My Analysis on Last Night's Debate
- Posted by Justin Higgins on May 16th, 2007 in
Last night's debate was interesting, and I did miss part of it. I think that FOX News ran a more intelligent, more adult debate than MSNBC. CNN will have their shot later this year to prove themselves. I didn't like the "breaks" in the action, though the analysis from the "basement of the blogosphere" was interesting.
The Winners:
Mitt Romney- Romney did an excellent job of maintaining his composure, holding his ground, and speaking clearly and articulately. He's looking like my favorite right now.
Duncan Hunter- He knows what he's talking about, and he has great body language. Hunter has the potential to gain some real traction.
Mike Huckabee- Governor Huckabee had one of the best one-liners of the night, and he also was clear on other issues. He looked like he wanted to be there, and his history as a Baptist Pastor will play well with social and religious Conservatives.
Treading Water:
Rudy Giuliani- His downward slide has appeared to end, and he was pretty tough on Democrats and on Ron Paul. He's looking like the leader, but he's not going up in any way.
Brownback, Gilmore, and Tancredo- Each of these three made the points on their favorite issues, and were droll on issues they tend not to focus on.
The Losers:
John McCain- To me, McCain was mechanical, and echoed the same points he's always been making. He's not doing anything above and beyond, and his age is showing. He's gonna sink if he doesn't bring in more Conservatives, and threatening to bomb Iran is just the start of what he needs to do.
Ron Paul and Tommy Thompson- Both men think they have the know-how on how to run the War in Iraq. One completely opposes the war, and the other wants a three-state solution that'll invite civil war. Please, for all of our sake, get them off the stage.
Strictly speaking, Ron Paul
Strictly speaking, Ron Paul was stating that he did NOT know how to run the war. More than that, I think the central argument there is that no one can run this war. It's run its course and out of gas.
We simply need to leave the region. Now. Stop the pitiful attempts at nation building abroad, and re-open or re-staff our bases at home. You know, the homeland? The place the military is supposed to be defending?
Here's John Q. Adams on this very topic:
"She has abstained from interference in the concerns of others, even when conflict has been for principles to which she clings, as to the last vital drop that visits the heart. She has seen that probably for centuries to come, all the contests of that Aceldama the European world, will be contests of inveterate power, and emerging right. Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy.
She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all.
She is the champion and vindicator only of her own.
She will commend the general cause by the countenance of her voice, and the benignant sympathy of her example.
She well knows that by once enlisting under other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of extrication, in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy, and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the standard of freedom. The fundamental maxims of her policy would insensibly change from liberty to force....
She might become the dictatress of the world. She would be no longer the ruler of her own spirit....
"
You guys do it really well
You guys do it really well over there, so many candidates to choose from. I liked Giuliani's response to Ron Paul, but I wonder how conservatives would feel about his abortion stance.