Rick Santorum: I knew very little about him before the debate and want to know less now. A pit bull in disguise with no redeeming virtues. Apologies to any pit bull owners out there. His refusal to let Romney respond, as agreed under the rules, was more than rude; it was vulgar. Go away Rick, and he probably will. Anderson Cooper pointed out that in a recent poll of Republicans asking who could best beat Obama, Romney was the highest with 41% and Santorum, the lowest with 1%. Must have been his mother--probably not even his wife would vote for him.
Michele Bachmann: I can't remember one question that she answered directly--well one, but only when Anderson Cooper persisted. She had prepared answers and that's what we got no matter what the question. No nuance whatsoever. She won't last. If you get a chance view her response to the question regarding foreclosures and see her tear up over moms losing their nests (no academy award in her future), and you'll wonder how she got elected to Congress in the first place. And no, she didn't answer the question, not even close. And then there's that vacant stare!
Newt Gingrich: Made some telling points but it was almost as though he were there as a moderator not as one of the candidates. He did point out at the end that the bickering that dominated most of the debate won't get a Republican into the White House. Hope he's right.
Herman Cain: His 9-9-9 plan was attacked by everyone on the stage. His response was always the same. You don't understand! Or "you're talking apples and oranges." Big into fruit! Far too many conservative economists have shredded his plan for him to make it on his tax platform alone, but the audience liked him. And he didn't get into any fights with the white guys. Both Ricks went at it hot and heavy with Mitt Romney. They were all very polite to Cain even when trashing his plan. Did that have anything to do with his race? Cain doesn't have a chance to get the Latino vote, not when he wants to fry them on his fence. So who will vote for him? "Brain-washed" blacks as Cain labels them--highly doubtful; progressives--no; independents, not many considering his absolutist positions on gay rights and abortion; and he can't win with just tea party votes. My prediction: he'll disappear after New Hampshire.
Ron Paul: I confess, if I had to live with a Republican in the White House, and someone put a gun to my head to vote for one, he's it. He's the only candidate who actually says what he believes, rather than playing to the crowd. I particularly liked his answer concerning "Occupy Wall St" in response to Cain's view that the protestors are whiners. "Don't blame the victims," he said. But Ron Paul is the equivalent of the Democratic Dennis Kucinich, the bookends of cut and spend. He doesn't stand a chance--probably been around too long and his stand on the defense budget and foreign aid to Israel, cut, cut, cut, will never fly with Republicans.
Rick Perry: I didn't see the previous debates, but did hear lots of sound bites concerning how badly he did. Perry probably did better in tonight's debate although his bickering with Romney was ugly, and he stumbled badly when the issue of church and faith came up. In the end he gave something of an apology to Romney. At a previous event, Perry's pastor claimed that Mormons were not Christians. (Speaking of, can you call anyone a Christian who wants to electrocute Mexicans for seeking a decent life for their families? Yes, I mean you Herman.) I have no problem with illegals coming from Mexico--aren't we all the children, grandchildren, great grandchildren of illegals. Did native Americans issue visas? Perry, who deals with the illegal problem in Texas daily made a lot more sense with his proposal of more "boots on the ground" than did Bachmann, who wants to build a fence to seal our borders, or Cain, who wants his fence electrified. No doubt Perry, unlike the other two, realizes that Latinos vote. Are those two for real?
Mitt Romney: He did fairly well, actually better I think than any of the others. I don't like him, but he's the best debater, and he managed to stay cool during some very vicious attacks from the two Ricks. (Is Rick a Republican name, or were their parents Bogart fans?) The attacks in some cases were nasty and personal and he handled them well. A punch or two would have been in order. Romney did manage to avoid some tricky questions, in particular when he was asked if children born here to illegal parents should be denied citizenship. Bachmann calls them anchor babies, and Romney did a Bachmann on the question. He didn't answer it, wisely I think. Romney will probably be the Republican nominee.
The winner for me was Jon Huntsman, a no show and the only Republican with moderate views. And that's why he can't win. The No Nothings are in charge. The bickering was ugly and off-putting. No more debates for another two months. Whew!
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