Nordlinger on Last Night's Debate

I watched portions of the debate last night, but I was distracted by Monday Night Football.  It was a great game, and to witness Tom Brady throw for 517 yards was amazing (even though I am a die-hard Browns fan).

Here are some assorted thoughts by Jay Nordlinger on the debate:

• Perry and Romney, the two leading candidates, positioned next to each other. Deliberate?

• Are you allowed to have the national anthem on CNN?

• 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.”

• I wonder if Bachmann got to go first — got the first question — because of the impression that she was shortchanged in the last debate.

• Bachmann said that Obama “stole” from Medicare — a strong word. Far too strong, I think. Almost fringy.

• In general, she is a very good seller of herself — very good.

• When Perry said “slam-dunk guarantee,” I couldn’t help thinking about George Tenet and Saddam’s WMD. (I didn’t mean for that to rhyme.)

• 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.

• That said, why shouldn’t Perry be made to answer whether he stands by his claim that Social Security is unconstitutional? I mean, that is not an insignificant claim. Isn’t Perry’s great strength supposed to be his candor, his straight talk, his lack of varnish? Well?

• 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.

• 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.

• I enjoyed Ron Paul’s answer on executive orders — very good.

• His 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.

• 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.

• Cain said he’d bring a sense of humor, because “America is too uptight.” Huntsman was up next. He should have smiled and said, “I resemble that remark.”

 Also, not to be missed is the NRO symposium on the debate here.