Here are some his best observations (my three favorites are highlighted):
Rick Perry — total Marlboro Man.
Mitt Romney looks like a Ken doll, as everyone says. By the way, what’s wrong with looking like Ken? You ever see Barbie?
Generally speaking, is the process a little demeaning? Oh, yeah.
CNN and the Tea Party co-hosted a debate? Proof of the old adage “Politics makes strange bedfellows.”
Newt should have run in ’96 — that was his time, that was his year.
Perry’s line about making Washington as inconsequential to you as possible? I’m reminded of how Phil Gramm campaigned. He’d shake a man’s hand and say, “I’ll try to keep the government out of your wallet.”
What Perry is now saying about Social Security? How it will be unchanged for current retirees and those nearing retirement, but that younger people will have flexibility and options? Exactly what Candidate George W. Bush said, way back in 2000.
Romney was not very good when being pesky, when badgering Perry. He looked small.
Charming guy, Cain. Might there be room for him in a future Republican administration?
Santorum kept talking about all the “courage” he had shown in his political life — “I had the courage to” do this, “I had the courage to” do that. Ay, caramba, Rick. That’s for others to say, not you.
He (Santorum) referred to himself as a “spokesperson.” I wish he had had the — what, courage? — to say “spokesman.” If a Rick Santorum waves the linguistic white flag, we’re all doomed.
When Newt talked about all the “waste” in government, and how getting rid of it would take care of our budget woes, I almost ralphed. Every bad, dim, or dishonest candidate has said this since the beginning of time: waste, fraud, and abuse. And going after tax cheats. Newt knows so much better.
Romney pounced on this, saying, Waste, schmaste — we have to cut spending, seriously and structurally. It was just about the most adult moment of the campaign.
Huntsman keeps saying things like, “I want all of you to understand . . .” When he does so, he comes off as condescending and snide, in my opinion.
Perry was very good on how people have voted with their feet — have moved to Texas, for more opportunity. Very good. That rebuts criticisms of the Texas record: “If we’re so bad, how come people keep coming to us, to build their businesses, to pursue their dreams? How come they’re not going to, say, Massachusetts?”
His (Ron Paul) view of the War on Terror is essentially the same as Michael Moore’s or Noam Chomsky’s. Shouldn’t they be allowed to participate in Republican presidential debates, too? They articulate that view much better.
Tell you why I could never run for president: When they asked me, “What will you do to attract Latino voters?” I would say, “Nothing, really. I will appeal to all Americans as Americans. That is attractive to those who want to be Americans, instead of ethnic groups or special interests.”
When Romney said he’d restore the Churchill bust to the Oval Office, I thought, “Good one.” Then I think I heard Perry say, “Good one” — which made me think very well of Perry.
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Surely anyone of the eight candidates shown above, with the possible exceptions of Huntsman (described after the last debate by Hadley Arkes as "a sanctimonious, nasty little man") and Paul, would make Obama pale into insignificance on a debate platform.
