Posted on 05/03/2007 10:23:46 PM PDT by OrthodoxPresbyterian
DRUDGE REPORT
The Reagan Derby
Well, with 47,617 individual Votes recorded as of 12:55AM EST on 5/4/07, The Drudge Report has provided perhaps the most sweeping and comprehensive initial survey of viewer reaction to the first GOP Primary Debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
The Results thus far:
With an optimistic, confident demeaner and a polished presentation, Mitt Romney decidedly overshadowed the erstwhile Front-Runner, Rudy Giuliani. Rudy's primary strength thus far has been his vast name recognition and the sheer momentum of his supposed "inevitability" -- and yet, in terms of viewer reaction, for him to be trailing (by double digits) a former Governor not widely known outside of Massachusetts until this election season demonstrates clear vulnerability on Giuliani's part.
However, the greatest source of comfort to Constitutionalist Conservatives has to be the tremendous upswell of support being registered by the former Leader of Ronald Reagan's Electoral Delegation from Texas, United States Congressman Ron Paul -- and that DESPITE receiving comparatively little "face time" from the debate organizers. With viewer reaction to the first GOP Primary Debate already placing Congressman Ron Paul solidly in third place, nine points ahead of his nearest rival and within five points of Giuliani himself, a tremendous opportunity exists for Ron Paul to establish widespread national Name Recognition and garner increasing support for his broadly-appreciated message of Individual Liberty and strictly-limited Government Power.
With the second GOP Primary Debate rapidly approaching, Conservatives can take heart in knowing that the Message of Reagan Republicanism still resonates when presented confidently and forthrightly --and that there's at least one GOP Candidate on the stage who has stood solidly for Reagan Republicanism for thirty years: RON PAUL.
I'm happily married, now.
Unsurprisingly, I've put on 15 pounds, and had to move from a 32 waist to a 34 waist.
:-( Oh, well.
Do as you like... newbie.
Are you an oldie (freeper) like Kennedy? He has been around a long time but dumb as a rock and about as useful as one. Being somewhere longer than someone else does not mean squat there oxymoron.
Do you really mean to say that protecting children is more important than sending our troops to the other side of the world to kill civilians in order to negotiate an armistice with terror?
With what little "face time" Ron Paul enjoyed, the Viewer Reaction on the 50,000+ Vote Drudge Poll has been phenomenal.
And I think Ron is doing better -- I confess that I was sometimes disappointed with some of Ron's early appearances; but he came across stronger and more confident tonight. Ron's political director told me early on that he had some good people lined up to prep him for the debates; I don't know who it is, but whoever it is -- as a former Collegiate Debater, I must admit he's making progress.
See my #80 -- personally, I'm very happy with a strong Third Place finish this early on. Many of these 50,000 people probably saw Ron Paul for the first time tonight -- and they like what they see.
Learn English grammar, please.
I didn’t know Kennedy was a FReeper. That might explain some of the vitriol against Paul, however.
“Many of these 50,000 people probably saw Ron Paul for the first time tonight — and they like what they see.”
Bingo!
“Do you really mean to say that protecting children is more important than sending our troops to the other side of the world to kill civilians in order to negotiate an armistice with terror?”
Uh, yes . . I mean, no. What?
You forgot conservative Republicans, Constitutionalists, Libertarians, and independents.
How? By boat? Plane? We could cover that. Launch a missle? We could cover that too. Suppose they go 'bio-nasty' and take credit for killing thousands. What might we do in response?
Something tells me this is why it hasn't already happened. Motto: don't screw with Roy Rodgers.
Thank you, and you're correct. But I'll demur from requesting any apology, having been sometimes guilty of the same myself.
That said, thank you for speaking up for the virtue of Civility. My comrade-in-arms, "The_Eaglet", usually does a better job than I do as an exemplar thereof.
You are wrong again. You should be ashamed about your sorry research and your silly insults.
It was an unfortunate word choice on his part. However, the fact is that civilians do get killed as "collateral damage" of our operations in Iraq -- and then their spouses, fathers, brothers, sons, cousins, etc. tend to get pissed off about it. And then they hate America, and they join the insurgency.
It's not a good situation.
I couldn’t disagree more with National Review Online. I was told by some “pundits” prior to this debate, and specifically coming from conservative “pundits”, that as Republicans we should feel glum in regards to the meager quality of the candidates who have stepped forward for 2008. And then, tonight, I watched the debates.
And now I am very proud to be a Republican. Yes, each candidate had their flaw, but all of them, everyone, demonstrated outstanding presence and presidential ability.
Who did the best? Well, regardless of my personal opinion regarding the issues – everyone did the best. We do not have anything to be glum about – the Republican Party has brought us an outstanding collection of candidates, astute and candidates who can connect and communicate with the American people.
Now having said that, I believe as my own individual judgment, that hands down it was Mitt Romney who got the biggest win out of this first debate. We did not see Fred Thompson at this debate, and I am being told this is part of his strategy to wait back, let these candidates expose themselves, analyze the reaction to them, and then sort of step in as a “dark horse” in late June. And, now having watched the debate tonight, and the debate itself having me thinking about these very, very important issues and decisions that have to be made – in that light I do not really appreciate Mr. Thompson not being ready to step into the debate and voice his opinion. In that regard, I respect all these candidates who have joined in this debate tonight. Every and each one of them. What intelligent, and quality of their demeanor and mind, they all are.
I want to thank Mr. Romney for his explanation regarding his change in opinion regarding right to life issues, his explanation of his consideration of the dangers and direction of cloning makes perfect sense to me, one for which abortion is not a primary issue. I make mention of it, in regards again to the “pundits” who have been telling me that Romney “waffles” his positions out of convenience – and certainly I did not have that sense whatsoever having watched him tonight. I believe that his presentation tonight, is going to bring about a shift in the polls.
I believe we are going to see a shift in the polls. I believe that Mitt Romney has gained a benefit regarding tonight’s debate, and we are going to see a shift in the polls among Republicans in his direction.
I am strongly considering making my decision in the direction of Mitt Romney for President of the United States of America. Politics is a place that is full of confusion, full of confidence in the middle of shifting of tides, high and low moments – and even dangers. I think that it is very likely we have seen a dark horse tonight, and we don’t have to wait for a Fred Thompson to “save” us. There is nothing to be gloomy about – the Republican Party is offering us outstanding candidates, outstanding leaders, each of them I would be proud to see as my President. From the lest of known such as a Tom Tancredo, to the famous such as a John McCain, they all expressed themselves effectively, the Republican Party is bringing us excellent, outstanding, choices to decide among.
At this time, I believe that Mitt Romney is the best choice. You may not agree. And that is fine. We will all be given our chance to cast our vote. Among this field of candidates, there are excellent choices, and having watched the debate I feel confident that the Republican Party is still the Party which holds the values that I align myself with.
I hope you will consider Mitt Romney. Perhaps you sense in him, the same sense that I feel. He is a handsome man – this is no small matter in today’s media world – he has outstanding presence, he communicates and connects, and I agree with his positions. His mind is extremely sharp. He can stand up to any opposition that the Democrats would offer. In many ways, he strikes me as another Reagan. I think he is a winner. And that is also, very important.
Good luck to all of the candidates.
Are you saying you did not post that?
IMO RP has more potential to reach across (and outside)party lines while championing constitutional conservatism than any other declared candidate.
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