Who won the Republican debate tonight (Thursday)?

Oops! I posted in the wrong thread. Sorry.

 

If I were scoring the debate tonight, I would say that Thompson won the debate. I would also say that Sean Hannity must have wrote the stupid questions they asked Ron Paul.

 

Thompson sounded the most conservative, federalist and Reaganesque. Huckabee was articulate but at times sounded too moderate. He is probably the best rhetorically speaking. Romney clearly is no longer a top-tier man. He has lost his ability to articulate his position and instead try to jockey for position. His jab at Paul was poor. Speaking of Paul, he was made to look like a fool. He's flailing about rather aimlessly. He did have a couple of good moments, but those are overshadowed. Rudy loved talking about himself as usual. McCain sounded like he now takes himself seriously and is in his groove.

I think McCain won with Thompson second. Huckabee a close third. Romney didn't help himself. Rudy didn't hurt himself. Paul continues to embarass.

 

Fred won, but Paul had some excellent moments. Brit Hume did his best to throw him off...

But Fred was the best I've seen him, yet.

Romney showed himself to be quite low.

 

It is time for Ron Paul to retire from the 2008 presidential race. He has done the best he could. That's all anyone can ask. I salute Congressman Paul for the effort that he put forth. He is an honorable American.

 

I don't think he will retire from the race, I expect Thompson to drop out after the South Carolina primaries, and then we may see one more candidate drop out after Super Tuesday on Feb. 5th. I wouldn't be shocked to see Ron Paul run as an independent if he doesn't get the GOP nomination.

 

I think Thompson clearly had the best debate. Where has that guy been so far? He had some good one-liners that will be remembered.

I agree Paul was embarrasing. He looked like a dear in headlights on the Iran situation.

McCain and Huckabee both had strong nights as well. Huckabee's line about the gates of hell was pretty good.

Romney and Guiliani had bad nights IMO.

 

It seemed like Thompson won. McCain did well, as did Huckabee. I like Ron Paul's ideas, but he does not come across well.

Giuliani and Romney are out of the debate and the race.

 

I find these debates have little substance. I wasn't impressed by any of the candidates. These 1.5 minute talking points just don't cut it. I miss the days of the Lincoln-Douglas debates where each side detailed their positions for hours and then had plenty of time for rebuttal. We live in such a dumb society nowadays.

 

Wow you are older than I thought...:saint:

Seriously, does anyone want these candidates to have hours and hours????

Be careful what you ask for

 

Of course, hardly anyone SAW those debates...

I'll take these debates over nothing. (Of course, not THIS debate, as I don't get cable. )

 

Of course we can't have hours and hours, but surely there is a happy medium. The answers last night were mere soundbytes and lots of fluff.

 

That's because all the others have a script to go by. Ron Paul is winging it. He says what he believes doesn't need a script.

I was keeping track of the applause during the debate. Here's the break down.

X = applause
O = boos

Huckabee XXXX
Thompson XXX
Guiliani O
Romney XXXO
McCain XOO
Paul XXXXXXXXXXXXO

Winner of phone in text poll Ron Paul with 32%

(Even though Faux and Hannity worked real hard to bash and demonize Ron Paul) :smilewinkgrin:

Ron Paul was the only "republican" on that stage. For that matter he was the only conservative on that stage.

 

I think you got these backwards. McCain had more than one applause.

And you also exaggerated Mr. Paul's crowd reaction. While there was some applause, there was also some boos just about each time.

 

Well, I didn't have my Jr scientist kit out last night I could have missed a couple things. Point is Paul got more applause by a wide margin. And he was still the only real republican (sticking to the platform) and the only true conservative on that stage.

And he was clearly the winner of the phone in text poll, despite Faux and Hannity's attempt to demonize him, before during and after the "debate". :thumbs:

Personally I don't want a president who can repeat practiced talking points better than the next guy or one who has nice hair or purdy eyes and looks good for the camera. I want one that knows what he's talking about will stand up for the U.S. Contitution aka honoring and upholding his oath of office, tell's it like he sees it without being coached by a ton of "advisors" and sticks to the conservative notion of limited constitutional government.

 

Its ok poncho, I am sure all of us around here know what you are doing. :thumbs:

No matter how many times you say that Hannity and Fox tried to demonize him, it does not make it true. How come Paul refused to come on and talk after the debate?

 

Yeah It's okay alright but I'm not sure all of you know what you are doing or seeing. :smilewinkgrin:

Were we even watching the same Faux opinion channel? The one I watched had Hannity desperately trying to demonize Paul. And that obviously hand picked "focus group"? C'mon you honestly couldn't tell what Faux's agenda was last night? Is there a word stronger than blatant?

 

Poncho, could you answer the question? If they were trying to demonize him, why did they ask him to come on and he declined?

 

Since when did being a Republican stand for being a total isolationist? If Ron Paul thinks as president he would be able to sit back and watch the rest of the world fall apart without our own interests being at risk, he knows absolutely nothing about foreign policy and he would be a disaster. The man basks in a sea of naivete and blames America for every single problem that exists in the world. He completely lost me when he suggested that we invited 9/11. It doesnt really matter if he runs as an Independant because Paul supporters will stay home anyway if he is not nominated so he will steal votes from no one. Who won the debate? Fred Thompson!