Posted on 10/18/2011 7:08:00 PM PDT by smoothsailing
Bryan Preston
October 18, 2011
There were two Ricks on debate stage tonight, and both came in loaded up and ready to hunt. Rick Santorum threw a blizzard of punches at Mitt Romney early over his claim that as president, Romney, the author of RomneyCare, would repeal ObamaCare. The punches landed and the damage showed on Romney’s face. Rick Perry came in loaded up to speak aggressively for his energy plan, and spoke with an energy and conviction that has not come through in previous debates. Romney came under the most intense fire he has faced in any of the 2011 debates and while he handled it well, the criticisms of his record are legitimate and will sting. Romney’s red face as he tried to to redirect the examination over to Newt Gingrich revealed that he knew the night wasn’t going well for him.
Herman Cain also faced the toughest questioning of any debate so far, regarding his 9-9-9 tax plan, and handled it mostly with his usual humor and wit. The former talk radio host can engage in an open debate with the best of them, but his lack of depth showed in spots. He didn’t seem to know the details of his 9-9-9 plan early on. Cain did do well when discussing his ideas for reforming health care: No mandates, but focus on market-based reforms like allowing purchase across state lines. Nothing new, but nothing wrong with any of it either.
Perry also hit Romney directly for “hypocrisy” for having hired illegal aliens. Romney laughed and denied, but the story has been out there since 2007 or thereabouts. Romney lost his cool, for the second time. Perry scored another direct hit, and Mitt turned red again. The ice man melted.
Perry also did well on the question of securing the border: It’s about a fence, plus other security measures including technology and boots on the ground. Bachmann got in a jab about the president’s illegal alien relatives who keep popping up in the news, before moving on to declare that she would build a fence along the entire border. There is actually less policy daylight between most of the candidates on the border than the stage arguments suggest, but the arguments drew out some personalities, and it’s hard to see Romney benefiting from the exchange.
Tonight’s was the most lively debate, and does have the potential to change the race a bit. Perry came to fight and from tax policy to spending to funding the UN, showed that his issue knowledge is broad. Romney wasn’t prepared to take hits from so many other candidates. Romney’s packed supporters in the audience and other blogs provided some soundtrack to back their man up but I doubt it did much good. Romney’s cool broke too many times for his own good. His whining about being talked over, when he isn’t shy about interrupting others, was entertaining but revealed a thin skin. Romney probably had his best moment during the religion debate, but that’s such tired ground now and Romney has so overreached on that issue that it’s unlikely to make any difference.
This was Perry’s best night. He took control when he needed to, threw the president’s and his competitors’ words against them at opportune moments, and showed a strong and knowledgeable presence going toe to toe with Romney. Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann also had good nights. Gingrich can speak brilliantly on any policy thrown at him. His brief closing statement showed that he is among the adults in the room. Santorum spoke very well on values. Cain and Romney took sustained fire and handled it unevenly. Cain was at his worst on the question of whether he would contemplate releasing terrorists held at Gitmo in exchange for an American hostage. There is simply no way to justify his answer to Wolf Blitzer, earlier today. Ron Paul was, infuriatingly, Ron Paul, capable of saying things at the edge of brilliance but coupling them with statements that make little sense or betray a hole in his moral thinking. While I admire his logical mind, I don’t admire some of the places it takes him.
The clear winner tonight was Rick Perry. He looked like a seasoned leader who has found his voice, at last. Newt Gingrich came in a strong second, Cain and Santorum follow him and Romney follows them. He was strong in spots but had trouble keeping his cool, an d had no good answers to explain his own policy history. Passion is one thing; all of the candidates brought that tonight. Edging close to revealing a Hulk moment is something else.
There was something else different about tonight’s debate. In past debates, Romney’s press team has easily outpaced all of the other campaigns combined in the number of press releases they sent out while the debate continued. Not so, tonight. The Perry press team must have rolled over the Romney team 8 to 1 or more. From the top on down, the Perry team is moving with a new energy.
Tell the voters.
They don’t seem to care and are punishing your candidate in public opinion polls.
WOW, an accounting major.
When did you get your Law degree with emphasis on Fed Taxation Law?
You can "tack" her all you want, but she is still wrong. You don't have to be a tax attorney to understand this simple concept. Just like you don't have to be a tax attorney to understand that state sales taxes have absolutely nothing to do with the 9 9 9 plan. The 9 9 9 plan is a FEDERAL tax plan, and replaces FEDERAL taxes. Bachman and Romney seemed as obtuse as David Gregory in not understanding the irrelevance of state taxes in this debate.
He could just say 999 was a joke and that America needs to get a sense of humor.
All the previous debates are gone and completely forgotten.
The thing is, most people here expected Perry to bomb since they already projected him to fail. That is when he gets the most attention as well as credibility.
As I said earlier on another thread, Perry is far from finished. He not only has a very strong and well managed campaign fund, he knows how to bounce back when times are rough.
America really likes that trait in a leader.
Newt by a wide margin. People need to read his New Contract with America...it’s anything but “establishment”
Not only is Speaker Gingrich the most knowlegable person running, he is a “leader” and is one of the few left who has working memory of the late great Ronaldus Maximus
Plus, I am anxious to witness the debates he has challenged Obama to...Seven debates , Lincoln-Douglas style.each three-hour long with no moderators ..only a timekeeper.
They call themselves "nonpartisan" and "independent."
And you believe them. Hm.
He did, and he has spoken about it before although at the moment I don't have a source.
Perry has said that he believes that being an American is a gift from God and being born here is an act of God. However, he is for changing the laws that allow children to be born here but do not make them eligible to receive tax payer benefits when the child's parents are clearly here illegally and came to take simply to take advantage of the US Tax Payers.
I need to add this comment: AAARRRGGGHHH!!! It’s so damn frustrating to sit there and watch Perry look so out of place. He really has been a successful, good Governor. He is probably the best person on the dais as far as meeting the needs of our nation and being the competent leader, but I just don’t think he will make it.
REALITY CHECK
It will NEVER get through Congress or Senate. Repub or Dum Majority.
UNFUND THE UN!!!!
************************
Hell yeah!
The only problem I have is his squabble with Romney over hired illegals.
People will remember the squabble and forget the UN statement.
I wish Perry would have dropped that bomb and when Mitt denied—just say you’re a liar, there’s a record. -done-
Perry needs to drill that UN message. That’s one place Newt prob’ly wouldn’t go (I like Newt, too).
Shoot, I could *almost* vote for a president just on THAT!
>>Yo Vick! Go Eagles!<<
Shouldn’t you say...Yo Vick, get up off yo back....
My bad
We need to broaden the tax base and make sure all households pay something.
Agree totally. But these are politicians and if the data presented about the Cain 999 plan is valid then kiss it goodbye. The politicians in DC aren’t going to implement something that makes that kind of change unless we get a Congress with a much different make up. jmo.
Well if the bakery is completely vertically integrated, and all profits flow through to the parent company, then he is correct. If multiple companies contribute to the final product then each company is taxed on the way up.
I am sure Herman understands this completely, but he may have misspoken.
I agree about Ron Paul. I does say things I agree with, but he always looks so angry even when he’s being funny. He never seems Presidential. New on the other hand ALWAYS seems Presidential. And smart. I think he may have been more impressive tonight than ever. I actually felt like just telling everyone else to go home, the adult was here.
Pretty spot on assessment IMO.
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