SansPretense

This is the first debate I’ve watched this year since it’s the first I caught streaming over the internet.  At this point, I essentially agree with this run-down from Red State, as well as Ace’s assesment on Perry’s performance.  It wasn’t a knock-out on his part, but he didn’t make any major mistakes.  This was basically “beat-up on the Texan” night, as Perry was clearly the focus of the questions, the other candidates responses, and the demonization of the heavily biased moderators.  Unfortunately for everyone else, Perry survived it quite well.  Under these circumstances, I think Romney and Perry essentially had a draw in this debate.

My thoughts on the other candidates:

Ron Paul!!!!  He’s like the kid who tells you that he loves his kitten.  You kind of go  “awww” and agree that the kitten is nice and that the kid is sweet.  Then, before you know it, the kid throws the kitten in the microwave and turns it on.  Ron Paul is that kid, and the kitten is common sense. 

Santorum impressed me the least.  I didn’t like too many of his answers, and I don’t remember the ones I did like.  He doesn’t come off as a commanding presence.

Neither Bachman nor Cain impressed me as much as I thought they would.  I’m sorry, but Backman has not shown any effective leadership that makes me believe she can run the country.  She doesn’t show any statesmanship that I can see.  She sounds more like a politician pandering to the tea party than someone having any real ideas about enacting her policies.  I agree with her positions on most of the issues, but I’m not seeing effective leadership from her.  Maybe if she had actually accomplished anything in Congress…

Cain sounds more like he’d fit in as a Cabinet Secretary than a politician.  I think he would be more effective there, get some political experience, and maybe be in a position for president in the future.  Right not, he still sounds unprepared for politics.

Huntsman is a RINO and true career politician.  We might as well have McCain up there again.  I get the impression that he doesn’t really believe half the things he says, but feels the need to say them. 

Speaking of RINOs, Romney is sounding pretty good, but he always “sounds” good.  Then he defends RomneyCare – which is basically Obamacare - while claiming that the latter needs to be repealed.  He then says stupid things about Social Security.  Sorry, but Perry is right.  Social Security is a ponzi scheme.  Again, we might as well have McCain running.

Finally, Newt Gingrich impressed me with his responses.  He’s a thinker.  Unfortunately, I get the impression that he’s too invested in the establishment to take risks…I wonder how I got that impression…

I wish Santorum, Huntsman, and Paul would go ahead and drop out.  I’d include Bachman, Cain, and Gingrich in that list, but frankly, I like the impact they have on the national dialog.  Maybe we can get those three to moderate a debate…

In any case, Perry’s entrance is definitely a plus.  I’ll have some comments in the near future concerning the politicization of science, which came up the debate.  There’s been some interesting developments with global warming the last few months that deserve some attention, mainly because of the drama between researchers.