The question is, if you were on the fence, if by some kind of dimensional warp you couldn’t decide between Barack Obama and anybody else in 2012, would this debate have moved you one way or another? That’s the problem.
Unfortunately, this debate was invitation only. I have the pleasure of working just minutes from the Reagan Library, but yesterday I couldn’t get near Presidential Drive. Nice place to visit any other time though. With that disappointment already in place, the debate took place, and for me, was more of the same from these candidates. I’ve talked before how the Republican candidates are hyper focused on the economy, to the neglect of many other issues. Don’t get me wrong, obviously the economy is a huge issue, but putting their eggs in one basket could come back to haunt them.
Of course Obama was going to be slapped around. He’s the president, and he’s doing hatchet job on the economy. It was easy pickings there. But in this debate, the candidates started to go at eachother, most notably, Rick Perry and Mitt Romney. With Romney trailing substantially in the polls right now, he came out swinging, and was clearly ready to take on Perry. Perry was ready too, with both taking shots at eachother.
PERRY: I know back and forth — Michael Dukakis created jobs three times faster than you did, Mitt.
ROMNEY: Well, as a matter of fact, George Bush and his predecessor created jobs at a faster rate than you did, Governor.
(LAUGHTER)
PERRY: That’s not correct.
ROMNEY: Yes, that is correct.
That took some research to come up with that. A rigorous debate is great, but I hope is doesn’t degenerate into another nasty campaign that we’ve seen too much of in recent years. I’m getting tired of attacking the man as opposed to the issues.
As far as the economy, they all had their plans, and although there were differences, that weren’t all that different. Santorum wants to cut corporate tax rates-as they all do, Herman Cain has his 999 plan, which includes corporate tax cuts as well. John Huntsman lauded dealing with China. He’s gone. Bachmannn and Ron Paul talked about the oppressive regulations that are hurting businesses. All true, but all heard before. Is there anyone already slated to vote for any of these candidates not versed on these positions? I’m not holding my breath waiting for the government to create jobs anyway. Are you?
Romney got knocked on his home grown Obamacare in Massachusetts, but surprisingly, Rick Perry let him get off. I thought he would really attack, but Romney’s response pretty much muted the criticism. Didn’t mute mine.
Although the economy dominated like I knew it would, there were a few detours. That’s all they were though. On the Libya debacle, only Michelle Bachmann stated unequivocally that she was opposed. It did not come up that the new head of security for the Libyan rebels has admitted that he is indeed, al-Qaeda. You saw that right, and we put him there. Never came up.
But the one issue I was waiting for came up, although it too was a detour from the economic debate. Immigration. NBC propped up some stooge from Telemundo to talk about open borders. And Rick Perry did just that, solidifying his position as an open borders RINO. More boots on the ground (that are forbidden from arresting anybody), and predator drones. What about the tunnels Rick? What about them? he would probably reply. Newt Gingrich’s response to the border fence issue began with his bragging that he voted for amnesty in 1986! Rick Santorum said his position was similar to Gingrich’s! Bachmann fumbled the question. She won’t do anything. Cain said all the right things…not sure if that’s at the top of his agenda though. We already know foreign policy isn’t one of his strong suits. Ron Paul wants to take away the magnets that attract illegal aliens in the first place. He’s not too keen on a fence. Well, he’s half way there. Only Mitt Romney hit it out of the proverbial park. He added a fence to Ron Paul’s position.
If we want to secure the border, we have to make sure we have a fence, technologically, determining where people are, enough agents to oversee it, and turn off that magnet. We can’t talk about amnesty, we cannot give amnesty to those who have come here illegally.
We’ve got 4.7 million people waiting in line legally. Let those people come in first, and those that are here illegally, they shouldn’t have a special deal.
That alone gives the win to Romney-at least for this debate. As I said, economically, the front runners aren’t all that different on economic ideas, so it comes down to the other issues. Romney-healthcare-bad, but it appears that he’s learned from that mistake. We can’t expect him to pull that stunt again. He sounds strong on illegal immigration. The others do not, save Ron Paul who as I said at least came half way.
I’m not thrilled with the prospect of a Mitt Romney nomination, and I’m even less thrilled with the specter of Rick Open borders Perry getting in. If I have to choose I’ll take Romney, if those are the choices. Romney v Obama? Do you even need to ask?
So I hear Barry has come up with a $450 billion scheme to create jobs. I said earlier that I’m not waiting for the government to come to the rescue. They should just get the hell out of the way. Instead, Obama wants to pick our pocket and implement yet another failed stimulus. There you go candidates, yet more fuel for the fire. If you can’t get Obama’s approval into the 20’s the next few months, you just aren’t trying.
