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.
If the 9-9-9 sales tax is a consumption tax... then would it not stand to reason that any time any person or business bought something, they would be charged the 9% tax on it?
So if a bakery buys wheat from a wholesaler, then the purchase of the wheat would be taxed at 9% plus whatever state taxes.
And then, once the bakery bakes whatever they want with the wheat, the customer would then pay 9% on the finished product.
I don’t see how that’s any different than a VAT.
Good to see Perry do so well tonight!
But only if Romney is honest, which he isn't. He brought the attack on Perry for signing a veto-proof law. Figure out who you want to win this thing. A fake crony from New Hampshire or a proven jobs creator.
Massachusetts.
“..not allowed to say anything positive about Romney..”
“Good. Don’t.”
Hey, don’t tell me what I can say. I’m going to say something positive about Romney right now, so here it is:
................... (thinking in progress)........
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uhh, let me get back to you on that.
Hey, thank you for the ping! I was lost in Gallactica on the Live thread. I will read this one and catch up. Thank you.
Gingrich is a posturing moron. Like sitting on the couch with Pelosi, to get back into the public eye. If he were serious about doing what is right for the country, he would use all that so called talent, to take down the biggest threat to our side; ROMNEY!
Substance over style. I don't like Romney's expression while another candidate is talking. Looks like he's pooping into a Dixie cup. So he's disqualified.
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He, like Newt likes that it starts the discussion. Paul Ryan is a flat tax supporter.
"Cain’s plan is a good starting point for debate"
“We need more bold ideas like this because it is specific and credible,” Ryan said. “I’m more of a flat-tax kind of a guy.”
You're posting that crap to the wrong guy, Romney is a gay loving, abortion loving, gun grabbing Marxist SOB, and that's just my short version.
FUMR!!!
If what you read is true, Herman Cain will soon be on his 3rd tax plan of the campaign. Mr. Corporate Executive got himself all caught in the weeds.
“Salesman’s Creed: “Blind them with brilliance, and baffle them with bullsh!t” !Cain is a pro.”
Does the vegematic handle both apples and oranges? Are you suggesting that Cain was selling Roncos?/s
but he must not be pulled into the bickering contests with Romney
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Completely agree...
I think that was written before the debate even ended! lol
Thanks also to Dr. Jack Wheeler. He was ask to have a personal briefing with Rick Perry. Since Wheeler is a huge supporter of Perry, I can imagine how he advised him to be Rick Perry and not who his handlers said to be. I could see easily many areas which Jack Wheeler advised him.
Cain had his 15 minutes of fame, but now the professional government executives take charge of things (And Romney ain’t one of ‘em!)
Besides, it’s a statistical fact that no Governor has ever won a presidency who has been out of office longer than 2 years.......and Romney has been out for over 5........Hmmmmm.
lol
Perry is going to take Mitt down, mark my words. I honestly don’t even think Perry cares about the presidency anymore, his sole mission has become to take Romney out at all costs.
This is personal now.
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