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

Tancredo's Appeal To The Ignorant

Cause nothing makes you vote for a guy more than seeing an ad with a bomb in a shopping mall before the holiday season. Those scary villainous Islamic Mexican terrorists!

What do you expect from a man who thinks nuking Mecca will actually STOP terrorism, rather than exacerbate it.

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.

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.

Republican Candidates React to Virginia Tech Massacre

Former Gov. Mitt Romney, (R-Massachusetts): "The entire nation grieves for the victims of this terrible tragedy that took place today on the campus of Virginia Tech. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and the entire Virginia Tech community. Our full support is behind the law enforcement officials who are involved with stabilizing the situation and conducting an investigation."

Rep. Tom Tancredo, (R-Colorado): "I can only offer my thoughts and prayers to those kids, their family and friends at Virginia Tech today. This senseless violence cannot be justified nor the motives of the monster who committed it ever be fully understood. This is a dark day in our history as the lives of so many promising young kids have been cut short by a disturbed and evil person. From experiencing our own tragic event (Tancredo's district includes Columbine High School) whose anniversary is only a few days away, I can say with some encouragement that in time, wounds do heal." (Issued statement) *

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-New York): "On this day of national tragedy, when we lost some of our finest to a senseless act, we stand together as a country to mourn those who lost their lives. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with the survivors and the many friends, colleagues and family members of those who perished. May God bless them all."

Sen. John McCain, (R-Arizona): "I am shocked and saddened to hear the news of today's events. This inconceivable tragedy was a horrific act of cruelty that took the lives of so many innocent young people, cutting their lives short and inflicting tremendous pain on all of those who loved them. Cindy and I extend our deepest sympathies and prayers to the students, faculty, friends and family of the Virginia Tech community."

Sen. Sam Brownback, (R-Kansas): "This is an unbelievably tragic time for the Virginia Tech community, and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. This is a sad time for the country, and we will remember all the people who have been touched by this tragedy." (Issued statement)