Republican Presidential Candidate Debate #4 - Des Moines, IA 08/05/07 - Official Discussion Thread

ABC

[CounterCounterCulture]

Republican Presidential Candidate Debate #4 – Des Moines, Iowa 08/05/07 - Official Discussion Thread

ABC News will be conducting a debate to be aired on This Week. The nine announced GOP presidential candidates meet in a campaign debate at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. George Stephanopoulos is the moderator; Des Moines Register political writer David Yepsen poses additional questions. Debate starts at 8 am CT (9 am ET/ 6 am PT) * check local stations for broadcast time in your area *

Candidates participating

• Sam Brownback
• Rudy Giuliani
• Mike Huckabee
• Duncan Hunter
• John McCain
• Mitt Romney
• Ron Paul
• Tom Tancredo
• Tommy Thompson

[rodguy911]

Exactly, pretty soon we may be down to a top three or so.

[RasterMaster]

Paul said “GET OUT NOW” when asked about Iraq....he doesn’t need any spin on that. It is CUT & RUN, same as when a DUmocrat says it.

[Grunthor]

“Paul said “GET OUT NOW” when asked about Iraq”

Hard to explain that anyother way.

[codercpc]

Although Rudy supporters have dropped off, and I agree that they are pretty much neck and neck, my point wasn't that you shouldn't support him, it was to point out that this thread was a debate thread to discuss the debate. And if Fred didn't show up, I think it is unfair to the other candidates that did to put them down.

Look, I think that this campaign season started waaaaaaaay to early. But that horse is out of the barn. So if Fred wasn't there it isn't the fault of the other candidates, it is his fault. I wanted to support Fred, but he hasn't done anything that impresses me yet, so it is my right to state that. He should either get in, or get out, because regardless of whether you or I like the fact, the race has started. It would like me watching a Brewers game, and commenting on how good they were doing, but you getting into the conversation that was centered on one certain game and saying well Barry Bonds is the greatest player of all time, so the game you are watching is stupid. Unless Barry Bonds is actually in the game, it is useless to talk about it.

In reality I thought the winner today was Mitt, but that doesn't mean I won't give props to the others that actually got up their and participated in the debates. Fred didn't so I won't bring him into it, only to say that he missed yet another shot at impressing me.

[rodguy911]

One of the better posts on here today,no wonder the dems are controlling both houses with all our in-fighting.

[HawaiianGecko]

I noticed that Ron Paul managed to get half the audience to applaud every one of his lines, yet, less than 1% of Republicans say they would vote for him.  Being a curious type I called my daughter in law (an actuary in a mega firm) and asked her opinion of this seemingly quirky happening. She thought it possible if he were only asked questions important to the GOP base and he managed to give the appropriate answer.

When I explained that wasn't the case and that one needed a drool bucket to catch all the times the words "neo con" dripped from his lips, that  "President Bush waged an illegal war in Iraq", and that all the world's problems were the cause of American foreign policy; she asked me if I had lost my powers of deductive and critical thinking.

I think George Snuffalufagus, his people or both spiked the audience a wee bit.

Other than that, I thought it went rather well.  Particularly Gov. Romney's line of Obama going from Jane Fonda to Dr. Strangelove in the course of one week.

[RasterMaster]

Also went over and beyond kooksville...”War was never declared, we went in illegally”.

[AuntB]

See a pattern? We're tired of your BS.

I second that emotion.

[George W. Bush]

If I was solely going by debate performance to-date, my vote would be for Rudy. He and Romney both turn in the best performances, but Rudy just seems far more down-to-earth.

Rudi is a scripted and increasingly disciplined candidate, something he had to learn to do as NYC mayor.

Mitt is surprisingly off-the-cuff. He lets himself get baited over Mormonism (his use of "holier than thou" today) and is either a little testy or too inclined. I notice he does make quick recoveries though, a sign of some political skill. However, he's not as disciplined a candidate as the leftwing mayor.

Rudi has hit his stride, a smooth political product. We'd better not underestimate him.

With Romney, it's such a mixed picture overall. He has to defend the Mormonism thing and his...ahem...changes on abortion policy and such. He gets attacked and looks a little testy or thin-skinned but then he comes back and smooths it over pretty good. Not as smooth and scripted as the leftwing mayor but maybe a little more authentic.

As for McCrazy, I just think he missed his chance in 2000. Period. The GOP no longer plays the it's-his-turn thing that gave us Bob Dole in '96.

Huckabee and Brownback have shown some growth in Iowa but I don't think they match RP's support there for the crucial Ames straw poll. I think they're finished because unless they win or pull a strong second at Ames, their money is just gone. Same for Thompson, Duncan, Tancredo. And you don't get more money if you can't at least win, place, or show in Iowa, a fairly conservative state.

As for RP, the Ames straw poll is crucial. He has to win/place/show as well, I think. It's a college town and his nationwide grassroots has done everything possible there (CallIowa, MailIowa, 13500 DVDs, ran their own radio ads, bought $10,000 in tickets to hand out and got a CA lawyer to spring for another $5000 in tickets; that's 428 tickets we bought for RP that he didn't spend a dime on, we recruited them, we sold them, we bought those tickets!).

They all have to perform, maybe Ron Paul more than anyone except Romney. Ames is a test for who gets weeded out of the field.

[Grunthor]

“...War was never declared”

Well, techniqually, by the letter of the law, it wasn’t. Maybe it was inferred in spirit. But there was no WW2 style Declaration of War.

[George W. Bush]

With Brownback, I just think there is something nonverbal about the guy that says not ready for prime time.

Brownback's young. He is probably eying 2012 vs. Hitlery.

[Fudd Fan]

Well-said!!

[Reagan Man]

>>>>>I think that this campaign season started waaaaaaaay to early. But that horse is out of the barn. And if Fred didn't show up, I think it is unfair to the other candidates that did to put them down.

I agree, the campaign started way too early. What you don't seem to realize is, its still somewhat early. Just because a debate was held, doesn't dictate that everyone already officially running be present, or those thinking of running must show up. The only horse thats out of the barn is the one let losse by the mainstream media. Which all good conservatives understand, is liberal to its core.

Appears as though FredT didn't think it was incumbent upon him to be there and you know what, he's right. This was a dog and pony show moderated by another liberal network lefty. I'm not impressed.

>>>>>I wanted to support Fred, but he hasn't done anything that impresses me yet ...

So knocking down Rooty Toot`s support doesn't impress you. Well, at best that shows your lack of commitment to conservative politics. At worst, its shows why your a RudyBooster at heart.

[wpa_mikeb]

Gotta tell you, I’m starting to wonder if your conclusion isn’t right.

I’m going to vote for the GOP candidate. Do I care who it is? Yes. I’ll care when I cast my primary ballot.

I don’t get the sniping between supporters of the different GOP candidates. Disagree, understand different sentiments, but some of this anger and name calling seems to be very counter productive.

Just my two cents.

[wpa_mikeb]

I agree with you, too.

I’m supporting the GOP candidate. Ron Paul is our version of Dennis Kucinich. He makes noise, that’s all.

[Fudd Fan]

some of this anger and name calling seems to be very counter productive

I couldn't agree more. Almost like it's meant to be that way.

[HitmanLV]

I agree. This time around, I am seeing that conservatives can be just as fringy and nutty as the loopiest liberals.

And you’re right - losing does give one the comfort of knowing that they don’t have to actually accomplish anything, and they can stay on their self-satisfied perch and look down on everyone else, while their agenda goes to crap.

At least they are secure in the knowledge that they were right all along.

Whether conservative or liberal, such a posture is evidence of immaturity at best, and mental illness at worst.

[rodguy911]

Your two cents are worth a million bucks.

[Califreak]

I noticed this too. I couldn’t miss this-to me, this election will be the most critical, one in our history. I’m losing sleep over who might get in.

I thought it would be interesting to see how George operates in this, since he used to work for the demonic duo. I wasn’t surprised to see him repeatedly cutting them off when he didn’t like the answers! I was fully expecting it.

[maica]

Definitely not a scientific poll...

&&&&&

I tried to submit a vote for Mitt and got an error message. Tried again for none of above “I am a democrat” and the vote was counted.

A VERY unscientific poll!