You are right... but he's ready to go!
Posted on 05/04/2007 4:47:59 PM PDT by Utah Girl
No matter how many boneheaded, irrelevant questions were thrown at them by MSNBC Thursday night, the Republican candidates for president were really only there to answer one: Can you beat Hillary Clinton in November? (Bonus question being asked by viewers across America: “Will you walk over and beat Chris Matthews right now?”)
If Thursday's debate had truly mattered, the performance of Chris Matthews and his Politico.com posse would be an outrage. Can anyone imagine Brian Williams asking Sen. Barack Obama “What do you dislike most about America?” Would Fox News have been able to get away with overtly antagonistic questioning linking Hillary Clinton and John Edwards to Cindy Sheehan and Al Sharpton, the way Matthews and Co. pushed the Republican candidates on Karl Rove and Scooter Libby?
No way.
But the media’s pro-Democrat bias is part of the “Can you beat Hillary?” equation. Whoever the Republicans nominate will have to fight their way through the mainstream media to get to Sen. Clinton, should she (as she almost certainly will) win the Democratic nomination.
Republican primary voters know this. They fear this. And so they’re aren’t watching events like this debate asking “Can McCain beat Giuliani?” They want to see these guys prove they can walk on stage in some future forum, look Sen. Clinton in the eye and say “You’re goin’ down.”
What Republicans are looking for, in other words, is a contender. Going into Thursday night, there were two. The good news for the Republicans is that there now may be three. The bad news is that the top contender is clearly not ready to go 15 rounds.
First, let’s dispatch the seven non-contenders with two simple words: Rick Lazio. Lazio was a fine New York congressman and a decent candidate who was blown away by Hillary Clinton in the worst campaign she is ever going to run in her life. Republicans aren’t going to pick another lightweight. They need a heavy hitter, and they know it.
Giuliani is, without a doubt, a political heavyweight. National polls show he can take out Hillary, and Republican voters know it. He’s got the big name, he’s got the leadership credentials, he’s got the bipartisan appeal.
The question raised Thursday night was “Will he show up?”
Rudy’s debate performance was Rocky II before Adrian woke up. He was mentally flabby, his answers were sloppy, and he appeared largely uninterested by the entire event. Giuliani being unprepared for a question on abortion is like John Edwards forgetting his hairbrush. It should never happen.
Getting elected president is hard. It’s tough questions all day, every day. The only thing Giuliani accomplished Thursday night was raising doubts about his desire to fight.
Sen. John McCain, on the other hand, was all “Eye of the Tiger.” He came out swinging, left the stage swinging, and — based on his performance Thursday — is probably being restrained by his aides in a hotel room somewhere as he flails his arms screaming “Lemme at ‘em! Lemme at ‘em!”
McCain appears to have learned the lesson of the last war — the 2000 South Carolina primary — and is determined not to lose again on the Right. And McCain has apparently concluded, “conservative” is synonymous with “really angry.” So McCain came out angry. He was angry about the mishandling of the war. Mad about pork barrel spending. About taxes, abortion, global warming. He was mad as hell, and he’s not going to take [insert debate topic here] anymore!
And it’s true that, whenever John McCain is around conservatives, they’re angry. Why shouldn’t’ they be? He’s spent the past eight years pandering to the same mainstream media that mocks them, while working against conservatives on issues like immigration amnesty, and campaign finance.
Conservatives aren’t mad, Sen. McCain. They’re just mad at you.
However, if given the choice between an uninspired Giuliani and a hard-charging McCain, Republican primary voters may well choose the latter. McCain annoys conservatives more than Giuliani, but the fact is he’s to Rudy’s right on almost every issue. As long as polls and public perception show that McCain can beat Clinton, he’s probably the frontrunner to win the GOP nomination.
But the winner Thursday night was clearly Mitt Romney. Before the debate, Romney looked like a candidate strong enough to win the nomination but too weak to win against Hillary. He’s still a relatively risky choice to put up against Sen. Clinton in 2008. But for the first time on a national stage, Mitt Romney looked big-time.
His answers were smarter than Giuliani’s. His passion was more tempered than McCain’s. He was the one major candidate who benefited from the presence of the non-contenders. He was Brad Pitt at a Trekkie convention — the cool, good-looking guy who kept drawing your attention.
On the “Go GOP! Beat Hillary!” chart, Romney was the only candidate who moved up. Which means he was the only candidate who helped himself with the majority of Republican primary voters.
I need to write this guy and ask him for next week’s pick 6. I suppose Hunter/Tancredo/Thompson/Newt can’t win because they weren’t governors but Clinton can win because she is a senator and was a former White House caterer?
Am I correct in assuming that you support Romney?
Mitt Romney did gain the most from the debate. He was strong, photogenic, and articulate. While he seemed overly rehearsed, that was just a minor flaw.
Of course, the real winner was Fred Thompson, who wasn’t even there.
Michael! Michael!
We all like Mitt too, but don’t let your local loyalty blind you! (96.9FM Boston)
I only saw the last twenty minutes or so, Mitt rocked.
I just wonder if he’s got the steel boxer shorts required for this job!
I’m looking for a candidate who also believes in less governement. Unfortunetly, there aren’t really any of them besides Paul.
I don’t know yet. I was extremely impressed with him when he ran the 2002 Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City, Utah. He did a wonderful job. And to be honest, right now, imo, he is at the top of the pack. I think he needs more experience politically.
The Republican contender hasn’t entered the race yet. :-)
They forgot to mention the real elephant who wasn’t in the room. Run Fred run!
Yeah, that too. I think the politicians go to Washington and get their brains scrambled. Government doing everything for everybody seems to permeate the air there.
Which is impressive considering that it could have been an unmitigated disaster if he hadn't taken over.
How was Matthews selected?
Under the circumstances I thought all the candidates did a fare job.
When Romney was asked what he didn't like about this country he should have told Matthews to kiss his a$$.
All other issues aside, Mitt can. Some of the others maybe can.
It almost seems like a movie were people are looking for a hero to step up to the plate and save the day.
Laughing! Or better yet: Well Chris—it is you. I don’t like you. You’re a spoiled fat-a@@ed North Eastern liberal who criticizes the country that you owe your fortune too; next question.
You are right... but he's ready to go!
I'm still so ticked off this charade was allowed to happen. These ten candidates spent lot's of money to make the trip there and then be subjected to this twerp and his cronies stupid questions just burns me up.
Any of the ten is heads above this imbecile, Matthews.
Some great lines in here. This guy writes like a FReeper.
(But I can’t agree with his conclusion.
Hunter in ‘08!
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