The September 7th Contenders - photo 2012 Presidential Elections.com via Politico
The GOP Debate at the Reagan Library is co-sponsored this cycle by NBC (MSNBC) and Poltico.com. The schedule and pre-debate guide is available at www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/62275.html,and, as noted on Politico each debate presents a “crucial test” for each candidate in the arena. Brian Williams of NBC and Politico’s Harris will be the moderators, and the post debate analysis will be in the hands of MSNBC’s Matthews, Maddow and Sharpton! In this instance, those included are: Michelle Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney and Rick Perry, the next debate will be September 12th in Florida sponsored by CNN and the Tea Party Express which will take place in Tampa Florida.
As each debate passes, one more candidate (or two) shine, while others are forced to face the inevitable, however, it is still too early for those in the current “top tier” to consider doing anything but staying in the game. In past election cycles, debates and early caucus and primary states, generally leave the field depleted, with one or possibly two candidates pushing through to “Super Tuesday”. The debate forum allows prospective voters to hear candidate’s ideas on crucial issues, as well as to view how well they perform under pressure. In the last televised debate on Fox, both Bachmann and Romney appeared to fare the best in this opinion, however, with Rick Perry in the arena, all bets are off. Going into the debate, the latest round of GOP candidate news is, as usual, somewhat biased (sarcasm) and there may be actual infighting among the candidates (also sarcasm – as there is supposed to be jabs, barbs, and remarks made in any political competition – it is the fact that one can deliver a well timed barb, and the fact that one can deflect it with grace and ease, that makes for grand political theater and allow the “rest of us” the ability to decide how well both the attacker and the target sparred – let’s call them verbal gladiators.
From the Press pre-NBC-Politico Debate:
Mitt Romney unveiled his Economic Plan this week and immediately was met with widespread criticism – perhaps the most dismissive from Time Magazine’s Swampland. Included in the article is a quote from Brad Woodhouse of the Democratic National Committee:
If Mitt Romney has expressed a single original idea on the economy in the entire time he has been running for President – for the second time – you could auction it off on eBay in the rare stamp collection area.”
He goes on to tie Romney to the Tea Party (Fear Factor for the Left) (source Time Magazine).
Michelle Bachmann cleaned house, cutting loose two of her campaign officials, yet the New York Times headlines: “Loss of Top Two Aides Raises Questions About Bachmann Campaign; referring to the loss of Ed Rollins, former campaign manager for Ronald Reagan and most recently for Mike Huckabee in 2008. Bachmann, in losing Rollin’s early, does nothing but lighten the campaign load (in this opinion, given the Huckabee experience in 2008). The headline might have better read: Bachman Cuts deadwood from Campaign. Campaign staffers come and go on a regular basis in the early stages of campaigns, and one must remember that this is the early stage of the campaign. Bachmann, although called “crazy” by Time, is smart, savvy and understands her positioning, both in the polls, and most likely with the “Republican Establishment”.
The "Republican Establishment" (i.e. members of the political class) feels it has the right to pick the next GOP candidate – something akin to the Democrats Super delegates, and the wonder of how Obama got elected (except the Republican Establishment does not have an ACORN).
Meanwhile, Ron Paul the Libertarian leaning “Republican” is racking up support as usual, or more than usual, across the youth spectrum, specifically on campus’s. Paul is a very smart man, his understanding of the Constitution and the laws governing the U.S., is exemplary, what he lacks in foreign policy gravitas however, is in equal measure to the aforementioned.
Rick Perry, who shot to the top of the polls upon announcing, knocking Mitt Romney off his pedestal for a moment, (as polls will remain fluid through early 2012), was at first, not attending this debate due to the disastrous wildfires in Texas, however, Texan’s, are tough, and Perry is flying over to California to the debate after all. He receives advise from the Houston Chronicles “Texas on the Potomac”. Included in the article are “Five Things Rick Perry Should Avoid at Tonight’s Debate” (that’s actually the title). It appears that Texas are all in with a native son, (whether that advise is satire, or heartfelt, is often difficult to determine.)
That said, regardless of the media calling each of their own debates – crucial, while constantly harping on the “lateness of the hour” – there are these factors to consider. Debates are crucial in that they winnow the chaff from the wheat, just a bit. However, one must understand, outside of the media and the political junkies, very few people on the street (with exception of those Tea Party Members who actually pay attention) know who these candidates are, and won’t until the Nominating process is at or near it’s end! In fact, during the 2010 election, coming out of the polls, some individuals polls immediately following casting their vote were unable to tell who else was on the ticket, including Vice Presidential candidates. Therefore, as those who pay attention early, are those who again are political junkies, and are also able to forecast a train wreck well in advance (example: The 2008 Democrat nominating process: throwing Clinton under the bus, and Super delegates made up of members of Congress, bypassing the popular vote, and nominating Barack Obama.)
In some bizarre state of political Machiavellian tactics, that may have seemed like a grand idea at the time, however, normally letting those that go to the polls, have their say early in, and through the entire nominating process may be the better of the two ideas (see Republican Establishment).
In this bloggers mind, the candidates tonight who manage to get in barbs remain animated, and engaging, while not going over the top of reality, and maintaining their cool, will win the day. Early Projections: Perry, Bachmann and Romney will come out shinning, Santorum, Gingrich, and Huntsman will be heard, at any cost, and Cain, he may be the wild card. It will be, as a feminist, interesting to see how well Bachmann handles the two “top tier” candidates Perry and Romney, and how much equal time will be given across the board, to all candidates – or if the focus will be on the “Top Two”.
Again, the next debate will be in Tampa Florida, on the 12th of September and hosted by CNN and the Tea Party Express, >Wolf Blitzer will moderate – grab the popcorn!
A Full schedule of all debates is available at www.youdecidepolitics.com/2012, with 3 scheduled in Sept., two in October, one in December in 2011. In 2012, when the primary season begins to kick off: there are, at present, five additional debates scheduled from January through March.
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