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Bachmann, Gingrich, and Romney. Oh My! And Then There’s Rick Perry.

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  June 14th, 2011 at 05:00 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

I think Mitt Romney did not just win the New Hampshire debate by holding his own, but legitimately won it with his answers and composure. He was unnecessarily defensive on the Afghan question, but largely showed his experience with Presidential debates.

The surprise last night was Michelle Bachmann. If there was a winner of the anti-Romney coalition, Michelle Bachmann not only won, but won by a wide margin. Suddenly, for many, the flirtation toward Herman Cain and others will go in Bachmann’s direction. Bachmann’s stellar performance also contrasted with Tim Pawlenty who could have sealed the deal, or taken substantial steps toward sealing the deal, of being the anti-Romney candidate. Had his backing off of “Obamneycare” been later in the debate, i think it would have done less damage. But coming so soon into the debate, it clouded the rest of his performance, which had some really good moments. His defense of “right to work” was stellar.

Newt Gingrich needs to be kicking himself. He proved, yet again, he is one of the smartest guys in the GOP. His answer on Islam and loyalty was exactly what Herman Cain needed to do. His immigration answer was solid. But while he came across as the bright, ideas guy we all expect and know, there was no opportunity for him to show his viability — that will be a bigger, non-debate question.

By the way, Newt’s answer on Islam and loyalty will probably be the soundbite of tomorrow. It was a stellar answer that, despite spin from the left, will not hurt the Republicans.

The debate failed to begin the movement toward solidifying the anti-Romney wing. If anything, Bachmann and Pawlenty’s performances throw it into chaos. This leaves a very real opening for Governor Rick Perry or Governor Sarah Palin to come in and begin making the case for an alternative. The odds are growing, I think, that Perry gets in. He has nothing really to lose as he won’t have to leave the Governor’s Mansion to do it.

It is early, but it is less than seven months to Iowa. The clock is ticking. Perry coming in would be a disruptive event for many already in the race and he’d become the odds on favorite for people opposed to Romney to coalesce behind.

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  • http://politicalfriendsblog.com andyd

    ..was great in one other aspect: It was a loaded question that he wasn’t asked. The moderator was ready to move on and Newt jumped in to get a chance at the question. While I still have a lot of heartache over his appearance on Meet the Press a few weeks ago, I thought he did really well last night. I think there are probably people who may be re-examing their thoughts on Newt this morning.

  • nickel

    His answers were better than the other speakers and it was obvious that even if he isn’t the ultimate candidate he does bring a lot to the process.

  • nickel

    His answers were better than the other speakers and it was obvious that even if he isn’t the ultimate candidate he does bring a lot to the process.

  • http://www.BTWsociety.org racvt

    … or at least conservatives. It was on Ted turner’s desk, but that doesn’t mean we cannot use it. “Lead, Follow or Get Out of the Way.”
    It’s well nigh time for Government to get out of the way.

  • monkchanan

    Bachmann Shines. Pawlenty became Mr Gumby. Romney was like a black cat, sitting there staring down Gumby. Gingrich should have used his zingers (and he has zingers!) on Romney – what’s he waiting for? Redemption? Well, he got it…another life left out of 9 lives!

    But Bachmann – what a magnificent start! She is clearly smart as a lawyer that she is, articulate, three terms in Congress, Pro-Life, Genuine Conservative! Wow. Michele is Now!

  • http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/ reaganiterepublicanresistance

    I agree Erick, I always thought she had a lot of possible upside once people get to know her… she’s really quite impressive, and that charm/charisma can’t be taught- a couple guys standing there would kill for that, no need to name names lol

    http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/2011/06/bachmann-impresses-in-first-debate.html

  • politicalqrm
  • politicalqrm

    I meant to say I disagree that Romney won. He held his own but Newt did come up with some great answers, even though I thought his campaign was dead in the water last week. He redeemed himself. The other candidates had their moments also.

    I think last night’s debate was more of establishing a baseline of a united front on who the enemy is. As the campaign goes on, they can start differentiating themselves from the each other.

    As for Romney, I noticed he took the moderate road when it came to the question as to whether you would question a Muslim for a position in the Cabinet. His moderate stripe showed, while Newt, Cain and the others laid out their position for all to see.

    I think it was a great debate and the GOP has solid candidates. All they have to do is stick to their guns in the face of the attack questions of the MSM and not waffle.

  • http://www.tooncesthecat.wordpress.com tooncesthecat

    because of her ability to stay on message so well. But last night she also displayed an ability to answer questions on the fly, which is critical to credibility. Pawlenty, on the other hand, always began with canned responses–preambles that were unrelated to the question at hand. That’s why she won and he lost. Her answers were succinct, to the point, and spot on.

    Romney, on the other hand, did calm the fears of most conservatives with his answers. He still, however, offers no solutions to our problems, except broad generalities. That is a strategy, and probably one that works against Obama.

    It was never in doubt that Newt is great in debates. The question is whether he can be disciplined enough to organize and maintain a campaign, and now whether he can attract quality people to manage his campaign. He can’t do that.

    Herman Cain was the big loser last night. His support shifts to Bachmann.

  • http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/ reaganiterepublicanresistance

    Next act might be Perry, who anti-Romney forces will line up behind, like said here by Erick.

    Perry-Bachmann 2012 wouldn’t be the worst ticket, you know..
    __________________________________________________

    [BTW Red State quoted/linked at URL above]

  • arthurmanger17

    I think it is right on target.

  • blaze422

    I think CNN was a big loser. Format sucked. King would ask a “do you
    still beat your wife?” question on follow ups and then hurumph when the answer passed 31 seconds. Constant reminders that time was of the essence and then stupid Coke or Pepsi, Leno or Conan.

    The final straw was the Biden or Palin BS question. Only surprise was that King didn’t have everyone state for the record how they stand on science vs evolution and whether the earth is flat.

  • lizabtha

    Gosh, that woman needs to rein in her cackle. She strikes me as a flightier version of Palin. And that cackle. Shudder.

    She needs to quit mentioning all her babies, too. Lots of people have babies and lots of folk foster kids. Not something with which the country at large is concerned.

    Oh, and she should give back her farm-welfare. Heck, if the gov’t gave ME subsidies for my business, I’d be really successful, too. :P

  • arthurmanger17

    Erick’s assessment of Pawlenty is a little of, unless you wanted the candidates knocking one another off this early in the game. I think that CNN might have liked that. But they didn’t. Last night it was a combined assault against the left and the Obama administration. At one point Gingrich winked at Bachmann, and he jumped in to support Cain on the Muslim question. All in all it was a bad night for Obama.

  • lizabtha

    Is an grand debater. No one up there was better. He has the right mix of knowledge and occasional incredulity @ his opponents occasionally stupid answers.

    Too bad he has all that baggage.

  • lizabtha

    That is ONE thing we all can agree on, I bet. The debate format was idiotic, King, worse than that. My gosh, get this guy a game show and don’t foist him on us again, CNN!

  • http://politicalfriendsblog.com andyd

    who fostered 23 children? I think she deserves a little respect for that alone. You don’t have to vote for her, or even like her, but I do believe that kind of sharing your home to those less fortunate deserves some respect.

  • Jim Tomasik

    CNN did not set that expectation, he did. Instead of backing up his big talk, he folded like a $20 suit.

    If he can’t stand up to Romney, Obama will eat his lunch.

    Even RP looked better than Pawlenty and that’s just sad.

  • CMaree

    from all debaters, even Ron Paul, surprised and calmed the apprehensions I had over a CNN controlled event. Though I wish the grunting moderator had been moderated.

  • gunslingr45

    Nope.

    So many RINO’s, so little time.

  • CMaree

    Each candidate had shining moments and cool soundbites, but Con. Bachmann clearly shone as she declared her run for the presidency. Her gravitas resum?, family centeredness, and her clarity of responses to unexpected questions define a candidate voters of all stripes should seriously sit up and consider.

  • Wayne

    The format was for D viewers obviously. It was a game show format and I’ve heard some D’s were won over last night too….It’s the first time I’ve felt any sense of excitement about the race. And in particular when I saw MB on stage.

  • Wayne

    I’ve been a fan of MB for some time now and didn’t think she would run. Her performance last night was solid. But I have to admit, NG made my eyebrow rise with his statement about Islam and protecting our borders.

    It’s good to see the beginning of the 2010 race off to such a solid start for conservatives.

  • politicalqrm

    had on his desk was a quote by General George S. Patton Jr.

    And I agree with you: government should get out of the way. And if they don’t we can do what Gen Patton did: run over them.

  • chbroussard

    Ms. Bachmann giving 20 or more children that otherwise would be in some state-run facility a chance to live in a loving home shows a lot about her character. People that give of themselves, especially to children, deserve better than than the barbs in your post. I’m not saying it makes her the best candidate for president, but I am saying that considering some of the low-lifes now serving in Congress, Michelle Bachmann is someone I would be proud to have represent me.

  • chbroussard

    Ms. Bachmann giving 20 or more children that otherwise would be in some state-run facility a chance to live in a loving home shows a lot about her character. People that give of themselves, especially to children, deserve better than than the barbs in your post. I’m not saying it makes her the best candidate for president, but I am saying that considering some of the low-lifes now serving in Congress, Michelle Bachmann is someone I would be proud to have represent me.

  • kaptkane

    Romney and Perry are the only two “contenders” that are “endorsed” by the Bilderbergers.
    Keep that in the back of your mind.

  • treasuregem

    I follow my instincts and they’re telling me Romney’s as big a fake and liar as Obastard. Romney smiles and attempts to impress the females but its completely wasted on me. He’s typical politician and I feel we need steer clear of him. Now Bachman….what a delight! No doubt about her intelligence, wit or charm. Very articulate and NO wishy-washy side-stepping answers from her. I’m getting excited now….add Perry and Palin, and folks, we got ourselves one Hell of a running team that’s sure fire to defeat the ‘IT’ in the White-house. BUT remember, we need vote in more conservative House and senate members too. Its time WE ruled the roost!

  • treasuregem

    Its being investigated whether or not Perry has ever had any affiliation with the Bilderbergs.

  • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

    That leaves me with Pawlenty or Romney (in that order).

  • SirGladiator

    To my way of thinking, it’s simply way too early to be taking the gloves off and going after anybody else, and that seemed to be the thinking of all the candidates also. Of course the obvious target is Romney as he leads in the polls, but its such a tiny lead and he’s got such a negative resume (Romneycare, the flip flops on abortion, gay rights, etc. etc. etc.) that there’s almost no need to attack him, you really just need to become the alternative to him and you probably end up the winner, and the most obvious way you do that by winning Iowa and finishing second in New Hampshire. As this debate was in New Hampshire, a state Romney is likely to win even if its the only one he wins the entire campaign season, there especially was no need to go after him, just stay positive and give the voters your message. Certainly Newt and Michelle did a good job of that, although Newt has already hurt himself so badly that its hard to see how he ever becomes a serious player again, and Michelle will only become a serious player if Sarah decides not to run.

    I agree the race is still very much wide open, I disagree completely that Mitt ‘won’ or even came close to that, I’d say multiple candidates did better than Romney last night. He did hold his lead, which was huge since this is New Hampshire we’re talking about, but outside of the Massachusetts/New Hampshire region he’s still left with very little real support and very little chance of actually winning a 1 on 1 race against any of the other candidates on that stage, or the major ones who are still considering running. I believe that Mitt is the Guliani of 2012, he’s a low level front-runner, due entirely to name ID, and that lead will evaporate once he, and the alternatives, become better known. I’m still hopeful that alternative will end up being Sarah, but whether its her or one of the others, I can’t see any of them losing to Mitt one on one. So a smart strategy to keep it positive tonight, I’d expect that to continue for quite a while, maybe even all the way through to the end of the year.

  • gjohnson

    I thought they all stuck together against Obama, which I thought was really good this early on. Not enough conservatives came out against Romney which I thought they should have done. They all had chances to go at each others throats, but they were civil. They still could have brought up all the times Romney has made an about face.

    It wasn’t a dog and pony show like the CNN host kept trying to turn it into. I thought Pawlenty did very well. I’m not sure I get this rhetoric about him not explaining why he said Obamaneycare on Fox Sunday. He explained it very clearly the first time, and even more so when the host asked him the same question again. The host was obviously trying to make something out of it when all Pawlenty said is how Obama apparently looked at MA to model Obamacare.

    Bachmann did very well too. Santorum had his moments, but him and Herman Cain seemed distracted or something at times. I expected them both to come out with better answers. After a few of Herman Cain’s responses, I’m not so sure anymore that he is as knowledgeable as I thought. Or he is, but he just doesn’t speak effectively. I thought Bachmann and Pawlenty both spoke well. Newt, Paul, and Romney did too, but out of those three Newt is the only one I would maybe even think of casting a vote for. I think Bachmann and Pawlently tied.

  • wrenhal

    She says Romney looks “Smarmy”… She and I like Bachmann, Pawlenty and Cain in no particular order, but agree with a poster above. Bachmann’s cackle is horrible.
    My wife also wondered why Paul seemed to always be slouching. Didn’t he ever take Speech in school?? :D
    Cain seemed less fiery than the first debate, but he held his own and did well with the time given him. (Note they shortchanged him quite a bit.) She couldn’t quite get behind Santorum or Pawlenty. I don’t care either way on those two, I don’t think their electable. Newt just has too much going against him. His global warming ad with Pelosi, his wife thing, etc….

  • calvtob14

    Perry/Bachmann would be the absolute best tea party ticket I could think of…

  • Duke

    I’m guessing Newt lost his campaign team because he wanted to win debates, not win an election.

    The guy’s the quintessential teacher who once won some elections and temporarily became Speaker of the House. After that he went back to writing books and teaching.

    I still have nightmares that he was once-upon-a-time sitting on a couch with Crazy Aunt Nasty Victus Botox and touting a hoax about the earth buring up from some sort of man made carbon disposal method.

  • gjohnson

    he stated why he called it obamneycare and that was it. why are you and everyone else trying to make it into more than it is…??

  • Duke

    when he endorsed the Man-Made Global Warming Hoax. I’m with the Rushmeister on this one: Bye-bye nomination.

    Add to that the sweeping success of Romney Care, in light of the current national opinion about socialized medicine (and the taxation that goes with it), and I think we’ve found another loser.

  • gjohnson

    Pawlenty showed class and reservation of back-biting which in my book is more important than trying to prove that he’s better than Romney. He is clearly the conservative candidate, not Romney, so what’s it matter this early on? He will have his chances. I thought he answered the question as honestly and up-front as he could.

  • gjohnson

    he lost his stapler!

  • gjohnson

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfSAcVq6s9c

  • calvtob14

    One of the things both me and my father noticed was that the debate was insanely civil…in fact a few of them seemed even friendly with one another. If you watched as it went to commercials after newt’s choice of American idol, him and Bachmann actually had a conversation in earnest, in which both were laughing. At the same time, Pawlenty seemed to tell Cain a joke because he laughed pretty hard. Maybe it was just an act but it seemed more sincere then that, and on top of that, they all listened intently to the other comments. Very civil.

  • carolina

    I think he provides issue positions that are helpful to the GOP.
    He doesn’t need to be THE candidate to contribute to the national debate on issues.

  • carolina

    I think he provides issue positions that are helpful to the GOP.
    He doesn’t need to be THE candidate to contribute to the national debate on issues.

  • red_oakster

    The result? No harm done to anyone.

    Of the people on stage last night, only Romney and Pawlenty have a realistic chance to become the nominee. If Pawlenty does well in Iowa, he’s the favorite. And if he’s upended by a Bachmann or Cain, Romney’s the favorite.

    So we move past last night’s non-event and move toward the straw poll in Iowa and that’s where things get interesting. If I were Romney or Perry, I would take a page out of Bob Dole’s 1996 playbook in Louisiana and pour resources into helping both Bachmann and Cain. If Romney and Perry can engineer a second place or even a third place finish for Pawlenty in the straw poll, they’ll have hurt him badly.

  • carolina
  • carolina
  • http://www.tooncesthecat.wordpress.com tooncesthecat

    Next debate is in Iowa on Fox News–August 11–two days before the Ames Straw Poll on the 13th. The window of opportunity to get in this race and be a viable candidate is closing quickly, even for Sarah Palin, but especially for Perry and Giuliani. Field will rapidly turn into a 3 person race after these two events in Ames–Romney, Bachmann, and Pawlenty. As Bachmann continues to emerge and solidify her position, the rationale for a Palin candidacy diminishes–unless she just wants to give the nomination to Romney. And is Giuliani thinking he can wait until the Florida primary again this time?

  • thebadpiper

    Mitt Romney has a problem that can be summed up in four words that no one will mention, “He is a Mormon.” Fair or not, and I believe it is not, there are simply too many people (including many in the evangelical wing of the Republican Party, that view the Mormon Religion as little more than a cult. It may never be mentioned, but it is a prejudice that will be in many people?s minds when they vote. Best tweet of the night came from Dick Morris, comparing a Republican debate on CNN to a NATO debate on Radio Moscow.

  • Jim Tomasik

    I was starting to like him some until I saw that. It would have been better for him to keep his mouth shut the other day and then systematically dismantle Romney’s position on the health care reform issue during the debate with a pleasant smile on his face.

  • Bill S

    It made him look like a wuss. If he’s gonna go after Romney and Romneycare, he needs to just do it and not back down when they’re together, face to face. Every assessment I’ve seen of that particular exchange, and what I witnessed myself, said that Pawlenty looked pretty bad by backing down. It was, without a doubt, the low point for Pawlenty in the campaign. He’s got some ground to make up after that one.

  • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

    I don’t get it. He said why he used the term, and it was a reasonable response. He also stated how he did things in Minnesota and how it was different.

    I think people just aren’t going to be happy unless the debates are a verbal version of Gladiators. If they don’t see blood all over the floor it just isn’t enough.

    I’m much more interstested in hearing about how a candidate wants to do things right. I already know how it’s been done wrong.

  • Jim Tomasik

    His religion is nothing but a crutch for him to use if he loses. If Obama can get elected with Rev. Wright in his corner, Romney being a Mormon is a total non-issue.

    Maybe it would not be such a big deal if people would quit mentioning it.

  • azaeroprof

    I actually covered my eyes during that answer. It was too painful to watch. Clearly the lowest moment of the debate for any of the candidates. And Romney had the perfect comeback to that question that he even got to use despite the fact that T-Paw slinked away from it.

  • Spartan4Life

    Nobody outside the sycophant media wants this guy anywhere but off the stage. Sometimes I wonder if even the GOP establishment realizes how despised our president truly is. His ability to only bring in 900 people in an arena that seats 2200 last night should tell them everything they need to know.

    All we have to do is put up a principled conservative that can stand on the stage with him and look presidential and point out the fact that everything he has tried hasn’t worked. Please, please, GOP, don’t screw this up. I can’t take four more years.

  • Spartan4Life

    Nobody outside the sycophant media wants this guy anywhere but off the stage. Sometimes I wonder if even the GOP establishment realizes how despised our president truly is. His ability to only bring in 900 people in an arena that seats 2200 last night should tell them everything they need to know.

    All we have to do is put up a principled conservative that can stand on the stage with him and look presidential and point out the fact that everything he has tried hasn’t worked. Please, please, GOP, don’t screw this up. I can’t take four more years.

  • skorrent1

    Are polished and experienced politicians, but neither “redeemed” himself. Mitt’s defence of Romneycare was that it didn’t raise taxes, penalize Medicare or affect the whole country, but government control of healthcare as a state “experiment” was fine. He was not asked why government money to Iowa corn farmers was a good idea. Pawlenty was right–phase it out. Neither Mitt nor Newt were asked why CO2 is a “pollutant” and why AGW is not “patently absurd”. Newt’s defence of his “right-wing social engineering” comment was politician-spin at its finest. Because Obamacare was shoved down our throats, the GOP should never take an unpopular position??
    Both Newt and Mitt are still on my sh** list.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens
  • lineholder

    I’m a female, and I can tell you right now that if what Romney is trying to do is to woo females with his charm….it just isn’t happening with this particular female. There’s something about the persona he presents that strikes me as being just as false, pretentious and disingenuous as it gets.

    Beyond that, I don’t trust him to repeal Obamacare. I was listening to his comments last night when he was talking about how horrible Obamacare was, but it sounded to me as if he was trying to base his opinion of this on relative standards, in comparison to his own piece of universal health care legislation, as if his program epitomizes perfection, which it doesn’t.

    Both are excellent examples of the kind of big government programs that interfere with free market enterprise, and it’s these types of programs that we don’t need right now. Whether he actually recognizes this or not, I don’t know, because he appears to be so determined to act on the defensive regarding his involvement in implementation of a universal health care plan in the state of Massachusetts that he never even comes close to acknowledging the kind of damage excessive big government programs of this sort can bring about to the economy.

    All in all, we’ve got a much stronger group of candidates this time than we may have realized, for which I’m very grateful. All the Dems have is Obama. No options or alternative there for Dems to choose from. Just more of the same old same old Hopenchange V. 2.0

  • skorrent1

    Never did all candidates get a crack at the same topic. No matter the initial question, the follow-ups were spun as zingers to specific candidates.

    I expected him to quiz Bachmann “Boxers or briefs?”

  • lineholder

    It’s the idea of big government interventionist-type policies that reek to the high heaven and cost us mega bucks that was the underlying issue regarding Romney’s health care plan. Pawlenty should have stood his ground and pointed this out.

    What’s more, it wouldn’t have been difficult to address the underlying issue of how costly these programs truly are, how they put an extra burden on the taxpayers at a time when our economy is stagnant, how we need to look for other options rather than continuing to implement big government “fixes” that don’t work, etc.

    If Pawlenty had come back with this kind of message, it would have resonated with voters.

  • eldstenorge

    I liked them in this order: Santorum, Romney, Cain, Bachmann, Pawlenty. None of the others even resonated.

  • jaykali

    You can tell that a lot of her legislation has been posturing for a presidential run. She’s the first one to pass repeal bills for all of Obama’s legislation. That’s nice but those aren’t accomplishments (as 1 Hot Air review noted). That is too reminiscent of Obama setting up committees and vague targets and appointments and calling those accomplishments. I really want an executive. A governor with executive experience. I don’t think congressmen make good presidents. I realize she runs a small business though I have no idea what it is and I doubt it’s the size/importance of the businesses Romney and Cain have run.

    She is too Manchurian candidate for me, a lot of political posturing so that she has a nice resume for running for president. The Tea Party caucus, etc etc – these things are nice – I just want an executive with REAL accomplishments. It’s hard for a congressman/woman who’s submitting/voting on legislation to prove they can have the leadership to actually get crap done. Governors are much better prepared. And I think a governor will contrast with Obama much better.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    Your whining about subsidies would have credibility if you hadn’t already outed yourself as petty over the so-called cackle.

  • edingerb

    You hit the nail on the head. Bachmann has a very clear perception of the issues and does not need talking points and notes to present her views. All the others – except Cain – have their prescripted answers ready to go.

    I am all for Bachmann. If she doesn’t win the nomination, whoever does needs to have her on the ticket. She will swing the election for the headliner.

    But, I am throwing my support at her. She is the real deal.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    Weird.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    :)

  • jaykali

    The field looked a lot more competent than in the first debate. They didn’t seem to fall into the moderator’s trap of attacking each other, they were consistent in hammering Obama who is the real enemy.

    It’s interesting how much contrast there is in the 2 parties these days. Republicans have very much a libertarian flavor these days and the democrats are very much in the statist/central planning/euro style of governance. I don’t think it was always this way. Like when I watched Kennedy/Nixon the other day, I just didn’t really get much of a contrast. Even Bush/Gore in 2000 didn’t show that much of a contrast. Now that was when Gore was fake moderate which Democrats have given up on lately.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    We sure don’t see the House leadership, well, leading on that stuff.

    And the “Manchurian candidate” charge is rather ridiculous. Who is she a secret puppet for?

  • edingerb

    He has a lot to add to the debate. I can’t see him winning, but I think he would be a great addition to the 2013 Republican president’s administration. He is, as has been pointed out many times, a great idea man.

  • skorrent1

    And that explains his terrible response re the Muslim question. Rather than attack Islam as something other than a religion, he took the opportunity to emphasize why religion should not be a disqualification, thinking only of himself.

  • jaykali

    Obama had some great ideas too. I want experience and concrete plans. Governors have executive experience. Congressman write and pass legislation. Pawlenty is the only one putting out plans. I think it’s early so there’s time for candidates to start broader and get more specific getting closer to the primaries but I’m not voting for anyone without a plan or an executive record. You really should have both.

    Bachman sounds nice in a debate but is it that hard to put out legislation like repeal Obamacare the day after it passes? These kind of ‘symbolic’ legislation is fine but it doesn’t really prove much. There are 250-300 congressman? Their vote is a drop in the bucket. It’s not the same as being a governor over a whole state.

  • lineholder

    I heard Erick mentioning the way Newt referred back to comments Cain made during the debate last night. I noticed that as well. Both of them are problem-solvers who can come up with creative and innovative ways to tackle the problems our nation is facing, so I think there was a common bond between them that other candidates just didn’t seem to present.

    Just a general observation here, but our typical representatives in Congress don’t seem to be all that good at problem-solving…unless of course it is to implement another big government “fix” that we can’t afford.

    I appreciated seeing the root cause analysis of problems that both Newt and Cain displayed. Given what we are up against economically, I see this type of approach as something that is badly needed.

    I hope that whoever the candidate turns out to be on our side will take more of this type of approach as we move forward.

  • jaykali

    I would just kick it back to half court. That type of question will be thrown out there to bate conservatives. Cain fell for it a couple weeks ago. We all know that conservatives will not pander to muslims like democrats. We don’t need candidates to prove they are more anti-islamic extremists than the other guy. The questions will not be clear cut, they will be bait questions like what Cain got. “Would you have a muslim in your cabinet?” – these are no wins and should be rejected.

  • dudette

    impatiently. it was insulting to the candidates — constantly reminding them of limits and then asking stupid questions like ipad or blackberry or whatever. I detest the fact the liberals always moderate these things. can’t fox have brit hume or mark levin oderate a debate?

  • dudette

    a pink slip. That attack on Palin was a big mistake.

  • chihank

    Mitt Romney outright won the debate last night. T-Paw looked meek for not backing his past statement about “ObomneyCare”. Also Bachmann was able to out perfrom T-Paw. Not good for T-Paw. Bachmann will be known as the MN candidate. While t-Paw will be known for now as that other MN candidate.

    I really hope Rick Perry jumps in. Perry would be the best conservative alternative to Romney.

  • gmscan

    He doubled down on his critique of the Ryan proposal, saying the Republicans are trying to shove it down the throats of unwilling Americans, like the Dems shoved ObamaCare down our throats. Wrong.

    Ryan’s proposal is just that — a proposal. It is the starting place for an extended debate over what to do about Medicare (and other things). Yes, it passed the House quickly without much debate. But these days that is what you have to do to get the discussion going. In a sensible universe the Senate would have passed their own proposal and then the discussion would start.

  • gpclaw

    I think I know the point that Cain was trying to make, that we shouldn’t be afraid to call a spade a spade, and have gone over board when it comes to political correctness, especially concerning Muslims. If this is the point he was trying to make, then I completely agree with him.

    The error I think he made, was how he has gone about making this point. Yes, anyone who is appointed to his cabinet should have conviction towards the Constitution. But this idea, that just because some Muslims are terrorists, implies that every Muslim could be a terrorist? The incarceration rate for blacks is really high, compared to other ‘groups’. Is Cain OK with assuming all blacks are criminals, until they prove otherwise?

    I don’t think this is what Cain is trying to say, but it sounds that way. It’s just too hard to make the point in a clear way, and even if he does, do the benefits to his campaign out weigh the potential risks if he doesn’t articulate his point perfectly?

  • unclefred

    Which was to generate video and sound bites for attack ads in 2012.
    I think they were largely unsuccessful, but not for lack of trying.

    As a debate format it was a disaster, and King was a joke. I missed the first 15 minutes or so last night so watched it on youtube this morning. In a number of cases, King failed to allow even 30 seconds before the grunts began.

  • Whacker77

    I think TPaw is in danger of fading away before the race really gets started. The guy has great advisors and endorsements, but he’s just not much of a candidate.

    I went into last night hoping to come away impressed. I didn’t. Instead, TPaw just faded into the background. If he can’t stand out against a weak field, he’s in big trouble.

    Right now, I think this is becoming a two way race between Mitt and Bachmann. If so and Bachmann, pulls ahead in Iowa, TPaw is all but done.

    I think last night opened the door wider for Perry, Jeb, or Christie to jump into the race. Jeb has tacitly backed TPaw so it must have disappointed him to see TPaw fade into the background.

    Regardless, there needs to be a top tier alternative to Romney and there’s not one yet. Bachmann is great, but I don’t see her as the nominee.

  • Whacker77

    I think TPaw is in danger of fading away before the race really gets started. The guy has great advisors and endorsements, but he’s just not much of a candidate.

    I went into last night hoping to come away impressed. I didn’t. Instead, TPaw just faded into the background. If he can’t stand out against a weak field, he’s in big trouble.

    Right now, I think this is becoming a two way race between Mitt and Bachmann. If so and Bachmann, pulls ahead in Iowa, TPaw is all but done.

    I think last night opened the door wider for Perry, Jeb, or Christie to jump into the race. Jeb has tacitly backed TPaw so it must have disappointed him to see TPaw fade into the background.

    Regardless, there needs to be a top tier alternative to Romney and there’s not one yet. Bachmann is great, but I don’t see her as the nominee.

  • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

    No Jon Huntsman either!

  • BigRedConservative

    Romney is a Mormon. He is also a Republican and (I hope) a conservative. I don’t care whether my candidate is Mormon, Orthodox, Methodist, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist. As long as they are a conservative, I’ll vote for them. And that holds true for almost every voter.

  • unclefred

    Romney was just a polished politician hitting softballs. He certainly gained little additional traction with his doubters. At this point in the process, the viewers of the debate are pretty much confined to activists and political junkies. I’m sure a far number of NH residents tuned in, but most of them have already formed opinions about Romney.

    Other than Newt and Paul who are well known to voters, the others did very well for themselves. Even among the politically aware audience, many had never seen the others. All of them came across as mature, thoughtful, adults, who would bring substance to the White House. I think Bachmann did a bit better on this because, as a woman, she had a somewhat higher bar and she passed it.

    Newt and Paul were both themselves. Nothing new with either. They changed no minds.

    So Romney “won” the debate and Bachmann surprised some pundits. There will be some shuffling, but in the end I predict that Newt will keep dropping. Pawenty, Bachmann, Santorum, and Cain will close some on Romney. The “undeclared” candidates (Palin, Rudy, Perry, etc) will continue to hang on to support.

    The next “mover” that will shift things will come in the next couple months as the “undeclared” make decisions and either declare or drop out.

  • adair

    Doesn’t anyone remember that, after the State of the Union speech, Paul Ryan spoke; and then Bachmann spoke and was so much clearer and smoother than Ryan?

    She speaks in plain, understandable English and makes herself clear. It’s pretty apparent she believes what she says. And despite the fact that she’s attractive and a conservative Republican, she is intelligent. Surprising? Absolutely shocking!!

    In response to the stupid “Which one of these folks would you choose as VP?” which of course nobody is going to answer, I wish Pawlenty had said something on the order of “I won’t tell you that, but I can tell you which one I CAN’T choose: Michele Bachmann.” Then when the gasps stopped remind everyone that our Constitution says Pres. and VP can’t be from the same State.

    Although someone might recall that’s why the Cheneys moved back to Wyoming in 2000.

  • jaykali

    The thing ab politics is that you still have to play the game sometimes. That means not getting baited into no-win questions. You can still rise above, it’s just not worth using political capital on no-win stuff like muslim issues. Use it on supporting bold plans for saving medicare, etc.

  • gracie

    Like the rest of you I am greatly relieved at how quick and informed our side is. Enough of the whining about our field. But who is the best anti-Romney??

    I think Pawlenty would make the best Pres but cannot sell it.
    Bachmann, a surprise but… maybe VP.
    Cain has made way too many serious gaffes last few weeks.
    Newt’s baggage should keep him from doing all of that traveling the way airlines are charging these days.

    So we are left with Rick Perry. Would he have been as smar as the otherst last night? Sure, on the obvious topics but on all? He would be great for Texas but…the very best Pres for America??

  • jaykali

    I didn’t hate the format, I thought it was faster paced than the fox debate but his grunting was such a distraction I couldn’t focus. I would have preferred a blinking light to a Jon King grunt.

  • jaykali

    Repeal bills that pass are accomplishments. Proposing a repeal of Obamacare is no more an accomplishment than Obama creating a debt commission or trying to pass Cap & Trade.

    The “Manchurian” thing wasn’t a good analogy, I meant that she seems to be making political moves to make herself look good vs actually being an executive leader.

  • runner12

    bet that most average American voters did not either. Therefore I hesitate to say that one candidate has soared above the others. Each one will have time to make up any lost ground or lose any gains for that matter.

    As to Romney, i give very little credence that he is leading in polls. This is the same meme that was put out in 2008 and he lost the nomination. I do not think that he can appeal to Tea Party people at all in the primary, he is too slick and establishment and frankly not conservative. He will need their support to win.

    These same negative qualities will hurt him in the general as well.
    Remember McCain in 2008? Romney is the 2.0 version of him.

  • powertothepeople

    Utter and complete nonsense. Although it is the first time I have heard someone state that they do not like a candidate all because the right things they are doing is only being done by the person to set up a presidential run.

  • jaykali

    She proved for the moment to be a legitimate candidate. What I was getting at is that she seems too calculated to me. I just feel like her time in the house has been making calculated moves to run for president.

    But hey if she can continue doing well debates she might grow on me. I certainly like her more than Palin bc she is much more well-spoken. I just don’t like how Americans don’t focus enough on executive experience. The problem with Obama was that he was given a pass for having no experience.

  • jaykali

    But her big selling point to start her answers were ‘I was the first to propose this bill’, ok great. Just too reminiscent of college students trying to pad their resume with fluff accomplishments. I think there’s only so much you can do as a congress person. Paul Ryan is a much bolder candidate, leading the national discussion on his plan. That’s much more impressive to me. That being said, he’s not the perfect candidate either bc of lack of executive experience.

  • ksgrl444

    Gosh, I’m beginning to think I didn’t watch the same debate as you all. I thought Michelle tripped over her words, and acted quite nervous. I wasn’t impressed with her performance at all. And, I wanted to be. Bummer.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    Psst, Ryan isn’t a candidate. Check your facts.

  • glaucon

    Bachmann is an articulate and fairly charismatic speaker. The Left has tried to paint her in a bad light, but don’t fall for that. She has displayed an intimate knowledge of Presidential politics, due to her insider position in Congress and obvious interest in the bigger issues. After predicting that she would “surprise” in the debate, my follow-up prediction is that she will be on GOP ticket. Winning.

    Mitt Romney comes from central casting to fill the generic President role, so he will usually do well in a debate. He looks the part and generally speaks well, but is he believable on his positions? Will Romney-care, close ties to Wall St, and many flip-flops overcome his movie perfect Presidential appearance? He held his position.

    Newt is smart, and a good speaker. He sometimes goes over heads, and his past leaves a slightly slimy feel. He proved he was serious about cost cutting when he called for shutting down all of the unnecessary military bases around the world. Once again though, is he believable on positions? Pretty much neutral performance considering that he was almost completely written off the day before with his staff exodus.

    Pawlenty was bullied by the moderator to make him look weak on the Obamney Care quote. Hard to overcome that, unless you can come up with a witty response to put the moderator in his place. He didn’t really overcome that. Fading.

    Cain is the nice guy with good intentions, and a good speaker, but as we start to look deeper, he doesn’t seem to have the depth. He sometimes stumbles when it comes to details. Fading.

    Paul is another smart guy. Too bad he is a terrible speaker. He gets too excited, and starts to omit words. It’s not polite to age-discriminate, but he is getting old. Starting the debate with an intro on Austrian economics severely limits your appeal. And while the Federal Reserve is to blame for destroying the dollar, and even accentuating some economic/financial bubbles, it is not the sole cause of all bubbles or manias. It is interesting to see the entire field of candidates taking on many of Ron Paul’s other positions. Everyone is talking about reducing the size and scope of government and cutting spending. Newt even took up his call for shutting down unnecessary foreign military bases. Policing and re-building the world is becoming much less popular. He probably didn’t add or lose supporters with this debate, except for the fact that many of his ideas have become mainstream GOP. Neutral performance.

    Rick Santorum comes across as much more likable than the Left wing media would have you beleive. They have really demonized him over the years. His positions are generally good, but the media will continue to paint him as the homophobe, and try to make him a fringe candidate. He probably got a slight rise from this performance.

  • gpclaw

    Inclusive answers are always better than exclusive answers. Romney fielded the question the correct way.

  • Douglas Erley

    If I was Herman Cain I’d have said “Are you shi#*ing me! We live in a country with the safest and most abundant food supply in the world, and you ask about food safety!

  • BigRedConservative

    He is certainly the strongest decent candidate, but he is being eclipsed on the moderate side by Romney. and on the conservative side by Bachmann. He’s left the man in the middle, and that doesn’t win primaries. We need a credible alternative to Mitt fast. You’re right, Christie or Jeb especially will be tempted by the prospect of the “conservative/moderate” slot falling open. We can only hope, though…

  • pat1

    the candidates are competing for endorsements and big-money donors, more so than the attention and votes of “ordinary Americans”. In which case the results do matter, and a candidate who failed to make a strong case last night will face some struggles. To me Pawlenty was the biggest disappointment and Bachman was the biggest surprise, – she really made people sit up & take notice.

    But with everyone else, I’ll be waiting to see what Perry does now. Pawlenty and Cain backers are going to be willing to pay attention. (I’m just assuming Gingrich didn’t have any backers to begin with, and Ron Paul just doesn’t care.)

  • Remington_Steele

    The most annoying buzzer and light timer alert would have been heads and shoulders better than John’s mumbling interuptions. His grasp of 30 and 60 seconds was ridiculous! Someone needs to teach him about the “one-one thousand, two-one thousand” counting trick. Forever more, John King will known as the Mumbler.

  • Remington_Steele

    The most annoying buzzer and light timer alert would have been heads and shoulders better than John’s mumbling interuptions. His grasp of 30 and 60 seconds was ridiculous! Someone needs to teach him about the “one-one thousand, two-one thousand” counting trick. Forever more, John King will known as the Mumbler.

  • Common_Cents

    Pump up Bachmann because they think she is beatable. Several lame stream networks called her “a star”. Definitely coordinated messaging. Journolist? You know who they want to tear down. They were especially tough on gingrich and Cain, two people they know will confront them nose to nose.

    The RNC or whoever represents the party in debate setup, better get tougher in setting up format. A candidate to tell king to quit freakin grunting would have won me over. Or one that would have said, “America is in trouble and YOU want to waste time asking pepsi or coke?”. Seriously, when will we wake up to realize the lame stream media has declared war and we’re in enemy territory when appearing on their networks?

    Overall a good debate showing by all, no clear winners in my book.

  • pat1

    All that grunting – I thought there was something wrong with my tv set!

  • jccbin

    don’t you understand, gmscan?

    Newt said that if Republicans do to the country the same thing the Dems did with ObamaCare, he’d not support it. The subtext is this: such failure to engage the people would result in just as strong an effort to repeal.

    Not that I’d vote for Newt, but either come right out and call him a liar for his explanation or accept it and move the heck along. He’s got plenty of other problems that haven’t been piled on to the point it evokes sympathy for the man.

  • jccbin

    Romney was the Al Gore of that debate, complete with inane AGW beliefs and wooden delivery.

    All I could smell was slippery, slimy politician from the Romney podium. I couldn’t help thinking “That is no leader. That is a compromiser, a failure; not one dime would be cut from the budgets Romney would sign.”

    McCain Lite.

  • jeffex11

    All the candidates did well last night . They exhibited a TEAM effort in the enemy camp. While John king was trying to diminish the Tea Party and get the candidates to attack each other they stuck together to get the conservative message out on a cable network that rarely heard some of what was said.

    Gingrich showed his mastery of the liberal trick questions and answered with what HE wanted to message..Strong and tough! Bachmann made me proud of the way she explained the Tea Party as a movement of democrats, Republicans , and independents that know the government spending is out of control. She championed her base that the liberals fear! great job Michelle!

    Romney , the liberal media choice (this cycles McCain) served himself well by playing offense rather than defense. He is confident and imposing ….let see how he does when the liberal media tries and Palinize HIM

    Cain’s message probably was seen for the first time to liberals on CNN….He was on point and confident. A Team leader and his stance on Muslims was a positive for the people who will vote for him.

    The surprises IMO were Pawlenty and Santorium. There message was that of detail and common sense. John King tried to pick a fight over the Obamneycare issue….T-Paw fielded that grounder and threw the guy out at first…..Santorium got his point over on his record of running against liberals .

    And God love it that Ron Paul….. is Ron Paul…!! he was left out of the debates last cycle and many in the liberal audience were running for their laptops to google some of what he said……To see and hear the conservative message from this TEAM of players was uplifting. Ron Paul is just what we need in this country to turn it around quickly …..he may just be too much medicine for the dipshidiot electorate.

    Their opponent got his ass kicked….and that is the COnmander in Chief himself ….Barrack Hussein Obama …the one term WORST President in American history! The theme of the night……Obama has failed and any one of us will turn this country back toward success

  • unclefred

    If you search there you’ll find the entire “debate” broken into a number of parts. I assume that many more people will see it on youtube than watched it live.

  • Remington_Steele

    of his Mormonism? I don’t see it that way. His loss in 2008 had many other technical issues.

    Is the Mormon affect worse, better or the same this time around? I would argue it’s probably the same. The one change to his benefit this time is he is playing on his perceived strength of turn around artist. This and the fact he was #2 last time around in delegate votes at the time he dropped out puts him in a strong position, never mind his current polling.

  • gracie

    Don’t her anybody talking about it, especially those who said it was a complete stopper for them last time.

    Since McCain turned out to be such a loser think there is a lot of buyer’s regret that ppl did not support Romney last time. Of course Huck was in the middle, not willing to drop out so Romney gracefully did.

    Think ppl are ready for the BEST candidate this time. But we have found our more about Romney than we previously knew:
    Thought he would disavow Romneycare
    Support for ethanol subsidies!
    Now Global warming! Yikes, it’s way more than religion now!!

  • traversecityconservative

    Seriously, people. We don’t pick our presidential nominee by who looks better, talks better, holds his/her own or has composure. We pick them by their policies and our trust in them. I don’t care how well Romney is composed or if he looks presidential. I will NOT vote for a primary candidate who supports state run health care, thinks there is man-made global warming and has the arrogance to talk about when he’ll be debating the president. We need to keep out eye on the ball – substance over style. And as much as I like Bachmann, she couldn’t stop talking about herself which I found embarrassing and quite disappointing. With a few differences between them, it’s going to come down to who we trust not to sell out our Conservative values. At this point, my short list is Cain, Bachmann and Santorum. Don’t trust the rest of them as they have already sold us out in the past. I think they all need to take a page from Newt and talk about the importance of winning the Senate. They also need to talk more about the unconstitutional power grabs of the government through the EPA, NLRB and other agencies. I also think for them to hang their hat on how the economy will be in November of 2012 is pretty ridiculous. I fully expect Obama to pull out whatever rabbit he has in his hat to get re-elected. Our nominees need a balance approach to being president – good economic ideas, foreign policy ideas, immigration reform ideas, etc.

  • acat

    Who else could Bachmann be a puppet for?

    (hey, if we’re going to delve into the realm of silliness…)

    Mew

  • morstar150

    The clear winner in the NH debate was the Republican party. The debate showed that it is the Republican Party and not any other option is the only way out of the mess this country is in.

    Other winners…. Paul Ryan, each and every candidate (except Newt) backed his plan, even Ron Paul who may believe that it doesn’t go far enough.

    The American people who can now feel a little better that through conservative principles this country can get our swagger back.

    The people of New Hampshire. maintained their independance and “live free or die” belief in states’ rights.

    Big Looser … clearly OBAMA!!!

  • Remington_Steele

    Romney has new issues. Yet, I think those have gotten blown out of proportion. The follow is just speculation so I know I maybe wrong, but I’ve yet to hear a logical reason against the following:

    1. Romney is a triangulating businessman which makes him a poor campaigner who refines positions like a PR firm, unlike a politician that sticks to their guns.
    2. He never came out for AGW’s crap like Cap and Trade or Environmental policies. He came out for Ethanol as a triangulation for Iowa. I speculate his AGW comments were only to justify his Ethanol position.
    3. Does anyone think that Romney will push any mandate on states? He likes the solution for his state, but constantly said, it’s a no go for the US. It’s the new third rail in healthcare. He promises to repeal, but it’s silly to think any replacement at the Federal level has any mandate in it.

    I’ve said before, he is the least of the candidates up there for several reasons, but he is way better than Obummer and so far, he is stronger than Obummer with the electorate.

  • morstar150

    What a joke. As if we aren’t wise enough to listen to anything more than a 15 second sound bite.

  • Darin_H

    Short is the new tall!

  • aesthete

    besides “Mitt Romney is an awesome dude” and “Mitt should be President”? The same could be asked to a lesser extent of some of the other candidates, but with Mitt it’s apparent that whatever he says or does is ancillary to the ultimate goal of getting the Presidency. That’s the kind of man whose ambitions we shouldn’t be helping to further.

  • jaykali

    Look Bachmann had a good night, I just can’t tell you what her big legislative accomplish is as a 12 term congresswoman – do you have any idea? I’ve heard Romney’s record, Pawlenty’s record – I don’t have any idea what Bachmann has done other than propose bills that can’t get passed. She has a lot of soundbites like Sarah Palin but I don’t really know big legislation she’s backed. Everyone knows ab Ryan’s plan. I don’t have any idea after that, maybe it’s just bc smaller bills don’t get much press.

    I just want someone with a record. She certainly passes the conservative checklist of believing the right things, but a lot of candidates do – I don’t want someone who doesn’t have executive experience. That’s been my whole point.

  • unclefred

    “We don?t pick our presidential nominee by who looks better, talks better, holds his/her own or has composure. We pick them by their policies and our trust in them. ”

    It is important that we never forget that this is what differentiates us from the left.

  • gekster

    What the Dems saw in the debate.

    via Drudge, from:
    http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/06/obama-campaign-sends-around-misleading-dnc-video-on-gop-debate.html#tp

    excerpt:
    But President Obama?s 2012 campaign is sending out a DNC video suggesting the candidates spoke only about sharia law, an anti-gay-marriage amendment, repealing health care, Sarah Palin, and the space program.

    ?You should watch this,? says campaign manager Jim Messina in the email to supporters, ?if you or anyone you know is wondering where the leading GOP candidates want to go, this clip makes it clear. The first big Republican debate last night was like a time machine. They want to go back to the failed policies of the past that caused the economic crisis in the first place. They want to go back and reopen every settled debate that they’ve lost over the last few years — on the health care law, on ?Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,? and on reforming Wall Street’s abuses. They even want to turn back the clock and end Medicare as we know it.?

    I wonder if Dems are trained to distort, or if it comes naturally.

  • Xasteius
  • http://impudent.edublogs.org/ kyle8

    will do much in the primaries. This is name recognition right now, he has way too many negatives among conservatives.

    On the other hand, a lot of the early primaries are open primaries and so it is possible that Democrats could actually pick our candidate.

  • Bill S

    Primarily, you assume that those who vote in the primaries are voting based on ideology. Those of us who follow politics and care about such things are a distinct minority. Case in point: John McCain.

  • dajeeps

    Obama’s tactics and policies are straight out of FDR’s playbook, some LBJ thrown in, a dash of Carteresque stagflation, and a splash of the bygone era of labor, all vigorously stirred with a Jacksonian flair. “It’s his order. Let him come and enforce it!”

    Nice turn back to the policies of bankruptcy.

  • acat

    .. the other is that, in almost every election since 1976, there have been two or more strong Conservatives going into the primaries.

    One exception was 1980, when there were more moderates than conservatives – because Reagan consolidated his second-place position in 1976.

    Another exception was 2000, when Bush 2.0 was able to consolidate relatively early, thanks to name recognition (and his dad’s rolodex) and drive to a win.

    Looking back at 2000 specifically, there were several one-legged stools in the race – Alan Keyes and Dan Quayle (and Bush himself) for the Social Conservatives, Forbes for the FiCons and Buchannan for the paleocons. Fortunately, we all got together behind Bush. .. I don’t see another good choice.

    My concern going into 2012 is that we have a number of good conservatives, many with three legs, and we’re going to end up splintered .. while Romney is poised to grab all the squishy marbles and .. win.

    Mew

  • acat

    .. in that they held their own with the front-runners.

    I’m hoping this speaks to their strength and potential, rather than to the weakness of Romney and Pawlenty…

    Mew

  • realvoice2010

    is a person I do not want to see or hear again. Why did republicans allow cnn to sponsor them. Regarding king, I was wondering what the grunting was and where it was coming from, until the unkingly grunter showed himself. Romney and Bachman did very well, despite having to answer inane questions from the grunter.

  • http://theheartlander.wordpress.com/ heartlander

    What, are Republicans just suicidal masochists?

    Someone who knows more about politics than I do, please, PLEASE tell me: WHY the flippin’ #%&! do we allow such a thing as a GOP primary in which we allow DEMONCRATS to vote and pick our candidate?!?!?!?!????!!!!!!

  • gekster

    With our open primary, since at the time Hillary was the shoe in for the Democrat spot, Dems were erged to vote for McLooser to win in Michigan, because he was percieved as most beatable in the General.
    The Republicans didn’t get to pick thier choice.
    I have been pushing for a closed primary, but as yet my plea has fallen on deaf ears.

  • http://theheartlander.wordpress.com/ heartlander

    Only political junkies — people such as us RSers, half of whom made perfect scores on that “political I.Q.” quiz last week — are paying any attention right now.

    It would appear, looking at Romney’s positive polling right now, that people have forgotten his negatives or no longer care — but as time goes on, people will remember, and people will care. In fact, from a conservative’s point of view, if anything he’s dug himself in deeper. Romneycare and the flip-flopping were bad enough; now he’s on record doubling down on global warming.

    And, yes, people may appear to be overlooking the Mormon issue for now, but there are millions of Americans who do not want to give a nineteenth-century cult the cachet of legitimacy it would certainly get if one of its adherents were elected President of the United States.

    On the other hand, there’s Glenn Beck — who is unabashedly Mormon, and yet has a huge following, and a huge trust factor, among millions of evangelicals. Who knows? Perhaps the additional four years of listening to Beck that they now have under their belt has softened them (subconsciously) toward Mormonism? Hmmm….

    Full disclosure: The main reason I opposed Romney in 2008 was his record on abortion and same-sex “marriage” — but I must say that I am also one of those who does not want to help give legitimacy to the Joseph Smith cult. Jesus Christ was God Himself — the ULTIMATE, most intimate, most utterly complete revelation of Himself that God could ever make to humankind! NOTHING can top THAT! But then in the 1800s Joseph Smith came along and claimed to have additional revelation — essentially saying that Jesus Christ, and the Church He founded, and the Scriptures He inspired, were NOT ENOUGH! Like Muhammad, Smith claimed to offer “the rest of the story.” To my mind, that’s blasphemous. Now, I don’t insist that anybody else believe that — and I am certainly in full agreement with the Constitution and dead-set opposed to any official religious test for office — I’m just saying that I, personally, would not want to help advance this cult. But I can’t speak for anybody else, and I really don’t know how many other people feel that way.

  • http://theheartlander.wordpress.com/ heartlander

    I agree wholeheartedly; they have demonized Santorum for years, and we all know why: He sincerely — and articulately — opposes THE two left-wing shibboleths: abortion and the radical gay agenda.

    But even such a softie as John McCain, whom the MSM fawned over before he got the nomination, was systematically trashed by that same MSM as soon as he was the GOP’s nominee.

    My question is: Although MSM may demonize some Republicans more than others, how are we EVER going to get another Republican into the White House, since they will eventually trash whomever we nominate?

  • http://theheartlander.wordpress.com/ heartlander

    …and plan to use it from now on. DIPSHIDIOT!!
    If that’s your coinage, I salute you!
    That goes into the lexicon with sheeple, scruffian, refudiate and baffoonery.

  • http://theheartlander.wordpress.com/ heartlander

    …and Obama’s got quite a few magicians at his disposal, including George Soros at the top, and the union/ACORN/SEIU/Dem machine goons at the bottom. After all, that’s how he got elected in the first place!

    I hope more Americans will be wiser the next around, and when the equivalent of the September ’08 financial meltdown happens, they’ll know it’s just one of Soros’ manipulations to keep HIS guy into the White House.

  • http://theheartlander.wordpress.com/ heartlander

    …it’s also what differentiates us from the vast mushy mindless middle that mostly determines the outcomes of elections.

  • http://theheartlander.wordpress.com/ heartlander

    I.e., WHOM do we push? The RNC? State GOP organizations? State election commissions? Who exactly decides this stuff?

    Anybody here know????

  • gekster

    http://www.migop.org/

    Hit the contact link.

    Like I said, deaf ears, but if enough of us tell them, then just maybe.

  • runner12

    But the candidate still has to win the votes and have a chance at being elected, otherwise those donors will run the other way. Romney has a long way to go and I would be very surprised if he was the nominee.

    My hope is that Perry will enter the race and/or Pawlenty is able to salvage his performance. I like Bachmann and Cain and I am glad Bachmann did well the other night. But it is still a long primary season and I am not ready to crown winners and losers yet.

  • YnotNOW

    Answer is that voters are sometimes smart enough to see through the media spin and trash-talk. See for example Reagan, Ronald.

    It makes our job harder, but not impossible.

  • YnotNOW

    Answer is that voters are sometimes smart enough to see through the media spin and trash-talk. See for example Reagan, Ronald.

    It makes our job harder, but not impossible.

  • rightwingmom52

    and Democrats absolutely affected the votes for the 2008 presidential and 2010 gubernatorial primaries. To change our primary to a closed one requires the state legislature to introduce and pass a bill which must be requested and supported by the state GOP. I know there is a lot of support among our state GOP members to make this change, and I’m hopeful it can and will be done in time for the 2012 primary, especially since we have a Republican majority in the state legislature for the first time in over 100 years.

  • http://theheartlander.wordpress.com/ heartlander

    …as being the most likely person to pull that off?

  • YnotNOW

    Half by the Candidate and their campaign, and half by the conservative grassroots movement itself (see e.g. http://precinctproject.us/).

    My short-list (and I’m staying away from endorsing any one at this point)
    – Bachman
    – Cain
    – Pawlenty
    – Perry (if he jumps in)

  • YnotNOW

    Half by the Candidate and their campaign, and half by the conservative grassroots movement itself (see e.g. http://precinctproject.us/).

    My short-list (and I’m staying away from endorsing any one at this point)
    – Bachman
    – Cain
    – Pawlenty
    – Perry (if he jumps in)

  • http://www.BTWsociety.org racvt

    Just saw your response to my June 14th post…
    Thanks for the correction re the origin of “Lead, follow or get out of the way.”