COMMENTARY | The Republican presidential debate in Spartanburg, S.C., on Saturday was the 10th in a series of nationally televised debates. Through them all, there have been gaffes, falsehoods, flip-flops, gotchas, accusations, attacks, misrepresentations, extreme positions and a general undermining of each of the candidates as impressive enough to become president.
And for those who have found the number of debates tiresome and counterproductive to selecting a competent Republican contender for the presidency, there may be even worse ahead because there are, according to 2012 Election Central, five more before the primary season begins in January -- and nine more after that through March.
So if you're someone who is already sick of the debate process and to what it has reduced the GOP field of candidates, the prospect of another 14 debates might be somewhat disheartening. A Republican, independent or a Democrat that was thinking of voting for someone other than President Barack Obama might have changed their minds about voting for any of the Republican candidates. Getting to know the GOP contenders has been far less than flattering and far too revealing as to their individual shortcomings.
What has the electorate and the casual political observer learned from the debates?
Michele Bachmann leans so far right she is nearly horizontal. Rick Santorum is just as extreme but doesn't seem to be as manic about it. Rick Perry and Herman Cain are also far right, but they seem to have a more moderate approach that appeals to voters (except Perry can't talk during a debate and Cain's appeal has been damaged by the sexual harassment allegations).
Mitt Romney debates well but is in flip-flop overdrive. Newt Gingrich stands aloof like some condescending grandfather but offers nothing besides the usual talking points. Ron Paul is still against military involvement overseas. And Jon Huntsman, well, he worked for the Obama administration.
There's been bickering, bashing, and back-stabbing galore.
In short, not all that presidential.
And there are 14 more debates?
The GOP candidates might survive each other until the Republican National Convention in August to produce one among them to challenge President Obama. But will they be able to gather -- after all the debates and other revelations along the way -- the support necessary not to be crushed in the general election?
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