Redstate

Posted at 10:54pm on Apr. 16, 2008 Democratic Debate: Who won?

Was John McCain the biggest winner tonight?

By Kevin Holtsberry

I had to watch the Democratic debate in Philly tonight for work. Did you watch or did you find something better to occupy your time?

For those who watched, who do you think won? Did Hillary actually help her campaign? Will all these gaffes and scandals start to hurt Obama? Was John McCain the winner as the Ds went after each other?

I guess this is a modified open thread.

Posted in 2008 | 2008 Democratic Primary | 2008 Presidential Campaign | Presidential Debate — Comments (39)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 8:39am on Jan. 11, 2008 MI Morning Update: Republicans Debate in South Carolina - House Republicans Call for Surplus to Return To Taxpayers

By saul anuzis

300 Days until Election Day

MORNING UPDATE:

The Republican Presidential debate in South Carolina went over well without any new surprises. Our candidates addressed the issues of the day, drew several contrasts and showed why Republicans are in great shape going into the 2008 presidential elections.

In advance of expected calls at today's state of Michigan’s revenue estimating conference to spend "surplus" funds on more band-aid fixes to Michigan's budget, House Republicans today called for the surplus to be returned to taxpayers instead and for House leadership to make reforming government spending the priority of 2008. Oh, ohh…now what Governor???

Posted in Michigan Legislature | Michigan Republican Party | Presidential Debate | Republicans | Saul Anuzis | South Carolina — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 7:21pm on Jan. 6, 2008 My Take On Last Night's Democratic Debate

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

Barack Obama didn't make any serious mistakes, which means that he won the debate. John Edwards was his usual populist-with-a-smile self; one wonders whether it has finally dawned on him that his candidacy is going nowhere. Hillary Clinton went on about "making change" so much that I was tempted to ask if she could break a $20. Bill Richardson got off a good line about being in hostage negotiations that were more congenial but it was clear from the beginning that he was there just to run for Vice President. He should have just given copies of his resume to Clinton and Obama and then he should have left the stage.

Worst Moment: In response to clear evidence and a news story discussing the effectiveness of the surge, all four candidates essentially put their fingers in their ears and shouted "LalalalalalaIcan'thearyou!!!!!!" when Charlie Gibson tried to challenge them on their stated Iraq policies. Another triumph for "the reality-based community," I suppose.

Posted in 2008 | Democrats | New Hampshire | Presidential Debate — Comments (13)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 7:20pm on Jan. 6, 2008 My Take On Last Night's Republican Debate

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

It was a wild one. Quite obviously, no one likes Mitt Romney but even though I am not a supporter of his, I think that a lot of the attacks only served to make the attackers look bad. McCain looked peevish and cranky when he repeatedly and gleefully sought to put the boot into Romney time after time after time and it didn't take long before the whole thing got tiresome. Romney also hit back effectively against McCain, who apparently has decided to pull a John Edwards and make pharmaceutical companies into villains. In response to a Romney request not to make the drug companies into bad guys, McCain replied "They are." Fatuous nonsense, but I guess that McCain had to do what he had to do in order to get votes; if he loses in New Hampshire, his candidacy is as good as over.

Romney was also more in tune with reality when he clashed with Huckabee over the surge and over Huckabee's--yes, I am going to say it--astonishingly bad Foreign Affairs article in which Huckabee said that "[t]he Bush administration's arrogant bunker mentality has been counterproductive at home and abroad." Huckabee tried to weasel out by claiming that he wasn't referring to President Bush personally. That doesn't even pass the laugh test. Who does Huckabee think ultimately is responsible for the Bush Administration's foreign policy? The Undersecretary of State for Near East Asian Affairs? The White House Butler? Spot? Barney? Of course the attack was on the President and the more Republican voters are reminded of that, the less well Huckabee will do. It should be noted, of course, that Romney is not innocent of the charge of having piled on the Administration when it was politically convenient to do so. But at least in recent times, he hasn't been nearly as guilty of the charge as has Huckabee.

The big winners? For my money it was Fred for the content of his answers and Rudy for his energy. Between the two of them, they were the perfect candidate. Of course, I support Fred, so I am sure you expected to hear that. The one bad answer I heard from Fred was his apparent (I caught it at the end, so feel free to correct me if I am wrong) derision in response to Ron Paul's statement that if you want to combat inflation, you should stop printing money. Paul is right in making that comment and that is just Milton Friedman 101.

Posted in 2008 | New Hampshire | Presidential Debate | Republicans — Comments (6)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 8:22am on Dec. 14, 2007 MI Morning Update: Exploring A Second Debate - Raczkowski and Hoogendyk Considering Senate Run

By saul anuzis

328 Days until Election Day

MORNING UPDATE:

We are exploring the possibility of hosted a second Republican presidential debate before the January 15th primary. We have been talking to several television networks and looking at various possible venues, one being the Detroit Auto Show. We are in early stages of checking out our options…but it could be a great opportunity for Michigan.

Former Representative Andrew “Rocky” Raczkowski and Representative Jack Hoogendyk are serious considering running for the United States Senate against long time incumbent Carl Levin. This could be an exciting prospect, please encourage your favorite potential candidate to enter the race.

Posted in Hoogendyk | Michigan Republican Party | Presidential Debate | Raczkowski | Republicans | Saul Anuzis — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Read More »