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Boy did Romney miss a great chance to utterly destory Perry. I’m not a big Romney fan but when Perry when on about “first you were for this and now you are against it” stuff Romney should have shot back with “First you were Al Gore’s campaign manager, now your here posting as a Conservative”.

That would have been a huge hit back, I cannot believe he missed that one, as Perry was saying those things I was thinking “Oh my goodness, this is so big you could drive a truck through it” but Romney didn’t pick up on the hipocrasy, what a missed opportunity.

Missed the debate but here’s my .0002 cents after reading
comments:

1. Romney remains in a strong position because of establishment support and the fawning connivance of the media (which will promptly dump him in the general). However, he continues to fail to excite the GOP base. Given the threat he poses, the other candidates should have focused on him rather than on Perry.

2. Perry’s initial momentum has apparently stalled after his lackluster debate performance. It seems a lot of people who have put their hopes in him have been at least somewhat disappointed.

3. Bachman is fading; her increasingly shrill attacks (both during the debate and in anti-Perry ads) come across as intemperate desperation.

4. Gingrich has the smarts and is a great communicator, but his negatives preclude him as a viable candidate.

5. Santorum is ideologically pure, but has not gained significant traction. The remaining candidates are likewise insignificant at this point.

The Wild Card in all this is Palin. I would like to see her throw her hat in the ring to see how she would stack up against the others.

For those that missed it or are interested:

Debate in its entirety (2hrs):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKNNN0NvVrc&feature=player_embedded

Ron Paul debate highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvG8uWT1sq4&feature=player_embedded

Ron Paul, post debate Hannity interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLDBwg9dX7g&feature=player_embedded

I think when Perry got in, I was starting to tilt towards him because I don’t want Romney. After learning more about Perry and seeing these performances, tilting away from him. He seems to be a RINO like Romney, just on different issues. This is turning into 2008 all over again, where I didn’t like any of the “front runners” (except Fred Thompson, but I don’t think his heart was in it at all).

I get the impression that if we asked all conservatives, without regard to who is actually running, who do you want to nominate for President, they’d mostly answer Jim DeMint. The most common “second choices” would probably be Palin, Ryan, and Daniels. I don’t think anyone would say Romney or Perry. Maybe if the answerer’s last name was Romney or Perry.

I’ll be voting for whomever gets nominated. But in the primaries, I’m starting to tilt towards either Newt Gingrich or Herman Cain. Unelectable? I don’t buy that. If they were debating Oblahblah tonight instead of other Republicans (and whatever Huntsman is supposed to be), I think either of those two would’ve beaten him hands down based on what I’m seeing.