The CNN GOP Rhubarb

Newt Gingrich started off with a bang and ended on an even, but less-than-exciting note. Rick Santorum did well during the debate, and probably won the debate on points, but is proving irritating and tiresome. Mitt Romney, for the second consecutive debate, looked unsure of himself at times but escaped the debate relatively unscathed. Ron Paul got lots of rest and would have been ignored more often by CNN if he had not been persistent and if the Paulistas in the audience had not been so vocal.

Former Pennsylvania Senatoe Rick Santorum
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CNN managed to both host and lose the debates; a feat of marvel and amazement. CNN moderator John King, proving he deserves that bed allotted him at "the home," began by picking a fight with Newt Gingrich. You can imagine how that went. King was outgunned intellectually and emotionally before Gingrich rolled him into a little ball and dropped him, smoldering, into an ash can.

King insisted on bringing up Gingrich's ex-wife Marianne's statements about their divorce. Marianne Gingrich has long flirted with the idea of "ruining" Gingrich's political career "with one interview". With, not just South Carolina but, the entire GOP nomination at stake she decided to strike. Angry much, Marianne?

I don't know what happened between the former US House Speaker and his ex-wife. I don't care. I'm not looking for a relationship or a provider. I'm looking for the next Leader of the Free World - the position is now vacant. If the past 24 hours are an indication of Marianne Gingrich's personality, then Newt should have dumped her years before he did.

My most retweeted comment on the debate: Once Newt ripped off both of John King's faces and danced on them, the debate got much better. - @KenInEastman

The important news that President Obama decided to nix the Keystone XL Pipeline and thereby cost thousands of American jobs generated zero questions from CNN. This backs up Gingrich's challenge to CNN's King. From The Telegraph UK version of the debate transcript:

Gingrich: John, John, it was repeated by your network. You chose to start the debate with it. Don't try to blame somebody else. You and your staff chose to start this debate with it.
(APPLAUSE)
Let me be quite clear. Let me be quite clear. The story is false. Every personal friend I have who knew us in that period said the story was false. We offered several of them to ABC to prove it was false. They weren't interested because they would like to attack any Republican. They're attacking the governor. They're attacking me. I'm sure they'll presently get around to Senator Santorum and Congressman Paul.
I am tired of the elite media protecting Barack Obama by attacking Republicans (emphasis mine).

Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum deliberately went after both former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and Speaker Gingrich. Santorum went after both men and is attempting to claim the "conservative" mantle in the race by differentiating himself from the more liberal Romney and his conservative rival Gingrich.

Santorum's former positions on Right to Work legislation and his desire to have a different tax rate for manufacturing make his claim questionable. Santorum has been described by those opposed to him as a "big government conservative".

Texas Representative Ron Paul was mostly ignored by the CNN host. He successfully forced his way into two questions and the audience got him recognized to participate in a third. The mainstream media has already been outed for planning to ignore certain candidates, but with the field reduced to four, there should be no excuse for continuing to do so.
Saturday's South Carolina primary will have far-reaching results. If Governor Romney wins South Carolina, he will certainly be in a commanding position because of the publicity. Despite the Marianne Gingrich interview, I believe Newt Gingrich will still win the South Carolina primary, but by a diminished margin.

Written by Ken Carroll