Random thoughts on the first GOP presidential debate:

  • After your speaking time expires if you continue to speak you should be sent to a sound proof penalty box for five minutes.
  • Funniest quote of the night goes to Kansas Senator Sam Brownback.  When asked, “Would the day that Roe v. Wade is repealed be a good day for Americans?”  He replied that it would ”be a glorious day of human liberty and freedom.”  Whether you agree with abortion or not, I don’t see how taking away what is currently considered to be a right enhances liberty.
  • If you are asked a question you should have to answer that question.  You can’t just say whatever comes to mind.
  • Was Tommy Thompson sober?
  • Ron Paul is far and away the best choice of the men on that stage.  Unfortunately many in this country aren’t ready for true liberty and the special interests that install politicians from both major parties wouldn’t stand for a President who actually wanted to decrease the size and scope of the government.
  • Mitt Romney easily bested Giuliani and McCain.  If it weren’t for that health care plan in MA I would place my support behind him right now.
  • Why do they have to talk so much about abortion?
  • Speaking of abortion, I admire Giuliani for standing his ground on abortion and reiterating his long term position even though he knew that he might be cutting his own throat.  That is character.  Or stupidity.
  • Did I mention they talked about abortion?  Mitt Romney made what I consider to be a credible justification for his view on the topic, even though I’m cynical and don’t quite believe him.  He essentially said that despite his strong personal objections to abortion it is the adjudicated law of the land and he didn’t impose his own beliefs on the good people of MA.  I don’t think Joe Republican appreciates that position, though.
  • The hardest question of the night (a question from the public) went to Giuliani: “He wants to know, what is the difference between a Sunni and a Shi’a Muslim?”  I bet every other man on that stage said a silent prayer of thanks that they did not draw that question.  After stammering for a good bit, he managed to provide a serviceable answer.
  • Ron Paul pledged to eliminate the IRS in his first week in office.  Where do I send my check?
  • When asked if anyone did not believe in evolution three candidates actually raised their hands (Brownback, Huckabee, and Tancredo).
  • The second hardest (and probably the dumbest) question of the night went to Mitt Romney: “What do you dislike most about America?”  No politician is going to answer that question directly.  Don’t bother.
  • One of McCain’s only virtues is that he claims he would fight against pork.
  • I changed my mind, the dumbest question of the night was (of course) provided by Chris Matthews: “Would it be good for America to have Bill Clinton back living in the White House?”  Am I crazy, or are the responses from a group of REPUBLICAN presidential candidates pretty predictable?

All in all it was easy to see why so many of the GOP faithful are discouraged.  Romney seems to clearly be the best of the “top tier” candidates, but I don’t think enough of the country (particularly Republicans) will look past his religion.  I think this country would vote for the right woman or minority, but I don’t think the country is ready to elect a Mormon.  If only people would rally around Ron Paul…

Full debate transcript here.

Related content:

This entry was posted by Brian on Friday, May 4th, 2007 at 9:59 pm and is filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Please note the copyright policy.