Seriously, what a horrible performance the host of Hardball turned in tonight. He didn't manage the time well at all among the candidates, and kept going back to Mitt Romney at the start of a round-robin, ensuring that Romney would get far more air-time than his rivals. The poor guys at the far end of the stage were desperate to get a word in edgewise.
But then there were the questions themselves. The low point came when Matthews asked whether would it be a good thing to have Bill Clinton back in the White House. Is he serious? Was he confusing the forum for one of his blow-hard shows? Actually, all of the candidates burst out laughing upon hearing the question, then many went on to note the obvious, if Bill Clinton were back in the White House, it would mean that their own bids had failed.
He also completely mis-characterized Rudy Giuliani's position on the national identification card for resident aliens and embarrassed himself with some off the cuff mumbling. Really, he should never be allowed to do this kind of thing in the future.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 13)
1. i watch the GOP Debate i have to say i think that John McCain and Mitt Romney did good
J Pauling at 10:04PM on May 3rd 2007
2. Knowles...I never thought I would say this but I agree with your appraisal of Chris Matthews. He was a poor choice, being more comfortable (as usual) talking pot shots at Republicans, than listening or vetting out distinctions between the speakers.
joe m at 10:12PM on May 3rd 2007
3. NUMBER ONE IN MY EYES WAS DUNCAN HUNTER. A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS.
NUMBER TWO WAS TOM TANCREDO. HE IS A HANDS ON GUY AND YOU CAN SEE IT IN HIS STYLE.
THE WORST WAS RON PAUL WHO REMINDS ME OF KUCINICH
I WAS DISSAPOINTED TO REALIZE THAT TOMMY THOMPSON DOES NOT KNOW HOW MANY WOUNDED HAVE COME HOME FROM IRAQ.
HE SAID A COUPLE OF THOUSAND. LAST TIME I COUNTED IT WAS OVER 25,000.
MY ANSWER WOULD HAVE BEEN A QUESTION. WHEN ASKED WHAT IS THE CASUALTY COUNT I I WOULD HAVE ASKED WITH THE 3,546 WHO DIED ON 911 OR DO WE SEPERATE THEM OUT? AFTER ALL WE ARE FIGHTING THE SAME FIRE.
THE THREE SHOWBOYS WERE GUILIANI, MCCAIN AND ROMMNEY. THEY KNOW HOW TO SOUND GOOD. THE LIPS CAN SAY ANYTHING BUT THE HEART DOES NOT LIE. HUNTER WILL PROTECT US THE MOST. TANCREDO WILL PROTECT THE BORDER THE MOST.
CHRIS MATTHEWS RASFANJANI WOULD NOT LET TANCREDO SPEAK. TERRY SCHIAVO WAS MURDERED IN MY OPINION AND SHE WAS THE LAST WITNESS TO HER MURDER. HAVE YOU NOTICED SINCE SHE DIED MORE HUSBANDS NOW KILL THEIR WIVES OR IS IT MY IMAGINATION?
DID YOU CATCH DER RATZENFENGER MATTHEWS COMPARE A KID NAMED SCOOTER TO MARC RICH. DID SCOOTER GIVE PRESIDENT PINOCCHIO PANTS A DOUBLE BREASTED GOLDEN SAXOPHONE? PLUS AN ALLEGED SWISS BANK ACCOUNT. DID SCOOTER LIBBY EMPLOY THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT TO GET A PARDON? DID SCOOTER LIBBY SEND BACK $450,000 MINUS COMMISIONS TO THE VIGNALLI DRUG FAMILY TO GET A PARDON? DID SCOOTER LIBBY DENOUNCE HIS COUNTRY IN THE UAE AND SAUDI ARABIA FOR $950,000? DID SCOOTER LIBBY ASK MARY JO WHITEOUT TO RETIRE? THE ANSWERS TO THESE AND MANY GRAND JURY QUESTIONS HAVE DISSAPPEARED IN SANDY BERGER'S FRUIT OF THE LOOMS.
(DER RATZENFENGER IS THE PIED PIPER WHO DRAWS OUT RATS FROM HAMLETS)
HE IS ON MY WEB SITE .
WWW.CAPTAINSBLOG.US
WWW.SPIRITOFAMERICAPARTY.COM
WWW.BLOGTALKRADIO.COM
SOAP
ABUTOM at 10:14PM on May 3rd 2007
4. Mitt Romney is a looser. Too conservative. This country is through with social conservatives.
Reiverbear at 8:06AM on May 4th 2007
5. I agree with Duncan Hunter being the top candidate in this debate. He shows a lot of strength and he already has a lot of experience being that he is already in congress.
Moster1219 at 10:26PM on May 3rd 2007
6. What's all this Duncan Hunter rah rah..are you all blackwater goons???
copper at 10:34PM on May 3rd 2007
7. DUNCAN HUNTER & TOM CANCREDO WERE THE BEST!! THEY BELEIVE IN SECURING OUR BORDERS, NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGALS AND ENFORCE OUR LAWS. THE AMERICAN TAX PAYERS NEED THEM 2 AS PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP GIVING ILLEGAL ALIENS CONTROL OF OUR COUNTRY. THERE ARE AT LEAST 12 MILLION NOW, AND IT WILL GET WORSE, WITH ALL THE RELATIVES COMING OVER. WE NEED TO FINE EMPLOYERS, WHEN THEY HIRE ILLEGALS. NO MORE ENTITLEMENTS TO ILLEGALS. THE PRISONS HAVE AT LEAST 20% ILLEGAL ALIENS. SEND THEM ALL TO A DESERT IN TENTS, JUST LIKE OUR GUYS IN IRAQI. ILLEGALS GET 3 SQUARES A DAY, IN PRISON, T.V. A LAWYER, WHICH AMERICANS PAY FOR. THEIR KIDS GET A FREE EDUCATION, FREE MEDICAL, FREE LUNCHES AND BREAKFAST AT SCHOOL. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. JUST THINK HOW MUCH WOULD BE ON OUR PAYCHECKS, FROM SAVING TAXES, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE TO SUPPORT THEM. OUR FREEWAYS WOULDN'T BE SO CROWDED IN L.A. THINK ABOUT IT! WE CAN WASH OUR OWN CARS, THANKS! WE CAN CLEAN OUR OWN TOILETS, THANKS!!!!!!!!
linda at 10:33PM on May 3rd 2007
8. I liked McCain in this debate. The clear loser was the big mouth Chris Matthews. Matthews acts like he has grudge against the GOP. I for one am getting sick and tired of his same old crying wolf, over, and over, and over.
Chuck at 7:27PM on May 4th 2007
9. I was as disappointed as I was concerned I would be with the performance of all 10. Some tried to sound knowledgable, others were just plain disingenuous. I hope we keep these tapes and compare them with what is said when the successful nominee runs hard to the middle in the general election. I never thought I would say this but if the nominee is one of these guys I will vote for Hillary or anyone else. Let's hope Fred Thompson doesn't wait too long to get in this race.
Jim O'Neill at 10:37PM on May 3rd 2007
10. Most candidates performed well, but, given the constraints on time to answer the questions, it would be hard to really judge those who stood out.
I think I like best, in order, Mitt Romney, John McCain, Rudy Guiliani, Duncan Hunter, and Mike Gilmore.
My suggestion would be to change the format and limit the debates to those who have real chances to win the nomination. Who to root out would pose a logistical problem. But we need more than sound bites to choose clear winners.
RGL at 10:39PM on May 3rd 2007
11. I agree that Chris Matthews was a very poor choice for a moderator. But, what can you expect from a liberal media person. I certainly would like to examine his stop watch for his timing was very inconsistant, particularly when it came to Congressman Tom Tancredo. I loved it when Congressman Tancredo said he would pardon Gordon Libby right after he pardoned Ramos and Compean.
Jan Ream at 11:13PM on May 3rd 2007
12. Jim Gilmore seemed to have more maturity and substance than the rest of the slick pack. Mitt Romney is an embarassment. McCain was rehearsed. Rudy did okay.
Chris at 10:40PM on May 3rd 2007
13. Republican candidates definitely scored far above all of the Democrats. McCain, Gilluiani, and Romney did very well, but Brownback had some very good responses.
Chris Matthews was a total misfit for this debate. He belongs with the Democrats.
Connie at 10:41PM on May 3rd 2007
14.
Mitt Romney will bring back the moral leadership and guidence this country so deperately needs.
Without him or someone like him I am afraid we are lost.
John at 10:46PM on May 3rd 2007
15. Please do not deceive yourselves the republican era came to an official end tonight. Thank God Almighty We Are Free at Last!!!! None of those 10 losers can compete with Barack or Hillary. Also, please do us all a favor and learn to use the Caps Locks or did and Undocumented Worker take that from you too (bunch of cry babies).
Mark at 10:51PM on May 3rd 2007