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.
My thoughts...
- Perry’s star is fadeing, he is staking out some crappy positions and not smooth with explainations.
- Mitt looking better - sorry Freepers, that’s what I’m seeing.
- Michelle not progressing beyond talking points, not playing a big league game.
- Cain making serious progress, has substance. He’s gonna be a factor.
- Gingrich always seems to be smartest guy in the room but has demonstrated he can be horribly WRONG (MMGW)
- Paul still the crazy uncle in the attic. Many good ideas swaddled in loony fluff.
-Santorum = whiner. Always looks like he needs a bathroom badly.
- Palin(in absentia)would have best stage presence but had better have real well thought out plans-not just red-meat cheerleader hype.
Y'all better get used to the idea of Romney winning. I liked Newt and Cain too, but let's face reality square on. Perry will not inspire confidence. He SUUUUUUUUUUCKS. This is 3 times now.
I was ready to jump on the Perry bandwagon. Then I got to see him in action. He's a non-starter. We better wise up fast. Get ready for Romney.
I think that is what is so funny. Politicians are, well, political. Romney clearly supported RomneyCare because he wanted to pander to his leftist state. Perry wanted to pander to the hispanic base in Texas. . .and you aren’t winning without doing so. This is actually why Obama fears Perry so much. Obama is counting on the hispanic vote to carry him to victory. Along comes Perry and suddenly Obama is facing losing a large chunk of that base.
Anyway, I digress, each of these two guys have political baggage and I can’t decide which is worse? ObamaCare/RomneyCarer or free education for Pedro. But I do know that smiling smooth Mitt is getting a free pass and it has to end, soon.
Agreed. Folks better get used to the idea of President Romney. Against Obama, it’s a no-brainer for me, and he’s out-performing Perry. Perry’s frickin awful. This was the worst of his trilogy of bad performances.
Romney/Cain I think. Perry is a goner.
“Why won’t Paul go to the dem party where he belongs?”
Because he is a Libertarian, and has run as such.
I didn't think it was a dumb question, something like "how do you cut 40% of the spending when every program is considered sacrosanct"? But Newt did what he always does, refuse to answer and attack the premise, and answer the question she should have asked. Megan's usually sharp as a tack with a follow up, but she was left speechless. I loved it, espedially the part about "otherwise we may as well buy Greek bonds and go down together". Great.
We need new blood. Newt is smart, but is a lifetime politician. And I have met him, he is a little handsy, ifyouknowwhatImean. No thanks. Chief of Staff though, that would be a good spot for him...
I am leaning that way myself.
Not decided yet..but definely leaning.
yup, my mom said the same thing. Downside to homeschooling, radio has to go off. But Rush will be all over it tomorrow.
definetly
Never thought I’d say this, but so far Newt is the only candidate to impress me. It would be a good time for Palin to jump in and mix it up a bit. God knows the GOP field needs a little excitement. Go Mama Grizzly!
Without a vote cast and we are jumping off or onto anybody’s bandwagon? But here is the thing, if Mittens becomes the front runner again it will be him who is slapped around during these debates. Let’s see how he holds up. As for Perry, I think he had a bad night. But I can’t remember a primary race where a candidate wasn’t deemed “out” or “dead in the water” and turned things around. It was such with W, it was such with Reagan, it was such with Clinton, it was even such for Ozero.
We shall see what happens here but I am sure enjoying the hell out of this as the energy on our side is termendous!!!
It is difficult to explain, yes. You can’t rule in a state that is 40% or 50% Hispanic by just taking a hardline on immigration. Arizona did it though.
I think tonight is the beginning of the end for Perry.
There is no way he can survive his positions on illegals and the border.
Are Cain and Gingrich both still officially Georgia residents?
Who, Mitt?
That I don’t know. Good Question
I like Rick ok...but he has no debate skills. He admits that. Truthfully, he hasn’t had to develope those skills. At least he hasn’t resorted to a teleprompter.
I found myself screaming at the tv...”Say this answer!! Your’e making a fool of yourself!”
But I don’t guess the debates are over yet.
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