Facebook
Twitter
Tumblr
A few thoughts as I'm watching (note that items are added to the bottom of the bulleted list):
- Jon Huntsman's comments on the state of the US, ten years on from 9/11, were astute and pertinent. I agree: time to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. Sullivan concludes well on this point: "Yes, this is a Republican." I'm surprised too.
- Rick Perry's comments ("I tip my hat") on Obama's victory over bin Laden were actually quite welcome. What a shame that he decided to turn it into a point on Keynesian economics, in that Obama 'proved' that government spending doesn't create jobs. What a shame. It started out so well.
- Bachmann: "Obama has weakened the US militarily...The president hasn't done enough to protect the United States (or something to that effect)...has put us more at risk." Really? I would have said that he managed to do something that the last president hadn't managed to do. Killing bin Laden? That's a big thing. Not only that, but she didn't even answer the question.
- Huntsman: "We can't run from science." Agreed. Huntsman is increasingly becoming a key player on the stage today. "I can lead based upon where I have been as governor." One thing which should be noted is the relatively small applause Huntsman gets for his eloquent comments. Perry: "The science is not settled" on man-made climate change. Sure it isn't.
- Amazed that the mention of the executions under Rick Perry receives appluase. Now he's saying that he hasn't lost any sleep over the possibility that one of those people may have been innocent. Even more applause. "I think Americans understand justice...when you have committed heinous crimes against our citizens...they don't want you to commit those crimes...you will face the ultimate justice," in response to the applause he received at the mention of those executed under his governorship. Disgusting.
- Sullivan weighs in on the execution applause: "A spontaneous round of applause for the executiing people! And Perry shows no remorse, not even a tiny smidgen of reflection, especially when we know for certain that he signed the death warrant for an innocent man. Here's why I find it impossible to be a Republican: any crowd that instantly cheers the execution of 234 individuals is a crowd I want to flee, not join. This is the crowd that believes in torture and executions. Can you imagine the torture that Perry would authorize? Thank God he's doing so poorly tonight." Agreed.