With the temperature dropping down into the single digits this week, my haitus is over and I'm back to watching television. Watch for my Prison Break post later this week. In the meantime, here's some highlights from tonight's debate. It's long, so click the link to read it.
I bumped into this tonight and thought I’d blog it. I’m doing my best to be accurate but please keep in mind I’m not perfect and may misattribute. Any mistakes are purely accidental and will be corrected as soon as I’m made aware of them. Only major updates will be noted.
The CNN transcript is here.
The first question was a toughie directed at a Rudolph Guiliani by a Brooklynite, accusing the former mayor of running a “sanctuary city. “ Rudy did a good job defending himself, and Romney rebutted very well. But he was devastated by Rudy who stated that as Governor of Massachusetts, Romney had six sanctuary cities and hired illegals in his home.
CNN said after the debate that there were four towns in MA called sanctuary cities (I gather by the federal government?), that two claimed that title, and that Romney did not do anything to prevent this.
The answers went past time and Rudy received boo’s from most of the audience when he resisted being cut off by the moderator.
The second question asked for a pledge to veto any bill that gives amnesty to illegal immigrants. Fred Thompson gave a tough affirmative response, then accused Romney of flip flopping on Bush’s immigration bill. Thompson also needled Guiliani for attacking Romney on his law-breaking employees, hinting at his police commissioner problem—though this went over the head of the audience and Guiliani ignored it. Thompson should have mentioned the issue directly if he wanted the impact he was looking for.
McCain said “yes, of course”, but that the issue “saddened” him. McCain went on to say we failed in Iraq among other things during his answer, as well as saying that immigrants were “God’s children” too and that we needed “compassion” in any immigration policy.
Tancredo said everyone was trying to “out-Tancredo Tancredo.” He seems to think he’s toughest on the immigration issue.
The third question was about helping small businesses get guest workers. Tancredo categorically rejected the idea that there are jobs no American will take. He won’t feel sorry for a business that must increase it’s wages to hire an American.
Congressman Hunter? would build the border fence within six months.
The fourth question concerned payments for in-state tuition breaks for aliens being extended to military servicemen and women. Answer by Mike Huckabee proposed a veteran’s bill of rights, and emphasized that the benefits went to the children of immigrants who earned the scholarship. He was challenged on the answer but seemed reasonable.
So far every candidate has gone over time.
Ron Paul was asked about supporters who believe in a conspiracy theory about forming a North American Union. Paul side-stepped by saying this was “a contest between ideologies,” one favoring “internationalism”, and that “our national sovereignty was under threat”. But there isn’t a conspiracy. Eh?
Sixth question concerned how to reduce the national debt. McCain said something about a waste of money study that spent 3 million dollars ? Studying the DNA of some town or family somewhere.
Entitlements a target of Romney.
Guiliani says we need Reagan-esque across the board spending cuts.
Thompson and Paul were asked about limited government through lower spending, pointing out that half of the current increase in spending was “non-defense related”.
Thompson said Romney was correct and that we had to target entitlements. We have to reform social security and medicare and that would save Social Security (but didn’t address the budget).
Paul said he wants to cut the Departments of Education, Homeland Security, and Energy, as well as changing foreign policy by brining the troops home.
Huckabee said we should eliminate the IRS by having the “fair-tax”.
7. Do you support the elimination of the federal income tax for the fair tax? McCain was asked, he said no, but we do need a fairer tax code. If Congress can’t do it, give me the job, and I’ll do it.
McCain says Paul’s isolationism caused World War II, “we allowed Hitler come to power” that way, and that the troops say “let us win, let us win.”
Paul responds by asserting he gets the most money from active duty personnel. Denies he’s an isolationist.
8. No new taxes? Thompson, McCain and Hunter refused to pledge and based their position on their records, the rest took the pledge.
At some point during the debate, Huckabee clamied to have reduced taxes 90. According to CNN, 21 increases during tenure resulted in a net overall increase despite these reductions.
9. Eliminate farm subsidies? Romney said international competition required it, Guiliani agreed.
10. Guiliani asked about his security accounting. Not a U Tube question. Said he had nothing to do with the handling of the security records.
11. Toxic toys from China. Hunter said we should stop China’s cheating, and buy American this Christmas season. Doesn’t seem to realize how expensive that is.
12. A Thompson video was shown that accused Huckabee of favoring higher taxes and Romney of favoring abortion. Romney says I was pro-choice, and I was wrong. I changed my mind. This happened the first time a bill came to my desk [as Governor]. Huckabee listed out a “great record on fiscal conservatism”.
13. Gun control positions. The video showed a gun being tossed, Hunter said that violated gun safety.
14. Guiliani asked about a quote stating he wanted citizens to pass a written exam to own a gun. Guiliani said he had 2,000 murders a year in NYC and he enforced all laws aggressively. Rudy believes 2nd amendment allows “reasonable regulations“ as spelled out in the recent Parker case. Says he believes the 2nd amendment is a personal right, not a militia right. Thompson says Guiliani supported a wide array of gun control laws, the second amendment “isn’t a choice thing.”
15. How many guns do you own? Romney said “I have two guns in my home that are owned by my son Josh.” Only McCain admitted not owning a gun.
16. Crime reduction back and forth between Romney and Guiliani, with Guiliani coming out better (of course), but Romney pointing out he was a governor, not a mayor.
17. How do you punish a woman who gets an abortion? Paul said he didn’t think women should go to jail for having an abortion, to go after the abortionist. Thompson said this was a question about the Supreme Court, but to follow the pattern we have now—punish the doctor, not the “girl.”
18. Sign a Congressional ban on all abortion after Roe v. Wade overturn? Guiliani, no, it’s a state decision. Romney said to return these decisions to the states, and I’d be delighted to sign that bill if we had a national consensus on the issue. At one point during the debate Romney received cheers for saying he was wrong on the abortion issue when he was pro-choice.
19. The death penalty, what would Jesus do? Huckabee said death penalty decisions were the toughest decisions he had to make as Governor, and that he favors a death penalty as a warning to others and for prevention. Says you can be pro-life and favor death penalty because all of us as citizens make the decision. Jesus was too smart to run for public office. Tancredo looks to Jesus for guidance.
20. Do you believe every word of this book? (Holding up the Holy Bible). Guiliani: “I believe it, but not literally true in every respect…. Some parts are allegorical …. I read it….[and rely on it during trying times in my life]….” Romney: “I believe the bible is the word of God…. Yeah…. I don’t disagree with the bible.” Huckabee: “Pluck out your eye is obviously allegorical….[until we can agree on the parts that are simple]…. Let’s not fight over the parts that are complicated….”
21. How to repair image of America in the Muslim world? Guiliani: “vast majority of Muslims … Arabs are good people… we should not engage in group blame …. We can‘t put our head in the sand….” McCain: the first and most vital is to continue this surge and win in Iraq. Fight back the Democrats efforts to withdraw.
22. Waterboarding. Romney: As candidates it isn’t wise to discuss the methods we would and wouldn’t use. McCain: Waterboarding is torture, “we’re not going to do what Pol Pot did …. How in the world anybody could think that kind of thing could be done by Americans is absolutely beyond me.”
23. How long should we be in Iraq? Thompson: Iraq is progress, I’m vested in the scenerio of victory. Paul: Most important thing is to give Iraq their country back. McCain: The terrorists want to follow us home, we lost Vietnam because of public opinion, we never lost one battle. Paul: We have to realize why they want to come here. Wolfowitz admitted the base in Saudi Arabia is why they want to come here … “
24. Give VP as much authority as Bush gave Cheney? McCain cited Bush’s lack of experience in foreign affairs as the reason for Cheney’s power “That much is obvious”. McCain might rely on VP in areas where he lacks experience.
25. Gays in the military. Huckabee said that conduct is the issue. Romney hit with quote about “looking forward to the day gays could serve openly,” but “now is not the time.” Won’t stand by quote, and booed for it. A general the source of the question, and given the mike live to follow up. Only time this happened. McCain said we should leave it up to the generals, who say the current “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is working.
26. Why should you get the support of Log Cabin Republicans? Romney: we agree on the broader issues, but not on same sex marriage and some other issues.
27. National debt (again). How would you repay the debt and rebuild intergenerational trust? Thompson: Social security and entitlements (again). Ignores budget issues and says entitlements are the bigger problem facing the next generation. Has a point there.
28. Human space exploration: Huckabee would expand space program due to technological benefits, but no man to Mars. Favors federal government investment in research.
29. Why doesn’t a conservative African American community vote Republican? Guiliani says we need better communication to sell Republican views. Need to give people on welfare more hope. Huckabee says he received a lot of support.
30. Confederate flag. Romney says we don’t need it. Thompson says the flag doesn’t belong in public as a prominent flag because it represents racism to some people.
31. National infrastructure: highways, power grids, etc. Who will articulate the sacrifices we need to make to repair American infrastructure? Guiliani says he faced the issue in New York after the fiscal crisis there, and he started a capitol [sic? Is it -al?] investment program. This isn’t a one president issue, it will spread out over a long period of time as a partnership with the federal and state governments. Paul would stop spending money rebuilding countries overseas. McCain wants line item veto to give the money back to the states and eliminate pork barrel spending. Guiliani said line item veto is unconstitutional.
32. Paul, will you run as an independent when you fail to win Republican nomination? Says he won’t, that he could win the Republican nomination.
33. Guiliani asked to explain his support for Red Sox. Same explanation about being an American League fan. Says he roots for Yankees again, and that when he was mayor, they won four world championships, and none since he left. Romney says he was happier beating the Yankees after being down three to none than winning the World Series.
Guiliani seeemed to get the most time, and he did well. Huckabee was very impressive to this liberal, I like him even though I disagree with him on the vast majority of issues. Romney did fine, as did Thompson. McCain did well but suffered from a lack of exposure. Paul’s nuts, and Hunter I didn’t get a feel for.
Audience seemed more concerned with honesty than content much of the time. Straight forward answers received cheers, going over time and side-stepping answers, dancing around issues received boos.
Talking heads evaluation:
David Gergin: Huckabee received praise for humor, compassion.
Bill Bennett: Romney “presidential”, Guiliani looked “bad” for attacking Romney on illegal aliens working in his house he didn’t hire (they worked for a contractor). If Iraq continues to improve, immigration becomes the no. 1 issue. Huckabee didn’t have a good, too hedged on immigration, abortion. Huck could win Iowa, but what happens in New Hamsphire?
Campbell Brown: McCain was effective, opening exchange showed immigration was the new third rail of politics. Both candidates (Romney, Guiliani) hardly the tough, anti-immigrant leaders they claimed to be when you examine their records. I think we all agree Huckabee had a good night, but he has to get beyond the charm. He’s very likable.
Jamal Simmons: Huckabee did a good job, McCain clearly won this thing. Thompson “seemed lost without his cue cards.”
Jeffrey Toobin: One word you never heard tonight, was Bush. Virtually all the candidates (except Paul) agreed with Bush. That could be a problem in November. Huckabee can’t sound like Ron Paul, concerning proposal to eliminate IRS, if he wants to be a serious candidate.
Another: Huckabee could be a running mate for Guiliani.
Read Less...
