Update: Romney was confronted on the religion question and on his personal contributions to his campaign. In a word, he was Presidential in his response. More than that, he convincingly spelled out the reasons why those issues shouldn't and wouldn't matter in the general election, going all the way back to the wisdom of the Founding Fathers. Those may have been two of his best moments in the entire series of debates. And it's difficult to believe his answers wouldn't resonate with all Americans. It was as compelling a set of responses to two loaded, tough questions as I have ever seen in a presidential debate.
Update: Williams question to McCain includes: you haven't voted with your party on taxes, judges, immigrations, etc. Ouch!
Update: McCain on Global Warming - it causes violent weather changes. Gawd. He needs to read more and not swallow everything he hears from Al Gore. This man is a Republican? We can't push back against some of the pseudo-science out there if we swallow it hook, line and sinker. Yes, the planet is warming, as it has done for thousands of years. For that we're going to trash our economy while China and India turn the sky black and their pockets green? No way. People need rational discussion of global warming, not someone who just parrots the liberal and green press, which have an agenda of their own. Sadly, I doubt any other candidate will challenge it. That's something Fred did do.
Update: McCain gets a direct question from Ron Paul on economics. He's completely lost - he has friends. Last time I checked, we aren't electing his friends. Having advisers is fine, but he's clearly in over his head on economic issues. That would be a tragic flaw in the coming election.
Update: Senator Straight Talk told Russert he was wrong with a quote as regards McCain not understanding economics.
Sen. McCain: "'The Issue Of Economics Is Not Something I've Understood As Well As I Should." "Like Mike Huckabee, who joked recently that he 'may not be the expert that some people are on foreign policy, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night,' McCain suggested to reporters Monday that American consumer culture offered a short cut to expertise. 'The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should,' McCain said. 'I've got Greenspan's book.'" (Sasha Issenberg, "McCain: It's About The Economy," The Boston Globe, www.boston.com, Posted 12/18/07)
Sen. McCain: "'The Issue Of Economics Is Not Something I've Understood As Well As I Should." "Like Mike Huckabee, who joked recently that he 'may not be the expert that some people are on foreign policy, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night,' McCain suggested to reporters Monday that American consumer culture offered a short cut to expertise. 'The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should,' McCain said. 'I've got Greenspan's book.'" (Sasha Issenberg, "McCain: It's About The Economy," The Boston Globe, www.boston.com, Posted 12/18/07)
Sen. McCain: "I Still Need To Be Educated." "On a broader range of economic issues, though, Mr. McCain readily departs from Reaganomics. His philosophy is best described as a work in progress. He is refreshingly blunt when he tells me: 'I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated.'" (Stephen Moore, "Reform, Reform, Reform," OpinionJournal.com, 11/26/05)
Debate tonight - I imagine the candidates must be as worn out on debates as are the pundits. I know, I am. But I'll watch - MS(LSD), I believe. Russert and Williams to moderate. Hopefully Chris Mattspews and Olberdoofus have been caged.
Will there be fireworks? I haven't seen any signs of Rudy really wanting to take on McCain. But he's toast if he doesn't. The Huckster will likely still try to pile on Romney. I anticipate Romney wanting to stay above the fray. If he is climbing in the polls, that would make sense.
But this is the last big media op before what may well be a pivotal state, so stay tuned.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT YOU KEPT QUESTIONING ROMNEY AND MCCCAIN WHEN YOU SHOULD HAVE GIVING EVERYONE EQUAL TIME.
Posted by: Geraldine Nichols | Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 09:53 PM