Republican Debates
Firstly, let me say that I loathe commercials. They have cut off some of the answers to the most provocative questions. I mean, how hard would it be to devote a commercial free block of time so that I can see all these answers without making an internet search?
Now let me give you my running commentary on the candidates.
Thompson: Thompson is my man, and he's on point tonight. But he's not on fire. He's saying the right things so far. I want him to win, but don't think it's likely.
Paul: Ron Paul is sounding good on issues of the federal government poking its nose into things. His lackeys, who no doubt made the road trip from their college in a van whilst braiding their dreadlocks and smoking their doobies, keep on booing anyone who mentions radical Islam. I hate Ron Paul.
Tancredo: He's having a good time. Get 'em Tancredo. He's not going to make it much longer though.
Hunter: Duncan Hunter is also doing well, but to be fair he has not said as much. I don't think he's going to make it out of Iowa. He's got Chuck Yeager on his side though. He handled the inevitable "homosexual in the army" question well.
Huckabee: I like him more and more. More and more. He's keeping a cool head despite being attacked over his record, but I hear he has a temper. I'd like a man with a temper in office. He's my current favorite for VP.
Romney: It's bad between him and Rudy. They've calmed down from their opening spat this evening, but I think it damaged them both. Romney needs to score some decisive points tonight, in my estimation. He has yet to do so. Waffled on gay question. But man, I think he could handle the financial stuff.
McCain: John McCain hasn't slipped up at all tonight. He's on message, he's consistent, and his record is unchallenged. But I can't help feeling like his opponents take his eventual defeat for granted, and see no benefit to scoring points off the old man. He's a hero, and he is standing up to Ron Paul and his idiot supporters, but perhaps his time has passed.
Giuliani: Rudy Giuliani has had to fend off attacks all night, and it's showing. He's making some mistakes, but I don't think he's being hurt too badly. I felt bad for him with the Bible question. As a Catholic, it's hard to explain to people the nuances of biblical understanding. In Giuliani's case, obviously he's not too devoted a Catholic...this question probably highlighted the divide he has to cross to reach values voters. His biggest hurdle is that he keeps mentioning New York over and over again. Not my pick for anything, but he'll be in it for a while.
Anyone else watch the debate?
Update: It would appear that a number of questioners, including the gay general and Mom of Two Concerned About Lead, were plants. I'm not sure if this is a bunch of caterwauling or what. Obviously, though, if a candidate can't handle the opposition then he doesn't deserve the nomination.
Comments
What if Rudy is the nominee?
Rudy is not my personal pick, I should have said. I do think he's got a better than good chance of getting the nomination. If he has more nights like tonight that lead could be slowly whittled away by cheeky fellows like Thompson and Huckabee.
Thompson had more traction when he was a non-candidate then when he was a candidate.
Huckabee may be charismatic, but check out the Club for Growth analysis -- he is a GW Bush in sheep's clothing. He is not going to stop the crazy spending in Washington.
Ron Paul - my God, he really claims to be a Republican? Conservative - not a chance!
Tancredo - I really like his boldness, which I didn't get to see tonight because I had a phone call I couldn't get out of.....
Hunter - All answers I heard were good
Huckabee - His answers were calm, Great and drew me more towards him
Romney - uhhhhh - no
McCain - He was very focused - answered well, but not my pick only because of the torture he endured while prisoner of war - I think that will make him flench when he would maybe need to make an instant decision. I really like him though, I don't President of the United States is the best position for him.
Giuliani - He's a great major for New York - He'd be very strong on the War, but social issues - he's not were I am.
Thompson - Good answers - like you I'd like to see some fire.
Questions asked - Some were good - but many questions were not asked that should be asked.
I'm wondering what did I miss during my phone conversation. Was there any questions and answers on immigration?
What question would you ask if given a chance?
He's almost too conservative.
Sadly, I agree. When he gets off a good comment then the people rejoice, but he's low-key and I feel that he has some disdain for how early this campaign began.
What it comes down to for me is that our foreign policy is of supreme importance right now, and the domestic issues are in the backseat.
Excellent question.
Ron Paul - He's almost too conservative.
Too conservative? How...
He seems to inclusive - yes very.
You are also correct about the supreme importance right now. If that's not dealt with, we won't be here to be concerned about domestic issues. Or we might be here, I and all women will be under burka's being beaten for who knows what.
The thought of that happening to the women in my family and all American women makes me stock up on ammo.
American Men - I really can't imagine the jihadi boys taking out our men. All the men I'm around are strong and protective of their families and their country. I just see "Ready, Aim, Fire" without the ready, aim part.
I would like to see a debate with the host well prepared and call anyone out for spinning or just plain lying.
Guliani - one hit wonder - 9/11.
Thompson - you can't drive while looking in the rear-view mirror! Get out in front of these guys with something. Take a multivitamin. Anything to make it happen.
McCain - Tired.
Huckabee - VP.
I would take any of the above over any of the democrats running.
I know! He's so laid back, and his attack ad was such a departure from his usual stuff that I'm not sure if it was a benefit. To be sure, I inflated my perceptions of him until he seemed the unstoppable conservative juggernaut...something he's now got to live up to.
He certainly seems to be gunning for the top slot, and I think there's a perception that he's perfectly acceptable, but not a standout. I do think he'll get the VP spot.
Thompson: I had high hopes for this guy, too. But it just doesn't sound like he wants the nomination - and if you can't keep up the heat when running for the nomination, there's no way that you'll be on-par when it comes to the MoveOn.org attacks you'll be facing in the actual election.
Paul: He's speaking my language. Mostly. But, come on, he's the Kucinich of the Republican party. Just because he recognizes the fact that illegal immigration is a massive problem, that our tax system is flawed, and that government spending is out of control doesn't mean that he'd make a worthy presidential candidate. It just means that he's paying attention.
Tancredo: I'd vote for this guy just based on his stance on illegal immigration. But that's about the only stance that he really seems to have. Too bad.
Hunter: Duncan who?
Huckabee: Death penalty? Check. War in Iraq? Check. Gun rights? Check. Fair tax? Check. Pathway to Citizenship? No thanks. Creationism? No thanks. I'll agree with you that he sounds good, but I've had about as much of Bush as I can take - foreign policy successes be damned.
Romney: With a little plastic surgery and a party change, you could almost mistake this guy for John Kerry.
McCain: Has been. Yeah, he's a decorated hero and, yeah, he's on point with the war in Iraq - but have we all forgotten about the McCain/Kennedy bill? How can you suggest that we need to take a proactive role in defending ourselves abroad when you're suggesting that we sell out our sovereignty at our southern border? I pray to god that he doesn't make it through reelection in the senate, let alone the party nomination.
Giuliani: Whoever pointed out that this guy was a one-hit-wonder was entirely correct in their assertion. Rudy is a gun control and pro-choice advocate working on his third marriage. With a little paint and some fancy footwork, you might mistake him for a young, more troubled, Bill Clinton.
Yuck. And the other side of the aisle isn't much better, either. Only the best for America in 2008, I guess.
The more I listen to McCain the more I want him to be the nominee... Too bad it isn't going to happen.
Giuliani is turning into this schoolyard bully. And Romney isn't much better. Him and Romney should just meet after school...
I feel like Andrew Levy doing the halftime summary...
"Thompson is my man"
If everyone felt that way, the Republicans wouldn't stand a chance. But how could that be if -everyone- felt that way, you ask? Because they'd all be asleep on election day and Hillary would win with 100% of the vote - 3-0.
"What if Rudy is the nominee?"
Then the Republicans have a chance of winning."
"Huckabee may be charismatic"
- spittake -
"he is a GW Bush in sheep's clothing."
I believe they're GW hand-me-downs, since he doesn't need them anymore/.
""Ron Paul - my God"
Good point... a consummate narcissist and aspiring mass murderer. some people have a term for that - "insane."
"Is the Constitution a living document"
Not anymore.
"He's almost too conservative"
That's probably why all the Libertarian liberals, aka wackos, are fawning over him.
"Spending wise...bad"
Then "other wise"... very bad
"and the domestic issues are in the backseat"
Or in the back of vans, pickup trucks, trailers, on foot....
"You are also correct about the supreme importance right now. If that's not dealt with, we won't be here to be concerned about domestic issues."
China can almost do that right now, and they wouldn't have to fire a shot. It's almost as if... while we were away on the Crusades, Rome fell... uh... well you get the point.
"Or we might be here, I and all women will be under burka's being beaten for who knows what"
You sound like you think that's a bad thing?
"Why is it allowed for someone to run for President of the United States and stand up and lie about their record?"
Because if that was the standard, there wouldn't be any candidates.
"Guliani - one hit wonder - 9/11."
Interesting metaphor: since GW was directly involved in baseball, what was his one hit before being nominated?
"Thompson - you can't drive while looking... McCain - Tired.
About Thompson, I thought you were going to say "sleeping." Then the proper order would have been for him to follow McCain.
"I would take any of the above over any of the democrats running"
Me too, but then we're not part of the general public.
"I do think he'll get the VP spot"
Yes, but I hear that's curable with one shot now?
"I'm a registered independent in the state of California"
So you're the one! Btw, I'm a certified independent in the state of denial..
"it just doesn't sound like he (Thompson) wants the nomination"
Sure he does, he just doesn't want to do anything to get it. So if he were to be elected, he'd probably return to Law and Order.
" if you can't keep up the heat when running for the nomination, there's no way that you'll be on-par when it comes to the MoveOn.org"
OK, I agree, he might just play golf for four years...
"doesn't mean that he'd make a worthy presidential candidate. It just means that he's paying attention"
That or a pollster.
"Duncan who?"
That's what they'd be asking about Fred Thompson if he weren't an actor first - and with better reason.
"Romney: With a little plastic surgery and a party change, you could almost mistake this guy for John Kerry"
Or until their respective wives spoke
"have we all forgotten about the McCain/Kennedy bill?"
Have we all forgotten who signed it into law?
"Whoever pointed out that this guy was a one-hit-wonder was entirely correct in their assertion."
That's exactly true. His stint as a US attorney prosecuting the Mob and white collar crime, and turning New York into the safest big city in the country is largely inconsequential, as is his welfare reform, and his position as Associate Attorney general in the Reagan administration isn't even worth mentioning, so why even consider his turning New York's deficit around?
"With a little paint and some fancy footwork, you might mistake him for a young, more troubled, Bill Clinton"
Yep... if you didn't know any better
"He (McCain) is all about sealing the border before pushing any other immigration reform"
- Spittake - Some people will believe anything.
"The more I listen to McCain the more I want him to be the nominee"
No offense, but that's a good reason why I don't.
"Giuliani is turning into this schoolyard bully"
Some people call that "a New Yorker." But if that's the case, how should we characterize warmalarmists?
I definitely didn't get my politics from your side of the family.
Seriously, what bothers me about Ron Paul is that he's courting libertarian-leaning democrats and the oh so intellectual Howard Dean supporters. He's given conspiracy nuts a rallying point and his ideas about non-interventionism are quaint and outdated. He's not an isolationist, but he will not admit that America must intervene if it is to maintain its position as a benevolent hegemon. The Club for Growth characterizes him as a perfectionist who actually inhibits progress towards conservative goals by refusing to compromise on imperfect measures, causing their defeat.