Posted on 09/06/2007 9:21:16 AM PDT by 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.
I think he would if FRed asked him, I know they’re tight. Don’t know about anyone else. Principled is a very good description of him.
I think,as VP, he could be the one to help solve, IMO, our biggest social problem. It would also give us a very good chance of keepin’ the White House for 16 years. And, as a side benefit, would break down some long standing walls within the Black communities.
Last time I checked, they can’t take away your M.D. degree, board certification, fellowship degree, license to practice for being passionate about politics. The ONLY thing I give Ron Paul credit for is his stand on getting a declaration of war out of the Congress. Should have been done in Viet Nam and should have been done both times in Iraq.
Given the current state of fear, mistrust and revenge prevailing in Congress which prevents them from getting anything done, I don’t see how they could manage to act in unison on anything beyond a bathroom break — and that’s up for debate, too.
The primaries will show that Rudy is FAR more formidable than the support he receives here on FR. I think he will take the entire west coast, Northeast...half or more the mountain west and some of the mid-west in the primaries.
Thompson will be the solid winner in the South...and will take the remaining states east of the Mississippi.
VERY CLOSE contest.
The judges (it was an appellate panel) were absolutely correct. Congress has passed a law making it a crime to enter the country illegally. Congress has also passed a law making it a crime for anyone who was ever previously deported to "be found in" the country. Congress has never passed a law making it illegal for anyone to be in the country if they were never previously deported.
The fact is that if someone was never previously deported, and they entered the country legally (for example, on a tourist or student visa), but they are now here illegally (they overstayed their visa), they can be civilly deported but they have committed no crime.
If you think that's stupid, write to your congressman and ask him to change the law. But judges should not be in the business of convicting people of violating laws that Congress never passed.
I’m also honor-bound as a card-carrying member of the Catholic Church not to vote for him (unless the alternative is worse — they always give you those loop-holes in the Church), so I guess my word stands — I’ll vote for anyone who isn’t Clinton, Edwards or Obama. ;-)
I bow to your overwhelming knowledge of the War Powers act. I readily admit weakness in that area. “Use of Force” works for me.
To fire all top level generals that disagreed with them.
Never bow, question everything, including me... its the only way to grow.
Just because Adelman’s the only one we can recall saying it doesn’t mean he’s the only one who used the term “cakewalk”.
Even though you have NO PROOF, you are willing to suspend reality because it's what you want to believe. Do you really think this is an honest way to approach things?
Before moving into new terrain, let's settle this matter first.
No, I’m not. There may have been others who used the term cakewalk. Note that I’m not saying there were, merely that he might not have been the only one.
People are a product of their culture, and Black culture has undergone several radical changes in the last 30 years. Most of it driven by divisive forces...such as the al sharptons, and jesse jacksons of the world. Blacks, in general, “felt” they were being used, and turned to rap stars, and sports celebrities, not being able to shake that feeling that, no matter what, they aren’t as good or as equal as whites. Or, at least, that's what they believe we think.
Did WE do that? Did their so called civil rights leaders do that? Is it even a reality?
Doesn’t matter. It exists, even if only in their communities. (Thank you so much al and jesse and self loathing whites like bill crinton, et al) Now WE have to deal with it, but deal with it differently than we have in the past. Placating actions, such as throwing money, making racists laws, and white deprecating admissions of guilt only serve to bolster and legitimize stereotypical allegations of hate, prejudice, and inequality.
This is an issue, I think, only a Black person can address, and be taken seriously. In the eyes of those that feel this way, we have no credibility. JC Watts is the best qualified man to do that.
Racism has torn our Country apart, and it's contagious. Seriously, we can't keep ignoring it, it has to be addressed.
I just had one of those wandering free-associative thoughts about that. Maybe Sen. Paul thought “use of force,” means using forceps. When he found out it meant bullets and bombs, he started splitting hairs. Just a thought...
And there may be cheese somewhere on the moon. Hey, could happen, right?
The FACT is that only ONE person (Adelman) is quoted as using that phrase, a person the vast majority of the country has never even heard of, yet that phrase has been widely attributed to the Bush Admin by leftie kooks and now a "Republican" presidential candidate.
Shoddy and lazy at best; malicious and dishonest at worst.
He loved and was beloved...and betrayed. It’s hard to see beyond that now, but deep down, I still believe...and hope.
Don't forget that, prior to my recalling that Adelman had used the term "cakewalk" you were, IIRC, arguing that nobody in the administration had been. I won't accuse you of dishonesty, just (excusable) ignorance. The architects of our involvement in Iraq don't have that excuse. They should have known better. Plenty of us, including me, tried to make it clear but nobody wanted to hear it. That's dishonest and it cost us American lives, a trillion (or two) dollars, our standing in the world and has made us weaker and more vulnerable. Argue that if you'd like but the facts are against you.
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