ABC people are saying that Romney is winning

[oberliner]

That he is coming across strong, Newt sour.

Did not expect that kind of read.

[greyl]

1. I'd have to agree, so far. nt

[Rick Myers]

2. From what I've seen...

Romney is soft and wavering, Newt is holding his ground like the hedgehog he is...

[oberliner]

3. I think Romney has been awful

Newt seems the most confident.

[graywarrior]

4. It's a laugh fest!

[Chipper Chat]

5. Newt looks like he has to go to the bathroom.

Romney is so irritating. His "nails-on-chalkboard-o-meter" is surpassing Sarah Palin's.

[oberliner]

6. Romney is really irritating

I used to think he was going to be the nominee - I'm now thinking he won't.

And if he does, I think Obama could handle him fairly easily.

Although I also thought Kerry could handle Bush, but we all know how that turned out sadly.

[karynnj]

8. Bush was an incumbent and he had most of the media refusing to call him

on anything. In addition, they completely distorted Senator Kerry's message. In addition, the media condoned a character assassination of both Kerry and his wife. ( Teresa is an incredibly accomplished woman, who led the Pittsburgh philanthropists in the mid 1990s to coordinate restoring Pittsburgh. Her first husband's chief of staff, who worked for her foundation spoke of their work recently and it is very impressive - http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/newsmaker-interview-jeffrey-lewis ) Both Kerrys are unusually good people, who if the country actually had been given as complete a picture of who they are as usually happens, the election might have been different.

Kerry won the three debates hands down - looking Presidential, knowledgeable, diplomatic and articulate. Bush looked weird in different ways in each debate.

As to this debate, the format encouraged them to go for each other's throats. I think that Romney spoke too fast at points and was visibly angry. Newt really may have offended many women with the tone of voice and his manner when he told Bachmann off - there was clearly a difference with the way he treated the others.

The Republicans problem is that both Newt and Mitt have major flaws - they are inconsistent and unlikable. But, the next tier are no better.

As to the crowd - it is more proof that we have two cultures that really do not share the same values. I was appalled that the audience cheered incredibly loud for Newt's claiming his idiotic statement on Palestinians.

[coalition_unwilling]

9. With all due respect, Kerry was asked by a reporter in Colorado

Springs whether, knowing there were no WMDs in Iraq, he still would have voted for Operation Shocking and Awful. Without a second's hesitation, Kerry said 'yes.' After I finished picking my jaw off the floor, i told my wife Kerry would lose in November for that remark. And, sure enough, down he went in flames.

[karynnj]

10. In all due respects, you are incorrect

The fact is the question is in question, it was asked at the Great Canyon, and it was a media hit on Kerry led by Candy Crowley. Here is the real time reporting by the Daily Howler.

Kerry's full answer is the same answer he was giving on the vote WITHOUT THE CONDITIONAL and it spoke of letting the inspectors finish their work - which kind of proves the question was not as you say. http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh081204.shtml

Consider that BRIT HUME, of all people, disputed that the conflation of the Kerry answer with the question that Bush had asked rhetorically was not true. In fact, that died pretty quickly in 2004, but was revived in 2005 and afterwards - likely by people prefering he not be seen as having run a good race under really bad conditions and wanting to insure that someone they wanted as President for years won the nomination.

[maximusveritas]

7. The media always says Romney wins

What matters is what the Republican viewers think. I'm guessing it'll be a wash, so Gingrich is the default winner since he's the frontrunner.