GOP New Hampshire Debate

I watched the debate, and then I watched pieces again, and I'd still like to read a transcript to see if there was some substance I missed. The platform did not allow for much. When there are seven candidates, and CNN's John King wants all of their answers in 30 second bits, well, how can you really go into policy with that? King might as well have said, "We are only seeking soundbites, catch-phrases, and plattitudes. Let's get started."

How'd they do?

7. RICK SANTORUM - Of all the candidates, he's the one who has to answer the question, "Why are you here again?" And he didn't.

6. HERMAN CAIN - I'd read he was a bright spot in the last GOP debate, but he struck me more as a guy who had some talking points and got lost when he had to veer from them.

5. NEWT GINGRICH - Newt's a good talking-head on cable, but in the debate, did he really listen to some of his answers? At one point he supported the return of McCarthyism when it comes to Muslims, and at another point he made it sound like we'd be living like the Jetsons right now if the "private sector" ran NASA instead of the government.

4. TIM PAWLENTY - He had his moments, but this night will most be remembered for him shying away from Mitt Romney when confronted about his coining of the new phrase "Obamneycare." Gee, it's a neat word but he came off as an internet troll who just had his identity discovered by the celebrity he's been bad-mouthing.

3. RON PAUL - Paul is not afraid to answer any question, and he never sounds like he's trying to be careful about how he answers it. That's why, whether I agree with him or not, I know I'm not going to wince from the pain of watching him tiptoe or tap-dance around an answer the way most other inevitably will. On Afghanistan: "Our national security is not enhanced by our presense there."

But half of the stuff he wants to do, you just know he will never get done. I think he's a symbolic candidate, one where he hopes that some of his ideas might catch hold in the psyche and imagination of a candidate who actually has a chance. I'm sure he'd love to talk Romney's ear off about the Federal Reserve.

2. MICHELLE BACHMANN - Low expectations for her, and she passed them. Don't take that as "She was tremendous!" but she seemed comfortable, she has a backstory that's interesting. (23 foster kids?) She essentially made the case that a Sarah Palin candidacy is unnecessary.

1. MITT ROMNEY - He had the polish of a co-host. Welcome to my debate stage, fellas, can I get you something to drink? He had his own stumbles, but he's the front-runner and no one laid a finger on him.

Now, Hillary Clinton won the first six or eight debates she had with Obama and company, so in the long run, this debate won't mean much. I will say it's nice to have a Forbes-Keyes-Bauer-free stage. I look forward to seeing varied formats in the future. It'll be interesting to see Jon Huntsman join, and what might happen if Palin actually joins.