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 2 of 2)
16. 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
17. 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
18. I only saw re-play excerpts, but I was very impressed! I can't wait to get the scoundrels out of the White House.
I am tired of the unwarranted Ronald Regan idolatry; the wall didn't come down because he said to tear it down.
American foreign policy has created more enemies than enough. Let's hope to get a president who will put America first, and not send our military to be slaughtered and maimed for other countries, because biased advisers gave him the wrong information or advise.
Carole at 10:50AM on May 4th 2007
19. NO WONDER 08' IS THE YEAR FOR DEMOCRATS. YOU SELF-rightIOUS IDIOTS ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT AMERICA IS DOING GOOD?...EXCUSE ME. DID I MISS SOMETHING? WE ARE LOSING YOUNG AMERICANS AT A WAR IN A COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN HAVING CIVIL WARS SINCE JESUS, AND A SELF-rightIOUS IDIOT IS GOING TO GO AND GIVE THEM FREEDOM? WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS? GOD?! OH, AND WHAT JOBS ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? RETAIL AT WAL-MART OR IS IT MCDONALDS? THOSE ARE BOTH GOVERNMENT SPONSORED COMPANIES....DUH? ALL THE GOOD PAYING JOBS HAVE BEEN EXPORTED THANKS TO YOU GREEDY SELF-rightIOUS IDIOTS WHO THINK THAT MAKING ISSUES ABOUT MY UTERUS WILL GET YOU INTO HEAVEN. STUPID. FREEDOM OF CHOICE IS GOD GIVEN...NOT A MAN MADE LAW. UNTIL YOU CAN GIVE BIRTH YOURSELF, KEEP YOUR OPINIONS TO YOUR SELF. THAT IS A WOMAN'S CHOICE!
iamchavira at 11:24AM on May 4th 2007
20. Thanks for the summation,you sound so well read iamchavira.I can and have given birth, so I guess that also makes me a resident expert as well on my "uterus".A woman should have the right to choose, just not at the taxpayers expense.And like it or not, we are governed by laws,it's what separates us from the animals.You are most certainly entitled to an opinion, but coming to the conclusion that we are self-righteous because of a moral foundation(did you forget"One nation under God") is just plain stupid.And unless you like yelling in writing,take the caps off.And may I ask, have you ever served in the military,sounds more like a little jail time.I have served and in fact, enlisted.There are never any misconceptions about your role when you enlist,it is a volunteer military.You may be called upon to serve in not so popular conflicts,even give your life.The men and women that serve in the armed forces honor this country,you do not.You go to sleep with the knowledge this blanket of freedom protects you.So, resident expert remember, the majority of politians and American people rallied behind this President after 911, based on the information at that time.No one disagrees that we as Americans did not understand or have the full story.We now know that we cannot repeat Vietnam.So in your efforts to sound so, in your words,"self-righteous",you sound more like "pathetic".Maybe you should take your own advice and keep your opinions to yourself.
hrtsvr1983 at 12:06PM on May 4th 2007
21. What was with that republican line it looked like esed car sales men trying to sell us cars more than anything else heres a tid bid of information.
http://2008republicans.blogspot.com/
bloggershaven at 3:48PM on May 4th 2007