Posted on 01/06/2008 4:03:39 PM PST by CounterCounterCulture
Republican Presidential Candidate Debate #14 – Milford, New Hampshire 01/06/08 - Official Discussion Thread
Fox News Channel; Roundtable format
Candidates the gatekeepers are allowing to participating:
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/
HORSERACE
Scoring Sunday’s GOP Debate
Winner: Arthur Branch. Okay, I know he goes by the stage name, “Fred Thompson,” but don’t tell me that just as “Law and Order” comes back to the airwaves with new episodes, we just happen to see a deep rumbling baritone from a big guy sitting behind a desk, using a combination of homespun aphorisms and legal arguments to put some wet-behind-the-ears young feller in his place.
I have to go back and check the transcript, but it appears that he just took Huckabee to school on the legal rules regarding captured al-Qaeda at Guanatanamo Bay.
Over in the Corner, Rich described him as “the cranky conservative one-man truth squad,” and that’s a role that fits him. He doesn’t overpromise, he doesn’t seem too much like an overeager car salesman. Whether that will sell in New Hampshire is another question...
The focus group on Fox hates him. Ah, what do they know?
Silver: Rudy Giuliani. Mr. Mayor, you had me at, “I told him where he could put it.” [Referring to the Saudi Prince and the $10 million check that came with criticism of U.S. policy.]
The only flaw is that you can see the mental checklist of points he wants to hit – “the terrorists’ war on us” “Ronald Reagan” “raise taxes like the Democrats would” “when I was the number three in the Justice Department” “my twelve commitments,” etc.
Bronze: John McCain. Tonight’s jovial performance actually makes last night’s look worse. In retrospect, there was something peevish and small about the visible glee with which he jabbed at Romney. Tonight he was a bit more laid back, and there was something constricting about the “ball control” style he displayed much of last night. Tonight he looked like a man who knows he’s going to do well Tuesday, and thus he’s going to enjoy it.
Most Improved: Mitt Romney. If he disappoints on Tuesday, his folks will wonder how things would have gone if he had performed as well as he did tonight. The blood was flowing; for the first time in a while, you could see what gets his fans in the Corner and elsewhere so enthusiastic.
For what it’s worth, it seems Frank Luntz’s focus group really liked him.
May Have Stumbled a Bit: Mike Huckabee. I can’t help but get the feeling that tonight was the first night where you could see the seams, so to speak, where his endlessly affable style may have not worn well. Huckabee has a great attitude, but any time he has to get into the policy nitty-gritty, he seemed to want to step back to generalities. Something slippery about the way that he said, ‘I’ll let Wallace be the moderator’ instead of taking on the candidate challenging him.
01/06 09:37 PM
Awright!!!
“I certainly don’t expect that advice to be taken by anyone other than Fred....”
I was just listening to a focus group of Republican voters after the debate and they were trashing Fred. Listening to these supposedly “conservative” people gave me the willies. One of the women was disappointed because the candidates didn’t address health care. It’s like they were looking for Big Daddy to take care of them. Of course that’s just my opinion.
Wrong.. Boy, you really are wet behind the ears huh?
What BETTER way to “clear a room” after the party is over!! ;-)
Who you vote for is your business. I vote on issues not delivery.
Here we go with the Romney Backer Big Lie. I guess I'll have to swat it down again: Ronald Reagan was NEVER "pro-abortion"!
RR signed an abortion law into place as Governor of CA because he was told by his advisors that it would reduce the number of abortions taking place. He had no idea (as would no inherently honest man) that the "health of the mother" clause would be so horribly perverted to include "mental health and discomfort".
Romney Liars: I'm sick of them. Every time I think I like Romney because of his executive experience or his active campaigning nature, either he or his supporters unload a whopper....
Geez, hold on there Dermdoc. I was just distracted by it, that's all. I was referring to the swelling, which is apparent on the left in comparison to the right, and I still think is the parotid gland. Anyway, the association of sun exposure and melanoma isn't that strong, with an odds ratio of 1.7 or so, which isn't the biggest deal in the world.
I'd think that a dermatologist would have more respect for the "bad actor" melanoma, as you've seen some very tragic melanoma stories, with late recurrences and all.
“Mitt hit a home run as Frank Lutz said! McCain also did very well, as much as I hate to admit it.”
Ruunnnnnnnn from this thread as fast you can!!!!
I don’t know what you mean by ‘all stars’ but yes there are Romney shills everywhere. Everywhere.
It’s exhiliariting.
The woman in the audience was looking for Fred’s “health care plan”.
I laugh at you Romney shills who think that wasn’t staged.
Did Britt’s duck survive the evening, I wonder?
You’re spot on, yorkie.
So they don't love him at all?
This was a huge night for Mitt....imo, there is simply no one who can compete with him.
You have it down pat, AIT!
That’s enough to scare me away!
“You are filled with unsurpassed venom, on a daily basis for the man. Sick.
Thanks for proving my point.”
And I won’t thank you for proving mine. Nasty piece of work you are.
“Rudy would ensure that our troops in Adghanistan and Iraq have NOT died in vain and I will take that over any cut and run Dem regardless of Rudy’s other flaws...”
I don’t disagree with you, but the thing is, in spite of all the cut and run talk coming out of the dem’s lying mouths there is no way that the American people are going to let that happen. What they say on the campaign trail and what they end up doing in office are two different things. They talk a good game but once they get in office they listen to the commanders and do what is necessary.
The fact that they like a fast talking slick guy as opposed to a good old boy southern type doesn’t surprise me. it’s the way people are around here. That being said this Yankee will be voting for him. Win it in the South brother.
We will.
Slick Mitt fits the aggressive nature of politics the Northeast..., however the South and Heartland view this as rude and juvenile and unpresidential...Mitt would come across as very condescending to most of the country against someone like Obama who has tried to ‘stay above the fray’ positive and optimistic.
Can’t really tell but I hear the Huckster is polling well. After tonight and last night’s debates, there’s no way in h#ll Huck can win here. The guy bombed. Unfortunately, I can’t say whats going to happen here.
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