The Candidates:
Rudy Giuliani: National Polls show Giuliani as the frontrunner
John McCain
Mitt Romney
Sam Brownback
Mike Huckabee
Tommy Thompson
Duncan Hunter
Jim Gilmore
Tom Tancredo
Ron Paul
We wait for the debate to start.....
First Issue: IRAQ.
8:05- McCain telling the ramifications of defeat in iraq as well as taking Baghdad Reid to task for his words.
8:06- Thompson recommending an Iraq vote on whether we should be there to give us "legitimacy".
8:07- Hunter now answering on Iraq, sounds weak.
8:08- Romney, wants troops home but not if we leave in the "wrong" way just to have to go back at a later date.
Next Question, how do we win the war when every dead terrorist is replaced.
Huckabee is asked about Rumsfeld:
8:11-Huckabee- President didn't listen to the generals at first and now we understand that was a mistake but rather than leaving choas, it is important to finish the job so we don't have to go back.
8:13- Rep. Paul calls for non-interventionist foreign policy...sounds like a Democratic candidate.
8:15- McCain is being asked about Iran.
8:16-McCain-Iran is importing terrorists into Iraq and poses a great threat. If Russians and Chinese are not going to be helpful than we need to find a way to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
8:17- Asking Tancredo about a possible Israel attack on Iran.
8:18-Tancredo-If Israel is put into that position, than we respond in appropriate fashion if Israel suffers a threat and we MUST come to the aid of Israel.
Interactive round of questions, sorry I missed a few answers.
8:20- Guiliani sees the past in what is happening now with Iran.
8:22- McCain, I will follow Osama Bin Laden to the gates of hell to catch him.
Romney makes a point of saying about Bin Laden: Not falling into the "democratic trap" of thinking this is all about ONE MAN.
Question about changing constitution to allow Arnold to run for President.
Candidates say no, I would have respected them all more if they said yes if he proves to be the best candidate.
Hunter asked if he would be a compassionate conservative, he says yes and using remaining time to discuss Iran.
Says we should not get to edge of cliff with uranium enrichment.
Next question abut IRS- people laughed at the suggestion about wiping out IRS.
Some really assinine questions are being asked.
So far, Romney sounds the strongest and the most assured out of these candidates, I WISH Fred Thompson was part of this.
Romney admits to being wrong for his past abortion stance and apologizes for it.
Basically he is saying he learned he was wrong.
McCain, I THINK just said he would support repealing Roe vs Wade.
Brownback- Could he support a candidate that is NOT pro life- Yes, under conditions.
Giuliani- Does he support the use of public funds for abortions, believes it is a state decision and is pro life.
McCain goes over his time, doesn't want to be resident of a failed country, wants to be president of a strong country.
Seems everyone is trying to see how many times they can mention Reagan.
Ignoring the one that seems to be talking Democrat talking points.. Paul I think.
Romney about Roman Catholic Bishops---They can do what they want...LOL
Hunter- Looking for future threats.
Huckabee- Need to return to Reagans Vision (Wish I had started counting how many times Reagan's name is being invoked.)
Hunter- We (Republicans) need to win the right way, talking about border fences and how good it has worked for him via drug trafficking and such. Needs an enforcable border and when people want to come to this country they need to knock on the door.
Mathews sucks....asking about Rove now.
One of them, I missed who refused to deal with the Rove issue saying it isn't important.
Giuliani- Christian conservatives good for him- Yes- then on to reaching out to Dems and independents, ran a conservative state.
Thompson- Mathews says answerany question (hahaha) since they are basically going back to the questions they wanted to answer but didn't get the chance anyway.
Thompson says he is a "reliabel conservative"
Gilmore self description: Consistent conservative who keeps his word.
Someone, Brownback I think brings up Jeffersons bribery investigation. Brownback also speaks to children born illegitimately.
Mccain says he is going to Veto pork and get rid of it, next question he is talking about line item veto.
Every expenditure needs to justify itself every year.
Grade on President Bush, answer- Huckabee-you don't grade a student in the middle of an exam and way too early to start making those decisions on performance. (Good answer)
Asking Thompson about Racism and what can a president do about it, Thompson invokes Reagan again (BIG surprise) presidents can reduce racism.
Romney answersabortion question from both sides of his mouth, supports a womans right to choose, hates abortion and encourages adotion. Covered ALL his bases huh?
McCain shows bravery by complimenting Bush on immigration....GUTSY. Encourages Temporary Worker program.
Cloning, embryo "farming" is wrong says -almost everyone pretty much agrees you do not create life to kill it, encourages adult stem cell research..
McCain wants federal funding for embryonic stem cell research? PLEASE tell me I heard that wrong,someone? anyone?
McCain is the only one encouraging embryonic stem cell research, Thompson couldn't answer straight and everyone else said NO.
Was typing through the healthcare answers....sorry, missed it, but I think I heard Romney talking about his statewide healthcare program.
McCain supports Bush's tax cuts.
Giuliani- get rid of death tax!!!! (Liking this guy more and more from this)
Tax question, from the top:
Romney: no interest on capital gains
Brownback- alternative flat tax
Missed Gilmore, sorry.
Huckabee- Gte rid of IRS.......hooooooowahhhhh... fat chance though.
Hunter- No manufacturing taxes
Thompson- Flat tax, vetoed 1900 items as governor.
McCain, Line item veto for President- tax credit to poor people.
Paul- no income tax.
Giuliani- no death tax.
Tancredo- flat tax.
Question about media: (talk about a loaded question)-
Would be MUCH more interesting if they just gave these guys boxing gloves and let em go at it.
Asking about our military deaths in Iraq-
Thompson-Troops need to be given everything they need to win.
National ID card is the next question-
Rudy, yes to National ID card.
Romeny- yes on card too.
Tancredo clears up that ID card should be for aliens, not natives.
Scooter Libby and a pardon is the next question.
Tancredo, Prosecutor never should have went after libby. Not answering abut pardoning Libby until process is complete.
Brownback-no ID card, secure border and use Social security card in place of ID card.
McCain- yes to ID card.
Paul- Oppsed to Card
Tancredo finally says no.
Someone please remind me next time NOT to live blog this unless they promise to make it more interesting, maybe shovels to hit each other with, boxing gloves...ANYTHING.
Basically everyone agrees no more Clintons in the White House, someone mentioned Hillarys failed health policy, another brought up Bill Clintons destroying our military.
No surpirse, no one on this stage wants Clintons back in the White House. (DUH)
Question_ How would you be different that George W. Bush-
From the top-Romney speaks to values- McCain uses old talking point about mismanaging war, Gilmore, homeland security is th e issue- Missed Huckabee- Hunter discusses bad trade policy- Brownback pushing the three state issue for Iraq, you know, the one the Iraqi's already said no to..-Tancredo says Bush is a good man who overeached --Thompson talks about healthcare--Paul says something about Habeus Corpus and Rudy---- Bush did the right thing after 9/11 and people need reminding of that.
With what we had here tonight folks, I think Rudy did better than I expected, Romeny sounded pretty strong, Mccain fumbled a few answers and Paul sounded like a democrat. The rest were pretty much what I expected and nothing jumped out at me like Rudy's comments about 9/11.
Will bring more analysis on this later.... have a great night folks.
Last but not least, I was impressed with the fact that the Republicans, other than McCain didn't play the Democratic game of bashing Bush and taking advantage of opinion polls but they tried to stick to the issues at hand.
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