Romney and Perry the Media Decides - image rightspeak.net
As MSNBC is rejoicing this morning over a possible boost in ratings due to hosting, with Politico, the GOP Debate at the Regan Library, the fact that the media has, to all appearances, made up their minds as to who the GOP front-runners may or may not be is rather astounding. The general consensus is that bothboth Romney and Perry are in a battle for front-runner status, and that the course to the 2012 nomination is set. (NYTimes). To wit – rubbish!
Romney did a fine job on the debate stage last night in Simi Valley, on technical debate skills he held the lead, on cheer leading the GOP he shared the spotlight with Newt Gingrich, and on looking and sounding “Presidential” Romney gave it his all. That said, he is still fighting the fact that the Massachusetts Mandate is a disaster in Massachusetts, and although initially a grand idea, was left in the hands of a Democrat controlled, mandate happy legislature that drove it into the ground. Not unlike the President’s version with state and union wavers available, the Massachusetts model allows individuals to opt out of penalties, simply because the state coverage is as expensive as the other plans available, and at one point, was not accepting further applicants, as the budget would not allow additional expenditures. In addition, the Commonwealth has only a few select insurance carriers from which to choose, which spelled disaster from the onset. Yet, Romney still defends the Massachusetts model, as it stands, rather than as it was intended to stand.
Overall, Romney appeared least flustered, the most moderate of the bunch (discounting Climate Change guru Jon Huntsman), comfortable and witty. Score one for the former Bay State Governor.
On the other hand, Rick Perry came into the arena after dealing with the ongoing disaster in his state. He’s still “on the job” as Governor of the Lone Star State, something the media and those watching the debate must keep in mind. He appeared tired, yet feisty – giving no quarter and sticking to his guns when it came to challenges to statements he has made that some on the east and west coasts might find to be a bit over the top. For a first time GOP debate debut, Perry, for all his negatives in technical debate skills, was the most genuine of the bunch – something that will not be lost on those looking for the candidate that is not part of the establishment. Although repeatedly challenged on his calling Social Security a Ponzi scheme, the man is correct in his assertion that those now paying in (including some on the lower rung of the Baby Boomer generation) will not receive benefits. Technically, a Ponzi scheme is one in which those at the top of a pyramid benefit from those at the bottom paying in, while those at the bottom stand no hope of benefiting.
On the Theory of Global Warming and the Theory of Evolution, Perry points out the obvious – they are theories, theories in which the investments made by the current administrations in Green Jobs, has obviously not paid off.
As to his mandate on teen hpv vacations, his answer as to why he thought it was a good idea, at the time, and noting that there was an opt-out (which makes a mandate less of a mandate and more of a choice), was heartfelt and sound. He was out of the gate with “I would have done it differently”, yet stood by his choice to fight cancer and disease both for humanitarian as well as costs savings purposes.
He may not have articulated his points as well as say Romney, he has, to the eyes of the media and honestly, to the eyes of those who are now in the process of “vetting” the candidates available, a “Palin problem”. Perry, not unlike Palin, uses local colloquialisms, those sayings and inflections of speech that are part and parcel of the everyday in far flung places like Alaska, the Mid-west and yes, Texas – far flung to those who are sitting on the ivy league coasts both east and west. Yet it is precisely this type of down-home, from the heart, stick to one’s guns, and call it like they see it personalities that ring true to the average voter, and scare the dickens out of those that would see the President reelected.
One last note on Perry: It was to his credit that he gave credit where it was due as regards to President Obama – and although ideologically different, he was the only one on the stage to do so.
The balance of the stage:
Bachmann also appeared somewhat tired, answering when asked, but not as fiery as in previous debates, and although mocked by the moderators for her statements on $2.00 a gallon gas (and yes, it can be done), and drilling in the Florida everglades (which was a question poised to her and answered – she did stand for herself, however, again appeared off her game.) She continues however, to appear genuine, regardless of her less than stellar performance in this particular debate.
Cain is a firebrand, and although a lower tier candidate by virtue of the media and the polls, he has some solid ideas and appears to have found his footing in the debate arena, lending more to the conversation overall.
Santorum appeared steadier on the debate floor, and was not, in this instance involved in a rout with Ron Paul, but one can see the media focus has shifted to their candidates of choice, leaving those in the wings, to answer fewer questions.
Ron Paul is Ron Paul, the perennial candidate for President, who is a brilliant man, yet somewhat quirky in his brilliance, he lends to the conversation, but is, at times, more than a strict constructionist – an absolutist when it comes to isolationism and policies that are more akin to George Washington’s rather than the later day reality of the United States. (See Washington’s resignation letter for reference.) Paul of course, won the straw poll immediately following the debate.
Huntsman – the most moderate of the bunch (giving Romney the appearance of a tooth and nail conservative), again, lends to the conversation, but appears to be destined to the lower tier.
What must be understood overall, is the fact that the GOP debate was held in “hostile” territory, one could see the disdain apparent on Brian Williams, (NBC host who appeared in an early SNL episode where journalist were shown to be campaigners for Obama), face, before the debate, and during the debate as he was almost patronizing those on the stage. What has to be rattling, all of those that are now tearing apart the GOP candidates, both announced and unannounced, is that one of them, should the polls hold true and no third party candidate emerge, one of those on the stage, or a candidate who would announce within the next two months will be the next President. (On a third party candidate - see Massachusetts, Deval Patrick’s miraculous second term win, and the third party Trojan horse candidate that allowed him that “second chance”, while David Axelrod watched on intently - as documented: Axelrod, who is the mentor for both Patrick and Obama, uses the Massachusetts campaign model - nationally).
Therefore, at this point, Romney and Gingrich won on points, but Perry won on being Rick Perry. When Karl Rove takes pot shots at both Perry and Palin, and anyone else he sees that might not be a “good fit” on the East Coast, one is compelled to take a second look at those candidates.
The next debate will be on the 12th of September, hosted by CNN and the Tea Party – a first – which gives CNN the leg up on all networks for recognizing the movement which is not yet a political party, yet has the potential, over time, to evolve into the next great American Party. Mitt Romney in a Q&A on if he was a Tea Party Member, did his best to walk around the answer, as noted later by Chris Matthews in the post-game analysis by the left on the right. That said, Romney’s answer was, although diplomatic, in trying to maintain his moderate distance from the Tea Party, while trying at the same time to score points with the Tea Party – appropriate for its overall intent: If the Tea Party stands for the Constitution and lower taxes, then I agree with them (extremely paraphrased).
One last note on the MSNBC debate, although in extremely hostile territory, every candidate on the stage held their own against the dogged left.
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