Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Scoring the CNBC Debate: Romney and Gingrich Shine; Perry Doesn’t
National Review ^ | 11/11/2011 | Rich Lowry

Posted on 11/10/2011 7:09:06 AM PST by SeekAndFind

No one touched Romney. He was unflappable and knowledgeable. He again showed the right political instinct to want to address the struggles of the middle class, although his tax plan doesn’t do it. His China-bashing will probably play well in the Midwest, although it’s foolhardy on the merits. He consistently got applause. I remember one of the early debates when Romney was flying above the other candidates and Pawlenty–I think–attacked him and he declined to reply, saying “that’s fine.” He said the same thing tonight when Santorum went after him. After all the churning in the race, Romney is in the same basically comfortable place he was in several months ago.

Gingrich was on his game from the beginning when he let loose a ringing anti-Bernake, anti-food stamps, anti-Alinsky answer. This was the Newt everyone thought we’d see before he got in the race. I thought he was much too irritable with the moderators, but a GOP audience probably doesn’t mind and Maria Bartiromo matched him unpleasantness for unpleasantness. The narrative about his rise will continue.

Cain was fun as always. He got off a couple of great lines and was helped by the ill-advised decision of the moderators to press him about the sexual harassment accusations in his forum. His frequent resort to 999 still gets laughs, although eventually the charm of this trope will wear thin. On substance, he clearly lacks the fluidity of a Romney or the depth of a Gingrich.

I thought Perry would get better after his first debate. I was wrong. I thought he couldn’t do worse than his last few debate performances. I was wrong. His blank moment on the three cabinet agencies was very uncomfortable to watch. It could happen to any of us, but having it happen to him, on this stage, was devastating. Perry passed on a couple of chances to hit Romney, so clearly his hope was to just skate through this debate, and he couldn’t manage it. It’s shame for him, but will presumably help Gingrich and Cain.

To his credit, Santorum continued to be the only Republican willing to acknowledge and address the economic travails of people without a college degree. But he’s not as compelling as the other candidates, and there’s always one unfortunate moment in every debate where he feels he has to brag, in rapid-fire fashion, about all the wonderful things he’s done. Bachmann was basically a non-factor. Notably, she persists in arguing that people who aren’t paying federal income taxes aren’t participating fully in American life–it’s the reverse side of Elizabeth Warrenism. Huntsman was annoying. I find myself increasingly charmed by old Ron Paul.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: backstabberromney; bigdigromney; bishopromney; cnbc; debate; gop; iagromney; ineligibleromney; morefeesromney; rinoromney; romney4911mosque; romney4sharia; romneyandrove; romneyandsoros; romneymarriage
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-45 next last

1 posted on 11/10/2011 7:09:09 AM PST by SeekAndFind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

cain nailed every shot taken and him.

also, cain had the line of the night

on frank and dodd.


2 posted on 11/10/2011 7:10:39 AM PST by ken21
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

C’mon....ADMIT IT! ....You really hate Romney because he’s a Mormon. You’ll do anything you can to get someone else.


3 posted on 11/10/2011 7:11:45 AM PST by 47samurai (The last real conservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ken21

and = at


4 posted on 11/10/2011 7:12:17 AM PST by ken21
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

No one touched Romney. He was unflappable and knowledgeable.
_____________________________________

was he watching the same debate i was ???


5 posted on 11/10/2011 7:12:24 AM PST by Tennessee Nana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
RINO inside the beltway banter.

We need leadership skills not policy wonks.


6 posted on 11/10/2011 7:13:10 AM PST by Uri’el-2012 (Psalm 119:174 I long for Your salvation, YHvH, Your law is my delight.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Playing it safe and pandering may get Romney elected, but he’ll fail as President because pandering is leading from the rear. We have one of those already. I won’t go to the polls for Romney. There isn’t enough of a difference to bother to show up.


7 posted on 11/10/2011 7:14:29 AM PST by throwback ( The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Mitt, Newt, and Cain all had good nights. Huntsman, Bachmann, too. But their numbers are so far down, I don’t see them really making an impact.

Paul and Santorum were true to their principals,...but didn’t move people to their camp.

Perry blew it, I think. Not a bash, just an observation.


8 posted on 11/10/2011 7:15:47 AM PST by Recovering_Democrat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

He again showed the right political instinct to want to address the struggles of the middle class, although his tax plan doesn’t do it.
____________________________________________

Yeah that “political instinct”

Lil Willie Mitty the trust fund baby doesnt know middle class...

Im sure he has the “political instint” to ask one of his handlers about lives of the peons though..

But they dont seem to know either...

His 59 tax plan sounds like something from Obamas play book...


9 posted on 11/10/2011 7:16:41 AM PST by Tennessee Nana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Recovering_Democrat

It’s coming down to Cain, Gingrich and Romney. Should be interesting.


10 posted on 11/10/2011 7:17:26 AM PST by traderrob6
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: 47samurai

You really hate Romney because he’s a Mormon
___________________________________________

Since you mentioned it..

“Seed of Cain” is going to beat “white and delightsome”

is that why you are upset RomneyBot ???


11 posted on 11/10/2011 7:19:43 AM PST by Tennessee Nana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Tennessee Nana

Exactly, I thought Romney was REALLY good at dodging all the questions and especially good at throwing Cain under the bus...the people can decide that for themselves he said regarding whether HE would hire someone like Cain.


12 posted on 11/10/2011 7:26:08 AM PST by MiddleEarth (With hope or without hope we'll follow the trail of our enemies. Woe to them, if we prove the faster)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

The money and support is pouring in for Herman Cain, but we cannot slow down now. Please help him by donating at http://www.hermancain.com/

Also to help join the buzz about Herman go to facebook.com and “like” him. His “likes” have jumped dramatically since the attacks started. Make no mistake Sean Hannity’s BFF Tokyo Rove is watching Herman’s “likes” and so is Romney. THIS is the way to stick it to the GOP establishment! Please tell your family and friends to “like” Herman as well. Then let’s bring out our most powerful tool for helping Herman Cain: PRAYING that God protects him from the people of darkness.


13 posted on 11/10/2011 7:27:17 AM PST by jmaroneps37 (Conservatism is truth. Liberalism is lies.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Recovering_Democrat
Perry blew it, I think. Not a bash, just an observation.

Yes, Perry blew it big time and he seriously needs to withdraw from the race. He's become a joke and will not be able to overcome the gaffe last night. I liken it to a Howard Dean scream moment and know he'll be spoofed unmercifully (you know SNL will do a skit).

I cringe thinking how Obama would eat him up and spit him out in a debate if he were to get the nomination.

14 posted on 11/10/2011 7:28:25 AM PST by demkicker (My passion for freedom is stronger than that of Democrats whose obsession is to enslave me.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

..establishment spin and complete nonsense...


15 posted on 11/10/2011 7:29:44 AM PST by WalterSkinner ( In Memory of My Father--WWII Vet and Patriot 1926-2007)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Debate true score, no bias, Gingrich, Cain, Romney!!! Romney cannot beat Obama!!! So....my choices for POTUS are Cain/Gingrich, Cain/Rubio, Cain/Palin, Gingrich/Cain, and the only one that will work for Mitt Romney, Romney/Cain!!! Romney, IMHO will turn to Cain as his VP choice. Both Cain & Romney are tight!!! Best ticket IMHO by a long shot = Herman Cain/Marco Rubio!!! Not only the best ticket, but......the winning one, by a landslide of unforeseen proportions!!!!


16 posted on 11/10/2011 7:29:45 AM PST by JLAGRAYFOX
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 47samurai

I hate RINOmney because he couldn’t maintain direction even if he were on rails.

He’s a spineless t*rd with no ability to keep an idea for more than a few microseconds.

I don’t give a smelly Obama about the fact that he’s a Mormon. I’ve not met any Mormon I’ve not liked and respected...but thankfully, I’ve not met RINOmney..., since that would ruin my record.

May the flies of a thousand camels come to rest in his beer.


17 posted on 11/10/2011 7:31:08 AM PST by Da Coyote (Liberalism - when you absolutely, positively have no ability to produce wealth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
If you love the current political Establishment, you loved Romney. He was slick, well managed and flawless. Which given the softballs the moderators flung up for him are to be expected.

If you wanted real leadership and solutions, you loved Cain and Newt.

So what do you want GOP? Style with out substance or substance without style?

18 posted on 11/10/2011 7:32:01 AM PST by MNJohnnie (Giving more money to DC to fix the Debt is like giving free drugs to addicts think it will cure them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

( Herman Cain)he clearly lacks the fluidity of a Romney
_____________________________________

Oops the author didnt edit for errors...

He meant to write fraudulence..


19 posted on 11/10/2011 7:33:39 AM PST by Tennessee Nana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

I’m liking Newt more and more.


20 posted on 11/10/2011 7:35:12 AM PST by From The Deer Stand
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-45 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson