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Now should FDT supporters be banned from participation?
Kidding… Kidding… I kid because I love folks!
As always, let us vigorously but civilly debate tonight’s event -and as always, leave for the night as friends.
We had nearly 700 comments for the last debate. Of course, the big sites like Redstate had almost…oooooh, I won’t go there.
September 5th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Prediction: Huckabee will dominate (he always does).
September 5th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Prediction,
Ron Paul will win the debate.
Paul’s e-guerrillas will make sure that every poll is spammed to his advantage till he has an insurmountable lead.
So there you have it..
September 5th, 2007 at 7:02 pm
I suppose if the FDT supporters can keep stay level-headed in this conversation (think Fred’s ad), they can contribute to the conversation.
Bobblehead Fred = Dean Scream?
September 5th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Oh yeah, another debate. Yet more rehashed talking points. Man, am I excited. I’ll read about anything new int he NEWspapers.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
I’ll really get excited when the debates narrow down to 4 or 5 candidates. Too many candidates, too little time. This entire event is primed for canned 30-second responses.
Either way, there is not enough time to really get to know most the candidates. Perhaps that will change when the others drop out.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Can you watch the debate on the internet? If so, where?
September 5th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
You can watch on foxnews.com
September 5th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
when are you guys going to post the Brownback St. Anselm pick? That’s a defining moment for him…
September 5th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Brian:
No.
Bobblehead Fred = Wesley Clark 2004.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
pick = pic
September 5th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Wow. Watching Greta Van Susteren’s pre debate show is thrilling. She’s just…sitting there looking down. Talking to someone off camera. No sound. Ooh! She played with a Sharpie! Top notch.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
How many people here believe that tonight’s debate could alter the race significantly barring some Lloyd Bentsen/Dan Quayle epic exchange?
September 5th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
To Kavon or whoever can control this:
Can you keep the Debate Open Thread at the top of the blog? Maybe change the post time so that it stays above all these other new posts?
September 5th, 2007 at 7:33 pm
I doubt much will change because of this debate. I think there’s a very very good chance there will be a Bentsen/Quayle esque exchange though. My guess is Romney goes after Rudy and McCain gets nastier.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:33 pm
JS #16,
Nope… I was hoping that other posters would refrain from posting until the end of the debate.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Oops, sorry Kavon. Actually, I was in the process of posting before this was up.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
… and didn’t notice it until I was done.
Speaking of which, the comments section on both of those posts are closed
September 5th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Do you want me to remove them until after the debate?
September 5th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
Would Tommy be able to move the timestamps of his posts back under the Open Thread?
September 5th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
I’ll take them down and repost them later after the debate.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,295883,00.html
Smart work in the preview by Giuliani. Avoids discussing differences with his GOP rivals and instead bashes the Dems. Correctly points out their lack of executive experience (don’t think Brownback would be too happy with that – isn’t foreign policy meant to be what matters?
)
September 5th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Looks like Brownback is edging towards going after Huckabee on economic issues… now that will be interesting…
September 5th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Nice one Tommy
September 5th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Wasn’t Brownback the Kansas Secretary of Agriculture or something? Lol
September 5th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Also from the preview, the GOP NH chairman was obviously very unhappy iwht FDT, and predicted his absence would not be forgotten by NH voters. What do people think about this? Is FDT likely to be punished for his deliberate post-debate entrance?
September 5th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
They have been removed, to be reposted after the debate.
For those who missed the one that was somewhat newsworthy.
“Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) endorses Thompson”
September 5th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Is Greta a Huckabee person? She’s very complimenting of him.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
JayPe,
Possibly, I have no idea what it will happen, as Thompson’s position has not been tested in recent elections. It depends if he is planning on ceding NH and focusing specifically other early states.
I was against him skipping the debate, but I’m not his campaign manager.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
‘Wasn’t Brownback the Kansas Secretary of Agriculture or something? Lol’
I believe he was the Kansas head of the Institute for the Prevention of Sleeping Disorders. People who had trouble sleeping would invite Brownback over to give a speech, and everybody would sleep like a baby when his speech began.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
I expect this debate will be much like the others, with Romney and Rudy leading the pack, and Huckabee following them in terms of performance.
I think this is McCain’s last stand, if he can not pull off a big performance tonight, I predict he will be out within the month.
Also, any speculation as to why Romney opted to skip the pre-debate walkthrough?
September 5th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Kavon #16,
I don’t think that there will be serious race defining event in tonights debate.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Awakened, that would be a successful program if people actually would bother to show up to see him speak.
Anyone else mortified for him over that?
September 5th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Glad to be on board with you tonight over at Backroads.
I really wish they would eliminate all rules but time limits and just have the mics lose power at 15 seconds past the answer.
Really “Lincoln-Douglas” debate. Anyone who wants to be President should want the chance to kick some intellectuall ass.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
ACT, I saw on Fox that Romney just wanted to relax or something because he “already knew what he was going to say” and just needed to prepare himself further.
Urhm. Whatever.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Awakened:
Good one #33, funny. I’ve always maintained that Brownback sounds an awful lot like Al Gore.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Anyone else having trouble getting Fox’s Live Stream to load?
September 5th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Stepped away for a moment…
Don’t worry about it Tommy. You don’t have to remove the posts. People will find this thread.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Hmm… low speed will load for me, but high speed won’t.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
“Also, any speculation as to why Romney opted to skip the pre-debate walkthrough?”
I guess the best debaters are already prepared enough and should yield resources and time to the other candidates. You know, to help make it more fair.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
MetroRepublican:
Their servers are probably getting slammed about now. Keep trying, but if it fails, get a TV nearby..
September 5th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
And there we had the Fred commercial on Fox. They went ahead with the bad, head-bobbing version.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Whoa, Just saw the FDT Ad on Fox. Too bad he’s not in the debate..
September 5th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Just saw the Thompson ad. It comes off a lot better on TV than on youtube.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Ooh, the Fred commercial.
the
FrEd cOmMeRcIaL. FredThompson
Does formatting work here? We shall see.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Nope, formatting doesn’t work. I tried doing subscript and superscript with Fred Thompson’s name above, which would have been funny.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Just saw fred’s ad. still stinks. looked even worse on tv.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Tommy- agreed. But it still draws attention to the fact he’s skipping the debate.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
My feed actually works great for once.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Bill, pithy comments. Shut up so we can get to the good stuff…
September 5th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
would be sweet to have thompson in the debate. really too bad he’s not here.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Ouch FoxNews.com has a big article entitled “Fred’s Follies” under the video link. Punishment for blowing off their debate?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Saw the Fred ad, can’t remember a thing he said except “I’ll be talking about this on my website tomorrow”.
not impressed, with the ad or the candidate
September 5th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
I’m not expecting terribly much from this debate. I do expect someone will question Romney about his somewhat publicized “Iraq is a mess” comment earlier this week. Hopefully he’s prepared for it. Other then that, not too worried or excited. But, it’ll likely be fairly interesting.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Yessss, Brit Hume! Go Brit.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
“First in the Fall” – that’s a pretty far reach to try to add relevance to this debate.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
I sure do like Brit Hume. I don’t think that there is a better journalist.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
I wish Fox would grow a set and actually let Novak do the questioning.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
wow, what a jab.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
“Campaigns should be about more than thirty-second spots.”
Uh…a dig at his own event?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
was that statement by the NH GOP guy a swipe at Fred?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
OUCH!!! Painful words from NH GOP chair.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
Mr. Collin: 1
Fred Thompson: Zip
September 5th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
ACT, definitely.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Also, I’d expect some awkward “what do you think about Michigan and Wyoming moving up?” questions. That could have potentially serious ramifications.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Sam looks like he had a late night last night…
September 5th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Tom Tancredo … Paul … Hunter … RUDY. Ru-dy! Ru-dy! Ru-dy! … Willard … McCain gets nice applause … Brownback gets applause from the six people who attended his speech last night … and The Man Who Built The Wall.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
I like how Rudy, Romney, and McCain all raised their eyes and smirked, as if they were blown away by how much applause they got. Lol
September 5th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
already after thompson. brit looks mad at him.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
yeah, the first question on FDT. That’s retribution baby!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
Brit hits a home run on the first pitch
September 5th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
Huckabee was scheduled for Leno? Was he? Really?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
Huck line wasn’t funny, surprisingly.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Huck rules…
September 5th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Huckabee, always with the good jokes.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Huckabee scores!!!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Thompson is from Lawrenceburg, not Nashville.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
TLG, Nah, just a joke.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
McCain’s line was much funnier!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Paul still seems so unpolished. In every debate, he’s become so spastic.
McCain … ouch! Hahaha.
They’re beating up on Bobblehead Fred, they are!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Huckabee looks like he is going to wet himself he is so happy to get that question.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Well, that didn’t take long.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Huckabee could have been sharper on Fred than that. It was a chance to squash Fred before the race starts.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Great joke, McCain! Did I miss something? Is this SNL?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
McCain scores!!! “Past his bedtime”
September 5th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
80 — What a lame joke, though!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
Romney reuses old joke.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
Another thing about McCain — he downplayed his own age at the same time. So that was good.
Romney: Elect me because I like to campaign!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
Wow, for once I disagree with Romney, he says the FDT will bring “vigor” to the race.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
Hahaha! Score one, Rudy! I like that.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
Metro, I noticed the Romney rehash. McCain’s joke was excellent.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
guliani’s delivery of his jab was lackluster. but good point.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Nice one for Rudy too. These guys are on the ball tonight!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Hey, can someone post the link to the streaming video feed on Foxnews.com (NOT the one with the “peoplemeter” – it won’t play on my computer for some reason).
September 5th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Rudy does a nice jab that’s funny, friendly, and highlights his own experience.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Romney should not be playing so nice with Thompson, about the last thing Thompson is going to bring into this race is vigor.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
I think mccain’s jab was by far the best.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Rudy was classy and strong.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Rudy’s my man.
Here comes a chance for Rudy to clarify the illegal immigration issue…hope he gets a question about it. Or that Mitt says something about him here so he can reply.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Rudy’s the frontrunner.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Giuliani gives the best Fred answer! Wow!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Rudy wins the Thompson question IMHO.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Rudy had better get to reply to this.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
URL For the streaming feed PLZ!!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Michael, see #24.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Score one for Romney.
Rudy is dodging the question.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
I think Romney needs to cool his attacks on Rudy on immigration. His record is superior to be sure, but not terribly spectacular.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Rudy had that answer all ready. Very good. Wish he’d said something about appealing to the INS, though.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Rudy didn’t get to all the points needs to make.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
McCain showing a pulse tonight.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Romney gets hurt for ddging questions and now in trouble for answering the specific ?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Rudy got his chance to reply, he dodged the question. He did not explain why he welcomed and encouraged to come to NYC. He said that he wanted them in NYC.
He needed more time to explain himself. He came off bad & a bit flustered. He should have saw this coming after Romney’s question.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Romney leads in NH and 2 attacks on him!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
“With these 11 million people [here illegally], let’s have them registered, know who they are….those that are here paying taxes and not taking government benefits should begin a process towards application for citizenship.”
Lowell Sun, 3/30/06
-Romney
September 5th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
chris wallace has it out for romney
September 5th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Rudy made the strongest points, but I wish he would have had time to respond directly to his quote about “we want you in our city”
September 5th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Micheal,
Go into the politics section on Foxnews.com and you will see the link.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
I’ve seen one too many debates between this field. I’d prefer to see one involving only Rudy, Romney, Fred, McCain, and Huckabee.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
what a softball, ‘is the governor playing politics”
September 5th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Nice one, Tommy.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
The Immigration issues as totally sunk McCain.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Boring candidate is boring.
John McCain, that is.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Tommy…key is begin process…not automatically gete amnesty!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Kavon,
Rudy’s answer was reasonable, but there was virtually no applause. Mitt got quite a bit of applause. Rudy answered the question deftly, but there’s simply no way to come out “ahead” in a Republican debate defending sanctuary cities.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Romney should have been allowed to defend his record from McCain – like Rudy had the opportunity to defend against Romney.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Man, our guys are drawing blood this time! Wasting no time.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Huckabee needs to get his own line.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
oh, and as for Rudy’s quote from 1994 — isn’t that the year that Romney supporters like to say is irrelevant..?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Huckabee’s answer is kind of rambling… he’s not on his top game tonight…
September 5th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Great answer by Huck.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Huckabee stole Newt’s line. Not a terribly cohesive answer all in all though.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
I love Huck, but comparing packages (who have no will) to people (who do have a will) seems like an illustration that doesn’t work
September 5th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
The end was great.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
I love Huck. Absolutely love him. However, he has perhaps made the biggest flip-flop of any candidate on the immigration issue. Let’s be honest.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Huck borrowing from Newt.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Ok, so now Huckabee’s the fiscal liberal, weak on terror, weak on immigration social conservative candidate.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Tommy #116,
Romney’s position is still that. I happen to agree with that position. Identify, locate, document, then begin the process at the end of the line – not the front.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:17 pm
mean spirit?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:17 pm
Tancredo very impressive, calling out Huck on immigration
September 5th, 2007 at 8:17 pm
Wow, that’s the most animated I’ve ever seen Tancredo.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:17 pm
Tancredo really getting his schtick across this time.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
I think Huck will first stop obesity, then put barcodes on the illegals so FedEX can keep track of them
September 5th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Yes! Hunter built that border fence!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Tancredo’s doing better this time. Less stuttering, more concise speaking. His time on the campaign trail’s probably been helping him.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
This question is a softball to Hunter.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
I’m sick of that line about the “scraggly little fence on CNN.” Aye. It’s like McCain and the drunken sailor story.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
clever line for Hunter!!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
“OK, then why would you turn a blind eye to illegal immigrants invading our country and coming in and basically breaking our laws?’ the caller asked.
Huckabee said that he wasn’t, and that he believes illegal aliens who try to vote or try to apply for welfare benefits should be arrested.
“If they’re caught as illegal aliens, I don’t have any problem with sending them back,” Huckabee said.
But the governor did not back down on his positions in support of certain benefits for the children of illegal aliens, such as allowing prenatal care for pregnant immigrants and his proposal to offer scholarships to undocumented children who graduate from an Arkansas high school.
He also criticized Senate Bill 206 by Sen. Jim Holt, R-Springdale, that would impose new restrictions on illegal immigrants in Arkansas. The governor’s comments were in response to a caller who expressed concern about the bill’s effect on plans for a Mexican consulate’s office in Little Rock.
“I don’t think that bill is going to pass,” Huckabee said. “If it were to pass, it might have an impact but … the impact would be greater than even the Mexican consulate.”
He said the bill could hurt the state’s ability to recruit industries based in countries outside the U.S., such as Toyota or Nestle, a Swiss company.
http://www.arkansasnews.com 03-02-05
September 5th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
boring. hunter could be so great, but he is so uncharismatic.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Man, it sounds like you guys are ahead of me in the stream…
September 5th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
TLG He said it again and it’s a huge fence!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
I agree with Hunter, but Hunter’s not really addressing the claims that it’s impractical to maintain a fence in the middle of the desert.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Hunter is too low in the polls to go after. Besides, most like the guy – they just don’t support him.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
I should say that I love Hunter’s gusto on this issue.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Mellow, Fox Cable is at least 15 sec ahead of the stream.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
Matthew:
“Want a GOP debate liveblog?”
Just what do you think this? We have one already..
September 5th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Rudy’s nice and polished tonight. Best of his debates so far.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
#153- how could it beat the commentary here?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
That comes from the process of uploading the video to the server, then having it streamed to the computers of individuals.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
I love Carl Cameron, but this restaurant thing makes me want to see the YouTube snowman come back as the gimmick….
September 5th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
I may repeat this each and every time McCain speaks: Boring candidate is boring.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
McCain nice use of webster!!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Brian #160,
Thanks Man!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
So Far:
Romney
Rudy
Tancredo
McCain
Huckabee
September 5th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
TLG, Rudy’s very polished and on top of his game tonight, he just needs to hook the emotions and shoot the zingers so he can get headlines tomorrow morning. It’s sad that having a polished performance isn’t enough to “win” a debate, but that’s how it works. =\
September 5th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
I agree ACT…way to go Romney against the Z Visa
September 5th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
Romney just attracted Hunter’s ire.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
Brownback is getting muted- I love this!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
McCain is a little off his game so far. He’ll pick it up.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
The Craig question!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
zzzzzzzzzz someone shake my cage in about 45 seconds when he is done
September 5th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
What is with Brownback’s hair!?!?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
Romney did get a few jabs in on Rudy there. I don’t think Rudy can run or defend his prior position there on immigration & sanctuary cities.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
booooorrrrrinnnngggggg
September 5th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
TLG: Brownback is growing a fro?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
He just needs a little hair pick in there.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Ugh…. Rudy should have been allowed to respond to Romney’s half truths and mischaracterizations.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Go Dunc!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
nice dig hunter!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Brownback is right on Social Issues, but his position on Iraq is too much for me to tolerate.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
Thats 2 good lines for Hunter!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
This is what I mean. I’m all for “families” as Brownback states. He just comes of like a loon.
Conservatism needs someone who can articulate & defend their positions in such a way that they don’t come off like Brownback does.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
ACT,
Have you ever said Romney wasn’t in first?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
Rudy makes good points about practical reasons for offering basic social services to illegals, but he needs to better explain the “We want you” quote.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
Brownback is the world’s most uninspiring human.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
nice jab vs. Giuliani
September 5th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
Romney sounds like Bush 2000 on abortion.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
Is it the government’s job to build families, or parents and churches?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
Rudy, on that quote, JS, should say that he’s come around on the issue, just like how Romney’s changed his views since his 1994 debate.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
Thank you, Brian.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
Good answer by Romney. His delivery seemed rehearsed though.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Excellent job by Romney..shows concern for woman as well
September 5th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
i don’t think romney did well with that question. he looked nervous and didn’t do well on that question.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
The first 45 seconds of Romney’s answer was excellent. The last 20 was fairly awful. The hearts and minds line recalls Bush. And he shouldn’t be using the “there’s two lives involved here” line until after the primaries.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Tommy,
They are all rehearsed.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
“Romney sounds like Bush 2000 on abortion.”
Yes, he does – because he is right, and Bush was right, we have to work to change hearts and minds in order to ban abortion.
–
“Is it the government’s job to build families, or parents and churches?”
Its the Government’s job to help strengthen the nation – and a strong nation requires strong families.
–
Nice of Huckabee to take the high road.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Where has the Huckabee whole life pro-life argument been my whole adult life? It’s very compelling.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Huckabee is definitely off tonight.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Ugh…. Romney once again shows why he’s the nominee for the 2000 version of the Republican Party.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
Was Romney the mayor of Boston….
September 5th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
Rudy does a good job of refuting anecdotes with facts.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
Rudy jabs Romney. Even looks directly at him.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
Woah,
Rudy getting called out on his social liberalism some. He answered the gun control question much better than the sanctuary city question.
By the way, I think the make-up guy did a poor job on Rudy.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
i agree with matt
and rudy’s jab was weak. romney wasn’t even elected in 2000
September 5th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
Another good, polished answer from Rudy.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Huckabee’s biggest problem (besides current polling numbers) is that very little of what he says now is fresh. It sounds like stuff he thought up while he was governor, and that he’s used almost all of it up.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Brian,
Huckabee doesn’t support prosecuting mothers. I happen to agree with him, but those are his words.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
I didn’t think it was a jab. I just think he looked at him because of the association.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Good answer by Rudy.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
But yes, Jon is right — trying to use Boston as a counterexample as a jab at Romney struck me as weird for that reason.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
199 – It was Brownback’s argument. As much as you might not like him, at least give him the credit for bringing “pro-life whole-life” to the main stage. The county is better off because of it.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Paul: “I has a pen! See? See? See!?”
September 5th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
I didn’t like Guiliani’s gun answer.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
“Ugh…. Romney once again shows why he’s the nominee for the 2000 version of the Republican Party.”
Which is…? A party that wants to protect life? Sorry Kavon, but 60%+ of the GOP opposes abortion, and those who support it likely rank it low on the priority list.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
(Enter Twilight Zone theme)
September 5th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
I guess that Paul is for deregulation of Airline security.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
good point ron paul. i agree
September 5th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
People who haul around money in armored trucks?
Who the — ? How odd.
Probably a Paul supporter.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Doesn’t discharing a firearm in an airplane depressurize the cabin…? I never understood that quote by Ron Paul.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
What bugs me about Paul is that he sounds like a liberal – what I mean that is when he gets going, he whines. His voice raises and he talks fast. He whines..
September 5th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
hate this cutting to the cafe idea.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
Good answer by Paul.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
Yay– applause!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
“Which is…? A party that wants to protect life? Sorry Kavon, but 60%+ of the GOP opposes abortion, and those who support it likely rank it low on the priority list.”
Thankfully, Rudy doesn’t need sixty percent of the vote to win, and not all of that sixty percent will refuse to support Rudy for it.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Sad response from UNH crowd, booing Brownback. You can dislike the guy for his boringness, but don’t be so rude.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
The marriage rates have plummeted — GOOD. We need more SERIOUS marriages, not as many marriages as possible, Senator Brownfro.
Was glad to hear some support for gay marriage in the room.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
brownback is right but boring and ANNOYING.
whiny, whiny. one candidate issue. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
September 5th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
A commercial break!? What is this, a cable network?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Agree with Brian. On the other side though, he sure does like BIG government.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
I’m gonna hit the can brb
September 5th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
“Yay– applause!”
..for both positions.
I myself, even as a supporter of traditional marriage, would rather not see us have to resort to a Constitutional amendment, but, when you have people like the MASS supreme court going forcing Gay marriage on the population, what choice do you have?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
Brownback always sounds like the essence of a Theocrat. Romney can pull almost pull off those treacly family values cliches. As can Huckabee. Brownback doesn’t even come close.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
These are good commercials. Supporting of the war etc..
September 5th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
“I’m gonna hit the can brb”
Thanks for sharing that one.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
TLG – I think his point was more about the children being born out of wedlock than the marriage point.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
’senator brownfro” HILARIOUS!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
ACT Blog, ironically, a solid majority of Massachusetts citizens now support it. So it isn’t really force.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
229 – Brownback is keeping the pro-life and pro-marriage message of the party in the party’s platform. You might not like his personality, but try to at least appreciate what he has done in this race: working to ensure that the party stays pro-life.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
So far:
1. Rudy
2. Romney
3. Hunter
4. McCain
5-8. meh
September 5th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
What choice do you have? The first Constitutional Amendment DISenfranchising Americans, rather than extending rights?
I don’t think so. Too many Republican families have gay members, and they encourage them to find a life partner, i.e., to be married.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Hannity: “You can vote on who won tonight”
Announcement (PeeWee’s Big Adventure style): Paging Dr. Paul. Paging Dr. Paul
September 5th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Matt #241,
Really? Why Rudy over Romney at this point?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Boring candidate is still boring.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
Just listening to McCain, I think his tone is more appropriate for a funeral eulegy than a Presidential debate.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
McCain is REALLY uncomfortable attacking Rudy..
September 5th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
Yeah, we know mccain. alright. next.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
I don’t see anyone running away with this thing yet.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
Yes, ACT – McCain sounding very somber there..
September 5th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
actually a good point by mccain. if i were him i would continue to pound on that.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Rudy: “I want McCain’s support after he drops out!”
September 5th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
McCain really didn’t touch Rudy’s creds though you’ll notice.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Nice McCain answer.
Kavon,
Romney hasn’t had any terribly impressive answers. Solid, but nothing spectacular. Rudy has been really pretty clear and cogent all night. He seems more comfortable.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
guliani, 9 on othe 0 to 10 sunlass tanning lotion scale.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
Uhh, that isn’t what George Will said. But, oh well. Just speaking too quickly, I guess.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
NICE answer, Rudy. NICE.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
Giuliani fibbed. He’s only running because of 911. Take 911 away and there’s no way a pro-abortion, pro gay unions candidate is considered for the Republican nomination.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
Hey, I’m a Romney supporter too, but there’s some people on here that give us all a bad name when they just throw frivolous attacks out at every other non-Romney candidate.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Yeah… I think Hizzoner discovered self-tanner.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
TLG,
George Will is the same guy who told Reagan that Springsteen would support him.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
good answer by romney
September 5th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
This is likely to be another debate where Rudy and Romney come away smiling, which is how it should be, the two strongest candidates (though I disagree with Rudy on social issues, I don’t deny that he is a strong candidate) sharing a win. Keep in mind, any time Romney does as well as those polling above him – its a win for Romney.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
TLG, “most successful episode of conservative governance” is what he meant, not “most conservative episode of governance,” but I think people get the point: He’s a damn good conservative leader.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
How can anyone not like Romney’s answer on the surge?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Rudy was just on a weeklong vacation.
Moderator slams Romney, saying Hillary is to his right on Iraq!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
The PeopleMeter on the Fox News stream is pretty interesting.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Excellent answer by Romney. His first strong answer of the night.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
There’s some fiery words from McCain! “No, not ‘apparently.’” I like.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
mccain got romney on that one.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
cwpete, because there is no gravitas to the answer.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
econ #258: No, Rudy’s NOT running on 9/11. Look at his campaign message. It’s not about 9/11. It’s about national security and fiscal discipline. True, 9/11 thrust Rudy into the spotlight and he might not have gotten as much attention if not for 9/11, but Rudy is NOT running on 9/11.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
McCain comes accross as too edgy and jumpy – too quick to take offense at statements that say the same thing he does.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
I agree with McCain on this answer. He’s right. There’s no ‘apparent’ about it. We cannot let the nuts takeover and let Iraq be worse off.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
What a great answer from McCain! Finally, something good from him.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
FINALLY McCain comes to life defending The Surge!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Better answer by McCain. I’d tend to agree that Romney is too mealy-mouthed on Iraq. The surge is clearly succeeding militarily. There’s no particular reason Romney should continue to stick by his “apparently” modifier.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Romney got hurt by that one.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
-Twighlight Zone theme enter again
September 5th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Paul: “OMG, LOL — umm…I’ve got nothing. J/K. Bush lied, kthx. So let’s just GTFO.” He needs to appease his base: Spammers and |-| @ >
September 5th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Paul’s actually giving a terrible answer. If he was taking a side swipe at McCain, McCain criticized the original Iraq plan and said Rumsfeld’s plan would NOT be a cakewalk.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Woah, HAXORS got cut off. Odd.
Paul spammers are spamming the room!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
See what I mean about Paul whining?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
OMG!!!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Way to go Brit!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Impartial moderator is impartial!
Oh, damn! Nice hit back from Paul!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Nice exchange between Paul and Chris Wallace!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Rudy look is priceless!!!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
Hume needs to get better control of that room
September 5th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
Oh, leave it to Brownback to quiet things down.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
Well, Paul whining will be the highlight of tonight’s debate.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Rudy to Paul: Dr. Paul, I know George Noory, and sir, you’re no George Noory.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
go ‘brownfro’! the instand buzzkill. way to blow your opportunity. all the other candidates were salivating for a guliani chance to go after him again.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
I like these questions coming at them are good.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Brownback gives a good answer. Joke didn’t work though.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
is brownback still talking
September 5th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
#290 LOL
September 5th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Brownfro worships Thomas Friedman. Who knew?
I just bought the new paperback edition of The World is Flat — looking forward to starting that, but not if I end up like Brownfro.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Heh. Brownback’s joke deserved a bigger laugh. At least it got one on my end.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Yeah, what in the world is Brownback thinking? He needs to drop out immediately. He has a political tin ear.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
here we go again. huck’s one liners.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
The world is flat??????
September 5th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
That exchange with Paul has been the most interesting moment in this race in months to be quite honest.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Huckabee’s anecdote’s are wearing thin.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Huckabee’s coolness is starting to wear thin on me. It’s getting old.
However, he comes back and nails it with McCain.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Nice job by Huck honoring McCain. Classy.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Was Huckabee insinuating we shouldn’t have gone to Iraq in the first place?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
so we broke iraq huckabee? oh, stop with the butt kissing.
what is it, we love and thank mccain day. maybe he really is out on the way.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Tanc looks a bit like a statue in that shot.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Didn’t John Kerry use the broken vase at the store analogy against Bush?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Nate — it’s referencing Thomas Friedman’s hyper-best-selling book of the same name.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Huckabee is a master of saying absolutely nothing, but saying it quite well.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Interesting answer on Iraq from Huckabee. We broke it?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
-re enter Twilight Zone theme
September 5th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Huckabee puts Paul in his place!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
AMEN Huck!!! We broke the country. It is our duty and obligation to the people of Iraq to fix the country no matter what.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Neo-conservatives…that means Jews.
LOL HUCKABEE: “We have to be one nation under God! Not the divided states of America!”
Oh, Jesus Christ!
Paul’s doing a good job tonight. Fiery and passionate.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Yes! yes! Wallace holding Paul accountable.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
I applaud the moderators for letting this go on. Seriously. This is far more interesting than the canned answers!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Paul is stealing the show. Not a good thing.
Huckabee nails him!!! God I wish he wasn’t a liberal on everything else.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Wow.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
So Far:
1) Romney, Rudy
2) McCain, Huckabee
September 5th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
What in the world is this? When did Huckabee morph into the hawkish guru?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Matt (312) thats so true. He’s basically saying: “we need to stay cos we stuffed it up”. This is refreshing for the general election, but will it work in the primaries where many think Iraq is going well.
Lovely answer from Huckabee to Paul, “we’re one nation”.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Duncan Rambo, brother of John
September 5th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Huckabee did NOT nail Paul. Paul’s position is dead wrong, but Huckabee did nothing but use cheesy rhetoric.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
huckabee gets lucky on this one. nice job taking paul on.
ron paul keeps giving presents to everybody. guliani got it last time. huckabee gets it this time.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
Huckabee just moved up higher on my list.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
Mike Barackabee? “This is not the divided states of America!”
So we have Browfro and Barackabee. Someone help me with nicknames.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
ACT,
You’re going to put Romney at number 1 no matter what. We get it.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
YES, YES, YES, my man Huck fights for American Honor!!!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
I feel so bad for Ron Paul, because while I disagree with him on where we go with Iraq now, he’s so passionate and principled and people keep misrepresenting him.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Huckabee could have been stronger, but Paul sounded so wacky, it was refreshing to see Huckabee move out of his nice anecdotes and get confrontational….
September 5th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Yeah, ACT Blog is a shill, but Tommy, too bad you’re guy’s too scared to compete.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
TLG. What about nicknames for……John Cox….?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
“ACT, You’re going to put Romney at number 1 no matter what. We get it.”
Do you disagree that he is not, at the very least, tied for first?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Did anyone see the Saturday Night Live skit of Meet the Press on the debate between Hillary and Rick Lazio?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
In the same minute, Huckabee gave McCain genuine praise, and went after Paul. That might have been the best minute of the debate so far.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
That was kind of lame, Emtee #334… we get it, Fred’s not here, but you don’t have to attack personal posters.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
Yes, I disagree. He has come off over rehearsed tonight.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
Romney, despite a fairly detailed and strong answer on the foreign policy question, has really been hurt by this entire foreign policy exchange. With all these fairly passionate characters, he seems rather disengaged.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
Tancredo nails it: the war is with Radical Islam.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
Tancredo’s falling apart again. That stuttering just makes it so painful to listen to him.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
thatlibertarianguy
your doing great with teh nicknames. brownfro was jsut what i was thinking. whats with his hair.
yeah, go crazy tancredo, lets blow up mecca.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
Huckabee’s point about unity is good. It might not be popular (”America you’re responsible for Bush’s decisions”) but it would present a nice contrast to Hillary…
September 5th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
Sorry, I apologize.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
Matt, right… Romney has no gravitas on foreign policy.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
335 — Ooh, John Cox. He’s got the Coxmentum, remember? He’s gonna come out on top in the end in New Hampshire.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Ouch!!!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
TLG #329,
Solid!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
I love the hair of the kid behind the sherriff in the diner.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
OUCH!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Hah, Romney got pwned. Dirtbag.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Is Romney flipflopping, or did the sheriff misinterpret the Governor on his previous comments?
September 5th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Man, this is probably Romney’s worst night of all the debates. No mercy for Mitt…
September 5th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Romney seemed kind of dismissive of the man. He knew there was really nothing he could do to save face. That’s going to hang over his head for the rest of the night.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
I think it was an honest, yet a cheap shot.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
Mitt seemed a little flustered in responding to the question on his sons. A rare occurrence…
September 5th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
Wow, Brit hates Romney.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
romney is getting hammered and not doing well.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
This whole debate has been a skirmish. Everybody’s coloring outside the lines.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
TLG # 356,
I agree. What’s he gonna do in that situation?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Didn’t Romney just get a question?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Awful answer from Romney. Absolutely abysmal. One of the few answers I’ve seen that could potentially be race altering. It’s enough to make me re-think my support of him.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
“Approach it with a posture of strength” Romney couldn’t have said it better…oh wait…he just stole the exact words Giuliani has been using all year.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
“Is Romney flipflopping, or did the sheriff misinterpret the Governor on his previous comments?”
What Romney meant was that his sons have choosen to serve their country by particpating in politics and campigning for ideas they support, but it came out wrong, but I think Romney has done a decent job smoothing over the issue. Is there anyone here who can listen to his appology and say he is not genuine?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Romney should’ve been a man and said he made a boneheaded statement off the cuff, should’ve retracted it and kissed some military ass.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
What was “cheap” about it? What Romney’s comment about his sons’ “service” was absolutely ridiculous — I see no reason to pamper these guys and lob them softball questions so they can spout a bunch of feel-good nonsense.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
i agree. quite a cheap shot.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Matt 364: Tonight is not Mitt’s night. This might be his first poor debate so far.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Much better answer. Nice recovery.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Romney is absolutely tanking.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Where’s Giuliani? Rudy? Any questions for Rudy?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Mitt will not wiretap without the Dem controlled Congresses approval? Uhh…….
September 5th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Not a lot Romney could do with that question from the diner. What do you do if you’ve already apologised? Interesting he believes the surge is working, he’s on the record with that now…
September 5th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
i agree with metrorepublican. he should have kissed that guys butt right then not spewed some platituteds
September 5th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
“Romney should’ve been a man and said he made a boneheaded statement off the cuff, should’ve retracted it and kissed some military ass.”
I agree. An apology would have made him seem like a real man. Instead he just trotted out the stump speech and then moved on as if nothing ever happened, which was almost shameful.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Hunter,
While I happen to understand how the man felt, I don’t see any of the other candidates treated like that in a debate. Great TV, but a little unfair.
That’s the first time I’ve seen him screw up firsthand. And that was a Dukakis screwup- kitty style.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Obviously, I’m not an unbiased soucre on this, Mitt has hit a small rough spot, but it is hard to see how that really hurts him in the long run. Weight the issue about his sons to his strong arguements on the Z visa, sanctuary cities, etc, and I think you will see Romney coming out of the debate having done reletively well.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
I just saw this at the top: ‘We had nearly 700 comments for the last debate. Of course, the big sites like Redstate had almost…oooooh, I won’t go there.”
Yeah, well, I like our small community. I’m not a big crowds kind of person.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Good answer by McCain.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
“And that was a Dukakis screwup“
Nah…..
September 5th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
ROMBOT TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY:
“Obviously, I’m not an unbiased soucre on this, Mitt has hit a small rough spot.” — ACT Blog
“Romney’s tanking tonight.”
September 5th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
JayPe,
I disagree. Romney’s tendency to try to have it both ways on a whole variety of issues might well ultimately be his downfall. He should have just entirely retracted it, suggested that his lack of military service is something that is a legitimate disadvantage for his candidacy.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
LOL, Rombot to English Dictionary
September 5th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Rudy is doing just what he needs to do: holding serve. Not spectacular, but thoughtful and pretty clear, and very confident. Hard to see his support slipping after this. Hard to see it picking up much either.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
I noticed Rudy keeps looking at Romney and saying “Boston”.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Kavon,
Even though I didn’t like the question, he stuttered that one like Tancredo in a room full of illegals.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Rudy’s doing good tonight.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Now THIS is gravitas on national security. Just the way he speaks.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Somewhere in some alternate universe, there is a down the line Conservative McCain who is one of the greatest presidents this country has ever had.
He is just so wrong on some issues in this universe.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Rudy not Hunter
September 5th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Mitt probably didn’t apologise cos the man himself said “I know you’ve already apologised”. As George Allen knows, you don’t keep apologising for something, cos it keeps bringing it up.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
TLG – you can knock off your word-twisting bullcrap right now, I meant exactly what I said, Romney has hit a small rough spot, but I don’t see it causing him serious harm in the long run.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Matt nailed my personal feeling on it. Kudos to you, Matt. I’m obviously biased as well, but that answer was bad.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Honey glazed chicken and rice pilaf?
Hmmmmm…. Honey glazed chicken……
September 5th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Brownback/Cheney 08
September 5th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Who cares how Bronfro would use his VP? Invalid hypothetical.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
boring questions
September 5th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Brownback always says his first two sentences sounding like some thirteen-year-old trying to speak in a low tone to sound older.
Does that sound really harsh? That’s what I keep thinking.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Sam Brownfro = Michael Keaton on a bottle of NyQuil
September 5th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
I’d just crawl up into a hole after this debate if I were Romney, unless he improves drastically in the last 20 minutes. This is similar to Rudy’s horrific first debate performance.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Seems like Brit, Wolf, and Chris Matthews all got their questions from the same website somewhere.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
ACT 394: Well, if TLG was twisting your words, then maybe you SHOULD have said Mitt’s “tanking tonight.” Because believe me, he is. Ouch.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
“TLG – you can knock off your word-twisting bullcrap right now, I meant exactly what I said, Romney has hit a small rough spot, but I don’t see it causing him serious harm in the long run.” — Oh, I’m kidding around! Relax.
“Mitt probably didn’t apologise cos the man himself said “I know you’ve already apologisedâ€. As George Allen knows, you don’t keep apologising for something, cos it keeps bringing it up.” — IT WAS ALREADY BROUGHT UP. George Allen made a silly, dumb joke. Romney said something truly offensive and should apologize if it’s brought up.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
“Rudy’s horrific first debate performance.” (402)
Rudybots didn’t think that at the time, so its unlikely that Mittheads think he was horrific tonight.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
HE DOES LOOK KINDA LIKE MICHEAL KEATON!!!!
That’s been buggin me for months!
September 5th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Please let’s get to the FairTax with Huckabee! And let’s hear some new fresh argument, Huck!
September 5th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Kavon 396: I first saw Hunter about a year ago when he was giving a presentation of what Gitmo detainees get to eat. I fell in love with him then. lol
September 5th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Finally, some economic issues. Good, good. Rudy will end on a high note.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
Tommy (397) fantastic!
Brownback’s VP is a complete irrelevancy. It will happen when Rudy drops out and endorses Tancredo.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
McCain- how I wish he didn’t blow it.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
He was against the tax cut!
September 5th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
i think romney came out strong. on immigration he did great. on iraq, not so great.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
“And I will make the authors of those pork barrel projects famous…”
Amen.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
ACT Blog, I agree with you. I really think Romney’s answers have been good, along with most on the stage.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
Very bad for McCain. Yes, your record DOES stand for itself.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
Matt,
Wow! You are really down on Mitt tonight! FWIW, I think he’s winning myself.
Weird how we always almost seem to come to the opposite conclusions from one another.
Not that’s there’s anything wrong with that
.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
I nominate Brownback’s new nickname to be… Beetlejuice
September 5th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
how does brownfro sound the same no matter what he is talkinga bout. it is freaky.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
You say he is “tanking”, but unless you think that this debate is seriously going to harm him in the next few weeks or months, unless you think that his campaign is going to be in a decline until the next debate, “tanking” is an overstatement.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Ooh, families keeping more of their own mummy.
I like this, too: McCain has a record. He should sign the pledge. That’s why I signed the pledge!
September 5th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Really a piss-poor answer by McCain on the tax pledge. Too bad. He was just starting to come around IMHO.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Great answer by Rudy!
September 5th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
No! Tommy, it’s Brownfro!
September 5th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
How has Romney not been good on Iraq? What’s wrong with actually listening to what our generals think it will take to make progress in Iraq? What’s wrong with the importance of winning in Iraq and leaving from a position of strength rather than pulling out prematurely from a position of weakness? And jihadists around the globe are watching how we do in Iraq. A loss would embolden them, a win would weaken them. I think Romney was great on these answers, as were some other candidates.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
or Batman
“I just gotta know… are we going to try to love each other?”
“I’d like that… but he’s out there right now… and I’ve got to go to work.”
September 5th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
I don’t think Mitt’s doing as bad as everyone seems to suggest, though NRO’s Corner is close to proclaiming this the death knell of his campaign.
Rudy’s answers are good, but he’s not getting the face time he needs.
McCain always impresses in these things.
Huckabee seems too little, too late, much like his campaign.
Fred Thompson isn’t there.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Either one works for me.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Batman Brownfro?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Oh, sheesh, ACT Blog, he’s tanking for what the debate is. No, it’s not going to kill his campaign, obviously.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Great answer by Rudy.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Nice answer, Rudy, once again.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Or, or, 430 –
Na na na na na na na na BROWNFRO!
To the church, Robin!
September 5th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Giuliani’s lisp is starting to annoy me. Can’t he pull the gum out of his cheeks?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Fee Fee!!!!
September 5th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Paul and Huckabee appear to be paying for it for their little bruhaha. They’ve been ignored for like the last 20 minutes or so.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Wow, Romney gets a question with “used car” in it. How appropriate!
September 5th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Sam Brownfrojuice?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
#434 LOL
September 5th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
Wow, way to put Romney on the defensive.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
Kavon,
Yeah, I dunno. He’s had some perfectly fine answers. But, he’s sounding awful on defense issues generally. He doesn’t sound as serious as these other guys tonight on the issue. I’ve liked Rudy quite alot tonight. When he’s not dealing with social issues, he’s fairly excellent.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
I think Newt nailed it about these things at these sizes.
Good answer by Romney!
Well, until he decided to recycle Huckabee’s joke. That was lame.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Oh, haircut jokes, haircut jokes, haircut jokes.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Will we go 1 debate without an Edwards haircut joke? lol
September 5th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Very thoughtful question from Wallace about FairTax to Huckabee. Let’s see if he evades.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Nice reply from Mitt. Attacking John Edwards always works well. Just ask Huck.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
I like how after Romney rehashed Huckabee’s joke, he looked over at Huckabee, grinned and made a scoff exhale.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Good answer there for Romney, but he needs to stop dodging questions. Rudy confronts these criticisms head on. Romney tends to deftly dance away to whatever he wants to talk about.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
are you giving huckabee a fair tax question with his fiscal record?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
(Twilight Zone Theme)
Paul is fired up tonight.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Huckabee makes a mistake in not bringing up the FairTax stipend. That’s half the sell of it all to me, the nice check you get in the mail each month.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Romney performance so far:
Immigration – strong
The Surge – moderately strong
Explaining his “appears to be” remark – strong
His past satement about his sons – moderately weak
The economy – strong
When taking the entire debate into context, its hard to say that Romney has done even close to a poor job.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
He’s gonna stab somebody with that pin. I’m sure Travis Bickle is loving this.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
i have officially decided that fox has made their pick: rudy as prez, huck as vp.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
About his sons — MODERATELY weak???
September 5th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
1. Rudy
2. Huckabee
3. Hunter
4. Romney
5. McCain
6. Paul
7. Brownback
8. Tancredo
September 5th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
I really wish we could have a debate with just four or five candidates at the most.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
nice split sceen Paul/Rudy!
September 5th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
I’m sorry but Paul is a total loon. A total loon. He’s running for president as a candidate in the wrong party.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Wow, great question for Rudy about family values.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
I would like someone to ask Paul straight up if he believes the Bush Administration had any involvement or foreknowledge of the 9/11 attacks.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Wasn’t the “it won’t even buy him a haircut joke originally Romney’s?
I know Huck had the “John Edwards in a Beauty shop” comment, but I don’t think Romney took his line.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Hah, hilarious question for Rudy… I love it. All candidates should be subject to this sort of scrutiny.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
“Uh… Rudy doesn’t put a plastic family up on stage and look like the Brady Bunch…”
September 5th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Did Rudy ever tell you that he once was Mayor in the 3rd or 4th largest government?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Rudy stumbled in the first half of the question, but he found his stride in the second half.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Terrible answer from Rudy. He’s not going to win over any socons with that response. Evasive.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
i have to admit that rudy handled the hard questions better than mitt. mitt did well though. just not so great with the sons question.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
I think part of my disappointment in Romney’s performance tonight, is related to my hawkishness. I’ve always said that if Romney goes weak in the knees on Iraq, I’ll be supporting someone else. And his answers tonight have made me wonder if he’s planning to, inexplicably, pivot to the left on the issue in the coming months (despite the success we’re having there of late).
September 5th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Terrible Rudy
September 5th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
No, I think that’s the best way for him to answer the question.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
I think Rudy has a very good point: we know what kind of president he’d be because we know what kind of mayor he was — a darned good one.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
A Romney supporter rips Rudy’s family… WHAT A SHOCKER… Truly sad. No one’s family is anyone else’s business.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Kavon,
Paul supports the Travis Bickle Platform
September 5th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Metro – he didn’t stutter, he didn’t pause, he didn’t look lost, he answered the question with as much grace and dignity as was possible.
JS, you really think HUNTER is doing better than Romney? Paul has gotten more applause than either of them, yet you put him in sixth. what are you basing your ranking on?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
What else would you have Rudy say?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Or that George Will said he ran the most conservative government in the last 50 years? What’s the point of these debates when they just haul out the same exact crap again and again… That goes for every candidate.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
My only regret is that Rudy didn’t rehash his statement from a few weeks ago by saying, “My family life is my family life. How about I leave your family alone and you leave mine alone.”
September 5th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Not sure about Rudy’s answer there. At the end of the day, as he admitted, people look at their leaders personal example, and Rudy is very very weak there.
He can talk about leadership & the Mafia as much as he likes, but he won’t overcome some peoples hesitation over his private life.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
I love Rudy’s response to the Romneybot shill’s question though.
I am not running to be your kid’s dad. I am running to be a leader. And as a leader I have the best record of accomplishment on this stage.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
JayPe, it’s not relevant to leading, as he has proven.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
#473 “We know what kind of President he’d be”
I wonder if Rudy is going to move on to wife #4 during his first 100 days or wait until afterwards. And I wonder if he’ll tell her in a State of the Union speech.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
I think Rudy answered the family question as good as he could. No doubt, it will be a problem dogging his campaign.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
I hate to say it, but I am more tempted to check out Fred tonight/tomorrow after this debate…. this debate seemed the stalest of them all, save the Paul/Huck tussle…
September 5th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
The family, at least his personal family (not “The family”), should be left alone.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Here is a question for those who think Romney blew the question on his sons: What could he have done better?
He already appologized, clarified his statement, and proven himself to be a strong supporter of our fighting men and women. How could he have handeled the problem any better? Dedicate September to a cross-country appology tour?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
econ grad stud — I hope he doesn’t remarry again. How on Earth will he cut taxes if he does?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Kavon (474) why are you sure its a Romney supporter? Just because Romney is good on family values. Its a valid point. GOP has been the family values party, and Rudy has questions about that that he just can’t shake off (his record speaks for itself, after all)
September 5th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
ACT, based on how well they’re answering questions. Not on how much applause they’re getting.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
ACT, when it comes up in a debate, he has to reiterate he made a boneheaded comment.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
egs (483) love it!
September 5th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
The AEIA..?
LOL.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
ron paul is naive on the security issue.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Rudy did handle that question well, although he’s used it before. Romney’s shiny happy 100 member extended family strikes me as kind of odd.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Paul is in a rage tonight.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Travis Bickle? Good grief… I completely disagree with Paul on a whole host of issues, but I hardly think he’s a loon. He has a philosophy on what exactly the government should do and his take on all of the various issues stem from that philosophy. I think a lot of the candidates would be better off if they had such an all-encompassing belief system — not necessarily the same one as Ron Paul, but too often candidates seem to have completely contradicting stances on separate issues.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Hunter,
I’m just glad somebody caught my joke!
September 5th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
500
September 5th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Paul can’t defend Iran & then attack a whole swag of countries…
How pathetic is that?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
He brought up Rudy’s family and pointed to Mitt’s family as an of a acceptable example.
My prediction is that by tomorrow we will find out the kid is Romney volunteer or College Republican for Romney something or other.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Paul isn’t a loon. His Army of Spammers consists of loons.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
fumble, fumble, .. duh, fumbe. tancredo
September 5th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Not so much Paul, but his supporters sometimes come off as modern day Bickles.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Bad luck Brian, I got it!
September 5th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Tommy,
You rule for the Taxi Driver reference BTW…
September 5th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
agreed. ron paul is right on a lot of things, but his supporters are rabid and wacky.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Thanks! That’s 2 people who got my joke!
September 5th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
So when is the next GOP debate? Late November, YouTube?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Is Fox serious? They present a “realistic example” and then ask:
- Paul
- Tancredo
- Hunter
Is Brownback next? Why not ask someone who might be president, if you think its important!
September 5th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
#501 attack the messenger. Just admit Rudy can’t keep one wife for long. We don’t even have to bring up his adultery.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Nice answer by Hunter, but too detailed to be terribly effective.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
I’m getting bored. Not good. If I’m bored, what are the undecideds feeling?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
While I don’t think you should vote against a candidate because he has married and divorced so many times, it is a legitimate question. To many in the GOP, strong families are important, and the nominee should work to make the family stronger, and, on the issue of families, Rudy’s past is against him. Its a bit like picking an abortion doctor to be a SCOTUS nominee if he promises to be pro-life.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
488 was ignored by egs.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
huckabee’s ‘charm’ is wearing thin.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Just a question… How lousy of a “family man” should a politician be before it can become fair game for questions and criticism? I’m personally not terribly interested in Giuliani’s personal life, but a lot of people have looked at it and come to the conclusion that he’s a schmuck. If you have a problem dealing with that, you should stay out of public life.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
ACT, wake up, the middle of the country, and 1/3 of the GOP, do NOT WANT GOVERNMENT CONTROLLING OUR FAMILIES.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
511. You just did.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
I liked Huckabee’s answer on Iran. It was general, but it did get more to the heart of an issue- how you make the decision is as important as what decision you make.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
Wow…what an absolutely and stupendously large pile of horsesh*t from Huck.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
Yeah, ACT Blog, except that Rudy isn’t preaching against something he’s doing himself. Rudy says that private issues SHOULD BE KEPT PRIVATE. An abortion doctor going onto the Supreme Court as a pro-lifer has no credibility on that issue. Rudy’s not preaching the opposite of what he does.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
TLG- probably that their are a lot of good options available, and that they will have to do more in-dept research to make their decision.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
ACT Blog, very well said. I want someone to be president that you can point your kids to as a model for how to live a good moral, and virtuous life. This is the party of values–family values matter to us! How could Rudy ever talk about strengthening families (rightly or wrongly) without being called a hypocrite?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
I’ve been impressed with Huck tonight. Romney/Huckabee Ticket sounds great.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
Rudy mentioned Reagan…. Ding Ding
September 5th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
i hate these hypos fox loves.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
“He pointed, like, a thousand missiles at Soviet cities.”
Haha award for using the first Ronald Reagan reference and the first usage of the word “like.”
September 5th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
GO RUDY!!!
September 5th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
Rudy’s soaring on the PeopleMeter…
September 5th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
“ACT Blog, very well said. I want someone to be president that you can point your kids to as a model for how to live a good moral, and virtuous life.”
When are you people going to realize that kids don’t give a ~$%^ about the President? Be a parent and stop expecting the President to raise your kids for you.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Taxi Driver’s one of my all-time favorite flicks, so there’s no way that one was getting past me.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Romney starts answer nicely by talking about what we can do now to prevent it. Good point.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
TLG, I think McCain mentioned Reagan when he talked about his friend who was Joints Chiefs of Staff.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
I liked Giuliani’s answer on Iran
September 5th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Emtee,
The person you speak of should be yourself, their father.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Also — “How could Rudy ever talk about strengthening families (rightly or wrongly) without being called a hypocrite?”
RUDY ISN’T TALKING ABOUT THAT!
September 5th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
#529 MitroRep:
“GO RUDY!!!”
I’d agree as long as he keep going until he gets to Canada.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Romney seems like he’s trying to imitate Huckabee tonight.
What???? Romney for President- “I’m a uniter, not a divider”
September 5th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
TLG, great points.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
No one is calling for the government to control the families, but many people think that the government should encourage, through both rhetoric, and, when possible, legislation, strong families.
I, like many, think that many of our problems could be helped, or even solved, by having a strong family institution.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Excellent answer from Romney. He’s recovered somewhat from his earlier follies.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Just turned on FNC after watching the Red Sox blow it late.
Been reading every comment here in the meantime.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
It’s interesting that every time Romney and Paul talk, the Moderate popularity line goes up and the Conservative popularity line goes low. It’s the exact opposite with every other candidate.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
League of Democracies.
Oh my…
…
September 5th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
ACT, and a far greater number of Americans take great offense at that. Want to win an election?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
good answer by romney.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
Romney fell flat after Rudy’s gravitas and the 1,000 warheads.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
Most answered the hypothetical question correctly.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
What, its over?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
TLG, EXACTLY, you’re RIGHT, Rudy is not talking about family values. How sad.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Well, that’s it. Best debate so far, imo.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Ding Ding- Here we go again… We like Reagan. Reagan is good. We will be Reaganclones.
No disrespect to the Gipper.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
I don’t think the debate was particularly meaningful. Nothing will change from what I’ve heard tonight.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
It takes a village!
September 5th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Please, anyone but Sean Hannity…
September 5th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
OOPPSS!!!!
September 5th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
League of Democracies?
What the hell is that!!???
September 5th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
Wow, major disappointment from the GOP crowd.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
Wow, thats some reaction from Luntz’ group.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
551 — It’s the job of the federal government to help raise your kids, then, right? OK. Just clearing that up.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
TLG, while kids may not look directly to the President as an example, they are heavily influenced by society and their environment. When they see a President jumping from wife to wife, keeping mistresses, etc, they are going to think that that is acceptable.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
1. Rudy
2. Hunter
3. McCain
4. Romney
5. Paul
6. Huckabee
7. Tancredo
8. Brownback
September 5th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
econ grad you are an idiot…
September 5th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
That guy has facial expressions like Rudy — the one talking about McCain right now.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
“League of Democracies?
What the hell is that!!???”
It’s the only thing that can combat the maniacal Legion of Doom. Oooohhh…
September 5th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
McCain the winner? He probably had his best debate, but there’s no way he won.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Both talking heads on Fox call Rudy the winner.
I disagree. I think Romney won the first half and Rudy won the 2nd half.
McCain lost though IMHO.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
I happen to agree with the folks with Luntz. I don’t like everything McCain said…
But that lady nailed it for me! Leader, not just a manager. That’s what I’ve been saying. That inspires people like me.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
I love you too, Bwhyte
September 5th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
wow! Look at this for Rudy! Did I watch the same debate?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Kavon 568, NH voters are reacting pretty friendly toward McCain tonight.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Kavon, point well taken.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Rudy is the group’s big loser.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
“TLG, while kids may not look directly to the President as an example, they are heavily influenced by society and their environment. When they see a President jumping from wife to wife, keeping mistresses, etc, they are going to think that that is acceptable.”
KIDS AREN’T PAYING ATTENTION TO THE PRESIDENT. How old are you!? People in the schools I’ve gone to are MADE FUN OF if they pay attention to the President.
What they follow is POP CULTURE. ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND CLASS also matter. IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE CULTURE, INVIGORATE THE ECONOMY.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Bizarre reactions from the Luntz group. Everyone was disappointed in Rudy?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
This focus group is disgusting. “He just can’t stop talking about his record.”
#*$)#$ing idiots.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Huh??? Rudy was bad? I didn’t think he was that bad, but I mentioned earlier that he’s repeating the same thing over again.
LOOK AT HANNITY.. what a dork!
September 5th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
I can’t say that Romney ran away with it, but I can’t say that any other candidate ran away with it either.
Overall, short of some small bumps that might last for a short while, I don’t see any major changes in the race.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Interesting criticism on Rudy- too much focus on NYC talk. Interesting. Is Rudy guilty of the same repetition as Huckabee?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Well, thats it.
Huckabee did ok, but didn’t do enough to push to the top.
McCain came across as too tired to be President (he keeps getting complimented – is everyone just angling for his endorsement?).
Rudy answered most well, but the family values thing is still hurting him.
Romney was under pressure for most of the debate, but I think he handled it well. Certainly won’t have cost him at all.
The rest are so forgettable (except for Paul, although it would be nice if he was forgetable)
September 5th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Hannity is speechless.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Romney once again displayed his excellent skills as a game show host. “You can see it on my website”….blah blah blah,,,,,,,WHAT A PHONY
September 5th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
So TLG, you’re suggesting the government control the pop culture and economy instead? :p
September 5th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
TLG: “KIDS AREN’T PAYING ATTENTION TO THE PRESIDENT.”
Are you kidding TLG, kids aren’t paying attention to the president?? Kids watch TV, they know more than you think. What kid in America didn’t know what Bill Clinton was doing with his intern??
September 5th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
Romney and Giuliani tie, then McCain and Huck thereafter…no need for anyone else
September 5th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Let’s get back to the focus group and send Hannity to the showers for the night.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
I didn’t think Romney was that strong tonight.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Emtee,
As a teenager during the Clinton years, his actions had no influence over my own.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
not sure who won? i think more of the same.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
OK Tommy, but were you proud of Clinton and proud to call him your president? I sure wasn’t.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
Emtee:
1) I’m 17 years old, in case you didn’t know. I’ve got kind of an “insider’s perspective” here.
Kids in America knew what Bill Clinton was doing with his intern because it was sexual, monstrous news, and they thought it was funny. They know absolutely nothing about his womanizing history or the Juanita Broaddarick incident. They only know what the massive news is.
In other words — unless Rudy Giuliani acts like a fool in office in his personal life, there’s not going to be a problem.
Kids still hate George Bush. They don’t give a #*$) that he loves his wife and loves Jesus.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
I hope they ask Rudy about the focus group’s response, but it’s unlikely given Hannity’s worship of the mayor
September 5th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
“# Hunter Says:
September 5th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
So TLG, you’re suggesting the government control the pop culture and economy instead? :p
”
Oh, Jesus Christ! No! I’m saying that he MISUNDERSTANDS where the degraded culture comes from. It’s not because of abortion and it’s not because of gay marriage!
September 5th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
I was senior in High School when Lewinsky-gate broke and as a highly immoral young guy, I can tell you it did have a difference.
At least the guys I hung out with noticed girls were willing to do things they would have been embarrassed about before.
Surveys seemed to support the same view about what teenage girls felt was acceptable.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
I think Romney’s answers on Iraq demonstrate his ability to pivot for the general election. Remember, most Independents are against Iraq. (See, Romney supporters? I’m not a bad guy after all!)
I think Rudy was strong but his lack of face time probably caused some disappointment. People expect the frontrunner to dominate.
McCain did so well in the minds of New Hampshire voters only because, other than Kavon and I, pretty much every conservative in the country is convinced that McCain is the Antichrist.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
DaveG 596, it needs to be Rudy, Fred, Romney, McCain, and Huckabee in the debates. That’s it.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
but if Paul is gone, who will be the punching bag?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
econ grad stud is lying.
Degenerate teenagers are going to be degenerate regardless of what the President is doing.
Those who were raised by good parents — ie; those who can parent without the government’s help — were disgusted by the President’s actions.
What is wrong with you so-cons? Are you such awful parents that you can’t raise healthy kids without banning gay people from getting married?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
#599
I’m not lying I know what girls were willing to do before Lewinsky and what they would do after. You were what 7 years old at the time?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
I djust don’t see this debate changing much, for two reasons:
1) It was close, with no candidate really exceeding expectations, and with no candidate really falling to peices. Yes, McCain did well, showing some fire, and Romney had a rough time about halfway through, but I don’t see them seeing lasting impact in the polls from this debate.
2) Fred Thompson enters tomorrow, meaning that much of the focus will shift to him, and that the lines most likely played from the debate will be those jokes about Thompson – I think the debate will be overshadowed
September 5th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
I think the term you’re looking for is “confirmation bias,” egs.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
TLG: I was joshing with you.
About Clinton, I don’t know exactly what sort of effect the Lewinsky scandal had on our society’s moral character… However, I think Clinton was more of a product of the era than the other way around. I’m not a big fan of President Bush, but when it comes to family values and issues like that, he’s a huge improvement from the last regime. I don’t think it’s had any real effect on kids today — that it’s somehow improved their moral fiber.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
Does anyone else think Fred’s announcement will get dampened by 9/11? Because regardless of anything, you know Rudy’s going to get a bump and a spat of attention because of the 9/11 anniversary.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
TLG (592) “In other words — unless Rudy Giuliani acts like a fool in office in his personal life”
Surely we should look at his record to determine if he is likely to be a fool in office. His record is not good. His actions as Mayor (humiliating his 2nd wife) bear that out…
September 5th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
Alright, don’t hijack this thread with a debate on social issues.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
TLG:
“econ grad stud is lying.”
No he is not. He’s telling the truth. Not every teenager shares your perspective on these things. I’m sure many kids were more promiscuous after the whole Clinton mess. Not that you think that is bad. Others know it is unhealthy and a dangerous lifestyle.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
TLG – out of a normal, 24 hour day, how much of it is spent between say, an 11 year old and his parents? How much is spent viewing, readling, or listening to culture items? You see the point.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
In the case of my school girls started behaving differently after Lewinsky. Bill Clinton caused that.
Rudy similarly has shown he will cheat on his wives at the drop of the hat. I don’t know how we can trust a man with such little control.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Hunter, you are right — it didn’t. Kids today ****HATE**** George Bush. They ****HATE**** him. DaveG could probably elaborate on this with statistics.
As I understand it, he did not tell his wife he was separating from her in a press conference, which is what everyone keeps implying on this board. She knew they were being separated. He just didn’t have her permission to tell everyone else.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
TLG, if gays get married they will want to adopt children. Every child should have a mother and a father. Society should encourage traditional families because studies show children have the best chance of succeeding in that kind of environment. Hey, if gays want to live together, there’s nobody stopping them. But we shouldn’t encourage gay unions and the benefits that come with that as a society.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
“TLG – out of a normal, 24 hour day, how much of it is spent between say, an 11 year old and his parents? How much is spent viewing, readling, or listening to culture items? You see the point.”
Uh, that’s MY point. A parent needs to control that.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
I’m starting to believe that there are only two groups now as far as Rudy goes. Those who are so hung up on how Brady Bunch-like a presidential candidate’s family are that they will never look at the hard facts about what kind of executive leader Rudy is… and those who are intelligent enough to realize that real candidates are human beings who make mistakes and that we’re electing an executive leader, not an American Idol.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
Romney comes off so much better in interviews and townhall meetings. I don’t think he’s won a debate yet (I thought Huck won the first one). I think he often comes off rather canned in debates.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
Basically, there’s no convincing either of them to the other side, so why try?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
romney doing very well in spin room. why wasn’t he the same way on the stage.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Oh, Jesus, emtee, I want to shoot myself in the face about this gay adoption thing.
GET OVER IT! THE WORLD ISN’T PERFECT. NOT EVERY CHILD WILL BE BORN WITH A MOTHER AND A FATHER. It’s better to have two gay parents than NO parents in a series of foster homes! So unless you’re planning to launch an attack on single mothers, you can’t say what you’re saying! WE’VE NEVER EVEN TRIED IT ANY OTHER WAY other than a two-parent, opposite-sex household. There is NOT SUFFICIENT RESEARCH to determine anything. You’re just homophobic.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
ACT- The highlight that will get played will be the Paul Huckabee spat. That was actually memorable.
EGS- Girls were the same to me before and after. Popular culture was already in a rut by the time of Monica. The big news I remember even better was Jennifer Flowers, which I didn’t pay enough attention to either way.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
I thought Romney did very well with Sean and Alan.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
How long til Jason posts that Romney was the runaway winner?
September 5th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Btw, Fred08.com is up.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
“Romney comes off so much better in interviews and townhall meetings. I don’t think he’s won a debate yet (I thought Huck won the first one). I think he often comes off rather canned in debates.”
Well, I disagree, I think he has won or tied for first in every debate so far (this one was extremely close, though, virtually without a winner) – but you have to ask, where are people more likely to be convinced to support a particular candidate? In a multi-candidate stage show, or in a townhall meeting where they can ask the candidates questions themselves?
September 5th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Tommy,
When have I ever posted that? Nice try.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
I don’t agree with the focus group at all. I think McCain did well only because expectations were so low. I think Rudy and Romney both butted heads but neither came out ahead.
I would really have to say there was no winner, but I think Romney did well considering he was targeted as much as everyone else combined. However, I think the negativity tonight didn’t work well for anyone just like it didn’t work well for Brownback in the past.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Maybe econ grad stud has some anti-female feelings if he thinks that women are so easily influenced by sluts like Lewinsky that they’d be willing to sell out their bodies because the President wanted to get some.
I’m so sick of the bull on this board on the social issues. Can’t you all at least be intellectually honest like Matt?
September 5th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Randy,
That’s the easy part. Freaking Hillary would come across good with them. That’s where politicians have to be good.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Clinton was elected in 92 despite the whiff of dodginess that surrounded his personal life. And it happened, he continued that way of life in the Oval Office.
Giuliani is now looking to be elected in 2008, despite dodginess in his past personal life. Should we be surprised if he reduces the office of the President to a laughing stock again sometime between 2008 & 2012/16?
September 5th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
I think the questions & interviewers were hard on the front runners in tonight’s debate. Particularly the questions posed from the audience to Romney & Rudy.
The Democrats are still too afraid to have challenging questions posed to them. What a shame..
September 5th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Jason,
You bought the line, hook and sinker!!! I knew I could draw you out!!
September 5th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
mccain does well because expectations are so low. rudy and romney did what they needed to, not screw up. huckabee was more of the same. but not worry, the msm, will make sure to prop up huckabee.
especially when he says we broke iraq.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
no kidding. i would like to see democrats hnadle questions like that. whimps.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
i hate when mccain says, ‘my friend.’
September 5th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
“romney doing very well in spin room. why wasn’t he the same way on the stage.”
Overall, I think he was. Look at the overall debate, and try to tell me Romney did not do well.
–
TLG, studies have shown that children do better in two-parent households, meaning with a male head, and a female head, a mother and a father.
Here is my question for you: Is a gay couple raising a child more similar to a two-parent, mother/father household, or a single parent household where a child is brought up by just a man, or just a woman?
September 5th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
Romney did great with Hannity. Too bad not very many people were watching.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
TLG, you’re distorting the issue. Being a single mother is not an ideal situation either! As a society we should encourage IDEALS and VIRTUES. Traditional marriage is a standard, and we should encourage people to live up to that standard.
If mothers want to live single, that is very hard on the children. If gay men marry and have kids, kids lose the ideal of having a mother. That’s not something we should “encourage” as a society. I’m not attacking gays, and I’m not attacking single mothers. If they choose to live in those situations or end up with them as a result of their choices, that’s their right, and I defend that right. But I think most single mothers would agree that their situation is not ideal for their children.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
What President hasn’t had “dodginess” in his personal life? The great lot of them were most likely schmucks outside of office.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
I didn’t watch this debate but in others, I saw Romney to be the equivalent of a consistent doubles hitter who doesn’t hit very many home runs but never strikes out. What changed today?
September 5th, 2007 at 10:08 pm
Let’s not threadjack here. This is a debate thread, not a libertarian versus social conservative thread.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Tommy, I don’t think Rudy was so great with “the easy part”.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
TLG,
I happen to agree that it’s possible for a president to have a significant impact on the culture. I frankly think you’d have to be absolutely ignorant of political history to come to any other conclusion. Can anyone say, with a straight face, that Kennedy’s glamorous Camelot, didn’t significantly alter the trajectory of American political and cultural history? What about Teddy Roosevelt’s bull-dog, brusque, fiercely patriotic, use of the bully pulpit and it’s role in transforming America into a truly modern nation? These men absolutely transformed the fabric of American society, in dozens of respects. But, I think those sorts of significant transformations are fairly rare, and I’m not convinced that either Rudy or Romney will have anywhere near as significant effect on American society more generally.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Romney did great with Hannity? What a great accomplishment! I’m always impressed by his performances with Hugh Hewitt!
September 5th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Randy – not a whole lot. Romney did pretty well with basically everything but a question about his remark about his son’s lack of military service, though he did do very well again toward the end.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Hunter gives the post of the night in #636! BTW, just picked up the latest special edition of Taxi Driver. One of My all time favorites as well.
Nice upgrade to digital.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
RON PAUL WINS!!!!! LOL
September 5th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
“TLG, you’re distorting the issue. Being a single mother is not an ideal situation either! As a society we should encourage IDEALS and VIRTUES. Traditional marriage is a standard, and we should encourage people to live up to that standard.”
I think you’re operating under the presumption that I agree with your philosophy of tradition.
If you’re saying that since being a single mother isn’t an ideal and neither is being raised by gay parents, why ban only one? It’s your homophobia, clean and simple.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Yes, Kennedy’s Camelot… Which was followed by the sexual revolution of the late 1960s.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Hunter (636) “What President hasn’t had “dodginess†in his personal life? The great lot of them were most likely schmucks outside of office.”
How sad is that? Leaders with feet of clay. Its an interesting argument though. Rudy should be elected because he has a dodgy personal life like so many of our recent great leaders (e.g. Clinton). That’ll clinch the Independent vote for sure!
September 5th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Well considering Hannity is a Rudy guy, the fact that Romney came across better in that interview than Rudy did just before is significant.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Randy,
Then we can all declare Romney the winner of the post debate!!!
September 5th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
My impressions:
1. Giuliani did very well.
2. Romney did not do well.
3. McCain did well too.
4. Huckabee did not do as well as before, but he still will get the media sound-bite from the Paul exchange.
5. Of the others, I liked Hunter’s performance.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
“TLG, studies have shown that children do better in two-parent households, meaning with a male head, and a female head, a mother and a father.
Here is my question for you: Is a gay couple raising a child more similar to a two-parent, mother/father household, or a single parent household where a child is brought up by just a man, or just a woman?”
Studies have shown that people are willing to make studies up to support their agenda.
It depends on the couple. Why do you think all heterosexual couples are so amazing? Heterosexuals are equally capable of being trashy, dumb, or raising crappy children.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
”
TLG,
I happen to agree that it’s possible for a president to have a significant impact on the culture. I frankly think you’d have to be absolutely ignorant of political history to come to any other conclusion. Can anyone say, with a straight face, that Kennedy’s glamorous Camelot, didn’t significantly alter the trajectory of American political and cultural history? What about Teddy Roosevelt’s bull-dog, brusque, fiercely patriotic, use of the bully pulpit and it’s role in transforming America into a truly modern nation? These men absolutely transformed the fabric of American society, in dozens of respects. But, I think those sorts of significant transformations are fairly rare, and I’m not convinced that either Rudy or Romney will have anywhere near as significant effect on American society more generally.”
Yep. JFK and TR used the bully pulpits to make the case for what they wanted and they were able to change things.
Read that again: THEY USED IT FOR WHAT THEY WANTED.
THEY USED IT FOR WHAT THEY WANTED.
THEY USED IT FOR WHAT THEY WANTED.
Rudy is not going to use the bully pulpit to speak out against marriage and adoption.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
I didn’t say Rudy should be elected because he’s a schmuck. I just find it bizarre how badly people want political leaders they can idolize. I want good policy, a strong economy, national defense, etc… If they’re a jerk, so be it. They’re politicians — if you’re surprised in any way, you’re a naive fool.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Why does everyone keep assuming Hannity is in Rudy’s court? The only thing that distinguishes big-name pundits like Hannity is that they’re actually intelligent to see just how conservative Rudy actually is. Just because Hannity’s honest about the big picture surrounding Rudy’s conservative accomplishments doesn’t mean Hannity’s a “Rudy guy.”
September 5th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
TLG, I never said we should ban gay people from living together, never, quit distorting. As I said, let them live together if they choose. And from what I’ve heard, there are churches that gay people can go get married in and commit to each other. That’s fine, let them. But we don’t need to re-define the societal ideal to something that ultimately hurts the most vulnerable in society–the children. We should encourage behavior that strengthens families, that gives children the best chance to succeed, that includes encouraging couples to stay married, encouraging women not to have children outside of wedlock, etc. Not FORCE people, encourage it. And leave the traditional definition of marriage alone. IF gay people want their own version, call it something else. Civil union?
September 5th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Tommy, take it easy. Please? I didn’t catch the debate. I had this thread open in one monitor with a ballgame on the other. I’m only commenting on what I see.
And yes, Romney is winning the post-debate. There I said it. Just for you Chief.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Indeed Hunter. That’s precisely what I’m talking about. Kennedy helped transform our culture (negatively in my opinion). As did Teddy Roosevelt (positively in my opinion). As did Bill Clinton (negatively of course). And most presidents have some impact on the issue. Eisenhower’s calm, steady as she goes leadership perfectly paralleled the sedate, reserved 50’s. Etc. But, largely it’s fairly minimal, and I’m not sure it’s a significant enough issue to hinge one’s vote upon.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
So, who is watching Fred on Leno tonight?
September 5th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
But what about the CHILDREN? Blah.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
I can’t believe I am even debating family values on a Republican website. Either the party has changed a lot without me realizing, or the people on here aren’t very representative of the party. Which is it?
September 5th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Brian 658: I think the debate kind of maxxed out everybody’s excitement levels. I know it did mine. The prospect of watching Fred announce on softball Leno just makes me yawn, honestly.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Emtee 660: Or there are actually Republicans who believe that having a Brady Bunch family doesn’t equate good governmental leadership.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Emtee: If you go to any college or young Republican event, you’ll find most Republicans under 30 are pro gay marriage or civil unions. Times have changed.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Alright, I’m pretty much ready to go to bed, but here are my closing thoughts for the night:
The debate was extremely close, all candidates had some trouble, and most did well at certain times. None of the frontrunners were able to break from the pack, and neither fell out of the running either. I think that, at the end of the night, supporters of Mitt, Rudy, and John are going to walk away still supporting their candidate. I think undecideds are probably going to walk away undecided. In the end, no real winners, no real loosers. This simply is not one of those major, race shaping debates. One candidate might get a small bump (1%, 2%), but that is insignificant, and will likely be lost in the changes that will come during the first weeks of the Thompson campaign.
Nothing new happened tonight, and I don’t see any lasting effect.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
#662 too!
September 5th, 2007 at 10:22 pm
Can I repost my earlier posts now?
September 5th, 2007 at 10:22 pm
Luntz is back. COOL!!!!
September 5th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
I don’t think there are many people who listen to Hannity’s radio show who believe he is for any candidate other than Rudy.
Just because people don’t think Rudy is very conservative doesn’t mean they aren’t smart or that they aren’t being honest.
Rudy is social liberal, not moderate. He is liberal on immigration. He is conservative on taxes but moderate to liberal on spending. He is conservative on foreign policy and healthcare, perhaps too conservative.
In other words in my opinion Rudy is moderate on the wrong issues. Independents and moderates don’t vote on social issues, but they will vote on the war, immigration and healthcare and Rudy won’t win them over with his positions.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
Luntz says Huckabee trumps Paul
September 5th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
I don’t think anyone’s saying it’d be good for politicians to just run amok and live as promiscuously as they want, but in the case of Rudy, he’s someone who’s made mistakes, admitted that they were mistakes, learned from them and moved on, and has proven that even if his personal life goes to h*ll, he can still not only keep a large government afloat, but completely turn it around and make it one of the best examples of good governance anywhere in America.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
Alright, I’m getting out of here.
I’m sick of debating non-issues like gay marriage with homophobes. The anti-abortion crowd has lost, the gay marriage crowd is facing a losing battle with the next generation, and society is becoming tolerant and secular.
The end.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
I don’t believe the leaders transformed our culture, but were rather a product of the culture. Or maybe it’s some of both. The turbulence of the 1960s, what with the civil rights movement, the sexual revolution, etc — all of that didn’t suddenly come about as soon as JFK was elected. And you had plenty of trashy culture in the 1980s while Reagan was in office — the rise of hip-hop and heavy metal, pop music with overtly sexual lyrics… and all of that carried over into the 1990s.
I just think it’s incredibly foolish to associate one president with the culture at a specific point in time.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
Hannity introduces Rudy at private fundraisers. He’s for Rudy.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
Swift, egs. Make fun of a lisp. Mature. You do seem like the kind of person whom Clinton would be able to influence.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
Emtee, the GOP is finding it harder to play the family values card after reccent incidents like Foley, Haggard, Vitter, Craig.
So touting family values as a plus is hard when the response from the Dems is “hypocrites!”. So maybe Rudy is the man for the times. Or maybe Mitt is the one who can reclaim the mantle.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
TLG,
I’d argue that JFK’s effect has quite alot more to do with his role as the first “modern president” (though I’d argue that this moniker belongs more accurately to TR). He effectively helped to “modernize”, “glamorize”, and “liberalize” American culture in the process, if for no other reason then his increased visibility and popularity. Similar to Clinton. I’d agree though that it’s fairly unlikely Rudy would manage this. He’s not terribly charismatic, and doesn’t exude “charmer”, “ladies man”, or “king of sex appeal”. And I don’t think he’s likely to be a particularly popular president. So as long as he doesn’t do anything too stupid in office, I think his impact on the culture will be minimal.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
egs, Let’s leave the lisp alone. Yes it’s annoying, but I don’t like people saying Fred looks sick, so let’s leave Rudy’s speech technique out of it.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
Guys, I can’t believe I’m being treated so harshly for basically echoing the basic Republican Party beliefs. To quote directly from the 1994 Republican Party Platform, A Safer World and a More Hopeful America:
“We strongly support President Bush’s call for a Constitutional amendment that
fully protects marriage, and we believe that neither federal nor state judges nor
bureaucrats should force states to recognize other living arrangements as equivalent to marriage. We believe, and the social science confirms, that the well-being of children is best accomplished in the environment of the home, nurtured by their mother and father anchored by the bonds of marriage. We further believe that legal recognition and the accompanying benefits afforded couples should be preserved for that unique and special union of one man and one woman which has historically been called marriage.
After more than two centuries of American jurisprudence, and millennia of human
experience, a few judges and local authorities are presuming to change the most
fundamental institution of civilization, the union of a man and a woman in marriage. Attempts to redefine marriage in a single state or city could have serious consequences throughout the country, and anything less than a Constitutional amendment, passed by the Congress and ratified by the states, is vulnerable to being overturned by activist judges.
On a matter of such importance, the voice of the people must be heard. The
Constitutional amendment process guarantees that the final decision will rest with the American people and their elected representatives. President Bush will also vigorously defend the Defense of Marriage Act, which was supported by both parties and passed by 85 votes in the Senate. This common sense law reaffirms the right of states not to recognize same-sex marriages licensed in other states.”
September 5th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
TLG, it is starting to annoy me. I just wish Rudy would get speech lessons or something.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
Whose cruel idea was it to put an S in the word lisp, anyway?
September 5th, 2007 at 10:29 pm
Emtee — I can hear you yelling. “Heretic! Heretic! Do not want! Get him out of the party!”
September 5th, 2007 at 10:29 pm
It may be annoying, but Rudy’s lisp is hardly something to attack him for. Would you attack Sen Johnson’s slurred speech after his recent stroke?
Lets focus on the issues.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
econgradstudent and dskinner are both showing painful ignorance of Rudy Giuliani. Egs is quite possibly the most juvenile and uninformed political commenter I’ve seen in a long time, and I’m not even going to dignify his mocking of Rudy’s lisp and his other crap with a response.
Dskinner: Rudy is not a social liberal. Rudy is pro-traditional marriage, always has been. He is moderate on abortion (for keeping Hyde, PBA Ban, parental notification), he’s solid on conservative judges (just ask Olson and Estrada), and he’s promising to make statistical reductions in abortion and work with faith-based groups to promote adoption. And there are LOTS of other social issues besides just abortion and gays. From pornography to drug use to school choice, etc. etc. Those are all social issues that Rudy is solidly conservative on.
Rudy is not liberal on immigration. He is for building the fence and securing the borders. He did what he had to do to hold his City together as Mayor by offering a few very basic social services to illegals for the good of his city as a whole, but he has never condoned illegal immigration and he has called on the federal government to fix the Southern border all throughout his career. All he could do in NYC was deal with the effects of the incompetence of the federal government.
Rudy is not moderate to liberal on spending. He cut the size of city government in New York by almost 20%, and while he eased up on the reigns of spending a little bit in his second term, he still brought government spending way down from where it had been, and he sold off all of the crap the city had been holding to the private sector. He produced budget surpluses every year he was in office, in contrast to the fiscal crisis he inherited from Dinkins.
Rudy Giuliani is a conservative. Sean Hannity can see it, Steve Forbes can see it, George Will can see it, Miguel Estrada can see it, Haley Barbour can see it… etc. etc. Come on, people!
September 5th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
Emtee,
This is exactly why a Guiliani nomination could cause so much damage to the party. With so much division now, does anyone think there wouldn’t be a far right 3rd party candidate that would take votes from Rudy? Rudy is a lose lose for socons and even if by some miracle he managed to fend off a 3rd party candidate he would steer our party away from us during his presidency.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
TLG, I am open to your ideas. I realize that with our two party system, our parties are big, very big. We have a lot of different ideas. Heck, look at Ron Paul as an example! What you are saying troubles me a lot though because I have a certain belief, OK, a belief about traditional marriage. And I like what the Republican party typically says about it. (I just quoted for you the 1994 party platform).
Some people on here are saying that this belief is old-fashioned and as a party we are starting to move away from it. Is that really true? You obviously feel very different than I do, for example. But what I’d really like to know is have we really moved that far in four years to changing our party platform completely on this issue, or is it rather that you fall in the small minority camp of Republicans that feel differently on the issue?
We are a big party and we have lots of voices, I welcome them and I welcome your contributions, TLG. I hope we can remain civil about it. I also hope that a majority still share my view while not disparaging the views of others.
I think if I were disparaging, I would instead not tolerate gays at all. But I don’t. I think they have the right to do what they want, and I am tolerant of that. To me marriage is special, sacred, and narrowly defined, I just wish we could keep it that way. That’s not meant to be disrespectful to either single people or gay couples. As I said, I’m tolerant of those viewpoints, It’s just that my vision for society is one where traditional marriage is seen as an ideal goal for all of us to strive for, but never to look down at others if they don’t achieve it. I hope the majority of my party still share my view, though these days I wonder.
September 6th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
“To me marriage is special, sacred, and narrowly defined, I just wish we could keep it that way.”
Wouldn’t want the fags to come and f–k it up, then, right?
September 7th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
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