Some thoughts on the GOP debate in Dearborn, Michigan:
First - who "won?" I thought all four top candidates performed well. No one was able to leave the others in the dust, but none committed damaging flubs, either. So if you want to claim "your guy" won, I won't argue - as long as he's one of those.
Overall, I'd give the trophy to Rudy by a nose, as he never showed any weakness or hesitation. John McCain performed very well, too, as he has in the last couple of events. Special hat tip to McCain for pointing out his opposition to ethanol subsidies and protectionism.
Of course, all eyes were on Fred Thompson, and he performed pretty well, too. Good thing he knew the Canadian PM's name, though, or that would have been the story of the event. Instead, he made Mathews look like an ass for trying an obvious "gotcha" question. Still, he was not very smooth at a couple of points, and doesn't smile enough. His performance won't hurt him at all, but it won't slingshot him past Giuliani right away, either.
Romney also did a good job, although I had hoped for more clarity and specifics from him at the "economic" forum, given his business background. For instance, asked about the threat to our future prosperity, he responded in general terms about losing optimism. On the whole, though, very well prepared and polished delivery. I didn't like his response about calling the lawyers in regarding Iran, BUT:
Wasn't this a debate on "economic issues"? Why is a question on Iran being asked at all? Perhaps Mathews was hoping to trap one of the candidates into answering the question literally - "Does the President have the power to attack Iran without getting Congress' approval?" or words to that effect. Of course, the "legal" answer is "sure, he does" - and that's true even if you believe the War Powers Act is constitutional - but if anyone said it, the sound clip would have found heavy play in the news with the thinly-veiled accusation of "warmonger!" Had the eventual nominee said it, it would end up in Democratic campaign commercials next fall, with the same misleading intent.
I look briefly at the second tier candidates below the fold:
Huckabee ~ I think he's lost any momentum he may have had, his populist appeal to class envy - I don't know how else to interpret his yammering about CEO pay - sounds more like a liberal Democrat. Maybe he hopes it will be well-received in Iowa. He's talking himself out of the Veep slot . . .
Brownback ~ I used to respect him, Then, he ran for President and I got to know him better. Well, nobody ever said the Senate was for the "best and brightest," did they?
Tancredo ~ Sure, but what is his position on illegal immigration? He can work it into any answer, we get it. Now, go home and run for reelection to Congress.
Hunter ~ Go home and run for Congress.
Paul ~ Credit for saying no to all subsidies, but it's canceled by his idiot-boy position on foreign policy and defense. Just go home.
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2008 Presidential Race, Michigan, Primaries, Republican, debates
Tags: debate, presidential campaign, primaries, Republicans
Comments (7)
thanks for the fine post...... (Below threshold)1. Posted by hnav | October 10, 2007 5:00 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
thanks for the fine post...
i think Romney was tops, Rudy second, and Fred did well.
"Special hat tip to McCain for pointing out his opposition to ethanol subsidies and protectionism."
The big problem when McCain speaks, it is overtly negative, plays to the MSM (especially with the tiresome 'failure' garbage), and he is also responsible as a longstanding member of the Senate for the various policies, programs, subsidies, etc., he now tries to protest in a debate.
He cannot stand on his record, and he often is the most vicious in attacking the same Congress he has been a major player of...
If we failed with him there, why run for President.
In fact, he often sounds like a Democrat, even suggesting we 'left some people behind'.
McCain looked incredibly weak in my opinion.
Iraq is NOT a failure, and this Senator should know full well the difficulty involved within the combat zone, but it doesn't mean the mission is a failure.
The Removal of Saddam led to the potential we see today, more troops could have created more casualties, and NO Military Operation i have studied that resulted in success has been completed without serious strategic changes once engaged.
McCain remains disappointing.
Time to go...
1. Posted by hnav | October 10, 2007 5:00 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on October 10, 2007 05:00
2. Posted by kim | October 10, 2007 9:13 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Come back soon. Yes kudos to McCain on ethanol.
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2. Posted by kim | October 10, 2007 9:13 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on October 10, 2007 09:13
3. Posted by COgirl | October 10, 2007 10:03 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
I think Romney looked too polished, too well rehearsed and like he was waiting to throw out his one line zingers. I'd like to see some spontaneity out of the man. Maybe that's why I cringed when he made the comment about about calling in the lawyers -- perhaps that's the real Mitt. Rudy looked the best from the little bit that I saw of the debate.
3. Posted by COgirl | October 10, 2007 10:03 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on October 10, 2007 10:03
4. Posted by kim | October 10, 2007 10:43 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
From a COO you expect spontaneity? Sorry, not in his job description. That's for the CEO, and I guess the IM guy when the war is on.
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4. Posted by kim | October 10, 2007 10:43 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on October 10, 2007 10:43
5. Posted by P. Bunyan | October 10, 2007 11:59 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
"he made Mathews look like an ass"
I missed the debate. I wanted to watch it as it was in my home state-- even though it was in the newcomm southeast corner, the blue blemish on an otherwise beautiful state-- but I was too busy.
Anyway, I just wanted to comment that Mathews regularly does a good job of making himself look like an ass, so for Fred to do it would have been like shooting a fish in a barrel.
5. Posted by P. Bunyan | October 10, 2007 11:59 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on October 10, 2007 11:59
6. Posted by bryanD | October 10, 2007 3:35 PM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
"Overall, I'd give the trophy to Rudy by a nose, as he never showed any weakness or hesitation."-ja
While being asked questions The Ghoul has a habit of rounding his lips like a bottle baby. By the 3rd or 4th round the director noticed it and kept the camera on the questioner during subsequent Ghoul questions. SHUCKS!
Definitely did the best of the "top-tier" on a superficial level though what he said was rhetorical muzak. Near beer. Zzzzz.
Except when asked the question about the City of London and NYC. Then he was especially happy to play dumb. (He was just OVER there at the gold exchange last month, and I don't mean metro "London"; the "CITY of London", word to the wise!)
The Harper Question to Fred wasn't as tricky as it seems. It was a whiffle. Calderon-Boosh-Harper are the hope of the New World Order, fresh from the Montebello SSP Summit. John, Paul, Ringo in government circles.
Romney's no match for The Ghoul since Romney's a fellow liberal, too. No issues. At all. (Just think about that. THAT'S how weak the top-tier is! Nine-eleven *burp*)
Romney seems to be anticipating a second shoe to drop, whatever it is. Mormon underwear? The Youtube Debates? Something...
Of course, AGAIN, the highlights revolved around Ron Paul. The Ghoul recognizes that Paul is The Competition and tried to insert Al-Qaeda in the "State" slot. Nice try. "A" for effort and "A+" for knowing your enemy, but Ron will p0wn 'ya everytime!
And RP saying "No!" to supporting a pro-war Republican nominee: !Exellente!
6. Posted by bryanD | October 10, 2007 3:35 PM |
Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on October 10, 2007 15:35
7. Posted by kim | October 11, 2007 7:51 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Shorter bD-Dam joos.
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7. Posted by kim | October 11, 2007 7:51 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 11, 2007 07:51