Thursday, November 29, 2007
|
|
Romney Won Debate And The Spin
|
|
Posted by:
Hugh Hewitt at
12:32 AM
|
The spin releases are excellent guides to who really won the carnival debate. (CNN's reputation lost. Again.) Mike Huckabee won on Ruffini's card. Rudy Giuliani won on Kate O'Beirne's and Ana Marie Cox's cards.
Romney won everyone else.
From Team Romney:
WHAT THEY'RE REALLY SAYING ABOUT GOVERNOR
ROMNEY AT THE ST. PETERSBURG, FL GOP DEBATE – VOL II
National Review's Kate O'Beirne: "Romney's performance is his strongest in the series." (National Review's "The Corner," corner.nationalreview.com, Accessed 11/28/07)
Michelle Malkin: "So, who won? Quick and dirty reaction: Romney looked strong and energetic …" (Michelle Malkin, "Liveblogging The CNN/Youtube," http://michellemalkin.com/, Posted 11/28/07)
Townhall's Mary Katherine Ham: "[Romney] came across serious and conservative." (Mary Katharine Ham, "Who Won?," http://www.townhall.com/blog, 11/28/07)
The American Spectator's Philip Klein: "… I thought Romney got the better of that [immigration] exchange. It's one thing to use Romney's illegal immigrant lawn care workers in a joke, but it's another thing to try and base a serious criticism on that." (Philip Klein, "Sanctuary Mansion," The American Spectator Online, 11/28/07)
CBS' Vaughn Ververs: "In the opening minutes, Romney and Rudy Giuliani sparred over illegal immigration… Romney appeared to get the upper hand in the exchange, challenging Giuliani on his charge and the sometimes vocal audience sounded a note of apparent disapproval at the mayor's line of attack." (Vaughn Ververs, "Romney Battles, Huckabee Shines In GOP Debate," CBS'S Horserace '08 Blog, http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs, Posted 11/28/07)
Captain's Quarters' Ed Morrissey: "Romney gets the edge here, especially for beating Rudy Giuliani like a bongo drum on immigration." (Ed Morrissey, "CNN/YouTube Debate – CNN Wins," Captain's Quarters Blog, www.captainsquartersblog.com, Posted 11/28/07)
Morrissey: "Romney has this issue [of interrogations] exactly correct. We should not start defining these techniques on national debates for the reasons Romney said." ("Heading Right," www.headingright.com, Accessed 11/28/07)
Power Line's Scott Johnson: "Best performance: Mitt Romney." (Scott Johnson, "Best And Worst Of The Debate," Power Line, http://www.powerlineblog.com/, Posted 11/28/07)
Johnson: "Best line of the night: Mitt Romney, on abortion ('I was wrong')." (Scott Johnson, "Best And Worst Of The Debate," Power Line Blog, http://www.powerlineblog.com/, Posted 11/28/07)
National Review's Kathryn Jean Lopez: "Romney played it straight and didn't over explain the abortion change. Seemed a wise and effective approach, especially in this format." (National Review's "The Corner," http://corner.nationalreview.com, Accessed 11/28/07)
Heading Right's Macranger: "Good answer [on life]. People do change." ("Heading Right," www.headingright.com, Accessed11/28/07)
The American Spectator's Philip Klein: "[Gov. Romney] showed more humility by saying several times he was wrong, that he isn't perfect, that he hasn't always made the right decisions. It worked a lot better for him." (Philip Klein, "Romney's Abortion Flip-Flop Answer," The American Spectator Online, 11/28/07)
Townhall's Hugh Hewitt: "I agree with most of the posters at The Corner that Mitt is doing very, very well." (Townhall, www.townhall.com Accessed 11/28/07)
Former Secretary Of Education Bill Bennett: "Mitt Romney talked about education as the next civil right…Liberals have failed inner city blacks overwhelmingly in the last 30 years. That's why the question from the father and son was so pertinent and I thought Romney did a good job on it." (CNN's, "Post Debate Coverage," 11/28/07)
Townhall's Mary Katharine Ham: "… I grew up in the inner city, in public schools. The plight of those who live there is real, sad, and cannot often be solved by the Nanny State. Romney focuses on families, empowerment, police protection in solving black-on-black crime, and invokes Bill Cosby. Well done. It addressed the question directly and treated the questioners' concerns with respect. It was a serious answer with real application, not a flippant appeal to the family values crowd that would have made him look disconnected, which it easily could have been." (Mary Katharine Ham, "Romney's Winner Answer on Black-on-Black Crime," Townhall.com, www.townhall.com, 11/28/07)
The American Spectator's John Tabin: "Romney's answer is pretty good; family's important, of course it is" (James G. Poulos, "Black On Black Crime," The American Spectator Online, 11/28/07) and
WHAT THEY'RE REALLY SAYING ABOUT GOVERNOR
MITT ROMNEY AT THE ST. PETERSBURG, FL GOP DEBATE
The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder: "Romney had a strong night, seemed raring to go, seemed to be willing to take on everybody, anybody, all comers, seemed to want to pick every fight possible." (Marc Ambinder, "The Debate In Review," The Atlantic Online Blog, http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/, 11/28/07)
National Review's Seth Leibsohn: "This Is Mitt's Night." (Seth Leibsohn, "This Is Mitt's Night," National Review's The Corner, http://corner.nationalreview.com, Posted 11/28/07)
Bill Bennett: "I think that Romney stood out tonight. I think he was loud and clear. Conservative. He was 'all-in' as you'd say in Texas Hold 'Em." (CNN's Post-Debate Coverage, 11/28/07)
Bill Bennett: "I thought he came across very strong. I think you guys are absolutely right. That opening debate between Romney and Giuliani was, I think, the pivotal point of the evening. And I think points to Romney. Giuliani came across badly." (CNN's Post-Debate Coverage, 11/28/07)
ABC News Live Blog: "Romney is engaging very, very directly -- and dare I say he's getting the better of Giuliani in this exchange, funny accents and all." ("Live-Blogging During GOP Debate," ABC News' Political Radar, http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar, Posted 11/28/07)
ABC News Live Blog: "And Romney gets the first applause by noting that illegal immigrants already broke the law." ("Live-Blogging During GOP Debate," ABC News' Political Radar, http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar, Posted 11/28/07)
National Review's Kathryn Jean Lopez: "[T]his is Romney's best debate performance yet. He reminds us he has experience and outside of Washington, he's tackled difficult issues, and does not let his temper get the best of him with a New York bully (something that will come in handy)." (Kathryn Jean Lopez, "So Far," National Review's The Corner, http://corner.nationalreview.com, Posted 11/28/07)
CNN's Bill Schneider: "A clever answer from former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney on farming. He says we need food independence like we need energy independence — keep the farmers on the farm. His reasoning: We need to be able to compete with other countries that support their farmers." (Bill Schneider, "Schneider: Romney Scores Points On Farming Answer," CNN's Political Ticker, http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com, Posted 11/28/07)
MSNBC's Domenico Montanaro: "While the sanctuary mansion line got good laughs, Romney's explanation and questions left Giuliani without an answer." (Domenico Montanaro, "Giuliani Flustered?" MSNBC's First Read, http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com, Posted 11/28/07)
National Review's Rich Lowry: "Rudy let his temper get the best of him—clear winner of the exchange: Romney." (Rich Lowry, "Mitt V. Rudy," National Review's The Corner, http://corner.nationalreview.com, Posted 11/28/07)
National Review's Seth Leibsohn: "I'd be surprised after this debate if Mitt doesn't see national numbers looking more like his Iowa or NH numbers after tonight's performance. Brilliant response to the black on black crime questions." (Seth Leibsohn, "Changing Times," National Review's The Corner, http://corner.nationalreview.com, Posted 11/28/07)
The New York Times' Katharine Q. Seelye: "But finally, a father-son team, from Atlanta, want the candidates to talk about black-on-black crime, and while Mr. Romney gets in a nice line about mothers and fathers and family values, none of the candidates really address the issue that the young son raised." (Katharine Q. Seelye, "Live-Blogging the YouTube Debate," The New York Times' The Caucus Blog, http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/, Posted 11/28/07)
National Review's Ramesh Ponnuru: "So Romney did pretty well in the debate, and won the immigration exchange." (Ramesh Ponnuru, "A Good Day for Giuliani," The Corner Blog, corner.nationalreview.com, Posted 11/28/07)
Townhall's Mary Katharine Ham: "Mitt makes a good point that homeowners should not be required to check papers of workers hired for their and connects it to regular Americans by suggesting that that's what Rudy wants them to do." (Townhall, www.townhall.com, Accessed, 11/28/07)
The Plank's Isaac Chotiner: "Romney definitely got the best of Giuliani on their early immigration skirmish (which actually got rather heated). Rudy's line about Romney's mansion was cheap and silly. And Romney is more appealing when going negative than any of the other candidates." (The New Republic's "The Plank," Accessed, 11/28/07)
National Review's Kate O'Beirne: "Romney's reference point about how MA liberals reason is effective. Reminds us that he gets them and fought them." (National Review's "The Corner," http://corner.nationalreview.com, Accessed 11/28/07)
Captain's Quarters' Ed Morrissey: Romney and Huckabee had a good spar over giving better benefits to illegals for school than to citizens. Romney is absolutely 100% right on this issue. I hope Iowans realize that Huckabee may very well be worse than Bush on illegal immigration." (Heading Right," www.headingright.com, Accessed 11/28/07) from Team Giuliani:
The American Spectator’s Philip Klein: “[G]iuliani was on strong ground defending his immigration policies in New York City …” (Philip Klein, “Sanctuary Mansion,” The American Spectator’s “AmSpecBlog,” http://www.spectator.org/blogger.asp?BlogID=9442, 11/28/07, Accessed 11/28/07)
- Klein said Giuliani gave “a great answer that mixes tolerance and toughness” on repairing the American image abroad. (Philip Klein, “Repairing The American Image Abroad,” The American Spectators “AmSpecBlog,” 11/28/07, Accessed 11/28/07)
The American Spectator’s Jennifer Rubin said Giuliani’s answer on cutting crime was “the best of the night.” (Jennifer Rubin, “Crime,” The American Spectator’s “AmSpecBlog,” 11/28/07, Accessed 11/28/07)
- Rubin said Giuliani gave “three good answers” on controlling government spending. (Jenner Rubin, “Spending,” The American Spectator’s “AmSpecBlog,” 11/28/07, Accessed 11/28/07)
The National Review’s Kate O’Beirne said Giuliani’s “sanctuary mansion” comment was a “good line.” (Kate O’Beirne, “Good Line,” The National Review’s “The Corner” Blog, 11/28/07, Accessed 11/28/07)
- O’Beirne: “Giuliani Gains” (Kate O'Beirne, National Review Online’s The Corner Blog, “Giuliani Gains,” 11/28/07, Accessed: 11/28/07)
The National Journal’s Jennifer Skalka said Giuliani’s campaign video was “the funniest.” (Jennifer Skalka, “‘Annual Snowfall Dramatically Reduced’ In NYC, According To Rudy Video,” National Journal’s “The Hotline” Blog, 11/28/07, Accessed 11/28/07)
ABC News’ Rick Klein: “[Giuliani] likes to bowl people over with statistics. A good answer to a tough question.” (Rick Klein, ABC News’ Political Radar, 11/28/07, Accessed: 11/28/07)
Klein: “Rudy was ready for this question [on immigration] -- it's a substantive, detailed answer …”( Rick Klein, ABC News’ Political Radar, http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/11/live-blogging-1.html, 11/28/07, Accessed: 11/28/07)
- Klein: Giuliani’s answer on the Bible “seemed like an excellent answer.” (Rick Klein, ABC News’ Political Radar, 11/28/07, Accessed: 11/28/07)
- Klein: “Rudy's got the best video of the night. King Kong! Hillary! Cutting snowfall! That's the spirit!” (Rick Klein, ABC News’ Political Radar, 11/28/07, Accessed: 11/28/07)
Time’s Ana Marie Cox: “Rudy sort of winning this one. This is Rudy the prosecutor, and part of me sort of loves it.” (Ana Marie Cox, Time’s Swampland Blog, “Liveblogging: The Shoutfest In St. Pete,” 11/28/07, Accessed: 11/28/07)
|
|
Which is why I don't put myself through the skin-crawly exercise of watching them, at this early stage. The 30-minutes I caught Wednesday night was the most for either party this year.
I've spent most of my adult life in the mainline television-entertainment industry. Verbal nimbleness and sleight-of-hand doesn't mean steadfastness, moral clarity, willingness to see the mission through, belly muscles and raw talent & smarts. Much less Executive Experience.
I've been a Rudy Guy all along, but am leaning in Mitt's direction. Temperment is hugely important for the presidency in time of War. 'W's wiring has been excellent and we need another Chief Exec.
with emotional balance and 'ccolness' under stress. No Drama Kings and vast Ego Appetites. Thus, with his massive experience in the private sector and talent as Governor of Massaliberalchoosetts, I'm rethinking and leaning toward Mitt. |
|
I think Romney won, but that's because I support him.
The trouble with debates is that we judge them like we do beauty pageants: who looked good, who answered a question well, who did the audiance like, who had the best line.
Give me a break. We pick a president to handle the most complex issues of our time, and yet we make a decision based on the fact that he hesitated when asked about "every word" of the Bible. Hot damn that's stupid!
We should pick them like we do the college team rankings. Who has the best record. Who's played the hardest teams. Who's had to come from behind in tough situations.
If you pick a president based on 30, 60 or 90 second sounds bites, you deserve what you get.
Romney has without question the best record as a turnaround artist, the most analytical mind, the most solution oriented, problem solving and innovative approach, and yet we discuss how he "looks slick," meaning I suppose that either he's got black hair and it's in place, or that his posture and attire is worn too well.
This is our chance to have someone who is competent, and not just a talker, but a doer. Those who want more of the same will pick one of the others. For my money, I would like to see Washington changed. Romney is the man that can do it. |
|
You got to be kidding when you MR won.
Romney's hesitation responding to "do you believe that every word in the Bible is true" question just costed him Iowa AND SC, and probably the rest of the southern states. He may still win NH but people will discount that as he is from that area.
The three man race was just reduced to a two men race after the debate: between Huckabee and Giuliani.
Whoever wins depends on how fast or slow the other candidates drop out.
|
|
|
Although, Mitt Romney many not have won this debate, he will prevail. The American people will elect the best qualified candidate to lead our great country. Whenever and wherever people have met Mitt Romney many have found him to be articulate, optimistic, very energetic, very intelligent, a leader with a vision, a leader with family values, a leader with integrity in his marriage, a leader with experience, a leader that can turn things around for the good, and a leader that will bring real opportunities to millions of Americans. Most people will judge him on his actions. How did he live his life?, is he overall a good person?, did he honor his marriage and his family?, how did he manage people?, how did he manage government?, Is he fiscally sound?, etc. That is why, we will elect Mitt Romney our next American President. |
|
Check it out.
Captain's Quarters' Ed Morrissey, whom Hugh says called it for Mitt, actually wrote: "Now, who won among the candidates? I'd have to lean towards Mike Huckabee."
What National Review's Kate O'Beirne REALLY said: "Mitt Romney had a really good night, but it would have been even better if Huckabee hadn't had such a good one too."
How about David Yepsen, Des Moines Registar: "There were three clear winners in Wednesday's debate among the Republican presidential candidates: John McCain, Mike Huckabee and Fred Thompson. All of them helped their candidacies, and they should move up in the polls as a result. The rest of the field, especially Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani, didn't have such a good night."
What National Review's Kate O'Beirne REALLY said: "Mitt Romney had a really good night, but it would have been even better if Huckabee hadn't had such a good one too."
Hugh is SUCH a fraud. It is bad enough to relentless shill for Romney, and yet still claim to be objective. It is worse to cherry pick the people you quote. But to twist their words, and make it seem like they said one thing, when they said another, is despicable. |
|
|
Really, representing that "Mitt won everyone else" and listing folks who actually called the night for someone else is pretty pathetic, and dishonorable. Hope that doesn't make me a bigot. |
|
Both Rudy and Mitt will not run away with this, that means it will go down to the convention. That is great news. The more GOP candidates discuss and fight over the issues, the better. It keeps us in the news over the Dems and makes the convention more exciting.
I have been critical of Mitt, but if he is the top dog to come out of this I will support him. If Rudy prevails, I will support him. If McCain or Thompson prevail (and I like them in that order of preference), I would be thrilled. If Huckabee or Duncan Hunter prevails (unlikely but it is possible) I will support them.
It may still boil down to Rudy or Mitt. But nothing is guaranteed. And I think that helps the party. |
|
I thought the dumbest line of the night was Rudy calling Romney out on his lawn service. It's a non-issue, and shows Rudy can't win the immigration battle with Romney. Rudy shouldn't make any "home" subject an issue - it will bite him since his home life is in shambles.
Huck also grates on my nerves - a lot. If Fred could just get in the game, he would take Huck out easily. He's a much, much better choice than Huck. |
|
Jacob has a point. Team Romney has to stop saying (at least in debates) that he will ask a bunch of experts when he hits a hard question.
It does not look like a dodge so much as it makes him look indecisive and tentative. I know that is his primary approach to problems (gather information and data). That is a great approach on problems that do not require immediate decisions.
In a debate you need to make a decisive answer. Rudy lets fly and if he makes an error he just bulldozes forward. McCain has years of experience taking positions and then in subtle ways posturing for best effect.
Romney seems hampered by the flipflop charge. That does not leave him free to take a position and then slide in the direction he needs to. He is afraid of making a mistake. The others know they will get a free pass if they make a mistake. They will just gloss over it. Huckabee may be best of all at doing just that, glossing over his negatives.
Rudy McCain and Huck are professional politicians. Romney is a businessman and that shows occasionally. He can be very decisive, he is a better manager than the politicians, they are better at dodging their negatives (the art of politics). |
|
Dumbest line of the night was Romney.
"People with funny accents."
Hickabee grates on my nerves. McCain is starting to win me over. |
|
It just struck me that Huck knows he is running as Rudy's VP. His offer to help Rudy on the Bible question was so telling. "Do you want me to help you?"
Since he knows he is running for VP he is comfortable. He really has no pressure to win. I would say that Huck and McCain did well on debate style points.
Romney and Rudy had good and not so good spots but they are the front runners and the real targets in a CNN debate where CNN can ambush a front runner by hiding behind a plant.
They both got through the mine field. The style points don't count for much in the long run. Huck always does well on these debates so does McCain. However, neither is going to win. |
|
Huck did not get any hard questions, was not really attacked by the other candidates, and pretty much coasted. Mitt was not terrible. He had his moments with Rudy. Rudy was not terrible either, he had a few zingers himself. But all in all, Huckabee just pulled ahead in Iowa (according to Rasmussen the only polster that matters according to Dean and Hugh) and he did ok in the debate the same day--that is huge for Huck.
Really, the only attack on Huckabee was Fred showing "Heavy Huck" promoting taxes (and also showing Mitt flip flopping). So that is why Huck "won." |
|
The defining moment of the night for me was when Mitt tried his normal Hillary-Lite pandering and equivocating on torture and McCain, who knows something about torture, beat the snot out of him over it. Mitt did indeed have that deer in the headlights look as he tried to respond to someone who actually had a position on the issue.
Mitt got killed on that one.
The rest of my take is here:
http://ktcatspost.blogspot.com/2007/11/youtube-republican-d ebate-circus.html
|
|
He did not get ONE hard question. Cooper did not challenge him on taxes, immigration, his ehtical problems, his pardons, or the WOT. He got a free ride last night, with the exception of Romney calling him out on immigration. Romney won that exchange. With Huck pulling into the lead in NH, he should have been challenged ALOT more.
Huckabee's Gomer Pyle manner has always bothered me. He is too preachy - how many mini-sermons did we get from him last night? Too many. His one-liners are talked about, but there's really no substance with Huck. I can't handle him anymore in these debates. Fred is a much, much better alternative to Romney or Rudy than Huck.
Romney fumbled a couple answers, but he did have a giant target on his back all night. He did well against Guiliani and Huckabee. |
|
first Hugh is to be congratulated for his willingness (on his site) to take big hits. Yes he clearly front runs for MR, but when he gets called on it, he doesn't whine.
one can get any read on the debate by selective focus on one columnist or excerpting from a column.
doing the excerpting game .. but reflecting my feelings was NRO Gehraty who ranked the winners as McCain (I disagree), Huckabee and Rudy.
his read on MR performance was almost identical - quite poor.
the last sentence of teh NRO column says where I think MR is headed ...."Easy to see his negatives rising week by week if every debate offers an extensive retrospective of his every flaw and position change". MR is going to get pummeled and plucked from now till just before Christmas and will unleash his bucks in a counterstrike of negative ad's.
|
|
|
I favor Romney despite all the tweenage-girl-style obsessive boosterism. He has a track record of competence in executive positions. Who cares if he has no fixed principles; he will lead competently as a pragmatist. |
|
Not long ago, it became fashionable to refer to Lindsey Graham as Vice President Graham largely because of the proximity of Lindsey's head to McCain's sphincter. You're looking similarly Vice Presidential vis a vis Romney.
I find it slightly ironic that you had quite sharp words for the kid from YouTube the other day for filibustering during your interview but listening to you discuss GOP politics has the same sort of feel to it.
The other candidates you interview are more than just a springboard for more adulation of Romney. Please humor he rest of us by keeping that in mind, Mr. Vice President. |
|
I think Romney missed out on some great opportunities and it seemed pretty canned. They were obviously gunning for him and he got very few chances to answer first. He did a stellar job on the farm subsidies question. The torture issue actually contained a lot of substance for those of us familiar with the issue. McCain stance basically says Bush should be impeached. Romney stayed clear of it. Romney missed the chance to pounce on McCain about the issue. McCain's logic implies that Bush is a war criminal. Romney could have scored some serious points by pointing that out. Romney's response that he does not want to publicize interrogation techniques is admirable. Captured enemy combatants have been told countless lies about what America will do to them if they are captured and our best interrogation technique is playing up this fear. McCain buys into the argument that what we do here makes them treat our soldiers worse but every country that has captured US soldiers has treated them far worse than we have. There is no correlation between our behavior and our enemies. We observe torture standards primarily out of concern about how our own people and friendly powers view us.
Romney should not have said he supports a national ban on abortion. He basically said he does not believe in federalism. Giuliani did very well on that question. Otherwise Giuliani was not very good. He did especially poorly on the gun questions.
I must reluctantly concede that Huckabee did a great job. He was by far the most eloquent of the bunch. If we were electing solely a national spokesperson then Huckabee would be it. Romney invoked Ronald Reagan but Huckabee was Ronald Reagan. |
|
... to mention that he worked through college. I was waiting (and hoping) for him to go for the jugular, and point out that Mitt did not.
Nothing irks me more than Mitt's heavy-handed attempts to pander on immigration. It is an issue he discovered about 16 months or so ago, when he decided to run for President. His broadsides against Huck and Rudy are empty, and he knows it. If the most wasteful thing Huckabee did as governor is let overarchieving immigrant kids who apply for citizenship also apply for merit scholarships, then that is a reason to support him. And to suggest that Rudy was running a sanctuary city is laughable. Why didn't Rudy counter by mentioning the fact that the New York press castigated over Abner Louima? Why is Mitt the only guy who gets away with saying "I was trying to govern conservatively in a liberal place"? |
|
not a lot of movement except for MH - up in several places but except Iowa - still far far behind
National 43 RG - 27 MR - 13 MH - all others low single digits. After increasing spread in last 10 days for RG over MR, this seems to have stablized for now
Iowa 55 MH - 43 MR
Nev 64 RG - 20 MR
Fl 75 RG - 5 MR
SC 25 RG - 29 MR - 21 FT
Mich 52 MR - 28 RG
California, Pa, NJ, NY - RG blowout's
in the for what one vote is worth category - my wife (a long time supporter and max contributor of MR) finally blew him off after last night. loved MH in debate but thinks RG is toughest guy on the planet |
|
I actually thought Romney did good - I normally find him pretty plastic and fake, and I thought he was less so at times last night. Romney's answers a coupla times were painful, though - the "I don't own guns, but my son Josh owns two! He likes expensive gifts" really made me cringe. I thought Huckabee won, though. Sure, some of the questions to him were slo-pitch, but he did hit them out of the park. I thought Rudy looked tired, and his loss in the early Romney dust-up threw him off his game. My guy, McCain, is clearly beyond hope - he seemed like a one-note, talking about the Surge and the Surge only. Fred seemed tired, too. Honestly, I came away liking Duncan Hunter even more, and I already liked him. I just wish he a shot at winning (I don't think he does).
Oh, and I agree with Dean, now. Ron Paul is NUTS.
I thought the format was fine. I thought alot of the questions were way better than the ones the press asks. I thought Anderson Cooper was only marginally in control, and the 30 sec answers are way too short. But overall, Hugh gloom and doom about debate format was (like so much he says or writes) off the mark. |
|
|
He was aweful, plain and simple. The Huckster pulled off the win last night and did it well. |
|
The Winners
Mike Huckabee
Ron Paul
John McCain
Neutral
Fred Thompson
Tom Tancredo
Duncan Hunter
The Losers!!
Rudy Giuliani
Mitt Romney
READ MORE
http://controlcongress.com/uncategorized/the-gop-debate
|
|
|
is in very bad form. Frankly you are starting to sound like a Romney campaign ad. I have listened to you daily on the way home since 2004. I do not listen to you because I like listening to anybody's campaign infomercials. If Romney wins, I will support him. I even like him. But with all respect, you are starting to be the radio/blog equivalent of a planted question. |
|
|
How many of your fans are going to have to tell you that your huckstering for Romney is not helping you before you will listen? |
|
Huckabee won. He had the best line of the night about Jesus being too smart to run for office. And his answers were clear and thoughtful.
I said before Huckabee would be the dark horse and this proves it.
But it's absolutely hilarious to see HH try and spin his way out of this. And his methodology of slamming up random quotes as proof is only proof of his desperation. HH really erodes what little credibility he has left by this irrational cheerleading. It's callled projection and it's one of the reasons why America won't be buying what you're selling in 2008. Thank God. |
|
by mentioning "The Secret," but it is Mike Huckabee who appears to have read it.
And Kev, I am surprised you did not add a string of anti Jewish slurs to your comments about "NeoCons, Free Traders, and Globalists" immediately above. Isn't that what you meant or did I misunderstand you? |
|
"Bill Kristol actually nails it"
I believe there is a plan to send Bill Kristol and all NeoCons, Free Traders, and Globalists to Re-Education Camps after the Election. |
|
|
it is DefCon One baby. Mitt's corn empire is being popped by a Huckster. Mitt is in serious trouble. Call the troops, rally the pundits, send out the lawyers, spin like a friggin top, lie like a rug. It is crunch time. |
|
that my wife watched, and her first comment about Romney was, "I don't trust him, he's too slick."
I think Romney did well though, and in terms of substance He and Rudy might have tied for the "win" in the "debate". But, if winning is judged by response to the candidate, Huckabee is the winner. He did what he needed to do. People were looking to see who this upstart in Iowa was, and he gave them every reason to keep looking. He just needs to bone up on the foreign policy to be a true top tier candidate. McCain's McCain... we know what he is, what he says, and what he does, nothing's going to change his status. Fred was wonkish, but showed some wit. Hunter needs a cabinet position, Tancredo is where he needs to be, in the house, and Ron Paul was off his meds tonight.
CNN, YouTube, and Ruffini are the big losers. |
|
|
Steve and Lou! They're Right for You! |
|
Huckabee won Hands down. He is the most articulate, humble, real candidate out of all of them-after all the verbal stumbles of the Bush presidency we have finally discovered someone who can communicate republican principles with wit & wisdom. McCain came out ok. Romney just got a beating..wow..definitely NOT his night. I wonder what Hugh Hewitt and all those who were so ready to give Romney the mantle of conservatism are doing after this one. HUCKABEE is a force to be contended with, and tonight he showed WHY he is on the rise in Iowa. The Underdog is poised to take a bite out of Rudy McRomney on Jan 3rd. The others were all a distant..3rd...Duncan Hunter had some ok stuff and Fred is frankly coming across as kinda like..hey man ..someone please pick me for VP so I can sport my hot wife around DC. And what was with the INQUISTION Style question the crackpot youtuber asked about the Bible(As if he has ever read it)(and all the man on man gay questions...and the rebel flag...weird..there had to be some better questions that those...but wow did the gays in the military question make Romney look like a TOTAL flip flopper...what a bad night for him.
|
|
|
If I hear one more of Huckabore’s tired old, pious, folksy, cliché lines I’m going to throw something at my TV! |
|
For every sold out pundit that buys into Hugh's spinning fantasy, there are hundreds (or thousands) of ordinary Americans who can see and hear and think just fine for themselves, and they're not so easily bought.
Huckabee's message is not just for social cons any more. Fiscal cons and defense cons, veterans, minorities, moms & dads, musicians & artists, and other ordinary Americans are all gravitating more and more towards Huckabee because his message, his vision for America, and his leadership and character are all resonating with people. This here only illustrates the point:
http://www.southernpoliticalreport.com/storylink_1128_53.as px
|
|
You wrote,
Thanks Kev...
...for staying focused on experience, intelligence, vision - you know, things that are important for the most powerful position on the planet:
Well this is exactly why you agreed on Steve Jobs...giant intelligence, incredible vision (Forbes just named him the most influential businessman in America) and he has the experience to whip the economy in to shape and realign International Trade imperatives.
As for Romney and religion - you know I am right about most Evangelicals never voting for him...they just won't say it out loud.
I imagine that if the Catholics were just starting up they would be considered just as weird...but they got there first with Peter being the first Pope and all, so Catholics got street cred before anyone else - they were pretty much grandfathered in by the time the Kennedy's hit.
|
|
|
Quote: "Troubled night: Romney. The knives were out for him from the starting gun, which might as well have been metaphorically aimed at his head. I don’t think he came out the better on the clash with McCain on interrogation, and while the "sanctuary mansion" was a below-the-belt shot, it's going to be remembered and repeated." |
|
MOST REVEALING BIT: Fred Thompson on the Vice President's responsibilities. The person he described sounded a lot like . . . Fred Thompson. That doesn't surprise me.
I do think that Giuliani/Thompson is probably the strongest GOP ticket. http://instapundit.com/archives2/012293.php
|
|
But what was on display in this debate were Romney's and Giuliani's weaknesses more than their strengths. It's a fact that Giuliani is the most liberal of the major Republican candidates. One saw tonight how easy it's going to be to remind people of un-conservative aspects of Giuliani's record, in issues such as guns and immigration, over the coming weeks. It's a fact that Romney has the thinnest record of the major candidates, and a somewhat inconsistent record at that. One saw tonight how his rivals will be able to highlight this.
Both men are in many ways impressive--but tonight the other three performed better than the top two. McCain seemed by far the most plausible commander-in-chief. Thompson reminded people that he is a steady, consistent, and thoughtful conservative. Huckabee showed off his considerable candidate skills, including his sense of humor and his ability to seem sincere. Each has a decent chance to gain ground in the next few weeks (Thompson and Huckabee in Iowa, McCain in New Hampshire), at the expense of Romney and Giuliani, while those two engage in some heavy-duty mutual assured destruction.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/0 00/014/416aihxr.asp?pg=2 |
|
|
Ed Morrisey of Captains Quarters: Now, who won among the candidates? I'd have to lean towards Mike Huckabee. He steered clear of personal attacks, allowed his natural personality to emerge, and used his sense of humor to great effect. If people wonder why Huckabee has made a major move in Iowa, they saw why. |
|
and this was before the debate (where he seemed to help himself).
Not too far away from the caucuses for stuff like this: http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/2007/11/ia_poll_h uckabee_leads.html
And from the only polster who matters according to Dean and Hugh. Huckabee has also passed Romney on Intrade as the favorite to win Iowa. Huckabee contracts are now trading at 49.0 while Romney's are at 45.4.
|
|
Aren't you concerned that Mitt Romney's position on illegal immigration is approaching Congressman Tancredo's or Congressman Hunter's or the pot banging duo at KFI?
It is alright with me but won't this box him into a corner should he win the presidency? His strengthening position seems to the right of your normalization position.
If in the desire to out punch Rudy he essentially adopts a Hunter or Tancredo position, you at least have to acknowledge you were wrong or acknowledge Mitt is now moving too far to the right. |
|
Huckabee will win in Iowa, he's already surged head there, and no straw poll of TH taking heads can change that. In fact he is already beating both flip flopping liberals (Slick Mitt Romney and Hillary) in the latest polls.
Funny how Hugh keeps repeating quotes from the same half dozen of Mitt groupies like it was was a scienftific poll..
Give it up, Hugh.
Huckabee is going to be our next president, and thats great news for pro family, pro-life Christians.
|
|
How come Huckabee wasn't asked about his tax increases as Governor of Arkansas? Cooper let him slide. How about asking Huckabee about gays in the military? Or about waterboarding? Cooper brought up Giuliani's recent tiff that broke tonight on Politico. Why not ask Huckabee about his 20+ ethic violation complaints?
Of course Huckabee had a great night. A minister asked about his feelings on the Bible. Or how about letting him get away with silly comments like "Let's abolish the IRS". That's no different than John Edwards and the liberal Left promising free health care, free college, gov't matching 401k's, etc.
His comments about providing in-state tuition to illegal aliens was also weak. As an American citizen I can't move to Arkansas and get in state tuition until I establish residency. Yet illegals can?
I like the guy, he seems to be really nice and sincere. I'm just wondering when will he start getting scrutinized like Romney and Guiliani? |
|
Huckabee will win in Iowa, he's already surged head there, and no straw poll of TH taking heads can change that. In fact he is already beating both flip flopping liberals (Slick Mitt Romney and Hillary) in the latest polls.
Funny how Hugh keeps repeating quotes from the same half dozen of Mitt groupies like it was was a scienftific poll..
Give it up, Hugh.
Huckabee is going to be our next president, and thats great news for pro family, pro-life Christians.
|
|
YouTube, owned by Google, can't even Google the submitter's names to assure operatives from the other party aren't asking questions? Hey, Steve Grove, they ever teach you about vetting at the Kennedy School?
But why vet when the question and questioner is so delicious. Who doesn't love a gay general telling them what's what with a loaded question. That's showing those bad Republicans how terrible they are to keep patriotic gays out of the military! (I'm trying to remember the president who approved the policy...don't tell me and I won't ask...hmmm)
They made CNN look stupid too, and that's a real achivement.
I think YouTube has a new slogan - Not Ready for Prime Time. |
|
pro Romney?
Byron York: Tired of Huck or not, I suspect that he has helped himself more than any other candidate on stage tonight. He's clearly on the rise in Iowa and South Carolina, and perhaps elsewhere, and my guess is that people who are considering supporting him liked what they saw tonight. http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTk3ZGJjNGUyODg2N DhiMDdjNGIxZjg1YWFkMDkzMWE=
Lisa Schiffren: On both torture and, now, excrutiatingly, gays in the military, Romney punted on the question and blithered about getting advice from military officers. Not good enough if you are running for Commander in Chief. Especially given our committment to civilian control. I want to see him stand up and clearly state what he thinks — even if the audience boos. http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YmZmODhjYTdlMWM5Y TBmY2U2OGRhNDg0YjMzY2VhOTc=
K-Lo: Even with all our issues with McCain, I'm reminded the Time Men of the Year probably should be General Petraeus, John McCain, Joe Lieberman, and the American Soldier. http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YjE2OGI2ZGVhNmE2Y zM1MmM5N2U0ZDVmM2I2Yjg4Y2M=
|
|
|
|
...for staying focused on experience, intelligence, vision - you know, things that are important for the most powerful position on the planet:
"Christian conservatives won't vote for a guy who wears Temple underwear and believes the Garden of Eden is in Dixie"
Oh, oops. Guess you can't.
I'm waiting for the day when someone lambasts another (i.e. not Romney) candidate for a "peculiar" religious belief. Guess what people: Catholics, Baptists, Jews, Mormons, choose your sect - *any* religious belief can be made to sound ridiculous if spun correctly. Believe me, I have an atheist friend who could make any of you sound like brainwashed buffoons with his clever anti-religious slights. If you believe in God and you don't see this as a very dangerous precedent, I think you're in for a rude awakening.
Yes, I'm waiting for the day. And I assume I'll be waiting a long, long time...
Note: I'm with you for Steve Jobs for President though. |
|
Win to McCain. Show to Huckabee. Place to Rudy.
Bad night for Mitt:
"Troubled night: Romney. The knives were out for him from the starting gun, which might as well have been metaphorically aimed at his head. I don’t think he came out the better on the clash with McCain on interrogation, and while the “sanctuary mansion” was a below-the-belt shot, it's going to be remembered and repeated. The gays-in-the-military answer looks like yet another flip-flop. He didn’t fall apart under this barrage, but every major candidate on that stage wants Romney knocked out first, and so he’s got a big bulls-eye on his back from here on out. Easy to see his negatives rising week by week if every debate offers an extensive retrospective of his every flaw and position change."
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YTM4Y2ZiY2My MTZjMTI5OGM3NWE1OTRjNThhMjY0YzE=
|
|
The spin is more important than the actual event. I will take good spin. Romney had good moments and he had some that could have been better. However, he got a great head line on immigration and that is what really counts.
The other big news is the breaking corruption scandal on Rudy. If corruption becomes the topic for the next week it hurts both Rudy and Huck. |
|
Hugh, you're losing all credibility of minimal objectivity.
http://www.southernpoliticalreport.com/storylink_1128_53.as px
"InsiderAdvantage Poll Of CNN/YouTube Debate And Controversy After Debate
By Matt Towery
Southern Political Report
Copyright © 2007 Creators Syndicate
November 28, 2007 —
The Florida survey conducted with the Florida Chamber of Commerce showed the following results:
Huckabee: 44%
Giulani: 18%
Romney: 13%
McCain: 10%
Thompson: 5%
Paul: 4%
Hunter: 1%
Tancredo: 1%
Rest: undecided
The survey of 341 Republicans who stated they were undecided, intended to watch the debate and agreed to phone in their opinion immediately after the ending was weighted for age and gender. It has a margin of error of +/- 6%.
A survey of Iowa Republicans of over 1,035 Iowa Republicans taken in the last twenty minutes of the debate showed Huckabee the winner in that state as well. The numbers virtually mirrored Florida. They were:
Huckabee: 32%
Romney: 16%
Giuliani: 12%
McCain: 10%
Thompson: 7%
Paul: 6%
Tancredo: 2%
Hunter: 0%
Rest: undecided
Interestingly, the Iowa poll did not survey only undecided voters. Yet, both a survey of undecided voters in Florida and a general survey in Iowa showed Huckabee the winner.
In the media Spin Room, most of the major candidates were left with little if any media attention as virtually all print and broadcast media circled Governor Huckabee." |
|
|
It wasn't even close. Huckabee was entertaining, Romney and Giuliani acted like schoolboys, McCain was almost in tears. The only candidate who could be considered a winner here was Fred Thompson. The pundits suggesting otherwise are disconnected from reality. |
|
|
|
...I will give Romney credit for wiping out Rudy. What was Rudy thinking with that insane comment about "illegals in the mansion." And calling Islam a great religion...yea, that goes over real big nowadays.
McCain was his best yet...but he's a goner since throwing in with Clueless George on shamnesty.
Too bad Hunter can't get traction. He is the perfect person to beat the Democrats...he is under the radar, no ememies, no baggage...
Can't understand why Hewitt is trying so hard to make Romney happen...
Romney....Christian conservatives won't vote for a guy who wears Temple underwear and believes the Garden of Eden is in Dixie. A Scientologist would have an easier time getting elected.
In reality, all candidates on both sides are not up to solving the big problems ahead. I think the only person who could really turn things around is Steve Jobs of Apple Computer. Give him 8 years and America would be so on top of things again. Plus we would be a really cool Country again.
|
|
Wow did Romney shoot himself in the foot once again. Social Conservatives will vote for Juiani over Romney ..at least he is constently wrong...
Huckabee won Hands down. He is the most articulate, humble, real candidate out of all of them-after all the verbal stumbles of the Bush presidency we have finally discovered someone who can communicate republican principles with wit & wisdom. McCain came out ok. Romney just got a beating..wow..definitely NOT his night. I wonder what Hugh Hewitt and all those who were so ready to give Romney the mantle of conservatism are doing after this one. HUCKABEE is a force to be contended with, and tonight he showed WHY he is on the rise in Iowa. The Underdog is poised to take a bite out of Rudy McRomney on Jan 3rd. The others were all a distant..3rd...Duncan Hunter had some ok stuff and Fred is frankly coming across as kinda like..hey man ..someone please pick me for VP so I can sport my hot wife around DC. And what was with the INQUISTION Style question the crackpot youtuber asked about the Bible(As if he has ever read it)(and all the man on man gay questions...and the rebel flag...weird..there had to be some better questions that those...but wow did the gays in the military question make Romney look like a TOTAL flip flopper...what a bad night for him. |
|
http://kevinmccullough.townhall.com/blog/g/706aa746-e0da-41 18-be0f-522525002dbb
and Mary Katherine Ham, "I'm giving it to Huckabee. He's always good in debates, always well-spoken. He parried attacks on his fiscal record well, deflecting with a lot of talk about the Fair Tax. He also got the chance to point out that he had signed the no-tax pledge, which is better than several others have done. He's riding a high, he came across as sensitive and smart."
and Matt Lewis on Romney, "Mitt Romney was probably was the one who most under-performed tonight. He didn't seem "on." In addition, he often seemed holier than thou. Some of his answers seemed to be pandering. Other questions reminded us of his past record. And some of his answers -- like the one about the King James Bible and gays in the military -- just seemed odd ...
Interesting how these comments didn't make into Hugh's post?
|
|
Hugh, you have no bigger admirer than me - except perhaps Duane and the fetching Mrs. Hewitt - but the Romney spin is wasted here. If he is the nominee, the people reading here will support him.
Romney helped himself tonight, but he did not overtake the hardening perceptions of leadership surrounding Rudy. Mitt needed a knock-out - which he clearly didn't get, as seen by the very quotes you use above. Rudy only needed to be himself - a quick thinking, take-me-as-I-am leader. He succeeded, Mitt has a long way to go.
But the one word about Romney that I hear continually from dozens of friends and colleagues across the country is: "slick". And though it may work on for a Southern good ol' boy who's a Democrat, it doesn't smell right on Republican. Mitt is starting to look like John Kerry - trying to turn on the charm a little too much, making average Joe American feel as uncomfortable as he did with Kerry. |
|
|
|
Deer in the headlights is right. Really stupid answers, showed real fuzziness of thought. Almost retarded. Revealed himself to not be Presidential material. I was for him before this...
I do not like Huckabee, but Huckabee was sooo good tonite...I have no idea what Hewitt and Bill Bennett were watching...not the same thing I saw.
Watch Huckabee take a big leap forward in the next few days. His answers on the IRS were great...even me, a devout agnostic, would consider voting for Huckabee now.
|
|
Cheer up dirLie, Ana Marie Cox chose Giuliani as the victor. And we *all* know Ana Marie Cox is a reliable barometer regarding the thinking of conservative voters.
Sorry, I had a hard time typing that with a straight face.
Now where's Jane's inevitable comment on Mitt's "laughably perfect hair" or other such shallow tripe? I'm all atwitter waiting for it.
P.S. did anyone really expect CNN to present a respectable debate for Republicans? Please. |
|
|
I don't allow these people to do my thinking for me and am less than impressed. |
|
|
|
I didn't feel it was Mitt's best, but then again, the others are simply not beating him.
Huckabee impressed, but in a sincere spiritual manner.
McCain looks far too angry, and that jaded manner overwhelms his presence, even when he is right on the issues.
Fred is simply good company.
Duncan should step aside, so should Tancredo, etc...
CNN WAS A DISASTER.
Did MoveON.org produce the youthful liberal denial videos as well?
Paul has denied the Liberals their dream of an independent candidate, keeping true to the GOP.
That must hurt...
|
|
Romney wins on the Hugh Romney Show and every quote Hugh chooses supports that conclusion....mmm...wow
Shocked I tell ya, I am shocked
dirLie |
|
|
|