CNN/Tea Party Debate Open Thread

Tonight Wolf Blitzer moderates the CNN/Tea Party debate.

What are you looking for? Do you anticipate the questions will be formed with the tea party in mind? Do you have reservations about Blitzer’s ability to moderate a debate where grassroots is advertised so prominently?

We’ll monitor the questions and Big Journalism EIC Dana Loesch will bring her first-hand perspective from the debate both here, on Twitter, and on CNN before and immediately following the debate.

**Commentary below by EIC Dana Loesch:

– 8pm eastern, we’re off and running! Erick Erickson and I had a nice batch of protesters behind us for the final hit with John King prior to the debate.

– Applause for Romney weak.

– Small group of us in press area stood for Anthem. Many did not.

– Bravo to CNN for having actual tea partiers asking questions.

– Perry and Romney spar out of the gate on social security. Perry asks him to triple down on “Ponzi scheme” remark, Perry does … in a way. He has to get better on defense. Cain owns them all “I don’t care what you call it, it’s broken. Here’s my plan.”

– Gingrich wins the social security round. Gives the plan in a soundbite and conveys it well.

– Tea partier asks about plans for balanced budget.

– Bachmann: “We have to have an ownership society.” Best answer. Paul hits on cutting everything not in enumerated powers. People brush it off as flaky, but have you actually read Article 1, Section 8?

– Another tea partier question. CNN really topped the other networks with this.

– Huntsman talks of ending subsidies but supports “science” which contradicts his position.

– Cain answers on debt and economy with his 9.9.9. plan. Consistently answers with plans not just rhetoric.

– Paul and Romney pile on Perry. Paul says he doesn’t want to criticize him too hard, “he might raise my taxes!”

– Perry needs debate lessons from Gingrich. “People create jobs, not government.”

– Huntsman: “America needs more workers.” Except Huntman’s adoration for junk science and the regs which go along with it would kill those jobs.

BREAK: The fact that everyone and their brother is piling on Perry proves he’s the frontrunner that the polls released this week say.

– Perry corrects Blitzer quote: “almost treasonous.” Bachmann refuses to engage Perry.

– Napa Valley Tea Party Teens: “If I earn a dollar how much of that do you think I deserve to keep?”

– Tea partier asks about Fair Tax. Romney gives awful question, says it “penalizes” poor, easy on rich, ignores idea of graduated system.

– Bachmann crucified Perry on HPV. Perry had to explain $5k Merch donation. “If you think I can be bought for $5k, I’m offended.”

“I’m offended that little girls didn’t have a choice,” Bachmann retorted. Point Bachmann. Top tier?

– Tea partier question. “What would you do to remove illegal immigrants from our country?” Worded odd.

– Ron Paul comapres us to China in terms of military occupation.

– Then Paul pulls a Krugman and justifies 9/11 by saying were mean to Palestinians. Oh my.

– Candidates asked what they’d bring:

Bachmann: founding documents

Santorum: beds for his kids

Cain: a sense of humor because “America is too uptight”

Huntsman: his bike

Paul: Austrian economics

Finis.