1. Romney can’t answer questions about his tax returns at all.
2. He’s terrible at it and he needs to get better, quickly.
3. John King trying to use Romney’s father as a precedent on the tax-return issue was dumb.
4. Romney referred to “Romneycare” tonight. I think that was a first, and not a good first for him.
5. He also made some sort of reference to coming from the “streets of America.” Romney is a fine man, but if there’s anyone less “street” than Mitt Romney I don’t know who it could be. If he’s street than I’m the shock collar for a vicious Mexican drug gang. [Update/Correction: See here]
6. Newt’s opening answer was very strong and will be replayed a lot. But I thought it was overstated and, as he kept going, it became clear he was trying to squelch the issue rather than express his true rage. When he was all lovey-dovey with John King after the debate, it underscored that it was as much performance as anything else.
7. Ron Paul had some of his best moments of any debate. I really liked his answer on free trade. The problem, of course, is that he’s a theoretical free trader and an operational protectionist.
8. I was less impressed with Santorum tonight than a lot of folks seem to have been. But I still think he did very well, all things considered.
10. Santorum’s best moment came when he threaded the needle on immigration, sounding both tough and compassionate.
11. He also had the most dramatic moment dropping the House-banking-scandal bomb on Newt.
12. It is simply amazing that it took all this time (is this the 17th debate?) for anyone to really deliver a serious and cogent attack on Romneycare.
Jonah, I think the most fascinating thing about Romney is how weaker he gets as the field gets smaller.
It's almost as if there's not enough candidates on the stage to hide behind any longer. The more focus lands on him, the less polished, more flustered, more stutter-filled (seriously, how can this NOT be commented on?) Romney gets.
I don't like any of these guys all that much, but Romney is fading, and fading fast. It'd be a shame if he recovers purely because the others falter... that won't cut it against Obama.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseCould not disagree with you more...
Romney is not fading, and had yet another excellent debate.
He may have even had the edge in this one.
Romney simply nailed so many questions, especially powerful on economics and defending the Private Sector. Very sound.
The fashion is trying hard to stop him, but I have a feeling he just helped himself immensely for SC and on to Florida.
Romney is clearly the best Candidate.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Romney is not fading, and had yet another excellent debate."
You would have made a fine Politburo spokesman. Jeez. Romney was cardboard in a suit tonight. He looked like a mediocre actor trying to play the President on TV, and doing it stiffly.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI thought Romney did fine tonight and when talking about the economy he was head and shoulders above everyone. Romney has my vote. Newt is christine o'donnel in a suit. I am voting Romney because he is stated his policy positions clearly- pro life, pro marriage, appoint conservative judges, pro legal immigration, abolish obamacare, pro jobs and carve obama a new hole.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseActually, Romney's pro-legal immigration stance is the real killer for me. He can't be pro-legal immigration and at the same time be pro-job, unless of course, he means creating jobs for legal immigrants. Romney claims he'll make legal immigration much easier. The U.S. imports over 1 million legal immigrants a year; how many more a year is Romney looking to bring in. We have a real unemployment rate of nearly 20%. Do we need more legal immigrants pouring into our country for jobs? (Not to mention we have the third largest population in the world.)
People who are anti-illegal immigration but pro-legal immigration just aren't thinking. Illegal immigrants take lower level jobs away from blue collar workers while legal immigrants take away jobs from native born American technologists and scientist. We now have American kids graduating from rigorous STEM programs only to compete against legal immigrants who are preferred by Crony Capitalist because they will work for much less. Most of the H-1B's are not better or brighter than American kids they're just willing to work for less---same with the illegals.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNewt fended off King, but he'll still need to respond in some coherent way to make this go away.
Santorum blinks and smirks, as he stabs fellow conservatives in the back. His attack on Newt regarding the House banking scandal would generate blank looks from 99.9% of the population.
Mitt's best line of defense on his income (taxes, supposedly) is to stick with his "I made it, and I'm not apologizing for it". Not much else he can say.
Paul's a fringe figure, and he is a bit weird-sounding when he makes fairly esoteric jokes and then laughs at them himself.
Newt can win, but he isn't organized (campaign, personally, message), and needs a decent consigliere very soon.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Newt fended off King, but he'll still need to respond in some coherent way to make this go away."
You don't really comprehend things when you see them do you?
Go back to staring at your wall.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNo surprise here from Jonah, especially after the fashionable offering on the Special Report Panel this evening. Jonah is thinking the tax answers are a big deal? No, it is silly. Romney's answer about being attacked because of being a success was fine, in fact it looks as if it might even help in the long run. As the attacks are rather over the top. Typical for Democrats, rather foolish for Republicans and Conservative Pundits to dwell upon.
Newt just blamed the Media, even adopted the Clinton finger wag in the beginning, for all his problems. It gets really old, even if it plays to a small element in the GOP Base, it is not going to cover the mess in the General Election. Right now, on local Media, they just played a clip of Newt playing the "anger" and "hostility". It may appeal many in Our Base, but it isn't winning over those beyond the lucrative Conservative Markets. Then they showed the tape of his former Wife - it all looks ugly.
Romney was excellent in pointing out the two failed Washington Politicians next to him, in Gingrich and Santorum. His Private Sector experience and proven Executive ability are his strengths. Reminding Newt he was Speaker for only 4 years (which ended in failure) vs. his 25 years as a proven Business success is strong in this environment.
The fashion amongst us, thinks only strident rhetorical offerings are Conservative, they are mistaken. Some think Rick did well, but he is peevish. His attacks may seem to mean something to some amongst us, but he himself is a big contradiction, peddling himself as being "blue collar". Rick's opposition to "Right To Work" just exposes the less than stellar reality.
Romney was outstanding tonight as usual. Whether the fashion is will to admit it or not, Romney's advocation for the Free Market is simply the best of all. He remains very strong.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAt what point does Mitt's inability to answer questions about his tax returns, Bain Capitol and other easily defensible (heck, opportunities really) issues tell us all that he isn't capable because he isn't convinced? He's truly embarrassed by his wealth and success and that's because he lacks the heart and conviction necessary to believe and articulate a conservative perspective on these things. Troubling.
@deansdesk
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRankings
1. Santorum
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse2. Paul
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3. Gingrich
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4. Romney
1 and 2 go together. I feel cheated with this whole "dozen" business.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhy was the question quoting George Romney dumb? The point it made was exactly on point with what is wrong with Willard trying to obfuscate the whole tax issue. One year's tax return can be manipulated, and that may well be what Willard has in mind. To see Willard's position contradicted by dear old dad is delicious irony.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHonestly, Romney can only handle one of these story lines at a time (Bain, Taxes). The tax issue he can make go away. Everyone knows he's rich. Everyone knows he pays about 15% tax. Just release them Romney. I say that as someone who's currently behind Romney.
I thought Romney's defense of the free market tonight was a very good one. I agree it was tarnished by his amazing inability to answer questions on his taxes. He knew the questions were coming, and he prepared for Bain, and blew the tax questions. It's NOT even a big deal. He's MAKING it a big deal by seeming dodgy and weird about it. He should just rip that band-aid off now and be done with it!
Santorum seems like he wants to put a chastity belt on my wife. I'm sorry, he just comes off as a strict, unloving father type. I just don't see what people see in him. He seems so cold and unfriendly, and unsure of himself. I don't get it.
The banking scandal attack from Santorum was very badly delivered. I don't think more than 2% of the population had a clue what he was talking about because he delivered the attack so poorly.
Newt as usual can dazzle. That said, his personal problems are an issue. They are going to be an issue.
WORSE, that he's brought class warfare into the Republican party makes me gag. It really does. I can't stand it. He even referred to Wall Street garbage after the debate (in the debate too?). He truly sounds like Michael Moore to me.
I LOVE when he attacks the media. I love when he talks policy. I love that he has big ideas, even if many of them are bad. I just can not get over this class warfare stuff from him. I find it more abhorrent than anything else that's been done in this race.
Paul...sounds brilliant one sentence, and then completely insane in the very next. Every debate.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt's NOT even a big deal. He's MAKING it a big deal by seeming dodgy and weird about it.
Agree. Romney has a hard time coming across as normal. I don't know if it's because he's self-conscious about his wealth, or if he's been so cut-off from the real world his whole life he doesn't even know how to relate to people who don't have a gazillion dollars. It's not enough to turn me off but it's definitely not a quality that attracts.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNumber nine? Number nine? Number nine?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHere's a prediction: When the drums of success envy are so loud and so unyielding that you see Jonah Goldberg get caught up in this class warfare mishigas, I predict that irrespective of the eventual general election winner, America will see an increase in the top marginal rate on the (so-called) 1% of at least 7-points sometime in the next 24-months.
Populism has grown so ravenous that the party that used to celebrate financial success now reviles it, and at least two of the four remaining candidates are fully embracing it. This will end badly because if you can increase the rates on the top 1%, then it's not too far a walk to increasing the rates on the top 10%, and so on and so on.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAfter the last week or two of dismal GOP politics, I would bet money on Obama being reelected. What are the odds on that now?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAgree with the broader sentiments, but I don't see Jonah's complaint being part of all the class warfare mishigas. Romney's got a Richie Rich money problem in this way: he gives off a vibe that he thinks he's got a Richie Rich money problem.
You're exactly right that the (R) party is losing its grip, I don't understand why these clowns can't get over this class warfare garbage, but they have been sucked into it. Romney needs to get over it because it is embarrassing how poorly he handles it, when, like Drakes Fortune spelled out below - why the hell is this even an issue for him?
I don't get it. Just don't get it.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI agree that Romney's answers on the tax returns have been less than compelling.
Jonah tweeted earlier that he thought Romney's evasive answer might be an indication that his net-worth is much higher than current estimates. I think this is a likely explanation.
I think it's also likely that Romney made an insane amount of money the last 24-months - months when lots of "real Americans" were losing their shirts. I understand why Romney would prefer to pull that massive bandaid off just once. Imagine Romney releasing 2010s return showing income in the tens-of-millions, and then eight or nine weeks later, doing it all over again for 2011.
Now, this doesn't bother me a bit, personally. I celebrate wealth and success. But, I'm sure that someone like Gingrich or Santorum would absolutely hang that kind of tax return around Romney's neck, and this is what Romney is afraid of. And judging from those boos tonight, he's probably afraid for good reason - that fear is what paints that "Richie Rich" patina on Romney.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAh, didn't see that Jonah tweet. Well, what you spelled out is perfectly logical. I am truly surprised we are at this point in our country's history (class envy and its repercussions). I've suspected it would ultimately happen. Naively, I didn't think it would happen this fast, or the (R)s would yield as cowardly as they have.
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