General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Saturday Debate (Narrow Winner Newt. Big Loser Perry.)
Huntsman was excellent and probably boosted his support in New Hampshire from 10% all the way up to... about 10%
Paul was pretty good. One of his better performances, by the standards of those who like Paul in the first place. If the tea-party was a real phenomenon, rather than an astro-turf mob of the usual bible-thumpers, it would be puzzling why Paul wouldn't get all their support. But the tea-party was always about vanilla republicanism and will not tolerate a rebel. (Oh the irony.) I'd say Paul hitting 20% in NH is a one in three shot.
Perry finshed his campaign. Again. Even the republicans probably don't want to re-invade Iraq. Dead man walking but too dumb to know it. His value as a stalking horse for Romney in SC (see: Fred Thompson 2008) is probably minimal. Dude will finish 5th in SC. (And dead last in NH)
Gingrich was kind of nasty without landing shit on the opposition. His ready eloquence in calling Obama a socialist was, however, notable on a stage full of men who cannot form a sentence and probably helped him. I suspect he pulled himself up close to rough parity with Santorum in NH. (The take-down of him as a Chickenhawk might have hurt if he were seeking the nomination of a party that didn't love chickenhawks.)
Santorum was awful, except in terms of expectations. He talked about president stuff and promised to demolish Iran. He gave the Xtian right no room for pause, by their minimal standards. Said he would not outlaw contraception, which is a positive for folks who were not already on the Santorumentum train. On balance, I'd say he helped himself slighty and is on equal footing with Paul and Gingrich in NH.
Romney really came off as a dork but the moderators didn't seem to mind much. Had a "Leave Britany alone!!11!" audience moment when mean ole' Stephanopolus pressed him to answer a very simple and not too controversial question. (That he dodged in stunningly transparent fashion.) This suggested that they know they're stuck with the guy. He did something clever, but probably accidentalhe deferred to Paul as the Constitutionalist, slyly implying that he in any way agreed with Paul about the Constitution. (There is no upside for Romeny to be mean to Paul.) Romney sucked but will still pull 40% in NH.
Winners: Gingrich, Santorum, Paul
Losers: Perry, Romney
coalition_unwilling
(14,180 posts)and, in privacy, pull the lever for Romney. The guy is such a transparently phony slimebag. I get the creeps every time I look at his smug, condescending 1% face.
PurityOfEssence
(13,150 posts)He's a smug functionary of the most mechanical type: to the manor born and with the gall to presume any real awareness of the lot of the peasantry.
Still, contrasted to the rest of them, he's not so repellent. At least Huntsman seems to have a scrap or two of decency. Perry's just a sub-moron. Gingrich is just meaner'n a snake and as trustworthy too boot. Santorum is delusional as only a lucky simpleton can be, but he's dangerous because he's at least consistent. Huntsman seems to have some decency, but can't get any traction, so he's the only one who isn't some version of repellent in a big way.
It must be driving them nuts: sitting on a volcano of money and with a very flawed opponent who's having trouble from his own base (Obama) and they can't come up with a standard bearer who doesn't make them gag.
Response to coalition_unwilling (Reply #1)
Tesha This message was self-deleted by its author.
XemaSab
(60,212 posts)I thought he weaseled his way around almost all of the questions. I have no idea where he stands on which powers should be left to the states.
Furthermore, he needs some manscaping around the eyebrows.
coalition_unwilling
(14,180 posts)If you want to stay up to speed on the full story (including new allegations that Romney drove through a car wash with the dog strapped to the roof of the car in the pet carrier), check out this facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/DogsAgainstRomney
gateley
(62,683 posts)another debate tonight. I should be grateful.
I've always thought Romney was kind of meh, and didn't really care if he got the nom or not, but I've grown to REALLY dislike him this time around. It would give me great pleasure to see him not get the nod AGAIN.
coalition_unwilling
(14,180 posts)gateley
(62,683 posts)coalition_unwilling
(14,180 posts)want to check out the official Dogs Against Romney FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/DogsAgainstRomney?sk=wall
liberalmuse
(18,672 posts)Thanks. Some of us can't stomach these clowns, and I appreciate you going into the belly of the beast. Or clown.
opihimoimoi
(52,426 posts)with meat on.....
SixthSense
(829 posts)(thought this was too funny not to share)
You don't understand the first thing about STRATEGY, DOOD!
We wait to attack Mitt LAST because he might have lots of HP, but he has very low DPS. Any NOOB knows you take down the GLASS CANNON targets FIRST. What are we going to do, spend all our time killing Mitt while our healers go OOM? Haven't you ever raided in your life!?!?!?
*FACEPALM!*
cthulu2016
(10,960 posts)former9thward
(32,003 posts)dimbear
(6,271 posts)scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)Skittles
(153,160 posts)yes INDEED
deacon
(5,967 posts)cash maybe.
cthulu2016
(10,960 posts)There is a smallish Romney vote and a much larger anti-Romney vote. And even if a non-Romney hurts Romney he is not nessecarily getting the votes he chips away from Romney.
They are not fighting Romney. They are competing for the mantle of anti-Romney.
I agree with you that it leads to a bizarre dynamic.