Putting aside all issues of who I did or did not agree with, and putting aside all issues of who I would or would not like to see in the White House, and ranking them solely on the criterion of “Demonstrated Ability to Think on Their Feet”, I score it this way:
1) Gingrich
2) Santorum
3) Bachmann
4) Cain
5) Paul
6) Romney
7) Pawlenty
8) Huntsman
You?
That’s about how I’d rank them based on their performance, but I’d switch Paul and Bachmann. His responses seemed tailored to the questions, while many of hers were more generic (and I thought she and Pawlenty were both a bit snippy in their little tiff).
I do think, though, that Gingrich, Cain, and Santorum had some canned responses ready. Gingrich was expecting a question about his campaign, Cain was expecting one about Islam, etc. I think all three of them did their homework.
I think Newt Gingrich looks like an older Peter Griffin from Family Guy.
I tihnk about the same. What effect do you think last night’s debate will have on the actual election? I’m guessing none. It’s a long process but I’m guessing hardly anyone watched it and those who did were probably die hard neo con political junkies.
As long as no one has a Howard Dean “Yeeaaah!” moment that medias themselves out of the race, these things so early on are a waste of time.
Nothing one can say or do in these things to knock it out of the park.
Rick Parry has demonstrated ability to think tactically by officially not being in the straw poll and “announcing” his intention to run for president on the same day as the straw poll in an effort to take headlines away from the straw poll winner.
That is the type of thinking we need. Remember Iowa, write in Rick Parry. That’s P”A”rry with an A for America, an A for IowA.
Here’s what I wrote about last night’s debate:
http://www.letfreedomringblog.com/?p=10981
I thought Mitt damaged himself by slipping the first question on going “into the Mittness protection plan.”
Another reason why I won’t be voting.
Cain, Pawlenty, Santorum and Bachmann should be tied for last. They are the absolute prototypical politician when it comes to irrelevant canned answers.
I’m discouraged by the huge disconnect between the selection criteria for politicians and the actual skillset needed to run a country.
I won’t be voting… directly. Anyone else want to stay home? (don’t read http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1994-03-04/)
Mike H, fortunately, for the most part, politicians don’t run the country. This is not the Soviet Union, so getting the right people in power is not as crucial.
@ Ricardo:
In your opinion, who currently runs the country?
Recent polling suggests that law makers really don’t enact policies than the majority of Americans want.
I’m not saying that increasing taxes on the wealthy to reduce the cuts needed to entitlements is the way to go, but it does point to the fact that like the Soviet Union, the American proletariat and petite bourgeoisie has no say in how the country is run.