Republican debate…

I didn’t really watch it.   That is,  the TV was on,  but I had 5 youngsters under 10 careening about,  and the 1 still in diapers but walking required most of my attention.

Fortunately,  Joseph Lawler reported  here,  and  here,  and  here,  and  here.   Quin Hillyer hated  the moderators    —  they really were awful  —  and got his panties in a wad about the  death penalty.   I’m a proponent of execution for certain crimes,  but I do agree with him that  Huntsman is  a dolt.

Some folks at National Review Online weighed in as well,  beginning with  Katrina Trinko’s  observation of  Romney vs. Perry,  and another on  the sparring  over health care.  Stanley Kurtz thought Perry did well,  while Ramesh Ponnuru wasn’t  as impressed.  For more detail,  try the  NRO symposium.

Other pundits score it  here.

Not any Wednesday…

His Oneness wanted to  address a  joint session of Congress  — during the time the Republican presidential debate is taking place.   His spokesman is claiming the timing is purely coincidental.  If you believe that,  I have a mountain in Florida I’d like to sell you.

Of course,  the White House also claimed they had consulted with Speaker Boehner before announcing the request,  but his office says they got notice barely 15 minutes before the announcement.  Now that the Speaker has  fired back   saying Thursday would be better,  the White House is suddenly  all reason  and sweetness.