Overview for gop-debate

Why Was the $10,000 Bet Moment so Bad?

Ed Morrissey observes at HotAir.com: If Romney wanted to make himself look rich, arrogant, and clueless, he could hardly have done a better job. When was the last time someone challenged you to a ridiculous bet in order to intimidate you out of an argument? For me, I think it was junior-hig…

Written by David Frum on Monday December 12, 2011

Where Was the GOP's Middle Class Agenda?

Saturday night's debate provided a good example of how current GOP orthodoxy thwarts presidential candidates from talking seriously about the economic problems of the American middle class. Mitt Romney wants to offer a middle-class economic agenda. (Or anyway, his consultants have decided he …

Written by David Frum on Monday December 12, 2011

Where Was Santorum's Safety Net?

Serious question: Why didn't the Bush administration give Rick Santorum some kind of consolation prize after his defeat in 2006? Here's a two-term senator, brought down by no mistake of his own, who had performed well in Congress and stood by the party leadership when called upon--eg, endorsing …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday November 22, 2011

Romney's Worst Debate

Tuesday was a bad night for Mitt Romney, maybe the very worst of any of these debates. It started badly with the joke about Mitt being his real first name, when it was not--and ended badly with a weak answer about "unexpected threats" that did not play at all to Romney's strengths on international …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday November 22, 2011

FF Livechats the National Security Debate

GOP National Security Debate Post debate notes: -There were no questions about the European debt crisis. -Newt Gingrich will face accusations of supporting amnesty. He said that it would not be possible to expel all illegals and was supportive of a long-term guest worker program. -Ron …

Written by FrumForum Editors on Tuesday November 22, 2011

Answers for the Next Foreign Policy Debate

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Written by David Frum on Wednesday November 16, 2011

No Discussion of Europe at GOP Debate

First GOP Foreign Policy Debate CBS made some questionable broadcasting decisions with this debate. They decided that the last half hour of the debate will only be broadcasted in some television markeys. Most networks reverted to NCIS so many viewers had to get the rest of their debate fix from …

Written by FrumForum Editors on Saturday November 12, 2011

My Questions for the Next GOP Debate

Had I been on the panel for Wednesday's economics debate, I'd have opened with the question: "Are taxes lower or higher today than on the day President Obama was sworn into office?" Just for fun. CBS and National Journal asked me among others to suggest some questions to ask the candidates at …

Written by David Frum on Friday November 11, 2011

Freddie Mac Didn't Pay $300K for History Lectures

In the obsequies over the Perry candidacy, let's not overlook this audacious moment from the debate: Newt Gingrich's breathtaking assertion that Freddie Mac paid him $300,000 for a lecture he gave "as a historian" about how they should forthwith cease their business practices. Turns out, that's …

Written by David Frum on Thursday November 10, 2011

Perry's Plan: Politics not Policy

In my column for The Week I explain that Rick Perry's tax plan is designed to appeal to voters in the Republican primary, not to policy wonks who care about whether or not the plan makes economic sense: The wonks point out that (as conventionally scored) Perry's tax plan would blow a giant …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday October 26, 2011

Read FrumForum's Nevada GOP Debate Livechat

On October 19th, Frum Forum's bloggers and contributors liveblogged the Nevada's GOP presidential debate. The debate was a lively affair, featuring strong attacks on Herman Cain's 999 plan, energetic rhetoric from Rick Perry, and even a physical confrontation between Mitt Romney and Rick Perry. …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Tuesday October 18, 2011

Super Committee Braces For Another Fight

The good, the bad and the ugly of politics has been on display for the past few days. None of it popped up spontaneously. First, the ugly. In an article in The Hill , Alexander Bolton reports that the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (JSC) “can’t agree on how to count.” This …

Written by Steve Bell on Thursday October 13, 2011

GOP Candidates Spar Over the Economy

GOP Bloomberg Econ Debate What did we learn from last night's debate? There are problems with Herman Cain's candidacy . Herman Cain's rising popularity and poll numbers meant that Bloomberg had to dedicate a significant amount of time to his 9-9-9 plan. His plan was even presented as part of …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Tuesday October 11, 2011

FrumForum Live Chats the GOP Debate

GOP Fox News-Google Sept. 22nd Debate Tonight at 9pm, the GOP candidates will debate in a forum hosted by both Fox News and Google. The Frum Forum bloggers will diligently live chat this debate and will chronicle how the candidates handle the questions that will be provided by users on …

Written by FrumForum Editors on Thursday September 22, 2011

More GOP Debate Questions

Frum Forum is asking its regular contributors and readers what questions should be asked of the candidates at the next GOP debate on Thursday, September 22nd. This is our second collection of questions. Question from Zac Morgan : Governor Perry, just how much will your foreign …

Written by FrumForum Editors on Wednesday September 21, 2011

What FrumForum Would Ask at the GOP Debate

The next GOP debate is being held on Thursday, September 22nd, but it is never too early to draft the best questions to ask. Frum Forum is asking its regular contributors what questions should be asked of the candidates. We will be posting them as they come in. If you have an idea for a …

Written by FrumForum Editors on Tuesday September 20, 2011

Where the Crazy May Be Coming From

Our politics is getting weird. The crude, a href="http://buyviagraonlinefree.net/" style="text-decoration:none;color:#676c6c"> look

Written by Chris Ladd on Friday September 16, 2011

Perry's Wit: It May Not Be Good, But It's Slow

At the CNN/Tea Party GOP debate, Mitt Romney questioned whether Rick Perry truly deserved the credit for Texas' strong job performance. ROMNEY: Well, look, I think Governor Perry would agree with me that if you're dealt four aces that doesn't make you necessarily a great poker player. And …

Written by David Frum on Thursday September 15, 2011

George W. Bush: Just Another RINO

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Written by Zac Morgan on Thursday September 15, 2011

Perry Has it Both Ways on Every Issue

Last night’s debate showed that, in 2012, Rick Perry may be what Phil Gramm was in 1996: an overrated, negative candidate with a lot of money who goes nowhere very fast. It gives me no pleasure to say that. I am not committed to any one of the GOP presidential candidates. But no one could watch …

Written by John Guardiano on Tuesday September 13, 2011