The Great Debate
The Republican debate did not bring many surprises. They all were true to the party line of cut taxes, cut federal spending and cut regulation and let the magic of the market fix everything. Yet, there were some surprises, but very few sparks.
Ron Paul, an always-interesting character, has led the charge, not simply against the Fed and government in general, but has truly been out front on American interventionism abroad. The party is coming, if not to him at least, towards him in being against Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and now Yemen. While there is still a wide divergence in the party, still, few would have predicted that the conservatives might be out front of the liberals in anti-war sentiment.
The news from the debate was that Michelle Bachmann announced her candidacy. Why that was news is not clear since this was a debate of presidential candidates--otherwise I would have asked to participate. She committed no egregious errors of fact and was mediagenic, passionate and articulate, thus exceeding all expectations from both the right and left.
Romney held his own (which while Weiner might approve, Santorum would be aghast). He was smooth, had a nice smile and seemed to have good energy. He certainly looks the part of a president.
This led to the surprise of the night for me. Tim Pawlenty looked slight, nervous and not at all presidential. He was physically and rhetorically adumbrated by Romney. While it is too soon to say it's over for him--it is over for him. The money will dry up. If the Evangelicals--to say nothing of the anti-Obamacare folks--want a Great White non-Mormon candidate, it won't be Pawlenty, Santorum or Gingrich. Maybe it will be Herman Cain. Although both his names sound pretty Jewish.
©2011 Jonathan Dobrer
www.Dobrer.com
For some reason, I don't trust Romney. I think Michelle had a good presentation.
It is time we had a Jewish president.
Good article, Mr. Dobrer.