The Republican Debate 11/12/11

Anyone watch the debate last night? I missed it.

Yes and here is a great review on it from the state that is going to have the first primary in 7 weeks. They said Perry won and Cain lost. Cain looked totally lost not being able to use 9-9-9. And his answer about what to do about Iran was for us to drill here was incoherent. Read what they said about Cain, Perry and all the candidates.

Rick Perry: After the “Perry Plunge” on Wednesday, I thought his campaign was over. Now, I’m not so sure. This was Rick Perry’s best debate

Perry gave a terrific answer in regards to foreign aid. “The foreign aid budget in my administration is going to start at $0.” He later added that Pakistan doesn’t deserve any aid and stuck to his answer later in the debate when asked if his $0 policy would include Israel. Perry even got a compliment from Gingrich in regards to his answer. This might signal a rebirth in the Perry campaign.

Overall Losers: CBS and Herman Cain. Cain avoided any major gaffes, but was clearly the least knowledgeable candidate on the stage.

Herman Cain: Without the ability to use “9-9-9” as a crutch, Cain struggled. He provided his answers with a slow, methodical delivery, probably trying to avoid a gaffe. Much like Cain’s stances on social issues, some of his foreign policy answers were indecipherable.

Cain proclaimed, “I do not agree with torture. Period. However, I will trust the judgment of our military leaders to determine what is torture and what is not torture.” Huh?

Six months after officially declaring his candidacy, Cain is still giving the same non-answer on the war in Afghanistan. Cain called Yemen’s corrupt president “our friend”, and still believes we can somehow undermine Iran’s nuclear program by drilling for oil here. Cain received few applause breaks from a lively South Carolina crowd. It was not his best night.

http://theiowarepublican.com/2011/

And Perry's answer and idea was grabbed onto by both Romney and Newt where they both said he was absolutely right. When asked about cutting off foreign aid to Pakistan. He said for foreign aid we start everyone at $0 and have them present their case to us as to why we should aid them and where they stand with us. Then countries like Pakistan would not get a dime if they keep harboring terrorists and countries like Israel would get what they have always gotten. But he said, why do Americans have to keep making their case for money when they need help but we just keep handing billions over to countries like Pakistan and Egypt without any questions, when they are basically helping our enemies? Brilliant answer and I think both Cain and Romney will use that idea too if they win.

Cain keeps using the line, well it is unclear. And the Moderator finally said, we hae been in Afghanistan for 10 years now. WHAT is still unclear to you? He rambled something about obama and the troops which wasn't even the question. Cain just doesn't have any real answers to anything when he can't use 9-9-9.

Will this boost Perry back to the top tier? Not sure yet but he came up with great ideas last night that both Romney and Newt said that Perry is absolutely right and they followed him. This was definitely a boost for him and Newt last night. Cain, if people will take thier blinders off, really showed that he is not at all ready to be a Commander in Cheif.

As they said..... Cain was clearly the least knowledgeable candidate on the stage.

Why does the thread title say 11/14/11....is there another debate tomorrow?

The Viking wrote: Cain keeps using the line, well it is unclear. And the Moderator finally said, we hae been in Afghanistan for 10 years now. WHAT is still unclear to you? He rambled something about obama and the troops which wasn't even the question. Cain just doesn't have any real answers to anything when he can't use 9-9-9.

Will this boost Perry back to the top tier? Not sure yet but he came up with great ideas last night that both Romney and Newt said that Perry is absolutely right and they followed him. This was definitely a boost for him and Newt last night. Cain, if people will take thier blinders off, really showed that he is not at all ready to be a Commander in Cheif.

As they said..... Cain was clearly the least knowledgeable candidate on the stage.

And one of the most knowledgeable and succinct answers came from Newt... who outshone all of them on foreign policy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... gxgegOSniY

archer wrote: Why does the thread title say 11/14/11....is there another debate tomorrow?

You know conservatives stink in math and science.

If you will notice Cain does not attack other candidates. He runs a positive campaign by promoting his view of America. This is his great appeal. Perry attacks. Romney attacks. This is one of the most important reasons that Cain surges in the polls.

Cain approaches the characteristics of being a "statesman" while the others are typical politicians.

So, keep attacking away at Cain. The twisted thinking that "my guy must be marvelous because the other guy stinks" is the thinking of "politics as usual". The elections of 2012 will reject this tactic of politics.

I'm all for positive campaigns (that's why I like Huntsman) but what part of blaming Perry for the leak about the sexual harassment story is positive? If not attacking other candidates is one of the reasons for a poll surge, why isn't Huntsman surging?

Here are some reviews of the debate, if you're interested in reading other viewpoints:

Mother Jones:

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/ ... highlights

Slate:

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_ ... ingle.html

The Liberals GOP Twin wrote:

The Viking wrote: Cain keeps using the line, well it is unclear. And the Moderator finally said, we hae been in Afghanistan for 10 years now. WHAT is still unclear to you? He rambled something about obama and the troops which wasn't even the question. Cain just doesn't have any real answers to anything when he can't use 9-9-9.

Will this boost Perry back to the top tier? Not sure yet but he came up with great ideas last night that both Romney and Newt said that Perry is absolutely right and they followed him. This was definitely a boost for him and Newt last night. Cain, if people will take thier blinders off, really showed that he is not at all ready to be a Commander in Cheif.

As they said..... Cain was clearly the least knowledgeable candidate on the stage.

And one of the most knowledgeable and succinct answers came from Newt... who outshone all of them on foreign policy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... gxgegOSniY

Yes Newt nailed that and I loved his answer about sending in covert opperatives to Iran to take out their scientists and disable their nuclear program and of course there would be plausible deniablity. If Newt can get past his past and baggage then he has a great shot.