What I have learned ...(I watched every one except the first one)
1. Romney - MR. 100% FLIP FLOP. and he gets worse in every passing day and more annoying when he tries to be one of the common folk. His platform provides no specifics. He is certainly for the 1%. Under what little he does publically endorse it's quite apparent the 1% will continue to receive large tax breaks and budgets will continue to be balanced on the backs of the middle class (documented by non partisan research groups posted on another thread in GBO who plowed through the little tax reform proposal he put forth on his website). His Jobs record as Gov in Mass was abysmal. His jobs record at Bain just as bad. Romney will say or do anything to win. He tries to be a camellion with changing positions depending on the audiience he is in front of. I'm nit sure if he really has any true convictions of his own. he always seems to try and respond as a tactician.
2.Gingrich - He is a very good debater however he carries too much baggage, though some of his points in the debates were spot on in my opinion. He is much too polarizing a candidate even within the republican party. I personally do not believe he is a conservative. I believe his positions change at the whim of the highest bidder. He is an opportunist ie: Newt is for Newt . Always has been Always will be, whatever helps him add to his personal wealth. He would have been much better off just admitting he was a lobbyist for Fannie Mae and Freddy rather than trying to split hairs over semantics. I also have difficulty seeing past his moral personal shortcomings (my personal hang-up).
3.) Santorum - His heart is in the right place and I believe he truly believes what he says. so thumbs up for integrity.
However, I do not want a Theologian and Chief. I want a commander and Chief. Also if you do not believe in his personal theology, too bad. He is too far right for mainstream America in general election. Additionally his recent views and comments regarding womens healthcare issues has disassociated and alienated himself from mainstream women, independent voters , and moderate republicans, everywhere outside of his evangelical base.
4.) Ron Paul - Was given no respect during the debate cycle. Mainstream media also never gave him respect as he is was and is repeatedly cut off. Perhaps because the bias media views him as irrelevant and so therefore in extension his ideas he is trying to promote must be irrelevant as well. Shame really he is closest to a constitutional values candidate.
Small Gov't , less intrusion, Individual Liberties etc..
So , What I have learned from the debates was pretty much what I already suspected. The debates just affirmed what I thought true in my opinion. It's your vote, but for me I'll stick with Ron Paul.
These are just my overarching opinions - others are obviously free to disagree and take issues with everything I
stated .
