The Grand Old Party is scrapping again tonight in Florida at 8pm eastern time on CNN: The questions have been submitted via YouTube and host Anderson Cooper will do some amending and following-up.
Does it seem like ages since the last GOP debate? That's because it was held back on October 21. Back then Ron Paul had only raised $2.4 million for the quarter and Mitt Romney held the one-day fundraising record. Mike Huckabee was polling in the low teens an Iowa for a respectable third or fourth place showing. Children and small animals cowered in fear of the Fred Thompson juggernaut. So, things are different.
I have an unbreakable committment and might turn on the debate a bit late, so consider this an open thread for anyone watching it.
8:11: I show up 11 minutes late, and... nothing happens. At the Ron Paul debate-watching party I'm at in DC, the doctor's arrival onscreen is greeted by "There he is!" (Future comments from the party will be in parentheses.)
8:12: Rudy... claims New York wasn't a sanctuary city?
8:13: Ever-credible Mitt, who presided over three sanctuary cities in Massachusetts, righteously
8:14: Rudy's new attack line: Romney owned "Sanctuary mansion!"
8:15: Romney's "outrage" software is engaged! ("How did it get to be just them?" "Don't worry, if a debate breaks out they'll stop it.") Romney asks, rhetorically, whether he should hound people who show up for work with funny accents. The irony tickles.
8:16: Duncan Hunter asks if he can "jump in here." No. No, you can't. But the crowd is heckling Giuliani for trying and trying to get the last answer.
8:17: Carlos the Jackal (via video) asks if the Republicans will veto amnesty. Ooh, the hard questions.
8:19: Thompson attacks... sort of. One fun thing we've learned in Campaign '08 is that Thompson is unlistenably dull without a script.
8:20: McCain wades in. ("The fire's gone out of him." "Why is he even in this?")
8:21: McCain runs down the government failures that have made him so righteously angry. ("Campaign finance reform!" "All the failures I helped enable!")
8:22: Tancredo is delighted that we're having a Scary Meskins round. ("His nose should be red.") "Everyone's trying to out-Tancredo Tancredo!" ("That's a verb?")
8:24: "I reject the idea that there are jobs Americans won't take!" ("Would you hire Tancredo to clean your gutters?)
8:25: Ah, the Ron Paul party gives Hunter the esteem he deserves. ("Congressman, my question is: Where's your neck?"
8:26: ("Next question... for Ron Paul!") The next question actually goes to Huckabee. It's a good one about whether, as a guy who gave scholarships to illegal immigrants, he'd do the same for the kids of illegal alien military vets. (Everyone heckles Huckabee for addressing the giant YouTube screen as if it's alive.)
8:28: Huckabee explains that he gave scholarships to kids who were smart, didn't do drugs, earned it, dancing elegantly past the issue that they weren't citizens. ("The best students in Arkansas?")
8:30: Romney punches back and Huckabee pours on the saccarine. "If I didn't get an education, I might be picking lettuce!" ("Who'd rather have Mike Huckabee picking lettuce?" Every hand goes up.)
8:32: The room gets ice cold when Paul gets a question on whether he believes in a North American Union. He handles it as well as he possibly could, framing it as "a conspiracy of ideas." He's been prepped on this: He hasn't always been so adroit. ("He can't cut off those guys who believe in it.")
8:34: McCain complains about power changing the GOP. ("I just feel sympathy for him at this point.")
8:36: Giuliani will "strengthen the dollar" by not filling every open federal job. ("Is he serious?") "Twenty-two percent are found not able to evaluated."
8:37: Emily Ekins is apparently an Institute for Human Studies seminar alum: She asks what three programs Thompson and Paul would scrap. "It's a target rich environment." (There's some squabbling about whether he's referencing Top Gun.) He swerves into his well-rehearsed Social Security answer. ("So... we're abandoning the target metaphor.")
8:40: Paul shoots, Paul scores. "That comment about government changing 'us'--I don't think government changed me!" He hits the three I've heard him talk about: Education, Energy, DHS.
8:42: McCain takes the chance to demogogue at Paul on the war, a warm wave of applause gushing over him like a deleted scene from Behind the Green Door. "I spent Christmas with the troops!" ("OK, Ron needs to knock this out of the park.")
8:44: Grover Norquist gets into it! He asks them to sign "the pledge" never to raise taxes. Everyone says yes. Paul: "I have never voted for a tax increase and never will!" Hunter: "I've voted for more tax cuts than anyone on this stage." ("That's because you've been there for like 50 years!")
8:47: Terrible, terrible answers on farm subsidies. Romney and Rudy ("We have to support Archer Daniels Midland EVERY DAY!")
8:48: Rudy gets asked about the Ben Smith story on his under-the-table, end of mayoralty expense reports. "There were... threats against me." ("9/11! 9/11!" "What, did someone threaten his mistress?")
8:50: Duncan Hunter wants us to "buy American" so when "our veterans come back" they'll have good jobs. You lost your legs in Mosul: You've earned the right to assemble LED screens for PS2s.
8:52: I love that Thompson's YouTube ad was just cribbed from other, better videos using Romney's and Huckabee's own words to garrotte them. Cooper's pissed: "What's up with that?" Thompson: "I want to give my buddies here a little extra air time!" A funny joke that he sort of steps on by running out of words and saying "Uhhhhh."
8:53: Some comedy from Romney about how he was wrong about infanticide before but now MA Citizens for Life like him. ("I only gave them $15,000 and put my wife on their board, but...")
8:56: Great ad from the coal industry. ("Who wants coal for Christmas now?" Every hand goes up.)
9:00: Hunter gets a softball about the second amendment from a Californian with a handgun and he... makes fun of him for his handling. Let's cool it with the comments about how he's a brilliant man who deserves to hit the first term.
9:03: A Fred Thompson answer lulls my room into a nice, mellow place. He's poking the right holes in Giuliani's gun answer, though.
9:04: Did... they... skip over Paul to get an answer from Hunter? So he could wink and ramble about the gun he's already talked about? Also, breaking news: John McCain served in Vietnam.
9:06: A question about how they'd stop the crime epidemic and rescue black people goes to Romney, who says government needs to strengthen familes. ("Can we import parents from Mexico?" "Watch out, Romney wants to rear your child!")
9:07: Giuliani can cut crime because he cut it Harlem. ("We got black people out of Harlem! That reduced crime.")
9:09: A good question on what women who abort their fetuses should be charged with goal to Paul... which makes sense since he's a doctor who's seen an abortion performed, but doesn't make sense in that he's obviously going to leave it to the states.
9:12: Hunh. Giuliani grabs a lifeline on abortion by nabbing Ron Paul's answer.
9:15: The death penalty: "What would Jesus do?" Huckabee soars with a lot of friffery about how hard it was to make the decision. ("Shorter Huckabee: I'll kill people but I'll cry about it.")
9:17: Rudy Giuliani: Not William Jennings Bryan. Some of the Bible is figurative, some literal. ("It's a good answer." "It's the only answer.")
9:18: Oh, God, watching Romney pander on this is like watching the Fantasia Hippos dance ballet. "Uh... yes, I believe it's the word of God." But it's not what Anderson Cooper thinks is the word of God. (Because Cooper believes in the whole thing?)
9:19: God likes Mike Huckabee.
9:20: Commercial time. ("My favorite moment was Tancredo restraining himself and not telling the woman to deport her Chinese daughter.")
9:23: Giuliani's YouTube ad is nice and crazy. He saved New York from King Kong! He stopped the snow from falling!
9:26: McCain: "I'm the only one on this stage who said the Rumsfeld strategy was doomed to fail." Didn't he just try to kneecap Ron Paul?
9:27: "When you were suffering from starvation and disease we brought you food and medicine." (My room groans.)
9:29: Romney is shameless on torture. ("Waterboard him and ask the question again!") McCain smacks him across the podium.
9:30: This is the stuff that exposes Romney's inner Dukakis. "I'm not going to say what methods I'll use." Oh, and he'll ask for McCain's counsel.
9:31: "Life is not 24 and Jack Bauer."
9:33: How long will we stay in Iraq? Thompson is... noncomittal.
9:35: "We never lost a battle in Vietnam!" (There's a fight about this in the room.)
9:37: It's moments like this when I'm sorry I'm collapsing from the onset of... something. (Flu? We'll see.) Paul and McCain lock horns over Vietnam and I have some trouble following it. I'm going to sign off for a bit... have at it.
9:59: A great moment from the Ron Paul party. A black YouTuber asks of black support for Republicans: "Why don't we vote for you." ("Well, have you read the Bell Curve?") This was asked in jest, of course.
10:07: I like how they coupled a questioner who says "Ron Paul, you won't win the nomination" with one who says "Fred Thompson, your campaign is going down in flames so hot I could cook a turkey with them." Wait...
Republican Debate VIII: The Shindy in St. Petersburg
Comments to "Republican Debate VIII: The Shindy in St. Petersburg":
crimethink | November 28, 2007, 6:39pm | #
Mike Gravel, don't quit your day job. Whatever that is.kc | November 28, 2007, 6:49pm | #
That is the coolest mash-up I've ever seen.Any background info on it? (Besides what's on Youtube?)
after seeing that, I could get hit by a semi tomorrow and still be fine.
videoguy17 | November 28, 2007, 7:35pm | #
Is there a live feed for the debate?Derrick | November 28, 2007, 7:47pm | #
Is there a live feed for the debate?CNN.com will have one, although it never works for me. There's also http://www.justin.tv/ronpaul2008.
John | November 28, 2007, 8:01pm | #
Pulling the same one-by-one stunt they did last time.crimethink | November 28, 2007, 8:03pm | #
Yeah, I just tried to install the "Turner Plugin" that's required to watch video on CNN.com, and the installer succeeded in locking up my computer to the extent that I had to unplug it from the wall.I'm just thankful I wasn't working on a laptop...
John | November 28, 2007, 8:04pm | #
Rudy didn't offer his hand to anyone.John | November 28, 2007, 8:09pm | #
Was that Chuck Norris in the audience? Huckabee must have given him a ticket.Guy Montag | November 28, 2007, 8:10pm | #
So, the GOP is not afraid of CNN but the Weigeloids are still 'afeard' of FNN? ROFLMAO!John | November 28, 2007, 8:14pm | #
Rudy always sounds awkward when attacking Romney.Lost_In_Translation | November 28, 2007, 8:18pm | #
Giuliani got smacked down by Romney.highnumber | November 28, 2007, 8:19pm | #
Did Kinky Friedman just ask a question about amnesty?crimethink | November 28, 2007, 8:19pm | #
The justin.tv link mainly shows the people sitting there watching the debate and only shows the bottom half of the screen. WHat is this, The Rocky Horror Picture Show?Lost_In_Translation | November 28, 2007, 8:22pm | #
This is the most convoluted discussion of illegal immigration ever. All of them, except for Thomspon, had taken the practical solution to illegal immigration before and now they're jumping on each other like pit bulls attacking each other for their all reasonable policies.Blech.
Dog's New Clothes | November 28, 2007, 8:23pm | #
Forget Ric Flair.Who is Rowdy Roddie Piper endorsing?
crimethink | November 28, 2007, 8:23pm | #
Looks like they're concentrating on the top tier: Giuliani, Romney, McCain, and .... Tancredo?!crimethink | November 28, 2007, 8:26pm | #
Gah, the sound's going in and out now. It sounds like Duncan Hunter's speaking while being waterboarded.Lost_In_Translation | November 28, 2007, 8:29pm | #
This is rediculous...the republican party is screwed.criemthink | November 28, 2007, 8:29pm | #
Did Ron Paul call in sick?John | November 28, 2007, 8:30pm | #
Huckabee: "Shut up, rich boy."Dog's New Clothes | November 28, 2007, 8:30pm | #
Romney: "That's not your money. That's the txpayers' money!"What a hypocritical prick.
crimethink | November 28, 2007, 8:32pm | #
Ron Paul's first question (paraphrase): Are you really as much of a nutjob as everyone thinks?John-David | November 28, 2007, 8:32pm | #
That Ron Paul was a landmine if I've ever seen one.John-David | November 28, 2007, 8:33pm | #
add the word "question" where appropriate.Lost_In_Translation | November 28, 2007, 8:33pm | #
And the magic highway across America rears its ugly head.John | November 28, 2007, 8:33pm | #
Ron isn't helping himself my making reference to the Trilateral Commission. But his overall answer was pretty sain.crimethink | November 28, 2007, 8:35pm | #
Ronald Reagan gave John McCain a pen!iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 8:39pm | #
Excellent answer!iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 8:40pm | #
Did they just cut RP by a couple of seconds? We should demand those 2 seconds back!John-David | November 28, 2007, 8:40pm | #
Huckabee's Fair Tax is good enough, I guess.crimethink | November 28, 2007, 8:40pm | #
Huckabee wants to get rid of the IRS...that sounds familiar?John | November 28, 2007, 8:41pm | #
If the FairTax is supposedly revenue nuetral, then how would enacting it solve our spending problem?iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 8:41pm | #
My blood pressure is rising...crimethink | November 28, 2007, 8:42pm | #
McCAin just called Paul an isolationist...iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 8:42pm | #
RP... is being fired up!John-David | November 28, 2007, 8:42pm | #
McCain just gone Godwin. What a fucking tool.John | November 28, 2007, 8:42pm | #
McCain resorts to the Rudy/Huckabee-style Ron Paul bashing.iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 8:43pm | #
GREAT ANSWER... damned Anderson!What's Weigel smoking? house.gov/paul/tst/tst2006/tst103006.htm makes it clear that RP is the one who believes in the NorthAmericanUnion, it's deniers like Weigel who he's trying to mollify.
Dog's New Clothes | November 28, 2007, 8:44pm | #
"Ron Paul = Neville Chamberlain"?crimethink | November 28, 2007, 8:44pm | #
They gave Romney like 10 minutes to respond to Rudy's attack, but 30 seconds to Paul to respond to McCain slandering his patriotism?John | November 28, 2007, 8:46pm | #
Great question on farm subsidities.Lost_In_Translation | November 28, 2007, 8:47pm | #
secure source of food!?!?!crimethink | November 28, 2007, 8:47pm | #
TLB,Even you have to admit that most people (deluded fools though they may be) think anyone who believes in the NAU is batshit insane. With that in mind, it behooves Dr Paul to avoid publicizing his stance on that.
Lost_In_Translation | November 28, 2007, 8:50pm | #
Meanwhile, wheat and potato farmers (and all others who are not subsidized) are spitting at their televisions right now.AND OUR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO DIE FROM POISONOUS TOYS IF WE TRADE WITH CHINA!!!
crimethink | November 28, 2007, 8:50pm | #
WHat will you do to protect my kids from Chinese toys? Bloody toys found all over house.jet | November 28, 2007, 8:53pm | #
What's up with Anderson Cooper?iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 8:53pm | #
I just realized how unhip, unyoung, unthinking, unenlightened a lot of the GOPers in that hall (and beyond) are!crimethink | November 28, 2007, 8:53pm | #
Thompson's campaign video doesn't even mention him, but consists entirely of damning clips of Romney and Huck.PC | November 28, 2007, 8:54pm | #
He called out globalism. Yes most of the country doesn't read the books that people who make policy read, but some of those most read the ones they sell. That blond on Morning Joe, her dad did a book called "Second Chance". You know who funded the Afghani Freedom fighters under Carter? He says there is only Neoconservatism and Globalism. I trust him as a source, he is much more qualified than I.John-David | November 28, 2007, 8:58pm | #
I find that the following mp3 file helps during some of the more inane answers.http://mama.indstate.edu/users/nizrael/midis/bigtop.mid
crimethink | November 28, 2007, 8:59pm | #
I only caught bits and pieces of what McCain said about Paul, because the feed I'm watching has a live studio audience that started shouting when he was talking.crimethink | November 28, 2007, 9:07pm | #
Mitt's response to black-on-black crime: we need more family values.iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 9:07pm | #
yeaaahhh... same old same old.... I am pretty sure of the 5000 videos they got, 4,900 are made by RP supporters, but, oh well. This is depressing. What a waste of time (I thing I said that last debate, too --this is getting repetitious.)crimethink | November 28, 2007, 9:08pm | #
Posting pictures of sex offenders online will really help black-on-black crime...way to think outside the box, Mitt.Dog's New Clothes | November 28, 2007, 9:08pm | #
Will Ron Pual get to answer this questoin?It's the Drug War, stupid!
we need more moms dad. I propose more stem cell research to solve this problem. It will be paid for by a... sex tax
crimethink | November 28, 2007, 9:12pm | #
Clothes,The LAST thing we want is for RP to get a Drug War question at a Republican debate. Trust me on this.
John | November 28, 2007, 9:12pm | #
If Thompson only supports making post-viability abortions illegal, he's effectively pro-choice.iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 9:12pm | #
Catch the thief... Rudy just stole RP's answer! And he gets 90 seconds for it.John-David | November 28, 2007, 9:13pm | #
Rudy is totally trying to co-op Dr. Paul's position on abortion.crimethink | November 28, 2007, 9:13pm | #
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, RP should be very flattered by these abortion answers.Dog's New Clothes | November 28, 2007, 9:14pm | #
Who Would Jesus Kill?if we instill a sex tax, I will need to find as many loopholes as possible while I am single. Once I am married, just like every other tax for couples, i will get screwed over.
crimethink | November 28, 2007, 9:15pm | #
So you're telling me that NO ONE posted any questions about Iraq and the War on Terror?Ammonium | November 28, 2007, 9:15pm | #
I bet John McCain has killed more people than Huckabee.Giuliani *would* kill more people.
Romney would triple the number of people killed.
Eric Dondero | November 28, 2007, 9:16pm | #
Did I hear Fred Thompson call Mitt Romney "Mitch"? Anyone else catch that?crimethink | November 28, 2007, 9:17pm | #
I think it's very important that our next President believe every literal word in the Bible.NOT!
Romney believes in the bible....yet he practices a religion that defies the last chapter of it
holy shit. I totally want the next president to have a theology degree.
Dog's New Clothes | November 28, 2007, 9:21pm | #
Sermon Time with The Huck!John | November 28, 2007, 9:24pm | #
Part of makes Huckabee so scary is his ability to answer questions like that.Deric Ondero | November 28, 2007, 9:25pm | #
Fred Thomspon and Mitt Romney are both PACIFIST PUSSIES when it comes to those MOTHERFUCKING ISLAMOFASCISTS who want TO DESTROY THE GREATNESS OF THE MOTHERFUCKING UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!I totally agree John. Fuckabee scares the living shit out of me.
Dedalus | November 28, 2007, 9:25pm | #
Did someone forget to invite Ron Paul? Or did they just forget to ask him any questions?Rudy: In order to repair relations with muslims....more of the same!!!!!
emerson | November 28, 2007, 9:26pm | #
I'm glad Giuliani always specifies what year "September 11th" occurred in. He was mayor of New York then, you know.Deric Ondero | November 28, 2007, 9:26pm | #
RUDY IS SO CORRECT!THE ISLAMO-DEMOCRATS ARE TO AFRAID TO OFFEND THE ISLAMOFASCISTS! ALSO, I LIKE TO LICK RUDY'S BALLS!
crimethink | November 28, 2007, 9:27pm | #
McCain: I'm the only one on the stage who said the strategy in Iraq was failing.WWWWWWWWTTTTTTTTTFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!!!!!!!!!!!
crimethink | November 28, 2007, 9:29pm | #
Mitt: If Presidential candidates say what they think is torture, the terrorists will win.crimethink | November 28, 2007, 9:31pm | #
Romney is such a fucking fraud.Deric Ondero | November 28, 2007, 9:32pm | #
OK, I already knew I could never vote for Giuliani. I now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I can never vote for Romney, based on his torture answer. McCain looks like the only front-runner I could hold my nose and vote for against Hillary.Lost_In_Translation | November 28, 2007, 9:32pm | #
The republicans are screwed!!!Shit, forgot to change my name back. Yes, Deric Ondero is me.
Dedalus | November 28, 2007, 9:33pm | #
Ron Paul?Ron Paul?
Are you being waterboarded and cannot talk?
why the fuck is Paul not being allowed to answer these questions. Oh. nevermind.
America | November 28, 2007, 9:35pm | #
I hope every executive at CNN gets a painful cancer and dies a slow and horrible death while their families watch and can do nothing.crimethink | November 28, 2007, 9:35pm | #
McCain: We never lost in Vietnam. American Public Opinion lost that war.Reinmoose | November 28, 2007, 9:36pm | #
I hope every executive at CNN gets a painful cancer and dies a slow and horrible death while their families watch and can do nothing.You mean like we're watching Ron Paul not get any attention and can do nothing? :)
if it wasn't for the American public, we would have won the Vietnam war.
crimethink | November 28, 2007, 9:39pm | #
If we never lost a battle in Vietnam, how did they capture all those POWs?To say that the American Public is responsible for losing Vietnam is really absurd. I've never heard that before and I would ask the Senator to retract that statement.
crimethink | November 28, 2007, 9:40pm | #
THompson's a funny guy, I'll give him that...The proper question is about expanding executive branch powers, not just the veep.
McCain starts talking about 9/11 and Rudy wants to chime in...surprise surprise
Greg Newburn | November 28, 2007, 9:44pm | #
My wife's Duncan Hunter ad:"Duncan Hunter: 'Who's He?'"
We've only had 4 videos so far, and they've got 10 minutes left. They'd better not screw RP out of his.
John | November 28, 2007, 9:44pm | #
Hunter's ad had the classic UHF announcer and production values worthy of a Libertarian Senate candidate.Dog's New Clothes | November 28, 2007, 9:49pm | #
Duncan Hunter: How dare you make bigoted soldiers fight with gays?Think of the bigots!
John | November 28, 2007, 9:50pm | #
We're in the middle of a war....therefore we need more restrictions in serving in the military!John-David | November 28, 2007, 9:50pm | #
Fuck you Mitt Romney for your cravenly Republican position on gays in the military.crimethink | November 28, 2007, 9:50pm | #
The questioner sounds like Admiral Ackbar.IT'S A TRAP, MITT!
John | November 28, 2007, 9:52pm | #
The audience's treatment of General Kerr was disgraceful.Dedalus | November 28, 2007, 9:53pm | #
Ron Paul?crimethink | November 28, 2007, 9:53pm | #
They booed him?!I can't tell on my feed because there's an audience making noise in front of the TV. That's absolutely awful.
Fluffy | November 28, 2007, 9:55pm | #
You know, even if they handed out time to the candidates based on their poll standing, Paul would STILL have gotten more time than Cooper gave him. Giuliani would STILL have gotten less time.Giuliani does not deserve 50+% of the time of the entire debate. Period.
Rigoberto (Resident Libertarian Cuban) | November 28, 2007, 9:57pm | #
Ron Paul?Dog's New Clothes | November 28, 2007, 9:58pm | #
Cantredo: Fuck that space guyGreg Newburn | November 28, 2007, 9:58pm | #
My wife on the Mars question:"WHO CARES ABOUT SPACE?"
she rules.
crimethink | November 28, 2007, 9:58pm | #
Sorry, Tancredo. The Martians don't want OurRace to invade TheirCountry.Tancredo: If we build a rocket ship to Mars, it will only provide more opportunity for aliens to come into our country!
Dedalus | November 28, 2007, 10:01pm | #
Oh shit, they forgot to tell Ron Paul there was a debate tonight!crimethink | November 28, 2007, 10:02pm | #
Mitt: There's not two Americas, there's one America -- AND IT DOES WHAT I FUCKING TELL IT TO!!!!!PC | November 28, 2007, 10:04pm | #
That ad was the best one I seen yet from him.dpottsy@gmail.com | November 28, 2007, 10:05pm | #
definitely a good ad...crimethink | November 28, 2007, 10:05pm | #
And fittingly they ignore Dr Paul after his video. Everyone who had a video before got to give a 30 second blurb immediately afterwards!Have they given Duncan Hunter more airtime than Paul? Am I just mispercieving this?
and why the fuck do they always give McCain time after Paul? And how is McCain talking about pork when the question is about infrastructure?
hehehehe... the audio on my feed is slipping so everyone looks like they're in a kung fu movie
Dedalus | November 28, 2007, 10:09pm | #
Bullshit question for Ron Paul."You will never win..."
Incredible.
CNN Soviet Debate
"I happen to be lucky enough to be part of it..." Absolutely brilliant.
crimethink | November 28, 2007, 10:10pm | #
I suspect Rudy McRompson reference each other in their responses so as to guarantee extra time to "rebut".Seriously, which question is less appropriate, the Bible question or the Yankees question?
crimethink | November 28, 2007, 10:11pm | #
THey spent more time talking about baseball than they did talking about the Iraq war...iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 10:11pm | #
Great Paul answer. I support this man even if he's running as president the Comoros Islands.Franklin Harris | November 28, 2007, 10:12pm | #
Ron Paul is asked will he run as an independent. Surprisingly, Paul actually gets to answer a question.iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 10:12pm | #
BOSTON IS ASHAMED OF YOU ROMNEY. YOU'RE A HYPOCRITICAL DISGRACE!Reinmoose | November 28, 2007, 10:12pm | #
I suspect Rudy McRompson reference each other in their responses so as to guarantee extra time to "rebut".I was thinking the same thing.
Anyone else think John McCain will be rewarded for throwing everything at Ron Paul at the beginning of the debate? Maybe Chairmanship of the RNC?
Dog's New Clothes | November 28, 2007, 10:13pm | #
5000 videos and they end on yankees-red sox.Does CNN really think we're that stupid?
Dedalus | November 28, 2007, 10:13pm | #
"One thing we are not going to do tonight is focus on the horse race."In other words, "no poll on who won the debate. BITCHES!"
crimethink | November 28, 2007, 10:13pm | #
Since Rudy and Mitt didn't get enough time during the debate, apparently the post-debate show will be "The Best of Rudy and Mitt"iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 10:13pm | #
They're playing their "best"... err... most disgraceful momentsFranklin Harris | November 28, 2007, 10:13pm | #
So, can we agree that the CNN/YouTube debates are a cheap stunt and are no better than the lame debates we get all the rest of the time?Franklin Harris | November 28, 2007, 10:14pm | #
Does CNN really think we're that stupid?Well, I think CNN is that stupid.
iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 10:16pm | #
So, can we agree that the CNN/YouTube debates are a cheap stunt and are no better than the lame debates we get all the rest of the time?I agree.
They should let people submit the ads, vote for the ads, and take the top questions... oh, wait, these would all be RP videos... never mind, they do not need that.
crimethink | November 28, 2007, 10:16pm | #
The YouTube Democratic debate was actually pretty good. This one was a farce, though.I'm guessing they were so desperate for non-Ron Paul supporter videos that they just took anything else they came across. I did like Admiral Ackbar's gays in the military question, though.
Franklin Harris | November 28, 2007, 10:16pm | #
In other words, "no poll on who won the debate. BITCHES!"Obviously, Ron Paul won because he had to answer the fewest stupid CNN-picked YouTube questions.
iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 10:18pm | #
Now they have these hollow talking heads explain to us how these guys did. The purpose of the debate was to exercise our ears... just our ears.NP | November 28, 2007, 10:20pm | #
Damn, we gotta nominate Huckabee just for the laughs. He's by far the funniest candidate I've seen so far.SIV | November 28, 2007, 10:20pm | #
9:59: A great moment from the Ron Paul party. A black YouTuber asks of black support for Republicans: "Why don't we vote for you." ("Well, have you read the Bell Curve?")Dave,
Tell Flemur and Chalupa we said Hi.
Eric Dondero | November 28, 2007, 10:24pm | #
My respect went up for Fred Thompson. And strangely, I think Tancredo did exceptionally well.McCain gives good responses, but he looks so old on camera.
Giuliani stole the show with that last response on the Yankees. Hilarious. Romney tried to eat into Giuliani's laugh lines, but it fell flat.
Again, did anyone else catch Thompson calling Mitt Romney "Mitch"?
iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 10:25pm | #
Where is J sub D when you need one?Paul is with the American people regarding the war....stupid, hot, sexy, cunt-bitch
Eric Dondero | November 28, 2007, 10:25pm | #
Oh, and Ron Paul?Ditto response to McCain. On camera he comes across looking very old.
This was quite possibly the worst debate yet. Why the hell did Huckabee get so much fucking time? Might CNN be grooming him for the VP?
Dedalus | November 28, 2007, 10:27pm | #
This debate was all the fun of a May Day Parade circa 1975. A Republo-fascist circle jerk.Eric Dondero | November 28, 2007, 10:27pm | #
Franklin, stop being such a sourpuss. The debate format was fun and lively. And I think Anderson Cooper did a fine job.The YouTube folks gave good questions, and they were very real. Nothing too kooky. And they even seemed to lean Republican. Shocking on CNN's part.
They dominate the CNN debate, Ron Paul dominates the Internet debate.
Eric Dondero | November 28, 2007, 10:28pm | #
Big winner of the night?CNN.
I gotta admit it. They did an exceptionally good job with this debate. Probably the best GOP debate yet.
The American Public hates America. You are either with us or against us. Who will be the first president to advocate nuking America?
I can't fathom how nobody in the audience ejaculated "Pussy!" during some of Mitt's answers. That fucker thinks he shouldn't be bothered to answer questions about specific torture techniques used by the US military? The potential commander in chief can't answer these questions? Anyway, during Mitt's despicable waffling, McCain looked powerfully angry... he should have put words to that anger... forget about civility when Mitt's being such a bastard.
kellie | November 28, 2007, 10:33pm | #
5000 videos and they end on yankees-red sox.Does CNN really think we're that stupid?
Clearly this was the Republican equivalent to the diamonds and pearls question. Apparently CNN has already bdecided which two candidates will win the primaries.
Franklin Harris | November 28, 2007, 10:34pm | #
It's not that the questions were kooky (although a couple were), but that most of them were the same crap that gets asked in every debate. That's including the utterly pointless Yankees vs. Rex Sox question, which sounds just like the crap Chris Matthews would ask.crimethink | November 28, 2007, 10:35pm | #
andyd,He's borrowing a tactic from the Bush administration...when asked about potentially illegal activities you [have been|are|will be] committing, refuse to answer because of vague national security concerns.
No doubt the 30% "Bush = Jesus" crowd will appreciate Mitt's following in the Dear Leader's footsteps.
Eric Dondero | November 28, 2007, 10:36pm | #
Oh, Franklin, stop being such a sourpuss. The Yankees question was great. I thought it was the highlight of the debate. And Romney tried to cut into it, but failed.Americans like Baseball Franklin. Lighten up.
iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 10:36pm | #
Clearly this was the Republican equivalent to the diamonds and pearls question. Apparently CNN has already bdecided which two candidates will win the primaries.So why hold primaries then if this is all ceremonial... oh wait... How did Kings in Europe get to be "chosen" first time in their kingdoms?
crimethink | November 28, 2007, 10:37pm | #
I can't fathom how nobody in the audience ejaculated "Pussy!"I wouldn't suggest googling that phrase unless you have SafeSearch on.
Chancellor | November 28, 2007, 10:38pm | #
Mitt is the Muhammed Ali of all the Candidates--shuck and jive, shuck and jive.Hell, he's the Neo of candidates, dodging questions like bullets.
How can anyone take this guy seriously? Jesus (Mormon) Christ.
Mad Max | November 28, 2007, 10:38pm | #
"So, the final question, for all the candidates: If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?"ROMNEY: "Spruce . . . no, pine. Maybe larch."
THOMPSON: "I'd have to consult my horticulturalist."
HUCKABEE: "Maple, of course."
GIULIANI: "When I was mayor on 9/11 . . . of, sorry, I mean I'd be the tree that grows in Brooklyn."
DR. PAUL: "I'm a friggin' chainsaw, you pathetic hacks."
iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 10:39pm | #
Eric Rudy's answer on "Islam" was excellent. But did not come across to me as that sincere.crimethink | November 28, 2007, 10:40pm | #
No, Dr Paul would be the tree of liberty that must from time to time be watered with the blood of patriots and tyrants...iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 10:41pm | #
Right this moment, the numbers on RP's website are going up rapidly. That would be the best response to this farce they call a debate.Mad Max | November 28, 2007, 10:44pm | #
TV COMMENTATOR #1: "Can you believe how much Ron Paul hates the environment?"TV COMMENTATOR #2: "After he cuts down all the trees, he'll shoot Bambi and make rabbit stew out of Thumper."
TV COMMENTATOR #1: "Why is the mainstream media giving Paul a free ride on this?"
iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 10:45pm | #
"Keeping them honest" --- whose keeping CNN honest!Eric Dondero | November 28, 2007, 10:45pm | #
Yeah Ali, what I thought was best about it, is that he answered it quickly. He didn't have to think about it. As soon as the video was over, he started addressing the issue that the young Mulim woman asked.I hated it when the candidates went over their allotted time. McCain did that a couple times.
iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 10:47pm | #
DID THEY JUST SAY PAUL WAS LYING! Screw CNN. They're going from my cable first thing tomorrow. Why do I pay for that crap?Fluffy | November 28, 2007, 10:48pm | #
Everyone speaking to Eric Dondero should always keep in mind that:1. He advocates genocide.
2. He thinks Saddam Hussein was behind the Oklahoma City bombing.
Keep these things in mind when reading his inane opinions about the debate.
andyD | November 28, 2007, 10:50pm | #
Crimethink,Yeah, vague national security concerns... too vague for me to understand. Really, anybody know the national security justification here?... aside from "answering that compromises my chances of winning and I'm the best for national security". And is McCain compromising national security?
MICHELLE MALKIN: "This just in . . . I've just been reliably informed that Ron Paul cooked and ate Bambi *and* all 101 Dalmatians in front of a cheering audience of 9/11 Truthers. Even if I didn't get every last detail of that story right, let me just say to my carping Internet critics: Give it up, your Bambi-hating candidate's goose is cooked."
iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 10:51pm | #
Eric, you see it is a great answer, but does not count much. Bush said the same thing in 2000, and started stabbing in the back big time immediately thereafter. I am not sure if Rudy (or any of the others, including Paul simply because he did not get a chance to respond to any question of real substance) will be attracting many of the Muslim voters. I just checked with a friend out in MI, Muslims would love to vote Republican, but they're votong for who ever the Dems pick (they'll probably root for Obama, as sad as that may sound). 80% of Arabs and Muslims voted for Bush in 2000.Eric Dondero | November 28, 2007, 10:52pm | #
Oh, come on Ali, that's a typical political trick. Blacks use that too. "Oh, we'd love to vote Republican, but..."iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 10:53pm | #
Ron did draw 5,000 fansVermont Gun Owner | November 28, 2007, 10:53pm | #
"Congressman Paul, it has been suggested that you will turn traitor to the Republican Party and run as an independent, handing the election to Hillary (because you love her so much). You have so far denied this 372 times. Do you still feel the same way?"iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 10:54pm | #
Eric, I am telling you what I have been told. It is fact. I am not interpreting or translating into fact. They simply won't vote Republican anytime in the near future. I am not talking about what I think, I am talking about what the average American Muslim thinks.Eric Dondero | November 28, 2007, 10:54pm | #
I just heard two of the big Blog Talk Political announcers say that the big loser of the debate was Ron Paul. They're laughing at him.Go to Blogtalkradio.com Ed Morrisey's Post-Debate show.
iih (aka Ali) | November 28, 2007, 10:57pm | #
Eric, you know that that was a cheap shot regarding Paul. You know how most people feel about Paul right now.Fluffy ;-|
MATT DRUDGE: "Exclusive! Ron Paul is accused of goosing Michelle Malkin. Will these sexual-harassment charges finally sink the Paul campaign?"
Reinmoose | November 28, 2007, 10:57pm | #
The new Iowa poll from Rasmussen:good news: Ron Paul, while still at 5%, is now in 5th place over John McCain at 4%
bad bad bad bad bad news: Fuckabee is winning with 28%
damn manipulatable hicks!
Franklin Harris | November 28, 2007, 10:57pm | #
I just heard two of the big Blog Talk Political announcers say that the big loser of the debate was Ron Paul.Just like "everyone" said Paul lost his exchange with Rudy in the first debate. *yawn*
Dedalus | November 28, 2007, 10:58pm | #
What's this constant fascist stench on the Reason Blog?Eric Dondero | November 28, 2007, 10:58pm | #
Here's the early line from RedState.com:Two Winners: Huckabee and McCain.
McCain won on scalps. He got Mitt Romney and he got Ron Paul. McCain was the adult in the room all night. He was stable, composed, and mature.
ERIC: "Just Google 'Ron Paul,' 'Bambi,' and 'sexual harassment.' You'll get a million hits. Where there's smoke, there's fire."
BakedPenguin | November 28, 2007, 10:58pm | #
I've just been reliably informed that Ron Paul cooked and ate Bambi *and* all 101 Dalmatians...I thought that was Katherine Mangu-Ward. Of course, she may well be a Paul supporter...
Fluffy | November 28, 2007, 11:01pm | #
http://www.nbc13.com/gulfcoastwest/vtm/news.apx.-content-articles-VTM-2007-11-12-0007.htmlThat's a link to a local Philadelphia news repot affirming Paul's figure of 5000.
First CNN only allows Paul to answer 3 questions during a 2 hour debate, and then they lie about him during the post-debate discussion.
This is because CNN is made up of scumsucking piece of shit cunts.
PS: Dondero talks about "blog talk radio" like we should give a rat fuck what it is. He's like the guy who uses some video service other than YouTube and thinks "you should know" how much better it is. Clown.
Eric Dondero | November 28, 2007, 11:01pm | #
Wow! They're now saying on Blog Talk that McCain won the debate specifically because of his slam on Ron Paul.It's starting to look like a downer of the night for the Paul-bots.
Fluffy | November 28, 2007, 11:02pm | #
Right, RedState is so influential they have to mass ban people to avoid being buried on their own fucking site.Fluffy | November 28, 2007, 11:03pm | #
Dondero, shouldn't you be talking to the guys at Blog Talk Radio about how Saddam Hussein and the Abominable Snowman were responsible for the assassination of ArchDuke Ferdinand?Franklin Harris | November 28, 2007, 11:03pm | #
If Ron Paul actually did well in Iowa, I might have to check if hell had frozen over. All Iowans care about is fat farm subsidies to corn farmers, and their mix of economic populism/protectionism and social conservatism plays right into Hickabee's hands. Put it this way: If it were a Paul vs. Huckabee race, Huckabee would recycle the "Cross of Gold" speech. From economic populism to creationism, Huckabee is a modern William Jennings Bryan, minus Bryan's one good point: his opposition to imperialism.New Hampshire, however, is a different matter.
Mr. Nice Guy | November 28, 2007, 11:04pm | #
I came away from the debate more convinced that Rudy is the best of the GOP. The Bible and Roe question made my mind up: this man turned down the chance to pander like crazy and gave what seemed like honest and inte