Grade Ron's Debate Performance

[Mini-Me]

On a scale of pure technical debate proficiency, I'd go for a B- or so, or C+ if I were being especially critical. On a scale of overall effectiveness relative to his recent debates and relative to his opponents, I'd go for an A-!

Most of the candidates appeared slick and were quite specific about each other's records and their plans to imperceptibly tweak the system, but they were just mudslinging and arguing over minutiae of issues voters don't especially care about. Granted, a lot of voters are drawn to this, because arguing in such specifics gives these candidates the superficial appearance of being intelligent and informed. They've also been annoyingly hijacking parts of Ron's message and using them as talking points, as if they really believed in any of it...but in the end, NONE of the other candidates really connected emotionally with the audience or voters, and Ron Paul did! He stumbled once or twice trying to get from A to B explaining very complex and abstract economic issues that he alone understands among all the candidates, but he did at least get across the impression that he's knowledgeable. As malkusm said, he also made a habit of coming back to the more specific question and finishing strong.

As always, he can improve with rhetoric like, "As President, I will...," but I'm VERY happy with how tonight turned out overall. I'm glad he was able to finish the South Carolina debates on the abortion question (rather than, say, foreign policy). I was initially disappointed that he left so much out of his first abortion answer...but Santorum totally set himself up for that epic smackdown at the end, and not only was it great, but it perfectly rounded out his abortion answer. (I DO wish he would tell the baby in a bucket story on stage though...it really drives home the point about how sick the system really is.)

It seems pretty clear to me that CNN deliberately set up the questions in such a way that Romney, Gingrich, and Santorum would be sparring back and forth. I think they really made a mistake though, because their agenda became especially transparent when they actually tried skipping over Paul entirely. It's unfortunate Ron couldn't speak as much as the others, but I ultimately think that may have worked to our advantage: Romney and Gingrich really took a hit from Santorum's well-targeted strikes, whereas Ron was the only one who effectively defended against Santorum's attack on him, and he made Santorum look like a total jackass to boot!

Not only did he stand apart from the petty establishment catfighting, but he played it well when he pointed out the irony of ignoring him on questions he was so well-qualified to answer. His tone had a hint of humor and a hint of scolding, but zero whininess...it was great. I think the most important aspect of his abortion answers was that they came on the heels of being disregarded and ignored, and he came out swinging hard. The bias gained him sympathy, but his actual comebacks made him appear strong immediately afterward.

I know a few people won't be pleased until they see Ron limit his answers entirely to sound bites, but I'm proud of our man tonight...and I KNOW that he must have done something right, because the media was scared to death to mention him after the debate!

 

[milo10]

A or A-. Great overall, but not his best. The ABC debate a month ago was like A++++++++++++.

The important thing was that he did well compared to the others, and rose above the petty infighting. Also, Romney did poorly, after doing poorly in the last debate.

 

[Dr_SCN]

I give it an A.

He was awesome on the abortion thing, but he could have taken it a step farther. He needs to real hammer it in that he was an actual OB/GYN.

For instance, when that moron Santorum is talking about "being in the trenches" for abortion, Ron Paul needs to say, "You know, Rick mentioned being in the trenches, and I know a little bit about the trenches of the abortion issue. Back when I did my OB/GYN training, you didn't have duty hour caps, I was working 120 hour weeks saving the lives of infants and their mothers. The trenches is talking to hundreds of girls every week about WHY they are seeking an abortion. Santorum has never had to look a young frightened girl in the eyes who is asking you for help in the worst time of her life and, even after not having slept for the past 30 hours, take the time to try and help her in a positive way. That's the trenches of the abortion war, and I've been there like no other man on this stage."

Of course I think that Ron Paul is just too humble to talk like this, he is too humble to argue the way that he could.

 

[badger4RP]

relative to himself 'A' PLUSSSSSSS

 

[Brandon Todd Carr]

B+

 

[doctorfunk]

I voted B. He was probably a B+ on his own, but compared to the others I would put him around a B-. He rambled a little, his China trade and domestic job answer was all over the place, and his closing could have been stronger. Not to mention he was given much less time on the debate and completely ignored in the after show. On the up side, I think he was more aggressive in a good way, really trumpeted his veteran status, and strongly advocated for his economic policy.

 

[JJ2]

Paul is never going to be able to have what is considered the "best" debate of all candidates, until it gets down to two or three men, since the others just dominate.

 

[Elegy]

I think his answers were solid, but I know what he's talking about. I really do think that he needs to speak more in layman's terms about some things, I just think alot of what he says goes over 50% of the audience's heads.

 

[Elegy]

I give it an A.

He was awesome on the abortion thing, but he could have taken it a step farther. He needs to real hammer it in that he was an actual OB/GYN.

For instance, when that moron Santorum is talking about "being in the trenches" for abortion, Ron Paul needs to say, "You know, Rick mentioned being in the trenches, and I know a little bit about the trenches of the abortion issue. Back when I did my OB/GYN training, you didn't have duty hour caps, I was working 120 hour weeks saving the lives of infants and their mothers. The trenches is talking to hundreds of girls every week about WHY they are seeking an abortion. Santorum has never had to look a young frightened girl in the eyes who is asking you for help in the worst time of her life and, even after not having slept for the past 30 hours, take the time to try and help her in a positive way. That's the trenches of the abortion war, and I've been there like no other man on this stage."

Of course I think that Ron Paul is just too humble to talk like this, he is too humble to argue the way that he could.

I really wish he would have stressed that he is the only person on the stage that has made any attempt to overturn Roe v Wade through Congress, he mentioned the concept, but didn't mention that he wrote 2 bills.

 

[PaulConventionWV]

As always need to be more direct with foreign policy and needs a damn speech writer to help him with one liners that will stick with the general public and for answers to typical questions. I feel he wings it every time.

He could say we would do a helluva lot better for our vets comming back if we didn't send so many over there for so damn long. Stick with the 3 Ds. Determine who the enemy is, Declare war, Destroy the enemy and come home. Since he doesn't have the strong body language as others he comes off weak to those that do not know him.

Dr. Paul doesn't prefer the destroy part. That's not part of the concept of Just War.