REPUBLICAN DEBATE OR DEBACLE??

You gotta love this country---where else can you watch a presidential election season that goes on for two years, and where the participants not only get sent to the cleaners by the media, but by themselves as well?  We Americans do not need others to criticize us---we're masters of self examination and flagellation. We're great at cleaning out closets and finding any lurking skeletons. Yes, before we'll even think about voting for you, we'll  send you to hell and back, publicly air all your dirty laundry, and hang you out to dry. If you're still standing, we'll treat you to more.  But what great theatre it is---if you like to watch people embarrass themselves and humiliate others. Watching the  Republican debate last Saturday night was like watching a game of cat and mouse---even though there were only 3 cats, and 5 mice. The cats, the mainstream media known as Diane Sawyer, George Stephanopoulos, and Josh McElveen, seemed to be doing their best to trap the mice, otherwise known as Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, and John Huntsman, the remaining Republican presidential candidates.

.George S., asking questions of little relevance to the forthcoming election, was a prime example of baiting, instead of debating.  Mr. Stephanopoulos, who was a senior advisor under the Clinton administration and is still of the liberal persuasion appeared much  like a college student trying to get the best of a much smarter professor as he went after Romney with a completely irrelevant and out of left field question---"would you approve of a state banning contraceptives?" Excuse me?  What?? Romney, who is at all times respectful, Mr. Nice Guy, even had a hard time remaining so, as he stared at George increduously, trying to decide how to answer in such a way as to not completely dismiss or discredit George or the question.  He replied that he didn't know of any state that was banning contraceptives, so what's the problem?  In other words, what does that have to do with anything? But George continued to badger Romney, until the audience began showing their disapproval by booing Stephanopoulos and then applauding Romney when he finally broke down after six attempts by George  to bully him into an answer, and called the question "silly". "Stupid", wouldn't have been too strong a word for anyone other than Romney. At the very least, the question was inappropriate and out of context, and it very much appeared that George was trying to paint the governor from Mass. as a  religious fanatic, morally dangerous to our increasingly secular society. Giving him some benefit of the doubt, his question probably had roots in the infamous "Roe vs. Wade" ruling, which proceeded the "right to privacy" ruling.  But it was such an obvious stretch and attempt to cast Romney in a negative light that it sunk under the weight of Stephonoupolos's attack mode. Would he pose such a loaded question to Obama---"Tell me, President  Obama--- how would you feel if all the Christians gathered and insisted on prayer in the schools?  And by the way, if all the Republican congressmen were suddenly sitting in your living room, would you serve them tea or contempt?"

The debates are usually lead by the liberal media, who in turn treat the Republican candidates as suspects, rather than viable, qualified men seeking the presidency. They should be asked tough, relevant questions, but not of the sort nor in the manner of G.S. The issues of importance today are of the economy, jobs, international affairs, and which direction philosophically, this country wishes to go.  Diane Sawyer also disappointed with her strangely framed question of gays and how the candidates might speak to them were they seated with them in a living room setting. Really?? It is doubtful that any one of the current top Republican contenders would dramatically change any of the existing laws having to do with contraceptives or gay rights. Most of them believe in leaving those sorts of issues up to the individual states, not the  federal government. Yes, they can appoint conservative judges, but not of the extreme variety without being scrutinized and vetted by the senate and the ever watching American public.

It is not at all unusual for the presidential debates to be held within the framework of the mostly liberal press--but this was a grand and obvious display of bias and attempt to color the candidates socially narrow minded and unfit to be the president of the United States, because of their personal opinions and faiths . It would seem this is doing the country a dis-service, as the real issues of concern this time, are not so much social issues, but hard core financial problems. We want to know how these men would put the country back to work , what they would do to fix our broken budget, and how they would approach the growing middle east problems, especially the nuclear threats coming out of Iran.

At one point, Newt Gingrich gave the debate a refreshing twist when he turned the tables on the interviewing panel by asking them why the media never questions the government for their increasing bias against Christian institutions and values. It was a defining moment for Gingrich and gave rise to the thought that perhaps the candidates ought to stop allowing themselves to appear as trapped mice in a shooting gallery, and change the format to one in which they could actually debate each other and the issues of importance.

 There will be plenty of time in the coming months for dissection of the chosen Republican candidate's opinions on everything from soup to nuts ,abortions to the nuclear threat, as he goes toe to toe against Obama and his Democrat party machine. But for now, the Republicans need to show a united front against the current administration, exhibit how and why theirs would be a better approach to saving this country from financial destruction, and refuse to be victimized and belittled by news reporters who present themselves as fair and balanced, but who, in fact are at times so slanted that their so called debate slide into a debacle.  It's proof that life isn't fair, and neither is this process of the mostly liberal media trying to play "got'cha" with the candidates.  Only this time, the one who got caught red handed, was George Stephanopoulos  like a planted  rookie, trying to play ball with the big boys. Dial it down, George---you looked,--- well,silly.

But as if the candidates themselves aren't happy to let the debates and the likes of G.S. vet or get them---they, themselves seem to feel its necessary to weed out each other---it's a tough game,  politics. One minute you're up, the next down---and sometimes snookered by your own team mates..Newt Gingrich, who suffered a big loss in Iowa, unwisely decided to go after Mitt Romney on the eve of the New Hampshire primary held on Tuesday of this week.  It was payback time for Newt who was still smarting from his loss in the Iowa primary, for which he blamed negative ads put out by a conservative political action group, Super Pac,  and not disputed by Romney. Rick Perry joined in the fray, criticizing Romney for his past history of dismantling, firing, and rebuilding  companies in trouble. They accused Romney of "vulture capitalism". By the way, is that anything like taking over the auto companies?? Tsk, tsk, and sour grapes to you both. Obama and company must be taking notes---and smiling like Cheshire cats who's cream has just been handed them.

Meanwhile, Romney won  in New Hampshire, with Ron Paul, the Jack- in- the- box surprise element of the campaign season, coming in second, and John Huntsman showing up third. But is anyone truly winning yet?? Ron Paul is a wild card that's looking strangely playable lately. What's up with that? The man is gathering steam,and there are those who say it's time to listen to his brand of libertarian conservatism vs. moderate conservatism.  But, unless he can take the scare out of his isolationist policy, he's running just for the exercise.  No one seems to know exactly what the Republicans are looking for, but they'd best find it soon, or Obama may win by default. Note to Repubs.---it's time to circle the wagons, or leave Dodge City to the Dems---
  
The bloodied candidates will have another chance with yet another debate next Monday night. Let's hope the format is more fair, and that the candidates themselves will stop trying to destroy each other, as this uniquely American process continues. Soon, the ultimate debates will begin----the  Republican challenger vs. President Obama, and the well equipped Democrat machine.  We can dream that the media moderators will at least keep their bias down to a low roar, and that they allow the American people to decide, based on fair and pertinent questions.

Debate, debacle, or disgusting---it's show time in America. The whole world is watching---and one thing they can't say about us---we don't coddle our own, or hide our flaws.  Like one big noisy family, we let it all hang out---may the best man win, and may we have the wisdom to choose correctly. The prize is our future.   .