Tag: GOP Debate

GOP debate

Anyone else watch the GOP debate last night from Florida? Seemed quite civil compared to what I heard from the Democratic debate earlier this week.

MSNBC seemed to think Mitt Romney won the debate afterwards but I wasn’t impressed. Granted I already have my pre-conceived notions about him so that may have blinded me somewhat.

I thought John McCain and Mike Huckabee did a great job and I was also impressed with Ron Paul. Paul’s ideas may not be mainstream but he knows his reasons behind them.

I loved the challenge Huckabee gave to moderator Tim Russert. While Huckabee talked about how the Fair Tax would help stimulate the economy and help save Social Security, Russert basically said, “The idea of the Fair Tax is very improbable” (not a direct quote). Huckabee came back and said, “that’s what’s wrong with America. We keep saying that’s improbable or unlikely rather than looking for ways to make it work” (again not a direct quote but the gist).

And you can tell Huckabee knows the Fair Tax. If you’re wondering more about it, be sure and visit the Americans for Fair Taxation website.

What were your impressions after the debate?

Debate reaction

I missed the GOP debate last night. With small group at our house last night and our DVR already recording two other shows, there was no way for me to see it. I’ll be looking for it on the Interweb today though.
Here are some comments already circling (from the Mike Huckabee campaign)…

Christian Hine has some good post debate thoughts posted on his blog www.SaveTalkRadio.com:

In the few questions that Mike Huckabee was allowed to answer, he clearly shined through. In fact, while applause was very limited in this debate, Huckabee’s answers on a hypothetical Iran first strike situation and on health care generated support from the audience. He is also starting to have an impact on the language of the tax debate. His support of the FairTax and the overwhelming grassroots efforts by FairTax supporters have actually gotten Romney talking about “embedded taxes” and McCain talking about making the tax code “flatter and fairer”. When your candidate is the one that the others are emulating, that is a sign of success.

Alex Harris at I Heart Huckabee has the video of Governor Huckabee’s appearance on Hardball after the debate and roundup of some great coverage including one of our favorite comments so far:

Tim Dickinson, Rolling Stone:

That Mike Huckabee hasn’t caught just a little bit of fire is a mystery to me. He’s charming and funny, and always seems reasonable even when he’s preaching to the freepers. I don’t know why the James Dobsons of the world are threatening to leave the party rather than throwing their weight behind this Southern Baptist minister with a concealed-carry permit and a “covenant marriage.” Someone whose phone calls Focus on the Family actually returns ought to ask Dr. D. just that.

A agree whole heartedly.

Steven Pearlstein of the Washington Post:

Judged by who can offer a serious approach to economic policy, the hands-down winner in the Republican race so far is Huckabee, who combines intelligence, candor and comfortable familiarity with the issues and a practical approach anchored in solid conservative beliefs.
If only the political press were as impressed with the quality of a candidate’s program as with his name recognition, it would be Huckabee, not Thompson, who was energizing the Republican contest.

What about you? Who are you pulling for now? Still just picking a guy because you think he can beat Hillary? Did you know that in the latest polls, in a head to head match-up, Huckabee was only 8 points behind Hillary and 9 points behind Obama? Maybe if you got behind him and told your friends – we could reverse those numbers.

Listen to NPR’s coverage from Morning Edition here.