More open mined than most, my thoughts on the debate...

[realist]

I hesitate to say this but as a paying contributer, I have as much right to an opinion as the next guy and I can't help but be disappointed that what started out with so much promise, is going to end in such failure.

Those that think Dr. Pual did well with those he needed to convert last night are dillusional. We needed a home run, and we came up woefully short. I don't know who did worse, him or McCain but face it, we're competing for worst, not best..

There is no fight in this dog. Huckabee showed some spine when he was ignored and he hasn't been ignored half as bad as Dr. Paul has been... REPEATEDLY. Dr. Paul shows no spine, and respectfully gets shut-up by a MODERATOR? ... "we'll get back to you.. I promise...in 2 minutes... or 2 questions." COME ON! In the face of the others candidates abuse of time?? To let that happen is just cowardice. Then, Huckabee invokes his name as well as McCains in an answer and Paul doesn't demand a chance to rebutt it, as was his right, but insane McCain does!

Face it folks, Dr. Paul is what he is. A very intelligent man of principle with great ideas. But he is not Presidential material. Like every other contest, he allowed himself to be marginalized and the only reason he's still on the scene is becuase we keep funding this "movement". We keep asking americans to wake up... perhaps it's time some of us woke to the reality that this is headed to being little more than a bowel movement with respect to any chnace of winning the republican nomination.

 

[Thrashertm]

One problem is

RP is missing a few opportunities. My husband is in the military, and was frusturated that while they focused on McCain's military service and how it would make for a good leader/President, that RP didn't pipe up and say "Hey, just want to remind everyone that there are 2 candidates with service records on this stage" or something to that affect. He did well, but needs to jump in and take control a bit more. Of course they aren't going to give him time. If the media can push through a Hillary vs McCain ticket...that would be their wet dream...a liberal Democrat vs a liberal Democrat. It's a win-win either way for them. They are trying to set that stage as much as possible. Huckabee's approach may not be the right one exactly to garner that time, but RP could be a bit more forceful with his approach.

That being said, I cannot imagine how difficult it is to be up there, listening to carefully crafted, slanted questions constantly being given to your opponents with a biased moderator that allows them to monopolize the time and cuts you off (thereby making you feel like you must rush thru a point, and sometimes stumbling in the process). Then to have to sit next to McCain's smug mug....I told my husband, I'd probably stand up, say I've had enough of all your s#$% and leave. Kuddos to RP for keeping a grin and stayin cool

I believe they cut off RP's mic when he wasn't asked question directly. I remember seeing at least once when he tried to interject and no sound came forth.

However, you can be sure they kept McCain's and Romney's mics on the whole time they were having their silly tit-for-tat exchanges. They are about as presidential as a dirty diaper!

 

[worl]

Totaly agree

I have been waiting for some big move since the start of this campain & its just not there. Dr. Paul is smart but he is not a debater. Last nite was his worst debate yet. He just sit there & took everything they dished out. You know I think I would have just told cnn they should have invited just mccain & romney. He did'nt even try to interupt the others while they were telling their lies. I think my only other choice would have to be huck , so again I have to pick the lesser of evils.

 

[jbuttell]

Not presidential material... Ok you keep thinking that. We're all well aware of what could happen... Your defeatist attitude does nothing positive here. So whats your real motivation here?

I hesitate to say this but as a paying contributer, I have as much right to an opinion as the next guy and I can't help but be disappointed that what started out with so much promise, is going to end in such failure.

Those that think Dr. Pual did well with those he needed to convert last night are dillusional. We needed a home run, and we came up woefully short. I don't know who did worse, him or McCain but face it, we're competing for worst, not best..

There is no fight in this dog. Huckabee showed some spine when he was ignored and he hasn't been ignored half as bad as Dr. Paul has been... REPEATEDLY. Dr. Paul shows no spine, and respectfully gets shut-up by a MODERATOR? ... "we'll get back to you.. I promise...in 2 minutes... or 2 questions." COME ON! In the face of the others candidates abuse of time?? To let that happen is just cowardice. Then, Huckabee invokes his name as well as McCains in an answer and Paul doesn't demand a chance to rebutt it, as was his right, but insane McCain does!

Face it folks, Dr. Paul is what he is. A very intelligent man of principle with great ideas. But he is not Presidential material. Like every other contest, he allowed himself to be marginalized and the only reason he's still on the scene is becuase we keep funding this "movement". We keep asking americans to wake up... perhaps it's time some of us woke to the reality that this is headed to being little more than a bowel movement with respect to any chnace of winning the republican nomination.

 

[Sandra]

From what I gathered from most people I talked to last night and this morning, McCain looked bad. His maturity level is the biggest concern.

 

[Time for Change]

I need to disagree a bit.
Yes time was a hot commodity for Ron and Huck.
Given the lack of allowed time, I think Huck did a great job getting his jabs in.
He did some avoidance tactics, which I frown upon, but overall he did well.
Much more respectable than the McRomney bickering.
RP did good to emphasize the point that this bickering was counterproductive and wasting all our time.

He was visibly aggravated by the mod, and did way better than I would have. I would have been a bit pushier and a little more rude.
I guess that's why I am not up for any nominations...hehe.

Overall the best performer was Huck. Well spoken, but not informative.
The most direct answers were from Huck and RP.
McRomney were just a waste of time, directly ignoring questions to rant about other issues / accomplishments.
YES RP needs to slow a bit when speaking, but I can sympathize with his need to deliver his message before he gets cut off.
Working out an answer and delivering it rapidly is NOT conducive to additional thought, so I give him lots of credit for being able to do as well as he did given the conditions.

Had the media been less biased in their question direction /. selection we could have learned a LOT more about each of the candidates.
Hopefully they one day realize that their role is to extract informative discussions from the candidates, not complete BS Q&A to only a couple to the esteemed guests.

 

[Rebel Resource]

Listen guys, if you want a majority of voters to even know about the problems of America come November, you need to repeat those problems EACH and EVERY opportunity you get.

You might sound like you're from Mars the first time, but when someone's hearing it for the 3rd time its starting to make sense.

 

[Rebel Resource]

Dr. Paul shows no spine, and respectfully gets shut-up by a MODERATOR? ... "we'll get back to you.. I promise...in 2 minutes... or 2 questions." COME ON! In the face of the others candidates abuse of time?? To let that happen is just cowardice. Then, Huckabee invokes his name as well as McCains in an answer and Paul doesn't demand a chance to rebutt it, as was his right, but insane McCain does!

Face it folks, Dr. Paul is what he is. A very intelligent man of principle with great ideas. But he is not Presidential material.

Listen, you can talk over the moderator and win some hearts, or you can remain respectful of the debate, not take the risk of looking stupid, and win the minds.

You seem to forget the risk of looking stupid when you try to assert yourself. I for sure would jog this marathon without unnecessary bursts of energy to overtake people midway.

 

[dare me]

I hesitate to say this but as a paying contributer, I have as much right to an opinion as the next guy and I can't help but be disappointed that what started out with so much promise, is going to end in such failure.

Those that think Dr. Pual did well with those he needed to convert last night are dillusional. We needed a home run, and we came up woefully short. I don't know who did worse, him or McCain but face it, we're competing for worst, not best..

There is no fight in this dog. Huckabee showed some spine when he was ignored and he hasn't been ignored half as bad as Dr. Paul has been... REPEATEDLY. Dr. Paul shows no spine, and respectfully gets shut-up by a MODERATOR? ... "we'll get back to you.. I promise...in 2 minutes... or 2 questions." COME ON! In the face of the others candidates abuse of time?? To let that happen is just cowardice. Then, Huckabee invokes his name as well as McCains in an answer and Paul doesn't demand a chance to rebutt it, as was his right, but insane McCain does!

Face it folks, Dr. Paul is what he is. A very intelligent man of principle with great ideas. But he is not Presidential material. Like every other contest, he allowed himself to be marginalized and the only reason he's still on the scene is becuase we keep funding this "movement". We keep asking americans to wake up... perhaps it's time some of us woke to the reality that this is headed to being little more than a bowel movement with respect to any chnace of winning the republican nomination.

Dude, you cant make a big disturbance, cause then they have a reason to not invite you next time. If the rest of the field falls out and there are two or three left, then they have to give him the time. But if he makes a fuss and bitch slaps the fag anderson, then he will never be in another debate. Everyone saw what they did to RP. The people that i'm trying to convert noticed it and all said they wanted to puke. They realized even if they dont agree with RP, something is very wrong with how we pick our president. I'm telling you, they are more RP supporters now just because he was marganilized. you think huck has spine by complaining????? Give me a break. He looked like a crying bastard, but I feel for him.

 

[Question_Authority]

I don't think Huckabee looked bad at all. I think when there is an injustice happening people have to stand up against it. I think by pointing out the injustice he might have woken people up to it. And made them realize that there is media bias.

 

[MikeStanart]

Romney won, but only because he was given enough time to Win

 

[WarningSLO]

I think Dr. Paul needs to spend a little less time talking about the Fed and IRS and spend a little more time on:

Opting out of SS & Medicare for young people
Eliminating the Estate Tax
Eliminating the Tip Tax
Lowering Corporate taxes to create more jobs

These are everyday things that people will find more believable than eliminating the IRS. People just can't comprehend that kind of change yet.

 

[realist]

Thanks for all the reasoned replies. I read every word and I have nothing but the best wishes for Dr. Paul and all the folks here, but must I respectfully present that this continued sense of denial in the face of the facts, is more counter productive than airing dissent.

Listen to our own words- listen to Dr. Pauls words - the market works. Look at the numbers. Not just thier numbers but even our numbers bear out that this movement isn't growing enough to have a chance at the nomination. Some would argue- "o, it's going great, we're right on track, we're sandbagging, soon it will be just two, we won last night and we're going all the way!" These same people will never accept reality, even as someone else wins the nomination and then the Presidency.

Many here will never admit to failure and always find a way to deflect blame. But that's exactly the mentality of those that rely on the government for everything. That's exactly the mentality that Dr. Paul condemns. They beleive that if they don't have something, it must be someone else fault - the governments fault, the medias fault, the riches fault, the establishements fault. They will never even consider the possibility that the reasons they are where they are, comes from within and needs to be corrected from within..

We are where we are becuase this campaign IS failing in the only place it counts - at the polls. That's a fact. A fact I wish weren't so, but it is a fact that I can't in good conscience spin any other way.

For those that want to hope in the face of the facts- by all means- I have nothing but love for you. But understand, your hope is bound to faith, not facts- and while that can be a good thing, to try and "convert the masses" with assertions on "faith", in the face of facts to the contrary, is hardly convincing. I admit, I am loosing my faith in the face of the facts.

 

[mconder]

If Ron Paul would have had equal time it would be more fair to say that Romney won the debate. Romney won because he was given the most time.

 

[pacelli]

Looks like our fair-weather Ron Paul supporters are going for Romney or Huckabee. Have fun.

 

[ZzzImAsleep]

Romney made sense.

Are you serious?

 

[blakjak]

fair assessment.

 

[mcgraw_wv]

We/Ron has had ample time to attack and create an alternative to Romney and McCain, and he simply hasn't. He's a broken record in debates, and Although I love and understand his message, it doesn't turn casual Americans on to the message.

So therefore harping on the Fed, and the Gold Standard is simply ignoring the political reality of how to win voters, and campaigns. Last night was his chance to win over voters, he could of had his "Wait a second, I paid for this Mic" moment with Cooper... and he just backed down.

What Anderson did to Ron was EXACTLY what someone did to Reagan, when Reagan wasn't a sure thing... Remember, most GOP'er DID not support Reagan at first. IT was his "I PAID FOR THIS MIC" Moment, that made everyone stop and listen to what this STRONG man had to say.

Paul has his chance before the biggest day, Super Tuesday to show that he IS a viable alternative to the casual voter. Instead he focused on talking about the things that NO ONE CARES ABOUT... so he gained no voters, or he gained as many as he lost...

Overall, the effort has done nothing to gain enough voters to make a splash... And I think that has to do with a lot of inexperience on the staff, and supporters part... Winning a campaign is an art, a perfect blend of Marketing, Art, Substance, and Timing...

When opportunities present themselves, they must be taken in a presidential campaign...

 

[Agora]

Romney lost for people who listened and watched his smirky face. He is just another over paid pupett, nothing more.

nuff