GOP debates de jour

Two debates last weekend, not just one !!! In the first, the second tier fought each other rather than front-runner Romney. Then in the second, there were fireworks going off among several competitive combinations. Most blows directed at Romney.

The most interesting zinger of Saturday night was Ron Paul's. He and Gingrich were squabbling about who was the more patriotic for his military service (Paul) or for his father's service and his own consultative and teaching services for the military (Gingrich).

In response to Paul's chiding him for getting "4 or 5" draft deferments instead of going to war, Gingrich said, "I was married with a child at the time." Paul shot back: "I was opposed to the war; but when the call to serve my country came, I went. And I was also married and had two children at the time."

This left Newt sputtering as the moderators went on to other things. He was trying to say, as has been said before, that he actually was not eligible for the draft because of physical defects (flat feet, I think). But he wasn't heard above the clamoring. On the other hand, using that excuse means portraying himself as "unfit" to serve. Not such a good idea, which is probably why he didn't use it in the first place.

Then in the second debate on Sunday morning, the best line was from Huntsman. In response to Romney's attacking him for serving as ambassador to China under Obama, and carrying out the policies of a Democratic president, Huntsman said:

"I was criticized last night by Gov. Romney for putting my country first. He criticized me -- while he was out raising money -- for serving my country in China, yes under a Democrat. Like my two sons are doing in the U.S. Navy - they're not asking what political affiliation the president is. . . .I will always put my country first."

Romney responded: "I think we serve our country first by standing for people that believe in conservative principles. I just think... the person that should represent our party running against President Obama is not someone who called him a remarkable leader and went to be his ambassador in China."

And then Huntsman: "This nation is divided . . . because of attitudes like that. The American people are tired of the partisan division, they have had enough. There is no trust left among the American people and the institutions of power and among the American people and our elected officials."

There was enthusiastic applause in response to Huntsman's rather impassioned comeback: "This nation is divided because of attitudes like that. The American people are tired of the partisan division, they have had enough."

Huntsman's turn to surge has finally come. In New Hampshire he is now solidly in third place, ahead of Santorum and Gingrich -- and he's closing fast on Paul for second. But it may be too late for him to mount a serious challenge to Romney nationally -- unless the others coalesce behind him (unlikely) as the anti-Romney candidate. In many ways Huntsman is more of a moderate than Romney.

Ralph