Debate Score: Perry For the Win

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.

UH huh. So wheat growers will not pay tax. Flour processors will not pay tax. Bakeries will not pay tax. Grocery Stores will not pay tax. Just little ole you going in to buy your loaf of bread will be paying tax.

IT’S A VAT TAX, PERIOD.

Marty, you live in Texas. We have a state sales tax. The state tax is 6.25%, but most municipalities add another 2%, making the total 8.25%. Sales taxes are charged only on retail sales.

A VAT is charged on every transaction -- from farmer to processor, from processor to baker, from baker to merchant and from merchant to consumer. A retail sales tax is charged only on the last transaction, sale to the end-user -- it's not a VAT.

The 9-9-9 plan includes a 9% federal sales tax. It would be charged only on retail sales to the end-user -- just like the state sales tax. It is not a VAT.

Well smooth, I don’t think Perry did anywhere near as well as you did, so as usual after these debate farces, I’ll put in my .02 worth (Ok maybe it’s worth less than that, but I’ll do it anyway).

1. Bachmann - her best debate by far; she kicked butt on every one of her inputs; it’s not her fault that nobody went after her (whether it’s because they figure she’s out of the running or a lightweight or whatever). every comment she made was spot on; she took the lead on a lot of issues that the other pu$$ies wouldn’t address (e.g. Anchor babies). Regardless, she’s not in the final running.
2. Paul - he was in his strait jacket again and that permitted him to make mostly sensical statements. His best debate performance as well - getting rid of bloated federal departments. Of course a few remarks were off the wall, but hey, that’s Ron Paul. Soon he can go to the old folks home in Lake Jackson.
3. Santorum - strong offensive performance; took on all the leaders and held his own. He failed to mention that he endorsed Arlen Specter and that he lost his last election to a liberal DimCrap. The fact that nobody called him on that is an indication of his importance in the race. He might as well book’em Danno cause he ain’t gonna get any traction, his tires are slick.
4. Romney - his worst performance of the debates; took a few gut shots and mostly responded sharply showing his masterful debate skills, but did lose his cool a couple of times. The pundits liked him the best, but he really didn’t stand out from the previous debates. His Gore cheap shot on Perry was obviously a desperation tactic. Regardless, he’s got the RINO’s in the press in his hip pocket, so it’s gonna take a real groundswell to show him the door.
5. Perry - best performance so far, but still not good enough; get out of the UN was his high point; considering shots at him from many, he didn’t flounder as bad as previously; Needs to expand beyond “boots on the ground” and “drill baby drill” even though those are valid points. I think he will have to rely on donors and non debate activities to provide his salvation; right now Cain is eating his lunch in the polls. He got booed a couple of times (by Rombot plants?) that seemed out of place.
6. Cain - his poorest debate performance to date; kept referring to see his website for explanation of 9-9-9; really bit the big one on the Guantanamo negotiation with terrorists business (unsuccessfully talked his way out of his supposed prior comment). Did handle the electric fence well.Showing one dimensional traits previously associated with Bachmann. He seriously needs to do a better job of selling his 9-9-9 in a public forum; thus far he is falling short. Although he is my fave at this point in time, he didn’t do himself any favors tonite. His personality will not overcome the lack of substance in the long run.
7. Gingrich - his worst performance to date after coming in 1 or 2 in every other debate. Romney smoked him on the Heritage business. Don’t believe he seriously believes he can get the nomination. I was disappointed that he didn’t go after Cooper on his bias like he did others in previous debates; maybe that skewed my observations.
8/9. Huntsman/Johnson - said they would boycott because of NV moving primary up; probably they couldn’t afford the airfare from SLC to LAS, or maybe even the gas for the 420 mile trip; or maybe they FINALLY realize they don’t have a prayer and just suck up oxygen at the debates.

Romney is still the one to beat. The anti-Romneys with any chance at all appear to be Cain or Perry. Neither one appears to have overall equal debate skills to Romney or to as efficiently talk their way out of challenges to their statements or views. Both have superior conservative credentials to him. Making those RINOs at Fox News eat their words would be great - as long as the anti-Romney beats Obama.

Cain is more personable than Perry and remains positive, even when under assault. He’s got to move beyond just his flagship 9-9-9 as well as being able to EFFECTIVELY defend it; otherwise, he’s toast.

Cain was probably momentarily stunned by Perry and Romney's inability to distinguish federal taxes from state taxes.

Sorry, both Perry and Romney came across to me as completely clueless when discussing the state Sales tax vs. federal Sales tax issue. They both get an "F" in that subject from me considering they're up there touting experience as governors of states which have Sales tax. Weren't they paying attention to how their states imposed taxes to fund their state's government?

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