By and large, I enjoyed tonight’s GOP debate hosted by CNN. The moderator, John King, was a freakin’ lightweight, but what would one expect from CNN – I mean, asking the candidates to answer pop culture questions like “Leno vs. Conan”, “Coke vs. Pepsi”, and “American Idol vs. Dancing With The Stars” was innane and nonsensical – especially when the nation is sliding into Greece-like default. Nevertheless, it is what it is, so here are my ratings from best to worst:

1) Michele Bachmann – My brother Dave says she’s “batshit crazy”, but she didn’t show that tonight. Her answer on the EPA being a job-killer was spot on, and quoting Barack Obama in her argument as to why she wouldn’t raise the debt ceiling was sufficently on point. She tosses red meat to conservatives and she’s obviously one strong, self-assured woman. She’s Sarah Palin with substance. I like her. A lot.

2) Tim Pawlenty – Missed a golden opportunity to show his teeth by backing up his “Obamney Care” comments the day before. As a result, while he gave solid answers throughout the night, one couldn’t help but think he came off weak. But his answers to questions were substantive and to the point. He bears watching.

3) Herman Cain – I was a little disappointed in “The Hermanator” tonight. A little too stiff and too much businessman-like for my taste. Needs to get back to details and the whys and hows of what he believes. Saying you’ll hire good subordinates to help you make good decisions is not going to cut it – after all, isn’t that what the Golfer-in-Chief in the White House is doing? Still, you could do a helluva lot worse than a Bachmann / Cain ticket.

4) Rick Santorum – I liked his message well enough, but he doesn’t present well. Always looks like he’s just about to burst out crying. He might make an excellent VP candidate for someone.

5) Mitt Romney – I guarantee the mainstream dino-media will say he won the debate, but what do they know? I found him, by and large, to be slick and evasive. He may have thought playing to Barack Obama directly on all his answers to be smart politically, but I don’t see Republican primary voters liking that tactic much. He has a great record in turning the Salt Lake City Olympics around, but he never gave any reason why anyone should vote for him.

6) Newt Gingrich – Not electable by any stretch of the imagination, but he gave the most original answers of all the candidates. Smart and combative throughout. His answer on immigration reform was outstanding. Personally, I think he’d make a great VP candidate, but that ain’t gonna happen.

7) Ron Paul – You want to talk “batshit crazy”? Here’s your guy. Simply put, Paul’s a loon, and a dangerous one at that. I don’t get his fixation on the Federal Reserve, but hey, whatever. I wouldn’t leave him and my sister-in-law alone in a room for ten seconds. He’s strange and bizarre; worse, his appearance diminished the rest of the people on the stage. The sooner he’s out of the primaries the better off all the Repubs will be.

All in all, not a bad night for the GOP candidates. It’s still awfully early, and there were too many candidates to try and fit into that kind of awful question-and-answer forum. Me? I’d prefer a roundtable discussion with all of them just conversing with each other, with a moderator there just to keep things on track. But that ain’t gonna happen soon.