"It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brush fires of freedom in the minds of men."

- Samuel Adams

Friday, September 23, 2011

Santorum Up - Perry Down

Last night's GOP Presidential debate featured one significant gain, one significant loss, one recovery, one new person, and slight gains or no change for everyone else.


THE GAIN

Former Senator Rick Santorum increased his standing with his overall answers but especially his give and take with Governor Rick Perry about Perry's support for allowing illegal immigrants to pay in state tuition at Texas universities and colleges. Sen. Santorum's position, that giving a benefit to illegal immigrants that is not available to legal citizens was well taken and stated in a forceful manner.


THE LOSS

Gov. Rick Perry lost ground on several issues. The aforementioned tuition for illegal immigrants was one. He also rambled through an attempt to call former Governor Mitt Romney a flip-flopper but either forgot, got confused, or lost interest during the course of his statement.

Perhaps the largest gaffe was not revealed until later. When asked about his support for the mandatory HPV vaccination program and questioned about his being lobbied by former associates, he made the statement that he had been lobbied by a 31 year old woman with cervical cancer and this was part of the reason for his decision. Fact checkers later discovered that he had not met the woman he referenced until AFTER he instituted the program. This type of untruth is very disconcerting.


THE RECOVERY

After absolutely whiffing on the question about what percentage of the money someone makes should go to the government, Representative Michelle Bachman recovered with her statement about not having to choose a moderate to run against President Obama. Rep. Bachman started by saying how she wanted to answer the question about taxes then went on for the entire answer period without saying anything. This was disappointing. Her comment late in the debate that, against Pres. Obama, Republicans do not have to settle for a "moderate" candidate was good to hear in contrast to all the media folks' talk about candidates being "too conservative" or "too radical" to win.


THE NEW PERSON

Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson made his first debate appearance. He did have the best line of the debate with his comment that his neighbor's two dogs had made more shovel ready projects than Pres. Obama. However, it was pointed out later that this was actually a quote from Rush Limbaugh. Otherwise, he was not really involved.


THE REST

Former Governor Mitt Romney was cool and collected. He managed to withstand questions about RomneyCare and joined Sen. Santorum in the attack on Gov. Perry's tuition position by pointing out that the difference in cost between in-state and out-of-state tuition was almost $100,000.

Businessman Herman Cain shared his personal story about being a cancer survivor and pointed out that, he believes, he would not have survived if ObamaCare had been in place. He contended that having access to immediate treatment rather than having to go through a bureaucratic process was what allowed him to now be cancer free.

Representative Ron Paul was his usual feisty self. He always seems to be able to make two or three great points then throws out a clinker. All at the same time.

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich was also his usual self. It appears that he is not really interested in actually being elected but wants the personal exposure and the exposure of some his ideas.

Former Governor John Huntsman comported himself well but there was really nothing to distinguish him from the others.



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