The Republican debate last night was quite entertaining, and gave a peek of what is to come in the next few months. Some observations:
Michelle Bachmann was invisible. Most analysis gives her low marks, not because of anything she said, but because she seemed to just not be a part of the flow. Some of that is attributable to the moderator bias to gravitate towards Perry/Romney, but she did nothing to get in the fight. For me she was the biggest loser of the night.
Mitt Romney did a very good job, in my opinion. The question is where are Republicans these days? Mitt is still running a general election campaign, offering Republican voters a more mainstream, buttoned down candidate who does not reject science, wants to save Social Security, and says that President Obama may be a fine person. Do the Republican primary voters prefer this approach? Or…
Rick Perry did a good job, in particular at the start, of mixing it up with Romney. But he savaged Social Security, offering no assurances to go with his denunciation of the program as a “ponzi scheme”. Perry badly fumbled the global warming question, showing an inability to articulate a coherent position. The question at issue was “has human activity contributed to global warming”? Perry wanted to talk about the fact that he disagrees with the solutions proposed by many Democrats to the problem, but that wasn’t the issue. The issue was simply the science. I think Perry’s answers, notwithstanding my own criticism, appeal to many Republicans. He gave a solid answer on the death penalty (audience cheering at the mention of the many Texas executions shows where the Republican primary voters are), and his advocating blunt language will also have Republican appeal.
Can Perry be a good general election candidate? Romney is going to be selling hard on the
electability issue. Will the Republican primary voter go with their heads, or hearts? It is a two man race here, with all due respect to the other candidates. Still intrigued by the media fascination with Jon Huntsman. He has gotten more media attention than any other candidate in history polling at 1% for months. When Herman Cain is trouncing you in the polls it is time to accept reality.
Bill Manzi.com 
Off Topic Report.
Well, your honor, Obama’s army have been called to action.
“SEATTLE — The Longshoremen’s international union is investigating reports of a wildcat strike at the ports of Seattle and Tacoma.
ILWU spokesman Craig Merrilees says union officials are trying to sort out what is happening at the two Washington ports and were not sure on Thursday morning if the strike is related to union activity in Longview.
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Longview police say hundreds of Longshoremen stormed the Port of Longview early Thursday, overpowered and held security guards, damaged railroad cars, and dumped grain that is the center of a labor dispute.
The spokesman at union headquarters in San Francisco says it appears Longshoremen in Seatlte and Tacoma have taken action on their own. Merrilees did not know how many workers are involved and to what extent the apparent wildcat action has spread.”
The Democratic Machine is now at war with America.
Any Comment?
Jules
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Jules,
The Longshoreman acted in a “wildcat” action without authorization from the union. The actions taken were lawless, and a clear violation of a judges order as well as an obvious violation of the rights of the property owners who were vandalized. If you lose control of the streets to hooliganism, no matter what the political affiliation of offender, it is a major problem. Repeat actions should be met with strong police response.
Bill
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Your Honor,
Nice speech. I love the way you guys separate the bad guys from the thugs even though they are part of the same organization.
I correct you in one way; This is criminal not hooliganism. Grain was damaged, and people were kidnapped and threatened. Plus violence from police. I bet no one goes to jail.
These guys were emboldened by union rhetoric from Mr. Hoffa’s “take em out” rant. Rep Capuano should feel good about this as well. He got his blood.
This is plainly a Democratic thing.
Jules
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Jules,
The union leadership disowned the actions. I guess you just don’t want to take yes for an answer. Ultimately these folks have a right to organize, but they don’t have a right to riot. You just don’t agree with the first part of that proposition.
Bill
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Well Your Honor,
I’m sticking to the democrats play book. Remember the charges made against Sarah Palin after the Democrat congresswoman (her name escapes me) was wounded in Arizona.
Let’s see how did that go? Oh yes. Sarah Palin used the word “targeted”. That was the reason the congress woman was shot. Your friends ran with that.
Why can’t I blame the phrase “take them down” shouted by a fist waving union thug, to be the blame for a thug union riot?
I will not let the union leadership off the hook. They hang together.
I NEVER EVER SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE. I DO NOT ACCEPT THEIR RIGHT OF PRIVILEGE
Remember your “friends” made up the blame game rules.
As Bill O’reilly puts it, I’ll let you have the last word.
Jules
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Jules,
Thanks for the last word! I do think that there has been a move to more incendiary rhetoric, and I honestly do believe it has a corrosive influence. For me that corrosion lies not with blaming folks for shootings or riots, but rather in creating a wider gulf that needs to be bridged when vital business between the parties needs to be done. The gap is widening in unhealthy ways.
Bill
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Wow, Your Honor, you hit it right on the head.
As I see it we are a divided nation with each of the divisions having a huge financial stake.
The main lines of division separate Conservative and Liberal/Progressive philosophies. Each is defined by a corruption between the political and those they represent.
At stake is money and power.
This is why we cannot arrive at compromises or break deadlocks.
It is like trench warfare in WWI.
It getting worse.
Jules.
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