Liveblogging the CNN/YouTube debate: “Edginess,” “elbows, “eh.” Update: Romney’s the Energizer candidate; Update: PLANT ALERT; The biggest stumble of the night award goes to…CNN; Update: The plants keep sprouting like weeds
Update: More plant excavation…Abortion questioner is a declared Edwards’ supporter… and the Log Cabin Republican questioner is a declared Obama supporter…and lead toy questioner is a union activist for the John Edwards-endorsing United Steelworkers.
Kevin Aylward takes apart Anderson Cooper’s mea culpa on the failure to vet gay military activist/Hillary-Kerry supporter Keith Kerr and marvels in disbelief:
Here’s Cooper’s feeble “we didn’t know” defense.
COOPER: “Bill Bennett earlier mentioned he was getting some reports from friends of his on the Internet that Brigadier General Keith Kerr, who asked a question about gays in the military during this debate, was on a steering committee for Senator Hillary Clinton. That was something certainly unknown to us, and had we known that, would have been disclosed by us. It turns out we have just looked at it. Apparently, there was a press release from some six months ago. Hillary Clinton’s office saying that he had been named to some steering committee. We don’t know if he’s still on it. We’re trying to find out that information. But certainly, had we had that information, we would have acknowledged that in using his question, if we had used it at all.
Anderson Cooper would have you believe that a network that could select this question, find that 13-year-old Romney quote, create the trap for Romney (which he fell face first into), and (presumably) fly Kerr to the debate, could not type “Keith Kerr, retired Colonel” into Google and find the link to the Hillary Clinton press release, which prior to the debate appeared in the first 10 results for that search?
***
Retired gay Brigadier Gen./Hillary-Kerry campaign mouthpiece Keith Kerr = Another CNN potted plant.
Kerr’s question:
The biggest stumble of the night award goes to…CNN.
Update 11:47pm Eastern. PLANT ALERT.
Via Allah, Adam Yoshida blogs about the gay retired Brigadier General questioner…who’s affiliated with the Hillary campaign–serving on her LGBT committee.
He was also on the steering committee of Veterans for Kerry.
I take back my compliment of CNN.
The politics of planting rules again.
Sheesh.
Glenn Reynolds’ advice to CNN: “Suckered by Hillary, again. Try Google, next time. It’s not that hard!”
*Debate vid highlights/lowlights will be here.*
So, who won?
Quick and dirty reaction: Romney looked strong and energetic, with one stumble on the Bible question. Huckabee didn’t harm himself, so he “wins” by not losing. McCain and Thompson were lethargic, with a few lucid moments each.
On the format: Expectations were so low of CNN, it wasn’t hard to exceed them. The questions were almost all coherent and well-framed. And no obvious “plants” that I could detect. If you uncover any, let me know. Another plus: No Suzanne Malveaux.
Update 10:09pm Eastern. Softball for Rudy. You are a lifelong Yankees fan. Why did you root for the Red Sox? I guess this is the equivalent of the diamonds-or-pearls question from the Dem debate.
Romney “elbows” a last baseball line into Rudy’s spotlight.
Update 10:08pm Eastern. Question for Ron Paul. Are you going to let America down by not running as an independent. “I have no intention of doing this. I am a Republican.”
rEVOLution!!!
Update 10:06pm Eastern. Infrastructure question. Ron Paul goes all nutroots. We’re paying troops to blow up bridges overseas while our bridges are falling apart at home!!!!!!
McCain ignores Paul. Promises to veto pork projects and Bridges to Nowhere.
Update 10:01pm Eastern. Question about the Confederate flag. Romney doesn’t recognize that flag. That’s not a flag I’d hang in my room. Reach out to all Americans. There’s one America.
Thompson: He’s free to do whatever he wants in his home. Doesn’t mean he’s racist. But in public, we don’t need to go out of our way to [offend some people].
Update 9:58pm Eastern. Why don’t black Americans vote for Republicans?
Giuliani: We haven’t done a good enough job of reaching out.
Update 9:56pm Eastern. A space question from a guy who wants us to go to Mars.
Update 9:53pm Eastern. Will you embrace support of Log Cabin Republicans? Huckabee says he’ll take all the support he can get. Would he take it? Yes. Would he change his position on gay marriage? No.
Update 9:51pm Eastern. Brig. Gen. Keith Kerr, a retired gay military officer, challenges candidates on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Cooper asks Romney about his past comments that he “looks forward to the days gay men and women can serve openly in the military.” Romney says not in a time of war. Kerr gets several minutes to lobby. Boos from the audience.
Update 9:33pm Eastern. Which candidate will make a permanent commitment to Iraq? From a blogger, Buzz Brockway. Thompson: “We shouldn’t be there any longer than we have to be.”
Paul: Get out of Iraq. Take care of America first.
McCain: Ultimate destination of jihadists is NYC. That is the challenge of our time. I believe we can meet it and defeat it.
Paul: We are the occupiers. Loud boos.
Dan Riehl: “Based on what I’ve seen so far, Huckabee is going to come out of this debate in the top tier. If nothing changes, that may be “the” story of this debate.”
Update 9:28pm Eastern. Waterboarding question from a student in Seattle. Romney doesn’t want to describe precisely what techniques we’ll use. Keep enemy combatants at Gitmo.
McCain lambastes Romney on waterboarding. Gets some applause. Romney and McCain go at it over Geneva Conventions.
Update 9:25pm Eastern. Yasmin from Huntsville asks how candidates will “repair America’s image” because of the Iraq war?
McCain: Fight the Democrats’ plan for a withdrawal timetable.
Duncan Hunter: “I will never apologize for the United States of America.”
Update 9:16pm Eastern. Do you believe every word of this book? (Holds up Bible.)
Rudy hesistates. Mike Huckabee: “Can I help you out?”
OUCH. Elbow Alert. Laughter and applause for Huckabee.
Rudy hesitates. So, yes, I believe it. Not every thing in the literal sense. Like Jonah and the whale.
Romney: I believe the Bible is the word of God.
Do you believe every word?
Romney: Uhhh. Yes. Well…
Hillary stumble alert.
Huckabee: Either you believe it or you don’t. Doesn’t mean you believe we should pluck out our eyes. As the only one here with a theology degree, I don’t comprehend all of it…
Update 9:14pm Eastern. Question for Christian conservative candidates. Where are you on the death penalty? What would Jesus do? Huckabee cites experience carrying out the death penalty. Gives an articulate answer on the difficulty, the thorough review involved. Cooper: What would Jesus do? Huckabee: Jesus was too smart to run for public office. Applause. Tancredo: I would pray to Jesus to give me the courage and wisdom to do the right thing.
Update 9:10pm Eastern. Abortion question. If hypothetically Roe v Wade was overturned and Congress passed a ban on all abortions and it came to your desk, would you sign it? Rudy: “I would probably not sign it. I would leave it to the states.”
Update 9:06pm Eastern. Black-on-black crime.
Romney: Best thing you can do for a kid is have a mom and a dad. Better education.
Giuliani: Cites NYC record.
Romney: Makes another veiled Bernie Kerik reference. “I was not a mayor. I did not have a police commissioner.”
Ouch.
Update 9:04pm Eastern. Question - tell us about your gun collection.
Thompson: I have a couple of guns, but I’m not going to tell you which ones and where they are.
McCain: I carried a .45 as a pilot. I know how to use guns. Don’t own one now.
Hunter: Family tradition.
Romney: I have two guns in my home owned by my son John. He buys expensive things for me. Huh?
Update 9:00pm Eastern. Question: “How do you feel about gun control?” Duncan Hunter: “I will strongly support the Second Amendment.” Applause.
Another gun question directed at Rudy Giuliani on his comments that gun owners should have to pass a test. “We have to be very aggressive about enforcing the gun laws that exist.” Rudy supports “reasonable restrictions” outlined by Parker opinion. Scattered boos. Decisions will be made on a state basis and will have to comply with the constitution.
Thompson and Giuliani having a civil discussion of Parker.
Update 8:53pm Eastern. Cooper runs a Thompson ad attacking Romney on abortion. Cooper asks Thompson: “What’s up with that?” Thompson is thrown off. Romney takes the offense again.
Update 8:50pm Eastern. A question about lead in China-manufactured toys. Tancredo ties it to trade with China. So does Hunter.
Update: 8:48pm Eastern. Cooper slips in a question about the Politico’s story on Giuliani’s Hamptons subsidies. Rudy deflects. Cooper moves on to showing a Tancredo immigration campaign ad.
Update 8:45pm Eastern. The questions so far are really good. I take back my “circus” remarks. Question about ethanol subsidies. Romney gives a practiced answer supporting ethanol “subsidies.”
Update 8:44pm Eastern. “Ordinary American” Grover Norquist asks candidates whether they’ll sign a pledge opposing tax raises during presidency.
Update 8:41pm Eastern. McCain takes a fair tax question and uses it to challenge Ron Paul’s isolationism. Mixture of boos and cheers. Sustained applause for McCain’s challenge.
Paul gets 30 seconds for rejoinder. McCain doesn’t understand difference between isolationism and non-intervention.
Update 8:37pm Eastern. What three programs would you cut?
Thompson: He mentions Social Security, but he denies that he’ll cut it. He won’t pick three.
Paul mentions cutting the Departments of Education, Energy, and Homeland Security–and the Department of Defense.
Huckabee targets the IRS. Red meat. Applause. Also agrees with revamping DHS.
Update 8:34pm Eastern. Question - What will you do to control national debt and spending? Softball for McCain. He mentions S-CHIP expansion, tobacco taxes. “I have a record of fighting wasteful spending.”
Update 8:31pm Eastern. Question - Does Ron Paul believe in CFR/NAU conspiracies? Paul: Yes.
Update 8:26pm Eastern. Good questions. A young woman asks about DREAM act. Huckabee says his illegal alien tuition bill wasn’t for “special” treatment.
Romney gets to respond to Huckabee. Listening to Huckabee reminds Romney of Massachusetts liberals. Great reasons for doing bad things. “Mike, that’s not your money.” Huckabee: “We’re a better country than punishing children for what their parents do.” Romney responds immediately: “It’s not about punishing…It’s about whether we should be using tax money for illegal immigrants.”
Update 8:23pm Eastern. Next question - an employer with H2-B asks how Tancredo will support guest workers. Tancredo says he won’t support more mass guest workers coming into the country. If I recall, I thought Tancredo actually supported an H2-B program. Checking.
Update 8:20pm Eastern. John McCain’s turn. He denies that shamnesty was amnesty. McCain cites “our failure in Iraq” as a reason people don’t trust the government to secure the borders. McCain complains about “demagoguing.”
Tancredo: “All I’ve heard is people trying to out-Tancredo Tancredo. It’s wonderful.”
Update 8:17pm Eastern. Another immigration question: Will you oppose shamnesty? Fred Thompson gets a chance to speak. “We get to decide who comes into our home. Enforce the border. Punish employers. Eliminate sanctuary cities. We have to cut off federal funding.
Ding! Ding!
Thompson disses Romney for initially supporting shamnesty.
“We’ve all probably had people we’ve hired that probably were bad decisions.”
[Bernie Kerik allusion.]
Update 8:16pm Eastern. Anderson Cooper wants to move on. Romney won’t let him. Romney cites his record opposing driver’s licenses for illegals, supported deportation training.
Update 8:11pm Eastern. Yes! The first question is for Giuliani about his support for sanctuary. Giuliani is giving his stock answer about how his sanctuary policy was not a sanctuary.
As I’ve said before: “Bulls**t.”
Romney is on Rudy like white on rice. Notes the federal lawsuit Giuliani waged. Applause.
Score: Romney.
Rudy follows up with the claim that Romney had a “sanctuary mansion” where illegals worked.
Romney: “You know better than that.”
Update 8:09 Eastern. Oh, geez. The first video is a guy with a guitar. Is there a question here? No.
Update 8:03pm Eastern. The candidates are being introduced. No “elbows” or “edginess” yet.
***
So I’ll start liveblogging the CNN/YouTube circus at 8pm and you can tune it to our live video stream simulcast at Hot Air. We may have a few special guest calls during the broadcast. Not Chuck Norris, unfortunately. In any event, we’ll stay on through the entire debate, which ends at 10, and do 30 minutes of post-debate chit-chat. Here’s your scene-setter:
The Sunshine State takes center stage Wednesday night in the race for the White House as eight Republican presidential candidates face off in the party’s first CNN/YouTube debate.
With five weeks and one day to go until the first votes are cast in the race for the White House, the stakes could hardly be higher. The candidates will be fielding video questions submitted by the public via the YouTube Web site, just as Democratic White House hopefuls did in July.
If you’ve noticed, and it’s hard not to, an edgy battle for the GOP presidential nomination has turned even testier the past few days. One reason for the bad blood is that the Republican race is still very much up for grabs, and the clock’s ticking. Rudy Giuliani’s the front-runner in the national polls, but the former New York City mayor is not the one leading the polls in most of the early primary states. That candidate would be Mitt Romney. The former Massachusetts governor is ahead in state surveys in Iowa and New Hampshire. The Iowa caucuses, which will be held on January 3, kick off the presidential primary season. New Hampshire, which holds the nation’s first primary, votes five days later.
Add to that a new twist in Mike Huckabee. The former Arkansas governor is moving up in the polls in Iowa and is now within striking distance of Romney. “The GOP race is very much in flux right now. That’s why elbows are out,” said CNN Senior Political Analyst Gloria Borger.
Charles Johnson says, “Eh.”
Here are the latest numbers for you poll-watchers.
See what others have said
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- Eric
Since my person of choice (Newt Gingrich) is out I was leaning toward Huckabee but now he pulled a McCant, Not-A-Lott, Gramnesty and Martinez the other day in his support for Illegals. He’s off the list now. No Rudy Julie Annie for me either. Ron Gaul, well he’s crazier than McCant and should be off stage already. So I’m hoping the Stormin’ Mormon comes on strong.
WHY NEWT WHY? He’d wipe the stage in any debate with anybody.
What’s the scoop with UStream do we need to go there or is it on over at HA?
This is so unfortunate. CNN/YouTube? Why don’t we just go to the second graders in some elementary school and have them ask questions? They would probably be better questions than what you’ll get tonight.
#1 John Ansell..
I’m with you on Newt. His solutions for America are great.
I wish he would’ve run
anyone want to take bets that every candidate gets asked about the drivers licenses for illegals? …
Trinitytim, I think the Republicans should adopt Newts 9 90 minute debates. Let the candidates go at it and keep the liberal moderators in check. Every preview I’ve seen on the questions they will be asked are the same as “when’s the last time you had sex with an Animal?” or “do you still beat your wife.” I’m lucky, though. I’m on the west coast finishing up work so I won’t be home until 6ish. That will ensure that my T.V. will live another day.
here we go…
Well I am going to give this “debate” 15 minutes. Should be interesting.
If FOX wanted better ratings for their Republican debate, they should have Brit Hume be the timekeeping moderator, and have a panel of conservative opinion leaders from talk radio and the blogosphere, who could get questions from their readers and listeners.
Who would be on the panel?
Rush Limbaugh
Laura Ingraham
Michelle Malkin
Mark Levin
Hannity, or Hewitt?
Mary Katherine Ham?
That would be much better than this crap with CNN and YouTube.
The Democrats could do something similar, but who cares who they would pick.
why are Mitt and this Florida governor fake-tanned that nice rotisserie chicken orange color?
you can do go to either. or at the same time, if your an air traffic controller.
jose
CNN has just finished apologizing for stupid vid questions and opens with a corny comedy singer. Sheesh.
Those about to be bored to death and unimpressed salute you. Actually I hope to eat my words and this becomes a real knock down drag out. Separating the men from the RINOs.
That was waste of time
Rough question for my man Rudy on the sanctuary city. He’s ready with a decent (okay) answer. Not bad.
I’m with Mitt
Rudy: “Sanctuary mansion” quip at Romney. Ouch.
these two are tearing each other apart
MM said “white rice”. I’m offended. LOL.
The attack about Romneys gardener is a crock……McCain is TOAST -still does NOT GET IT!!! OFF THE STAGE YOU LIAR!!!
The American people STILL do NOT believe you!!
O.K., Dead Fred might just be alive after all. Go Home Illegals. Take your anchor babies with you too.
I think Fred’s the best of the bunch.
who do you guys (other commenters) want as president?
Good answer from Hunter.
The Huckster reminds me of another snake oil salesman from Arkansas. I guess he won’t talk about his sweetheart deal with the Mexican Consulate in Little Rock.
alamedaman,
I’m for Rudy. the reasons are here
http://michellemalkin.com/2007/11/08/the-kerik-indictment-giuliani-and-the-gop/
Post #82 onward.
wow , lil crazy listening to the debate and the live stream… cool but this is more peaceful.
My choices for president:
1. Fred
2. Rudy
3. Anybody but Ron Paul
Yeah right, vote against pork to your own districts before you talk tough against it!
No more Pelosi type pork! just say it….
aj … if Pelosi is the Pork does that make Reid the Rind …
Pelosi + Reid = Pork Rinds …
omg the irs? lol get real
lol, dl
A muging?
McCain just sounds tired and like he doesn’t care anymore.
let us win!!!
He almost got booed out of the stadium!!
Ron Paul is now spouting his lie about getting more funding from Active Duty Officer’s than any other candidate. All the Military Officer’s I know active duty and retired think he is an idiot. This guy is totally out of touch with the present geopolitical reality requiring us to fight back against the Islamist.
Anybody else notice the stars & stripes on the extreme left (stage right) behind the candidates? The stripes are above the stars — it looks like an upside-down flag! Is CNN being cute, or is it just a boo-boo?
I think Rudy just made that breaking story a non-issue. Very good response.
yuk yuk yuk it up
whats up with fred, i like his immigration plan but he losses all command on a stage…
and he’s an actor for crying out loud! sheesh
aj … yeah … but the writers are on strike …
you guys have to admit- Ron Paul’s domestic ideas are pretty appealing to fiscal conservatives.
Sombody, please give Ron Paul Aqua dots, he’ll think better!!!!!
L@DL
Funny.
i am surprised at the good questions, but i presume that is the difference between Dems and Repubs…hopefully there won’t be any UFO questions..ugh..
much better than i thought, i guess CNN realized they couldn’t get away with a circus when it comes to Conservatives
Oops. accidentally created a link. Sorry - it goes nowhere.
I’m also impressed by the quality of the questions. Is this really CNN? The Democrats would never survive especially “she-who-must-not-be-named.”
I liked thompson’s response about his ad.
“it was their words”.
Fair.
Michelle, I generally like you, but maybe some anti thompson bias?
Ron Paul does appeal to my very conservative side, but he needs to know we can’t pull out of Iraq right now.
Rudy ~ right, support the gun laws that do exist. How’s that working in New York for you? Gee, what do you mean the criminals don’t obey the laws?
Duncan Hunter is becoming more appealing as this goes on.
Duncan Hunter holds the best conservative values of any candidate I’ve seen so far.
too many questions directed at too few of the candidates … and Cooper only seems to think Rudy, Mitt, and McCain should get his personal follow ups …
Rudy’s response about enforcing gun laws makes alot of sense in the same way you don’t want to give piloting lessons to middle-eastern terrorists. I know New york City. Believe me, there are plenty of sickos to whom you would never want to give a gun. Trust me on that.
Cooper is just upset Larry Craig isn’t running and on stage tap dancing
Death penalty: “what would Jesus do?” Phew. Heavy questions, and a good debate.
Is Huckabee squirting tears?
#57
I understand not wanting to give guns to some people, but I have a problem with a select few in the government deciding that. Who determines it? Never forget that the start to the revolution was the British trying to take away the American’s guns. When you have no way to fight back, you’re screwed. Plus, in New York, it isn’t a select few who can’t own guns, it’s most people who can’t.
I live in Texas, and I have my CHL (concealed handgun license). I remember when they passed the law making it legal. People were (figuratively and pun intended) up in arms about the crime rate going up and having wars in the streets. Guess what? The crime rate has gone down. Are you going to rob or murder someone when they can fight back? That’s a big risk you take.
I have a media hangover from too much MittRudy force-feeding.
Huckabee: “Jesus was too smart to run for public office.” Wonderful. And true.
what would jesus do? i believe he burned, flooded, and destroyed evil
…more Hunter please
What Would Jesus Do? What kind of question is that?
People forget that the Bible says “Thou Shalt Not Murder”, not “Thou Shalt Not Kill”.
There’s a pretty big difference between the two.
I don’t think he can win in the real world, but Huckabee has some terrific, thoughtful responses.
Duncan Hunter really ought to be in the top tier of leading candidates. Why isn’t he?
Instead the leader is a draft dodger. What’s the GOP coming to?
and by he I (oops) mean God!
Well, you would say that.
Mr. Conservative Cat, His pro amnesty stance killed Huckabee’s chances. As my first post stated, Newt would have wiped this stage.
draft dodger, eh? Where were Ghouliani, Mitt, etc. during Vietnam?
Huckabee really sounds like a reasonable person, but his actions and record as Governor of Arkansas put him in the same boat with Romney, Giuliani, and McCain.
#45 alamedaman - I agree. Paul has many good points, he is a strict Constitutionalist. But he is flat dead wrong on the idea of just running from Iraq.
It’s Hunter for me. Wish he could win the nomination. I really don’t want to grit my teeth and vote for anti-gun Rudy (No, I don’t believe him) in the general election.
Hey Andrew Jones from Seattle- your flag is hung incorrectly.
MY PAL FLENSER! I’VE BEEN WAITING 18 DAYS FOR YOU TO KEEP YOUR WORD ON THIS THREAD. YOU DO BELIEVE IN KEEPING YOUR WORD, RIGHT?
http://michellemalkin.com/2007/11/08/the-kerik-indictment-giuliani-and-the-gop/
i like alot about paul but then again some of his views on the war and some other looney crap turns me off…. and immigrtion the biggy.
Hunter is the cream of this crop.
Did McCant just compare us to col. pot
Mr_Conservative_Cat
I’m a busy guy I’m afraid. I don’t have Rudy paying me to camp out on blogs. But for you, as a special favor, I’ll see what I can do.
Ignoring the question. Cute, Flenser.
alamedaman re: Viet Nam
Giuliani had a student deferment and was never drafted … Romney had a heart murmur and was rejected for service …
They were not draft dodgers like Billy Boy.
You had enough time to go off big-time on that thread until your nose was put to the question, at which point you suddenly didn’t have time - for 18 days.
i like fred
Good points desert lover.
Go fred go!!!
paul is a dipstick
What part of “for you, as a special favor, I’ll see what I can do” did you fail to understand? I bet I can make it so simple that even you can grasp it.
ugh my ears,
oh good lord
Flenser,
After 18 days it better be a good one. Nobody needs a troll, Flenser.
After the debate is over Ron Paul has a reservation on Kucinich’s UFO to get out of town …
NINE ELEVEN NINE ELEVEN NINE ELEVEN NINE ELEVEN ISLAMOFASCISM NINE ELEVEN NINE ELEVEN
does Ghouliani have anything else to say?
be happy cat, that would be a bonus without watersheds BS.
Ron Gaul needs to see a shrink
DL, I NEED A LIFT THINK HE WOULD PICK ME UP?
opps caps sorry
Why don’t they ask Hillbillary about vp’s having power (we all know Bill will run the show)
That is not true.
Giuliani dodged the draft via political influence. Look up “Judge Lloyd MacMahon”. Giuliani tried to get a deferment and was rejected. MacMahon wrote to the draft board asking them to reclassify Giuliani. They complied.
ajmontana,
Yeah, I know. good debate.
aj … not sure … I don’t use that particular mode of transportation … so I don’t have the current flight schedule …
Then what are you doing posting on this conservative web site, and with a moniker like “Conservative Cat”, you phony?
Flenser hates Rudy. He can’ be positive about his guy, only negative about Rudy. too bad. get your facts, flenser; they’re very screwed up. Trolling is bad form.
lol dl, yeah mine went through the laundry.. oh schucks
I’m plenty conservative, and you’re trolling Flenser. I just want to win. Who is good enough for you, Flenser?
hopin on here folks. hope im not too late. what did I miss! : lol:
Here we go.
hey feebiebabe!
Mr. Cat ~
Jumping in the middle here, sorry. I understand wanting to win. And, trust me, I’ll vote for a republican over a dem every time. Lesser of two evils and all that. But before the primaries is the time that we’re all lucky enough to be voting for the candidate that most closly matches what we believe. This is the time in an election when candidates try to appeal most to the far reaches of their parties. So if Guiliani (sorry if spelled wrong, not my strong suite) is this liberal this early, I worry about where he’ll end up come the real election.
hey der’s ajers
Duncan Hunter didn’t read the pc list. He said “those people”. sarc
mittt was sensible, on the gay issue
Nothing you have ever said gives me that impression.
You don’t know what you are talking about.
You just want the GOP to win. Not a very conservative outlook.
I bet if you read my comments on this thread you might be able to figure it out. Or maybe not, judging from the reading comprehension I’ve seen so far.
that commenter is got it right.
BS Flenser. Where did you get that, NPR?
Better yet, save the anti-giuliani propoganda here:
http://michellemalkin.com/2007/11/08/the-kerik-indictment-giuliani-and-the-gop/
Oh, that’s right, you still haven’t answered after 18 days. But you’re happy to spread it here, where your back isn’t against the wall. Stop trolling.
it was “you people” but thats funny john… lol
A Gay General? CNN is gonna milk this for all they can!
if he does a good job, i don’t care.
Sneaking in a retired weekend warrior one star that revealed he was gay after retiring. It appears don’t ask don’t tell worked out really well for him. This is the type of BS I expected from CNN no wonder they left him for last.
Let’s see here…
You do not need to take a test to speak freely or assemble.
You do not need to take a test to practice your religion of choice.
You do not need to take a test to vote.
You do not need to take a test to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, to be eligible for equal rights, to receive due process or to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.
The Second Amendment is part of the Bill of Rights; what the founders of this country characterized as inalienable rights. Inalienable means that the federal or stae government cannot interfere with or restrict those rights absent a clear and present danger or other high standard.
Rudy either has never read or studied the Constitution (which I seriously doubt) or he does not beleive the Second Amendment confers a right to bear arms to individuals.
A priviledge, on the other hand, is something different. A priviledge is a license or permission given by the state which arises out of its inhernet authority. Driving is a priviledge, and is subject to restrictions that would in no way, shape or form apply to a right. Because a priviledge is granted by the state, the state may impose reasonable restrictions, like passing a test to earn the priviledge to drive.
And his remark about this somehow being a “state issue”? It is not. If he truly believed that the right to bear arms is an indivudual right as opposed to a priviledge, the right granted under the US Constitution would trump any state restriction. Id it is a priviledge and not a right, of course then it becomes a state issue.
Rudy said a hell of a lot with his answer. He does not believe the Second Amendment applies to individuals and that firearm ownership by individuals is a priviledge, not a right, granted by the state.
I would like to thank CNN for smoking that out for us. I have heard Rudy’s recent speeches dealing with the Second Amendment, and was frankly having trouble reconciling his campaign position with his past actions. It makes sense now based on his response tonight. He does not believe the Second Amendment provides individual’s with a right to bear arms. Instead, he believes that he should be the arbiter of who is granted a priviledge to own a firearm in his kingdom.
This Republican primary has quickly morphed into another process of elimination. Again.
was he an intherear gereral? or brigadier general?
I had two marines (gay) living next to me…they were awesome. sorry, if they do a good job, i don’t care.
Aj, I just knew Cooper would go the Larry Craig route.
aj—-oy
Boomer,
CNN cannot think beyond the october surprise mentality. It’s no surprise.
But where are the Democrats on Fox? Oh yeah, that’s right - hiding under their desks.
flenser
You are only partially correct … he had student deferments throughout his student years in both college and law school … Federal Judge McMahon requested and received a legal profession deferment for not only Rudy, who was a clerk and legal intern after law school in 1970, but for many others that were working for the Federal Attorney General Offices and Court Systems … no different than thousands of other young folks in that time … but he was still here had he been called on to serve … unlike Clinton …
I agree feebie but im not the guy standing there next to em… only the troops know….
A questioner wants to send someone to mars. He shouldn’t bother - Ron Paul is already there.
ok the intherear was tasteless i apoligize.
if the majority of troops and generals have a problem, then yes. But honestly, I am really not sure if that is the case…..
These guys were really great guys. Honest. And very proud service men,.
Mars?
#126- lmao
#116 feebiebabe: When he did that good job, he wasn’t openly gay. If he had been open, would his units have done as well? This retired officer thinks not.
I did not realize that following a hyperlink was a task beyond your limited abilities.
Jim,
Rudy was pretty conservative about guns when you consider the city he was dealing with. Few people seem to remember what that place was like when he first, and even in vermont, one of the most lenient gun law states, there is still a cursory background check.
mitt answered that one well ,, talk to the military….. by now they have a clue of the non problems or problems.
don’t think so. i couldn’t tell you, honestly.
I would go with whatever is best for the troops. but if what is going on currently is working….
i just can tell you, these guys were really good guys. that is all.
18 days and counting fenser. You troll a good game, but you run away when the going gets tough - not a very conservative trait.
Wow… confederate flag?
confed. flag is a non-issue. come-on!
If you consider filing a lawsuit against all the gun makers in America “pretty moderate”, sure. But even for a moby, that’s pushing things a bit.
someone should ask a simple question like , what about all this PC bullcrap and do you call your xmas tree an xmas tree or seasonal tree…
the south lost , get over it!
#140 - its a hannaka bush (my old boss was jewish…he always set up a christmas tree but kiddingly called it a Hannuka bush…)
I thought it was cute/
Another Flenser comment against Rudy again, get a life, pal, and keep your word the next time.
i like bush
and the president also…
Update 9:58pm Eastern. Why don’t black Americans vote for Republicans?
Giuliani: We haven’t done a good enough job of reaching out.
See!!! Another Larry Craig hit. Don’t reach out Rudy.
You, sir, have committed a redundant redundancy. And a false one at that. That was a comment against you.
Anybody feel up to doing a study of who got how much time? Or a link to where one is done…seems like I saw a lot of Rudy and Romney.
Ron Paul is a waste of space on the stage …
THAT WOULD BE A BLACK HOLE DL, :LOL:
opps
he’s kinda right about that, John. When you think that senator Byrd was a former KKK officer, and a long-standing democrat senator and the blacks are generally against republicans, not reaching out is pretty obvious.
Really. I was born and raised in the state that started the civil war and I have a confederate flag of my own. It has nothing to do with my choice of candidates. I want to know who will do the best job for the country represented by the American flag.
Rudy could call for the nationalization of industry, and some here would say, “You know, he has a good point”.
Too bad you have no credibilty as a guy who answers his questions and keeps his word, Flenser. Just another big-mouthed troll. You blew it. That thread will always be there to prove it.
The debate is over, and the beautiful missus is informing me of the fact. Goodnight all.
the way they fought the civil war i’m surprised anybody was left standing.
Backwoods, I think anyone who wants a confed. flag… bless them. I have NO problem with it either way. I just don’t get people who do…
Non-issue when people equate it to racism.
That is what i meant.
I hate the Yankee’s.
I encourage people to read it, and see a Rudybot at work.
I just don’t get people who do…HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.
I forgot to complete that sentance.
Sorry.