Post-debate first take: Fred's not dead...

Posted: Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:40 PM by Chuck Todd

From NBC's Chuck Todd
The first 20 minutes of the debate was not good for the entire Republican Party. All of the candidates struggled on the issue of the economy; their answers may have been fine for a primary audience but don't expect swing voters or indie voters to like what these guys said on the economy. They tried to sound in touch but their collective hesitance for government involvement explains why voters tend to want Democrats in economic down times; that's when folks look to government. The middle-class doesn't like government involved when the economy is good.

After the torture of dealing with the economy was over, I think all of the candidates can feel good about their performances. Fred Thompson was funny, biting and energetic. Easily, his smoothest performance but it wasn't necessarily presidential; it was Jack Cafferty-esque... or Paul Harvey-like. He sounded like a smart pundit. Thompson, btw, did McCain a big favor by softening up Huckabee. I'm guessing, though, his style played VERY well with South Carolina Republicans. They kind of like that smart allecky chatter.

Huckabee was more on the defensive tonight as any debate so far. It seemed like he was taking incoming from numerous candidates, particularly Thompson. He handled himself pretty well but the message to conservatives was clear, he may be a social conservative, but he's no small-government economic conservative. Still, give Huckabee credit, he answered the criticisms with his usual wit and probably did well on the likeability front.

Mitt Romney did well early on, though there was an air of desperation in his answers. He quickly targeted McCain, the man standing in the way of victory in Michigan. Romney gave one of the best change rationales I've ever heard him give; I don't understand why it took Romney nearly a year to become this guy.

McCain was fine, the typical sober performance but he needs a bit more energy; there wasn't the same fire as I've seen in previous debates.

Giuliani did better than the last two debates; he was more involved; but it is interesting to watch the candidates and moderators ignore Rudy, to a point.

And then there's Ron Paul... why didn't Fox stick to its guns and keep him out. He was a distraction for a good portion of the debate and took away from the candidates who have a real shot at the nomination.

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Comments

Glad to see Fred's not dead. Take SC and remind all so-called Republicans nationwide of what a Republican Actor can do, Thompson. Go Thompson!

Jamie, Salt Lake, Utah (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:43 PM)

I agree that Romney and Thompson stood out tonight... I also thought Romney was the best in New Hampshire.

I also appreciated Thompson pounding down that imbecile Huckabee - Hey Huck, did you REALLY not know why we gave support to Pakistan?

Gerald Kampton, Myrtle Beach, SC (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:44 PM)

Let me also take this opportunity to thank First Read for this point for point of the debate. I actually felt like I was there. Wow! You go, First Read.

Jamie, Salt Lake, Utah (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:45 PM)

Chucck "Establishment" Todd - HELLO! Ron Paul's ideas are legitimate and at the very least he bring attentions to issues that the Republicans would rather avoid, so I'm sorry he distracted you, but that comes with democracy.

Ryan K, Washington, DC (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:45 PM)

Thompson had a good night... Mitt Romney was also exceptional.

Mike Huckabee dodged every tough question and tried to make a joke out of the others - NOT very presidential.

Guiliani and McCain (ESPECIALLY McCain) were dissapointing.

Susan Alcoss, Myrtle Beach, SC (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:46 PM)

Where are the great success stories where democrats control the budget of a state? Any of them not losing tax base?

Dave, Tn (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:46 PM)

Ron Paul has no chance? Listen Chuck, he beat Giuliani in Iowa and almost had Thompson and McCain as well. Then he went on to beat Thompson in New Hampshire and almost beat Rudy again!

I'm so sick of you biased reporters writing these terribly biased articles. It's getting old...Really!

Robert Johnson (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:46 PM)

As far as Ron Paul:

Maybe it's because he's polling about as well as Rudy is in S.C.? So you exclude Paul in a SC debate, you should exclude Rudy as well.

Paul's presence just makes the other candidates look silly when all they do is resort to name calling and personal attacks against him. The one Republican candidate who feels differently than the status quo on economics, liberty and foreign policy and the easy answer from the media and the other candidates is to ridicule him.

At least he provides something a little bit different in the debates. A political reporter should know that, you hear those same stump speeches every day and half of the lines they use during the debates are taken directly from those speeches or previous debates. Very little is ever new.

Scott, NJ (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:47 PM)

Ron Paul is more relevant today to the Republican party than ever. In PRINCIPAL he is second to none and a true defender of the Constitution. On some of his issues he's just not PRACTICAL in our current domestic and global environment. Trying to paint him as a distraction says more about you than him. And for that pathetic Fox commentator to even question whether he was even Republican was just disgusting.

Besides if we're questioning who is a real Republican, that question should have been directed at Huckabee.

Go MITT!!!

MitRox08, MI (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:49 PM)

Ron Paul was treated poorly by the other candidates and Fox News, as well as your smug assessment. I don't even know if I'll vote for the guy, but the way everyone is treating one of the more principled candidates is irksome.

bg arlington, tx (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:49 PM)

Chuck you have proven you have zero journalism skills. But then....NBC is on a Obama love fest so there you go.

Christopher Thurow (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:49 PM)

Try again Pundit. Ron Paul has support and an alternative view. He deserved to be there.

Jarrod, Faiview, TN (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:50 PM)

Would someone tell me why we should NOT elect Ron Paul? The rest seem to be talking crazy talk about our military adventures in the Middle East. Additionally, no one seems to understand the problem with the economy, inflation, and out of control deficit spending. One can not talk about tax cuts without talking about cutting spending. We have a $9 trillion debt that must be paid so we can afford Social Security and Medicare. The interest payments will eat us alive when we begin to fight inflation with higher Federal Reserve bank rates. And we must stop inflation or everyone's life savings will go down the tubes, along with our middle class, like what has happened to the middle class in most countries south of our border. And do not forget National Health Insurance, which is coming down the tracks right at us, unless Republicans begin to understand the seriousness of runaway inflation. And start educating the country. The Democrats will sure not do fight inflation like Volcker and Reagan did!
Please vote Ron Paul and save the country from bankruptcy abroad and at home!

DenisL (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:50 PM)

Dear Mr. Todd,

Please explain how the 'only' conservative candidate should be excluded from the debates?

A distraction?

He is the only candidate that is educating the audience during these debates (Republican and/or Democrat).

I'm so surprised that the Honorable Congressman from Texas is looked at as a distraction. The economy, foreign policy, gold, spending...he is the only candidate discussing the issues in detail (not in general ambigious statements like the others).

Bill Irwin, Brea, CA (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:50 PM)

Mitt Romney has a little problem that is Telling the Truth please watch this video and judge for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeP5A5cczqk&eurl=http://republicansagainstromney.blogspot.com/

Robert, Utah (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:50 PM)

I really like Huckabee but the role of women issue will be tough to overcome in a general election. His record in Arkansas is pretty impressive.

But when the chips are down, I'd have to go with the person that I would trust the most to deliver and that would be McCain or Obama. I do think that the Dems will tear Obama apart and leave his supporters really pissed off and ripe for the picking for an "accross-the-aisle" Republican like McCain.

Natasha B, New Haven, CT (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:52 PM)

Fox is such a scam! You are right, they should have kept Ron Paul out, because he should not be up there with the rest of those frauds. He is the only one that makes any sense, and should distance himself from the neoconservative party.

Curt Blakely, Arkansas (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:52 PM)

Bill Irwin, Brea, CA (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:52 PM)

Chuck, to ridicule and make fun of a man who is stands up for YOUR freedom, you should be more than ashamed. You should resign, you already have enough corporate money to live a toxic-free life while others suffer. :)

Dmitriy, Frisco, TX (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:52 PM)

i think ron paul brought in some real points. when asked if he was conservative, ron paul shined like a crazy diamond.

george, houston, tx (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:52 PM)

More Bizzarre stuff from Mitt Romney

Already under scrutiny for shifting positions on key issues and his Mormon faith, presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has made a bizarre new flip flop - saying on national TV his favorite novel is Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s “Battlefield Earth.”

The former Massachusetts governor told Fox News his favorite book was the Bible but his favorite novel was the science fiction tome “Battlefield Earth.”

“Actually, the one by L. Ron Hubbard,” Romney said when asked to name his favorite novel. “I’m not in favor of his religion by any means, but he wrote a book called ‘Battlefield Earth’ that was a very fun science fiction book.”

The Mark Twain novel “Huckleberry Finn” tops the book list on Romney’s My Space page. “Battlefield Earth” isn’t on the list.

Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom said: “Battlefield Earth is pretty good science fiction. It’s about Earth being ruled by an alien race, sort of the way the Democrats are running Congress.”

Read More:

http://www.religionnewsblog.com/18149/mitt-romney-3

Stop Flip Flopping Mitt (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:52 PM)

Fox set Paul up. They invited him back on the show and asked him questions about 911 conspiracy and his electability. The 911 question was asked after all other candidates were asked about Reagan. Also, how can you question Pauls electability without question Thompsons? Paul has garnered 10 x's more votes than Thompson to date!!!!!

Aaron, Austin, Tx (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:53 PM)

Chuck,

It's too early to exclude Ron Paul. Without him there wouldn't be anyone to ask whether we should indeed have bases in 70% of the world's countries. If the Fed is a good thing then politicians should stand up and explain why it is good for America...unless we are too dumb to have it explained to us.

Tom J, Plymouth MA (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:53 PM)

Huckabee thinks he's running for mr. jokester... I can't take him seriously anymore because he never answers the questions asked of him.

McCain is a one horse show...
Guiliani - ditto.

Mitt Romney was his solid self - I guess the country just has to get past his religion and they'll have the type of president we need.

Keith Ericson, Clemson, SC (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:53 PM)

Move along people, nothing of substance to see here just the status quo

RonPaul2008

Max Power (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:55 PM)

Give me a break Chuck Todd.

A distraction, all 7 1/2 minutes of attention. Get a clue Chucky!

Dr. Paul was spot on tonight and made salient point after salient point. Unfortunately, Americans are not ready to face up to our impending financial disaster. And rest assured, the Media will not help them come to that realization.

George H. W. Bush, Houston, Texas (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:55 PM)

On what grounds could Fox keep Ron Paul out? He beat Giuliani in IA and Thompson in NH, has more delegates than Giuliani, and is the -one- Republican offering a different message.

How was he a distraction? Methinks someone blew out the tiny candle in your pumpkin head and now it's empty and dark. You're a shill, Todd, and you embody all that is wrong with the media's role in politics.

mike, arlington, va (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:55 PM)

We are in a sad stage in American politics when the only candidate that speaks reality instead of hollow rhetoric is considered a distraction.

rEVOLution

Connor, Austin, TX (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:55 PM)

Distraction.......the only distraction here is your biased, un-american smears against the one guy who actually cares about the country you live it.

You should be ashamed of yourself man....you really should. Your kind is truly sickening.

Brett , Franklin TN (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:56 PM)

I'm completely convinced now that "Baptists" would rather have a great candidate like Mitt Romney "ousted" rather than have the best man in the Oval Office.

Just like the Democrats are willing to sacrifice the best interests of the nation to have us lose handily in Iraq so that they will look good.

Shame on both of you...

James Strong, Tampa Bay, Fla (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:56 PM)

What do you mean they should have excluded Dr. Paul? He is the only Republican who seems willing to address the issue of inflation, which happens to be the greatest challenge this Country faces going forward. He's got my vote! He had the greatest response of the night when Fox asked if he is a credible republican because of his views. It was like a slow pitch and he smacked it into the seats! Go Ron Paul!

Ken, Phoenix (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:56 PM)

Mitt Romney you Have Broken Us, as always more flip flopping

More flip Flopping from Mitt Romney, do you really want a scumbag like this.

Governor Romney…imposed a slew of fee hikes and tax 'loophole' closures….The largest of these was $259 million worth of fee hikes in FY 2004, the bulk of which came from higher Registry of Deeds fees. Smaller fee hikes, including higher charges for boaters and golfers, we imposed in FY 2003 and FY 2005. Romney also sought $128 million worth of so-called tax loophole closures for FY 2004; $70 million for FY 2005; and $170 million for FY 2006, which were later reduced to $85 million due to backlash from business leaders."
- Club for Growth's White Paper on Mitt Romney

"Romney continues to oppose the flat tax with harsh language, calling the tax 'unfair.'"
- Club for Growth's White Paper on Mitt Romney

The Governor would also seek to raise $128 million in revenue by closing corporate tax loopholes (Rick Klein, “Massachusetts Governor’s Proposed Budget Includes Layoffs, New Fees”, Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, 2/27/2003)

Despite the governor's pledge of no new taxes, his proposal does increase some taxes and fees: The administration says it can collect an additional $70 million by "closing loopholes" in corporate and sales tax rules (Scott Greenberger, “Massachusetts Governor Sets $22.98 Billion Budget Blueprint”, Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, 1/29/2004)

“…business groups objected so strongly to a proposed $170 million tax increase that Romney snuffed the idea and proposed $85 million instead.” (Alexander Bolton, “Romney’s Tax Record Gets A Closer Look,” The Hill, 3/27/2007)

Governor Romney even raised taxes on some New Hampshire residents who worked in Massachusetts, taxing their income and their pensions. Learn more

Steven Hansen, West Bountiful (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:57 PM)

It's kind of sad that Americans have been "dumbed down" so badly that they go to sleep when Ron Paul starts talking monetary policy. He's the only one who admits the US is in the recession. He's the only one who wants to get of out of this silly war that's bankrupting us. If you think he was a distraction in this debate, either you didn't watch the same debate I did, or you're just too slow to understand Mr. Paul's points.

James O (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:57 PM)

Are you kidding about Ron Paul. He made this a debate, otherwise you would be hearing the same positions from all the candidates.
Do you believe the media should decide you gets to be in the debates? Didn't you learn anything from the dems in NH?
If a candidate is on the ballot they should be in the debate. PERIOD.
Please let us voters decide!!!
You have no respect for our democracy by excluding a candidate that is on the ballot in the state where the debate is being held and even less understanding of the role of media.
Report the news and let us decide!!

Sean Casey (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:57 PM)

I say ditch the other republicans, fox, msnbc, and the rest of the biased media. How can someone 'win' a debate when asked questions that attempt to make them look stupid? I renounce my party affiliation..I think the Wigg Party is coming back in 2008. GO RON PAUL. I WILL VOTE FOR HIM IF I HAVE TO WRITE IT IN.

Aaron, Austin, Tx (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:57 PM)

Mitt Romney looks very presidential.

Huckabee... NO!
McCain... Would have 10 years ago.

Darcy Fitzpatrick, Detroit, Michigan (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:57 PM)

There's some brutal honesty in Ron Paul's message. Whether you're for him or against him, you have to appreciate his gumption at standing strong in the face of pretty skeptical moderators.

Natasha B, New Haven, CT (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:57 PM)

Ron Paul does tend to ramble, but out of the entire field he is the only one that understands the strain the military is facing, and the fact that we can't afford to keep our policies in place forever. I am in the Army and have deployed. The fact is we are trying to make our military the Diplomatic hand of our national strategy. There are 4 fundamentals to national security (Diplomacy, Information, Military, and Economic) Ron Paul is the only Republican that recognizes that there is more then just one way to win the war against Terrorism. I just wish the republicans would stop yelling "Terrorists" or "Al Quada" every time someone doesn't fall in line with the establishment. These are cheap scare tactics that I hope the American people will finally see through.

Michael Burgos, Carthage, NY (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:58 PM)

chuck...plain and simple

you are another tool of the mass media establishment. You don't seem to mention the poor manner in which Paul was treated by FoxNews. They asked him to explain why some of his supporters identify themselves as "9/11 truthers." This is insanity! I've actually become frightened of the way the media is influencing the opinion of the general public.

Shame on you and your skills as a journalist.

Enrico Purita Long Island, New York (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:58 PM)

Here comes the text voting....who wants to bet it is as scripted and phony as that room of old Thomopson supporters at the end of the debate?

Aaron, Austin, Tx (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:59 PM)

Sean Casey NY NY (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:59 PM)

seems to me that the elephant I'm the room is that we are borrowing money to pay our past debts of foreign adventures, let alone the debt we incur on the present incursions. if bitching about that makes me a Taft Republican, I gladly accept the mantle. ron paul could be packaged better, no doubt, but the man is sounding a warning bell no one else has guts enough to sound.

boyd, maryville, tn (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:59 PM)

I hope it is now clear that Mike Huckabee doesn't have the neccessary tools to be a president!

Huckabee didn't even have a clue on foreign affairs...

McCain did - but thats ALL he knows - his cranky attitude wouldn't last one year in the White House!

Robert Fairchild, Mobile, Alabama (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:00 PM)

A distraction? The only man on stage making any sense is "a distraction"? Sorry to distract viewers with actual reasoned logic and no-spin Republicanism.

You tell me, are a few little speedboats going to threaten U.S. Navy warships? Get real. We shouldn't even be over there. Why are we? Always ask the question, "Who benefits?"

Is the economy magically going to get better? Do you see prices declining anywhere? I don't and using the Fed to bail out the banks isn't going to help Joe Citizen one bit.

You can cut taxes all you want- if inflation keeps increasing all the money saved on taxes will be spent directly on goods and services. Plus lower taxes don't help those who are losing their jobs to illegals or to overseas.

Should the U.S. not know that McCain wants us to stay in Iraq for 100 years? His rebuttal was to bring up other countries we have been in for 50 years. Guess what, that's the point! We shouldn't be occupying them either! Is Germany going to become a Nazi state once we leave? Perhaps Japan will bomb Pearl Harbor again. Get real.

Of course this dangerous thinking is a distraction from the Spears family drama and Brangelina. Go back to sleep now, little sheep. Trust in your government.

Garrett Gebhardt (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:00 PM)

If this is your idea of journalism you are sadly mistaken. These debates need substance to inform the American public not your bias bull shit about who should be in or out. Pitiful article.

Todd Schuller (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:00 PM)

Congratulations Chuck, you have publicly outed yourself as being equally as unfair and unbalanced as Fox. You are a poor and pathetic excuse for someone who is in the position to have some degree of journalistic integrity. I don't know how you sleep at night.

Jo, CA (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:01 PM)

Chuck, Thompson has no chance at the nomination. None. He got less than 1% of the vote in NH.

Guiliani has had fewer total primary voters vote for him so far than Paul.

Paul will probably get more votes in SC than Giuliani as well.

Your judgment about which candidates "belong" there because they're "serious" is asinine and without basis to this point in the campaign.

Brian, Bennington VT (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:01 PM)

McCain Ridicules Afghani Burkas, Huckabee talks about sending our enemies to the gates of Hell, Giuliani thinks Israel, a country of less than half the population of new york city an equal partner in an alliance, and Thompson thinks we should trust that the federal reserve will do the right thing, and you think Ron Paul shouldn't be there. One of us is crazy, and I don't think it is me.

jb (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:03 PM)

Mitt Romney is for Gun Control please read below:

In his 1994 US Senate run, Romney backed two gun-control measures strongly opposed by the National Rifle Association and other gun-rights groups: the Brady Bill, which imposed a five-day waiting period on gun sales, and a ban on certain assault weapons.

"That's not going to make me the hero of the NRA," Romney told the Boston Herald in 1994.

At another campaign stop that year, he told reporters: "I don't line up with the NRA."
- Boston Globe, January 14, 2007 Read the article

Steve Hansen, Boulder, CO (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:05 PM)

Wow.... what a great analysis.....

Just what we need - more journalists (says a journalist) taking upon themselves the task of assessing electability for the rest of. My understanding of American civics included the apparently erroneous belief that the electorate decided the question of electability. Thanks for setting me straight.

When can we just do away with this messy 'election' nonsense and just let big media bozos interpret the polls and tell us who is most responsive to the needs of the people? It should be easy for you, since you peered into the crystal ball to make the determination that a candidate who beat Giuliani handily in Iowa and crushed Thompson in NH has no chance. Just tell us who the winner from November will be, just do it and we can avoid all the expense and angst of an election!

Thanks for all you do, Chuck! You provide an invaluable service to the fatherland.

Micah (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:07 PM)

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