Last night, on Fox News, a debate, sponsored by the news channel, the Iowa Republican Party, and the Washington Examiner, was held featuring eight Republican Candidates for that party’s Presidential Nomination.

Unfortunately, after the debate was over, it left a lot of Conservative Americans saying:

Are these people all we have?

Allow me to summarize the evening’s excitement (and I use that term loosely):

Former Minnesota Tim Pawlenty and Minnesota Representative Michele Bachman continued their personal battle during the debate, sounding eerily similar to Tony DiNozzo and Kate Todd in the early days of the TV Series NCIS:

Did not…did too…did not….did too…did not…did too…

Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and Texas Representative and professional Pat Paulsen Impersonator (without the humor) Ron Paul went back and forth over Iran and nuclear weapons.

Grizzled Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, when asked about the meltdown of his campaign and his campaign staff heading for the hills, complained to the moderators about their “gotcha” questions.

Former Godfather’s Pizza C.E.O. Herman Cain continued to attempt to position himself as America’s solution to the Obama Economy:

It is clear from the discussion tonight that America needs a leader and a uniter. I represent growth. All the issues that we talk about, if we don’t get this economic engine moving by putting fuel in the engine, all of the rest of it won’t matter.

Jon Huntsman, making his presidential debate debut, admitted he had not offered an economic plan but cited his economic record as governor of Utah as evidence of what he would accomplish as president. He also defended his service as ambassador to China under Obama.

Basically, this goober spent the whole debate trying to convince everyone he was a Republican and not a Liberal Democrat.

He failed.

By now you’re probably saying:  But, KJ, what about the GOP Elite and Main Stream Media anointed front-runner, Mitt “The Legacy” Romney?

Basically, it appeared that Romney’s handlers advised him to “hold his own” during the debate, as evidenced by Mittens making such daring statements as this one, in which he replied to Obama’s Economic record:

If you spend your life in the private sector, you understand what President Obama has done is the complete opposite of what needs to be done.

Gee, Mittens…ya think? And, by the way, you’re a second generation politician.

Pawlenty (T-Paw) came after Mittens, in an attempt to call him accountable for the health care program he signed into law in Massachusetts, which is seen by the majority of Americans as the forerunner to Obamacare:

Obamacare was patterned after Mitt’s plan in Massachusetts, and for Mitt or anyone else to say they’re not essentially the same plan, it just isn’t credible. And that’s why I called it Obamneycare and I think that’s a fair label.

T-Paw also jumped on Romney’s record on spending and judicial appointments as governor.

Romney shot back by joking that he liked Pawlenty’s answer in the last debate better, eliciting a few laughs.  Romney then, once again, stood behind his government-run health care program, acknowledging there are similarities but also differences, using a states-rights argument.

We put together a plan that was right for Massachusetts. The president took the power of the people and the states away from them and put in place a one-size-fits-all plan.

Romney added that he would grant all 50 states a waiver from that law if he is elected.

Two of the biggest laughs of the night, albeit unintentional, came from the Republican Isolationist candidate, Ron Paul, who proclaimed:

It’s about time we talk to Cuba.

The elder statesman and Ob/Gyn also claimed the United States had created the hostile relations between it and Iran.

A short while later, he was seen sitting in a corner, underwear on top of his head, saying:

I like cheese.

Just kidding – A tip of the Jesters Hat to my buddy, Bishop.

Almost an hour into the debate Santorum raised his hand and said:

I haven’t gotten to say a lot.

Y’know, Rick, there may have been a reason for that.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Texas, Rick Perry, is presumed to announce that he is jumping into the fray on Saturday.  The 61-year-old Perry is the longest-serving chief executive of the state in its history and has held elected office for almost 27 years.

As, I reported in my two posts, Rick Perry: The Eyes of Texas (and Everybody Else) are Upon Him and Rick Perry:  Governing Deep in the Heart of Texas, this cowboy measures up to the three-legged stool known as Reagan Conservatism.

Whether he has the charisma to win the Presidency is another thing entirely.

Then again, he may not be the last Republican Candidate to declare his/her intentions…

Know what I mean, Vern?