Posted on 01/10/2008 4:49:16 PM PST by CounterCounterCulture
Republican Presidential Candidate Debate #15 Myrtle Beach, SC 01/10/08 - Official Discussion Thread
Watch the Republican presidential primary candidates debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C., live on FOX News Channel and FOXNews.com at 9 p.m. ET.
Look at his record. PLEASE look at Huckabee’s record, it’s all over the place. He has NEVER been strong on illegal immigration. Do you call building a Mexican Consulate in Little Rock on tax dollars ‘strong’?
http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/
Myrtle Beach Debate: Who Won?
Don’t forget that we’ll have our post-debate wrap-up at Debate Central at 10:30 pm CT!
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/debatecentral
Who put the vitamins in Fred Thompson’s oatmeal? We have waited for Thompson to show up on the campaign trail, and tonight he finally did. He had energy, focus, a command of detail, and a willingness to finally engage with the other candidates on the stage. He took almost everyone else aback, and seized momentum that he only occasionally relinquished.
John McCain did as well as Thompson, if less spectacularly. He looked presidential, he also had a commanding presence, and he rolled with the tough questions that came his way. He didn’t flinch when Romney tried stinging him on saying that some jobs will never return in Michigan, and McCain buried him by noting that he won New Hampshire by not just telling people what they want to hear, but the truth. He scolded Fox for second-guessing the commanders in the Straits of Hormuz, but did it gently enough not to look mean.
Mike Huckabee and Rudy Giuliani had a pretty good debate, too. They seemed a little stiff and tentative at first, but both got moments to shine. Huckabee did a great job with the one religious question thrown at anyone. Giuliani’s talk on taxes and the vapidity of “change” as a political theme were good moments for him, and even his answer on immigration should have some people thinking about the implication of policy on the ground.
Romney did the least well in the debate. He seemed a little nonplussed not to be the center of the attack. It looked like he was punching against air at times, and the one zinger he aimed at McCain rebounded badly against him. He didn’t seem to find his stride during the debate, and he’s normally very good in this format, sometimes great.
Ron Paul delivered more than his share of nuttiness. The worst moment came when Brit Hume asked what the hell he was talking about, and then Hume had to repeat the question when Paul played deaf. He had just scolded everyone else on the stage for a rash reaction to the Iranian gunboat question when all of the candidates had supported the decision of the commanders not to fire, and then made it clear that he hadn’t paid attention to their answers.
Even more ludicrously, Paul suggested that Israel could have allied with moderate Arab states to eject Saddam Hussein from Kuwait in 1991 instead of having the US do it. How many of these nations will even have their representatives in the same room as an Israeli diplomat now? Ask Tzivi Lipni about that. He’s insane.
And as for the debate itself, Fox acquitted itself well for the most part, but they lose major points for not challenging Paul on the newsletters. Would they have asked George Allen about “macaca” if he had run for President? Of course they would have. So why not ask Paul about the racist, homophobic, and paranoid rants that appeared in his newsletters over a 17-year period? It’s a strange and somewhat craven action to avoid the topic.
UPDATE: Fred ate more Wheaties between the debate and his appearance on Hannity & Colmes. He’s smacking Alan Colmes around on Iraq and Iran. He’s looking for battles and winning them. It’s pretty amazing.
Well, you can think that if you want and it might be true for some Huckabee supporters. I am actually a Hunter supporter who is trying to decide what to do now that Hunters campaign has not been doing well. As to your statement that the other frontrunners care about social issues I would agree that Romney is now talking like he cares but his change in views seems awfully convenient. Thompson occassionaly says something pro-life but he clearly sees his view of ultra-federalism as much more important and has gone out of his way to alianate us this election cycle. Finally, McCain has stabbed us in the back so many times before that there is no reason to trust him. If we just had one candidate like a Rick Santorum or a Sen. Allen I would be feeling so much better about the republican party.
Romney and Huckabee talk conservative. Fred IS conservative and has voted that way consistently. Actions speak...
“My fondest wish is a presidential debate between FRED and her-thighness”
Mine is a female “meet the candidates” with Jeri and Hillary. 100% of men would be against the Beast after seeing those two side-by-side, or even speaking live.
I tried to vote in the Fox poll, but I can’t figure it out!
I’m a Fredhead all the way. I was just shocked that Luntz didn’t stack the forum with a bunch of Hucksterites.
Hank
The huckster sounds like a Clinton.
I see. Thank you.
A states’ issue. Life and death are state issues....hmmm
He’s wrong on that, too.
Good :)
Don't you love it?!?!? Fred's really on the top of his game tonight.
Someone try to tell me now that Fred ain't got fire in his belly. Go ahead...I dare you! LOL.
All it was missing was “Bless his heart....”
BWAHAHAHAH!!
LOL, I don't have a clue, that's why I wanted those who do know how to vote for Fred. It may not be American Idol, but there are many many people out there who don't know that the poll is being spammed by the paul supporters. Appearances do matter because of the lack of attention paid by most Americans.
They only do the poll to make money. I am not all that interested in this run. The fix is in for McCain. Rinos now run our party and they listen to the MSM.
My gut feel as well.
How and where is the Fred team in MI and how do I plug in?
It seems that capitolism has trumped Detroit. Welcome Toyota and Honda with open arms.
it’s a stupid “ya’ll come” poll for ‘God’s sake
Maybe because he’s dying his eye brows.
Yeah, I still have a teen in the house and know all about it.
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