The Republicans take it to the next level

Sunday night the Republican candidates who are running for to be their party’s nominee for the US Presidency. Now down to eight candidates (Minus Jim Gilmore, Tommy Thompson, and Sam Brownback, plus Fred Thompson), the candidates were on Fox News for about 90 minutes discussing numerous issues. But what set this debate apart from the previous ones was that the first ten minutes of fingerpointing…

There comments made by candidates Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, and John McCain were brought up, and the four major candidates took turns taking aim at each other. And their responses said a great deal about each candidate. Mitt Romney kept pointing to his record as Governor of Massachusetts, but not being very specific and explaining much in his answers. John McCain kept speaking about his “consistent conservative” record, but not explaining the different flip-flops he has done in the past. Also, he reiterated how “qualified” he is (qualified is such a loaded phrase in politics). Then the infamous Fred “I don’t remember” Thompson decided to not respond to any accusations that came his way AT ALL. Instead of defending himself, he went after Rudy Giuliani in a childish “well, he did this” kind of attitude. Giuliani, attacked AND defended himself, something Thompson could not seem to do (this is the same man, Thompson, who told a group of voters "I really don't know what I would do in my first 100 days.")

But what caped it all off was when former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee got his first chance to talk and said, “I'm kind of glad I wasn't in on the first few minutes because it was all about these guys fighting each other….There are some real issues out there in this country we need to be fighting for on behalf of the people….I'm not interested in fighting these guys. What I'm interested in is fighting for the American people, and I think they're looking for a presidential candidate who's not so interested in a demolition derby against the other people in his own party." (http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.Home)

When Huckabee said this, he got a tremendous amount of applause. Even the “Post Debate” focus groups on Fox News were impressed by Huckabee after that statement.

And then the debate proceeded as usual. But after all of these debates, one can gather the following about the candidates:

*Fred Thompson is a smart, witty guy, but lacks the knowledge depth on numerous issues. When he says to people stuff like “I don’t know enough” or “I don’t remember…”, it makes me nervous.

*Mitt Romney looks presidential, but sounds redundant. He always talks about his record in Massachusetts and his “many accomplishments”, but seems reluctant when under fire in the debates. He has a lot of interesting things to say, but because he is mormon, there is a tag put on him. Also, saying you will need to consult your lawyers on national security issues sounds wimpy and lackadaisical.

*John McCain will do whatever it takes to win, which is his downfall. He has been inconsistent and ignorant on so many levels, one begins to see the real McCain behind all the bull he sets out on the table. He is not sincere in many of his answers and it shows.

*Rudy Giuliani has been for the most part consistent. Even though some of his positions do not line up with many Social Conservatives, he is reasonable and you know what you are getting with him. The fact he is on his third marriage doesn’t help his public image. The fact that his daughter is supporting Barrack Obama for President is either a sign of ignorance on his daughter’s part or a sign that he is not close to his children. Conviently, every time Giuliani goes ahead of Hillary Clinton or gets close to her, stories come up about how ingenuine and malicious Rudy is or mentions weird stories about Rudy as mayor. Of course, the Clinton Political Machine has nothing to do with that…nay…

*Mike Huckabee is the Reagan Prototype candidate: solid grasp of issues, personable, funny, sharp, thoughtful, and Christian-esque. He isn’t well known and that doesn’t help his chances. Those among the “Christian Conservative Leaders” try to pin on thing on Huckabee from his past, and even that is continually misconstrued and twisted. He has something on all the other major candidates: he has been married only once (unlike Giuliani and Thompson), he has never made serious position changes or flip flops (unlike McCain, Thompson, and Romney), and he is a member of a “legitamate” Christian denomination (Romney is Mormon, Thompson is either Disciples of Christ or Church of God depending on who you ask, no one is sure what McCain is, while Giuliani is Catholic which is more well known). Note: the final “Huckabee compliment” only applies to those who are concerned about a candidates religious standing.

I personally prefer Huckabee and Giuliani at this point. I have a soft spot for Romney, but I think he has become too predictable and needs to be more forceful and affirmative. Thompson is the over hyped high school basketball player that never met expectations. McCain valiantly served his country in the Vietnam War, but has become a political chameleon and seems to be fearful of what the media thinks of him at times.