Aside from some of Wolf’s “he said/she said”-type questions, I thought each candidate was given ample opportunity and time to make short speeches, and all made very good points. The big moment for me was when Santorum stressed individual freedom (from gov’t mandated health-insurance) and Romney responded by saying 98% of the Mass. population is insured. Santorum, Paul and Gingrich should have pounced. Individual freedom doesn’t equal a % insured or a gov’t mandate, even if it’s done by the state. I think it’s another example of why so many conservatives and libertarians have a problem with Romney. It’s almost subliminal. He is a big-gov’t pol at heart — his record and unscripted statements reflect it. (See his recent Ohio union vote position switch from natural, pro-union, to advised, non-union. His first reaction was to support the liberal side until his advisors told him it’s the wrong side.)
When the Tea Party came together and put people into the House and Senate in 2010, I thought, along with alot of other people, that the task of taking over Congress and the GOP would continue in 2012. I still believe that. However, I though that the candidates would be more helpful. Silly me. From that perspective, the anti-establishment Gingrich makes the best candidate to bring change to the party. Romney is Not!
