Some Thoughts On Last Night's Debate

We live-blogged last night's debate here on the CW, and it was a rousing good time.  Some drive-by thoughts on what we saw:

1.  This was the worst of the debates so far overall, driven largely by the ineptitude of the moderators.  They should be ashamed of themselves, and they should take a page from the book of Fox News Anchor Bret Baier when it comes to debate moderation.  The questions were really, really dumb.  Here we are in the midst of a horrible economy and we spend 15 minutes on contraception.  Not a word on the President's new defense strategy.  Horrible.

2.  Rick Perry showed a great deal of what "could have been".  If he had gotten his act together and poured over the briefing books for six months, he could be sitting pretty right now.  I hope he's learned his lesson if he looks to run again.  He's the real deal, but he was unprepared.

3.  Rick Santorum did fine, but he didn't lay a glove on Romney, and he didn't lay a glove on Newt. He landed lots of gloves on Ron Paul, but those voters won't vote for him.  Therefore, he lost.

4.  Newt Gingrich?  Same story.  Though he should have been pursuing the Paul line--and that is to attack the "non-Romney" (Santorum).

5.  Ron Paul gave his supporters what they wanted, and he'll do well in New Hampshire.  But he's a wingnut who would make a dangerous President.

6.  Mitt Romney--game, set, match.  This thing is all over.  Unless he explodes on Meet The Press this morning, he'll crush in New Hampshire and roll up the field thereafter.

When Romney has the nomination wrapped up, he'll need to thank Ron Paul. Paul savaged Gingrich in Iowa and he's doing the same to Santorum in NH.