I'll update this as the debate goes along. Add your thoughts in comments.
Update (7:20): On the question of whether the invasion of Iraq was right or wrong, Mitt Romney dodged, Rudy Giuliani was straight forward and said he supported it; Duncan Hunter said he would use tactical nukes against Iran to prevent them from developing a nuke themselves. Rudy agreed.
Ron Paul went right to his cut and run rhetoric.
Update (7:41): John McCain failed to explain himself with the immigration bill. McCain said it wasn't the bill he'd have written. Huh?
Hunter called the bill the Bush/McCain/Kennedy bill. That'll leave a mark.
Giuliani harped on the lack of a database and Romney suggested making the Z-Visa temporary.
Update (8:06): On pardoning Scooter Libby, Giuliani, Tommy Thompson, Romney and Tom Tancredo said they would comsider it as did huckabee. Others dodged.
Hunter said he would pardon Border Patrol agents Compion and Ramos who were jailed for shooting a drug dealer. That will go over well with conservatives.
Update (8:29): Giuliani hit the prescription drug question out of the park. He also dealt well with the Iraq question.
Sam Brownback said twice he'd introduce legislation tomorrow to break Iraq into three "states." An interesting concept I'll cover tomorrow.
Update (8:37): Ron Paul actually just said that Iran is not a threat in response to Duncan Hunter's earlier assertion that he would preemptively nuke Iran to keep them from obtaining nukes. He also said (and I paraphrase) that they've never done anything to us. I'm sure there are people who were hostages for 444 days who would beg to differ, congressman.
Paul is not a libertarian or Republican, he is an anti-war liberal.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 3)
1. Scott,
Did it seem to you like Duncan Hunter really did well in this debate? He seemed to get a lot of air time.
david knowles at 8:32PM on Jun 5th 2007
2. Yes Dave, he's a good candidate, he's just too blah to get coverage. More on that later.
Scott at 8:34PM on Jun 5th 2007
3. SAME OL SAME OL YAAAWN....BORING
Edwin Archer at 8:43PM on Jun 5th 2007
4. Wolf Blitzer and the CNN staff who drafted tonights questions should be fired. Hopefully the next debate will address questions concerning the future of our country.
GMD at 8:52PM on Jun 5th 2007
5. When did the use of NUCLEAR weapons become acceptable? Our countries policy since WW2 has been that Nuclear weapons are to be used as a last resort and as a defensive weapon. Not something to be used in a preemptive strike! God help us all!
RJL at 8:51PM on Jun 5th 2007
6. Ron Paul was the clear winner. He is the only one standing by the Constitution.
Bob Swanson at 9:50PM on Jun 5th 2007
7. Hunter has no neck and is unelectable. This nation will not vote for someone who's foreign policy and diplomacy would involve NUKING someone!!! The rest of the world would be appalled if we EVER did anything that STUPID.
Paul is a libertarian Republican. In his theory, if we got the hell outta the middle east and quit telling sovereign nations what to do, they wouldn't hate us, take hostages, or want to "come get us" anymore. We trade, build friendships and let them govern themselves. It's worth a shot of trying it..what we have been doing is working very very very well now isn't it? Maybe Ron is right, but that would involve many being wrong, sucking it up saying "MY GOD what have we done"? (which IS what Reagan believed too and Ronnie got the hell outta there too) Ron takes Reagans position. Paul, who was friends with Reagan, LEAD the Texas delegation for Reagan back in 1976 and 1980 is the closet in ideology to Reagan than any of the other slick wannabes up there.
Rudy should be affraid of being hit by lightning!!!
Liberty at 10:20PM on Jun 5th 2007
8. Quote:
He also said (and I paraphrase) that they've never done anything to us. I'm sure there are people who were hostages for 444 days who would beg to differ, congressman.
Scott do yourself a favour, take the blinkers off and see if you can find out why they took those hostages. The events in Iran in 1979 stem from 26 years of oppression at the hands of a tyrant installed and maintained by the US Government.
If Paul's comments make him look like an "anti-war liberal"
your selective recollection of history just makes you sound plain ignorant.
Rob M at 9:48PM on Jun 5th 2007
9. Ahhh, the Ron Paulites are out in force. Your candidate has zero chance of ever getting more than 2%.
He's a liberal wanker who has all you kool-aid drinkers thinking his candidacy has a shot.
Go spam LGF and say he won the debate, your inane rhetoric is going nowhere here.
Scott at 9:50PM on Jun 5th 2007
10. Tom Tancredo had the best shot of the night on the question regarding if he was elected if he would use George W. Bush in any capacity.
His answer; "Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado recalled that White House aide Karl Rove had once told him "never darken the door of the White House." The congressman said he'd tell George W. Bush the same thing."
Most of the people in this Country can't wait to get rid of the ignorant, arrogant bastard who now occupies the White House, what candidate in their right mind would want "shrub" back in any position.
Carl at 9:51PM on Jun 5th 2007
11. Rudy was the clear winner. Smaller Govt, No to imigration amnesty and strong and free America. Rudy did not say to use nucs on Iran that is a lie and aol should be ashamed they print that...
Don at 9:57PM on Jun 5th 2007
12. This realy shows Republicans have much more class to debate on CNN the most liberal chanal on TV. Democrates were afraid to debate with FOX involved in there debate but this shoed no fear even with the underhanded way this debate was conducted and liberal views being imposed throughout
Don at 10:02PM on Jun 5th 2007
13. Rudy was the clear winner tonight. The more I hear him discuss the issues, the more I like what he says, his demeaner, his experience, everything about him for this job. Ron Paul is a lunatic....the VERY LAST person for this job in particular. Geeze, I can't believe anybody would seriously consider that guy! Also heard Fred Thompson againg tonight on Fox....I like him too. Rudy G and Fred T, could be a ticket.
Jean at 10:12PM on Jun 5th 2007
14. Quote:
Ahhh, the Ron Paulites are out in force. Your candidate has zero chance of ever getting more than 2%.
He's a liberal wanker who has all you kool-aid drinkers thinking his candidacy has a shot.
Go spam LGF and say he won the debate, your inane rhetoric is going nowhere here." End quote
I see, truth has absolutely nothing to do with your position.
My apologies, I thought this was a serious blog site.
I wont add any further comments.
However, my 8 year old daughter would like to contonue to debate with you.
She should be able to provide you with serious competition in the "liar, liar pants on fire" style of debate.
Rob M at 10:04PM on Jun 5th 2007
15. And your eight year old would argue a better case for Ron Paul.
He's a great candidate, like Al Sharpton was in 2004.
Get real Paulites, he's a non-factor in the race.
Scott at 10:11PM on Jun 5th 2007