About half way through the first presidential debate — seven Republicans in New Hampshire — I began scratching my head. Why are any of them running for president?
Almost every question posed to them drew an answer that involved eliminating the federal government.
The crew included former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Herman Cain, former chief executive officer of Godfather’s Pizza.
NASA? Shut it down.
FEMA? Who needs it?
Federal money for ailing corporations? No way.
The military-industrial complex? Get rid of it.
Cain said a model for Social Security used by Chile 30 years ago shows why a personal retirement account option would work.
Huh? Chile 30 years ago?
He did respond confidently to the question on his preference in pizza — deep dish or thin crust — “Deep dish,” he said.
He does know pizza.
“Why can’t we opt out of the whole system and take care of ourselves?” said Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, about Medicare.
Romney suggested that we pass on all the federal government responsibilities to the states — states with leaders that chronically campaign against federal mandates and states among which almost all are broke.
Commander in chief?
All those asked responded to questions about military affairs — including gays in the military — by saying they would follow the advice of military leaders.
Say what you will about Paul, but he said: “I’m the commander in chief. I wouldn’t listen (to the generals on the ground.) I would bring them (troops in the Middle East) home immediately.”
Say what you will about Bachmann, but on raising the national debt ceiling, Bachmann said she opposes it. And she took on President Barack Obama, who she said refused to support raising the debt ceiling when he was a senator because Obama said it was a failure on the part of George W. Bush to ever discuss it.
Those responses represented the high points of a low-level debate filled with stump-speech excerpts.
Paul repeatedly talked about the value of the individuals making decisions but would not speak when offered the chance to defend pro choice.
And Bachmann said government doesn’t give or take away rights but said she is solidly “pro life.”
Who made the better decision on a vice-presidential choice, Obama or Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.?
Santorum praised Sarah Palin.
Romney didn’t answer the question.
If you cannot be the candidate, who on stage would make the best choice?
Bachmann would not choose. “Maybe we should have an ‘American Idol’ competition,” she said.
Who on stage would you put in your administration?
Paul would have to do more homework, he said.
And a love fest followed the closing question: “What have you learned in the last two hours?”
New Hampshire is great. America is great. Civility is great. It’s about the children and the grandchildren.
Well, what I learned is give me a big hot dog, a huge hunk of apple pie — and no more of the “same old, same old” in future.
If this is the best Republicans have to offer come November 2012, I’ll bet the ranch on four more years with Obama.
And thank goodness there won’t be a Democratic version of these “debates.”
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