The Economic Nationalist

[Final straw poll results below.]

Are you watching the presidential candidates’ speeches live on C-SPAN? Impressions:

2:05 p.m. (Eastern).

Mitt Romney. If Mr. Romney is supposedly such a “flip-flopper,” then why does he persist in promoting legal immigration? Answer: because that is what the man believes. Mitt is a bright lad; he knows how unpopular immigration is among Republican activists. One wishes that some well-meaning fellow Republicans who disagree with Mr. Romney on policy would separate their policy disagreement from their evident misjudgment of the man’s character. This is not how flip-floppers talk.

2:20 p.m.

Tom Tancredo. Islamic jihad threatens our civilization. Military rules of engagement: “we win, you lose.” No amnesty. Pardon Ramos and Compean. Prosecute mayors of sanctuary cities. Deport illegals, because that’s the law! Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. “This is our culture; fight for it! This is our flag; pick it up! This is our country; take it back!”

2:35 p.m.

John Cox. This is a new face. Let us hear what the man has to say…. Career politicians tell you one thing when running for office, then do another once elected. Mr. Cox is not a career politician, but a private citizen, a CEO and a conservative Republican. We’re mired in Iraq; let our troops win this war. Make legal immigration faster. “I am a businessman who will get results.” Grant school vouchers…. Well, the man, contrary to his wish, actually looks like a typical, reasonably competent Republican politician. Er, brags about his trophy wife. A CPA at the age of 20? Wow. Still, never heard of the guy. It’s one thing to have had a life outside of politics, but it seems to me that the presidency is no job for a political beginner. Mr. Cox needs to run for Congress or lieutenant governor or something.

2:50 p.m.

Ron Paul. Freedom. Prosperity. Peace. Life. The Constitution, strictly. Respect for the Second Amendment might have prevented 9/11. “We have allowed our nation to be overtaxed and overregulated. The founders would be ashamed of us.”… The crowd is enthusiastic. End brithright citizenship and the welfare state. We have financed our warfare/welfare state by overtaxing and overspending, then by printing money, by borrowing from the Chinese. Money should be silver and gold, not printed out of thin air. We were not meant by the Constitution to be the policemen of the world. Why are we bombing bridges in Iraq, then rebuilding them, while our own bridges are falling down here? “I do not want to police the world. I don’t know how … and it doesn’t work.” (The hostess seems slightly rude and sarcastic. Weird. I do not think that she supports Ron Paul.)

3:10 p.m.

Mike Huckabee. I like Mr. Huckabee. Admittedly, there seems in this mild speech by this mild man to be little we have not heard from Mr. Huckabee before. Evil must be restrained by “goodness and decency and light.” Yes, that’s Mr. Huckabee.

3:25 p.m.

Interlude.

3:35 p.m.

Duncan Hunter. “The arsenal of democracy … that manufacturing base … is going offshore…. Communist China is cheating on trade,… and they’re using that money to buy ships and tanks and planes.” The heart of the Republican party is not pro-free-trade, but stands with working Americans, who follow the flag into battle. Peace through strength. Mr. Hunter will not allow Iran to go nuclear. He will pardon Ramos and Compean, then complete the border fence within six months. Ordinary, law-abiding Americans use their guns to defend their families, their communities and their country.

3:50 p.m.

Well, that is about it for the most interesting speeches. The NRA’s Wayne La Pierre (who is not a candidate) is speaking now. All the candidates have given good speeches, but it must be admitted, Ron Paul’s was the best. The straw poll itself comes in three hours; we shall see how it turns out. Were I there, eligible to vote, my vote would go to Tom Tancredo, with Duncan Hunter a close second.

END

9:50 p.m.

(Breaking) Final results, unconfirmed: Romney 4516; Huckabee 2587; Brownback 2192; Tancredo 1961; Paul 1305; T. Thompson 1039; F. Thompson 203; Giuliani 183; Hunter 174; McCain 101; Cox 41. Corroborated here.

HJH

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 11th, 2007 at 1:21 pm and is filed under Election 2008. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.