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The Debate |
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Gregory Morris, 11/29/07 9:14:23 am |
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Quick overview... between my wife screaming at how much she hates Mitt Romney, and then hates all politicians, then kinda likes Ron Paul and maybe Huckabee, then hates Mitt Romney... I managed to watch most of the debate. Beth got a chance to see all of the candidates together for the first time (usually she just gets my ranting about Giuliani, Thompson and Paul.)
Giuliani went up a few notches in some areas, and down in others. Accusing Mitt of hiring illegals is lying at worst, and misdirection at best. I don't think he knows what "reasonable restrictions" are either. Since that is a Brady term, I get nervous when front-runner Republican presidential candidates use it. What is reasonable to him may not be reasonable to me. I agree that any restrictions should be up to the states, but he doesn't seem to envision any kind of limit on what gun control states might be allowed to enact, so long as it is not a complete ban. But we all know a practical ban is basically an elitist form of a complete ban (guns for me, but not thee.)
Mitt... well, he's got charisma and he is well-spoken. But frankly, I just don't like him. I don't care if he truly changed his mind about abortion, because I don't even think this needs to be a primary component of the republican platform. Basically, I think most of the candidates are going to say "er, uh, that's up to the states to decide" whenever it comes to something difficult. I'm OK with that.
Ron Paul is still batshit crazy, but I can't help but like him sometimes. I think he's wrong about how to handle foreign policy, but I also think Mitt was unfair pulling out the "isolationism is what let Hilter rise to power" bit. It also ticks me off that Ron Paul has to make every question about the war.
Anderson Cooper: "So, Congressman, do you have a good recipe for quiche?"
Ron Paul: "Let me tell you, Anderson, the country would be a lot better time affording eggs with our troops at home. The government should stay out of quiche regulation altogether, and while we're at it, let's end the war!"
The heart of Ron's domestic policy is still better than anything else I've seen. And I still feel that being an honest-to-God-PhD doctor, with military service, a firm understanding of economics, and a "I don't have to do what the party says" attitude is something to respect. He also did a pretty good job saying "screw you guys, I am a real candidate, look how much money we have!" I also enjoyed the "we're having a hard time deciding how to spend it" bit... I'm sure that was calculated to be a parallel to his fiscal policy. Ron Paul. Ron Paul. Ron Paul. Heh.
I still like Huckabee, and I was amused to see that Chuck Norris was there. I'm kinda bummed they didn't use the Chuck Norris Facts Huckabee ad, when they were showing everyone's videos.
Tancredo is the immigration guy I guess. I like him too, for the most part. He's not gonna win, but I like the fact that he's setting the bar for the other candidates ("trying to out-Tancredo Tancredo". Heh.)
Hunter... um, I don't even remember if he said anything. Did he? Was he there?
John Mccain's stage presence was lackluster. Still, he is 100% pure politician. Although he was extremely well spoken, I had the feeling I was being spoken to by a politician, not a human being. He also isn't looking so good these days. It is hard to go up against someone like Mccain and talk about torture, and the candidates who did were foolish to do so. Mccain would be a great candidate if only he didn't have a history of siding with liberals and trying to sit on both sides of the fence.
Fred didn't really do anything to stand out, but he is still standing firm where he needs to. Aside from Ron Paul, I think Fred is really the only one who is firm and unapologetic. The only one I feel I can trust to mean what he says. He didn't feel the need to go on and on and on, like Mitt and Rudy did. I approved of his "campaign video". I think he's trying to "stand out" by letting folks know he has firm, unwaivering beliefs, without actually saying "Hey, I'm Fred Thompson, and I'm the only candidate with firm, unwaivering beliefs!" Fred says "uh" too much, and that gets on my nerves, but I seriously doubt most people will care in the end, although he does tend to look like an old bumbling man, standing on the same stage as (George Clooney impersonator) Mitt Romney. Regardless, it is far better than listening to Giuliani's effeminate lisp.
I also liked Fred's "I have guns, but I'm not gonna tell you what or where they are." That bought him a lot of gun owner votes. I'm surprised that any of the candidates admitted to not owning guns. Were I in Mitt's shoes, I would have lied. And Mccain's, "I carried a .45 as a pilot." No shit sherlock, we're not talking about your military service here though. Everyone in the military has firearms experience. We're talking about whether or not you are a gun owner now, and what you think about my right to own a gun.
CNN picked some of the worst questions to ask, in my opinion. "Do you believe in every word in this book?" "What does this flag represent?" I am positive they were trying to paint all republicans as racist, bible thumping hicks. I think the candidates handled the questions pretty well regardless. Huckabee (obviously) took the bible question well, and basically saved the rest of the candidates. I'm surprised that nobody took that particular question and used it to indirectly attack Romney. I would have.
The last (baseball) question to the two front-runners kinda pissed me off too. If they would have started off with something like that, I would have been OK. But that isn't a serious way to end a debate. All it does it give Mitt and Rudy more time to talk... after they took up half of the debate time anyway. Regardless, I still have to agree with Mitt on hating the Yankees. Of course, its easy to hate a (relatively) good (yet extremely overpaid) team when I root for the (bottom of the NL) Pirates. Yeah. Its almost as bad as being a Rays fan. |
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