taxpayers be asked to bail out an insurance company that loses money, as is currently the case under ObamaCare.

Third, I will take up the difficult work of saving and strengthening Medicare and Medicaid by placing them on fiscally-sustainable paths. Without reforms, these programs will eventually run out of money. We must move Medicaid into a per-capita block grant system, preserving funding for its recipients while freeing states from Washington mandates. While current seniors on Medicare, like my mother, should see no changes to the program, future generations should be transitioned into a premium support system. A premium support model will empower seniors with choice and market competition just like Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D already do.

While other measures may be necessary to undo the damage done by ObamaCare, I believe these three concepts are the core of a plan to lower costs and put patients and families back in control of their healthcare decisions. Unlike ObamaCare, my reforms will not be forced through Congress in the dark of night without accountability. They will not stretch the Constitution to its breaking point or rely on questionable Supreme Court decisions to survive. And, perhaps most importantly, they will not raise taxes on the American people.

Obamacare’s failures should be all the proof Washington needs that the time has come for a new direction—one that empowers the American consumer, expands choices, and reduces the role of the federal government in healthcare. It’s time to set a new precedent in Washington by sending a new president to Washington. I think I have the necessary experience and vision to improve our healthcare system and make this century the next American century.

Sen. Rubio, do you support Pres. Obama's recent executive order on gun control?

No, of course not. Absolutely not.

President Obama's unconstitutional executive order on gun control are among the reasons why I am proud to be a conservative, a constitutional conservative Republican and a defender of the Second Amendment.

And I'd like to recognize Governor Haley, who is endorsing me, for her incredible leadership in the aftermath of the Emanuel AME church killings here in South Carolina. And I also want to recognize the people in that church that showed the grace of God and the grace of forgiveness and the mercy that they showed.

Barack Obama wants to take people's guns away, which is in violation of the Second Amendment.

Look, the Second Amendment is not an option. It is not a suggestion. It is a constitutional right of every American to be able to protect themselves and their families. I am convinced that if this president could confiscate every gun in America, he would. I am convinced that this president, if he could get rid of the Second Amendment, he would. I am convinced because I see how he works with his attorney general, not to defend the Second Amendment, but to figure out ways to undermine it. I have seen him appoint people to our courts not to defend the Second Amendment, but to figure out ways to undermine it.

Here's the second problem. None of these instances that the president points to as the reason why he's doing these things would have been preventive. You know why? Because criminals don't buy their guns from a gun show. They don't buy their guns from a collector. And they don't buy their guns from a gun store. They steal them. They get them on the black market.

And let me tell you, ISIS and terrorists do not get their guns from a gun show. If there's an act of violence in America, Obama's immediate answer before he even knows the facts is gun control. Here's a fact. We are in a war against ISIS, against radical Islamic terrorism. They are trying to attack us here in America. Last week, they attacked us in Philadelphia where a police officer was killed. They attacked us in San Bernardino last month. They attacked us in Garland 8 months ago.

When I'm President of the United States, we will defend the Second Amendment, not undermine it the way Barack Obama does. We will authorize the attorney general to delay transfer of firearms to suspected terrorists. That's how we're going to stop terrorists from orchestrating massive shootings while protecting the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.

To all the candidates: How do you deal with the continued threat from North Korea?

North Korea has become much more dangerous than ever before and Kim Jong-un is seeking to develop Pyongyang's nuclear program in order to trigger nuclear attacks against South Korea, our allies and us. We can't let that happen.

My plan to fight the threat from North Korea has five basic points :

Number one, putting North Korea back on the list of state sponsors of terror. They should never have been removed from that list since they supported terrorist activities such as the 1987 bombing of Korean Air flight 858, gave asylum to Japanese Communist League-Red Army Faction members, orchestrated the Rangoon bombing in 1983, which was an assassination attempt against former South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan, and are now developing nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction to attack us and our allies. But they can be put back on that list and that's what I will do as President of the United States.

Number two, additional sanctions especially on their leadership who holds significant assets overseas. They need to be punished individually because while that country has no economy, their leaders are very wealthy and are putting their nuclear arsenal ahead of the needs of the North Korean people, using most of their money to reinforce their oppressive regime and to empower their nuclear program.

Number three, as provided in my co-sponsored North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016, we have to impose sanctions on any individual, company or bank around the world that serve as financial intermediaries for dollar transactions to North Korea to help this tyrannical and corrupt regime to evade U.N. sanctions and to fund the development of North Korean nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. That way, we can stop North Korea from getting such a powerful arsenal.

Number four, we need to rebuild our military alliances in the Asia-Pacific region. And that includes Japan, South Korea and others. That's why, in order to maintain peace and security on the Pacific, I proposed the creation of a NATO-like military association that I call Pacific Treaty Organization (PTO), but that would include the United States and its allies around the Pacific, especially Canada, Japan, South Korea and Australia. It goes back to the point I made about our navy. Our navy is technologically very capable, but our ships still cannot be in two places at once. So you can't provide the level of security we need in the Asia-Pacific region with the smallest navy in a hundred years, not to mention the issues we have with China in the South China Sea. So rebuilding our military, especially our navy, and reinforcing our navy's presence in the Asia-Pacific region in particular is critically important.

Number five, we need to recommit to missile defense. North Korea already possesses intercontinental missiles capable of reaching Hawaii, Guam and maybe even Alaska as well as the West Coast of the United States. We need a comprehensive missile defense system for the entire continental United States, both West Coast ad East Coast, as well as for Alaska and Hawaii in order to guard against the Iranian threat and also to guard against the North Korean threat. And that's a multi-faceted defense system. It involves naval assets near and theater and includes working with the Japanese that have a very capable navy it also includes missile defense units deployed both on the East Coast and West Coast because if trends continue, this lunatic and tyrannical leader in North Korea will possess a missile and a warhead capable of reaching the United States and we better be able to shoot it down before it gets anywhere near us and we need to invest and recommit to that again for the sake of America's security and international peace and stability. That way, the Pacific Ocean will remain pacific.

[NHI]

Marco Rubio: Debate Answers Part IV

Closing Statements

You know, 200 years ago, America was founded on this powerful principle that our rights don't come from government. Our rights come from God.

That's why we embraced free enterprise, and it made us the most prosperous people in the history of the world. That's why we embraced individual liberty, and we became the freest people ever, and the result was the American miracle.

But now as I travel the four corners of the country, people say what I feel. This country is changing. It feels different. We feel like we're being left behind and left out.

And the reason is simple : because in 2008, we elected as president someone who wasn't interested in fixing America. We elected someone as president who wants to change America, who wants to make it more like the rest of the world.

And so he undermines the Constitution, and he undermines free enterprise by expanding government, and he betrays our allies and cuts deals with our enemies and guts our military. And tomorrow is the release date of a new movie titled « 13 Hours » and that will debut about the incredible bravery of the men fighting for their lives in Benghazi and those who abandoned them. I want to speak to all the moms and dads whose sons and daughters are fighting for this country, and the incredible sense of betrayal when you have a commander-in-chief who will not even speak the name of our enemy, radical Islamic terrorism, when you have a commander-in- chief who sends $150 billion to the Ayatollah Khamenei, who shouted « Death to America », who's responsible for murdering hundreds of our servicemen and women and will use this money to develop nuclear weapons and help Iran to destroy Israel and to orchestrate nuclear attacks against the United States and its allies. This must and will end in exactly one year from now on January 20th 2017.

And that's why 2016 is a turning point in our history. If we elect Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders, the next four years will be worse than the last eight, and our children will be the first Americans ever to inherit a diminished country. But if you elect me, we will turn this country around, we will reclaim the American Dream, this nation will be stronger and greater than it has ever been and our children as well as future generations will be the freest and most prosperous Americans ever.

Thank you.