GOP Debate Thoughts: Romney Controls Final FL Debate
Posted by Ashish on 01.26.2012
Romney out gunning Newt...
Some thoughts on tonight's GOP debate...
* Mitt Romney seems to have figured Newt Gingrich out. Gingrich's "gimmick" in these debates is to make over-the-top, counter-aggressive statements that draw big applause lines and dominate highlights. For the past two debates, Romney has been the one doing this first, putting Newt in a defensive position right away. Romney did not hesitate at all when he got a chance to go after Gingrich, even ignoring an attempt by Gingrich to call a "truce." Unlike in previous debates, it was Romney who came off as the alpha male tonight. He came off as the more fiery, aggressive candidate.
* Romney had answers for most of Gingrich's attacks, such as the attack about Romney owning stock in Freddie and Fannie. For all his weaknesses as a candidate, one thing Romney is very strong on is being prepared. He is almost always prepared for attacks, aside from the tax return fiasco last week.
* Gingrich just seems to be wilting under the pressure of having to always deliver such blockbuster debate moments. Erick Erekson on CNN said it best: "live by the debate, die by the debate." Romney has changed strategy and was successful in baiting Gingrich into moments that he hasn't looked good in. We're seeing why a campaign has to be built on more than just buzz worthy debate highlights, because after awhile, attacking the moderator stops working.
* Gingrich may not be as good a debater as we all thought. He has been exposed dramatically in the last two debates and is starting to look like a guy who, if he can't get a cheap shot in on the media, seems pretty lackluster in terms of connecting with the audience or delivering a moment that resonates.
* Rick Santorum had another strong debate, particularly on the exchange over healthcare, but at this point it just seems as if most GOP primary voters have tuned him out. Same for Ron Paul, who was his usual self and had some good moments.
* Pretty amazing that Gingrich did not pounce on Romney for getting caught in a straight up lie about one of his TV ads. Gingrich, for whatever reason, has been letting many opportunities to attack aggressively pass him by.
* I'd expect this debate to more or less wrap up Florida for Romney. Gingrich's poll numbers rely directly on debate performances, and he has now failed to create a buzz worthy moment in the last two. Romney, on the contrast, was the candidate who came off as the more aggressive, fighter. Gingrich entered the debate falling in the polls and he'll probably continue to do so leading up to Tuesday.
If only Ron Paul could get elected, I'd give anything! Even my box of mint-condition 1918 liberty-head silver dollars!
You see, back in those days, rich men would ride around in Zeppelins, dropping coins on people, and one day I seen J.D. Rockefeller flying by. So I run of the house with a big washtub and...
Anyway, about my washtub. I'd just used it that morning to wash my turkey, which in those days was known as a walking-bird. We'd always have walking-bird on Thanksgiving, with all the trimmings: cranberries, injun eyes, yams stuffed with gunpowder. Then we'd all watch football, which in those days was called baseball...
Posted By: Grandpa Simpson (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 11:38 PM
nice to see you didnt regurgitate the mainstream medias version of what happened and actually gave Ron Paul some...wait, nevermind
Posted By: Mikey (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 12:12 AM
nice to see you didnt regurgitate the mainstream medias version of what happened and actually gave Ron Paul some...wait, nevermind
Posted By: Mikey (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 12:12 AM
Nice to see RonPaulogists are still deluding themselves. If they weren't desperate, why are they trying to become delegates and railroad the convention? Oh, right, because RonPaulogists aren't really interested in Democracy. Just Ron Paul being president.
Posted By: Guest#2501 (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 01:52 AM
Nice to see RonPaulogists are still deluding themselves. If they weren't desperate, why are they trying to become delegates and railroad the convention? Oh, right, because RonPaulogists aren't really interested in Democracy. Just Ron Paul being president.
Posted By: Guest#2501 (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 01:52 AM
How are the conditions of Ron Paul's supporters being desperate and the media shafting the guy mutually exclusive?
Or is it just that you need something/someone/some group to bash?
Posted By: Guest#9185 (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 07:40 AM
This will come completely out of left field, but frankly, I see this race being alot closer than hardcore Dems and Repubs think. If the republicans were smart, they'd get a man known for putting boots to asses. A man who can layeth the smackdown on the competition. Yes, I'm referencing the Rock himself. They need a charismatic man who can out-talk and out perform Obama. Dwayne would win this in a LANDSLIDE if he ever ran (he could probably even run as an independent and have a chance)
Posted By: Guest#2264 (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 07:53 AM
How are the conditions of Ron Paul's supporters being desperate and the media shafting the guy mutually exclusive?
Or is it just that you need something/someone/some group to bash?
Posted By: Guest#9185 (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 07:40 AM
The media "shafting the guy"?
How so...he is in LAST PLACE. If he was a contender and getting no respect then MAYBE you have a point.
The point is these RP lunatics seem to think that every poll is wrong and everyone but them is an idiot for not wanting to vote for the guy (even though 90% of what he has to offer is horrible).
Face facts folks, the guy has NO CHANCE at winning this nomination, this election, and ever becoming president. Most of his ideas are just plain out bad and some or just crazy. You RP supporters aren't smarter than anyone else, you don't have the "secret" to fix the country, you have displayed a cult like mentality (yes that is a real phenomena and something that is 100% accurate to many of you), where your guy can do no wrong.
The rest of us find it amusing and like to call you on it, anyone else who doesn't see it either isn't paying attention, or is looking to give these people excuses to continue this unhealthy behavior.
Posted By: Guest#0952 (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 09:25 AM
No, gingrich and saantorum.. who don't even qualify to be on the ballot in several states including VA are the ones who have no chance of winning.
Posted By: correction (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 09:51 AM
GDP posted at 1.7 percent.
Obama is toast.
Mitt will win the nomination and the presidency on his business creds alone.
Obama (and Newt) will turn this thing into another fight, but numbers don't lie (unless Obama Admin is just making shit up).
Not one Obama policy has worked in the recovery. The most profitable companies are those with Obamacare waivers.
Obama is done in Nov and thank God...
Hopefully you libs will quit bullshitting and realize that jobs come first and your stupid peacepipe induced fever dreams are worthless.
Posted By: Grant (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 09:54 AM
Not one Obama policy has worked in the recovery. The most profitable companies are those with Obamacare waivers.
Posted By: Grant (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 09:54 AM
The auto industry called and would like to call you a douchebag, specifically those working at the #1 automaker in the world right know GM who was saved by Obama's policy.
Troll more?
Posted By: Guest#6576 (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 10:35 AM
None of these clowns has a chance against The President. Now if we could just get rid of these tea party obstructionists, maybe next year the government will be able to get us back on track.
Posted By: Guest#8667 (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 11:54 AM
None of these clowns has a chance against The President. Now if we could just get rid of these tea party obstructionists, maybe next year the government will be able to get us back on track.
Posted By: Guest#8667 (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 11:54 AM
It's not just the tea party and Repubs. It's the Democrats. Obama had 2 years with a Democrat-controlled congress and he still didn't get much done, including REAL health care reform. Why? Because a good portion of that supermajority he had were Dems that were Democrat in name only, and would vote against him or try to water his proposals down. Bush never had that problem, because his administration told both houses of Congress "you either support the president or you'll be losing any committee you're on and the next time you're up for election we'll find someone that will support us."
Obama can not and will not get his own party to toe the line, and it's cost him dearly. Also, he keeps trying to be bi-partisan, when at this point every time there's a conflict between the Dems and Repubs he should just press a button and have one of the many sound bites from people like Boehner saying that their primary goal is to obstruct anything he does in order to ruin his chances at re-election. After playing that soundbite, look at the audience, shrug his shoulders, and say "I'm going to get this done. They can cooperate or obstruct, but I'm done talking to them because they've said that they won't listen." Instead, Obama consistently bends over for the Republicans and gives them what they want.
Posted By: Scott B (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 01:23 PM
Posted By: Scott B (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 01:23 PM
To Scott's point, there were enough democrats who were elected in historically republican areas that they decided to go the safe route with every vote in hopes of winning re-election in two years.
As he said democrat in name only and 20 years ago many of them would have been called moderate republicans.
Posted By: truth (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 02:30 PM
The U.S.A. is Israel's bitch.
Posted By: Quite Truth (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 02:55 PM
The auto industry called and would like to call you a douchebag, specifically those working at the #1 automaker in the world right know GM who was saved by Obama's policy.
Troll more?
Posted By: Guest#6576 (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Here you go...from Monday, moneymorning website:
"First of all, President Obama forgot to mention that the GM bailout process started under President George Bush. And Ford Motor Company 's (NYSE: F) success has nothing to do with the government; it never took any government help. Jobs were saved, but the auto industry lost 200,000 workers. Analysts say the industry won't get back to pre-recession job levels until 2015.
President Obama also left out the cost of the bailout to the American taxpayer. Because the United States became a major shareholder in GM, the nation still holds 500 million shares of the stock. Given the nation's investment, the U.S. would need to sell those shares at $53 each to break even. GM currently trades at about $25 a share, putting U.S. taxpayers $14 billion in the hole."
So I'll take your bullshit "GM says hello" and "troll" comments and raise you a "here is reality to slap you in your little Huffpost blowhard face."
What do you liberals have that is real?
Nothing.
Not GM bailouts, not Obamacare, nothing...everything this guy has done has failed, that is why he has nothing to stand for come Nov.
All will be exposed and you will have to admit that you are only backing this guy because you don't know want to admit you are WRONG and he is a horrible president.
Get over it...admit he is bad and you are wrong and move the country forward.
That is progressive. Not ignoring a clear mistake.
Posted By: Grant (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 05:24 PM
With Gingrich and Santorum not on the ballots for 5+ states, missing out on a critical 564 delegates, it's already a two-man race between Ron Paul and Mitt Romney, regardless of what the media would like you to believe.
Posted By: Reality Check (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 05:48 PM
Hopefully you libs will quit bullshitting and realize that jobs come first and your stupid peacepipe induced fever dreams are worthless.
Posted By: Grant (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 09:54 AM
Hey now! Those fever dreams gave birth to plenty of weird movies and music. Haven't you ever seen Fantastic Planet?
Posted By: Guest#5287 (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 06:05 PM
The U.S.A. is Israel's bitch.
Posted By: Quite Truth (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 02:55 PM
HAHAHAHA.....NO!
That's not true at all you lemming
Posted By: lemmy (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 07:46 PM
It's not just the tea party and Repubs. It's the Democrats. Obama had 2 years with a Democrat-controlled congress and he still didn't get much done, including REAL health care reform. Why? Because a good portion of that supermajority he had were Dems that were Democrat in name only, and would vote against him or try to water his proposals down. Bush never had that problem, because his administration told both houses of Congress "you either support the president or you'll be losing any committee you're on and the next time you're up for election we'll find someone that will support us."
Obama can not and will not get his own party to toe the line, and it's cost him dearly. Also, he keeps trying to be bi-partisan, when at this point every time there's a conflict between the Dems and Repubs he should just press a button and have one of the many sound bites from people like Boehner saying that their primary goal is to obstruct anything he does in order to ruin his chances at re-election. After playing that soundbite, look at the audience, shrug his shoulders, and say "I'm going to get this done. They can cooperate or obstruct, but I'm done talking to them because they've said that they won't listen." Instead, Obama consistently bends over for the Republicans and gives them what they want.
Posted By: Scott B (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 01:23 PM
Scott, you have to realise that while a lot of Dems are protesting loudly about Obama, the one thing they won't risk is a Gingrich / Romney presidency. They are pissed about Obama, and rightfully so, but they learned the lesson in 2010. They sat at home, far-right Republicans took over the state governments, saw the immediate impact on voting rights, local council rights and union rights, and came back swinging.
A second Obama term is not the world's greatest idea, but the chance of one of these ideologues (or in Romney's case, wannabe ideologue) getting in power is a horrible idea.
Posted By: Guest#6396 (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 08:39 PM
People are still kissing the ass of "business men", like they are the answer to the countries problems. They are the ones who dug this mass grave in the first place, their ability to steal money and destroy things really is not strong argument for how effectively they will run a country.
Pimps and drug dealers are good at making money too, maybe they should be in charge of the government then. Oh wait, they already are...
Posted By: Guest#4542 (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 08:41 PM
"If only Ron Paul could get elected, I'd give anything! Even my box of mint-condition 1918 liberty-head silver dollars!
You see, back in those days, rich men would ride around in Zeppelins, dropping coins on people, and one day I seen J.D. Rockefeller flying by. So I run of the house with a big washtub and...
Anyway, about my washtub. I'd just used it that morning to wash my turkey, which in those days was known as a walking-bird. We'd always have walking-bird on Thanksgiving, with all the trimmings: cranberries, injun eyes, yams stuffed with gunpowder. Then we'd all watch football, which in those days was called baseball...
Posted By: Grandpa Simpson (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 11:38 PM"
You sir win the interwebs today.
Posted By: Tom (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 10:31 PM
STAY CURRENT