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The South Carolina GOP debate; Update 9:26pm Fred goes after Huckabee; 9:36pm - Fred’s on fire, Hume embarrasses Paul; 9:50pm - It’s the battle of the one-liners; 10:36pm Winners and losers

By Michelle Malkin  •  January 10, 2008 09:00 PM

10:36pm Eastern. The debate is finished. (Here’s the AP’s take. Kind of fun to compare it with mine. Allah has post-debate focus group video and analysis.) Fred will be declared the clear winner. There are a lot of folks on our side of the blogosphere who were pulling for him. He delivered his one-liners better than anyone else. As I noted below, someone gave him some Red Bull. He aggressively attacked Huckabee, showed humor, and looked comfortable on stage.

But.

He doesn’t have the intestinal fortitude to go after John McCain. And judging from the audience reaction, Mike Huckabee’s South Carolina evangelical base is sticking with him.

Romney was a big loser tonight. His delivery was wooden. The other candidates ignored him. In just four/five days, he seems to have completely lost that front-runner status.

McCain didn’t do himself harm. Nothing gained or lost. It’s everyone else who failed to challenge McCain who lost.

What does this say about the state of the GOP?

Brit Hume will be getting a tsunami of Ronulan hate mail for handing Paul his head on his Iran/Strait of Hormuz answer. Brit, they’ll be with you for life.

Here’s the Hume/Paul smackdown vid via Hot Air:

10:29pm Eastern. Thompson: High fences, wide gates. We decide when to open and close it. Fred goes soft on his “friend John McCain” over amnesty. Weak. He doesn’t have the stomach to take McCain on.

Paul: If we subsidize something, you get more of it. Gives economic argument against illegal immigration. Cites health care subsidies and welfare state. Yes. He’s right. “The law is the law and we should enforce the law.”

Huckabee reels off his nine-point plan but says: “We should have the assumption that everybody here is legal, not illegal.”

WHAT!?

Giuliani is asked about sanctuary. He’s defending his sanctuary policy. “He’s very proud of it.” Yes, I’m tuning him out.

Wait. He just made me laugh: “I would be the best at stopping illegal immigration.”

10:25pm Eastern. McCain gets first immigration question from Goler. McCain says shamnesty failed because of lack of trust. Well, it was also because shamnesty is a reckless, bad idea–and because of the arrogant way in which McCain and company wanted to ram this bad idea down our throats. Recycles his Geraldo line about not deporting illegal alien relatives of soldiers.

Smattering of applause.

But how would he remove illegal aliens?

Romney: Secure the border, have the fence, Border Patrol, employer verification. Our difference is what we do with 12 million. They should stand in line. Not be given special pathway or privilege. Applause. Send ‘em home and wait in line.

10:23pm Eastern. Ok, we’re at our last commercial break. It looks like they have saved immigration for last. While we wait, here are the vids of Fred’s made-for-YouTube one-liner moments from the first part of the debate via Hot Air:

Attacking Huckabee’s Dem coalition:

Meet the virgins:

10:19pm Eastern. Huckabee defends his faith, comments on marriage/wife. Gets strong applause from SC crowd. “Marriage is an important institution. It teaches us how to love.” Strong applause from the audience.

Cameron on Paul. “Electability: Do you have any?” Laughter. He appeals to fiscal conservatism to fend off attacks that he less Republican than other candidates. Applause.

10:15pm Eastern. Rudy is asked about 9/11 and what makes him equipped to fight the war on terror, but he answers by saying Democrats will take change out of our pockets. Goes back to reciting his resume. Same stuff from the weekend. Here we go with the Saudi prince line. Did you know that he returned the money? Naww. Hadn’t heard that before.

He’s like the Bill Richardson of the GOP field.

Am I the only one not listening to Rudy anymore?

10:08pm Eastern. Back from the break, Romney’s giving his Obama change speech. Change. Broken Washington. Change. Change. Change. Zzzzzzz.

McCain’s turn to repeat his surge speech, the same change speech he gave during the weekend debate. Can someone please stop the talking points? We heard all of this four/five days ago.

Thompson goes after Huckabee again…this time on his tax record. I ask again: Will Fred go after McCain?

10:04pm Eastern. It’s halftime. The Fredheads will be going wild, with good reason. He woke up tonight. But is it too little, too late? And will it be enough to move South Carolina voters? Thompson’s focusing his sights on Huckabee. But what about McCain. We haven’t touched immigration yet. Will Fred go after McCain?

***

Scroll down for updates from first half of the debate..the debate got off to a slow start, but it’s hopping now…Fred’s seizing the moment, Romney and Giuliani have been non-entities so far…Brit Hume handed Ron Paul his head…the campaigns’ joke-writers worked overtime–it’s the battle of the one-liners…

***
START OF THE DEBATE.

9:00pm. I’m starting a new thread. We’ll see if any of our questions get asked. The debate is livestreaming at FoxNews.com. Got your popcorn? Red Bull? Here we go…

9:02pm. I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen the National Anthem performed at one of these things. Nice!

Introductions of the candidates. Is it just me or does the debate set-up make it look like they’re all going to play Jeopardy?

The bell will ding if they go over time. The bell sounds like it’s from Quiz Show!

First topic: The economy. Chris Wallace is doing the questioning. Are we headed for a recession?

Romney: Maybe we are, maybe we aren’t. Cites Mass. record, economic turnaround.

Oh, no. His first proposal: “Stop the housing crisis.”

Wallace, please follow up!!!! Is he for Bush/Hillarycare for housing or not? If not, what the heck does he mean.

NO FOLLOW-UP.

Wallace throws it to McCain. McCain wants “straight talk.” He’s dissing Mitt’s Mass. jobs record. McCain thinks it’s the federal government’s job to retrain people who’ve been laid off.

This is Clintonspeak.

McCain gives some stump talking points about the need to control spending and reduce foreign oil dependency. “Education and training” is important. No more earmarks. “I’m called the Sheriff…I didn’t win Miss Congeniality.”

Wallace goes to Huckabee, cites his ad on the economy. Do you want an economic stimulus package?

Huckabee cites recession-creating factors: Fuel prices, subprime mortages. There’s culpability on both lender and borrowers… “I commend the president.” Says Bush approach doesn’t involve tax dollars.

Bull.

Huckabee sounds a lot softer than he did a few weeks ago:

In an interview on Fox News recently, you said that the government should not be bailing out people whose mortgages are about to reset to interest rates that they can’t afford. Foreclosures are at record rates right now. Wouldn’t doing nothing — as millions of Americans risk losing their homes — smack of Herbert Hoover deferring to the market as 25 percent of Americans were unemployed in the Depression?

Not at all. What you have is a situation where you have culpability on the part of the lenders and the borrowers. The fact is you need to encourage the lenders to try to work with those who have borrowed to keep from foreclosure because ultimately nobody wins. The banks don’t need an enormous inventory of property on their hands that they can’t move any more than the market can. The lender doesn’t need to be in default and ultimately bankruptcy and out of a home.

But what we don’t need is a government bailout. That is not the purpose of government, to prop people up from every poor decision they make. In fact, when you do that … whether it’s in the world of finance or the world of drug addiction … it creates an enabling codependency. It’s the last thing that really helps people.

Is there some way to bring some resolve to it? Yes. But it needs to be handled by the … people who made the mistake in the first place: overambitious borrowers and greedy lenders, who saw a way to suck people into interest rates that they should have known they couldn’t afford in the long term.

Ron Paul speaks. We’re in a recession because of…the Austrian theory of the business cycle. “The housing market is in a depression.” Lower interest rates? That’s the problem. That allows the inevitable recession to come. Don’t pretend that artificial stimulus is going to help.

Well, miracle of miracles, he didn’t mention the military-industrial complex.

Fred gets a turn. What a great opportunity he has to attack the Bush/Hillarycare approach to the housing crisis…

…never mind. HE WANTS A FISCAL STIMULUS. “It needs to be considered somewhere down the line.”

That’s the end of the economic discussion.

Geez, that was unsatisfying.

Carl Cameron goes to Huckabee on the survival of a Reagan coalition. Huckbee is giving a stump speech. He appeals to social cons and then does his economic populist thing–appealing to single moms.

McCain: The Reagan principles…we’ve gone away from…we came to power to change government and government changed us….cites Bridge to Nowhere…

Dan Riehl points out a new jobs entitlement that McCain’s been apparently pimping.

Romney gets an abortion question. He deflects and answers the Reagan coalition question. Another stump speech.

Someone needs to start interrupting them and throw them off their talking points.

Romney’s droning on. “Strengthen the economy. I’ll make sure they come to Amerca.”

Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop!

FINALLY!!!!

***9:26pm Fred interrupts.***

He wants to address the Reagan revolution. “This is a battle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party.” Fred’ attacks Huckabee. He would be a Christian leader, but he would also be a liberal economic populist, gets NEA endorsement, would close Gitmo, ban smoking.

YES, YES, YES, YES!!

Fred: “That’s not the model of the Reagan revolution. That’s the model of the Democrat party.”

Crowd erupts in appaluse.

Huckabee answers. Sticks to defending Arkansas record. Some applause.

Giuliani gets a question. Cameron asks him to state why he’s a complete conservative “without quoting George Will.” Heh. Giuliani talks about working for Reagan, peace through strength.

Zzzzzzzzzz.

9:31pm Eastern. Cameron goes to Paul on the Truthers. Are you prepared to embrace that rhetoric or abandon it?

I can’t tell them what to do, but I’ve abandoned it.

Cameron: Would you ask them to cease it? I don’t endorse what they say.

Could I please participate in the current debate? Wants to address whether we’ve lost our way.

9:33pm Eastern. Commercial break.

9:36pm Eastern. We’re back. Brit Hume asks Huckabee if US officers responded correctly in the Strait of Hormuz incident. Huck: “Prepare to face the gates of Hell.” Applause.

***Fred’s turn.*** He pulls out a one-liner that gets applause: “I think one more step and they would have been introduced to those virgins they’re looking forward to seeing.” Applause.

I think someone gave Fred a Red Bull. This is the liveliest I’ve ever seen him at one of these debates.

Well, it is do or die time. I’d say he’s doing.

And I’d say Rudy’s dying. He’s talking, but without any pep. More careful now than with conviction. He does make a good point about the NIE and Iran’s perception of American weakness.

Brit asks McCain what he would have done if he were captain. McCain talks about history, freedom of the seas, praises Navy’s professionalism.

***Ron Paul complains about “rush to judgement” and waves the “Bush-as-war-mongerer” flag. Moonbats will be partially assuaged after getting

Brit points out that all the candidates all supported the commander’s decision to be passive. What are you reacting to?

Audience is laughing at Ron Paul.***

Romney - Paul shouldn’t be reading so many of Ahmadenijad’s press releases. (Mix of applause and boos).

9:48pm Eastern. McCain champions the surge on the anniversary of its introduction. Rudy goes after McCain, asserting that he supported the surge, too. Sorry, but Rudy is really a non-entity.

Paul gives his “blowback” speech.

McCain responds, tries to shoehorn in a packaged one-liner. “I’m not interested in trading with al Qaeda, the only thing they trade is burkas. I’m not interested in traveling with them. They only use one-way tickets.”

Thompson’s one-liner on Iraq: “You know it’s good news coming out of Iraq because you read so little about it in the NYTimes.” Talks Pakistan.

Romney talks about Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran, but “we need to think more broadly…move moderate Islam to greater strength…ultimately, move the world of Islam so Muslims themselves reject the extreme.”

10:00pm Eastern. Huckabee challenges Paul, gives a strong defense of Israel. Annihilation of Israel, which is what our enemies want, “would not happen under my presidency.”

Appaluse.

Paul: “We treat Israel as a stepchild, undermine their sovereignty.” Why do we arm their enemies? No reason for not treating Israel in an adult fashion. “Besides, we don’t have any money to do this.”

Giuliani chimes in: Idea that it’s treated as a stepchild is absurd. Repeats Huckabee.

Thompson goes after Huckabee on Pakistan. “Our supporting of their military is a good thing.” Hmmm.

Posted in: 2008 campaign

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Comments

  1. #1
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:03 pm, ajmontana said:

    And it was done beautifully.

  2. #2
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:04 pm, Crazy Horse said:

    IT was nice to hear the anthem and nobody acting dumb while doing so.

    Okay, prepare for the dodging and ignoring and Dr. Nuts

  3. #3
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:04 pm, Gator70 said:

    The anthem was a nice touch.

  4. #4
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:04 pm, Armigerous said:

    Go Fred !!!…time to romp and stomp

  5. #5
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:06 pm, unclemonkey said:

    Mitt: “Stop the housing crisis”.

    He just lost my vote(not that he ever had it).

  6. #6
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:06 pm, Gator70 said:

    Yah good luck fixin what Granholm and her crew won’t.

  7. #7
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:07 pm, steveegg said:

    No Red Bull, but plenty of Sam Adams.

  8. #8
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:07 pm, unclemonkey said:

    Get rid of those people “doing the jobs Americans won’t do” and the unemployment rate would be even lower than it already is.

  9. #9
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:07 pm, ajmontana said:

    with no follow up its basically rhetoric.

  10. #10
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:08 pm, zorro said:

    Yes, the National Anthem was a nice touch and a very nice rendition.

  11. #11
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:09 pm, Gator70 said:

    “I’ll make the authors of it famous”, I like that. Good line.

  12. #12
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:10 pm, zorro said:

    Is the Huskster at the wrong debate?

  13. #13
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:11 pm, geminicontender said:

    I love the National Anthem being played. That showed a great appreciation for what (we) do and should feel about this wonderful Nation.

  14. #14
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:12 pm, unclemonkey said:

    As much as I don’t like him, at least Huckabee laid some of the blame for the sub-prime mortgage “crisis” at the feet of the borrowers. Probably more than any of the others would have done.

  15. #15
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:13 pm, mngirl said:

    “I’ll make the authors of it famous”,

    Yea but, like his drunken sailor quote he’s used it about 900 times. He needs some new stump quotes.

  16. #16
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:14 pm, unclemonkey said:

    Did McCain just mention making the tax cuts permanent? The same tax cuts he said he wouldn’t vote for again?

  17. #17
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:14 pm, Jacob Hammond said:

    McCain wants to make tax cuts perment that he voted against. Liar he wants to raise taxes

  18. #18
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:15 pm, zorro said:

    Headline, McCain, “make tax cuts permanent”

  19. #19
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:15 pm, Gator70 said:

    I hate when I agree with Ron Paul. He is economically sound to an extent.

  20. #20
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:16 pm, Dersu said:

    Fred is last, but where did I hear the last shall be first?

  21. #21
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:16 pm, Jacob Hammond said:

    Why is Ron allowed at this debate they should of barred him again.

  22. #22
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:18 pm, zorro said:

    So that’s Ron Paul…

  23. #23
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:19 pm, Gator70 said:

    A free market economy will work itself out on it’s own, leave it alone!

  24. #24
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:20 pm, zorro said:

    On top of everything else the Huckster is a smarta$$ too

  25. #25
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:20 pm, geminicontender said:

    Huckabee is not a ‘Reagan’ Republican. And the fact that he breathes his name in the same vain I find disconcerting.

  26. #26
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:20 pm, unclemonkey said:

    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:18 pm, zorro said:

    So that’s Ron Paul…

    That’s what I was thinking; I’d never actually paid any attention to him before. He’s even crazier than I imagined. I didn’t understand a thing he said.

  27. #27
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:21 pm, Gator70 said:

    That’s the end of the economic discussion.

    Geez, that was unsatisfying.

    I agree I am disappointed, I only agreed with Paul in the fact that the puclic does have some responsibility for this due to our undisciplined spending.

  28. #28
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:21 pm, zorro said:

    Geez, that was unsatisfying.

    Overall, the entire panel is underwhelming.

  29. #29
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:23 pm, geminicontender said:

    Now Mitt on Reagan……sheeesh!

  30. #30
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:24 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    We’re getting a sense of the depth of these guys: some go into technocratic detail (Rudy, Thompson) while others go off into warm and fuzzy stump speeches (McCain, Huckabee), and others straddle the two (Romney) while others go off into space (guess who). It’s too bad these guys are running for President, otherwise this might be a really interesting discussion.

  31. #31
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:25 pm, Dersu said:

    FDT about to kick arse

  32. #32
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:25 pm, ajmontana said:

    yeah baby! go fred!

  33. #33
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:25 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    THOMPSON HIGHJACKS THE DEBATE DEMANDING TO ANSWER A QUESTION PUT TO OTHERS!

    CRRRYYYYY- BAAAABYYYY!

  34. #34
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:25 pm, geminicontender said:

    Fred cuts in and leads forward! Yes! Gettin’ down in SC.

  35. #35
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:25 pm, brooklyn red said:

    Go Fred Go

  36. #36
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:25 pm, ajmontana said:

    somebody has lite the fuse!!!! yes!

  37. #37
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:25 pm, Gator70 said:

    Bammmmm! yeah Baby! I donated to that guy!

  38. #38
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:26 pm, zorro said:

    Score one for Fred

  39. #39
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:26 pm, unclemonkey said:

    Ouch. Fred just ripped Huckabee a new one.

  40. #40
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:26 pm, Dersu said:

    God Bless FDT

  41. #41
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:26 pm, geminicontender said:

    I think Huckabee supports Planned Parenthood. He’s putting a ’sheath’ over his history:):)

  42. #42
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:27 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    There are rules to debates, Fred. learn ‘em.

  43. #43
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:27 pm, geminicontender said:

    “I made government work.” Not a good answer Mike.

  44. #44
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:28 pm, backwoods conservative said:

    Way to go, Fred!

  45. #45
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:28 pm, Dersu said:

    They kept electing him as Gov,

    They kept electing billy boy too, you jerk

  46. #46
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:28 pm, ajmontana said:

    he wanted to address the same question the other did cat, get over it.

  47. #47
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:29 pm, unclemonkey said:

    I was about to propose a drinking game; but If I took a drink every time someone mentions Reagan tonight I wouldn’t make it to work tomorrow.

  48. #48
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:29 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    Rudy: Reagan won not because he was conservative, but because he was a the best leader who happened to be conservative. Brilliant distinction. One for Rudy big time.

  49. #49
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:29 pm, TexasTiger said:

    YouTube. Tomorrow. I’ll watch it there. Yawn.

  50. #50
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:31 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:28 pm, ajmontana said:
    he wanted to address the same question the other did cat, get over it.

    Would if we could always get our own way the way fred did tonight. It was still childish and unsportsmanlike.

    Done on that. Moving on….

  51. #51
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:31 pm, zorro said:

    Ron Paul vs 9/11 Truthers.

  52. #52
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:31 pm, brooklyn red said:

    Rudy looks good too…

  53. #53
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:31 pm, Lindsay said:

    GO FRED (and MITT)!

    McCon is getting too much time.

    Husband says Huckabee reminds him of the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz. He does have a fever, but I thought it was funny.

  54. #54
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:31 pm, Jacob Hammond said:

    Ron can’t tell his supporters that 9/11 wasnt an inside job.

  55. #55
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:32 pm, geminicontender said:

    I will say Ron Paul is right about ‘robbing’ from Social Security

  56. #56
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:34 pm, Jacob Hammond said:

    Ron should get off the stage

  57. #57
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:34 pm, Gator70 said:

    I’m just happy I get to participate in a no kidding active thread. It’s so rare I’m around during one.

  58. #58
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:34 pm, brooklyn red said:

    Issues… over feelings yes I do believe our 40 yrs are over.

  59. #59
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:34 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:32 pm, geminicontender said:
    I will say Ron Paul is right about ‘robbing’ from Social Security

    I always check my temperature with an accurate digital thermometer when Ron Paul begins to make sense, the way he did momentarily a moment ago.

  60. #60
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:35 pm, Gator70 said:

    I wish Paul wasn’t such a nut all of the time, I do agree with some of this points.

  61. #61
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:35 pm, ajmontana said:

    It was still childish and unsportsmanlike.
    Done on that. Moving on….

    It was strong and to the point.
    done with that moving on…

  62. #62
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:37 pm, ajmontana said:

    they are ships huckster…

  63. #63
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:37 pm, zorro said:

    Fred and the virgins! Goot one.

  64. #64
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:37 pm, Gator70 said:

    Yeah Fred! How freakin awesome is that?

  65. #65
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:38 pm, Jacob Hammond said:

    There not boats there ships huck

  66. #66
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:38 pm, unclemonkey said:

    I agreed with Huck and Fred on that one. How often is that gonna happen?

  67. #67
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:39 pm, geminicontender said:

    Fred: If they cross the line they will be destroyed. With regard to Iranian speed boats.

  68. #68
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:41 pm, zorro said:

    Ron and Rosie, sitting in a tree…

  69. #69
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:41 pm, unclemonkey said:

    When did Rosie O’Donnell become a shriveled old man?

  70. #70
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:41 pm, Gator70 said:

    Oh the Tonkin Card. Whatever. Loser.

  71. #71
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:42 pm, unclemonkey said:

    Wow, even Brit just made Paul look like a fool.

  72. #72
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:43 pm, Gator70 said:

    Brit gottem good.

  73. #73
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:43 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:35 pm, ajmontana said:
    It was still childish and unsportsmanlike.
    Done on that. Moving on….

    Still childish, whiney, not presidential. Sorry.

  74. #74
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:43 pm, zorro said:

    Wow, Brit just woke Ron Paul up…

  75. #75
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:43 pm, ajmontana said:

    GET THE STAGE HOOK!

  76. #76
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:43 pm, Jacob Hammond said:

    Hume pwned Ron

  77. #77
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:43 pm, unclemonkey said:

    Is that people laughing at Ron Paul in the audience? About time.

  78. #78
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:44 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    I feel sorry for Paul at this point. He doesn’t stand a chance and now it’s just getting pathetic. Seriously.

  79. #79
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:45 pm, unclemonkey said:

    Pathetic yes, but I don’t feel sorry for that fool. If the U.S. was looking for a reason to bomb Iran, wouldn’t supplying bombs that have been killing out troops in Iraq have been plenty?

  80. #80
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:47 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    I don’t support him but points for McCain right now. Thumbs up. (but if he says “my friends” one more time I’ll gag)

  81. #81
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:48 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    I know, Unclemoneky, it’s just my nature. I have a low patheticity threshold.

  82. #82
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:49 pm, Josh said:

    Even if I didn’t have a host of other reasons not to vote for McCain, it’d drive me nuts to hear him say ‘Worshington’ for 5 years.

  83. #83
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:50 pm, Jacob Hammond said:

    Why is Ron still getting Questions?

  84. #84
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:51 pm, Gator70 said:

    aaaaghhh! my freakin cable just went out.

  85. #85
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:51 pm, geminicontender said:

    Ron Paul emphasizing ‘blowback’?

  86. #86
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:51 pm, unclemonkey said:

    My God Ron Paul really has no understanding of the realities of the world.

  87. #87
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:52 pm, deepdiver said:

    McCain’s attempted humor fell flat - and he looks constipated. Still excellent overall on certain foreign policy issues — wonder how he would be as Sec of Defense?

  88. #88
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:53 pm, zorro said:

    Score another for Fred, ie NY Times slam

  89. #89
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:54 pm, backwoods conservative said:

    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:51 pm, unclemonkey said:

    My God Ron Paul really has no understanding of the realities of the world.

    Exactly why I’m so opposed to him.

  90. #90
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:54 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    Deepdiver: McCain is against harsh treatment of terrorist POWs. Not sure Sec of Defense would be able to squeeze the info we need the way it needs to be squeezed.

  91. #91
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:56 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    Romney: “3-dimensional chess”. Is he a closet star trek nerd? :-)

  92. #92
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:57 pm, zorro said:

    Early start tomorrow. Good Night all. Thanks Michelle.

  93. #93
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:58 pm, geminicontender said:

    McCain may be against waterboarding primarily because that happened t him. Yet, he’s here with us today, is he not? Do we know if he spilled the beans on anything?

  94. #94
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:58 pm, unclemonkey said:

    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:56 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    Romney: “3-dimensional chess”. Is he a closet star trek nerd? :-)

    If so, he may be able to win me over after all. Although, I’m actually a Buffy the Vampire Slayer nerd, we’re still related to the Trekkies.

  95. #95
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:58 pm, deepdiver said:

    Yeah, I know, Cat, also a concern of mine which is why I just wonder about it sometimes. Question is how much interrogation is by CIA not under SecDef and how much by military under SecDef? I ask because I don’t know. And would he be another Rumsfeld, who echoed McNamara in micromanaging the war? Would he actually, really let the military fight the war? Would he if he were President even?

  96. #96
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:59 pm, Jacob Hammond said:

    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:58 pm, unclemonkey said Buffy the Vampire Slayer nerd, we’re still related to the Trekkies.

    Buffies are nothing like Trekkies

  97. #97
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:59 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    All the candidates are going after Paul because he makes them look good by comparison. This is getting sad. (they also waste time by giving Paul more time to orbit Pluto)

  98. #98
    On January 10th, 2008 at 9:59 pm, unclemonkey said:

    If Huckabee’s record backed up his rhetoric I’d be all for him.

  99. #99
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:00 pm, Jacob Hammond said:

    Israel would be gone if US wasnt there Ron

  100. #100
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:02 pm, unclemonkey said:

    One good point from Dr. Who, we do give too much aid and comfort to nations that hate us. How that relates to our supporting our allies is beyond my personal realm of stupidity.

    Buffies are nothing like Trekkies

    Maybe not, but we do have common ancestors.

  101. #101
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:03 pm, rightisright said:

    McCain has over used his stay at the Hanoi Hilton… he’s a bleedin lib.

  102. #102
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:03 pm, deepdiver said:

    Fred to Huckabee: Duh - that’s the point! Here let me explain it to you … lmao

  103. #103
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:04 pm, geminicontender said:

    Pauls thought about ’sovereignty’ is food for thought regarding ours.

  104. #104
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:04 pm, Jacob Hammond said:

    unclemonkey said Maybe not, but we do have common ancestors

    What is in Common between Trekkes and Buffies. There like polar opposites of sci fi world

  105. #105
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:04 pm, ajmontana said:

    This is much better than the dems, blah blah blah change change change, I’m going to do this that and the other thing nonsense rhetoric.

  106. #106
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:05 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    Thompson just can’t get with the program and keeps bloviating out of tern. Grrrrr. I used to like him, but this is getting crazy.

    Deepdiver: a fear I have is that McCain would put extraordinary pressure on not using tough techniques. He’s too close to the problem, I think.

    Gemini makes a great a point.

    Star trek nerds and Buffy nerds just go tto the same conventions. :-)

  107. #107
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:05 pm, ajmontana said:

    uh oh change question…lol

  108. #108
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:06 pm, BOB said:

    The problem with Ron Paul is that, even when he makes sense, the thought of him as President is a very scary thing.

  109. #109
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:06 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:02 pm, unclemonkey said:
    One good point from Dr. Who,

    But which incarnation? ;-)

  110. #110
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:07 pm, geminicontender said:

    Romney=boilerplate

  111. #111
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:07 pm, Jacob Hammond said:

    Ron Paul only make sense if your drunk and stoned out on crack

  112. #112
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:09 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    Is it me or does McCan’t seem like he’s a slow, boring drone?

    He’s way too low key, not that I care.

    Fred is on fire tonight.

  113. #113
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:09 pm, deepdiver said:

    McCain - Are you part of the problem or part of the solution?

    ME: OHOHOHOH me me me I know the answer!!!

    McCain-Feingold, shamnesty, no drilling in ANWR, anti-tax cuts … PROBLEM!!!!!

    Cat: I can’t disagree with you. I have similar concerns.

  114. #114
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:09 pm, geminicontender said:

    BOB, we’re not thinking of Paul being President. Ouch!!!!!

  115. #115
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:10 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    For the record this is the second debate in which huckabee sidestepped the question about his raising of taxes as governor.

  116. #116
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:11 pm, BOB said:

    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:07 pm, Jacob Hammond said:
    Ron Paul only make sense if your drunk and stoned out on crack

    He should have ran as a Democrat.

  117. #117
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:11 pm, deepdiver said:

    Huckabee left out the part that he raised taxes and supported and campaigned for democrats and gave away tax payer money to illegal immigrants

  118. #118
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:11 pm, Jacob Hammond said:

    For Me it a choice between Mitt or Fred I cant stand Huck or McCain

  119. #119
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:11 pm, flenser said:

    One argument for getting rid of Paul is that the others might take shots at each other then.

    Apart from Thompson taking on Huck, its been all lovey-dovey.

  120. #120
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:12 pm, ajmontana said:

    paul would make a good president….of PETA.

  121. #121
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:13 pm, meatpieandtatters said:

    The smell of warmongering hangs heavily in the air.

  122. #122
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:13 pm, flenser said:

    And as soon as I say that, Fred hits McCain.

    What power I have!

  123. #123
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:13 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    My old pal Flenser. It’s been 3 months and I’m still waiting for you to answer the one simple question i asked you. Would you like me to post the link to the thread.

    You were trolling here to bash rudy the last debate, i see.

  124. #124
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:14 pm, flenser said:

    Are you a Black Sabbath fan, meatpieandtatters?

  125. #125
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:14 pm, geminicontender said:

    Just a thought Jacob……..’fred’.

  126. #126
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:16 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    Flenser is a snide and nasty left-wing troll to bring down Republican frontrunners, boys and girls, FTR.

  127. #127
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:17 pm, flenser said:

    My old pal, Mr Neoconservative Cat!

    Good to see you again. Would you like me to post Rudy’s life story on this thread? I suppose MM would ban me for it, but I’m willing.

  128. #128
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:17 pm, Gator70 said:

    I agree with Huck on that.

  129. #129
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:17 pm, unclemonkey said:

    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:11 pm, deepdiver said:
    Huckabee left out the part that he raised taxes and supported and campaigned for democrats and gave away tax payer money to illegal immigrants

    But he made the roads better, so we should just forget all that little stuff.

    But which incarnation? ;-)

    I wouldn’t want to denigrate any of the good Doctor’s that way, although he does look a little bit like the 3rd Dr., Jon Pertwee.

  130. #130
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:17 pm, meatpieandtatters said:

    Military industrial complex? What? Come on? This fallacious idea is still being bandied about…? I mean, gee whiz, we only have a military presence in every theater in the world. We spend 100s of billions of dollars every year on personnel, equipment and new weapons system. Right now, we’re in two Middle Eastern countries and imparting democracy…at the tips of many guns and weapons. There’s talk of star wars-like systems to be deployed in space…Nah. There’s no military industrial complex: GE, Thiokol, TRW, SAIC, Lockheed, Boeing, GD, Bechtel etc.

  131. #131
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:18 pm, Jacob Hammond said:

    Fred is a thought geminicontender

  132. #132
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:18 pm, geminicontender said:

    Huk playing the ‘faith’ card……hmmmmmm….

  133. #133
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:18 pm, unclemonkey said:

    Whoops, got that blockquote backwards I see.

  134. #134
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:19 pm, Gator70 said:

    Huck laying the bible smack down, good for him.

  135. #135
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:19 pm, Gator70 said:

    geminicontender said:
    Huk playing the ‘faith’ card……hmmmmmm….

    They brought it up…

  136. #136
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:19 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    Unclemonkey,

    Ron Paul sounds like Davros. :-)

  137. #137
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:19 pm, Jacob Hammond said:

    Huck avoided the Question and tried to spin it off

  138. #138
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:20 pm, flenser said:

    Not at all. You don’t really think that the guy who got 4% in Iowa and 9% in New Hampshire (behind Huckabee!) and is polling at 9% in SC and MI is a “front runner”, do you? Even you can’t be out of touch that badly. Heck, Duncan Hunter has as many delegates as your guy!

  139. #139
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:20 pm, unclemonkey said:

    Uh, no Ron. Republicans don’t want you because you’re a psychotic, racist, anti-semitic ranting loony.

    Hope that clears things up.

  140. #140
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:21 pm, Jacob Hammond said:

    Yes Ron you are not electable I am not just suggesting it it is the truth

  141. #141
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:21 pm, Lindsay said:

    Why has McCain had more time than others? Or is it just me? Heck, Ron Paulinsane has had more time than Fred. I would interrupt,too. RP is a waste of time except for comedy relief.

  142. #142
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:21 pm, unclemonkey said:

    Ron Paul sounds like Davros. :-)

    Heh. Agreed.

  143. #143
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:21 pm, deepdiver said:

    I’ve been to Arkansas numerous times in the last 10 years - Missouri roads are pretty bad - but you can always tell when you hit Arkansas because it is either like suddenly driving on a washboard or there is construction as far as you can see (which is interesting that the same stretches of road were continuously under construction for years and years at a time). Essentially what appeared to happen is that they would lay down a crappy road, and then spend the next 5 years digging up 12×12 sections of that road and replacing it and then replace the entire road 5 years after that. Explains the low unemployment though … they were busy building and rebuilding the same roads year after year.

  144. #144
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:21 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    You record here is the one we need to focus on. Hit and run is your specialty. You made a promise to answer a question in a very active thread 3 mionths ago in which you shot off your big mouth the way you always do, and then ran away when it was your turn.

    “Hit and run Flenser, the left-wing activist troll.”

  145. #145
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:22 pm, Jacob Hammond said:

    I’ll vote for the guy that stands up and drags Ron off the Stage

  146. #146
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:22 pm, geminicontender said:

    Paul got one more thing correct. National Education Association. Get rid of it.

  147. #147
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:22 pm, unclemonkey said:

    RP is a waste of time except for comedy relief.

    Except that he’s not funny. Even my sense of humor isn’t that twisted and I laugh at Italian Cannibal movies.

  148. #148
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:22 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    Hey Uncle,

    during the commercial, what do you think of the new series?

  149. #149
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:23 pm, BOB said:

    I can’t watch anymore. I keep wanting to say what they won’t say, and ask the questions they aren’t being asked.

    Fred is better than the rest…but I still think Romney is more electible.

    I’ll abstain from voting if the choice is McCain.

  150. #150
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:24 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    Please don’t abstain, Bob. Every vote counts, even if it’s a vote against.

  151. #151
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:24 pm, Jacob Hammond said:

    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:23 pm, BOB said:
    Fred is better than the rest…but I still think Romney is more electible.

    I’ll abstain from voting if the choice is McCain.

    Agree 125 percent

  152. #152
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:24 pm, unclemonkey said:

    To be honest Cat, I haven’t seen any of it yet. I’m hardly ever home so a friend is recording all the episodes to get to me at the end of the season.

    Back to politics, I’m caring about politics tonight, really.

  153. #153
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:24 pm, navywife91 said:

    o boy here comes Mr. Amnesty

  154. #154
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:25 pm, geminicontender said:

    Now we’re talking….Immigration..

  155. #155
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:25 pm, Jacob Hammond said:

    McCain it failed because Americans stood up to you.

  156. #156
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:26 pm, deepdiver said:

    Wrong John, wrong, wrong, wrong!!!!!!! He absolutely STILL does not understand what we want on illegal immigration!

    All 12 million have committed a crime, John! They all crossed our borders illegally! I’m done … I can’ imagine how I could ever vote for that man!

  157. #157
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:26 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    DW: It’s good stuff, uncle. Impressive. ‘Nuff said.

  158. #158
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:26 pm, navywife91 said:

    time’s up
    next.

  159. #159
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:26 pm, geminicontender said:

    He still has to ’stutter’ through his response (McCain)

  160. #160
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:26 pm, unclemonkey said:

    There’s something surreal about hearing the co-author of the shamnesty bill talk about border security and the need to deport illegal aliens.

  161. #161
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:27 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    Dead-on, DeepDiver.

  162. #162
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:28 pm, geminicontender said:

    Mitt paid for his ‘garden crew’s flight’ back to Mexico. He is now a actve -anti….

  163. #163
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:28 pm, navywife91 said:

    yes, Fred!

  164. #164
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:28 pm, geminicontender said:

    Fred: Sanctuary cities go down./…YES!!!!!

  165. #165
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:28 pm, navywife91 said:

    no more money for sanctuary cities!

  166. #166
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:29 pm, deepdiver said:

    Wwwooooohooooo FRED! listened to We, the People!

  167. #167
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:29 pm, unclemonkey said:

    Great answer from Fred on immigration, Mitt sounded good too.

  168. #168
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:30 pm, navywife91 said:

    don’t want the votes of people who support other people who break our laws.

  169. #169
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:30 pm, Mookie said:

    Did Fred say what he’d do about the 10 million left after the felons are gone?

  170. #170
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:30 pm, flenser said:

    I had not realised that you were the site monitor, Mr Neoconservative Cat. I come here to read what Michelle has to say, not you. But since you are so insistent, you shall get your wish. I’ll post some information about Rudy.

    After I do, I’m sure you will respond by telling me that I’m an obsessed Rudy hater. I believe you did that last time. Yet here you are again, just begging me to quote you Rudy in his own words.

    Yes, please post a link to that thread where you called me a “tapeworm” for actually quoting something Rudy said. I’d like other people to see it.

    If “tapeworm” was your response to my fairly measured remarks there, I can’t wait to see your reaction to what I’ll post tonight.

  171. #171
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:30 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    Gotta give Fred props for that.

  172. #172
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:30 pm, NotaSlickFan said:

    Fred is the only one that talks straight. Huck is as ripe for attack as the loon Paul. Giaulani speaks only as the “Mayor of NY” (over and over, ad nauseam) and sounds completely impotent as he attempts to sound “tough”. Romney is a complete phony while McCain has total cred regarding terror but is as limp as Ted Kennedy laying in a stupor on the floor of the Senate chamber regarding our wide-open borders. Shamnesty is exactly what it is–a complete rip-off of the American citizen and open door to terror.

  173. #173
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:31 pm, Jacob Hammond said:

    Finally we are having debate then they bring in Ron and ruin it.

  174. #174
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:31 pm, unclemonkey said:

    Ron Paul actually almost made sense there, then he had to try to tie in Iraq. Can this guy talk for 60 seconds without saying something stupid?

  175. #175
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:31 pm, ajmontana said:

    Enjoyed the comments, have to run, cat sorry for being snippy.
    go fred!
    nite all….

  176. #176
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:32 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    Flenser,”Nobody needs your twisted recounting of Rudy’s record. i asked you to pick any candidate andpoint to what they had accomplished manifestly, tangibly, and then compare that to Rudy. Three months ago you said you would. You never did.

    You’re a left-wing troll and you need to go.

  177. #177
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:32 pm, geminicontender said:

    Jacob, the reason to run Paul on this debate is to show what we are up against on the Democratic side..

  178. #178
    On January 10th, 2008 at 10:33 pm, Mookie said:

    Kucinich is asking the NH Sec. of State for a recount of Tuesday’s ballots.