The fourth debate is in the books. Tonight presented a far better format, with far more intramural clash, than in any of the predecessor events. Huckabee stole the show tonight, with Rudy close on his heals and McCain rebounding hard. I still don’t know why we have moderators at all. Shouldn’t someone who wants to be President of the United States be able to stand his ground on a stage with his competitors without any direction or editing?
As usual. we’re going to rate each debater on a scale of 1-30. The ratings are based in part on presentation, part on content and part on the stage management of the occasion. In alphabetical order:
Sam Brownback Sam seemed very off his game tonight. Sam started the debate series with a great performance in the first debate but has consistently been kind of a wall flower in the last three debates. Sam had a couple of great answers but was unable to produce a dominant posture on even his strongest answers about family and homosexual marriage; while again tremendously articulate he didn’t generate a powerful presence. Sam is a complex legal thinker but he has not demonstrated the ability to exploit the debate format.
1st debate/25
As usual. we’re going to rate each debater on a scale of 1-30. The ratings are based in part on presentation, part on content and part on the stage management of the occasion. In alphabetical order:
Sam Brownback Sam seemed very off his game tonight. Sam started the debate series with a great performance in the first debate but has consistently been kind of a wall flower in the last three debates. Sam had a couple of great answers but was unable to produce a dominant posture on even his strongest answers about family and homosexual marriage; while again tremendously articulate he didn’t generate a powerful presence. Sam is a complex legal thinker but he has not demonstrated the ability to exploit the debate format.
1st debate/25
2nd debate/21
3rd debate/22
4th debate/20
Rudy Giuliani. Rudy was great tonight. His answers are almost entirely direct. He minimized damage on his weaknesses-like his utterly chaotic family life-by giving the smart argument. Rudy repeatedly targeted the Democrats and, more importantly, seemed like a tough and competent, if somewhat strangely idiosyncratic, leader. His shot at Fred was great to start. His answer on Guantanamo was also killer, fact based, much like a President in the making telling people what they need but wish not to hear. Giuliani always comes back to competence and measurable results; two very reassuring traits to the average voter.
1st debate/21
Rudy Giuliani. Rudy was great tonight. His answers are almost entirely direct. He minimized damage on his weaknesses-like his utterly chaotic family life-by giving the smart argument. Rudy repeatedly targeted the Democrats and, more importantly, seemed like a tough and competent, if somewhat strangely idiosyncratic, leader. His shot at Fred was great to start. His answer on Guantanamo was also killer, fact based, much like a President in the making telling people what they need but wish not to hear. Giuliani always comes back to competence and measurable results; two very reassuring traits to the average voter.
1st debate/21
2nd debate/27
3rd debate/27
4th debate/28
Mike Huckabee. Huck just keeps getting better. Tonight he really started to step out from behind the “social conservative” template. While Ron Paul is an easy target, Huck’s smack down made him look tough-and a lack of toughness was one of the worst knocks on Huck. He defended the Fair Tax well and talked tough on foreign policy. He also showed the ability to dodge questions and stay on message without seeming to have just ducked the question entirely.
Mike Huckabee. Huck just keeps getting better. Tonight he really started to step out from behind the “social conservative” template. While Ron Paul is an easy target, Huck’s smack down made him look tough-and a lack of toughness was one of the worst knocks on Huck. He defended the Fair Tax well and talked tough on foreign policy. He also showed the ability to dodge questions and stay on message without seeming to have just ducked the question entirely.
1st debate/25
2nd debate/27
3rd debate/28
4th debate/29
Duncan Hunter. He smiled broadly for the first time. Keep it up Duncan-it looks good. I have said it before-Duncan Hunter just seems like he should be the Commander in Chief. I almost completely agree with every word he utters. He also showed a very clear vision for the world tonight. Unfortunately, he has the reverse problem from Sam and, previously, Huck-he only gets foreign policy questions. Let’s be honest-you just know that he would blow those Iranian monsters back into the stone age!
1st debate/23
Duncan Hunter. He smiled broadly for the first time. Keep it up Duncan-it looks good. I have said it before-Duncan Hunter just seems like he should be the Commander in Chief. I almost completely agree with every word he utters. He also showed a very clear vision for the world tonight. Unfortunately, he has the reverse problem from Sam and, previously, Huck-he only gets foreign policy questions. Let’s be honest-you just know that he would blow those Iranian monsters back into the stone age!
1st debate/23
2nd debate/24
3rd debate/25
4th debate/27
John McCain. Sen. McCain started out slow, old and over rehearsed; getting to speak last on his own ground allowed him to end passionate, serious and wise. John’s somewhat undeserved slap down on Mitt over the word “apparent” made Sen. McCain look resolute and committed. He is the only guy other than Tancredo who really talks about the big war and the need for strength, and the consequences of appearing weak. The Senator’s answer on taxes reminded me of his opposition of the President’s tax cuts-back when he was running for the Non-Party Party nomination. Actually, it reminded me of the personal nature of his fights with W. None the less, a huge debate improvement for the Senator tonight, both on style and substance.
1st debate/23
John McCain. Sen. McCain started out slow, old and over rehearsed; getting to speak last on his own ground allowed him to end passionate, serious and wise. John’s somewhat undeserved slap down on Mitt over the word “apparent” made Sen. McCain look resolute and committed. He is the only guy other than Tancredo who really talks about the big war and the need for strength, and the consequences of appearing weak. The Senator’s answer on taxes reminded me of his opposition of the President’s tax cuts-back when he was running for the Non-Party Party nomination. Actually, it reminded me of the personal nature of his fights with W. None the less, a huge debate improvement for the Senator tonight, both on style and substance.
1st debate/23
2nd debate/24
3rd debate/ 24
4th debate/ 27
Ron Paul. How maddening. The libertarian in me screams yes on so much of what he says. Then the pragmatist returns to the real world. Rudy pounded at him in the first debate, Huck used him as foil with brilliance tonight. You never want the most memorable moment of one on these things to be on the other guy’s highlight film. But he was more theatrical (compliment), and he made better arguments for his sometimes simply unsupportable positions than he has in the past events.
1st debate/21
Ron Paul. How maddening. The libertarian in me screams yes on so much of what he says. Then the pragmatist returns to the real world. Rudy pounded at him in the first debate, Huck used him as foil with brilliance tonight. You never want the most memorable moment of one on these things to be on the other guy’s highlight film. But he was more theatrical (compliment), and he made better arguments for his sometimes simply unsupportable positions than he has in the past events.
1st debate/21
2nd debate/20
3rd debate/21
4th debate/26
Mitt Romney. This was Mitt’s weakest outing, mostly because he was the target tonight. His answers seemed nuanced far too often, which just feeds the flip-flop image. When you’re one of the clear front runners, a status I believe Mitt now occupies, even a little mistake like using the word “apparent” to describe the Surge’s success can be exploited. Much attention was paid to Mitt’s issue evolution and his defenses seemed somewhat, insincere. Mitt remained calm and didn’t get rattled. He does handle the misstatement about his boys’ service quite well, it was a misstatement that just did not come out right. Isn’t it time to give the guy a break and move off this non issue?
1st debate/25
Mitt Romney. This was Mitt’s weakest outing, mostly because he was the target tonight. His answers seemed nuanced far too often, which just feeds the flip-flop image. When you’re one of the clear front runners, a status I believe Mitt now occupies, even a little mistake like using the word “apparent” to describe the Surge’s success can be exploited. Much attention was paid to Mitt’s issue evolution and his defenses seemed somewhat, insincere. Mitt remained calm and didn’t get rattled. He does handle the misstatement about his boys’ service quite well, it was a misstatement that just did not come out right. Isn’t it time to give the guy a break and move off this non issue?
1st debate/25
2nd debate/24
3rd debate/27
4th debate/ 24
Tom Tancredo. He is just so sincere and real. The Tanc had the tonic but lacked stage presence. His response on Iraq was somewhat incoherent. However, the Tanc’s attack on global jihad and the extent to which we are being suicidal with this political correctness were, as usual, great.
1st debate/21
Tom Tancredo. He is just so sincere and real. The Tanc had the tonic but lacked stage presence. His response on Iraq was somewhat incoherent. However, the Tanc’s attack on global jihad and the extent to which we are being suicidal with this political correctness were, as usual, great.
1st debate/21
2nd debate/22
3rd debate/24
4th debate/ 23
The ratings neither reflect my personal support for a candidate nor a belief as to the ultimate nominee. We have a very long way to go before that issue is decided and, of course, the nominee might not even have been on the stage.
The ratings neither reflect my personal support for a candidate nor a belief as to the ultimate nominee. We have a very long way to go before that issue is decided and, of course, the nominee might not even have been on the stage.
