Posted on 08/12/2011 11:17:12 AM PDT by NationalSpotlight
The Republican candidates for President of the United States took the stage last night in Iowa. The debate was full of fireworks and some candidates took their gloves off and went after each other. The debate covered mostly everything from the economy to foreign policy to social issues. However, there were no questions about entitlement spending.
The clear winner of the debate was Newt Gingrich. He attacked moderators Chris Wallace and Bret Baier for asking "I gotcha questions." The line of the night was definitely this: I think the super committee is the dumbest idea Washington has come up with. Newt Gingrich was the only one in the debate who could destroy President Obama. Unfortunately, Newt Gingrich made some horrible mistakes that caused his campaign staff to desert him. Newt is running a campaign of ideas, which is not going to work. It is essential for a candidate to have fire in the belly, participate in campaign events, raise money, and meet as many voters as possible every day. Newt can win every debate, but he is not a serious candidate. He is only staying in the race to pay off his campaign debt.
Out of the serious contenders for the nomination, who won the debate? Mitt Romney won. Romney defended himself very well on his health care plan and it made sense to the average voter. He came away unscathed because Michele Bachmann and Tim Pawlenty went after each other and the lower tier candidates bashed Obama and each other. Tim Pawlenty once again had an opportunity to crush Romney on his health care plan, but failed in doing so. T-Paw was shaky during the entire debate and could not win any of the battles against Bachmann and Romney. I was wrong about Michele Bachmann and now she has proven to everyone that she is a force to be reckoned with. Bachmann was trained at the Leadership Institute on how to run an effective campaign. No one should doubt her abilities ever again. When Byron York asked her a sexist question about the meaning of submission to her husband, she knocked it out of the park and translated the meaning to respect. Bachmann was sharp the entire night except she did not focus on jobs. The only candidate who focused on jobs was Mitt Romney. Jobs, not the debt or spending, is going to be the central issue of the 2012 election.
The lower tier candidates failed to break into the leader board. Rick Santorum was caught up in a fight against Ron Paul over Iran which was very entertaining. Herman Cain showed his inexperience and lack of knowledge and Jon Huntsman seemed like he did not fit in with the group and failed to connect with the audience. This was their chance to shine and all of these candidates blew it.
The Ames, Iowa Straw Poll is on Saturday and as of right now, Michele Bachmann will win the straw poll. T-Paw needed to win the debate or put on an outstanding performance in order to stay in the game. No one is going to be motivated to vote for a guy who struggled to perform well in the debate. T-Paw could have been the nominee as predicted here, but he has failed to take down the candidacy of Michele Bachmann, who is taking away his votes. T-Paw's campaign is finished and will place 3rd in the straw poll. Romney will place 2nd and Ron Paul 4th. Romney will not be campaigning in Iowa, but will focus on the next primary in New Hampshire. The battle of Iowa will come down to Bachmann vs Perry. The governor of Texas Rick Perry will announce his candidacy in South Carolina the same day as the Ames, Iowa Straw Poll. Most likely, Perry's declared candidacy will overtake the coverage of the Ames, Iowa Straw Poll. Perry and Bachmann will be speaking at the same event in Bachmann's hometown, Waterloo, Iowa, on Sunday. The battle of Iowa is a toss-up. Who do you think is going to win?
If Willard keeps his promise to repeal zerocare and leave it to the individual states, I can vote for him.
If Perry gets in the race Pawlenty will magically change focus to attack him. Pawlenty is this seasons Huckabee, doing for Romney what Huckabee did for McCain in 2008.
His only purpose in being there is to protect the chosen one from any challengers.
Wonder what they have promised him a Fox News gig, the Senate nomination in Minnesota or a cabinet post?
FOX's misogynist RomneyBOT:
Dog-psychology. 2 high-ranking pack members going at it for the right to challenge the perceived Alpha.
As much as I hate it, your analysis is probably correct.
When will the medium give up on the ‘clever’ name abbreviations? T-paw? B-sh!t.
My Top Five from last night:
1. Bachmann
2. Cain
3. Santorum
4. Newt
5. Pawlenty
Who were the other three? They did not impress me.
FOX should fire this traitor.
Pawlenty is not as strong of a candidate when Huckabee ran. Pawlenty has no shot of winning Iowa unless Bachmann and Perry make major mistakes. I cannot see Pawlenty replacing Huckabee. The nomination is going to come down to Bachmann, Perry, and Romney.
Bret Baier is another liberal masquerading as a conservative. I know who he hangs out with in D.C. Bret is a phony.
So obamacare is great as long as the State mandates it?
Also I guess you are okay with gun bans and abortion?
Not to mention that Mitt has flip flopped on every single issue?
Go Romney!
The higher he is above this crowd, the better chance Sarah Palin will jump into the race.
Has Baier portrayed himself as a conservative?
“I was saddened that Pawlenty and Bachmann chose to go at each other.”
IIRC it was the Pawlenty camp that brought up Bachmann’s migraines, wasn’t it?
Many people already have their pick for prez. I was looking to try to form my own opinions last night. It was an interesting debate...but in the Pawlenty/Bachmann exchange, Pawlenty came off as a weasel.
Unscathed because he doesn’t stick his neck out on issues - has waited until others have done all the heavy lifting for him.
Yes, he did. I think Pawlenty came loaded for bear. I think he was stung by all of the flack he received over his failure to pursue his “Obamney Care” shot, so the had made the decision that to appear strong, he was going to go negative. I think he effectively removed himself from contention with that sad performance.
Romney’s answer on healthcare was absolutely horrible....
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