The CNN-Western Republican Leadership Conference GOP Debate held last evening in Las Vegas was a debate worthy of two bags of popcorn and a front row seat – Anderson Cooper’s CNN appeared to have lost control of the candidates at several points – and Cain and Romney were targeted, with Cain coming out no worse for the wear, and Romney with some explaining to do as Rick Perry consistently hammered home barbs on both immigrations issues and the Massachusetts Mandated Health Care Plan.
The entire video is below via www.rightscoop.com worth watching as it beats the “sound bite” videos that don’t always tell the full story (and leave off an important point or two being made by one candidate or another).
In brief, and from this perspective, the biggest winners of last night’s debate were the so-called lower tier candidates, Bachmann, Santorum, Cain and yes, Ron Paul, while Herman Cain held ground, and Mitt Romney and Rick Perry dominated the debate time and appeared to be having their own debate within a debate – Rick Perry shot back at Anderson Cooper at one point: (paraphrased): “You asked the question, I get to answer it any way I want” – then hammered away at Mitt Romney.
What this debate, from a Massachusetts Perspective tell us, is that Mitt Romney is still in denial over the mess that is the Massachusetts Health Care Program, or otherwise known as “Romney’s Albatross”. There were several discrepancies between reality and Romney’s version of how this plan works, and how it has evolved. The fact that the original concept may have been somewhat innovated, is not the end result. Firstly, Romney noted that the his plan allowed only private carriers, not the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to get involved in the insurance game – he must have forgotten Commonwealth Care – which is state run, and which tells individuals that they either buy the right dollar amount of insurance coverage and/or face penalties (the program is tied to the Department of Revenue). If one cannot afford insurance (and that’s a growing percentage of Bay Staters, one is made to pay a fee, to the Commonwealth’s IRS equivalent.) The only way out is if one’s employer does not offer insurance, and if one is an employer, one faces fines if one does not carry enough insurance (standards set by the Commonwealth) for each employee. It is a socialist nightmare, one which has prompted a call to action to remove the program that is the largest line item expense on the State Budget, with additional funds from the Federal Government, all the while unable to cover all uninsured, (those who are assessed fees), and those that are insured through private carriers, realized a minimum of a 30% increase in premiums over the past three years (source: this bloggers health insurance premiums). The move to http://repeal-romneycare.com is building steam across the state.” Romney is, of course, not responsible for all of the problems faced by those left behind in Massachusetts, but he needs to own up to the fact that is it a program that is far from perfect, and should be replaced. (There are options, such as the opening the state up to more than three carriers for instance – thereby dropping premiums and making health insurance more affordable. Tort reform at the state level might not be a bad idea either.
Rick Perry cannot hold his own in a debate – he loses his train of thought, and until and unless he can get enough sleep or get off the one issue answer, he is going to see his poll numbers continue to drop.
Which leads us to the fact that money and politics is, unlike the constant drumbeat of the press, the end all.
Herman Cain came out, although purloined for his 9 9 9 Plan, (which granted may raise a few questions, but it is a plan, one that has extremely good points, and should be read by everyone) unscathed – As a tax conscious blogger, the Cain Plan makes sense, it is not a simple as Cain suggests, however, some of the accusations leveled at Cain over the plan were not correct (Read plan here: at www.hermancain.com/999plan for perspective and questions.) but is any plan perfect? Ask Mitt Romney.
Michelle Bachmann came out confident and also had the most level answers of the evening, and one would have liked to see more of Bachmann’s common sense answers, if, and only if, the two schoolboy could have been controlled by Anderson Cooper long enough to hear responses and give time to both Bachmann and Gingrich – to this mind two underrated candidates that have the potential to rise above the fray. The most insulting part of this debate, the obvious ending where Bachmann, and Gingrich had to fight to give a closing statement – time was up, granted, but the time management of the debate, (with a heavy focus on beating up Cain, and then the Romney – Perry ad nauseum mini-debate,) left the American Public short.
Therefore, from this perspective, one is encouraged to give to the campaigns of the following candidates in order to ensure that their voices are continued to be heard, as they all offer the American public solutions and options that are not currently forthcoming from the White House.
To Anderson Coopers’ questions as to which one felt they could best President Obama in 2012, the answer is obvious: any one of those standing on that stage (ok, maybe not Rick Perry – unless he goes to teleprompter school with the President). The fact of the matter is, as Mike Huckabee proved in 2008, money isn’t everything – with Huckabee’s campaign in single digits, he blocked Romney and his millions from moving beyond Super Tuesday. The difference between these “lower tier” candidates of 2012, and Mike Huckabee, is that they all have a willingness to raise funds – whereas, Mike Huckabee, who would have, in this opinion made the best option for 2008, (once they removed Hillary Clinton – who was strongest on defense of all candidates running), is known for his lack of fundraising ability. It is not the millions, but it is the ability to go to donors and ask – not just the grass roots but the bigger donors, many of whom are still not committed. Therefore, in theory the field is complete, but as to calling out one right now who would best the balance of the eight – hard to tell.
Technical winner: Tie: Bachmann, Gingrich, for substantive answers. Losers: Romney and Perry. The one man who will benefit in the national polls: The ever likable Herman Cain. (Despite the fact that Romney will be immediately called the winner, as he is best loved by the Republican Establishment – something this blogger feels is a negative at times.
Best line of the night goes to: Newt Gingrich: (on the budget negotiations currently underway: via NYTimes “Now the idea that you’ll — the idea that you’ll have a bunch historically illiterate politicians who have no sophistication about national security trying to make a numerical decision about the size of the defense budget tells you everything you need to know about the bankruptcy of the current elite in this country — in both parties. (Followed by)… I’m a hawk, but I’m a cheap hawk. But the fact is — (laughter) — the fact is, to say I’m going to put the security of the United States up against some arbitrary budget number is suicidally stupid.”
Therefore, keep the voices of reason and those that hold the entire field accountable and intimately still stand to rise above the fray in business:
hermancain.com/donate
michelebachmann.com
http://www.newt.org
No comments:
Post a Comment