Debate updates

Some more post-debate thoughts:

Michelle Bachmann needs to tone down her sensationalism. She could have scored points against Perry on his cervical cancer vaccination executive order, but it felt more like she was trying to use that one wedge issue to take down his entire platform. Sorry Michelle, but most of America agrees with his (states rights!) actions on this. And her "You were bought out by Merck for $5,000" line was just over the top, and unnecessary. And constantly ranting that health care is "unconstitutional" just doesn't work. She needs to win on substance, not slogans.

Santorum did a better job on the vaccination front, but it won't help much, because no one really cares about Santorum.

I also think, since I've actually studied and taught immigration in America, I know that a good deal of the GOP contenders just aren't answering the immigration question right. The system for legal immigration is ridiculously complex, and needlessly so. That's one of the big barriers to immigration today. Most immigrants want to come to the states and become citizens. Make it easier for them to do so.

Ignoring the fact that 11 million illegal immigrants (if not more) are currently in the US doesn't make it any easier. Romney's plan sounds alot like stormtroopers going house to house and kicking them out of the US. That's what the Gestapo did. Now, if he wanted the police to have the authority to kick out those they captured committing crimes from the US- I'm all for that. But that leaves Perry with the best chance at winning moderate Republicans and Independents on this issue, once the dust settles from the pile-on with his immigration views from the other candidates.

Huntsman just feels like John Edwards did back in 2003-2004. He's a slick, slimy bastard with a goofy grin. And Ron Paul is the same idiot out there; why the libertarians don't go with Gary Johnson, I don't know.

**Update : Reader JohnK pointed out that it should read "11 million illegal immigrants" instead of "11 million immigrants." That's been updated in the text.