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The last Republican debate before Iowa: Did Bachmann just save Romney?
Slate ^ | December 16, 2011 | John Dickerson

Posted on 12/16/2011 8:15:18 AM PST by americanophile

There have been so many debates during the Republican preseason that it was hard to believe the one hosted by Fox News in Sioux City, Iowa, was the last one before the voting begins. Ratings have been strong, and commentary has been endless: You can imagine a network trying to squeeze in just one more--are you free on Christmas Eve, Governor?

It has been a thrilling debate run: Pawlenty crashed; Perry blanked; Romney confronted Perry; Gingrich shined; 9-9-9; Perry blanked. But the Sioux City debate was not an epic contest. It was like the primary race itself: no dominant figure but with something for Republicans to like in each of the candidates. In a recent New York Times/CBS poll, 66 percent of Iowans said they are still undecided about their final choice. This debate didn't make their job any easier for them.

But Iowans must choose, so in that spirit: The winner of the evening was Mitt Romney. His performance was solid and his defense of his flip-flops was better than his chief rival Newt Gingrich's explanation about his work for Freddie Mac. Most importantly, all the other candidates were effective, and Romney benefits more than Gingrich from a broad strong field that splits the vote.

Romney regained the form he showed in the early debates, commanding and at ease. Romney made fun of mistakes he made in the private sector (He thought Jet Blue wouldn't work), and he talked about how he learned from his errors. Maybe it's a good thing Gingrich has challenged him. He picked up his game.

Gingrich acquitted himself well, too: He was a pugilist, bashing judges, lawyers, Obama's decision on the Keystone pipeline. And he was even self-deprecating, saying at one point that he was "editing himself" in his...

(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bachmann4romney; debate; gingrich; gopdebate; iowa; iowagopdebate; michelebachmann; mittromney; newt; newtgingrich; rickperry; romney
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To: C. Edmund Wright

I don’t mind the truth. I do mind hyperbole that borders on telling an untruth.


41 posted on 12/16/2011 9:32:02 AM PST by skeeter
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To: TexasFreeper2009
Romney is finished, he was when he was born. He will never carry a Southern state, never has and never will. It is the Mormonism that has kept him from ever having a chance.

Perry did good, but the damage has been done.

Huntsman is Romney light, and Paul is (to borrow a phrase from a freeper who said this last night) is the homeless crazy nut that was captured and released by some space aliens.


Gingrich kicked everyone's proverbial butt!
42 posted on 12/16/2011 9:33:10 AM PST by OneVike (Just a Christian waiting to go home)
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To: skeeter

Amen Skeeter


43 posted on 12/16/2011 9:34:53 AM PST by C. Edmund Wright (Moderator of Florida Tea Party Convention Presidential Debate)
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To: kabar

Bachman did an excellent job last night, and deserves a second look. My guess is Newt supporters are afraid she might get that look, and so they are attacking her with this “working for Romney” stuff. Apparently now, anything you do to help YOUR candidate beat Newt is just “Helping Romney”.


44 posted on 12/16/2011 9:35:45 AM PST by CharlesWayneCT
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To: TexasFreeper2009
Romney is finished, he was when he was born. He will never carry a Southern state, never has and never will. It is the Mormonism that has kept him from ever having a chance.

Perry did good, but the damage has been done.

Huntsman is Romney light, and Paul is (to borrow a phrase from a freeper who said this last night) is the homeless crazy nut that was captured and released by some space aliens.

I would like to think Santorum has a chance, and maybe after the Iowa election is over he may have a chance

I am convinced that Bauchmann destroyed her chances completely by attacking Gingrich with lies over his abortion record.

Gingrich kicked everyone's proverbial butt!
45 posted on 12/16/2011 9:36:52 AM PST by OneVike (Just a Christian waiting to go home)
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To: CharlesWayneCT

Yep. Now the choice according to some is between Newt and Mitt. No other candidate has a chance to beat Obama. This despite the fact that not one vote has been cast in a primary.


46 posted on 12/16/2011 9:40:22 AM PST by kabar
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To: americanophile; Diogenesis
Funny, I don’t think Wallace likes Romney at all.

I reached that same conclusion. Wallace really went after him on his past position changes.

47 posted on 12/16/2011 9:41:16 AM PST by Hoodat (Because they do not change, Therefore they do not fear God. -Psalm 55:19-)
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To: sanjuanbob
Brett said to her as they were going to break, “valiant effort Megyn” to which she replied, “I tried”. What was that all about?

He meant it was a valiant effort on her part to keep the candidates within the time limits.

What is it with the anti-FOX paranoia on this forum?

Who's better? Morning Shmoe? Wolf Blitzed? Keith so-Over Man? Jon Liebowitz?

48 posted on 12/16/2011 9:42:58 AM PST by Yankee (Welcome to Obama's Fourth Reich.)
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To: americanophile
"Funny, I don’t think Wallace likes Romney at all."

I don't know how he personally feels about any of the candidates. But it was so pathetically obvious they all hard marching orders to take down Newt.

As far as Bachmann goes, it sure looks like she's hitched her star to Mitt hoping for that VP nod.

49 posted on 12/16/2011 9:43:55 AM PST by moehoward
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To: Caipirabob
I will never, simplynever vote for a man who signed a nazi healthcare bill into law.

Then you might not want to vote for Newt Gingrich either.

50 posted on 12/16/2011 9:45:37 AM PST by Hoodat (Because they do not change, Therefore they do not fear God. -Psalm 55:19-)
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To: Leep

why would Bachmann a ultra-conseervative kiss Romney’s liberal butt. . . . . . .

______________________________________________________

I think it was obvious last night that Bachmann doesn’t kiss any body’s butt. I though she was great. She and Santorum are the only conservatives in the race. She really hurt Ron Paul IMO. Did she have her facts straight? Which facts? She was right on some wrong on others. Gingrich should have called her on her defense of her facts and may have been able to hurt her but because he didn’t do that very well he left the impression that she was correct. Sometimes it only takes an accusation to hurt someone. Bachmanns attack about partial birth abortion hit Gingrich between the eyes. Gingrich has never supported PBO but he was unwilling to punish republicans who did. It kind of reminds me of Romney, Romney never helped anyone get an abortion but he never did what he could have to stop it either.

Rick Perry, that Tebow comment was an awful attempt at playing to the evangelicals. Does he think they are so easily swayed by his silly comment. Tebow is the real deal, Perry is trying to simply take advantage of the real deal, it won’t rub off that easily. I think the evangelicals will see his pandering for what it was. I think if he might as well have said he was the only one who believes in the right God and had the same effect. I don’t think most people like it, sure some really do but to many it turns them off. I don’t like it when people try to take advantage of their “faith” for political gain, or for any other gain for that matter.

Gingrich did OK most of the night but I think he was hurt by his attempt to defend government agencies it fell flat, he was preaching this to the wrong crowd. Gingrich comes off a little condescending to others. Most people probably couldn’t say what it was that turns them off about Gingrich but I suspect that is part of his negative ratings. If he could learn to be a more likable guy it would help him.

I thought Romney came through mostly unscathed but it is not enough, he has the same problem ad Gingrich and Perry, that is a record. He has done things that are unpalatable to real conservatives. His explanation about queer marriage was the first time I ever heard him say it and probably helped him more than the accusation hurt him.

Several of the candidates made the point that all of them were better by leaps and bounds than what is in the White House now, I agree.

Who did best last night? I would have to say that Rick Santorum impressed me more than usual. He always does but doesn’t do it very forcefully. If he had Bachmanns gonads then he could perhaps go somewhere, he is a good guy!

I’m still rooting for the long shot, Bachman. She seems to have a handle on what the world really is about.


51 posted on 12/16/2011 9:45:55 AM PST by JAKraig (Surely my religion is at least as good as yours)
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To: Lady4Liberty

Mitt has stayed an even keel. You have to give him that.

At this point the only issue I have with Newt is the way he responds to the Fannie/Freddie questions.


52 posted on 12/16/2011 9:51:40 AM PST by moehoward
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To: kabar

First it was Pawlenty vs Romney. Then it was Bachman vs Romney. Then it was Perry vs Romney, then Cain vs Romney, and now it’s Mitt vs Romney.

I don’t know why people assume the pattern will stop here. Or why we are all supposed to jump off the merry-go-round just because Newt’s supporters like where it’s positioned.

Oddly, I asked one of them whether he’d say the same thing if, say, Santorum was on top in a month. Nope. Because in the end, people want their candidate, and the polls are just an excuse to argue for what they already want.

I’d be happy if Bachman, Perry, or Santorum could catch on and take Newt and Romney out.


53 posted on 12/16/2011 9:56:50 AM PST by CharlesWayneCT
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To: Sudetenland

Why would Joe Scarborough ever tell a truth about Newt?

I have caught him in plenty of lies. That is why I quit watching him over 8 years ago.

I would suggest you turn off the three talking head networks, CNBC, MSNBC, and CNN. Stop giving them any ratings.

When will conservatives understand that all three of those networks, and the liberals talking heads on them, all need to their very lifeblood drained so that they will all shrivel on the vine and go away!

All they do is put doubt in the minds of those who watch them about Republicans, whether they be a conservative or a RINO.


54 posted on 12/16/2011 10:03:54 AM PST by OneVike (Just a Christian waiting to go home)
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To: Wallace T.

Agreed. Not sure any of the current candidates would add electability to a Gingrich-headed ticket - including Santorum, although he would do the least amount of harm. He might be ok as AG, but an experienced state AG with prosecutorial background and without beltway ties might be better for AG, considering what has gone on in this country lately.


55 posted on 12/16/2011 10:10:18 AM PST by ngat
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To: Lady4Liberty
Gingrich talked like a Conservative last night because he needs Conservative votes to stay alive at this point.

I don't trust him at all, though, because he could just as easily be playing kissy kissy games with psychopaths like Nancy Pelosi as quickly as tomorrow morning.


56 posted on 12/16/2011 10:11:30 AM PST by Prole (Please pray for the families of Chris and Channon. May God always watch over them.)
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To: americanophile

She’s angling to be Romney-the-RINO’s VP????


57 posted on 12/16/2011 10:12:51 AM PST by traditional1 (Free speech for me.....not for thee)
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To: Yankee

Things looks so much better in rose colored glasses, don’t you think? Thanks for explaining what Megyn meant by her comment. I wasn’t able to get hold of her. Faux rules!!!


58 posted on 12/16/2011 10:20:49 AM PST by sanjuanbob (Festina Lente)
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To: americanophile
Not bachman, it it Gingrich who is saving Romney.

Last night Newt kept with the ‘I'm not a Lobbyist’ routine. The more he does not answer the question with a ‘believable answer’, the more often he is going to be asked the question.

59 posted on 12/16/2011 10:25:14 AM PST by Bulwinkle (Alec, a.k.a. Daffy Duck)
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To: americanophile

I had to work late last night. I am geting extremely pissed off trying to find this damn debate on the internet. youtube has the @#$%$%#@ing thing blocks for some $#%^#$%^ing reason. The fox site is #$%^#%$ing nonsensical. Whoever does their website I want KILLED KILLED KILLED

COULD SOMEBODY *PLEASE* GIVE ME A LINK BEFORE I SMASH MY GODDAM COMPUTER!!


60 posted on 12/16/2011 10:35:30 AM PST by mamelukesabre (.)
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