" Did she throw her hat in the race yet?"
Posted on 06/14/2011 8:21:17 AM PDT by libertarian neocon
So a miracle happened last night and somehow I was able to actually watch the GOP debate while it was going on and neither Ben10 (my kids' favorite) nor So You Think You Can Dance (my wife's favorite, as is just about any reality show that is on) entered into the picture at all. This is something that happens about as often as a full solar eclipse so I'm grateful, especially because I really did enjoy watching the debate last night, which was unexpected. Anyway, I thought I'd jot down some of my thoughts of how the different candidates fared in the debate and my general impression of them as candidates. Just so you know, my critique will be based solely on impressions of the candidates at the debate and will not draw on any of my preconceived notions (of which, I have many). Also, many of my comments may be highly superficial in nature as, for the most part, there was little difference between what the candidates said. After all, they are all gunning for the same electorate, the conservative activists who tend to vote in primaries.
Romney: The clear winner of the debate. His style was the most Presidential and I could see him going toe to toe with Obama in a debate and wiping the floor with him. The only issue I had with him, and it was minor, was that he looked like he not only aged in the last few years, but it looked like he rotted. It was as if he were Dorian Grey and someone accidentally damaged his portrait. Am I being too mean? Don't we all age? Yes, we do. But it's important that we don't come across as a bunch of senior citizens looking to battle the youthful Obama, like we did last election. Youthful vigor wins elections and has for much of the last 50 years (Obama over McCain, Clinton over Dole, Clinton over Bush, etc.). You might think Reagan was an exception but given how wimpy Carter came off as, Reagan actually seemed more vigorous despite being older.
Pawlenty: A bit of a letdown early on. As many others have noted, he should have gone in for the kill earlier on, in a sincere and principled way. I think he probably had too much advice earlier on about not going too negative and how people might be put off by that. Unfortunately, his Rube Goldergesque explanation of his Obamneycare comment (which he was implying was only a criticism of Obama) made him seem insincere and wimpy. And I now he could have done so much better with just a few tweaks as he did have a much better debate later on when he had warmed up a little and killed some of the butterflies in his stomach. The only other issue I had with him was that I kept wondering if he had a spray tan. He is from Minnesota, he doesn't have to be tan!
Bachmann: She is definitely a star and her debate performance was great. She was much more polished and confident than anyone else on the stage other than Romney. I liked it when she said she was running for President of the United States so wouldn't try to meddle in state affairs. The only thing I didn't like was when she kept saying she took in 23 foster kids. I know she is trying to sound generous, which I am sure she is. But for me and other east coasters, I think it just comes across as weird and perhaps a bit creepy. I don't know why but it does. I also wasn't a huge fan of the hair, which looked like it had 10 cans of hairspray and seemed hard enough to repel bullets. I was also surprised by the giant crows feet around her eyes, that might be a function though of the 6 inches of makeup she was wearing for the debate as I've seen her before and they weren't so pronounced (hey I said some of my comments would be highly superficial)
Paul: I normally don't like Ron Paul, but I did enjoy his performance at the debate. He, of course, focused on the fundamental problems with big government. Of course, the National Journal said he continued to be a fringe candidate because he was bringing obscure topics like "monetary policy" into the debate. I'm sorry, monetary policy is obscure? Maybe for you English major reporters but not for anyone who cares if the government is printing money and continuously devaluing the dollar for the last ten years. Anyhoo, the only critique I have for Paul's performance was that he kept referring to the "church" as a substitute for government. Couldn't he have said non-profit community organizations or something? Maybe try to be a little more inclusive? Libertarians are a small enough minority, now he has to bring religion into it?
Santorum: He did okay in the debate but I couldn't get over a couple of things. First, his nose looks way too small for his face. Did he have some sort of weirdo nosejob? He kind of has this Michael Jackson thing going on, at least to my eyes. Also, he always looked like he was in pain every time he said something. I mean, if he can't answer a fluff question like "Leno or Conan" without looking extremely constipated, he has a problem.
Gingrich: He did a wonderful job I thought, other than his wishy washy response to the Ryan plan question. He was generally confident and highly intelligent. Based on the debate by itself, I'd say he has a shot. But based on the fact he is kind of a whacko and extremley inconsistent, I don't think so.
Cain: A cartoon character of a candidate. I really could make no sense of his answers to the "will you have a Muslim in your cabinet" question, they would make sense for a little bit and then he would contradict himself. I think he could get the nomination of the Rent is Too Damn High Party. I think I liked the idea of him much more than what I saw last night.
At this point, I think Romney looks like he will be very tough to beat in New Hampshire. I also think that unless Pawlenty can become more confident I think he might lose Iowa to Bachmann, who is a much more exciting speaker. Anyway, we'll see what happens at the Ames Straw Poll in a couple of months, it should be interesting! Other than these three, I don't see anyone escaping the single digit range in primaries.
>>libertarian neocon is an salient RomneyBOT.<<
I agree. But I think he may be part of a “greater conspiracy” to bless him as the republican candidate. I was listening to a couple of media hacks last night and they were also singing Romney’s praises after the debate. In both cases I had to ask, “did they see the same debate we did?”
I fear that “the fix is in”.
Dole I = Bob Dole
Dole II = John McCain
Dole III = Mitt Romney
The “good” news is that it really does not matter which one wins. The country will be a shell of itself by the time the winner (whichever party wins) is sworn in in 2013.
How did Reagan ever win states like MA, MD, DE, VT, NY, etc?
YEPPERS !!!
When he said that I thought “How on earth could he know that ???”
Then I remembered the time he had an ear piece during a debate in 2008
Romney is still a cheat..
See ???
Theres some things he doesnt flip flop on...
I actually dont like Romney at all, I think he is completely an untrustworthy flip flopper, though I did like him in the debate. I’m actually a Pawlenty supporter as he has received high marks for his time at Minnesota (got an A from Cato!), but I was disappointed in his performance.
Honestly, I thought Mitt sucked. I had expected way more from a guy who has had two and half years of running for President. He gave no detailed answers at all. TPaw stumbled slightly over Obamneycare. He should have just politely said that with all due respect Romneycare was not working very well in MA and it does resemble Obamacare. We all know its true.
I’m prejudiced but I thought Bachmann shined.
They were all pretty good. Any one of them would be 10 times the leader and President Barry Soetoro is.
No, we actually have 3 nice flatscreens. But Im either hanging around with the kids or the wife so Im forced to watch what they are watching. Somehow last night I was able to put the TV on to my show without a problem, kids were playing with toys and the wife was showing houses.
NO
Mitt Romney couldnt shine Bob Doles shoes
For starters Bob Dole was a war hero
Mitty is a TWO time draft dodging coward...
You have GOT to be kidding? Romney?
Just wait til they do expose him. And remember ... being dull and speaking in even tones does not make you President.
And tell me. IF Romney is nominated, and the Tea Party doesn’t vote for him, think he’ll be tough to beat? I think not.
I knew I shouldn’t have read this post. Now I’m just upset.
Another noobie
Whatcha doing with your friend ???
Playing good cop bad cop ???
Looking through the Palin Prism changes everything I guess. I see two people on a stage at a campaign event. At the moment the picture was taken one was leaning down to shake hands, the other is smiling and waving at the crowd. I see no indication that is crowd abhors or is repulsed by either candidate, but then I am not afflicted by MDS.
In fact I would guess if that Romney/Palin had been our team in 2008 we wouldn’t have real double digit unemployment, O’bamaCare, Elena Kagan, the wise Latina, a $6T dollar increase in the debt etc, etc., etc. And geez if that had been the team then in 2016 Sarah would be ready to take over after 8 years as a very successful VP and the leader on making energy independent.
I guess the biggest question is how can you reconcile your blind adoration for Sarah, your abject hatred of Romney and the fact Sarah allowed herself to be forced to be seen on the same stage with someone obviously as hated as Mitt?
"As U.S. real output grew 13 percent between 2002 and 2006, Massachusetts trailed at 9 percent.
* Manufacturing employment fell 7 percent nationwide those years, but sank 14 percent under Romney, placing Massachusetts 48th among the states.
* Between fall 2003 and autumn 2006, U.S. job growth averaged 5.4 percent, nearly three times Massachusetts' anemic 1.9 percent pace.
* While 8 million Americans over age 16 found work between 2002 and 2006, the number of employed Massachusetts residents actually declined by 8,500 during those years.
"Massachusetts was the only state to have failed to post any gain in its pool of employed residents," professors Sum and McLaughlin concluded.
In an April 2003 meeting with the Massachusetts congressional delegation in Washington, Romney failed to endorse President Bush's $726 billion tax-cut proposal."
[Cato Institute annual Fiscal Policy Report Card - America's Governors, 2004.]
“libertarian neocon” YOU are on the wrong forum SIR. The Daily KOS would be more to your liking.
Bloggers with valuable opinions give us three sentences.
Bloggers with idiotic opinions give us the full content.
~It is the nature of truth in general, as of some ores in particular, to be richest when most superficial. ~ POE
Whenever I use “dole” followed by a roman numeral, I mean “the one the R establishment wants to be their man.” It’s “their turn” and they have not a prayer of winning.
As one commentator said Sunday, Mitt may be the right choice for “your fathers” R party, but not in our current environment with groups like the TEA Party.
Think of him as Perry Como. His time has passed. In fact, you could look at Mitt as the right candidate at the wrong time.
The best thing about a Mitt run is we would get the same thing we got in 2008: The average American was finally beginning to ask, “so, tell me, are the Mormon teachings as goofy as my friend says? Tell me about what they actually believe.”
That kind of scrutiny is a very good thing.
Palin entering late???......”Or maybe we can look forward to Romney accepting the nomination next year instead....?
What’s your hurry??? She’s doing just fine campaigning in the One Nation RV.......
The debate is a showcase for the “also rans......”
Daily Kos? Really? What about my post, leads you to that conclusion? I’ve voted for two parties in my life, the Republicans and Libertarians. I’m pretty much all Republican now since the LP is full of complete whackjobs.
In terms of who I will vote for I will vote for the most conservative candidate who is also electable. Right now I think that is Pawlenty, if Ryan were to enter the race, I would vote for him.
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