Republican Primary Debate, 9/22

On September 22, the latest of the Republican Primary debates took place in Florida. Televised on FOX and live streamed on Youtube.com, this debate was the most interactive debate held. Americans from all over the country could video in questions or responses to the candidates. The debate lasted about 90 minutes and each of the candidates made their stances clear, for the most part.

The debate itself was obviously centered around the rivalry of Rick Perry and Mitt Romney. I was tempted to make Rick Perry’s responses a drinking game: do a shot every time he said “Mitt Romney”. I would be through a bottle of Jameson by the end of the broadcast. Perry took any, and every, opportunity he could to attack Romney, Romney’s book, and Romney’s promises without ever specifying his own.

Perry failed to specify anything. No details. No specifics. No plan.

One of the first questions asked to Rick Perry was on the Jobs Plan and stimulating the American economy through the plan. The proctor mentioned that the American people want the details, and said “Where is your Jobs Plan?”

Perry responds with, “Well, you’ll see a more extensive Jobs Plan, but the matter is you look at the state of Texas and see what we’ve done there.”

…. What, in Patrick Swayze’s name, does that mean!!??

Eventually, Perry began to debate the actual issue by proposing the separation of government and business so to avoid harassment on small businesses. Romney, on the other hand, debated that statement by saying that the “Government and Regulation need to be allies of business, not foes.”

Romney then took an interesting stance, mentioning several times in this broadcast that he is an experienced “business man”, and only involved with politics while in office in Massachusetts. He made it clear that he is running as a man knowing the ins and outs of big and small business in the country, supporting his idea that it takes someone who has had a job to create a job for others. Certainly, especially with the struggling economic and working climates today, he paints an appealing image of himself as a Presidential Candidate.  But to his credit, Perry does offer a political appeal. For some, it may not be comfortable to vote a business man into office. Certainly, he’d be able to fix the economy- but what about foreign policy and homeland security? For the conservatives who have the global threats on the top of the concern list, perhaps Perry has something.

Yet, Perry’s appearance in the broadcast could seriously damage his image and integrity. Punch after punch he went after Romney like a desperate kid on a playground. Personally, I think Ron Paul can punch harder than Perry…though I will get more shots of Jameson out of Perry’s debating skills…