I’m sorry if I’m talking politics too much for your taste. It’s just that I don’t have anyone around here to talk to about this (Dana and I can get into some great political discussions, but she’s too far away).
Tonight’s debate is the first one I’ve seen, since it was the first I was able to see. I feel fairly knowledgeable about the candidate’s positions, but it was good to hear them and see their body language as they assert their opinions.
The following are just a few of the observations I jotted down during the debate (I started watching about 7:45, so I missed anything/everything before that). They are merely thoughts that came through my head, and of course are biased like all opinions are. So:
Why couldn’t they have shown names on screen of the debaters as they were speaking? If you popped in midway, you might not know who they all were. I didn’t recognize Ron Paul at first, until I heard the rhetoric coming out of his mouth.
Ron Paul on health care…wow. I believe the question was about health care, not about inflation and the war. His angry tone was a big turn off.
I don’t agree with Rudy Guiliani that reading/writing/speaking English should be required for citizenship (though I do believe that is the way it is now). English is NOT an official language, and until there is a law passed to say it is, I will continue to cringe when people say everyone must speak it. Sure, it would be beneficial, but it’s their choice.
Mitt Romney really has a great voice (but maybe not as great as Huckabee’s). I just wish that the things coming out were equally beautiful.
Who picked the background? It was awful, and definitely wasn’t flattering to the candidates. At least Huckabee had some blue behind him, because the red was worse.
Romney sure seemed to hog the spotlight. I guess he had the right, since most of the others’ barbs were pointed at him.
Romney, what exactly is your immigration plan? I only heard you fight the others, so I know what your plan is NOT. So what IS it?
Rudy Giuliani confused me. First he said that Ronald Reagan did amnesty, then he went to describe that amnesty using the exact same features of his own plan, which he doesn’t consider amnesty. Did he just confuse me, or is he the one confused?
I now understand why Fred Thompson is perceived as lazy. He used a lot of “uh’s” and “umm’s” (can’t fault the guy, I do too) and leaned back in his chair A LOT. He did have a lovely purple tie, though.
I need to research the national ID thing some more. What’s so wrong with it (as Paul suggests)? Right now, I’d support it if it was implemented correctly.
I liked the question about what the candidate would say if they were against Obama. I especially liked Huckabee’s answer stressing the similarities and not the differences!
What did John McCain mean by agreeing that Romney was the candidate of change? Oh my, I feel stupid, I just realized what he meant as I typed that. Haha, that’s funny. Too bad nobody in the audience laughed.
Romney doesn’t want the debate to be personal? What does he consider all his attack ads on the others?
Romney, why did you turn your chair away from him when McCain was criticizing you? That appeared cowardly and juvenile.
Huckabee, you won my heart again by saying that most issues should be left to the states!
Paul, I did like your joke about you and Obama having youthfulness in common. Too bad you hadn’t acted like a old man set in his ways earlier.
Thompson, you clearly aren’t bothered by the oil company profits. The question barely registered a response at first.
Audience, I really felt sorry for you that you had to clap the entire time the Republicans and the Democrats were greeting one another. Why couldn’t we have heard what they were saying? That would have been cool.
So, what did you think? Do you think I made a fair assessment? Who do you think won? I would have to say either Huckabee or McCain.
I only got to watch a smidgen of this last night.
I said the SAME thing last night — who is that? Who is that? Is that Ron Paul?? Who is that?
Here is something I noticed. It looked to me like Romney was mocking people — but the more I watched him, I think he was just trying to have a pleasant look on his face… but instead of looking neutral — it looked like he was secretly laughing at the others.
I wish I could have watched it all.