The second major Repub debates are over and we have a winner...Rudy. As already pointed out by the Instapundit, Ron Paul basically threw him a huge fat softball and he blasted it out into the parking lot, smacked Paul's pickup truck and broke the front windshield. Easily the best and most passionate moment by far.
Another candidate that did himself some good was Coloradan Tom Tancredo, although he still can't win. He appeared to be one of the few who had not changed their values other than Paul, and he got a few shots in at the RonPaulster as well.
The questions also helped to clarify some candidates, such as McCain with his "last man standing" on Iraq but not via the torture route; the blandness of Tommy Thompson, Sam Brownback, and Jim Gilmore; and the near pastoral persona of Mike Huckabee. This might have been their last chance to break out and they didn't. I thought McCain came in second but still did nothing to cut his image of being too quick to compromise with the opposition.
Mitt Romney came in third because he did nothing to dispel his flip-floppishness on several issues. Ron Paul was fourth because he'll get plenty of press for his principles but he's basically a Democrat regards fighting terrorism and I don't believe the bulk of the American people seriously believe we can go isolationist and survive.
I hand it to Fox News for a PROFESSIONALLY run debate, which stands in stark contrast to the freak show put on by MSNBC and Chris Matthews. Chris Wallace and Wendel Goler showed off their excellent skills and the questions were fair and balanced with a decent helping of crow to go around.
As to Fred Thompson, everyone's still talking about the triple he smacked off starting pitcher Michael Moore earlier today (not a homer in my opinion, but off the wall) but the longer he waits the more the chance he'll get left behind in the debate. That said, while political bloggers live for this stuff most of America was watching something else. There's plenty of time.
ADDENDUM
The Huckabee comment about Edwards and the beauty salon will be compared to the Ann Coulter fag remark. It might bring him some PR but it wasn't really necessary.
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