It had the mildest moderator and the tamest crowd so far. Everyone is already in the Thanksgiving Holiday mood and it sounded that way. I was watching the online stream and Wolf Blitzer’s pre-broadcast pep talk and it was exactly what it sounds like…a pep talk from Wolf Blitzer. Anyways, let’s break it down.
Winners:
Mitt Romney: Guys, there is a reason why this guy is a consistent frontrunner. He can debate. Flip Flopper? Perhaps but this guys doesn’t flub answers, he doesn’t back away from attack, and he does it while not alienating any smaller groups (Libertarians, social conservatives) within the Republican Party.
Newt Gingrich: Substance, Substance, Substance…brought up Einstein during Immigration. Who else does that? Romney jumped on his examples of qualified immigrants. Possibly the smartest candidate on stage. There has been some fallout over his stances on immigration and comparison to Rick Perry. Perry has a longer rap sheet on immigration than Gingrich, including in state tuition for the children of illegals. Some believe Gingrich is already in general election mode. Eh..maybe but Newt is way too up front to position his campaign that way.
Didn’t Win or Lose:
Michele Bachmann: Finally got the chance to flex that Sub-Committee intelligence muscle. You’ve got to wonder why she didn’t use this knowledge during the last dozen debates. It’s probably too late and she didn’t show enough savvy in other areas.
Jon Huntsman: Some of that Kermit the Frog Mojo must have rubbed off on him during his trip to New York to appear on Saturday Night Live. His answers were polished and he continues to get a lot of face time. He is still the longest of longshots and New Hampshire is his last stand.
Rick Perry: Hey, he didn’t meltdown at the podium and modified his plan for the border. He’s got the money. Is it too late?
Losers:
Herman Cain:A self admitted newbie in foreign policy. He still speaks with the same strong convictions that make him sound good. Not enough time. Have the allegations scared the networks away from him?
Ron Paul: Called the war on drugs a failure but doesn’t have a clear plan for the border. Wants to leave Israel behind and let the Middle East go it’s own way. The nation is ready to start building at home but putting on blinders to all other foreign affairs is dangerous.
Rick Santorum: No traction, linked on to Ron Paul’s foreign policy philosophy. He is who we believe he is. A Senate ceiling politician running for President.
How many debates have there been? No meltdowns or Kung Fu Grips on candidates. Tamer than most.
You have no CLUE! The War on drugs is a big failure. Just like prohibition of alcohol. It wont work and has not. Ron Paul 2012
You’re an idiot. An absolute moron. Ron Paul obviously won the debate. He might not have gone in depth about his plan (he does have one, read it), but he was absolutely correct about the drug issue. The Marijuana law costs over more than 1 billion dollars yearly, and it is an abject failure. It’s the most prescribed drug in America and inflicts no harm at all, and also, Newt Gringritch’s comment on the illegal immigrants was completely crazy.
Hello Ron Paul supporters! Happy Thanksgiving and make yourselves at home here!
What good’s a pundit if he can’t see a trend? Be sure to read the Iowa results in the morning papers, Frank — It’s Paul’s to lose now, as everyone but Torres seems to realize..
Thanks Frank! It’s turkey and cranberry sauce for me, and a bit of crow for you next month I suspect…
I would be dismissing Paul altogether if he didn’t come in second in the Ames. His official immigration stance is “whatever it takes” to secure the border. We’ve got a Toyota Dealer in Orlando with the same catchphrase for selling cars. There is not enough meat in that statement.
I like Ron Paul, I’ve called him a winner a few times over the 700 debates we’ve had in the last couple of months and agreed with Jon Stewart that he’s often overlooked by the media. When I write something favorable about him? Crickets. Criticize him? The haters rappel from the ceiling. Go Figure.
Taking your advice, I read the Iowa papers this morning. Winners? Romney and Gingrich. Sounds familiar.
http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2011/11/22/debate-newt-gingrich-wins-and-loses/
Sorry Frank, I should have been clearer — I meant the Iowa Caucuses six weeks from now.
You’re truly funny with the rappel comment and I get your point. I think his border position is more nuanced — he’s strongly against the fence for instance, and a true believer of course in the free market, which needs cheap labor to make markets more efficient.
Ideas are fringe until they aren’t. Everyone, even Alabama rednecks, has had a change if heart on the U.S. war on drugs. If you don’t believe the Paulies or the polls, ask the average Mexican citizen bunkered at home. There’s a once-great country that’s becoming a failed state for all it’s natural wealth, thanks to Just Say No.