The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Tonight's Debate, Part II

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Ron Paul points out, correctly, that Medicare is more of a "mandate" than the individual mandate in Obamacare. Again, this is an issue in which Paul can really challenge the others on the big picture. It would be better to be able to hear him engage the others than Williams's libertarian-trolling questions. He then commits the ultimate act of Republican courage by criticizing Reagan's record on spending and deficits -- something that none of the others would dare do.

John Harris of Politico gets Perry to call Social Security "a Ponzi scheme" and "a monstrous lie," and then Romney to engage him by saying we need to "save" the program for the senior citizens who live off of it. Herman Cain butts in with a reference to the "Chilean model" of personal accounts, which probably goes over the heads of the others.

When the moderators bring up the HPV vaccine mandate Perry implemented in Texas, all the others score points off him, except for Romney who segues into another discussion of Obama's jobs record. So his strategy for now is not to go after Perry all he can, apparently.

And then a FEMA question for Paul, trying to get him to trip over his libertarian principles. I would love to hear Brian Williams ask, for example, Romney about whether the Department of Education should exist, or what his thoughts on the 10th Amendment were. Why not get Paul involved, and see how the others respond?

An hour in, and no foreign policy questions. Why do debate moderators put off the foreign policy topics until the end? President Obama's experience is proof enough that they effectively take over the president's attention and time quickly. These candidates should have to debate the issues at length.

View all comments (10) | Leave a comment

Kingofthenet| 9.7.11 @ 9:19PM

Ron Paul has a point about the Fences being turned against us...

USA & Israel, friends forever.| 9.7.11 @ 9:34PM

Ron Paul is the poster child for acute neuroleptic deficiency syndrome.

Clint| 9.7.11 @ 11:16PM

Ron Paul Is A Patriot.

You're Not.

USA & Israel, friends forever.| 9.7.11 @ 11:42PM

Serious question. You thought Ron Paul looked good tonight? Not a little too screechy? Not too hunched over? Not a little weird with the fence keeping us in stuff? I almost, at one point, thought he told me to get off his lawn, but then I realized it was just his body language. In my view, tonight, the Tea Party has officially become Sara Palin's after that Paul horror show.

Paul McGrath| 9.7.11 @ 10:19PM

Paul on HPV: It's not good, and it's not good, it really isn't very good. That's why it's bad.

Enough of this idiot.

Clint| 9.7.11 @ 11:20PM

"Ron Paul slammed Rick Perry on the HPV vaccine order he signed, both on policy and on the route that was taken to make it law.

"It's not good social policy and therefore I think this is very bad to do this," Paul said. "He did it with an executive order, passed it, the state was furious..."

Dai Alanye| 9.8.11 @ 12:40AM

Anyone who criticizes Reagan's spending yet fails to add, "Of course he DID win the Cold War," is a hypocrite. This means you, Dr Paul.

Clint| 9.8.11 @ 8:32AM

Dr.Ron Paul,
"Yet at the same time we stood up against the Soviet system. They probably had 30,000 nuclear warheads and they had the capability of launching missiles at us. We didn’t have to have a nuclear war to finally win the cold war. We talked to them and there were negotiations.

Their system was a failed system, and it failed."

Mimi| 9.8.11 @ 10:49AM

And yes ...that worked....What if the ENEMY of today were that rational ? They are NOT....They like to SLICE heads and you have to handle them like they did in the 700's medievel like.
Once we get that down pat we can maybe live in peace....most non-barbaric, civilized people you can try the "RON PAUL " way but not today...most people don't understand....That's why we should have never elected the weak Liberal type of administration ...when hard-ball is needed it just makes for a tense world. Ten years? cause we are too "NICE" This Payback for 911 should have long been over....These are the SOB'S they should be taking OUT....The " REAL " enemy!!!!

yisong| 10.27.11 @ 2:32AM

Discussion Bearing failure of general conditions
The gradual expansion of the surface spalling, and often extended to the deep, forming deep peeling. Contact fatigue spalling is a failure of deep fatigue source. http://www.1stbearing.com