Who performed well at the debate last night? Who didn't? Glenn interviewed S.E. Cupp on the program today to talk about all things debate, especially the recent rise of Newt Gingrich. S.E. takes issue with this recent surge, questioning conservatives as to why they are willing to ignore the many betrayals to conservatism Newt has committed - some this year.
Who did S.E. think won the debate?
She explained, "I think Mitt Romney did a great job. He sounded strong on national security, he made a really convicting case for Israel and a real flare show of mission for Mitt to say, I want you to know that my first trip overseas as president of the United States will be to Israel to tell her that we stand strong with her. It was a really emotional moment. And he's a very disciplined guy. So it was good to see, I think. And kind of what he needed to do."
Pat, however, wondered if Romney's support came after listening to a certain radio program with a certain host who held a certain event in a certain Middle Eastern country *coughGlennBeckcough*.
"I have never heard him speak with passion on Israel before. Hmmm. That's interesting," Pat said.
What does S.E. think of Newt Gingrich?
"I think people have been very afraid to tell Newt Gingrich what they think for years. And frankly I want to start by saying we all know he's the smartest guy in every room. That goes without saying. You know, I've interviewed him a dozen times over the past, you know, five or six years, and he is. He is impressively smart. But he's also incredibly arrogant. And let's be perfectly honest: He's kind of a terrible person."
"I mean, there's such reverence around people like Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich. It's like we've completely forgotten that they're terrible people. And I'll make this analogy. I said the same thing about let's say someone like Michael Vick. When he did what he did, I was outraged. He went to jail. When they let him back in the NFL, I was outraged again. And people said, look, he served his time. What do you want him to do? Never be a part of society again? And I said, no, but I don't need to reward him with a multimillion dollar contract on a pedestal in a place of importance and power, and I don't think he deserves it. And that's how I feel about Newt."
"I talked to a lot of people who said they really like Newt because they want to see him debate Obama, and who doesn't. That would be a great show. I would watch with popcorn and beer. But that's not a reason you elect a president," Cupp said.
How does she feel about accusations that Bachmann released confidential information while on stage?
"I like the double stories. I mean, this is the same group of people who said that she ‑‑ no one in congress tells her anything, she's barely there, she never wins any fights, she doesn't know anything. And yet she is trusted with classified information that she just leaked on stage. I mean, the irony knows no bounds. I thought she did really well."