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 2 of 3)
16. I too think Rudy Giuliani and Hunter both had a strong debate. I was disappointed to see that not one candidate raised their hand against discrimination in our armed forces based on sexual preference. Discrimination against any group in this country is unacceptable in my opinion. Have we learned nothing from our past?
I would also like to know why preference in questions and debate on issues was given to the purported "front runners"? I feel I am entitled to my Democratic process which would include hearing equally from all the candidates, not just the media darlings.
Yomomma at 10:19PM on Jun 5th 2007
17. Writer Scott is a meathead. Like good ol' Archie Bunker used to say, "dead from the neck up".
Ron Paul is an intelligent honest man who has always voted as a true republican- and the constitution backs up Dr Paul's vote.
Writer Scott Meathead Meets Rudy Fooliani
Writer Scott Meathead- Yahhhh Rudy (claps like a mentally disabled person) YAHHH! Protect me!
Fooliani- I'm gonna make you an offer you can't refuse! Sign away your freedom on the dotted line, my sheep! FREEDOM? FUGEDABOUDIT!
Writer Scott Meathead- Duh OK! Where do I sign (claps like a retard)....
Al Santos at 10:19PM on Jun 5th 2007
18. And here is that STUD Rudy Giuliani in a dress, prancing around like a Kansas City Fruitloop. Yeah, I want a cross dressing fruitcake for a President. WOW, what a great idea!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IrE6FMpai8
Bill S at 12:07AM on Jun 6th 2007
19. Bill,
Cross dressing is a very conservative idea, didn't you know?
If you're trying to inject any logic into these idiots heads here (they are actually in favor of Guiliani) you're in the wrong place.
They think Ron Paul is a liberal when he has the most conservative voting record out of anyone in Congress for the last 20 years.
They think being for every war means your conservative.
You see how they argue.
Card at 12:02PM on Jun 6th 2007
20. Before calling people names, maybe we should listen to what they say...have you read the reasons why they attack us? I know I didn't read the 9/11 Commission Report or anything else on our foreign policy and how it affects what happens. Start with the 9/11 Commission Report, pages 48-49,59, 69,and 147. Page 363, towards the bottom says what Dr. Paul has said about the "war on terror". Dr. Paul is also backed up by Michael Scheuer, former chief of the Bin Laden unit at the CIA. Watch the press conference for yourself...http://youtube.com/watch?v=DAt6Pf7jZjA.
Scott at 10:21PM on Jun 6th 2007
21. "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."
He's a non-factor because the media won't allow him to be. He said more in his 6 min of airtime than Giuliani has said in the last 3 debates. He may have the glamour and pizazz of other candidates but he is the most learned and experienced candidate. He says what he believes is right. And the stance of the Iranian gov't is in no way a representation of the Iranian people.
Danny at 3:25AM on Jun 6th 2007
22. I was not so familiar with Jim Gilmore, Mike Huckabee, or Duncan Hunter before this debate. I liked how they handled themselves and their responses to the questions. I loved Hunter's reference to Romney, Giuliani, and McCain's alignments with Ted Kennedy. Well done!
Paula at 3:40AM on Jun 6th 2007
23. I think that asking the candidates about religion and their faith in God was an unbelievable question in a free country where it's really nobody's business if one believes in God or not. In other words, one would never be able to admit to being an agnotic, even though they might be the best candidate.
gail mrotek at 6:49AM on Jun 6th 2007
24. Ron Paul always comes at the top of all poll results, but the media continues to ignore him. Why?
Is there a controled press afterall?
TA Robb at 9:38AM on Jun 6th 2007
25. Quote:I'm sure there are people who were hostages for 444 days who would beg to differ, congressman.
Neither this current government nor the general public of Iran have done anything to us, and I think that's what the congressman was talking about. Are you telling me that an act over 30 years ago necessitates we go in there and overthrow another popularly-elected in Iran? You know what, can you blame them for wanting nukes? We're so keen on talking about our sovereignty, but what about theirs? Again, we overthrew a popularly elected government to install a dictator not supported by the people. Would we not object if another nation was doing the same to us?
Also, is being anti-war now some kind of slur to you people?
Matthew Peterson at 10:42AM on Jun 6th 2007
26. Scott....if Ron Paul didn't have a chance of winning the Primary, why would the MEDIA go to such lengths to cut him out of pictures, leave his name off many polls, have journalists writing anti Paul propaganda (like you), not give him 1/4 the questions in the debates as his rivals, and hide the winner of AOLs online "winners and losers" poll, hide the blog related with it (full of Ron Paul support), AND DESPITE the MEDIA going to these great lengths, he still wins 40+% of the votes on the polls in which his name is included, has supporters from all walks of life, republicans, democrats, old timers, college students, hippies, musicians (bands4ronpaul), christians, jews, muslims, and non religious people alike??? EXAMPLE: If he didn't have a chance at winning, then why did my husband who is a DEMOCRAT, decided to support Ron Paul instead of Obama after reading Paul's website???????
If He didn't have a chance at winning, WHY ARE YOU SO SCARED?
Shalema at 3:45PM on Jun 6th 2007
27. You're insane. The other candidates want to preemptively nuke another country. And you are cheering rah rah rah?
Do you even know the story behind the hostages? Look it up. The leader of Iran, a popular leader who was Time's "Man Of The Year," wanted to take control of his oil away from the company that is now BP. So, the CIA took him out and installed a man who tortured and killed his people for 20 years. Those people finally got angry enough to overthrow him, and they hated America for making them suffer.
If we would stay the heck out of other countries, we wouldn't have these problems. Duh.
Angela Thornton at 8:37PM on Jun 6th 2007
28. Scott, your comment about Ron Paul shows you need to understand History more. The AMerican CIA overthrew a democratically elected leader in Iran in 1953. Once this regime was overthrown 20 years later, the Iranians took our hostages..... Quit distorting Ron Pauls claims without actually reading something..
Matt at 4:30PM on Jun 6th 2007
29. CNN lost the debate by failing to keep it fair by insuring each candidate got the same amount of time. Also, by not allowing each candidate to answer each question. Ron Paul won because he focused on the Constitutional powers of office. The others spent as much time on how to govern Iraq as how to govern the US. Big media constantly pounds out the message that the US government role is to run the world. All the candidates, except Ron Paul, are playing along with that theme. The most important figure mentioned in the debate was $1,000,000,000,000. Ron Paul pointed out the US government is spending that amount each year to run the world. The others were all trotting out their latest new planned boondoggle to spend more government money on. The big media is owned by the special interest that feed on that $1,000,000,000,000 like a bunch of hogs on slop.
James Harry Schaeffer at 5:18PM on Jun 6th 2007
30. Wow, the writer of this blog is really uneducated. By attempting to label the most conservative member of congress a "liberal" for simply not wanting to invade other countries, he has proven just how far the right wing has fallen in America. Our faith is now in bombs and guns, and not the law of God. I once watched Ron Paul give a speech to congress about Saint Augustine's and Thomas Aquinas' "just war theory" of Christianity and how Iraq failed to meet all six points of justification for a righteous war. His logic was completely sound and his points all valid and intelligent. And even putting morality aside, there is also no practical value. America hasn't won an undecared war since ww2, and all our adventures in the middle east have simply multiplied out enemies abroad. But the writer of this blog doesn't seemed with either morality or history. What the hell is going through these people's heads? Either sissy fear or macho bloodlust, I guess.
jeremiah black at 1:32AM on Jun 7th 2007