Roody & Romney, I have a feeling that the rest of America saw 2 petty boys bickering back and forth more than statesmen of presidential caliber. That endorsement from Pat Robertson ain't gonna help Roody one iota now. His answer to abortion, to gun control drew some jeers and boos from the crowd. Romney was, well Romney...he's still flip flopping and shot himself in the foot several times. The petty exchanges between the two of them were just unbearable.
Fred - Fred was especially strong on immigration tonight and did well overall, but he failed to excite. I was expecting more from Fred. Fred had an opportunity to take Romney and Huckabee down when Anderson Cooper asked him about the ad that was ran showing Romney pro-abortion speech from several years back and Huckabee agreeing to tax hikes while he was gov. of Arkansas. I was rather surprised that Fred said nothing except "those were their words."
Huckabee - I think that the other candidates allowed Huckabee slide tonight without challenging him much. They took it way too easy on him. Yes, he had to answer the scholarship to illegal immigrants issue, but he answered it in a way that I think Christian/Social conservatives could forgive him. I believe at one point he even got an applause for his answer. I disagree with those who think that he'll be hurt by that issue. Basically, most folks will let it slide and agree that yes, you don't punish kids for the sins of the parents. Huckabee came across as compassionate and did made it clear that the scholarship was meritorious and not a handout. Damn, Fred and the others should have spanked him on taxes and his lack of fiscal responsibilities when they had a chance. For crying out loud, this debate is in Florida, they should have snapped at the chance to call him straight on the Nursing Home Bed Tax he signed to law as gov. of Arkansas. Overall though, I think Huckabee will come across to the public as genuine and caring, esp. with that Jesus comment (though he really is just another slick pass the donation plate and Bible totin' minister).
John McCain - McCain showed himself to be a heavy weight tonight. Smacked RuPaul in place with the "Let us win" Marine comment. McCain came across as a true statesman who's above the pettiness of politics. His answer to the amnesty question, however, did not seem genuine. One can tell my the quiver of his voice and the facial expression that he had been forced to toe the Republican line.
Duncan Hunter - My MAN! Unfortunately, he was once again place way at the far end and not allowed to play in the sand box with the others. He received far fewer questions than the rest of the group. He could've hit the ball out of the park with that question regarding the Chinese toys by stressing his stance on fair trade with China, restoring our industrial base, etc...but he wasn't allotted enough time and was cut off, so he ended up with the "Buy American" line/cliche'. His statement "I will never apologize for America" though drew a loud applause and was his best of the night. The answer was to the question of a Muslim woman who asked how America can restore our image in the Muslim world. His answer came straight from his CPAC speech "America is a Good Nation. He gave a great answer to the gun question and even gave the young man a fatherly lesson on gun safety as well. He didn't bite on the Norquist pledge like the other stooges. And he smacked the Hildabeast planted gay general back in place pretty good. And did it quite respectfully, too. It's clear and evident that Duncan Hunter was, once again, deliberately blacklisted and not given enough questions and airtime. Hunter was never given an opportunity to fully participate in this debate. Same with Tancredo. It's my firm belief that had Hunter been allot enough time like Roody and Mitt were given, he would win the GOP nomination easily.
RuPaul - This guy is nuts! 'nuff said
My takes:
Tanc and Fed came across as the most well spoken. Fred is the most thoughtful and deliberative of the bunch, and has a very good sense of humor.
Rudy and Romney tried to sell themselves; they are carefully polished simulacra of some abstract notion of class president. Rudy did a better job of pitching his own image. Romney seems to want to be president worse than anybody up there. His flip-floppy nature was exposed a few times.
Huckabee was a lightweight - he could barely win the congeniality runner up prize, but not much more. I would not even buy a car from him. He was not impressive.
Duncan did not get enough air time, but what he did get he generally filled with non-provactive though solid statements. He lacks stature, but he did show some fine humility and a human face a time or two. He is obviously a proud father and patriot.
McCain would be a contender but he looks ill and he still gives off a Queg-like vibe. He was and is right about the surge, about projecting the force to finish the job expediently.
Ron Paul is the best source of messages for fiscal restraint, but he too looked ill. He is, perhaps, not the best messenger of his own message, but he is the thorn of Republicans past promises of fiscal restraint and smaller government, and he needs to stay in the sandal of the party until they start shrinking government and spending less.
Thompson is the clear winner, to me. He is thoughtful, well spoken, smart, and does not seem over eager to fix every human problem with more government benevolence. He is like a basset hound.