Posted on 01/10/2008 11:16:54 PM PST by Checkers
UPDATE: John McCain with Sean Hannity immediately after the debate compounds his error on immigration by giving the impression that the only change needed in McCain-Kennedy is border-security first. Wow. He just doesn't get it.
Romney followed McCain and by contrast shined, and spent time talking about the Reagn example and inspiration and the Reagan-Bush legacy. Romney also got the opportunity to talk to Michigan voters. "I continue to feel that you cannot write off jobs," he replied to Sean's question about McCain's "straight-talk" about Michigan's economic woes, and spoke specifically to the auto industry's renewal in Michigan. Assuming that conservatives watching the debate stuck around for 20 minutes, Romney did himself a great deal of good in the after-game.
ORIGINAL POST
Fred had a great night, Mitt a good one and Rudy did fine as well.
Senator McCain struggled, especially on the question of what to do if recession arrives, when he channeled Herbert Hoover and spoke only about cutting spending. His talk of global warming was a bright red flag to conservatives, and his repeating of his "change" answer from Sunday night --that he helped change the policy in Iraq-- underscored the impression that he was running through some talking points he understands to be safe. "Not for profit, but for patriotism" was another example of a recycled rhetoric from Sunday. His answer on deferring to captains-at-sea was a strong point, but that was the only one. His halting and often rambling answers and occasional grimaces and winks just don't work on television, and his immigration answers just don't fly. He has had three sub-par debate performances in a row.
The huge loser tonight was Mike Huckabee, thanks largely to Fred and Chris Wallace who peeled the bark off of Huck's ideology. Huck bristled at Wallace at one point, and when pushed on why he raised taxes and spending, barked back, "I raised expectations." That might work with Democrats --though it probably doesn't in this day and age-- but it sure doesn't work with Republican voters. Huck's whining about the religion question was also off-putting coming from a candidate who has so often injected religion into this campaign.
Romney had less screen time tonight, but each time he answered he was poised and eloquent. The opening response on the economy, aimed specifically at Michigan voters was very strong, and his "Nope" answer to Wallace's question about whether the voters in New Hampshire might be saying that they do not want change in D.C. was perfect pitch, and his grasp of the foreign affairs questions impressive. The fact that the debate ended on immigration helped him as well as it again underscores that John McCain still doesn't grasp or won't admit that the McCain-Kennedy bill was the problem throughout 2005 and 2006, not the fact that "Americans need to restore their trust in the government." The specifics of the McCain bill is what soured the debate, and McCain's absolute refusal to concede this renders his conversion on border security completely suspect.
Mitt, Fred and Rudy have generally done well in these settings since they began at the Reagan Library last year, McCain wasn't a factor until recently and he has struggled to get through them, and while Huckabee used the early debates to charm folks, his performance has plummeted as focus on his record has increased. There's a huge message in the last three debates about the issue differences between the candidates on taxes and immigration, with Giuliani, Romney and Thompson on one side and Huckabee and McCain on the other side. And there's a message about who can win these contests in the fall, and it isn't Senator McCain or Governor Huckabee.
McCain and Stem Cell Research Round-up
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: THE ULTIMATE "RHINESTONE HERO"
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: THE ULTIMATE "RHINESTONE HERO" Part II
U.S. Sen. John McCain is no War Hero
John McCain: The Manchurian Candidat
McCain Is Booed by Labor Activists
McCain Rides to Kerry's Rescue: "John Kerry is Not Weak on Defense" (Today Show alert)
John McCain SCREAMS AT 9/11 FSA MEMBERS FOR OPPOSING HIS BILL TO GIVE AMNESTY FOR ILLEGALS
A number of articles on McCain. (some the same as above)
McCain Seeks to Change California Primary
McCain/Soros by Rabbi Areyh Spero
Soros' "Reform" (an article about Soros‘ instrumental hand in McCain/Feingold)
Not Child‘s Play [McCain/Schumer bill could effect FR?]
McCain's Letter (McCain aligns with Global Enviro activists)
The Turning Point on Global Warming (McCain and Lieberman Op-Ed Alert)
Climate bill sets stage for debate (Sens. McCain, Obama, and Lieberman join forces)
McCain: Global warming is fact, must be addressed [hurl alert]
McCain Looked into Caucusing with Democrats
McCain Still Disliked by Fiscal Conservatives (Club For Growth)
John McCain Goes Left for Money
McCain, Obama Make Deal on Financing
Sens. Snowe, Collins to head Maine exploratory committee for McCain
Double Talk Express. McCain in his own words. VIDEO
More YOUTUBE - McCain On Abortion (UH OH! YouTube Has a Video of Him in 1999)
How Cindy McCain was outed for drug addiction(stole drugs from the American Voluntary Medical Team)
John McCain: Hypocrite by Mark R. Levin
McCain and his Chicom Connections: Posts #17 and #18 by Calpernia
TEN REASONS NOT TO SUPPORT MCCAIN (Free Republic thread from 2000)
It depends on the meaning of “never” (McCain's Convenient Memory) **NEW**
McCain Ties to Lobbyists Troublesome - Newsmax Staff
McCain Sides With Leading Dems on Global Warming (NH voter reminder ALERT
The Conservative Case Against John McCain In 2008
McCain Blames Bush For Osama's Escape ************************************************************************
Why don't you shut your political pie hole?
Stifling the www? Online Freedom of Speech Act (H.R. 1606)
"1606 is needed because federal courts have ordered the Federal Election Commission to regulate "electioneering communications" on the Internet because of the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act (McCain-Feingold). If H.R. 1606 fails to become law, your Web site or blog could be shut down for the 30 days prior to a primary election and the 60 days prior to a general election should you express "electioneering communications."
Yep, he sure did ;-)
Fred great, Mitt good, Rudy fine, but most of the article was about Mitt.
Hugh Hewitt is FOS.
I’ve mentioned it before, but Fred’s debate performances remind me of Nixon in 1960. If you just listen to the audio, he is head and shoulders above the other candidates. On TV, he does not present himself as well. He doesn’t smile, he looks down at his notes frequently, and has something of a dour expression.
People want a friendly image, which is something Governor Gomer has presented. BJ did it with his lip-biting and “I feel your pain.” Someone has to coach him as a candidate.
click.
That’s a really cheap shot. Hugh Hewitt has radio money and wouldn’t be caught dead in those cheep @ss Acme kneepads. Hugh wears custom made kneepads from the Monica Kneepad Company.
When is Hewitt going to quit flacking for Romney? Give it up Hugh, it’s over.
Not nearly so as Mike Huckabee.
That’s like saying it is constitutional to throw all your nukes away.
Still deadly.
It is not unconstitutional to take war to your enemies homes instead of fighting it in your own home.
Paul is completely clueless as to why Islamist hate us and as to what their actual intentions are.
“Suddenly only Huck and McCain can’t win in the general election.”
Suddenly? That’s been the case for a long time.
lol
Freepermandering
Great post.
THAT is why I hope and pray that FRed! is not in league with McCain, as in turning over his delegates if and when he drops out. May be a baseless rumor, but they are “friends” as both have publicly attested.
Let Hugh be Hugh.
LOL
Cheers La Enchiladita! Long time no ‘talk’.
No Kidding. Are we on opposite side.... Again?!
:-)
Not sure...because it's my personal belief that even if Jesus Christ was the GOP nominee in November it's going to be Clinton-Dole redux. The pubbies can't catch a break...we're going to hear "It's the Economy Stupid", and that issue will trump all others.
His foreign policy is Constitutional.
And is support for the Iraq war unconstitutional?
Article 1 section 8 of the Constitution says that the Congress has the power to declare war. It does not say how the Congress is to declare war. So if they pass a joint resolution that gives the president the authorization to go to war with Iraq, how is that unconstitutional? You know Article 1 section 8 also gives the Congress the power to coin money. Are there any congressman that actually coin our money?
I assume you are a Ron Paul nut. You guys think you know so much about the Constitution, but the fact is all you know is what Ron Paul tells you is in the Constitution.
It’s funny how Ron Paul always points back to the founding fathers when talking about how unconstitutional we are behaving in regards to the war in Iraq. Yet one founder (Jefferson the writer of the Declaration of Independence) did not get a formal declaration of war from Congress but waged the Barbary Pirates war. What was it about? Keeping our sea lanes free and open for our economy. Another founder (James Madison, writer of the Bill of Rights) waged the War of 1812 which was again about keeping sea lanes open for our trade. What does Ron Paul say about that? I think James Madison and Thomas Jefferson would have understood exactly what we were doing by going to war in Iraq.
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