D'OH!

img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-106679" title="Perry" src="/files/wxrimport/2011-11/perry.jpg" alt="" width="486" height="391" /><

Post Debate Analysis:

The most memorable moment from the November 9th CNBC debate was Rick Perry's very embarrassing verbal fumble. (You can watch the video of it here.) Perry began listing the three departments he would eliminate as president, but stumbled on listing department #3. Despite his best efforts, he simply could not remember his talking point. He eventually conceded he couldn't answer the question. "Oops", was his ultimate answer.

A few other highlights.
-When Maria Bartiromo asked Herman Cain about what role "character" should play in selecting a president, the audience began the jeer. Romney was also asked how he felt about Cain's alleged character problems, and he declined to answer. That was the extent that any attention was paid to Cains' harassment allegations.
-Ron Paul said that the answer to the Italian debt crisis was to liquidate all debts.
-Ron Paul also said that the ultimate solution to high college costs and expensive student loans was to end the Federal Reserve.
-Rick Santorum was the only candidate to discuss the low income mobility of America, though he said the solution was to support new manufacturing jobs.

Pre-Debate Commentary

Tonight, FrumForum will livechat the GOP debate hosted by CNBC at 8pm ET. David Frum and our lineup of bloggers will all be watching and commenting.

There are many important topics that the presidential candidates need to discuss, such as the possible collapse of the European economy, the IAEA reporting that Iran is close to developing nuclear weapons, and the continuing stagnation in America’s labor market.

As important as those topics are, it is likely that a significant amount of time will be spent discussing the latest allegations of sexual harassment that have been made against Herman Cain. Even if CNBC decides not to ask about the allegations directly, its likely other candidates will try to play up their own “integrity” and “strong marriages.”

Normally, we prepare for these debates by trying to predict which policy arguments the candidates will make. In this debate, perhaps the prediction to try and make is whether or not Newt Gingrich will attack the media for trying to “slander” his fellow opponents by reporting the “facts” that are in the news.