So far......what a sad bunch.

Mitt Romney still the most electable.

Ron Paul comes off well. The rest come off as hicksville politicians. A real sad sack bunch. Can't wait for Rick Perry and Palin get the crazy party really started.

If this is the best the republicans have to offer? Might as well just get used to Obama for a while.

Raul Malo performance was awesome though. Never heard of him, must check him out.

[Edited 8/11/11 20:36pm]

Ron Paul was good. I can get behind about half of what he said.

Mitt reminds me so much of Ted Danson, but he was probably the best one there.

Pawlenty tried, but all he did was bring down Bachmann with him, IMO.

Santorum was not nearly as crazy as I thought he would be.

Cain has no hope.

Neither does Huntsman, but I like him. I can't see him as a president, but I like him.

Gingrich needs to go away. As does the wig the host wears.

There were a lot of candidates tonight who came in with both barrels loaded and their scopes set on their immediate rivals in the field. It was ugly.

First there was the battle of the Minnesotans, Bachmann vs Pawlenty. Pawlenty, who was on the attack against everybody it seemed, has been particularly on the attack against Bachmann lately. He was the one who made the migrains an issue, he's been attacking her record as a state representative. He came off so petty. But so did Bachmann. It was lose/lose. Bachmann went from a very good performance last time to a very poor and petty performance this time. But she did close with a final invitation to Iowans to vote for her in the straw poll and I guess that will be the real test for her. She should win, it's her home state, and if she doesn't she's in trouble.

The other big back and forth during the debate was Santorum vs Paul. Santorum has set his sights on Ron Paul and I think he revealed why during the debate. He was asked a question about the Tea Party and in his answer he said the Tea Party doesn't have a leader and anyone who claims to be the leader doesn't understand the Tea Party. I think that was a subtle attack on Ron Paul. Although he doesn't promote himself as the leader of the Tea Party, he is often called the father of the movement and the ideological leader. He's also been called the Tea Party candidate. I think Santorum feels that is his rightful place and he wants the Tea Party vote. So that's why he attacked Paul at every opportunity. Even on the Federal Reserve issue he agreed with Gingrich who agreed with Paul and avoided agreeing with Paul directly, instead making sure to mention how Paul is wrong on everything else and this is the exception. Who references Newt Gingrich when talking about auditing the Fed when you are standing next to Ron Paul?

So because of all the back and forths that went on, Mitt Romney was able to coast through the debate which is exactly what a frontrunner needs to do. Although I think strategically he should've stepped up a bit instead of trying to coast through the debate because his frontrunner status will be challenged immediately starting this weekend when Rick Perry announces. Speaking of Rick Perry, he's done will with timing. Announcing that he will announce this weekend takes attention away from any standout debate performances (although there were none anyway) and away from the Ames straw poll winner. It also coincides perfectly with the doom and gloom of all the economic and world news we've been getting lately, so he can present himself as the solution through his timing without having to come out and say very pompously "I can fix this".

I said it last time and I'll say it again, Ron Paul was the winner as I see it because this debate showed once again how far the mainstream has come towards his ideas. I would've called you crazy if you told me a year ago Newt Gingrich would be calling for a full audit of the Federal Reserve and calling for some of its powers to be transferred to the congress. That's unbelievable! That's a real positive step forward and for me that was the best moment of the debate. I was so pleased to hear that from someone else's mouth and than to hear other Republicans agree. That took me by surprise. Very positive sign.

^

Paul is the only one that comes off as his own man. Sure of himself and his ideas. I like him.

Tim Pawlenty sucked big time, and just dug a deeper hole for himself

Bachmann did well- but she can't win- because if Hillary couldn't win- than Bachman can't either. I hate to be making statements like this, but its true.

Romney did well

Huntsman speaking wise presented himself well- although some of his ideas were questionable.

Cain- good

Gingrich- LOL he was entertaining

Ron Paul- LOL he was entertaining to listen too

Santorum- not presidental material

It would be interesting to see Rudy Giulliani run- because he might have a chance against Obama.

The only memorable part of the debate for me was this dude. I Was ready to change the channel thinking this was going to be cornball, but this dude is awesome!

What a singing performance was doing at a political debate is beyond me, but I for one am glad he was there.

Raul Malo

WOW! Michelle Bachmann can turn the sinking ship around in 1 Quarter? DELUSIONAL.

V10LETBLUES said:

The only memorable part of the debate for me was this dude. I Was ready to change the channel thinking this was going to be cornball, but this dude is awesome!

What a singing performance was doing at a political debate is beyond me, but I for one am glad he was there.

Raul Malo

Wow, i'm surprised, no one asked he be deported....at the end of his performance of course! "Play your song there, then GET DER HELL OUTTA MY COUNTRY!"

Perry scares me more than any of them. He knows how to hide his hate and lunacy.

rudedog said:

V10LETBLUES said:

The only memorable part of the debate for me was this dude. I Was ready to change the channel thinking this was going to be cornball, but this dude is awesome!

What a singing performance was doing at a political debate is beyond me, but I for one am glad he was there.

Raul Malo

Wow, i'm surprised, no one asked he be deported....at the end of his performance of course! "Play your song there, then GET DER HELL OUTTA MY COUNTRY!"

Yeah, I'm surprised his performance wasn't blacklisted considering the war on Arts that comes from the right

Is it just me, or are non of these candidates viable at all?

Something else that really struck me. Chris Wallace referred to Ron Paul as a "constitutional expert". It might have been supposed to be patronizing. Who knows with Fox News. But I think it made Ron Paul the de facto constitutionalist of the bunch in the eys of the viewers. Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann are arguing about the 10th amendment and Chris Wallave says "Congressman Paul, you're the constitutional expert here. Settle this." He's the intelligent one, who has studied history and economics more than anyone in the field. That's clear to everyone I think. It's just a question of whether people want a constitution and economics nerd or a cowboy.

Interesting that Conservatives are sick of these wars.

After the debate, I am more sure than ever we have the best man for the job right now. While I do not see a problem with Romney or Paul as both seem sensible and are by far the least dangerous of the bunch. But Obama really comes of as the most sensible man in the room.

My main problem with Obama is caving on major issues. He should had held steady on policies that that he ran on/believes in. Caving on them created no-win situations because even as he caved and conceded, the right throw these same concessions at his face, the Bush Tax cuts being a prime example, he gave the right what they wanted, now give him the blame/credit for extending them. The short term concession of aiding the unemployed created an even bigger disaster that will affect even more people. I think this is his biggest mistake so far.

Obama's willingness of cutting the baby in half has been his biggest failing. Concessions are not "solutions"

[Edited 8/12/11 17:33pm]

I don't think anyone can complain about the Newsweek cover anymore.

[Edited 8/13/11 10:26am]