Posted on 09/22/2011 8:12:40 PM PDT by dangus
Newt Gingrich won again. I'm actually starting to get excited for him. In fact, if Sarah Palin doesn't run, I'm going to have to consider him, in spite of his personal life. He came off as the smartest, most capable guy in the room, but also, again, the most feisty and courageous.
Michelle Bachmann continues to fade into the background, despite explaining her Gardasil comments. Much better than the last two debates.
Herman Cain gave a great performance, a huge improvement over a couple debates ago when he was a non-factor. I think his 9-9-9 is idiotic, since a sales tax is BOTH regressive and crushes spending, which might have been a plus in 2005, but is a killer to hopes of an economic recovery. But his *performance* was strong.
Rick Perry was absolutely terrible. He was so stiff, he looked as stiff as Charles Krauthammer and as propped up as Mike Dukakis, and so incapable of annunicating his attacks on Romney that they fell apart with a simple denial by Romney. His answers about illegal immigration were complete crap, forcing him to run away from Rick Santorum's painfully simple question.
Romney in contrast played a game of "I'll deny this, but I'll admit this," openly acknowledging that there's stuff in his past that people will have problems with, but denying each of Perry's specifics. To me, his admissions in general to unpopular stances, but denials of specific accusations by Perry actually made his specific denials credible, and Perry seem weak.
Santorum was excellent, second only to Gingrich in his sharpness and boldness. Too bad he's unelectable, but he actually started to seem vice presidential to me.
How can Ron Paul top siding with Ahmadinejab? How about making the US into the Soviet Union and the Mexican border with the Iron Curtain? Despicable. Loathesome. Insane.
Gary Johnson came off as the credible libertarian candidate. An awkward delivery style, but he avoided the bizarre statements and embarrassing positions of Ron Paul.
Jon Hunstman quit attacking Republicans and actually started to sound like one. Not a bad talker, but too much like Romney. Not at all because they're both Mormons.
The big winner: Newt Gingrich, with Mitt Romney, Herman Cain and Rick Santorum being strong. Johnson takes the libertarian title.
The big loser: Rick Perry actually manages to top Ron Paul in offending the most people, by calling opposing giving special $100,000 tuition breaks to illegal aliens, "heartless."
Still waiting for Sarah.
Newt was great, as usual. IMO, Bachmann did well enough not to be counted out. Cain was very good. And I have to say that Santorum was excellent - he almost made me forgive and forget....
Both Perry and Romney were terribly awkward and evasive.
I find it very disconcerting when Perry is talking, then suddenly hesitates and locks up, like the train has left the station without him.
It has to be Newt and Cain. Otherwise Obama wins and our country is finished,
Enjoyed the debate a great deal. Wonderful bunch of candidates.
I agree with everybody above!
I agree with the notion that Perry and Romney are starting to merge. Romney has RomneyCare and Perry has immigration. But I also think Romney is getting waaaaaay too much of a slide on RomneyCare. He had the audacity to go on Hannity and talk about how Perry’s position on social secuirty unelectable. Pssst, Mitt, people who live in glass houses. So lemme get this straight, you are afraid to call social security what it is and refuse to apologize for RomneyCare and you are electable? I don’t think so.
The big story for the conservatives will be that Perry hurt himself and we saw it happen. I guess, Perry supporters are hurting. Romney helps himself since the media is focusing on them. Cain looks good, he moves up, I think. Perry is in big trouble. I still don’t understand why he thought that he could keep this up when he has such weak immigration policies. He got booed several times. Wouldn’t it be something, if he drops out eventually. I just don’t see him getting all of the base. It’s way early-things could change on a dime. I think Cain looks more sincere than Bachman. I hope that she survives and goes back to her congressional seat. Newt was great. I just can’t see Paul moving up. He looks worn out. I know he’s a patriot but he has some ideas that are extreme.
P.S.: Santorum gave Huntsman a terrific slap down, re the military.
I so agree.
And they really seem to be in the tank for {shudder!} Romney.
The only thing I remember is when Newt boffed Kelly upside her head for a dumb question.
I agree with you. I love Newt’s fiesty retorts. Perry was awful! How can he defend $100k subsidy to illegals and education. Just absolutely awful. I don’t trust Romney. I like Cain a lot. Bachmann is done. Where’s Sarah? We need to see if she can handle Romney. If she can’t, we’ll be stuck with Romney.
Cain and Newt would be a dream team. Or add Palin in that mix if she jumps in.
I think Romney/Cain could absolutely trash Obama.
I know...I know..... but I think that ticket would appeal to a lot of people.
Enough with the gimmicks and the scattergun approach to questioning.
I can see asking one or two questions specific to each candidate. But for the bulk of the questions the most effective format is when the same question is asked of each candidate. That way the viewer can make a direct comparison of the answers.
The question for me after such debates is what is doable.
This time, the candidates, except for the usual weasels,
offered some concrete proposals, perhaps credit should go
to the FOX/Google questioners, anyway, with our divided
gummint, and even with a PUB majority in Congress, but
with a system which encourages endless debates, polls,
behind the scenes lobbying, which of these concrete proposals
can be achieved? Ronald Reagan promised to do away with the
Dept. of Energy, remember youngsters?
I liked some of the replies from the others but many things just let Obama debate his way out of it. He is not going to out-debate Cain or Newt. Cain is focused well and Newt just has a smarting sense of humor that I think is similar to Rush but not quite as juvenile.
I agree about Newt’s personals. Given the dreck that so many Dems bring with their personal lives and behavior, they will sound foolish attacking Gingrich. It will heighten attention to Solyndra, to Rahm’s dealings in Chitown,to Waters and Rangel and even Weiner. The Dems may threaten to attack Gingrich but they won’t,not in any effective manner.
I think you’re right - and I did see that - about how maybe we should just all buy Greek bonds and go down together. LOL
Newt is so smart - too bad he’s got those issues of his.
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