The two toughest questions were asked of Rudy Giuliani and Tommy Thompson. The question to Giuliani was something to this effect: "What is the difference between Sunnis and Shiites?" Giuliani stuttered but answered the question factually. I guess you can't expect a Catholic to know about Islam. I'm Episcopalian, ask me about confession and I wouldn't know anything about it (yet I kind of dig that whole confession, say a few Hail Mary's/Rosaries and you're forgiven aspect).
Tommy Thompson was asked about the amount of troops killed in Iraq. Now this question is a set up, yet Thompson should have known. He was right on those killed, but dreadfully wrong on those wounded. He replied that over 3,000 are dead and several thousand wounded. Again, without a transcript, I'm going from memory. The exact dead and wounded are 3,357 dead and 24,314 according to ICasualty. Those numbers are generally very close to the DoD's numbers. Thompson should have said something innocuous such as "too many have been wounded" if he didn't know the answer. Instead he showed that he has not been paying attention to a number I'd imagine eats President Bush up on a daily basis.
Overall, the candidates made no major faux pas, short of Thompson, and I wouldn't expect the polls to change significantly unless Fred Thompson gets in right quick.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. Opinions and viewds http://todaypolitics.blogspot.com/
bloggershaven at 10:44PM on May 3rd 2007
2. I am a Conservative 1st Rebublican 2nd...and I watched the whole quasi-debate, and will share my impressions..
1. Giuliani, was better than I would have imagined him to be. He seemed very honest and forthright and his disagreement with the others, while civil, was " this is who I am" ...it rang true
2. Hunter...after being ignored for most of the night, seemed to come out as a true believer, with Commander in Chief points...and probably picked up a few points on the security front. Wish we got to hear more.
3. Mc Cain.. still can't forgive him for McCain/ Feingold...if the 1st Amendment doesn't mean much to him...I don't think any of the others will either. Not a good thing to say how comfortable he was with the DEMOCRATS, especially after we have seen the difficulties working with them bring the country.
4. Romney...came across very presidential.. I think he is sitting back for awhile...You will probably see his numbers climb. We'll see.
5. Ron Paul...he is a true libertarian.. He is 100% correct on "sound money", but that hidden tax of about 10% every year isn't political enough to make any body listen. No one will listen to him. You need more than a 3rd grade education to understand this issue.
6. Gillmore is probably the "real" conservative and spoke to the traditional values of the party better than the rest...I don't know why he doesn't get more traction...tremendous talent...but then so was Allen.
7. Huckabee...was my pick, but did not impress in this forum.
8. Brownback...not impressive...I don't know why
9. Tancredo...got ignored, probably because Chris Matthews is an open borders type. Solid hands on trustworthy.
10. Thompson....really is better than he came off . He is a "do it" type..I think he realized that he mis-spoke on the Iraq numbers...hurt him.
Generally, it is is more varied and qualified field than the DEMOCRATS can field and I think they attempted to portray a more positive future for America than the DEMOCRATS did last week. But then again I admit to a bias. I was very very surprised that not 1 question or comment was made in reference to the booming economic picture, employment, job creation and low inflation....these are exactly the facts that the DEMOCRATS don't want to talk about. It hurts them. We know it was the BUSH tax cuts that was instrumental to the economy's ability to stand up through many natural and man-made calamities. Why don't the REPUBLICANS talk about it more?. Perhaps because it is TOO early for all this... and staking out positions now can come around and bite you 1 1/2 years from now. This is precisely why the DEMOCRATS wish to legislate a victory for the terrorists now, before the tide has any chance of swinging in America's favor. The are invested in America's defeat. Their political future depends upon it. Reid and Schumer bragged that if they can bring about this "surrender" they will pick up 6 seats. Unfortunately they were overheard.
The real question, come the election will be ... Can the DEMOCRATS convince the people that loosing the war and bringing about a socialist tyranny is a good thing? Can they temp the worst and weakest traits of the people? Can their agenda be spun by the media into something the American public can force down their craws? If they can do this they win...if America wishes to remain a beacon of liberty .....they loose. Period.
joe m at 11:26PM on May 3rd 2007
3. The real losers in this "debate" are the Democrats...they refused to go on Fox because the "Ultra right wing Brit Hume" might have asked questions they would be embarassed to answer or downright wouldn't. At least the Republicans came to an extremely "hostile to Republicans" host, and made the best of it.
Jim Deibel at 11:27PM on May 3rd 2007
4. Interesting, in so far as how many cliches were used
by most of the candidates. So far Pres.Bush holds the
world record for #'s of them used in one speech.
Too many: we love,want,need, must have: freedom,
democracy,safe borders,safety from terrorists, "victory", never-give-up, "we do not quit", morality,
ethics,"the war on terror,Iran,Iran,Iran!! & 12 more.
The message to the rest of is clear: be afraid, be
very afraid! If "fear" wins, then they all won!
Harriet F Abrahms at 11:34PM on May 3rd 2007
5. For whom would I vote after satching the entire debate...well, Ronald Reagan, of course. They surely convinced me...now where do I go to cast my vote? Joyce Myers, Carbondale, Il.
Joyce Myers at 1:07AM on May 4th 2007
6. I think all of them were endorsing Ronald Reagan. He is isn't running though. Too many comparisons to Regan and not enough about themselves.
Fred Reames at 1:22AM on May 4th 2007
7. Now I see why the Dems will win in '08.
Republicans don't believe in evolution
They want to continue in a was 2/3rds of the US doesn't
They think embyonic stem cells is killing babies.
(it's a cluster of cells, no brain, no heart, no lungs, nothing to show it's alive except it could be used to save lives. But Republicans would rather throw them away when fertalization clinics are done with them rather than use them to save lives.
They worry about illegal aliens that do the jobs no one else would do, and pay taxes, costing the government around 25 billion to educate future and hospitalize their children costing less than we spend on the impact of OBESITY. And we all know who the fat rats in the US are
Oh! You can't get welfare if you're an illegal alien genius! The law says so.
Dems will win in '08 unless you go with the people!
The people want out of Iraq
The people want stem cell research
And the people want corrupt Republicans out
Conservatism is great, if you practice what you preach, but Republicans got us a 500 billion deficit and a huge part of a 9 trillion dollar national debt!
China and India won in 2000 and 2004 with Republicans. They got our jobs and our money!
Beth at 2:28AM on May 4th 2007
8. This is "off topic" and about the writer of the news item that we are talking about...I find it tremendously ironic that in this "PC" riddled country we live in, where "right wing christians" are constantly called out for making "incensitive" remarks about Islamists,Jews,African-Americans and a slew of other religions and cultures, that the writer felt it was totally ok to make this statement. " I'm Episcopalian, ask me about confession and I wouldn't know anything about it (yet I kind of dig that whole confession, say a few Hail Mary's/Rosaries and you're forgiven aspect). Excuse me Sir or Madame, but did you just mock one of the center stones of Catholic Doctrine? Shouldn't you be fired from your job like Don Imus or the littany of other "bad people" that have jokingly mocked a religion or culture? Should Catholics riot in the streets and march on the steps of the company that pays you? Should I refuse to buy products from companies that advertise on AOL? Hopefully Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson will catch wind of your comment and then SOMETHING will get done! It's those two guys that are out to make a difference and protect the unprotected without any political or personal gain! (cough) This is just another example of the War on Christianity in this country. Thank you for once again proving that the double standard in this new war in America is strictly enforced.I appreciate your little joke. It was very heartfelt and taken lightly as you can see. Your a joke.
Robert Matarazzo at 2:33AM on May 4th 2007
9. WOW
What is with the Extremist Liberal Media controlling the GOP debates with their anti GOP and anti America speeches that hardly contained a question:
OBVIOUSLY the Liberal MEDIA intends to control
the campaign and tone of the process right to the election with their Hate USA, HATE TROOPS, HATE law and order, HATE personal responsibility, HATE decency, PRO TERRORIST< PRO COMMUNIST and HATE HATE HATE BUSH because he beat them twice perpetual campaigns.
lettyb at 3:54AM on May 4th 2007
10. >>>especially after we have seen the difficulties working with them bring the country.
Garret at 4:13AM on May 4th 2007
11. what a bunch of cranks on this site!
joh haynes at 6:20AM on May 4th 2007
12. The clear winner was a dead man... obviously Ronald Reagan. None of them compared to him (or at least the myth of him) and they admitted it! Having Nancing gawking over them didn't help. I have to disagree with most and say that Romney looked awful. He was whining and seemed like suck a phoney....sucking up everywhere he could.... his answer about how great the American people were was sickening... he's way too slick. Oily.
McCain seemed angry and a little senile. He's going to follow Bin Laden to the "gates of Hell"... somehow I believe him.
Tommy Thompson looked like a corpse with dyed red hair propped up against the wall.
All in all, It was awful.
Let me tell you
Fred Thompson is not going to save these people either.
www.vote08.com
Tom at 7:56AM on May 4th 2007
13. I missed the debates working but this country is doomed if we as people don't have the ability to see through the media domain. Aquinas said from sense experience which is always 'iffy' we have God given ability to form images and concepts and we spirtualize them and work them up into truths. That's why God belongs in education, in order to know that life saving truth.
Joe at 9:20AM on May 4th 2007
14. Wow such interesting and thought-prevoking comments out there. I really hope that people choose carefully in the upcoming elections.America still remains divided and the next President certainly has a rough road ahead.Speaking from a Midwest, Catholic(confession and all) and honorably discharged and downsized veteran's(thanks Bill) point of view,I still am very undecided.I am however clear on many things.Like a lot of Americans,I sit in the middle,leaning a little more to the right than the left(here comes that Catholic thing again).I do believe that the family is such intergral part of this country and it must be supported and preserved.That is not to say, if there was a moderate Democratic hopeful that I would not vote in that direction just because of their affiliation.Also, lets face facts, the war is a mistake that needs to be fixed,the economy is teetering on a full-blown recession(remember those lovely Carter years),our borders need to be secured(I really liked the"you need to knock at the front door" comment from last night),the environment needs an over haul,alternative forms of energy need to be initiated now(quit talking about it and do it),we need to quit out-sourcing(sorry AOL),stem cell research needs to be persued(I am a healthcare professional), but not at the cost of embryo farming(oops,Catholic thing again and no not the ones in frozen storage, they do folks end up in the trash,honest),Iran and Korea need to be stopped,using force if sanctions don't work from an international coalition(what does the UN do anyway),healthcare reform(I see it everyday,take a look at the ERs,they are full of uninsured and most are there for primary care which is slowing the process of treating true emergencies),and lets not forget abortion.This topic has been beaten to death. I think that a woman should be able to choose, but she should pay,but not with my tax dollars(by the way, I am a woman).Second and third trimester abortions or partial births,absolutely not.I also believe minors need to have written consent from their parent or guardian(they need it for ear-piercing and all those other lovely areas they poke holes in).Saying all that, I would like to add neither Clinton nor Obama have the resume to be the next Commander in Chief to address these issues,both are junior senators without a proven track record.Richardson,maybe.He definitely would give the Republicans a run for the money.He does have a lot more to offer than his counterparts.I don't think this should be popularity contest, and it seems that is the direction it is going.That also applies to the Republicans. I do not think Guilliani has the experience to run this country.Sure he lowered crime, addressed welfare issues, and was mayor of New York, but that does not mean he can interface with world leaders, balance a countries budget or begin to understand the use or nonuse of military force.The true heroes of 911 were the people of New York and the first responders,police and firefighters.McCain was my early choice, but his support of a failed war has left me with major doubts.Let's hope this new plan works and we can let Iraq govern itself.I do agree with Brownback that each sect should have it's own state, much like the former Soviet Union. I think we should have sent a whole lot more in the beginning, coming from behind is not a good position to be in.Romney was definitely more mainstream, probably could be more of a middle man.I have to say that Huckabee was a surprise. He is much more humble than the rest and makes no excuse for his religion. I am not quite sure that I would choose him as his stance on a variety of issues was not conveyed well in the forum last night.I will say, and boy is this so cliche,history does have a funny way of repeating itself, and one party's agenda is never the answer(Mr.Bush, you have lost your way). We need balance and I do not think any of the front runners in either party are really looking out for the majority,the middle class.I still however am hopeful that the transparency is realized before this country continues to head down the wrong path.Folks,Pelosi and her cronies are not the solution, unity from both sides is.Together we stand and united we fall(I know sooo cliche, but it is a good one).
hrtsvr1983 at 9:46AM on May 4th 2007
15. The whole debate made me sick. All they talked about was how their personal feelings would help them make decisions. Well, who the hell cares about there personal beliefs. The elected officials should reflect the will of the majority. Just because someone is elected, they take that as a mandate to do what ever they, and I repeat they think is correct. Radical beliefs in religion, no matter what your faith is, is as dangerous as extreme terrorism. Roe v. Wade has been on the books for years. Now our current President does not like that, so he appoints Roberts to the bench. Was that in the best interest of the majority, or just some extreme right-wingers putting pressure on the office. Lastly, all the current candiates seemd to feel that getting involved in the Terry Schaivo
case was proper. Thankfully the courts sais that was not correct. If this is the lot of Republicans who are running for office, and one of them should get elected, I believe will be be in for a sickening 4 or 8 years.
Roe v.Wade has been on the books for years and now because the President has changed the Supreme Court to his personal beliefs, that may be overturned.
It is my personal beliefs that radical religion, now matter what your beliefs are, is as frightening as terroism, and should have no place in politics.
ed s at 10:45AM on May 4th 2007