Ten candidates took part in Tuesday night's Republican debate in New Hampshire.
In addition to the ten men, there was that other contender looming over the debate.
Former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson mentioned the non-candidate candidate that was missing from the pack -- Fred Thompson.
The debate drew the announced Republican presidential contenders — but not former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee, an actor apparently poised to join the race in a month's time.
"My name is Thompson. I'm the candidate, not the actor," said Tommy Thompson in a jab at the man who wasn't there.
Fred Thompson didn't take part. Fine.
I don't have a problem with him not being in New Hampshire as much as I have a problem with him showing up on Hannity and Colmes.
It's no coincidence that Fred Thompson showed up on TV on debate night. I don't really fault FOX or Sean Hannity for doing the live interview with Thompson, but it does seem sort of unfair.
The unofficial candidate does a one on one interview and gets a lot of exclusive air time.
The declared candidates had to share the stage and the time and duke it out with each other while Thompson got his own special spotlight.
There's something wrong with that picture. I really don't like the way Thompson is able to sit on the sidelines and not get in the mix.
Although he wasn't there, Thompson did comment on the debate.
Fred Thompson, appearing on Fox News after the debate, said he had watched part of the give-and-take among his potential rivals. "They did all right from what I saw," he said.
How kind of you to give the declared candidates your blessing, St. Fred!
If he had participated in the debate, he would have seen it all and been able to really judge just how well he thought they did.
I wonder how many of the ten participants would have preferred to get the Fred Thompson treatment -- a one on one interview.
I wonder if Thompson would have done "all right," too.
We'll never know.
As usual, the debate had some weird moments.
Lightning striking when Rudy Giuliani spoke about abortion is almost spooky.
And Wolf Blitzer grilling the candidates on evolution was bizarre.
Mike Huckabee was right to call Blitzer on his lame question.
And Huckabee made it clear that he did not appreciate the question, either, calling it unfair.
"It's interesting that that question would even be asked of somebody running for president," Huckabee said. "I'm not planning on writing the curriculum for an eighth-grade science book. I'm asking for the opportunity to be president of the United States."
Blitzer made a fool of himself.
He seemed to be mocking Huckabee and Sam Brownback for their religious beliefs.
Overall, his attitude was condescending and his questions were poor.
Still, just by showing up for the debate, the Republican candidates proved their superiority to those FOX News boycotting Dem candidates, castrated by the Left kook fringe; that is, all the Republican candidates except Fred Thompson.
2 comments:
True - the question on 'god created earth and heaven' was little foolish. Who cares as long they don't force their belief on everybody.
Overall, I gues Wolf did a decent job. Not too bad.
Wish you had mentioned another real conservative Ron Paul and how he continues to impress more and more conservatives.
The top three leading candidates were pathetic on immigration issue. Hunter and Tancredo were much more genuine and honest.
I don't know how you define "real conservative," but whatever Ron Paul is, I'm not impressed.
How to manage ILLEGAL Immigration is a problem issue. No question about it.
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