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Debate Wrap

By W. James Antle, III on 11.12.11 @ 9:57PM

That was a truly horrible debate, largely because of CBS' bizarre coverage decisions. They only televised part of it and provided a borderline worthless Internet feed for the rest. This debate was already unlikely to have much impact because it was on a Saturday night. Nevertheless, a few things stood out.

Mitt Romney sounded presidential, though I'm unsure he means what he's saying about China. Rick Perry recovered nicely from last debate, though he had to clear a fairly low bar. Michele Bachmann started off well but reverted to form by the end. Rick Santorum was impassioned and effective, except when complaining about not getting enough time. Newt Gingrich was professorial.

Ron Paul correctly noted that it doesn't make sense to distrust the government domestically only to place complete faith in it on foreign affairs. Jon Huntsman was the only Republican who joined Paul in pointing out that the fiscal crisis has foreign policy implications. Herman Cain seemed completely out of his depth, but few of his supporters will care. And few people overall probably watched this poorly broadcast, irritatingly moderated debate.

View all comments (25) | Leave a comment

James The Welder| 11.12.11 @ 10:13PM

Ron Paul could be the nominee if he avoided some of his whackiest ideas. He'd sound sane, and his most embarrassing fans would lose their motivation to attach themselves to him.

Jack in Wi| 11.12.11 @ 10:25PM

Ron Paul was the only sane one on the stage. although Huntsman tried to immitate him to some degree. The elites know that huge majorities of the people want all foreign aid cut. They had Perry try to make some points on the subject by saying he wouuld zero down. Then he said that Israel would get a huge pile of money. The whole thing was a farce. Ron Paul only needed 2 30 second answers to destroy 59 minutes of promotion of War, torture and Assassination. No pro- war candidate can win for the Republicans. The elites of the party are in the tank for Obama. Obama will run as the man who got Bin Laden and is bringing the troops home. They figure they can get back to the good old days of loot, loot loot, if Obama is back in. They don't want any of their unwashed base near power.

Jim Antle: That was a good commentary.

James The Welder| 11.12.11 @ 10:33PM

Iran as a nuclear power? Anyone who thinks that's no big deal is NOT sane.

If Paul would lose those nutcase positions, and the nutcase supporters who follow him because of those positions, he could be the nominee. As things stand if he's in the race it will be third party.

Sean| 11.12.11 @ 11:33PM

I want the USA to be the only nuclear power, but that is wishful thinking when it only takes 1940s technology to pull it off.

Clint| 11.12.11 @ 11:58PM

" Top Tier: Ron Paul Polls Third In Three Early Voting States

GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul is polling in third in the key early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, according to a new CNN/Time poll released yesterday."

The tea Party Rebellion Is Here.

Clint| 11.12.11 @ 11:53PM

" 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.

somnolence| 11.12.11 @ 11:17PM

ANYBODY who believes that waterboarding is torture, as Paul and Huntsman do, is ruled off of my list forever. They are the current 2 exceptions to my voting for "whoever the nominee is". Waterboarding is an effective means of interrogation, and IS NOT torture, by any stretch of definition. And I don't give a damn WHO thinks otherwise.

chuck| 11.13.11 @ 11:25AM

Good thing neither one has a snowball's chance in hell of getting the nomination. Huntsman is at 1%, WTF is he doing wasting time on the stage. Paul hits his glass ceiling at 8-9%, and his supporters (Jew-hating Jack and stomp-on-your-face Clint) certainly do not help his cause.

Occam's Tool| 11.12.11 @ 11:21PM

Yup. Paul is not worthy to protect children as President. As OB/Gyn, no problem, but there is a difference. He's a scumbag, as are his supporters, including "proud 4-F and live coward" Jack in Wi.

Sean| 11.12.11 @ 11:34PM

Ron Paul is a class act. You are the scumbag .

Clint| 11.12.11 @ 11:55PM

Dr.Ron Paul's Foreign Policy Advisor Michael Scheuer, Former CIA Chief of The bin Laden Unit.

"4.) Speak to the American people and tell them to expect to be brutally propagandized by U.S. citizen Israel-Firsters through AIPAC, their ubiquitous media shills, and the men and women they own in the U.S. Congress and federal bureaucracy. Urge Americans to ignore this effort by U.S. Israel-Firsters to get them to send their soldier-children to fight in a religious war in which the U.S. has no genuine national interest at stake, and in which U.S. participation would further bankrupt the country, require the reintroduction of conscription, and put America at war with all of the Muslim world -- Shia and Sunni -- for the foreseeable future."

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.

Mike W| 11.13.11 @ 10:13AM

He is a scumbag to you because you disagree with his policies? Really? Do you ever listen to yourself? Paul might not be the best man for the job, but a scumbag?

aware| 11.13.11 @ 11:36AM

Neo cons can't help letting their inner progressive come out. "protecting our children". The worst actions of the State are always "justified" with this piece of hypocrisy.

Bumr50| 11.12.11 @ 11:40PM

Cain gave simple, honest answers.

If people are looking for a wonk, they're going to end up with Gingrich who is a natural in this forum.

I don't trust him.

Bumr50| 11.12.11 @ 11:46PM

[Herman Cain seemed completely out of his depth, but few of his supporters will care. ]

Thanks for implying that I'm a moron that blindly worships a candidates a la Ron Paul. I simply prioritize differently than you, and don't place myself on an intellectual pedestal.

Low blow.

Dai Alanye| 11.13.11 @ 8:19AM

Cain is weak on foreign and military questions, it's true. But his instincts are sound, and assuming he picks well-qualified advisors we can expect sound decisions from him.

John B| 11.13.11 @ 12:42AM

It's going to be Romney versus Obama, and as an Obama voter, I couldn't be happier. For me and my liberal friends, Romney is in many ways better than Obama, because he will be able to work with Democrats and get some things done, while Obama has no chance of working with Republicans.
Mitt in 2012. We progressives will win no matter which one is elected. Thank you Republican Party.

buckeyeman| 11.14.11 @ 10:24AM

"get some things done" ... Interesting. I wonder just what else needs to be done to complete the destruction of the American economy.

Casey Abell| 11.13.11 @ 2:47AM

"Herman Cain seemed completely out of his depth, but few of his supporters will care."

Aaron Goldstein sure didn't.

martin j smith| 11.13.11 @ 7:55AM

I would never vote for Ron Paul or Huntsman and Romney I would barely tolerate. When you say you don't know if Romney meant what he said about China. I say, I don't know if he means what he says about anything. If that is Presidential--G-d help us.

Sean| 11.13.11 @ 8:38AM

That is nice that you would vote for TARP supporters and the inventor of Obamacare.

Jack in Wi| 11.13.11 @ 3:45PM

Martin still thinks that all these wars have made us safer, more prosperous, and happier. He should vote for Obama. He is the warmongers best friend.
He has started several wars in Africa, including Libya. He has started a war with Pakistan, that is spreading to Iran, Syria, and the gulf states. Marty old chum, Obama is your man.

Clint| 11.13.11 @ 9:28AM

We Are Being Set Up By RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges For The Ruling Elites' Frontman Mittens Romney.

These Are The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges Who Gave Us The Serial Traitor To Conservatism, John McCain Of McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy,McCain-Lieberman,Gang Of 14, Opposing Bush Tax Cuts Of 2001 & 2003,TARP.

Now They Are Trying To Give Us RomneyCare,TARP, Cynical Flip-Flops On Abortion, Gays, Refuses to Sign Pro-Life Pledge, Illegal Immigrants, "Little Chain Saw Al" At Bain, Crony Capitalism Campaign Money Trail.....

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.

Clint| 11.13.11 @ 11:19AM

We Are Being Set Up By The Media Agendists.

" Both Ron Paul and Michele Bachmann are crying foul after what they said were unfair efforts to limit their air time during CBS' Republican presidential debate on Saturday night.

In an email sent out after the debate entitled "What a Joke," the Paul campaign ripped CBS for allowing the Texas Congressman only a minute and a half of air time in the 90 minute debate.

"It literally made me sick watching the mainstream media once again silence the one sane voice in this election," said Campaign Manager John Tate. "The one dissenter to a decade of unchecked war. The one candidate who stands for true defense and actual constitutional government. Ron Paul was silenced, in perhaps the most important debate of the cycle."

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.

Clint| 11.13.11 @ 11:22AM

The Media Agendists Are Attempting To Orchestrate,Which Candidates Get Time To Speak & Which Get Deliberately Ignored By CBS.

" Michele Bachmann's campaign made a similar claim, releasing an email it said was inadvertently sent to Communications Director Alice Stewart by a CBS employee that said Bachmann wasn't going to get many questions, so they should try to get another candidate for a post-debate show.

"I was just speaking with Alice Stewart... about the Congresswoman or a senior member if (sic) her staff joining you for the webshow. She said she would be happy to arrange," said one CBS employee in an email sent Saturday afternoon, hours before the debate.

John Dickerson, a CBS News political analyst, then responded, "Okay let's keep it loose though since she's not going to get many questions and she's nearly off the charts in the hopes that we can get someone else."

The campaign said the email indicated "a planned effort to limit questions to Michele Bachmann at tonight's CBS/National Journal Debate."

We Are Being Set Up By Media Agendists.

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.