Debate
Jan/06/08 03:54 PM
AHHH! Thats what I felt like screaming after tonight's Republican debate. It was incredibly frustrating to watch Huckabee, McCain, Giuliani, and Thompson personally attack Romney all night, effectively blocking his chance to talk about his ideas, opinions, and successes as a family man, businessman, and governor. Understandably, Romney seemed to get heated and fed up with all the wisecracks, which didn't exactly cause him to look very presidential. Overall, I'd have to say that those four 'won' this debate by all ganging up on someone that they would clearly rather not compete with. The easiest way to look most impressive, electable, and presidential tonight was to simply sit back and smile while those around you circled around the boxing ring. Unfortunately, that wasn't an option for Mitt, who was forced to constantly be on the defense. The moderator of the debate even caught a few of the candidates a number of times, dragging Mike Huckabee into the debate saying something like "Now Mike I know you're happy to be sitting back there smiling while everyone else dukes it out here, but lets actually hear what you think..."
I must say that I think tonight will hurt Mitt's chances in New Hampshire on Tuesday, and therefore in the larger general nomination process, as he based his whole campaign on success in both Iowa (where he came in a rather-distant second place) and New Hampshire (where polls before tonight's debate showed him trailing McCain by 6 points I believe). I'm disappointed that his fall could be attributed to personal attacks instead of serious policy debates and differences between the candidates. I don't know how many of you have seen Mitt's "attack" ads against Mike Huckabee and John McCain, but I certainly wouldn't characterize them as personal attacks such as the ones that went on tonight at St. A's. Mitt's ads don't attack their character at all. Instead, they focus on clear policy differences- differences that should make a difference to any Republican primary voter. Huckabee did support in-state tuition for illegal immigrants, Mitt didn't. How is that a personal attack? John McCain did support what some would call amnesty for all 12 million illegal immigrants in the US. Mitt didn't. Attack? I don't think so. What I do call a personal attack, though, is McCains quip, "Mitt, we don't agree on much, but I do agree with you that you ARE the candidate of change". That's just a low blow. No policy there.
The only thing that tonight's slug-fest proved was that the other candidates can be immature and have colluded to get a serious threat to their campaigns whom they are united against out of the race. I'm hoping for something different tomorrow night with Fox New's debate at 8 PM. And I do indeed with Ron Paul was in that debate. He brings some interesting points to the table, especially about the economy.
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I watched all of the Republican debate, but only caught the last half hour of the Democratic debate. As one might guess, I agreed with almost none of what they were saying, although I admire Bill Richardson (who I've seen speak twice at school) and his plans for improving the US economy through investment in education instead of just rolling back tax cuts and increasing spending. But one of the most infuriating moments of the debate for me came from my pal Hillary Clinton at the end. On the subject of the effectiveness and favorite/changeable moments of the debate, she stated how important it was for the American people to see how starkly different the debate contents were between the Republicans and Democrats. She went on to say how horrible it was that the evil Republicans don't talk enough about global warming (increased, I'm sure, by the four Chevy Suburbans that all four candidates surely took to the debate in snowy New Hampshire), don't talk about arts and education, don't talk about health care, and don't talk about the supposed recession. Well Hill, what about all the vitally important stuff that you and your fellow Democrats don't talk about- issues that I assure you the American people care deeply about? What about terrorism and the desire of radical Muslims for both America and Israel to be demolished? What about border protection and enforcement? What about the 12 million illegal immigrants in the US now, posing a risk to national security and costing American taxpayers (those ones that you claim to be so worried about) hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars (I read recently that California hospitals footed a bill of over $100 million in unpaid medical fees run up by illegal aliens there last year. Guess who's paying for that? Vincente Fox certainly isn't)? What about tax cuts and cuts in spending (you sure won't see any of that under a Democratic White House)? I think Hillary should worry about her own party and their attention (or lack thereof) to certain issues before complaining about the Republican issues. After all, we Americans certainly won't have to worry about global warming if Osama bin Laden has his way.
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Side note- Does John Edwards disgust anyone as much as he does me? I think he's a huge slime ball. Who does he think he is to attack all the "evil rich" people in the US, the corporations that provide jobs for millions of Americans, and the environment hogs much like himself? I can't think of a more hypocritical person! John Edwards, who lives in a house that is 28,200 square feet and probably emits more CO2 and uses more energy that the whole Midwest! John Edwards, the man of the poor, who gets $400 hair cuts! John Edwards, who has been rumored to have been cheating on his dying wife! John Edwards, who cares about the rising costs of medical insurance for the poor. The same John Edwards who made his MILLIONS suing the pants off American companies and doctors, thus raising the costs of medical insurance and doctor's insurance! John Edwards, Yuck!
I must say that I think tonight will hurt Mitt's chances in New Hampshire on Tuesday, and therefore in the larger general nomination process, as he based his whole campaign on success in both Iowa (where he came in a rather-distant second place) and New Hampshire (where polls before tonight's debate showed him trailing McCain by 6 points I believe). I'm disappointed that his fall could be attributed to personal attacks instead of serious policy debates and differences between the candidates. I don't know how many of you have seen Mitt's "attack" ads against Mike Huckabee and John McCain, but I certainly wouldn't characterize them as personal attacks such as the ones that went on tonight at St. A's. Mitt's ads don't attack their character at all. Instead, they focus on clear policy differences- differences that should make a difference to any Republican primary voter. Huckabee did support in-state tuition for illegal immigrants, Mitt didn't. How is that a personal attack? John McCain did support what some would call amnesty for all 12 million illegal immigrants in the US. Mitt didn't. Attack? I don't think so. What I do call a personal attack, though, is McCains quip, "Mitt, we don't agree on much, but I do agree with you that you ARE the candidate of change". That's just a low blow. No policy there.
The only thing that tonight's slug-fest proved was that the other candidates can be immature and have colluded to get a serious threat to their campaigns whom they are united against out of the race. I'm hoping for something different tomorrow night with Fox New's debate at 8 PM. And I do indeed with Ron Paul was in that debate. He brings some interesting points to the table, especially about the economy.
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I watched all of the Republican debate, but only caught the last half hour of the Democratic debate. As one might guess, I agreed with almost none of what they were saying, although I admire Bill Richardson (who I've seen speak twice at school) and his plans for improving the US economy through investment in education instead of just rolling back tax cuts and increasing spending. But one of the most infuriating moments of the debate for me came from my pal Hillary Clinton at the end. On the subject of the effectiveness and favorite/changeable moments of the debate, she stated how important it was for the American people to see how starkly different the debate contents were between the Republicans and Democrats. She went on to say how horrible it was that the evil Republicans don't talk enough about global warming (increased, I'm sure, by the four Chevy Suburbans that all four candidates surely took to the debate in snowy New Hampshire), don't talk about arts and education, don't talk about health care, and don't talk about the supposed recession. Well Hill, what about all the vitally important stuff that you and your fellow Democrats don't talk about- issues that I assure you the American people care deeply about? What about terrorism and the desire of radical Muslims for both America and Israel to be demolished? What about border protection and enforcement? What about the 12 million illegal immigrants in the US now, posing a risk to national security and costing American taxpayers (those ones that you claim to be so worried about) hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars (I read recently that California hospitals footed a bill of over $100 million in unpaid medical fees run up by illegal aliens there last year. Guess who's paying for that? Vincente Fox certainly isn't)? What about tax cuts and cuts in spending (you sure won't see any of that under a Democratic White House)? I think Hillary should worry about her own party and their attention (or lack thereof) to certain issues before complaining about the Republican issues. After all, we Americans certainly won't have to worry about global warming if Osama bin Laden has his way.
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Side note- Does John Edwards disgust anyone as much as he does me? I think he's a huge slime ball. Who does he think he is to attack all the "evil rich" people in the US, the corporations that provide jobs for millions of Americans, and the environment hogs much like himself? I can't think of a more hypocritical person! John Edwards, who lives in a house that is 28,200 square feet and probably emits more CO2 and uses more energy that the whole Midwest! John Edwards, the man of the poor, who gets $400 hair cuts! John Edwards, who has been rumored to have been cheating on his dying wife! John Edwards, who cares about the rising costs of medical insurance for the poor. The same John Edwards who made his MILLIONS suing the pants off American companies and doctors, thus raising the costs of medical insurance and doctor's insurance! John Edwards, Yuck!
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