Mitt needed the debate as an opportunity to stop the bleeding. Instead, he was center stage, took a lot of what George Stephanopulus called "clean shots" from the other 4 legit candidates, and performed miserably. I actuallly pitied him by the time it was over.

He spoke like one much better suited to get donations from executives than votes from real people. Of the uninsured "There are 47 million free riders wrecking the system." Then, he got on the white horse to defend the pharmaceutical companies "Don't make them into the big bad guys."

Of health care in general he had a classic "let them eat cake" moment when he desribed the problem like this: "Someone makes $100,000, and they go in for a $1000 repair (sic), they chose not to buy the insurance they could afford...." Of course, that was tossing softballs to everyone. "$1000 won't buy you a Kleenex at a hospital" says Huck. Charlie Gibson pointed out that insurance costs employers $15/K per family, and a lot more for individuals. No one needed to point out that the avergae American, let alone the average one dealing with health insurance issues, isn't making $100 K... but, you know, as has become way too apparent for all of us in Mormonville lately, Mitt grew up the son of a Senator and successfully made his way from leading off 3rd base to home in his life. He doesn't process this as a "Family making $34,000 a year has a $9000 medical procedure necessary that they can't get..." issue. Hence, the political Second Coming of Forbes is reeling.

Not a good night for someone who needed to stop the bleeding. All 4 of them made humuorous and timely remarks about his flip-flopping, and his "Ahh guys, stop making personal attacks on me" defense was, well, what can you even say? There's nothing dirty or wrong or harsh about pointing out the fact that he's the flip-flopper. (Standing back to look at this; changing one's mind, or at least demonstrating the ability to, is the hallmark of having a brain,but for some reason "flip-flopper" seems to be a 2 worded political nuclear bomb that kills people. No one who threw it at Kerry in '04 can complain now, though.)