CNN Republican Debate: Opinions Please

Four presidential hopefuls sat at the table:  Romney, McCain, Paul and Huckabee.  McCain and Romney got all the questions while Huckabee reminded everyone he wanted to be included and Paul was ignored and passed over.

What did you see and hear?  Was Anderson Cooper, the moderator, fair and balanced.  Were the questions pertinant?  Who made points and who didn't?

If we concede McCain and Romney are the two viable candidates will their differences split the party?  Why is McCain getting all the endorsements?

McCain is not welll-liked on this blog because of his amnesty stance.  What will it mean to us if he gets the nomination?

Paul and Huckabee seem to have little chance of winning.  If they stay in the race who are they pulling votes away from?

The first thing I noticed in the debate was McCain's body language!  He sat slouching in his chair, like he was the KING!   While the rest of the candidates sat straight up in their chairs and looked presidential.

I wish the candidates would stick to the issues and stop bickering!  We as a party, are in the fight of our life!

If McCain is nominated, we have decided to write Tancredo's name in!

I am tired of hearing McCain name dropping!  Let's get to the issuea! 

bornamerican said:

The first thing I noticed in the debate was McCain's body language!  He sat slouching in his chair, like he was the KING!   While the rest of the candidates sat straight up in their chairs and looked presidential.

I wish the candidates would stick to the issues and stop bickering!  We as a party, are in the fight of our life!

If McCain is nominated, we have decided to write Tancredo's name in!

I am tired of hearing McCain name dropping!  Let's get to the issuea! 

I also noticed McCain's arrogant and superior attitude.  Someone should count the number of times he said he was "qualified and proud."  Can you be too proud?

Well I thought Romney did the best.  I thought McCain came off as somewhat - "hey I have this wrapped up so you guys can now go home".

I then watched what some viewers thought and Romney came off with 90 pts on the scale they use to "grade" the "emotions" as positive or negative during the debate.  McCain got much worse.

I think Anderson and the other two commentors shared the "questions" and though I think some of them were stupid (like Ron Paul pointed out) most were ok.

McCain is getting the "endorsements because Republicans and Dem's are the same inside the party with a goal of NAU by 2010 and they need to get the two Representatives at the end of the race to be Pro-Open borders- Pro-Amnesty - Pro-NAU and trucks from Mexico and Super Hwy bound.

All of the Republicans who were against Amnesty (Tancredo, Hunter, Paul, Thompson, Romney) are out except for Romney who has enough of his own money to fight the crowd and Paul who by small donations raised enough money to fight the crowd. 

Huckabee is suspect because of his past record on the open borders, love Vicente Fox lets use tax payer money to open a Mexican consulate in ARK, amnesty and college and free health care for illegals etc. -though he curiously changed his tune for the election race and it could be as a way to syphen votes off of Paul and Romney as a ringer.

The "top" Republican officials don't like Romney from what I hear and thats probably because he has enough money that he doesn't need to listen to them for "approval" in order to stay in the race.

Now I understand why Tancredo endorsed Romney.  He is out of the control of the "brothers" the pro-NAU by 2010 - amero crowd.  He is really the only hope we have - the "we the people" side of the argument.  The old CFR gang will do anything to keep him from winning as he won't support the NAU by 2010 and I can't see him supporting the amero.  I don't think he would have gone with Vicente Fox and used tax payers money to open a Mexican consulate anywhere in the USA.

Oh - the Mitt and McCain show....

I think Mitt held his own - I thought he started off cocky and argumentative in the beginning but came out looking well toward the end.  He definately put McCain in his place.

McCain's constant smug look and slouched posture was appaulling.  I truly believe the fix is in - and he knows something we all don't... as apparent by his demeanor.  McCain looked like a blubbering idiot IMO.

I think Anderson was incredibly rude and CNN's continual bias to the front two was blatant.  He cut off Ron Paul and skipped him repeatedly to ask Huck a question.  A friend of mine was there in the audience and he said the audience was VERY aware of the bias and censorship of Ron Paul.

Huck is just Huck - he's a politically correct shill - and will never do what he promises to do - OUT OF COMPASSION for illegals etc.

Ron Paul hit a homerun with his final response - Mitt and McCain gave him PLENTY of material and he hit it out of the park!  He continues to shine when given a chance and makes the others look like amateurs.

We think McCain is starting a new party the "Repubacrats"

Does anyone think McCain will take his state of AZ, like he says he will? 

CJBL --

Interesting  insights.  Thanks.

When the question about "are we better off today than when Bush took office," (I don't remember the exact wording) was asked, I noticed the four candidates divided.  Paul and Huckabbe said no, Romney and McCain spoke doublespeak.  I didn't like it.  Did the two frontrunners, McCain and Romney, feel compelled to support Bush and the Republican Party by pretending things were just ducky?  Why can't they just tell the truth? 

Suffering in AZ.1 said:

CJBL --

Interesting  insights.  Thanks.

When the question about "are we better off today than when Bush took office," (I don't remember the exact wording) was asked, I noticed the four candidates divided.  Paul and Huckabbe said no, Romney and McCain spoke doublespeak.  I didn't like it.  Did the two frontrunners, McCain and Romney, feel compelled to support Bush and the Republican Party by pretending things were just ducky?  Why can't they just tell the truth? 

They sugar coat everything Suffering.  If you recall back at the Iowa Debate, Mitt said the economy was fine - future was BRIGHT (oops)...basically EVERY candidate said that....except Ron Paul.

The doublespeak you refer to is....deception and LIES.

Will he take Arizona?  Yes - you can guarantee they will ensure he does.

I thought Romney did pretty well.  McCain was annoying touting his credentials and those who endorse him.  Huckabee and Paul didn't get to say much.

I was astonished by Romney's reasons for having mandated health insurance.  They did a study that said 50% of people witout insurance could get it but choose not to because they know they can go to the hospital, be treated, and not pay.  That infuriates me.  I don't want to pay for anyone else's healthcare like that.  It's no wonder that more and more places are requiring payment up front for hospital and medical services.

Overall, I think Romney made the best impression.  He didn't seem snide as McCain did and he made valid points.

I do have to admit that even though I'd never vote for Huckabee, he does come across very well.  He sounded like he was speaking with people and not down at people.

Concerned mom,

Point of interest - with the economy where it is today... and the recent 'stimulus package' sailing through Congress... EVERY GOP candidate agreed with this package (with the exception of RP).   This alone tells anyone who knows the slightest about economics - that these front runners do NOT know how to make positive impacts on the economy.   They are agreeing to refund money to tax payers (even illegals) - WITHOUT cutting spending.  In a sense - they are writing us a hot check (and raising the deficit...AGAIN).  Any candidate who agrees with this method of stimulus is plain wrong.

ConcernedMom said:

I thought Romney did pretty well.  McCain was annoying touting his credentials and those who endorse him.  Huckabee and Paul didn't get to say much.

I was astonished by Romney's reasons for having mandated health insurance.  They did a study that said 50% of people witout insurance could get it but choose not to because they know they can go to the hospital, be treated, and not pay.  That infuriates me.  I don't want to pay for anyone else's healthcare like that.  It's no wonder that more and more places are requiring payment up front for hospital and medical services.

Overall, I think Romney made the best impression.  He didn't seem snide as McCain did and he made valid points.

I do have to admit that even though I'd never vote for Huckabee, he does come across very well.  He sounded like he was speaking with people and not down at people.

Thanks.

I agree with how you see healthcare and I don't want to pay either.

One point I found extremely interesting was how Romney divided up the national debt.  We were only spending 20% on the war and was it 60 to 80% on entitlements like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.  Of course this can't continue.

I got the picture of a big pyramid scheme in my head where in the beginning everyone thought it was great and got paid.  Then, as the entitlements grew by sheer numbers drawing from the pot, the whole thing collapsed. 

One point I found extremely interesting was how Romney divided up the national debt.  We were only spending 20% on the war and was it 60 to 80% on entitlements like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.  Of course this can't continue.

I got the picture of a big pyramid scheme in my head where in the beginning everyone thought it was great and got paid.  Then, as the entitlements grew by sheer numbers drawing from the pot, the whole thing collapsed. 

Suffering,

If you recall - Mitt talked of stopping entitlements for middle aged Americans (meaning those injured and unable to work) - but never mentioned stopping tax payer funded entitlements to ILLEGALS.  BIG RED FLAG.

nickjr said:

Concerned mom,

Point of interest - with the economy where it is today... and the recent 'stimulus package' sailing through Congress... EVERY GOP candidate agreed with this package (with the exception of RP).   This alone tells anyone who knows the slightest about economics - that these front runners do NOT know how to make positive impacts on the economy.   They are agreeing to refund money to tax payers (even illegals) - WITHOUT cutting spending.  In a sense - they are writing us a hot check (and raising the deficit...AGAIN).  Any candidate who agrees with this method of stimulus is plain wrong.

I agree.

The tax incentives for businesses are good and our rebates are just a joke.  They are handing us our own money, dripping with interest, as the country goes bankrupt.  I don't know if it's just political posturing by both parties or something designed to placate us as more horrific economic woes come down the pike. 

Thanks for your comments -- I didn't get to see the debate, and in my current state of mind that might be just as well.  I've said before that McCain HAS AN ATTITUDE!  In every debate I have seen, he looks bored, disgusted as to why someone with his "greatness" should even have to participate, and his expressions when others are speaking is nothing short of absolute rudeness.

If anyone thinks "W" has an attitude, just wait if McCain gets elected!

nickjr = I don't think Romney would give entitlements to illegals because he doesn't even like giving them to American's (ex his health care in MASS) he is for individuals providing for themselves when at all possible.  He believes that if you are healthy and can work then you can pay your way.  I agree, I am sick of working up to 80 hour work weeks so Illegals in Ca can get a free ride and instead of spending money on food and health care they let me pay for it so they can send the remittances home to Mexico.

As for stopping entitlements like Medicare, Social Security, he said that those in the 40 yr range and younger need to be set up on a different type of system so that when they pay into it for all of there lives there is still something there for them when they need it - ie it is not they are now paying so the "older" folks have the money but when it is there time to retire there is nothing there.

He didn't have time to go into detial at these debates but I heard him explain in detail on another forum.

He believes if you pay into something your entire life (Social Security) then it should be there when you need it.  Which right now for those in their 20's, 30's, and 40's, might not happen at the current rate we are going.

CJBL said:

nickjr = I don't think Romney would give entitlements to illegals because he doesn't even like giving them to American's

As important as the economy is this election - we can't afford to 'hope' a candidate feels a certain way....  He needs to come right out and say - no entitlements to illegals.  If he doesn't - he's another pandering politician hoping to score votes. 

I'm tired of political correctness.

(CM) Jim from Texas said:

Thanks for your comments -- I didn't get to see the debate, and in my current state of mind that might be just as well. I've said before that McCain HAS AN ATTITUDE! In every debate I have seen, he looks bored, disgusted as to why someone with his "greatness" should even have to participate, and his expressions when others are speaking is nothing short of absolute rudeness.

If anyone thinks "W" has an attitude, just wait if McCain gets elected!

You mean an attitude that says I'm the king and the rest of you, Congress and masses alike, can go to hell because I'm going to do exactly what I like by signing statements and executive orders.

Oh -- I almost forgot that Bush uses every tool so he can do it his way including "wink and nod" politics, under the table dealings and political paybacks.  He's a tried and true politician and McCain is cut from the same mold.