By Chuck Muth
Maybe I’m just biased because I was there in person, but I thought the Western Republican Presidential Debate in Las Vegas was by far the most entertaining and enlightening dust-up so far. Some observations.
Nobody missed not having Jon Huntsman – who has no campaign presence in Nevada, has no chance of winning anything in Nevada and yet is boycotting Nevada anyway over the brouhaha with New Hampshire – in the mix, so let’s hope they just keep him out of all future debates. Who needs him?
As for Rick Santorum, it’s time for him to scram, too.
“Santorum should be dropped from these debates because his only goal is to pick a fight with whomever is ahead of him in the polls, which is everyone else on the stage,” wrote Mullings.com blogger Rich Galen after the debate. “He has nothing positive to offer and depends solely on being the class scold as an attention-getting device.”
If you were watching on TV at home, you might not have seen just how embarrassing Michele Bachmann was throughout the debate, pumping her hand in the air non-stop hoping to get the attention of the moderator like a little eager-beaver schoolgirl. Presidents of the United States don’t raise their hands begging to be recognized.
Ron Paul is nothing if not consistent in his beliefs. And I’m with him on most of them. But grumpy old men telling you to eat your broccoli don’t get elected president by an electorate that has come to believe they are entitled to a bowl of ice cream with every meal. However, unlike Santorum, Paul brings value to the discussion. And would make one heckuva a Federal Reserve chairman!
Depending on your point of view, Rick Perry either shot himself in the foot with his more aggressive performance, or he finally found his sea legs and is now in position to rebound and grind out a victory over the long haul. Many conservatives are hoping it’s the latter.
Herman Cain was hit a few times with fire from all directions but suffered only flesh wounds. It’s hard to say The Hermanator did anything but gain even more supporters with his performance, even as his 9-9-9 tax reform plan received a rather painful proctologic exam.
Mitt Romney did what he’s been doing – turning out a solid, yet uninspiring performance – which is all he needs as long as he’s perceived as the inevitable nominee with the best chance to beat Obama.
As for Newt Gingrich, he continues to pace the field – slow and steady – sticking in the middle of the pack waiting for an opportunity that, in this crazy race, just might come. After all, we still need a flavor of the month for November!
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Chuck Muth is president of Citizen Outreach and publisher of NevadaNewsandViews.com. He may be reached at [email protected].
