Posted on 10/09/2007 11:58:39 AM PDT by CounterCounterCulture
Republican Presidential Candidate Debate #8 – Dearborn, Michigan 10/09/07 - Official Discussion Thread
CNBC/MSNBC/The Wall Street Journal are jointly sponsoring the first Republican Presidential debate of the 2008 campaign focusing on economic issues. It will be held on October 9 in Dearborn, Michigan at the University of Michigan-Dearborn at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center. Broadcast is live on CNBC at 4 PM ET (1 PM PT) and re-broadcast on MSNBC at 9 PM ET (6 PM PT). CNBC's Maria Bartiromo and MSNBC's Chris Matthews will host the debate.
Candidates participating:
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well- I will be sure not to smile at you anymore....
Sounds like we agree Paul is a loon and Fred and Mitt did well...that’s all that really matters!
You’re right about Huck’s comments on unions...but I thought they all pretty much answered it the same way.
this is still the primaries...where we actually have the most control over getting a conservative into the White House....
once the primaries are over— then we can start to talk about compromising.......but right now.. we all need to be honest with ourselves about who we like the most....
Fred Thompson - Fred Thompson may have won simply by showing up and not making any major mistakes. To listen to some reports before the debate and even some of the early coverage of the debate, one would have almost expected him to drool on the microphone until his young wife came on the stage to wipe his chin. The campaign may have even tried to create those expectations in order to make any reasonable performance exceed expectations. He didn't look all that good or say anything all that exciting, but he didn't look as if he were trying to catch up. In an uneventful debate, he seemed to be another serious, competent candidate.
Mitt Romney - Mitt Romney may have performed a little better than Fred Thompson did, but he won't gain as much because everyone expects him to perform well. In a debate without much excitement, his businesslike demeanor is going to make him look good. He was in command of his facts and made his points clearly. While asking the lawyers how far he could go without Congressional approval to strike Iran doesn't seem like a strong answer, the answer is reasonable. Mitt Romney is a guy who approaches problems by building a team and finding right answers. That kind of leadership may appeal to the country right now.
John McCain - John McCain didn't score many points, but he didn't lose any support. He didn't seem too old to be there, and the issues that can hurt him with the primary voters never arose. He needs to do something to move himself forward, but nothing that happened tonight will push him backwards.
Duncan Hunter - Duncan Hunter seemed to get as much air time as the other candidates and performed well. He seemed at ease with the whole process and gave good answers. He looked like a man who belonged on the stage, and that appearance can give him credibility. He'll still need something more to move forward in the polls.
Rudy Giuliani - Rudy Giuliani has the advantage of not needing to accomplish anything beyond holding a lead. In a debate with no real exciting moments, nothing happened that would seriously undercut his standing. On the other hand, he had the misfortune of standing between Fred Thompson and Duncan Hunter. His small stature in comparison to those men could hurt him in a country that has elected the tallest candidate in nearly every presidential election. I don't think anyone will say, "I'm going to vote for Fred or Mitt because they are taller," but that comparison may hurt Giuliani in the impressions that people draw.
Mike Huckabee - Mike Huckabee didn't have any real problem in this debate, but he didn't stand out with a great performance either. Because he's done so well in past debates, people's expectations are high. His inability to stand out this time will keep him from building needed momentum.
Sam Brownback - I don't like Sam Brownback, but he did okay in this debate. He needs to do something spectacular in order to change his fortunes, and he doesn't have that capability.
Tom Tancredo - Tom Tancredo seemed to mention illegal immigration in every answer. He reinforced the perception that he's a one-issue candidate who has nothing to offer beyond that issue. If he has nothing else to offer, he will sink further in the polls.
Ron Paul - Ron Paul is just too far wrong on foreign policy to be president. Every time he speaks, he reinforces that conclusion. He will not be president and will not be the nominee of the Republican Party.
Alan Keyes - Alan Keyes had a bad debate because so few people missed him. I've voted for Alan Keyes twice. He's a good man, but he offers nothing that we don't have in other candidates.
LOL!!! why am I not surprised!!!
LOL!! Yeah, I think its for your great sense of humor.
Hunter knows what is at stake, being on the Armed Services comm., his son on his third tour in the war and being in a city with the majority of the Navy and Marines, he is not going to play the lay back routine.
This war is for real and he has the best backgound to lead
this country.
That the smiley guy is lying down?
don’t waste your breath....
bray likes the cheap labor of an illegal underclass.....
HEY THERE SWEETIE!!!
long time no see!!
I was disappointed with all the union answers. Sitting in MI they could at least mention that is what is killing the Auto Industry but they didn’t want to offend.
But yeah it was pretty obvious who did themselves well.
Pray for W and Our Troops
There's not nearly as much profit to be made by it.
Outsourcing jobs to countries who pay low wages makes for lots of money!
It's a question of priorities. And for some, profit is the number 1 priority.
Thank you.... you are actually quite a classy FReeper.... nice and refreshing.....
I think Romney came closest with his not-so-discrete dig at the UAW.
Any ideas?
I believe that Paperdoll has some available.
http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-bloggers/1906351/posts?page=66#66
yeah— how dare protect American jobs when the big corps can make more money across the borders and over seas....
need to keep those campaign coffers full.....
Hunter is one of our 5 San Diego congressmen.
Yes he does have a sense of humor but this isn’t American Idol.
We har picking someone to lead us in war.
long time no see!!
You can see me?
Darn, I should wear clothing at the computer!
Hee hee! ;^)
The ones who like the cheap labor don’t have to pick up the tab.
Here in San Diego we have tens of thousands of illegals costing us tax payers here mega millions a year.
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