A frustrating evening (the debate)

Powerline ^ | 9/6/07 | Paul Mirengoff

[pissant]

I found the debate frustrating. Neither of the top tier candidates -- Giuliani and Romney -- had a good night. Giuliani took a big hit early over his 1994 statement welcoming illegal immigrants to New York. Thereafter, he seemed to answer most questions by referring to New York city crime statistics. He needs to diversify

Romney seemed defensive and, at times, evasive. His answers on Iraq were rambling. When the deputy sheriff in the restaurant called him out for not articulating an "end game" strategy, Romney was unable, I thought, to take advantage of the opportunity.

McCain did pretty well. At a minimum, as always, he answered the questions. I can conceive of him having a "surge" in New Hampshire as the "straight talk" candidate, particularly if Giuliani and Romney don't step it up.

Huckabee had another decent night, and I give points to anyone who takes on Ron Paul. But (as Romney pointed out) the "broken pottery" analogy in Iraq misses the most important reason for why we need to keep fighting -- namely the implications of the outcome on the war against terror. Huckabee also totally ducked the final question concerning what we should do if Iran continues on its present course towards becoming a nuclear power.

Duncan Hunter was, once again, the best of the rest.

Sam Brownback continues to be a huge disappointment. If the best he can do is channel Tom Friedman, it's clearly time for him to withdraw.

UPDATE: For what it's worth, Fox's focus group agreed with me that McCain did better than the two front-runners, and that Rudy talked too much about New York.

[b9]

“pairing”

“Paring” is something a knife does to apples.

[b9]

oops ~ that response should have been to #87, not #88

[roamer_1]

I like Tancredo, but there can be no doubt that he’s a one issue candidate.

Everyone's saying such things, and that he looked nervous, etc.

I didn't get that feeling at all. I like Tanc, and I think he did just fine.

[KJC1]

You are very condescending for someone who thinks it's ok to make claims based on "maybe" others saying something.

Perhaps you can explain to me Adelman's role as part of the "Bush Admin." I don't see him here so maybe you can clue me in.

[RasterMaster]

FAIR & EQUITABLE TRADE	Fair Trade, Not Free Trade = Jobs / Packed House in Mission Valley China Cheating  on Trade / America is a GREAT Nation
SECOND AMENDMENT	Glen & Helen Show / CA Bullet Serialization / A Keyboard and a .45 /Armed & Free
ECONOMY & TAXES	Address to Fair Tax Rally 05-15-07 / Address to CPAC / Fiscal Conservativism
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD	Iraq Resolution / Hunter vs. Democrats / Surge is Working Senate Amnesty Bill / Amnesty Fails / Amnesty Fails Again  / Hunter Vs. Murtha
LEGAL REFORM	Gonzales Firings / Pardon Scooter? / ”Fairness” Doctrine Border Agents Compean & Ramos / Defending Border Agents
ENDORSEMENTS	Appeal to Conservatives / General Chuck Yeager / Conservative Voice Ann Coulter / Magnificent! / Favorite Announcement – Part 1 & Part 2 / Music Video On the Road to the Oval Office Conservative Case / A Fresh Face / Blog Collection / Constitution Party / Grassroots HQ
EDUCATION	No Child Left Behind
HEALTHCARE	Ronald Reagan Health Care / ‘National’ HealthCare / “One step closer to socialism”
IMMIGRATION	Border Enforcement is Homeland Security / NAFTA / Secure Border Building a Fence / “Jobs Americans won’t do”? / Wake Up America 07-19-07 Enforce the Law / No Amnesty / Party of One / Ted Hayes
SAFETY & SECURITY	Dubai Ports / Cooking with Hunter / War On Terror / To America’s Critics / JFK Plot Mark Steyn on 1986 Amnesty / Firefighter’s Forum / CSIS Forum / Katrina Summit
FAITH & VALUES	Blogs for Life / Judicial Appointments / Right to Life Rally / Hunter's Faith Terri Shaivo / Mt. Soledad Cross  - Flyer / Roe vs. Wade / Hate Crimes
INTERVIEWS	Dennis Miller (June 1st – 3rd Hour) / Michael Illions Roger Hedgecock (4/6, 4/24, 4/25, 6/8, 6/29, 7/2, 7/17, 7/19) Laura Ingraham – Part 1 & Part 2 / Steve Malzberg 06-19-07 Brian Preston – Hot Air / William Gheen - ALIPAC WRKO Pundit Review Radio / Polipundit Radio / Tom McLaughlin Kevin McCullough – Musclehead Revolution / John Hawkins NHPR’s Laura Knoy on The Exchange / Irving Baxter WESH – Orlando (Conversation with the Candidate) / Wolf Blitzer  Hardball 07-30-2007 / Hardball - Al Sharpton / George Stephanopolis  Charlie Rangel – Part 1 & Part 2 / Dennis Kucinich – Part 1 & Part 2 Glenn Beck / JD Hayworth 1 & 2 / Tom McLaughlin / Neil Cavuto
DEBATES	Reagan Library 05-03-07 / After Interview South Carolina 05-15-07 / Fox Interview New Hampshire 06-05-07 / Spin Room - NH/ Lynne Hunter Iowa Presidential Candidate Forum 06-30-07 Iowa 08-05-07 / Hunter vs Paul / After the Debate / De Moines 07-06-07
POLLS	Hunter Beats McCain / Maricopa County, Arizona 01-13-07 Spartanburg, South Carolina 03-01-07 / SC GOP Conventions 04-16-07 Anderson County, South Carolina 04-17-07 / Free Republic / Coryell, Tx / Texas Win
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[roamer_1]

The non-serious candidates need to drop out of the debate. Hunter, Brownback, Huckabee, Tancredo, and Paul stand no chance of winning the nomination or even being on the ticket.

Yes, lets capitulate to the RINOS. What a great idea /sarc

[caltrop]

Happy to clue you in. See the reference in my post #62. It points out that Adelman's tenure ran from 2001 - 2006. To the best of my knowledge, he's no longer in the government.

I haven't claimed anything on the basis of "maybe somebody said something". I'm only pointing out that others might have said what Adelman said and that those who needed to have it pointed out to them that Adelman did say it should, having already been corrected, be a little cautious insisting nobody else said what Adelman said.

Regarding condescension - people who live in glass houses...

[moondoggie]

Giuliani can't answer a single question without mentioning N.Y.

I noticed that one of the locals mentioned this last night and until now I hadn't noticed. He did it all through the debate and in the post-debate appearance on H&C.

Don't get me wrong, he worked a miracle in N.Y., I just think people are getting tired of hearing about it.

I'm at a loss for words about Ron Paul's performance.

[KJC1]

I know you posted a reference, but can you explain to me what exactly Adelman’s role is in the Bush Administration? My claim all along has been that no one in the Bush Admin said “cakewalk.” So, I guess I’m asking for a bigger clue how Adelman is considered part of the “Bush Admin.”

From what I know, the Policy Board is by nature independent.

[Kellis91789]

Just curious, but what is he spending money on at this point ? I haven’t seen any advertising on TV or in the mail. What has he used my money for so far ? Travel expenses ?

I think he should ignore his poll numbers and ride out all the debates. Let the others drop away due to their low poll numbers. Each one that drops out will leave more attention to spare for Hunter. 90% of the people aren’t even paying attention yet, and won’t until the last few debates before the primaries.

[caltrop]

The Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee (DPBAC) is an advisory board charged with providing the Secretary of Defense with long range strategic planning. Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_Policy_Board_Advisory_Committee has a detailed summary of its charter and mission and links to the DOD websites relating to DBPAC. It is absolutely part of the Department of Defense and its scheduled meetings are published in the Federal Register.

[KJC1]

That wasn’t my question.

Is/Was Adelman part of the Bush Admin? Yes or No?

[caltrop]

Yes

[KJC1]

Are you sure about that?

What constitutes being part of the administration?

Thanks for your answer, but it needs a little more to go with it. The members of that board are selected by and report to the Under Secretary of Defense, not the President.

[caltrop]

Let me be sure I understand your question. Are you asking if a group of advisors who are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the administration (I always assumed the SECDEF but perhaps it is the USECDEF), who appear on the Department's organizational chart, whose meetings are published in the Federal Register, etc., etc. are members of the Administration? IMHO, the answer is yes.

I'm too busy to research this but if you'd like to and find I'm mistaken, please let me know.

[Eagle Forgotten]

IIRC, Ken Adelman used the term cakewalk and was a member of Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld’s Defense Policy Board.

It was indeed Adelman, writing in the Washington Post on February 13, 2002: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A1996-2002Feb12

He repeated the term in the same newspaper on April 10, 2003: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A1512-2003Apr9