Well, the Fox crew did what they should have; keep just enough of a rein on things to let the candidates either shine or step in it. So, who shone and who stepped in it?
Fred Thompson – Get me my shades. He had Huckabee’s breakfast, lunch and dinner, and dined on McCain’s snack while tossing back New York Times’ martinis.
Mitt Romney – Mostly-solid, but he was reduced to playing Roast-A-Paul-Nut.
John McCain – See Romney.
Rudy Giuliani – He’s a real vanishing man. Going to be invisible soon.
Mike Huckabee – The Republican Party didn’t leave him, he left the Republican Party.
Ron Paul – When even Mike Huckabee roasts you, you’re a bad candidate.
I thought Thompson and McCain carried the night. I thought Thompson was the clear winner, finally abandoning generalities from previous debates and laying out specific, detailed plans. I was very glad to see McCain and others discuss tax cutting combined with reduced spending. Giuliani looked foolish on that issue.
And Ron Paul? Well, he just looked foolish…period.
And what was with that question on the incident with Iran? What a waste of a question. Obviously any sane candidate was going to give the same answer. And every sane candidate did (not so fast RP).
Overall, the questions did allow the candidates to differentiate their positions from the Dems very well. I would still like to hear what the candidates are going to do about health care and soon. Otherwise that is a debate the Dems will win and we’re stuck with socialized medicine.
And if you think McPain is bad news–you should have heard Rick Santorum’s comments about McPain on last night’s Levin show (WISN.)
Santorum absolutely DESPISES McPain for what he is and for what he did behind closed doors in the Senate.
[…] one of the best lines on the debate I’ve seen, Steve at No Runny Eggs  had this to say of Fred’s performance: Get me my shades. He had Huckabee’s breakfast, […]
I tell ya, after Fred stuck it to the Huckster thus:
“Thats not the model of the Reagan Coalition. Thats the Model of the Democrat Party”
I all but had to light up a cigarette! FINALLY someone stands up to the insanity.