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.
She hasn't a clue that the IRS Code is abolished and replaced by effectively a flat tax.
First she says everyone should pay a tax in the United States and then she says she is against the Cain Plan.
Also, doesn't she know that Libya is in Africa?
She needs to drop out and support a candidate of her choice (which could be Romney). However, I think she feels she will win the Iowa caucus, but I'm not too certain of that anymore either.
I don’t know if Perry will move up in the polls because of this, but I think he stopped the bleeding. He’s still got alot of work to do. I think Cain will start to fade, he’s having a tough time defending 999, and that’s his whole campaign. Newt always wins these debates, so he’ll stay in the top four.
I thought about that one. While I know what I think, I doubt anyone could get elected if they said it.
That statement highlights the problem with the system, not the problem with Mr. Cain’s idea.
Mr. Cain’s idea is the solution.
Don’t confuse the flawed current system with what’s “doable.”
A million people running around saying this is “not doable” and that is “not doable” becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Time to stop considering what the talking heads say can be done or can’t be done, and time to do the right thing.
“I wanted him to do well, I really did, but he was sad and got beat by the worst person ever- Mitt R. If you can’t come out looking better than that chump, you need to leave the game.”
I like your take on it, but the funny thing is, they make each other look bad. While Mitt talks circles around Perry, Mitt ends up just looking like the fast-talking used car salesman type. Mitt didn’t help himself any more than Perry did in this one.
wow I disagree. I thought Perry was petty and I was embarrassed for him. But that’s just me.
I thought Newt did great every time he spoke. Too bad for the baggage.
Santorum should go away. Again, just me.
Cain was not able to articulate a defense of his plan when pressed. Just me...
Bachman said over and over that she had a plan for everything but where are the plans? pfffft
Paul said some good things as usual. But nothing that will keep him in it.
Romney blew it [good] when he got mad and said “those who can afford health care should pay - not the unfortunate ones” or something. oy vey. just me...
My winner is Newt, then Cain, then Romney [blech]
Newt does seem like the only adult in the room. The exchange between Romney and Perry over the lawn service was petulant and...dumb.
Perhaps folks may start looking past Newt’s personal issues to find a Presidential candidate with some serious policy background. I don’t see a lot of that out there right now.
A good debate is not a cat fight which is what Perry and Mitt displayed at tonight’s debate.
Herman Cain and Newt were very Presidential in their answers and stayed out of the bickering fray.
It may have been his best performance but going from an F to a D- isn’t going to increase his popularity with conservatives.
And if they are wrong I’m sure supporters of the Cain Plan can find refutations of the presented data. Vetting needs to be done no matter the proposal.
Tracking Intrade:
Trading - Who will be the Republican Nominee?
Monday, October 17, 2011 - MORNING
Romney 67.7%
Perry 13.5%
Cain 9.3%
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 - MORNING
Romney 66.3%
Perry 13%
Cain 9.3%
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 - AFTER DEBATE
Romney 65.8%
Perry 15.5%
Cain 7.6%
And nationalized healthcare was never going to get through Congress either. And three weeks ago Herman Cain was an also ran with no chance of winning the Republican nomination.
The author Bryan Preston must have written this horse shit way before the debate was actually over!
Try again Bryan!
If it’s so great why has Laffer not endorsed Cain?
He was interviewed by Bill Hemmer. Hemmer specifically said that Laffer had not endorsed Cain. Laffer did not correct him. or offer an endorsement.
I wonder WHY?
Get a grip! This is just the debates, one year away, for God's sake! The real determination for the Presidency is not the debates. It's the primaries, when the political ads hit the TV sets and the personal appearances, rallies and hand shaking starts taking place. This is where Perry is the very best!
Romney is even more rigid and phony in this phase, which is why he already lost his chance in 2008.
Just relax and let the campaign season run it's course in full before you start digging graves.
Yes, Bachmann has been more of the Bachmann I admire— tonight and in the last debate.
The understanding mom thing was laid on a bit too heavy for my likes.
She didn’t. She tried to spin that it’s a VAT, when it isn’t.
Santorum--sitting in for the persistently "missing in action" Bill Bennett.
I want a candidate that will take all 57 states so that Obama is publicly repudiated and seeks solace in his home country.
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