On Fox News last night, the GOP candidates -- sans Fred Thompson -- went at it again. There were some more fireworks than in previous face-offs and the race is starting to get more heated. Iraq, immigration, abortion and the greater War on Terror were the main topics with immigration and Iraq taking up the most time.
Winners would include John McCain although it's too little, too late and Mike Huckabee. Huckabee had a sparring match with Ron Paul in which Huckabee definitely had the crowd on his side and in my opinion won the match. You can see why Paul attracts some devotees but I have to agree with Glenn Reynolds that his notion that the "neocons" led us to war and not the nation as a whole rings hollow. Paul is essentially rewriting history as he knows full-well that the President went to Congress for approval and went to the UN as well. In fact, the process was extended because of that and that allowed Saddam to set up the insurgency in my opinion. So the idea that a few "neocons" got us into war is ludicrous at best. Huckabee is running a decent campaign being that he came from nowhere.
McCain hit some good points and came across as prepared and on his game, unfortunately he sank during the "shamnesty" bill imbroglio and can never get back to the point he was, especially with Fred Thompson now in the race. A McCain upset in the early primaries is a possibility but not probable. The Arizona Senator had the funniest line of the night when busting on Thompson for missing the debate and doing the Leno show: "Maybe we're up past his bedtime," although McCain is four years older.
Rudy Giuliani didn't make any huge mistakes but he didn't exactly blow anyone away either. He was Mayor of New York, we all know he was Mayor of New York and we all know his record in New York. Start talking about the rest of the country, Rudy.
Romney had the best soundbite of the night:
And if it means we have to go into a mosque to wiretap or a church, then that's exactly where we're going to go. Because we're going to do whatever it takes to protect the American people.
And I hear from time to time people say, hey, wait a second. We have civil liberties we have to worry about. But don't forget, the most important civil liberty I expect from my government is my right to be kept alive, and that's what we're going to have to do.
That's pure red meat to Conservatives and supporters of the War on Terror. He scored pretty well on that and his overall answers on Iraq and immigration were good except when Giuliani called him on "sanctuary" issues.
Finally, Duncan Hunter , Sam Brownback and Tom Tancredo haven't been able to make a move and in the case of Hunter it's disappointing. He's a good candidate and I would hope he would at least be considered for a V.P. slot or at the very least a high-level cabinet position. As for Tancredo, make him the head of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and the border will be sealed immediately.
The next debate will be a bit more interesting as the entire field will be there and I would imagine one or two of the lesser candidates will have dropped by then.
Hit the link above as Instapundit has a roundup of those who blogged events as they were happening.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. "And I hear from time to time people say, hey, wait a second. We have civil liberties we have to worry about. But don't forget, the most important civil liberty I expect from my government is my right to be kept alive, and that's what we're going to have to do."
Fear has always been used to make republics submit to an aristocracy which turns into tyranny. Caesar would be proud.
James Maynard at 1:04PM on Sep 6th 2007
2. Saddam set up the Iraqi insurgency because the United States didn't invade quickly enough, diddling around and wasting time instead with silly things like seeking Congressional and UN Security Council approval? Were the continued occupation of Iraq not such a tragic, bloody fiasco, such wishful revisionist history of recent public events would be a hoot.
Everybody of course is entitled to their own opinion. But everybody is not entitled to their own facts.
Get over it. There was immediate popular grassroots resistance to the US military attack upon Iraq (ie., an insurgency) because people resent being invaded and occupied by foreigners, and many people view the replacement regime as inept, corrupt collaborators.
Even if George Bush had totally ignored the Constitutional requirement that Congress approve the waging of war, and totally ignored our international legal obligations under the United Nations charter, there still wouldn't have been dancing in the streets in response to shock and awe unless the White House and Pentagon PR machine could first orchestrate it.
William Street at 1:57PM on Sep 6th 2007
3. hmm, Bush got Congress appoval and went to the UN but attacked before the search for WMD's were complets, why? maybe cuz they were moved or not there.
If I am going to have my civil liberties taken away then kill me.
Sadaam's army fell apart, the insurgency was able to run free because of it. These are the kinds of people Sadaam kept in check.
David McCool at 2:01PM on Sep 6th 2007
4. I too was impressed by McCain, sans amnesty issue. He has the military background that the next in office is going to need for sure. Also came across well on other issues (eg. pork barrel spending). That one, Gravel? er ah was it Ron Paul? He needs to be in treatment as serious issues are revealed every time he speaks. People pleaser sans honor? Dredging info. from any place is not new. Jim Jones days showed him under constant watch. So much so they left the country. And David in Texas? Some movements are not what they are claimed to be sometimes! With NO quaified Demo. in the running its going to be the most watched race in history. Getting both interesting and disturbing.
Larry at 2:08PM on Sep 6th 2007
5. "Romney had the best soundbite of the night:
And if it means we have to go into a mosque to wiretap or a church, then that's exactly where we're going to go. Because we're going to do whatever it takes to protect the American people.
And I hear from time to time people say, hey, wait a second. We have civil liberties we have to worry about. But don't forget, the most important civil liberty I expect from my government is my right to be kept alive, and that's what we're going to have to do."
I don't think that was the best soundbite of the night. The most haunting and disturbing? Maybe.
Paul at 2:10PM on Sep 6th 2007
6. Multiple victories scored by Ron Paul tonight in Fox Republican Debate:
Ron Paul Wins Fox News TV viewer poll (phone text messaging)
Ron Paul 33%; Huckabee 18%; Giuliani 15%; McCain 14%; Romney 12%;
Ron Paul Wins MSNBC Online Poll by a Landslide
Who showed the most leadership qualities? Ron Paul 70%; Giuliani 8%; Romney 7%.
Ron Paul Wins World Net Daily Post Debate Poll with 37% of the vote.
Ron Paul Photo, Headline and Story Featured on Cover Page of www.abcnews.com
Ron Paul Makes Top Headline “In the News” on Cover Page of www.yahoo.com
Ron Paul named in headline on Front Page of Google News Home Page
Ron Paul named in headline featured on Front Page of London Guardian Latest World News Online
Ron Paul’s name mentioned on front page of www.cbsnews.com
Ron Paul’s name mentioned in the first line of the MSNBC story on the debates.
Ron Paul’s name mentioned in headline on debate story at US News and World Report.
In summary, Ron Paul won this debate hands down, and Ron Paul has elevated himself to where he is an undisputable top tier candidate and one of the frontrunners for the Republican nomination and Presidency.
http://www.RonPaul2008.com
Jeff at 2:24PM on Sep 6th 2007
7. Interesting!
I ranked them last night as:
1. Paul
2. Huckabee
3. McCain
4. Giuliani
5. Romney
6. Rest
I thought Paul won the argument with Huckabee.
WMDs, or the "idea" of them influenced a lot of congress critters. It was the neocons that used that as the convincing reason to go into Iraq. I would think that would be the reason that Paul said the neocons hijacked us into this war.
Anyway, these debates are VERY good practice for when we need to deal with the democrats next year!
DenisL at 2:59PM on Sep 6th 2007
8. To read my comments on last nights' debate & for more political commentary & blogs, visit:
http://www.politidose.com/
Patrick at 4:51PM on Sep 6th 2007
9. "Tribal sovereignty means that; it's sovereign. I mean, you're a — you've been given sovereignty, and you're viewed as a sovereign entity. And therefore the relationship between the federal government and tribes is one between sovereign entities." —Washington, D.C., Aug. 6, 2004
collectdali at 5:27PM on Sep 6th 2007
10. How old is Fred Thompson?
What condition will he be in four years from now?
How about two years from now?
Hope he picks a good VP if he wins.
collectdali at 5:31PM on Sep 6th 2007
11. Fred Thompson is a nice guy and a good actor, but we need someone that will fix the problems in this world and the stress of being president ages anyone that takes the job. I'm afraid Fred does not look up to it.
http://www.ourpresidentialchoice.com
collectdali at 5:36PM on Sep 6th 2007
12. Fred Thompson is a nice guy and a good actor, but we need someone that will fix the problems in this world and the stress of being president ages anyone that takes the job. I'm afraid Fred does not look up to it.
http://www.ourpresidentialchoice.com
collectdali at 5:38PM on Sep 6th 2007
13. Im not so sure about Romneys plan to take away our rights to protect us. That would be the worst kind of nanny state.
Steve Bonomo at 9:24PM on Sep 6th 2007
14. Ok, so we are all supposed to give up our civil liberties, forget that Rudy and gang are not conservatives, and stay the course in Iraq for 'honor'. As a republican I can only hope that we all come to our senses and support Ron Paul for president. He is the only one who has the voting record and stands a chance of beating 'the hildabeast' in 2008, end of story.
Not only would he restore our civil liberties, he would bring some common sense back to government. I was STUNNED to hear the laughter and ridicule of Ron Paul during the debates when our civil liberties were brought up, or when he challenged a now failed foreign policy. Up till then I could confess that I liked Mike a bit, but he proved that he has no grasp of history (like Rudy)and is more concerned with our honor than he is for the lives we continue to waste in the stupid and ill-advised civil war which is now taking place, because we let it happen rather than going in to win.
It's time to end this, protect our own borders, defend our own country and get back to the business of shrinking a government that is hell bent on bankrupting each and every tax payer in America.
I am not a cut and run liberal, I am a voting republican and I am fed up with a 'neo-con' agenda that has hijacked our party. Like it or not that's how I see it. And when more than 70% of America says 'bring the boys home', and the republicans (except Dr. Paul) ignore that, they doom us to being ruled over by the democrats for the next 12 years or more.
If we loose it is because we deserve it
Dan Warner at 9:52PM on Sep 6th 2007
15. Alright Paulites, what civil liberties have we lost and what civil liberties will the libertarian leader Ron Paul restore.
No BS, no spin, just answer the question with a coherent response that actually answers the question.
The clock starts now!
Note: Points given for best made-up civil liberties loss and extra credit for the amount of times you mention the Constitution and how Ron Paul is the only one who cares about it.
Go!
Scott at 10:33PM on Sep 6th 2007