Tonight’s Republican Presidential debate in Ames was, of course, little more than glossy dinner theater wrapped in the flannel shawl of politics. Heck, it was run by Fox News. Nevertheless, it gave us some clue as to the intentions and character of our possible nominees. Some of it came as a surprise.
In short, Ron Paul rocked the house. We’re talking Hendrix at Woodstock, folks. All the man needed was a bottle of Zippo fluid and a Fender Strat.
The most interesting dynamic was the running academic debate between him and Rick Santorum on constitutional limits. I disagree with Paul vehemently on his blanket hostility to the 14th Amendment, but I sure wouldn’t have to debate it with the guy in person. Though he comes across as a little nervy, Paul is capable of delivering complex concepts in layman’s terms, and doing so with real fire. The crowd responded to him, in approval and not, more vocally than they did for any of the other candidates.