CNN Republican Debate Analysis
Tonight’s debate was the best so far, probably in part because Jon Huntsman wasn’t there in protest of something Nevada said about his momma or something. I had to add CNN to my DirecTv channel list, so it’s the first time I have seen Anderson Cooper moving. He had a creepy, otherworldly look to him, almost vampirish – the Ann Rice vampires, not the sparklers in the Twilight saga. With his white hair, pale skin and blue eyes he reminded me of a Japanese anime villain; I kept expecting him to ask questions using that high pitched yet sinister girlish voice that nearly all dubbed Japanese anime villains use. But overall his questions weren’t nowhere near as loaded as the MSNBC debate; no dying people without insurance tonight.
The candidates performed well. At least most of them did. Rick Perry just can’t debate. I guess it’s not his thing. He came across as mean when he attacked Romney, and Romney handled him the way a strong man might when challenged by a skinny guy waving his fists and shouting “Put up your dukes ya’ big palooka!” I can’t help but feel that Perry simply isn’t ready for the Presidency. I also think America needs a longer break from Texan governors. 2016 might be his year if Obama wins and the Democrats haven’t banned elections as NC governor Bev Perdue suggested.
Newt Gingrich is funny. He speaks like a man who has nothing to lose, probably because he knows in his heart that he has a snowball’s chance of making it past South Carolina. The man should have a show on TV. He gives insightful commentary that everyone listens to – including the other candidates.
Michele Bachmann got emotional tonight when asked a question about how she would stop foreclosures. The directors sensed it and zoomed in the cameras as she spoke about women losing their homes “their family nests.” Cut to shots of women getting teary eyed in the audience. The whole sequences struck me as extremely contrived and practiced. She just couldn’t manage a tear; she needed someone dripping glycerine in her eye or whatever soap opera actresses use to simulate tears. Sorry Michele, you’re done as far as I’m concerned.
Rick Santorum avoided all the gay bashing of the last debate and sounded reasonable for most of the debate, which is why I probably have forgotten everything he said.
Ron Paul. I want to like Ron Paul, I really do. When it comes to his domestic policy I think he’s a genius. His line tonight about replacing the Income Tax with nothing was classic. Libertarians watching everywhere whooped for joy. I just think he’s batshit insane whenever he opens his mouth to talk about foreign policy.
Herman Cain held his own tonight under a barrage of questions about 9-9-9. He’s got to formulate a better answer then “visit HermanCain.com.” As Perry pointed out his plan isn’t as simple as Cain says it is, and he needs to develop short scenarios that explain how it works for poor and middle class workers because all his opponents have to do is say “consumption taxes are regressive,” and he’s burned. He’s improved his foreign policy points, but whether or not he realizes it (and he had better if he doesn’t) he will live or die by 9-9-9. I’ve begun looking into it myself and I think it’s revolutionary, but like every revolution there are enemies behind every rock and tree. He needs to formulate quick responses to those – and fast.
Mitt Romney. Conservatives hate him to the point where I’m just not sure they will vote for him no matter how much they hate Obama. Maybe they’ll come around, but I can’t help but think that the Obama machine has daily war plans for how they will attack him on everything from his Mormonism, to his venture capitalist days, and every decision he made in the Massachusetts State House. He’s slick and polished, an excellent debater. But people in the party really hate him. I don’t; I think he’ll pull better from the independents than Perry, but he might lose the base.
Overall it was a good show, but even after several of these debates I still am not sure who is the best candidate to defeat Obama next year.
Roger:
On your post about Cain, you mentioned conservatives need to vet their candidates better. I couldn’t agree more. For this reason, I refuse to vote for Romney even if he is the nominee. This doesn’t mean I’ll pull the lever for Obama but if Romney is the nominee for President, I’ll focus on supporting Representatives and Senators so we have more conservatives in Congress (I’m actually doing this anyhow). This is the only thing I’m sure of in the 2012 election.
19 October 2011, 3:18 pm