Open Thread: CNN's GOP Debate

I did not watch the debate.

Submitted by Scuba Dude on Wed, 11/23/2011 - 12:39pm.

I did not watch the debate. I am waiting for the Grump Analysis. ;-)

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They aren't debates. They are photo ops.

Submitted by c5then on Wed, 11/23/2011 - 12:54pm.

No one is asked speciic questions about thier underlying values and beliefs that they would fall back on for decisions in situations that are not forseeable. That is the key to figuring out who would make a better President. Not who has been breifed on talking points and can rattle off policy statements that they have memorized.

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debate

Submitted by llhjunk on Wed, 11/23/2011 - 1:29pm.

We watched it together and each of us thought it was one of the better debates we've watched over the course of this election cycle. We felt we were informed and also felt that Mitt & Newt did the best job answering. Liked the questions and questioners much better than the snarky questions from news media types!

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Once again Newt schools the

Submitted by BD on Wed, 11/23/2011 - 1:50pm.

Once again Newt schools the Paulians......
Though Paul was not bright enough to realize it since he operates on such a low strategic level.

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R- Debate (11/22/11) “The Official Grump-Analysis”

Submitted by Grumpy in Arizona on Wed, 11/23/2011 - 2:08pm.

Source: “The Grumpy Center for Advanced Studies (GCAS)”
Motto of the GCAS: “There ain’t no beans in real chili… period!”

OVERVIEW: This was the “SERE” (Survival, Rescue, Escape, & Evasion) debate… with the emphasis on Evasion.

This CNN debate on “National Security and Foreign Policy Issues” was held at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. and was noteworthy because the vast majority of the excellent questions were asked by notable representatives and Fellows from both the Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute.

THE MODERATOR/QUESTIONER: Wolf Blitzer was the “moderator” and did his usual best to get the candidates arguing among themselves, but because the questions from Heritage and AEI were so well formulated, Blitzer was somewhat thwarted in his efforts… not that he didn’t give it “the old CNN try.”

The debate was run according to the usual CNN rules… One minute response and 30 seconds for rebuttal – all the candidates lined-up in a row behind podiums in order of who CNN thinks are the major contenders (for show) and questions directed to those candidates that CNN would like to see run against their beloved “The Won” (as a practical matter).

It was actually quite obvious (and shameless) that CNN devoted a great deal of time to Ron Paul and Huntsman – followed by Santorum, Bachman, and Perry – while doing their CNN best to avoid questions to Romney, Gingrich and Cain.

PARTICIPANT ANALYSIS: As said in the ‘Overview; this debate’s primary emphasis (by the candidates) seemed to be on “evading” the questions asked and answering in pre-formulated “sound-bites” … or just down out attempts to change the subject.

So I’m going to list the ‘winners and losers’ of those who (IMO) gave direct and thoughtful answers to the actual questions asked:

1. Newt Gingrich – He was the clear winner of this debate... no one else came close. He did make one “perceived” mistake that a few of the other candidates jumped-on when discussing illegal immigration (and the illegal’s already here)… But if you go back and review his answer, I think you might find that he was merely searching for a solution that would solve the problem while conforming to the value system of the American people.

2. Rick Perry – Regarding the evasion principle, he seemed open and straightforward and did not try to employ the technique of going off on a tangent. A lot of his answers were shallow and did reflect talking points… but he on a couple of occasions tried to bring the discussion back to the basics of the questions – So for that he gets a second place finish.

3. Michele Bachmann – She did a very good job last night. Her answers were mostly “on point,” but she does have a tendency to try to position herself as a ‘strategic thinker’ while she is actually more of a ‘tactical’ one …Now, there is nothing wrong with that per se, and while she did a good job in the debate, it is becoming obvious that she would make a fine Administrator, but not necessarily a great Leader.

4. Herman Cain – I would have liked to see the “Herminator” do better than he did. Mr. Cain’s problem is just the opposite of Bachman’s… he is a primarily ‘strategic thinker’ with a set of guiding principles about how to solve problems but does not answer the ‘tactical’ questions well. Because of his openness about how he would solve problems (a look into his thought process, if you will allow) I rate his performance slightly better than his overall answers.

5. Mitt Romney – He really didn’t get the amount of ‘air-time’ he deserved (based on the polls) but what little he got he used to effectively make himself appear to be the paragon of conservatism – which is a bald-faced lie on his part. He gave ‘stock’ answers based upon (I suspect) what the audience wanted to hear. While he did attempt to answer some of the questions directly, I suspect he missed his calling in life – he would make a great ‘Pea-shell artist.’

6. Rick Santorum – As 1 of 100 - He made a great Senator. He did try to answer the questions asked, but kept falling back on his “When I was in the Senate” routine, and his whining that he is not being allotted enough time during these debates is getting old... he really doesn’t get enough time, so his complaint might be legitimate – but for goodness sakes, stop with the “Pay attention to me” thing.

7. Ron Paul – I honestly do not know what to say about this crazy-man. He has a 18th Century view of America and does not realize that we are no longer living in an agrarian society that just wants to be left alone (as we were when starting off). He does not seem to understand that there are people in the world who want to kill us. He wants to abandon our responsibilities in the world and crawl back into a safe little cocoon that simply does not exist. The solutions he offers and his worldview are really scary and I wish he would just go back to venting in a Congressional ‘nightly open forum’ where nobody has to listen to him.

8. Jon Huntsman – This guy is simply running in the wrong party. Not a single answer he gave was germane to the question raised… His solutions are banal and his ‘love fest’ with some very liberal ideas simply do not reflect the real world we live in. RNC: Stop inviting this guy to the debates – he is just a waste of time!

- Grump :o)

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I have stopped watching these "debates," as they aren't...

Submitted by Dave. on Wed, 11/23/2011 - 2:48pm.

...actually debtates so much as they are sound bite sessions.

And there are still too many participants involved.

As for Newt, he did okay for someong who is not actually a conservative, but he totally blew it be calling for making illegal alien invader criminals legal.

-Dave

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Canada's economy was on the ropes now it has a surplus

Submitted by lrgon on Wed, 11/23/2011 - 5:37pm.

The media lashes out at anyone attempting to do any budget cutting and even the slightest spending cuts are countered back by demands for more taxes to be increased instead.

A lesson to learn from our friends to the north on how they cut spending and have what they refer to as a "payoff decade."

In the 1990's the Canadian Reform Party was, or could, be referred to as the Tea Party of that country and they didn't let the policians get away with rhetoric but made them make real cuts not cuts ot a "projected model" decades off in the future.

In the USA calls for real budgetary reform by the Tea Party is drowned by the noise from the establishment Republicans unwilling to do any serious cutting or ignoring those who do. Even the recent downgrade of the country’s debt by Standard and Poor’s appears to be having little effect or impact on the conversation in Washington. The willingness to endure the pain of the necessary cuts is nowhere to be found. The “payoff decade” for the United States appears to be in the distant future.

Listening to the debaters last night the only ones willing cut military outlays was Paul and Huntsman, all the rest are under the illusion that we can afford to keep wasting money of useless Obama-type foreign wars which are a detriment to our national defense.

Andrew Breitbarts Big Government blog >>> http://biggovernment.com/dmitchell/2011/11/22/american-politicians-shoul...

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Haven't had a chance to watch

Submitted by amyshulk on Wed, 11/23/2011 - 9:16pm.

Haven't had a chance to watch it yet.

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Happy Thanksgiving to all*

Submitted by cajun2 on Wed, 11/23/2011 - 9:34pm.

Cajun wishes a Happy Thanksgiving to all.  We should take this opportunity to thank the Good Lord for all our our bounty, blessings, beautiful children, family and friends.  Make it a special day about family like we used to do.

Then, come Monday, bash some trolls, make a difference.

Have a great day everyone!!

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Good evening everyone

Submitted by cocodrie on Wed, 11/23/2011 - 10:33pm.

I thank each and everyoue for being my friend here. I know I sometimes preach and that I'm inflexible with my posts so I'll just present you with a Hank Williams song.

Thank God

There's a road that's straight and narrow
that the saints have traveled on
paved with all the tribulations
of the martyers that have gone

If you're grateful for their victories
and for showing us the way
then give thanks for all your blessings
get on your knees and pray

In this world of grief and sorrow
filled with selfishness and greed
there remains a glory fountain
to supply your every need

You can find it in the temple
with a welcome on the door
be sure to count your blessings
before you ask for more

Be forgiving to the wayward
like the master told us to
when He said forgive them Father
for they know not what they do

They would change their way of living
if they could but understand
so remember they're your brothers
they need a helping hand

Thank God for every flower and each tree
thank God for all the mountains and the seas
thank God for giving life to you and me
wherever you may be.

God bless each and every one of you - Jesus loves you

Alton

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