Watch the South Carolina Republican Debate Online [VIDEO]

Bostoninno via fox ^ | 1/16/2012 | n/a

[Rick_Michael]

The GOP Debate on FOX News will pit favorite Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich against each other for the first time since New Hampshire. As you know Jon Huntsman bowed out of the race earlier today. Bret Baier will moderate the debate.

[spetznaz]

PS: Maybe you should post that information on other threads. You put it extremely well.

[I_be_tc]

Later and thanks

[Happy Rain]

I don't believe Obama is going to debate.

Despite his faith in the effectiveness of his mendacity Obama knows he has a lousy record and having a televised event he cannot totally control and thus risking that record getting out to the dumb masses can only hurt him.
A smart Obama would rely on his billion and the MSM alone to control the message.

Nixon lost when he debated and won twice when he didn't—crooks learn from each other.

[pkmaine]

I agree Newt is a great debater.

Everything else about his campaign is ridiculously bad. Organization, message discipline, media, mail, etc..

I think he could win in 1912, but not 2012.

I am a supporter - but there is no there, there - beyond the televised debates.

[Claud]

Or we could just vote for the guy we like best. Just a thought. :)

[Proudcongal]

I'm about 1.5 hrs into it now. Ron Paul's supporters complain he's always placed near the end and doesn't get enough questions or time reflective of his finishes in the primaries.

His performance in this debate tells you why. He's an embarrassment. I cannot take anyone supporting Mr. Magoo seriously.

Did anyone else think that Ron Paul looks like he's had a mild stroke recently with his mouth drooping like it did? Don't think I've really noticed that before with him.

[pgkdan]

bump for later...Perry did so well I think I’ll watch it again.

[MulberryDraw]

I thought the part on Social Security was very instructive. Newt explained his plan which is similar to the one successfully used in Chile, then Santorum said we can’t afford it and later Romney agreed. I think Santorum and Romney like the Bob Dole plan for saving Social Security.

[firebrand]

And doesn’t Santorum say “srink” instead of “shrink,” or is that my hearing loss kicking in?

[firebrand]

He did it several times. The one the crowd really responded to was about halfway through, I think, right before one of the commentator breaks. About the proper response to America’s enemies, as opposed to Ron Paul comparing Osama to a Chinese dissident.

[hoosiermama]

IMO this needs a thread of it’s own in activism.

[firebrand]

Thanks for posting the link. This was the most important debate so far because it was up-to-the-minute, dealing with the problem of the PACs and other recent developments.

Plus: If you thought the Iowa audience was enthusiastic, you gotta see this one!

Perry was outstanding on every subject—a solid conservative and states’-rights candidate, whereas Mitt did a lot of broken-field running when he wasn’t coattailing on the Newt responses that got the most applause.

[firebrand]

I guess the big one was this one: about work, money, and ownership being things to aspire to. In response to a race-baiting "question" from Juan Williams.

This is the one that got the standing ovation; now has its own FR thread and YouTube clip.

[edpc]

His motor functions don't seem to be impaired the way he frantically waved his arm about, while raving. He seemed to tone it down later, but the damage was done. It's pretty bad when Perry can make fun of you in a debate, as he did with Paul and the "gong" comment.

I don't use Twitter or Facebook. Given the support Paul has among that crowd, I am happy to be excluded.

[hoosiermama]

Paul is in the race so that he will have some clout in creating the GOP platform: More emphasis on the constitution.....It’s a shame he’s so addled.

[hoosiermama]

Sarah is a paid FOX news political analysis as such she cannot endorse a candidate. The position gives her an audience she would not get through twitter/facebook.

She, through Todd has given as close to an endorsement as she can....Newt.

Todd is behind the camera when Sarah speaks through FOX. Who do you think was behind the camera when Todd endorsed Newt? Piper?

[FreedomPoster]

As far as I am concerned he should put it in Breaking News in the main forum.

[Chgogal]

BTTT

I watched it live last night. It is worth your while to see it if you have not.

Thank you for posting the debate.

[SamAdams76]

Interesting observation about Obama perhaps deciding not to debate at all. I think it's a very plausible scenario, especially if a bulldog like Newt gets the nomination.

Many of us just assume that there will be debates in the fall but that is not a given. Especially if the polling shows Obama comfortably ahead. If that is the case, why would the Obama camp risk having Obama in front of a national audience without a teleprompter?

And if this scenario does occur, you just know that the sycophant media would find some reasons to give Obama a free pass on this. So there will be minimal political fallout to Obama deciding not to debate at all.

[DNA.2012]

Perry got in some good lines, Santorum did fine, and Gingrich showed why he is one of the best debaters in politics.