So tonight it's the fourth Republican presidential debate of the 2012 primary season, and Rick Perry makes his debut, joined by seven other clowns. We'll be covering the action on the front page right starting at 8:00PM ET and we'll be posting live video as soon as it's available. So break out your popcorn and enjoy the
festivities train wreck about to unfold before your eyes!
Update: Here's the video:
5:02 PM PT: Brian Williams doing the introduction. Apparently the candidates will be sitting next to each other in order of their position in the polls, which might make for some interesting clashes between Bachmann, Romney, Perry, and Paul.
5:01 PM PT: Correction, I guess they are standing. In 2008, they were seated during the Reagan Library debate.
5:06 PM PT: First question is to Rick Perry: Williams basically challenges Perry's economic record, saying that Texas has created jobs through a race to the bottom. Perry says that criticism is unfair because 95% of the jobs created in his state are above minimum wage. I guess his point is that there's still room to cut wages?
5:07 PM PT: Now it's Mitt Romneybot's time to answer. I think he's got a new haircut. He explains he's running for "Governor" (oops, he corrected himself, President) because of his private sector experience at Bain Capital. He denies he's Gordon Gecko.
5:12 PM PT: Romney is really trying to double down on this "I'm a businesman, Rick Perry isn't" strategy. Perry is given a chance to respond, and Perry says his jobs record is better than Mitt Romney's. Romney turns around and says for Perry to claim credit for Rick Perry's job record it would be like Al Gore claiming he invented the internet. Perry says Mike Dukakis created more jobs in Mass than Perry. Romney says Bush created more jobs in Texas. Neither of these guys is as wimpy as Tim Pawlenty, but they are both as boring, at least so far.