September 08, 2011
Obligatory, Next-Day Reagan Debate Commentary
Rick Perry may as well have walked on to a bullseye instead of a stage last night at the Reagan Library, with fellow Republican Presidential candidates and the moderators doing their level best to tear him apart.
Overall, Perry held his ground, which is all you must do as the front-runner. He got testy with Mitt Romney, which was expected, and with Ron Paul, which is unnecessary (you don't punch down, and you don't engage crazy).
Mitt Romney, was, well, Mitt Romney. Incredibly polished, impeccably Presidential in his bearing, and yet so slightly off-putting and almost imperceptibly insincere. He's like a more refined version of Joe Isuzu.
Newt Gingrich showed us all he is still a masterful debater and personality, and I hope they keep him around well into the primary season if for no other reason than to drop like a sack of hammers on badgering moderators like we saw last night. He will not be President or the Veep, but he is a brilliant man, and whoever the eventual candidate would be smart to find him a place in their administration.
Herman Cain gave the most direct answers of the night, and impressed me with his ability to stay on message. He didn't duck or weave like the professional politicians, and had the kind of confidence that comes from experiencing real success. He and he alone stands on the stage as the only candidate in either party with a legitimate claim as a job maker. I want to see him around until the end, and suspect he would be solid Vice Presidential pick for the eventual nominee, where he could be set loose to promote job growth for the next four years.
There was also another Mitt Romney in a orange face and yellow tie. I think they called him Jon something.
Michelle Bachmann, God bless her, was neutered last night, primarily by the moderators, who all but excluded her. I quipped on Twitter that I thought she must have left early, and of course, Politico thought I meant that literally, when I was actually a bit ticked at the way the moderators focused on trying to destroy Perry and Romney instead of trying to provide an actual forum people could learn from.
I think there were a couple of other candidates, but they don't matter.
And there you are.
Ron Paul - I know that kooky freedom and liberty thing, or that self responsibility non-sense. I just don't get it.
Hey let's not ask the only Doctor in the debate health care reform questions. Yes, it's much better to ask the political hacks and lawyers.
And here we are.
Posted by: Chuck at September 8, 2011 12:29 PMRon's not nutty, he is the only one who stands for the same principles as our founding fathers. Sounds like your drinking someone's Kool-Aid.
Posted by: Kevin at September 8, 2011 01:08 PMHe and he alone stands on the stage as the only candidate in either party with a legitimate claim as a job maker.
But he did it in the private sector, which is where jobs should be created. But he is running for president of the public sector jobs where he will have no ability to duplicate his success in Pizza making. What he shuld say is, "the US government has NO role in creating jobs in the USA with the small exception of hiring those few people that the government needs to perform its own essential functions (whatever those might be)".
Hey let's not ask the only Doctor in the debate health care reform questions.
Setting aside the fact that Paul hasn't been a practicing doctor in 20 years and has instead been a "political hack" all that time, you don't need to be a doctor to say "the US government has no business interfereing in the health care system." The only thing any Republican candidate needs to say is "repeal it". Any that follow it up with "so we can fix it and do it right" (Mitt, Gingrich) can step off the stage because they are done.
Posted by: Professor Hale at September 8, 2011 01:11 PMKevin: That was my attempt at sarc. I don't think Ron Paul is nutty either. I have read his books which unlike others I presume he actually wrote himself. He is consistent in his moral outlook and voting record. I believe he is the only candidate that offers a small government alternative platform.
Professor Hale: Ron Paul is the only candidate that has called for a end to all government intervention in health care. He even stated the systemic problems started after WWII with wage controls and health care benis offered by corporations which pooled plans away from individual plans, followed by the HMO laws in the 70's to our present situation. He gets it and being a doctor does count because he has a clear view into what the market of health care concerns which are customers and providers of health care (eg patients and doctors).
Let's also not forget that the last Republican controlled Congress gave us Medicare Part D.
Vote for another big government douche bag. Just don't expect that kind of mental masturbation to lead to a different outcome. I learned my lesson back in 94 after supporting my 'Freshman Republican' candidates.
Hell I'm to the point where I should consider that voting to 'fix' the government is a form of mental masturbation without a kiss or a happy ending.
Posted by: Chuck at September 8, 2011 02:13 PMI am amused that anyone supports a 20 year career politician as "an outsider". Paul gets plus points for being right about lots of things. He gets nothing for being in public office for 20 years and doing nothing about it. Flapping your gums is easy for politicians, it's what they do. If they get enough peoiple to agree with them, they are doing it right. Paul's flapping is popular now, but he hasn't accomplished anything in 20 years in office.
Being a doctor would count, except, he isn't one and hasn't been one for a long time. Heck, medical science has reversed itself on salt intake twice since he stopped practicing.
Posted by: Professor Hale at September 8, 2011 03:04 PMI never called him an 'outsider'. The media has so I guess it is so? If you mean outsider to the power circles of the Trilateral Commission and other ass slapping cocktail parties that revolve around the DC 'in' crowd, then yes he is an outsider.
He does have a 20 year voting record against the kind of big government policies that we decry. Is that 'doing nothing'?
http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=296
Is writing books about liberty and bringing the topic of ending the Federal Reserve's influence to a point where by other candidates are using the same meme 'doing nothing'?
I getting young people interested in the message of freedom is 'doing nothing'? He is very popular with young folks and has also received the highest percentage of donations from active duty military personnel.
Would exposing huge numbers of people to the message of freedom and liberty, 'doing nothing'?
Your statement about his not practicing medicine does nothing to support that the lawyers or ex CEOs on stage know anything appreciable regarding the medical industry. Newt is articulate but has said he thinks all Americans should be required to buy health insurance and opposed Paul Ryan's plan for privatizing Medicare for people under 55.
I do not fundamentally understand what any of the other candidates have done while being in office other than promoting big gov with the exception of the new comers. Even Bachman voted for the Patriot Act, Romney has Romneycare, Perry was a Democrat pimp for Gore (recently) and Texans have their problems with his record including the Gardasil racket.
Help me out here. I would like to know what the other candidates will bring in the way of smaller government and more freedom and liberty.
Cain and Paul? Paul and Cain? I could support that ticket.
Posted by: Chuck at September 8, 2011 03:49 PMDon't look at me to defend any of those other losers. I'm for Generic-Republican-to-be-named- later.
Also, I like the patriot act. If that is all you have on Bachmann, I guess she is winning for now.
Posted by: Professor Hale at September 8, 2011 09:20 PMThis is what I have on the Patriot Act (Can't post youtube link so if you google "judge napolitano patriot act" You will get the goods via youtube.
The JQ Adams quote regarding may the chains set lightly upon you...
Bachman was marginalized to a great degree by the MSNBC hit circus otherwise known as the debate to focus on the uber-douche twins Perry / Mittens, just as Paul was so you may be on to something.
Posted by: Chuck at September 9, 2011 08:44 AMChuck, I agree with you about Dr Paul. However, it was Samuel Adams, rather than his kinsman John, who ended his challenge with "...May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."
Dr Paul's stance is certainly in step with Washington's Farewell Address warning in 1796, and with Thomas Jefferson's and Andrew Jackson's sentiments on a central bank.
My fear is that we are so far removed from that original and glorious vision that even if Dr Paul were elected, the dark forces would thwart any efforts to restore the Republic he would champion. His greatest gift is that of keeping that original vision in the debate and raising awareness of what liberty is and what we have lost. God Bless him for that!!
Posted by: AJ at September 9, 2011 06:45 PM
