GOP Debate Open Thread

Mike Huckabee stood out like he was standing five feet higher and forward than the rest of the GOP candidates. He seemed less antagonistic than the rest of the religious right candidates. Duncan Hunter's response that the military is a Judeo-Christian institution is just plain insulting to any non-Christian, non-Jewish, and/or liberal thinking soldier, plus I don't think that's what Colin Powell meant, but nice job hiding behind one of the few popular Republicans nowadays. I would normally say he should apologize, but there is too much calling for politicians to apologize. Politicians need to stand by their comments and people need to either not vote for them or deal with it. Mitt Romney's response to the question was even more stupid.

The two candidates who stood out were Huckabee and McCain who seemed to reclaim his maverick streak when talking about torture and the fair tax.

The one thing that surprised me was the audience's response to the retired gay general; the booing. It's embarassing. It reminded me a little of the 2002 Georgia Senate race, when instead of respectfully disagreeing with a man who lost half his body in Vietnam, they labelled him a traitor and dragged him through the mud. That seems to be the GOP way nowadays, standing behind the soliders when it's convienent, but if they disagree with us, throw them off a cliff.

Nice

Polls vs. Mood

Conventional wisdom points to an inevitable Clinton vs. Giuliani race, which seems to lean ever so slightly to Hillary, but when you feel the true pulse of America, it's hard to find anyone who is truly behind one of the other.

I've heard many times in conversations with family and friends that a vote for one is against the other "Giuliani's a fascist, so I'll have to vote for Clinton" or "Clinton is wishy-washy, so I'll have to vote to Giuliani, even though he's just like Bush"

Why not vote for either? This election is a year from being over, and a lot can happen in a year. Remember, if you will, of the inevitability of Edmund Muskie in 1972, Ted Kennedy in 1980, Gary Hart in 1984, Paul Tsongas in 1992 and Howard Dean in 2004.

Andrew Sullivan feels the pulse of America;

There are only two candidates who effectively respond to this desire for change of direction abroad and repair at home. They are Barack Obama for the Democrats and Ron Paul for the Republicans. The voters most engaged with this campaign so far - as measured by fundraising and enthusiasm - are clearly favoring these two change agents.

An Obama-Paul race, which in my opinion leans heavily to Obama, would truly be an indication of a united America wanted something different than what it's been fed for the last decade or so. (I'm including Clinton's years in that as well) These two candidates have hit on the idea that America needs to do a 180 and fast the most. Obama's excellent fundraising and Paul's one-day fundraising marathon yesterday indicates to me that there is plenty of support for these two underdogs out there in their respective parties. Doesn't it seem odd that the one major point these two people agree on is that we need a less aggressive and more responsible foreign policy? Will they win the primaries? I think it's unlikely, but they sure can make the eventual nominees sweat a bit. Perhaps those polls that make Clinton and Giuliani seem evitable aren't really touching the pulse of America. Perhaps we're in for a surprise come the New Year.

Despite this, I still say we're looking at a Clinton vs. Romney race out there.

Ron Paul's Fundraising Surprise

Texas Congressman Ron Paul's campaign for the GOP Presidential nomination scored a huge success when they announced they raised $5 million this quarter.

Paul raised five times more money than former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who was considered a serious contender, and raised nearly the same as top-tiered candidate Senator John McCain.

Still, Paul's $5 million is much lower than the top two Democrats; Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, who raised $23 million and $20 million respectively.

Romney Wins Iowa Poll

Helps when the top three frontrunners choose not to take part.

Romney won decisively, followed by Mike Huckabee, Sam Brownback, Tom Tancredo and Ron Paul.

Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson finished a disappointing sixth, followed by no-shows Fred Thompson and Rudy Giuliani. Even Duncan Hunter beat John McCain.

Why I Would NEVER Vote For Giuliani

Giuliani represents the very reasons why I refused to vote Republican for the last few years. He represents that ultra-nationalist, simpleton, ignorant, black and white, and oblivious view of the world. The only reason he gets away with it is because of the authority he had on September 11^th.

Congressman Ron Paul is right. 9/11 was, in part, a result of our meddling in the affairs of the Middle East without fully understanding the situation. Congressman Paul did not justify the attacks and did not imply we deserved to be attacked. He simply reminded everyone that when you jump into a snake pit unprepared, you very well may get bitten, and when you do, the blame does not lay 100% with the snake.

Enter Rudy. Rudy jumped out from behind the American flag he was hiding behind, reminded Paul that the Republican Party is not a Nationalist Party and the US can do no wrong and to imply that to believe American foreign policy contributed to the attacks one iota is unpatriotic and un-American. Giuliani licked his chops with the applause he got and then slithered back behind the flag.

What this country needs is a President who will not only celebrate what is great about America, but also change what is wrong. We don't need another flag waver. We don't need another President who will continue us down the Bushist conceded, chauvinistic "we're too good to talk to you" attitude. We need someone who understands the risks we take when we intervene around the world and understands that while the United States is the greatest country on earth, it is not infallible. This country is governed by humans, who make mistakes, big ones. Americans are not flawless diplomats. We screw up. We sometimes jump into a snake pit with inadequate protection and get bit. People like Rudy Giuliani however, get bit, blame the snake, have it killed and then goes and jumps into another snake pit without learning how to NOT get bit.

He may have looked good and reassuring that Tuesday, but this man is no President, just a power hungry neocon looking to use September 11^th as an platform to gain more power.

That's why I would never vote for Rudy Giuliani

The Reagan Wannabes

At one time he carried 49 of the 50 states, including Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and California, states Republicans only fantasize about carrying these days. He won nearly 60% of the popular vote and helped create a coalition of the opposition party who voted for him.

He's Ronald Reagan and to prove their desperation, the Republicans went to debate near his final resting place; in hopes to relive a time when the Republican Party was widely respected by the entire nation. The key words in last night's Republican debate were "Ronald Reagan" and "9/11"

19 times the name of Ronald Reagan was uttered by the candidates.

Sadly, none of them are anything like Ronald Reagan. The spirit of the kindhearted, sensible, tough, sly, friendly, conservative President who won the hearts of Americans for most of his term wasn't in any of these men.

The Republican image Reagan worked so hard to create and successfully sold to Americans has been dismantled.