I have to admit, this one snuck up on me. Why? It seems like we just had one of these a couple of weeks ago. Oh. Right. We did. Sheesh, how many of these debates will we have had by January?

Anyway, I was able to catch up on some (hopefully most) of the relevant video here. Overall I'd have to say that the format and pacing of this debate was just better, or the candidates are getting much better at this debate thing. Probably a little of both.

YouTube helpfully has some of the highlights.

There are two important things that could have come out of this debate but did not.

One is that John McCain could have salvaged himself on the immigration issue. Instead he made the unintentionally hilarious moment of the night, "If anyone thinks they can come up with a better plan, I invite them to try." Whereupon (of course!) every other candidate raised their hands and started shouting. McCain is sinking fast and he once again misses another opportunity, but I do give him credit for sticking to his positions on issues. Once he sticks, he sticks.

The other is that maybe Rudy Giuliani could finally find the magic formulation on abortion that gets him out of the doghouse. This led to another unintentionally hilarious moment where Giuliani's mike went out and Wallace attributed it to "lightning" from God and all the other candidates moved wayyy back. Rudy quipped about his catholic upbringing. Again, all pro-life conservatives are asking for is a clear pledge to nominate judges that would clearly roll back Roe and no taxpayer funds for abortions. Rudy could do that while maintaining his position but he just can't seem to do that. No change there either.

And of course the shadow over the whole debate is the impending entry of Fred Thompson into the race. The next debate that actually has Fred Thompson in the debate instead of after it will get a lot more attention.