GOP Florida/Fox Debate a Hit!

The Anti-Hillary Debate Gets Two Thumbs Up!

There was a clear winner in tonight's debate. It was the Republicans of Florida, Fox News and the candidates who participated in this watchable, interesting, even entertaining debate.

While I found the debate in Dearborn, Michigan (analysis here), hosted by MSNBC dull but informative, the First in Florida Debate kept up a good pace and allowed a freer give and take between the candidates themselves. Something which is always encouraged.

Mitt Romney Has A Hair Moment



Mitt Romney set the evening's tone by demonstrating a wayward forelock which came down right across the center of his forehead. It reminded me of Alfalfa of Little Rascals fame perhaps all the more so because it appeared just as the candidates were about to mix it up over who was the real conservative.

Romney needed a moment like that to help deflate the image that he's often a bit too perfect, or as one of his harsher critics described him: "plastic." Nothing helps a Ken Doll appear more likeable than to be boyishly disheveled from time to time.

Great Lines from Great Minds:

• John McCain: "In case you missed it, a few days ago, Senator Clinton tried to spend $1 million on the Woodstock Concert Museum. Now, my friends, I wasn’t there. I’m sure it was a cultural and pharmaceutical event. I was tied up at the time" as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam.
• Mitt Romney: A reminder of the quote of P.J. O'Rourke: "If you think health care is expensive now, just wait until it's free."
• Mike Huckabee on retiring Baby Boomers: "When all the old hippies find out they get free drugs, watch out!"
• Audience: When Romney was asked if Hillary was fit to be Commander in Chief the audience answered for him in a torrent of "NO, NO, NO."
• Tom Tancredo: When speaking about the Armenian Genocide resolution Nancy Pelosi is pushing in the House of Representatives and how it is complicating relations with our ally Turkey, Tancredo said: "Nancy Pelosi is not a very good Speaker and is a lousy Secretary of State."
• Fred Thompson: Speaking about Romney being to the left of Senator Ted Kennedy: "There's not much room to the left of Ted Kennedy. There's not much room to the right of him either."
• Rudy Giuliani: When told teachers in New York dislike him and opposed his school choice plan: "I care more about the kids."
• Duncan Hunter: Responding to Romney's state mandated health care insurance: "It's got to have, for example, fertility coverage. Well, what if you're 90 years old? We may appreciate Governor Romney's optimism but you may not need fertility coverage."

Some Advice for Ron Paul: Hire a Speech Coach!

We have to keep Ron Paul in these debates for the comedic relief. But please, Dr. Paul, you raised millions in the last fundraising quarter, do us all a favor and hire a speech coach. He begins each answer in a normal voice and as he gets wound up he whines ever higher. And all that claptrap about the "corporations" "big drug companies" and constant whining about the Constitution unmask him for the moonbat he is.

Much of the debate showed the candidates more eager to run against Hillary Clinton than find fault in a fellow candidate's position. Later, when Fox News Analyst Frank Luntz reported the findings of his wired focus group that theme, opposing the creeping socialism represented by Hillary Clinton, was a major motivating factor in how the group viewed the candidates.

I'll go into this in more detail when a full transcript of the debate is available.

Blogger's Analysis:

Reaction to Sunday's debate is beginning to percolate in the blog world. Here are two highlights:

• Cajun Tiger is in Iraq and got up at 3AM to watch the debate. Read his report here. Bottom line: Rudy won the debate, but Huckabee and McCain both did well. Both Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson fell flat.
• Dee at Conservatism with Heart graded the candidates: Rudy (A), Hunter(A), Thompson (B), Romney (B-), Huckabee(C) McCain (C-), Tancredo (D), Ron Paul (F)

What's interesting is how the debates, as well as other recent events are shaping people's perceptions of the candidates and guiding them to support one over another in the leadup to primary or caucus day in their respective states.

Question for Readers:

How have the debates, candidate interviews and speeches shaped your perception of the candidates? Are you firming up support for any one individual or still undecided?