Live Blog: the GOP Presidential Debate

Okay, we are just about set to go - the candidates are on the stage and ready to rumble. I know they are hard to see here, but they are, from left, Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.); former secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson; Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.); former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney; former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani; Sen. John McCain, (R-Ariz.); former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee; Rep. Duncan Hunter, (R-Calif.); former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore; and Rep. Ron Paul, (R-Texas). Tonight's Republican presidential primary debate is at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. Like Sunday, CNN's Wolf Blitzer (foreground) is moderating.

Lou Dobbs just asked the question, in so many words, "Does anyone care about these debates?" I believe that many people do. There is a great deal of dissatisfaction right now in the American electorate. Our country is crying out for leadership on issues that make a difference in our everyday lives; issues like gays in the military don't make a bit of difference in the lives of probably 95 percent of Americans.

Dobbs is getting ready to throw it to Blitzer. Here we go...

Again, Wolf with the introduction sentences. Stupid.

7:01: Rudy Giuliani has annoyed me already with his "live free or die" opening statement. Why doesn't he just come out in an American flag suit? The belligerent patriotism of many Republicans just rankles me, but I'll try to give you my non-crazed opinions as the night goes on.

7:04: I just can't believe that the moderators are going to spend time with the first question - "Was it a mistake to invade Iraq?" Of course, Mitt Romney, the first person to get the question, took a swipe at Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Kudos to Romney for pushing back to Blitzer on another dumb "knowing then what we know now" question. Totally pointless.

7:06: Now to Giuliani... I could predict his answer before he even says it - and it took less than three minutes (the debate started at four minutes after) for a candidate to bring up the Sunday night debate. Thanks for making me look good, American's Mayor.

7:08: Brownback is up, and he has the best hair on the stage, without question. He proposes a three-state solution on Iraq. I won't pretend to be some sort of an expert on Iraq, but maybe a three-state solution is worthy of consideration. It's worked in the former Czechoslovakia and also Yugoslavia (admittedly, with some growing pains).

7:10: McCain is talking about Iraq, without wearing his flak jacket.Just about everyone seems to be insinuating that we should not have diplomatic relations with Iran. We need to have direct dialogue.

7:18: Hunter is right, though - if the Iranians are moving deadly equipment across the Iraqi border and killing Americans, we need to take care of business with the Iranians, one way or the other, but he just said that he would use tactical nuclear weapons. Anyone freakin' scared by this?

7:19: Yeeeee Haaaaaw! Let the war mongering begin. Rudy - two answers, two mentions of the Democratic debate on Sunday night. He's so full of shit about Fort Dix and JFK - over-hyped "plots" by half-wits. I have every ounce of respect for law enforcement, and 9-11 taught us that we need to take every threat seriously, but people in the Bush administration, and on this stage, have hyped two plots that were more firecracker than nuclear, and I'm being kind. But, Hey! Hey! Hey! - you can't talk about NYC without Giuliani.

7:22: Mitt Romney just referred to the Democrats and what they said on Sunday night. Why are they so obsessed with the Democrats? Anyway, whatever. He just said, with a straight face, that the Democrats "don't think there's a War on Terror." That is a bold faced lie, and Romney knows it. This is the type of tactics that Republicans resort to - just lie, and they don't get called on it. Soon, it's repeated over and over, and the next thing you know, it's "fact." Get with it, Mitt. John Edwards said that the slogan "War on Terror(ism)" is a bumper sticker - we need more than slogans.

7:25: Rudy is now talking about immigration. Can we get another Democratic mention, Mr. America's Mayor? Okay, to be fair, I really don't have a problem with what he's saying here - a data base and an ID card for immigrants is a good idea. He's right on this issue.

7:26: Romney has a problem with illegals staying here, but what would he have us do? Deport them all? Some of them? It's a tough issue, but deporting even half of these people isn't realistic.

7:28: McCain brings up immigration as a national security issue. First of all, stop saying "my friends," and quit bringing up Fort Dix. Ridiculous.

7:29: Wolf is focusing on Romney, McCain and Giuliani. I don't have a problem with it, but the other candidates are probably getting pretty angry.

7:30: Hunter must be in a twilight zone if he thinks that everyone will be lining up for jobs that illegal immigrants have. Sure, you can find examples of that, but how many illegal immigrants have jobs that pay $18 an hour? The candidates (and Blitzer, too) are muddying two issues - immigration and border security. Bush should have freakin' dealt with border security oh, something like five years ago. And no one can say there is no money - $500 billion spent in Iraq so far. Unbelievable that in 2007 we are still debating and fighting about securing or border. That's on President Bush - lock, stock and barrel. If he can take our nation to war, surely he can get a fence built.

Blitzer just asked, with a straight face, "Do we need to secure the border with Canada?" Boy, those Canadians are just lining up to come down here, aren't they? I'm half kidding - I get his point - Canada is the world's largest undefended (friendly) border, so if it isn't secure, terrorists could land in Canada and get into America that way. With Canada, it's a security issue; with Mexico, it's an immigration and a security issue.

7:35: Blitzer is asking the "English as an official language" question again. Karl Rove is smiling somewhere. McCain is kissing lots of Bush ass, and I've heard about six "my friends" from McCain. Fire the staffer who is afraid to tell you that you need to stop saying it. I'm not your friend, Senator.

7:38: Why the hell are the moderators asking about Fred Thompson? You've got to be kidding me. This is why I'm constantly saying that there is very few credible, intelligent people left in the media today.

Now Wolf is getting in with a Thompson question. It's unreal. It reminds me of when there's a big story, but nothing new to report, when anchors and talking heads start interviewing each other about a story. On the air.

7:41: I gotta be fair - as much as I'm anti-Giuliani on many things, he has it right on abortion. Many may say he's trying to have it both ways, but I get his point of view on abortion, and I share it. I don't like abortion, I could never tell my wife to have one, unless there were extreme circumstances like severe birth defects or if her life was threatened, but I DON'T think it should be illegal. Most of all, I don't think that a bunch of men, in the name of religious ideology, should determine what a woman should do with her body.

7:44: Mike Huckabee is being a little slippery with his stance on evolution. This guy is a minister, and he doesn't really believe what the Book of Genesis says, that God created the Earth in six days. Weird.

7:46: McCain is right on religion - I have to say it - I like the idea of children being exposed to all religious beliefs, including evolution, in our schools.

7:48: Ron Paul was just asked a question about separation between church and state, and I have no idea what his answer is. He's jumping all around and he clearly isn't on message, for whatever reason.

7:49: On to climate change. These should be interesting answers. Points to Giuliani - he says that it is a problem and we need to work on solutions, most notably energy independence. He's showing his moderate colors, and I applaud him for it. He's plagiarizing the Democrats as far as having an "Apollo like program" to come up with energy alternatives. I can't remember who said it, but I've heard it a great deal during Democratic debates.

But, deeds, not words on global warming. I remember President Bush running on a carbon tax in 2000, and one of the first things he did after taking the oath of office was tear up that proposal.

7:51: Romney is showing his moderate colors as well on global warming and alternate energy sources, until he brings up ANWR. Boooo.

7:52: Ron Paul could have a "D" behind his name with his answer on oil subsidies - our foreign policy is shaped by our excessive need for oil. He's right on.

7:55: Another Don't Ask, Don't Tell question. These wedge issues really annoy the daylights out of me, but it was asked on Sunday night, so it's no surprise it's being brought up now. Ron Paul just answered it as good as any Republican can - it's about personal conduct (or it should be).

7:57: Giuliani is dodging the gays in the military question. He's right - it's a divisive question, but everyone else is answering, so you should, too. Major kudos to Wolf Blitzer for bringing up the trained Arabic linguists who were recently discharged from the military because they are gay.

7:59: My friends, I'm tired of hearing John McCain call everyone "my friends."

8:00: Tommy Thompson must have sniffed glue - he would send former President Bush (W) out to speak to the youth of America, about integrity?

8:01: Brownback is attacking President Clinton for his conduct since leaving the Oval Office. "He shouldn't be injecting himself into policy" issues? So, former presidents lose their ability to have a point of view? That's hogwash. Clinton has been very visible, but I can't think of a time that he was a distraction or caused any sort of major controversy since he left the Oval Office. He's campaigned hard, which presidents Reagan and Bush Sr. have not done, but Clinton was also much younger when he left office than either of them were.

8:04: Hunter is giving Reagan a tongue bath. God, I have Reagan fatigue - I'm working on a long piece about him which I'll post soon - maybe tomorrow. I'm really growing fed up with the lionization of Ronnie.

8:05: The groundwork is being laid - Libby will get pardoned. Rudy is stating his résumé as a former prosecutor. Wow, America's Mayor, I'm impressed. He recommended 1,000 pardons to President Reagan? Why so few?

8:06: Tommy Thompson is a smackdass - he just compared Scooter Libby, who participated in blowing the cover of a CIA agent, and quite possibly threatening her life, and others, to President Clinton, who lied about an extra-marital affair. Yea, they're comparable.

Phew! Halftime.

8:13: On to some questions from the audience... Erin Flanagan, who lost her younger brother in Iraq, is putting the question to the candidates about when we are getting out of Iraq. Hunter's got plenty of credibility here, and it's probably the only time his candidacy has the aire of legitimacy.

8:17: Ooooo, we're going to get some straight talk from McCain. I find it offensive and absurd that McCain insinuated that if we lose in Iraq, Flanagan's brother died in vain? I'm going to have to go back and check the transcript, but that's what one could take if taking his comments at face value. I don't think he meant that, but McCain's so maniacal about our "winning" in Iraq, he'll say just about anything.

8:19: Ron Paul is the only voice of reason on this stage about the War in Iraq. He states that our soldiers should stop patrolling the streets of Baghdad - that's for police. Right on.

8:20: Mr. Mayor is doing exactly what President Bush has been doing since before the War in Iraq even began - tying 9-11 to Iraq, when anyone who has done ANY reading or research on 9-11 knows that the two were not linked. We are less safe now than we were before we invaded Iraq. Of course, Giuliani gets in a dig at the so-called "liberal media," before he's finished, too - "What if General Petraeus says that things ARE going well in Iraq in September? Let's make sure that that is reported with the same intensity [as if the news is poor]." Sean Hannity and BOR will both kiss him the next time they meet. (For the record, Rudy is a guest on both shows.)

This is a typical GOP distraction - what about all of the good news coming out of Iraq? Well, I'm all ears, if anyone wants to point out to me all of this positive, favorable news I've been missing.

8:26: Rudy is now sounding a familiar neocon, conservative theme - government is the problem. (This goes back to President Reagan's debilitating oversimplification, "government is the problem.) Again, he gets in a mention about the Democrats the other night: "What the Democrats are proposing is socialized medicine." Far right-wing Republicans will eat that up, guaranteed. Anything that even insinuates being anti-socialist or anti-communist still gains traction on the far right. But, the far right doesn't trust Rudy anyway. So, call it a wash.

Rudy wants to give a $15,000 tax deduction so people can go out and get their own health care. "If you want to see the cost of health care skyrocket, wait until you see how high it goes with socialized health care." I've got two quick responses to that -- what about someone who makes $15,000 per year? That type of system would still screw the poor. Rudy also has a pretty funny platitude that scored well, but doesn't pass the smell test: "If you get a $15,000 tax break and you find health care for $8,000, you just saved $7,000." Okay, Mr. Mayor - there isn't an intelligent person in America who believes that if every taxpayer gets a $15k tax break, that there will be ANY health care available for $8,000, even at Walmart.

8:35: I don't mean to stick with Rudy, but he's the only one giving anything resembling an interesting answer right now. I don't agree with him, but right now, the only show goin'.

8:36: Ron Paul - our biggest moral dilemma is pre-emptive war. I can think of no bigger moral issue, either.

8:37: Sam Brownback jumps in on the moral issue: "We've been a party that has stood for a culture of life...Every life is beautiful, is sacred, is a child of a loving God, from conception to natural death." He even brings up Darfur, and he's in love with the term "whole life." I guess all of the above applies, except for the hundreds of thousands who have died in Iraq. The party of life is the biggest war mongering party, too. You can't be half pregnant, candidates. Heck of a job, Brownback, heck of a job.

8:41: Romney is blabbering on about immigration. "I love immigration," he bellows. I'm reminded of the movie Jerry McGuire, when Tom Cruise yells, "I love the black man!"

8:43: Tom Tancredo just said, "Bi-lingual countries don't work, and we should not encourage it." I think Canada might have something to say about that. "English holds us together?" Heaven help us.

8:44: McCain just tries to say thank you in Spanish. Stick to English, as long as you quick saying "my friends," or even "mi amigos." He's right on English being our official language, though (he disagrees). This is such a non-issue issue. People like Tancredo and Bill O'Reilly just fan the flames of xenophobia and jingoism by insisting that English be our official language. It's just stupid.

8:49: Tommy Thompson and Tom Tancredo are the biggest boobs on the stage, so it's appropriate they sit together. Thompson calls Democrats "the professional spenders" and Republicans "amateur spenders." Lyndon Johnson and Bill Clinton are the only two presidents in 40 years that have submitted balanced budgets to Congress. And Bush and the Republicans have gone through money these last six years quicker than a bean burrito through a tourist in Mexico.

Tancredo just said that President Bush "ran like a conservative and governed like a liberal." I'm for universal health care, but not for people like Tancredo - he doesn't need it, because he already has access to some pretty good drugs with answers like that. Bush, governing as a liberal? Boy, have I missed something for the last six years - something like the entire Bush administration.

8:52: Tancredo is blabbering on again. I'm tuning out - he just said again that we need English as an official language. If Tancredo were a movie, he would be Waiting to Exhale.

8:54: Rudy is now plugging Abe Lincoln, a must for any serious GOP candidate, and Rudy's RIGHT about immigration. We do need legal immigration, and to be fair, Rudy said it eloquently. It's obvious he was a U.S. Attorney for so many years, because he's a good debater, even when I disagree with him.

8:55: McCain is up, and he hasn't said "my friends" once. But, we did get a Ronald Reagan mention.

8:57: Rudy is finishing with a partisan bang - another mention of how the Democrats are weak on terrorism and how they play "defense." If Rudy means that America should stay on offense, who should we going to invade next and spend (borrow) $500 billion of taxpayer money on?

8:58: Mitt is giving Ronald Reagan another tongue bath. To borrow a line from the Gipper himself: "There you go again."

8:59: McCain's turn - His CD is skipping - he brings up Fort Dix and JFK Airport again. Stir up that fear, Senator. Your candidacy is sinking, and I'm happy to watch the ship go down.

Well, that's it - talk about a lot of Republican blarney to listen to - two full hours. But, I think it's important to find out what the other side is promotes, believes and proposes. I didn't like much of what I heard, but believe it or not, the top three, McCain, Romney and Giuliani, would make a better president than Bush (I know, that's setting the bar pretty low). All three of them are moderate on at least some of the issues.

But, I believe they are all fatally flawed in a number of ways, too.

Well, that's all for now - typing for two hours straight with one little break is a bear, but I like the two-hour debates as opposed to the 1.5 hour ones. Off to get some dinner. I have the post-game show on TiVo, so I'll probably watch it and comment later.

AP Photo/Elise Amendola