December 09, 2007
Tonight's debate
I was fortunate enough to go to tonight's Republican debate accompanied by my lovely wife who had managed to snare a pair of tickets for us. I went in, quite frankly, with little or no expectations from any of the candidates (except Ron Paul who did not disappoint me in what I expected him to say). Tom Tancredo was obviously too afraid to come to a "third-world" city so he bailed on the debate. Stay home, Tom.
All in all, the questions, being that they were geared toward a "Hispanic" audience, were fairly predictable: Romney's landscaper, polls showing "Hispanics" want out of Iraq and are upset by alleged slights vis-a-vis illegal immigration, public education, etc., etc. I thought the three that did best tonight were Duncan Hunter, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. Fred Thompson had the right answers, but his presentation, though thoughtful, was a tad forced. Giuliani was also good, but lacked that fire in the belly that I've seen in previous debates.
The star of the night, however, was Ron Paul. He was thoroughly booed when he gave the answer about "talking" to fidel and hugo the monkey boy; I yelled "you're a fool" amidst the boos, to which the Ron Paul supporters sitting next to and behind us, yelled back the highly original "no, you're the fool." Libertarianism is a good concept, but in practice it's terribly naive about human nature, and dangerously isolationist in foreign policy. (As opposed to post-Camelot liberalism which is just stupidity codified as a political philosophy.) The fact that Paul wants to talk to enemies that want to kill us says all I need to know about the man, despite his spot-on analysis over the years of our fiscal mess. Today, he's just Jimmy Carter with an (R) at the end of his name.
My bottom line: I'm still on record supporting Fred Thompson, but he needs to spice up his presentation. He is a very thoughtful man. I know this having read his many essays and having listened to his radio spots. But he lacks that "something" that Romney, who is too slick by half, has in spades. And I'd love for Duncan Hunter to get more traction. He's a Ronald Reagan Republican and has the right focus for this country.
The highlight of the evening was meeting my representative, La Loba Feroz, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. When I introduced myself as a Babalu Blog contributing writer she shook my hand and said "I love you guys! You do a great job!"
(P.S., one more thing: John McCain showed off his white CAMBIO bracelet when talking about the repressive tactics of the cadaver-in-chief. Nice!)
Posted by George Moneo at December 9, 2007 10:24 PM
Comments
Don't forget McCain also mentioned his support for Dr. Biscet. That was pleasantly shocking to hear.
Posted by: AmandaD ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.babalublog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at December 9, 2007 11:02 PM
Actually, Tancredo wasn't "afraid", just principled:
Posted by: NoMoreBlatherDotCom at December 9, 2007 11:28 PM
Paul...is the the true cuban-american candidate minus the cuban policy...But this should not out weight his other policies FOR this is Now our HOME. And, Cuba will come with time...yes we shouldn't support the economic funding of a dictator who abuses and robs our liberty ...but why should we verbally beat a man who loves liberty...the same liberty José Martà loved... The same liberty that Thomas Jefferson loved...and that same love of liberty that is in Ron Paul. A man that practices liberty is a man that would die for it....remember that.
Posted by: verb0s at December 10, 2007 02:57 AM
"Paul...is the the true cuban-american candidate minus the cuban policy." Verb0s, precisely what the hell does that mean?
NoMoreBlather, regardless, his not showing up in a city he insulted speaks volumes. His actions are more telling than his words...
Posted by: George L. Moneo at December 10, 2007 08:00 AM
While the debate didn't really have a winner- only a LOSER in Ron Paul- I am still supporting the strongest and most electable candidate, Fred Thompson. He received a great reception at the Iglesia El Rey Jesus Church yesterday.
View the video of his appearance here-
Posted by: Lucha Libre at December 10, 2007 09:34 AM
I met and spoke to McCain on Saturday at a fundraiser my office held for him. He knows his stuff in and out especially on foreign policy. I spoke to him on Latin America and he's poised to take charge to combat Hugoism by getting free trade through the hemisphere.
I posted a pic I took of him on CAP.
Posted by: Cigar Mike Pancier at December 10, 2007 10:37 AM
Let's not pull any punches here. Ron Paul's supporters are arrogant, self absorbed and quite frankly, nuttier than a Christmas fruitcake!
Posted by: Dino P Crocetti at December 10, 2007 12:39 PM
Dino, LOL! NUttier than a Snickers Bar! Nuttier than a Butterfinger!
Posted by: George L. Moneo at December 10, 2007 02:37 PM
"Ron Paul's supporters are arrogant, self absorbed and quite frankly, nuttier than a Christmas fruitcake!"
THat's the same thing the left tells about us cuban americans. except they call us arrogant cubans, self absorved and quite frankly, nuttier than a christmas fruitcake.
"
NoMoreBlather, regardless, his not showing up in a city he insulted speaks volumes. His actions are more telling than his words..."
Paul was at the debate and talked at Versailles.
Posted by: verb0s at December 10, 2007 04:34 PM
"Verb0s, precisely what the hell does that mean?"
It means he stands for liberty... and limited government something that is very important.
Posted by: verb0s at December 10, 2007 04:41 PM
Hello, anybody in there? I was referring to Tom Tancredo, not your loony boy Ron Paul. He was at the debate as I originally reported.
Posted by: George L. Moneo at December 10, 2007 07:05 PM
you quoted me and made a statement sounding like it was in reference to Paul.
Look at your comment.
Some one is here.
Posted by: verb0s at December 10, 2007 09:09 PM
No, I didn't. QED, there's nobody home:
"Paul...is the the true cuban-american candidate minus the cuban policy." Verb0s, precisely what the hell does that mean?NoMoreBlather, regardless, his not showing up in a city he insulted speaks volumes. His actions are more telling than his words...
See? I was directing my second comment at the commenter prior to you.
Posted by: George L. Moneo at December 10, 2007 09:32 PM