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The Spectacle Blog
Tonight will be the first of two debates before the Florida Republican primary. What can we expect?
Mitt Romney — who will be releasing his tax returns tomorrow — needs to come out swinging against Newt Gingrich. Gingrich’s South Carolina win has given him extraordinary momentum in Florida and nationally. Romney needs to come up with a way to stop it, while presenting a postive case for his own candidacy.
For the first time, Newt Gingrich will be debating as a frontrunner. What impact will that have in how he handles this debate? Will he continue to maul moderators for applause lines? Gingrich thinks he has Romney on the ropes and may want to finish him off.
Ron Paul has an opportunity with his son Rand’s detention by the TSA earlier today. He can use this moment to his advantage in tonight’s debate. Yes, Florida contains many senior citizens who aren’t libertarian and want a strong national security posture. But how many of them have been abused by the TSA when their hip replacements set off some scanner? Even if it doesn’t help in Florida, where Paul is not actively campaigning, it will help him rally his national base ahead of the caucus states that are now his main focus.
Rick Santorum has to remind people he is on the stage and in the race for a reason, rather than let Gingrich push him out in a quest to consolidate the conservative, anti-Romney vote. He can point to both frontrunners’ flaws from a conservative perspective, speak passionately about social issues, and position himself as the ideal candidate for the Reagan Democrats in November. Santorum has to avoid the temptation to sound sanctimonious, a pitfall for him.
View all comments (21) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by W. James Antle, III
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/01/23/debate-preview
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Bob Grant| 1.23.12 @ 5:49PM
I'll either watch 2 1/2 Men or the debates, a.k.a 3 1/2 men.
Clint| 1.23.12 @ 7:45PM
We'll Be Watchin' The 3 Chickenhawks And The Veteran Show.
Occam's Tool| 1.23.12 @ 7:58PM
Rand paul inconvenienced his fellow Americans by behaving like an ass. If he wants to annoy TSA, call a hearing and grill them there. Don't piss off the average Joe.
But I forgot. He's a "celebrity." Just like his scumbag dad.
bill| 1.23.12 @ 8:05PM
The Senate called for an investigation, but Harry uncle won't allow a Senatorial hearing, despite of pouring outrage.
Clint| 1.23.12 @ 9:14PM
You Behave Like An Israel Firster Smear Bund Asshole Everyday On This Web site, Tool Job.
This Is The Big Yellow Tool Job Asshole Bus Callin' Dr.Rand Pail Names.
Call Bibi In The Mornin' Israel Firster Asshole,Tool Job.
Occam's Tool| 1.23.12 @ 7:59PM
A veteran like Bradley Manning and Nidal Hassan are vets.
Clint| 1.23.12 @ 9:36PM
Now, The Little Short, Fat, Aging Israel Firster Smear Bund Neo-Chickenhawk Coward, Tool Job Is Comparing American Veteran Air Force Officer Dr.Ron Paul To Manning And Hassan.
You're The RINO-CINO Israel Firster Who Said He'll Vote For The RINO-CINO Frontman, Mittens Romney.
Listen To Mittens Talkin' About Not Goin' After Those Who Report War Crimes.
Mitt Romney Responds to Question about Bradley Manning / War Crimes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EtmGted3D0
The Tea Party RebellionSteps On The Israel Firster Traitor Bastard,Tool Job.
Bob Grant| 1.23.12 @ 8:11PM
So, Clint, I one doesn't serve in the military they have no business being Commander-In-Chief? ...
...Someone should have told Jimma Carter, our worst foreign policy president evah!...at least until our current clown's presidency is finished.
In addition:
So, in yours' and Ronnie's world supporting overseas operations without serving the military make one a 'chickenhawk'?
Clint| 1.23.12 @ 9:48PM
Do Your Homework RINO-CINO Mittens" Chickenhawk" Romney Apologist, Grant.
" Chickenhawk (also chicken hawk and chicken-hawk) is a political epithet used in the United States to criticize a politician, bureaucrat, or commentator who strongly supports a war or other military action (i.e., a War Hawk), yet who actively avoided military service when of age.
The term is meant to indicate that the person in question is cowardly or hypocritical for personally avoiding combat in the past while advocating that others go to war in the present."
On The Other Hand,
" Dr. Ron Paul served in the United States Air Force as a flight surgeon for several years (1963-1965). While in the air force, Paul reached the rank of Captain. Directly after his service in the air force, Paul worked again as a flight surgeon for the United States Air National Guard (1965-1968).
" Paul served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force in the 1960s, spending time on the ground in countries like Ethiopia, Iran, Pakistan, South Korea, and Turkey. He also sits on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs."
The Tea Party Rebellion Steps On Mittens Tail.
Mike 3/505| 1.23.12 @ 5:55PM
Mr Antle,
"Mitt Romney -- who will be releasing his tax returns tomorrow -- needs to come out swinging against Newt Gingrich. Gingrich's South Carolina win has given him extraordinary momentum in Florida and nationally. Romney needs to come up with a way to stop it, while presenting a postive case for his own candidacy."
With respect, wrong, wrong, WRONG. If Romney wants to wiin, he needs to come out swinging and unapologetic, for capitalism. Respond to attacks, sure. Correct the record, sure. But it's not attacks on each other the electorate responded to in South Carolina. It is unabashed, and unapologetic, clearly articulated statement of conservative principles...period.
Regards,
Mike
SpiralArchitect| 1.23.12 @ 6:25PM
Romney will initiate nothing unless provoked.
Romney will not be the agressor unless provoked.
Romney will not look like the strongest candidate unless he is alone on stage.
These are my conclusions from watching him over the last few years.
bill| 1.23.12 @ 6:01PM
It's gonna be another Newtonian night. Floridians, buckle up! Obama is doomed. Here comes Newt train!
Clint| 1.23.12 @ 7:57PM
Like Da Man Say, " It's About The Economy Stupid."
As Ralph Waldo Emerson warned when he wrote, “A nation never falls but by suicide.”
" The fall of Rome and other dominant civilizations manifest similar pathologies, imperial overreach, runaway spending, erosion of money’s purchasing power."
The Tea Party Rebellion Is In Florida.
bill| 1.23.12 @ 8:07PM
Yup. it's about the economy, liberty, constitution, free enterprise, and foreign policy.
Clint| 1.23.12 @ 9:58PM
It's About Not Using Our American Warriors As Cannon Fodder And Pissing Away Our National Treasure Policing & Attempting To Force Feed Democracy On The Middle East Sand Monkeys For The Israel Firster Agenda.
The Tea Party Rebellion Is In Florida.
Bob K.| 1.23.12 @ 6:36PM
Santorum has to avoid the temptation to sound sanctimonious!
Then he should try not to sound like the moderator, or any MSM Anchorman, or Obama or Chris Matthews or Bill O'Reilly, or Bill Clinton, or Charlie Rose, or Garrison Keillor-Especially Garrison Keillor! Or any current White House Czar.......................................................... etc .....
aware| 1.23.12 @ 7:04PM
So you want Santorum to not sound like.....Santorum?
bill| 1.23.12 @ 8:12PM
Santorum won IA by default, and opposed "Right-to-Work" state, since FL is a "Right-to-Work" state, similar to SC, He cannot win here. No Northeastern moderate will ever win in the South. McCain won SC and FL in 2008, and he was not from New England, but from the Southwest region.
Being a southern, Gingrich will have a huge advantage over Romney and Santorum.
Ron Paul is an "X-Factor."
You get the picture!
Lullabys, Legends and Lies| 1.23.12 @ 7:20PM
This is going to be the worst rated of all of the debates so far, because the Nothing But Communism all the time channel (NBC), is trying to promote Brian Williams' stupid Rock Center instead of the debate itself. Actually the debate is supposed to start at 2100 tonight (that's 9 PM for all you Civilians out there), but on my Time Warner Cable TV Guide here at FT Bragg, Fear Factor is on at 2100, not the debate. So people are going to be looking for this debate, and all they're going to see is Fear Factor, followed by Rock Center on NBC (and nobody knows what the hell Rock Center is, you can tell by its miserably ratings so far!!), so they're going to watch Two and a Half Men instead on the Communist Broadcasting Station (CBS). If the Republican debate isn't on FOX, I won't watch it live, I'll just wait for the replay, or look for it online somewhere later on. I won't give the Old Media Networks my ratings, Screw 'Em, Screw 'Em all I say!! I'll tell you one thing, that Newt Gingrich has tapped into something, with his attacks on the media, I really like what he's doing there, because I can't stand the Old Media anymore either!!
Mike 3/505| 1.23.12 @ 8:09PM
thanx for the "rock center" heads up...I was looking all over for the debate on the scrolling TVG channel & no joy. Rock Center is on...Again...thanx mucho.
Regards,
Mike
somnolence| 1.23.12 @ 10:14PM
So far Gingrich is dumbfounded, stumbling badly.