IF you'd rather NOT be pinged FReepmail me.
IF you'd like to be added FReepmail me. Thanks.
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************
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 you'd rather NOT be pinged FReepmail me.
IF you'd like to be added FReepmail me. Thanks.
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************
Cain is falling apart. Thank Goodness Bachmann is bringing her intellect to the debates. She is teaching everyone the unrealistic nature of Cain’s Tax Plan.
The winner in tonight’s debate was CNN for setting up a bickering contest with little substance. At one point I thought Perry & Mittens were gonna kiss and makeup.
I worry for the nation if these are the best candidates the GOP can offer...
Funny, I thought Rick Perry looked his worst this evening...esp with the illegal alien rehash from the last election. He looked pale and perplexed
I agree. Perry rocked tonight. Newt was second and then Bachmann. Cain looked a little shaken at times, other than we he and Romney had that ridiculous little mutual admiration society thing goin on...
Perry still having too many deer-in-the-headlight moments, and neither he nor Romney did themselves any favors by being so in-your-face sounding as if they wanted to take it out to the parking lot to settle it. Cain and Newt came off as the most statesmen-like.
Rick looked petty and all around pathetic.
Down goes the SS Rickster.
Romney won the debate, but Cain held his own.
Um..sorry. As much as I appreciate Perry and could support him for president, any honest appraisal of the debates is that, once again, Newt has carried the night.
I didn’t get a chance to see the “debate”. Did Perry do as well as the article says?
Good Gawd NO !!
I'm all for a knock down, punch up...
But when all Perry had was a hypocritical attack concerning lawn care workers where he came off looking like a loud mouthed fool, "mean spirited" is a kind characterization.
I'm MassExodus, illustrator of many hateful and mean spirited attacks against Libs.
I love a good attack, to be honest. Just didn't see one from Perry tonight.
The booing is interesting, considering it’s source.
About 40% of the audience were Mittbotts, they booed Perry repeatedly. If I’m Perry, I gotta figure I’m scoring big.
Perry did well for himself. Newt kicks butt every time and improved his lot as well.
Whoever told Perry to go after Romney did him no favors. They both lost that fight. Gingrich looked the most presidential and he is completely unfit for the office.
Agreed, Perry had me laughing a few times.
Newt scored some points.
But Mitt took it again, running away. There’s no one better prepared on the stage. The audience was in his pocket.
It was a Mitt crowd. Lots of Mormons in Nevada.
Just keep up the support for the IRS, by the way, Mark Levin said tonight that anyone that attacked the tax plan would catch hell from him.
I suppose if you dislike Romney, then Perry did “well” tonight by getting under his skin.
But on the substance, Rick sucks. If the best he can do on immigration is yelling at Romney for hiring a landscape company with illegals, that tells me something.
Rush called it six weeks ago. Perry needed to repudiate all his prior positions on illegal aliens.
But that still doesn’t solve his style problems. Perry isn’t smooth up there either.
If you don’t want Willard, I think you have two choices. Cain or Newt. I want to hear more from those two.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.