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.
I like that he came back and hammered Mitt again on the illegal alien hires to which Mitt had to admit did work on his property. I'm glad Romney was hammered by Santorum as well; it's long overdue.
Newt was again the top debater. I was pleasantly surprised Cain had a specific bill in mind on healthcare reform. It hinted at a little wonk-ish substance.
In terms of helping himself - Perry did the best job tonight. I liked what I saw and think he’ll only get better from here on out. It’s going to shake out to Perry and Romney.
I hope he keeps it up and steps it up. I know he would do a great job as President.
I don’t want Perry to go all nasty— that is where Bachmann and Cain lost me. (unless it is Obama being attacked hahaha!)
I can’t stand Cain now. I am not even sure I could bring myself to vote for him.
You do if you're Perry and the audience is stacked with Romney lovers.
I am now wanting that to happen.
As for this debate, Newt won it hands down.
“Sorry, because I had great hopes for him, but he would be absolutely eviscerated by Obama in any debate. He is not up to the challenge. “
the play by play looks good in print but when you actually watch Perry debate...it’s nail-biting.
“About 40% of the audience were Mittbotts, they booed Perry repeatedly. If I’m Perry, I gotta figure I’m scoring big.”
Nevada went for Romney in 2008. Lots of Mormons there. Harry Reid is Mormon and that probably helped.
“I just read on NRO that Herman is gonna jettison the national sales tax. Steve Moore, who helped Cain develop the plan, says it’s not going over well so they are going to remove th NST and change it to a 9% payroll tax.”
That will make it much fairer. If you don’t work (and sometimes it is because you just can’t and it is not because you look like a stoned unwashed hippie on Times Square) then you shouldn’t have to pay any tax.
“Perhaps you should judge a man not by the color of his skin. His comment on releasing terrorists in exchange for prisoners may cost him the military vote.”
It could cost him everything. He’s not going for the Ron paul vote.
That is one thing you won't have to worry about. After Cain loses the spotlight, (Already has) he just does not have the funding to launch his way back to the top in phase 2 of the campaign season.
Looking at the real-time stats on intrade during the debates, Romney dropped like rock, Cain crashed like the Hindenburg and Perry urged up like Ipad stock.
The impact it had, will start Perry's momentum going into phase 2, with nothing but positive results.
“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.”
maybe because they actually thought everyone else would boycott it. Suckers.
The latest Zobgy/I-BS interactive online poll shows Cain with 45%, Perry with 106%, Mittens with -26%, and Gingrich now the leader with 659%...
“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.”
and yet nobody else came up with a better plan (if they even came up with any plan) during all this time
“Cain would consider trading the prisioners at gitmo for one US soldier... Trying to think on your feet when you have absolutely no political or government experience is difficult.”
Thinking a bit more before saying anything would help. Cain has a big problem with that.
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I sure hope so.
I am counting on Perry-- I don't want Romney any more than I want Obama.
I think I will be pissed with Perry if he doesn't take Romney out.
I hope he is eating all of his Wheaties!
I live in Texas and I am/was a Perry supporter...but the last two debates have switched me to Newt. I think, at this point, I will vote for Newt. May change my point of view later, but right now that’s who I think will do the best job against Obama and will be an excellent president.
I’m Perry/Newt or Newt/Perry.
Of all of the candidates, I think Newt is the most prepared for the job.
Perry has the cash and I know he would do a great job.
Newt has the brains and I think he would be fantastic.
I had worried about Newt flipping on us but I think he will do what is right for this country— he would want history to remember him fondly as one of the greats.
So far though Newt doesn’t seem to have the cash behind him, maybe that will change.
I would be very pleased with either man. Though I do see Perry as a more straight-up honest man.
Phase two? And you believe that Phase two will actually happen? What if it doesn’t. I have no confidence in the political class. None. If Phase two doesn’t happen, it will thoroughly destroy this nation and people.
The only real winners here are the upper income citizens. They win on the business end as well as the income tax end. The rest will suffer, some seriously. Some lethally.
This plan needs to be vetted and vetted well.
Newt won, hands down.
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