Presidential Debate Opinion II

Just finished watching the CNN/YouTube debate, so here's my scorecard:

1) Huckabee/Hunter tie
3) Tancredo
4) Romney
5) McCain
6) Giuliani
7) Thompson
8) Paul

Same judging criteria as before.

Full disclosure: I support Mike Huckabee

Hunter scored as well as Huckabee, but he was asked half as many questions. If it'd been equal time, that may not have held.


Tancredo didn't punch his "America is closed" line, which was appreciated.

Romney did his normal OK job. Mostly he got docked for taking shots at other candidates. Still seemed to dodge questions.

McCain properly emphasized his military experience and care for the troops. Again, too many shots on other candidates.

I disagree with Giuliani on a lot of issues, which is where he lost points, but at least he has logical explanations for his positions.

Thompson just seemed asleep at the podium. Between that, his shots at other candidates, and his belief in old-fashioned federalism over morality, he got hurt badly tonight.

Paul is completely out of touch with reality. Nice theory, but completely impractical. At least tonight, he brought up valid points about deficit spending.

A couple points I want to make:

On torture: I recently found out from my roommate from an NPR program he heard that waterboarding is not the technique commonly described. The normal belief is that either they have water dripping on you slowly but steadily, or put plastic wrap over your face and pour water on that. What really happens is that they pour water directly into your mouth, effectively drowning you for a few seconds. The common belief I might support as not being torture, but what it really is, I would never support. I don't know if we should be saying what is allowed, but I believe that we definitely should say what is not.

On federalism: Several candidates, particularly Thompson, believe that on issues like abortion, the federal government should get out, and let the states do their thing. In principle I agree, but there is the reality check of the Supreme Court. Given that the Court can override any state legislature, there are some questions that need to be determined at the national level. I place abortion in that category. Huckabee said it right a few weeks ago: abortion is this time's slavery debate, and it is an issue of human value. It cannot be decided on a state-by-state basis.