Politics and Culture

These things are getting boring even with the addition of Thompson. I didn't miss Brownback. As compactly as possible:

1. Paul: His main point, isolationism, is ringing more hollow these days and we keep doing better. His solution to social security and other domestic problems- use the money we're spending in Iraq- is kind of like a dodge and further evidence of tunnel-vision induced derangement.

2. McCain: Seemed resigned to losing. I can tell because he came across as the most honest. He wasn't interested in impressing people; he just gave strait answers. His social security talk was great and his attack on Romney showed some genuine dislike for the man and badly hurt Romney.

Follow up:

3. Romney: Romney's Dennis the menace hair didn't help him. Neither did his wimpy reply to McCain. After sucking up to him, McCain laid into Romney and Romney did nothing. It's OK to defend policies in a calm way, but attacks on character-like being accused of lying- are fighting words and deserve something like a righteously indignant reply. He went on his smooth, Cadillac-ride through his issues. His strength is the depth of his knowledge (four ways to deal with social security), but his politician-ness is starting to bother me. Something smells about his flip-flopping, too.

4. Giuliani is in trouble. I didn't like his nervous laughter and hit-miss joke-telling. He's also starting to develop patterns: His quippy attacks on Hillary are fun, but predictable, and Huckabee called him on his lack of seriousness. Maybe it's just me, but his socon worries are throwing off his game. When Giuliani talks about issues, he's on firm ground, however. He knows his stuff. Plus, no 9/11 references.

5. Thompson: When Thompson revs up, he can be intimidating. His fact-based attack on Giuliani was devastating. His answers were sincere and largely free of cheap applause lines. His abortion lobbying explanation did not put people suspicious of his pro-life credentials at ease. I think he can do well in a general election, however. His resume-thumping at the end was very good.

6. Hunter: Good, but again, too masculine for the nation. I think he'd scare our enemies, but he'd also scare soccer moms and their small children. If he retires from the house, I want him to substitute for me in my high school class. His Cuba-El Salvador line seemed out-of-place (but I know why he did it), and I liked his mirror trade policy.

7. Tancredo: A calm, good performance. Nothing of note.

Some concerns for Republicans as each candidate showed some weaknesses that team Hillary is drawing up plans to exploit this very minute.