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Debate Preview

By W. James Antle, III on 11.12.11 @ 2:28PM

I don't know how much impact tonight's Republican presidential debate in South Carolina will have. A foreign policy and national security debate at 8 o'clock on a Saturday night? Even I only intend to watch out of a sense of professional obligation.

Nevertheless, there are some things to watch for. This debate clearly plays to Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney's strengths. Rick Perry's campaign is on life support and he desperately needs to avoid any YouTube moments. Herman Cain will be probed for foreign policy details. After a debate that allowed Ron Paul to agree with many of his fellow Republicans for a change, this one will push disagreements -- especially over Iran, where even the next-dovish candidate, Jon Huntsman, is willing to consider military action -- to the forefront.

Huntsman will get to showcase his foreign policy knowledge and presumably contrast his vision with that of the frontrunners. Rick Santorum will be an impassioned hawk. Michele Bachmann will also be challenged to move beyond safe applause lines about Obama and lay out some specifics. So those are your basic plot lines. I'll have more to follow after it's over and will provide some running commentary on Twitter.

View all comments (9) | Leave a comment

Clint| 11.12.11 @ 3:35PM

" George Will, "Today, we have a very different kind of foreign policy. It’s called Wilsonian. And the premise of the Bush Doctrine is that America must spread democracy, because our national security depends upon it. And America can spread democracy. It knows how. It can engage in national building. This is conservative or not?"

William F. Buckley, " It’s not at all conservative. It’s anything but conservative. It’s not conservative at all, inasmuch as conservatism doesn’t invite unnecessary challenges. It insists on coming to terms with the world as it is …”

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.

Spirit Crusher| 11.12.11 @ 3:42PM

With a purposeful grimace and a terrible sound
He pulls the spitting high tension wires down

Helpless people on a subway train
Scream bug-eyed as he looks in on them

He picks up a bus and he throws it back down
As he wades through the buildings toward the center of town

Oh no, they say he’s got to go
Go go Newtzilla, yeah
Oh no, there goes tokyo
Go go Newtzilla, yeah

Nah... Cain 2012!

C Bowen| 11.12.11 @ 5:08PM

Romney and Gingrich will compete to get to the Trotskyite Left of Obama on Interventionist Foreign Policy, which is indeed a strength with the various soccermoms who vote in primaries, but they further seal their doom in the general.

Red Phillips| 11.12.11 @ 8:42PM

C Bowen, I don't think soccer moms are what drives hawkish interventionism. It is chest thumping men who do as these threads demonstrate.

Niniane| 11.12.11 @ 5:49PM

I just hope that equal attention is given to all candidates as national security and foreign policy are too important to just focus on those who are leading in the polls. I will be watching all right.

C Bowen| 11.12.11 @ 6:56PM

Focus group question: did you think Iraq was a threat before the coalition of George W-Hillary Clinton-John Kerry favored an invasion?

John| 11.12.11 @ 7:57PM

I hope that Herman Cain fumbles and ends his campaign on Sunday. I also hope that voters will show some respect to Gov Rick Perry-the real deal-so that will help him win the GOP node and beat Obama in 2012. I will enjoy Paul And Michelle Bachmann. Santorum needs to cool down a bit.

Occam's Tool| 11.12.11 @ 8:25PM

Thanks Clint. A little 14 month old girl spirit spits on you from heaven. You are not a man to be trusted around chlidren; therefore, you are not a man at all.