The GOP Iowa debate, live

Welcome to the live-blogging of what figures to be the most intense, most critical debate the Republican party has experienced since last Saturday. Two of LA's top political desperadoes, Joseph Mailander of street-hassle and Phil Jennerjahn of The Jennerjahn Report, are watching this debate attentively for clues as to how the race for the GOP nomination will play out after tonight.

MAILANDER: Thank God they start these things at 6 Pacific. If I had to wait a minute longer, the Grey Goose would be toast.

Jennerjahn: In the interest of full disclosure, I think we should reveal our biases. I am fully supporting Governor Rick Perry for President in 2012, and I hope he does well in the debate tonight. My second favorite candidate is Michele Bachmann. I am not fond of Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich, as they are simply Big Government RINOs who will not reduce the size or scope of government power.

MAILANDER: And in the interest of full disclosure, I am rooting for the biggest of all possible trainwrecks. Though I do have a soft-spot for Bachmann. My view of those who populate the mainstream of the Republican party is so low that I think that only she can answer the call with any degree of credulity.

Jennerjahn: My fondness for Bachmann comes from the pureness of her ideology. She is the hardest-right Conservative in the race. The only reason I'm not backing her for President is that she has an awfully thin resumé and no record of accomplishments or results as far as getting things done. I think Perry has the better record with his long tenure in Texas, and that package of Conservatism and financial results will sell very well in the general election.

MAILANDER: I really think that this is it for Perry, unless he does something he's never done: have a good debate. If he doesn't, not all the media in Manhattan will move these cornlovin' folk.

Jennerjahn: Joseph, you are underestimating Perry's abilities as a campaigner. He has never lost an election. I met him at CPAC and he is great in person. Yes, he bungled some debate answers, but that is not what makes a great President. He has character, and integrity and vision...most of the other candidates don't. He needs to do well tonight to get some momentum re-started. But he was #1 in the polls at one point because he is a good candidate.

MAILANDER: Well, I'll leave you to Perry. I was talking to one of his aides a couple of weeks ago and he sort of reminds me of Kerry but without the debating skill. Very headstrong, can't be told he's doing much wrong. Kerry thought he would win by his sheer force of debating prowess; Perry can't be thinking that, but I wonder indeed how he thinks he's going to win.

But I think the most interesting part of tonight though will be the performance of Ron Paul. I think a lot of people in this state are giving him a second look after the last debate. Even last time, in 2008, a very prominent LA media figure asked me at the LA Press Club, "Is this guy for real?" I didn't know what to say--so I said, "No." But if he is to become for real, ever, it will likely be tonight.

Jennerjahn: Perry will be just fine due to his personal style of campaigning. He'll work his butt off in Iowa doing door-to-door if he has to. Ron Paul has too many Libertarian stances for me, but he is polling well in Iowa. I wouldn't be surprised if he pulls off an upset win. His supporters tend to be the fanatical type. Maybe they will be like Obama and bus people in from nearby states in order to win.

MAILANDER: I love these subliminal messages FAUX tries to spam its catatonic audience with:

Jennerjahn: Fox News is fair and balanced! Just like they say....

MAILANDER: "A vote for Ron Paul is a vote for Mitt Romney." Somebody said something true! Even if not technically.

Jennerjahn: Good that they are getting to the negative/suspicions question about Newt right away. It's one of the few things holding him back.

MAILANDER: Doesn't help Paul to say something wrong immediately. Weirdly, he says everyone on stage can beat Obama, but truth is nobody is leading him in any poll. And he's supposed to be the reality-based guy!

Jennerjahn: Ouch. Meagan Kelly just basically said "Rick Santorum, why does your campaign suck so bad!?"

MAILANDER: And he didn't need to respond at all--it's because he wears candy cane ties at Xmas time. Kinda makes him look elfin. At least Romney has a nice foulard. Republicans don't want no elfin preznits.

Damn, every time I hear that thing ding, I check my iPhone. Sounds like my email.

Jennerjahn: Huntsman makes catty comment about not attending Trump debate. I can't stand him.

MAILANDER: A what kind of radical, Newt? Sorry, I missed it. Stoli Whiskey? Stalin Nitzsche?

Jennerjahn: One of my Conservative friends had a really funny tweet about Romney throwing $10,000 cash in the air and saying "I'll make it rain up in here, bitches!" -- Wish I could go back and copy it, but feed is scrolling way too fast.

Jennerjahn: Governor Gary Johnson just tweeted that he is the only pro-choice candidate for the GOP. That's why he isn't onstage tonight.

Jennerjahn: Michele Bachmann looks and sounds great tonight. Good job bashing Gingrich and Fannie/Freddie. I get tired of Newt calling her a liar. He's the liar!

MAILANDER: Newt worked for Habitat for Humanity? OMG, someone needs to go nuclear now.

MAILANDER: Uh-ohs. Newt losing it now. Ron Paul secret weapon: Austrian economists. "Government-sponsored enterprise" will be a new Republican iTune. Bachmann "There's a big difference between a credit union and Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae." Damn straight. Bachmann tearing Newt up. Bachmann!

Jennerjahn: Ron Paul doesn't want to do anything as President. So why is he running?

Jennerjahn: Perry got the crowd fired up with his bashing on Congress and telling them to "go home" and serve part-time.

MAILANDER: Loved that schizo bit where Perry said Congress should work 140 days every other year and get a job the rest of the time. Each member only reps about 800,000 people.

MAILANDER: Newt as history prof bashing law schools--academic turf war. Someone please call the Chancellor to massage over this deplorable situation.

Jennerjahn: Jesus. Ron Paul is bringing the crazy again with his pacifist talk about Iran. I really cringe every time they ask him a national security question.

MAILANDER: I don't remember a more welcome break in recent teevee history.

Jennerjahn: Bachmann and Perry love the Keystone oil project. Me, too.

MAILANDER: Did anyone win foreign policy, Phil? I can't tell--I'm not part of the fear-based hegemony.

Jennerjahn: Bachmann was tough on foreign policy. Made Ron Paul look like a chump, although that isn't difficult. Rick Perry gave a good answer about Eric Holder and "Fast and Furious".

MAILANDER: Grinch, the bomb-throwing diva, used the big Pat Buchanan hate-term: "San Francisco." That's hardcore Republican code for "people with cooties." "Hollywood" can't be far behind.

Jennerjahn: Romney explains flip-flops on abortion. Bachmann bashes Romney & Gingrich on poor stances. Gingrich still calling her a liar by saying her facts aren't right. "I DO have my facts right!" she says. Slapping him around. Love it! Could be the moment of the night!

POST DEBATE ANALYSIS:

MAILANDER: Newt wasn't bad--until the end, when he tried to make Bachmann look bad, and Bachmann turned it around on him.  Paul did not help himself--he will finish third.  Perry and Bachmann made big strides I think.  Romney probably sealed the deal, but everything got tighter.  Thanks much for coming over, Phil! You helped my readers look a little more deeply into the Republican world.

Jennerjahn: I think several people did well. Romney was smooth, didn't get ruffled. Gingrich got slapped around a bit, but didn't get hurt too bad. Perry was down-to-earth and likeable. Bachmann was strong in her attacks on Romney and Gingrich. She fought back when Gingrich kept being condescending to her. Paul imploded with his nutty Iran answers. Huntsman and Santorum did little. They are out. We are down to 5: Gingrich, Romney, Paul, Perry and Bachmann. One of them will win Iowa, two or three others will survive to continue their campaigns.