I’m live-blogging the Republican debate.<\/p>\n
5:12 PM PST — It’s almost 15 minutes into the Republican “debate,” and not one question has been directed at Ron Paul by the two moderators. What’s up with that<\/em>?<\/p>\n On Iraq: We must “stand up,” say them all (but Ron).<\/p>\n Finally, Ron — looking nervous — is picked on: Why are all the other candidates wrong on Iraq? Ron comes back with the traditionalist position: nonintervention is the historical position of the GOP: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t police the world, that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the Republican view and the view of the founding fathers.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n Next question is a blockbuster: why not invade Iran? McCain is in favor of it. What is the tripwire, asks Chris Matthews. Iran will give nukes to a terrorist organization, says\u00c2\u00a0McCain. If this is a real threat to the state of Israel, he says, we must “ultimately” attack. But there are a lot of intermediary steps.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0Tancredo asked: What if Olmert calls up and says: “We’re going to attack\u00c2\u00a0Iran. Will you help us?” Tancredo says: Yes, but there are (undefined) conditions. If Israel is\u00c2\u00a0threatened, then we must. Giuliani: nuclear weapons in the hands of an irrational man are “not an option.” What worries me is nukes in the hands of some hot-headed paisano<\/em>.<\/p>\n Question to Gilmore: Romney says it is not worth moving heaven and earth to get Osama bin Laden.\u00c2\u00a0Gilmore ducks….<\/p>\n Romney: It’s not about OBL, it’s about all Muslims.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n Now come candidates voted on The Politico:<\/p>\n McCain is asked: would\u00c2\u00a0you be happy with Tancredo as head of the INS? In a word: No. Then rants about how he’ll follow OBL to the gates of hell.<\/p>\n Should\u00c2\u00a0we change our constitution to let the foreign-born run for President:<\/p>\n Romney:\u00c2\u00a0Probably not<\/p>\n Five no’s so far: two yes.<\/p>\n McCain: Depends on whether he endorses me or not.<\/p>\n Paul: No, a strong supporter of the original intent<\/p>\n Giuliani: Yes.<\/p>\n Giuliani: dealing with African American community, any regrets? Ducks the question.<\/p>\n Romney: what do\u00c2\u00a0you dislike the most about America? Is at a loss for words….<\/p>\n Huckabee: what about\u00c2\u00a0global warming? Old Boy Scout aphorism: Leave the campsite in better shape than you found it. \u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n Tancredo: Organ transplant plan? The President should not be in the forefront of such an effort. Clonging people is ridiculous.<\/p>\n Hunter: Are you a compassionate conservative? Rest of my time on Iran: right now Iran is killing Americans in Iran. Iran has crossed the line. We have a “license” take whatever actions are necessary to stop it.<\/p>\n Paul: would you work to phase out the IRS? Immediately. If you think govt’ should take us from cradle to grave and police the world, then you won’t agree with that. But not if you want to get rid of the cycle of mounting debt and perpetual war.<\/p>\n Roe vs Wade: repeal?\u00c2\u00a0Most say repeal, but Giulinani waffles and Gilmore says the first few weeks are an exception. Thompson : leave it up to the states.<\/p>\n McCain looks very nervous: and he is unusually demagogic, attacking “Islamic” this and “Islamic” that, and glowering at the camera. “Faith in government” — “I want to defeat our enemies” — “I want to be president of a proud and strong nation.” Hail to The Leader!<\/p>\n Huckabee,\u00c2\u00a0on the other hand,\u00c2\u00a0is relaxed, and\u00c2\u00a0relatively benevolent. Romney seems like the John Edwards of the GOP: is that a $300 haircut?\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n Paul: If goal of govt’ is to police the world, you lose your liberty. Wehn you overdo your aggressiveness, you become weaker. Why are we agonizing over third world countries that don’t have an army or an air force?<\/p>\n Prediction: Ron Paul is going to soar in the polls. Of course, since he’s at 1 percent, that may not amount to a major surge …<\/p>\n Sheesh, Tommy Thompson sure is funny lookin’! He looks like an out-of-work comedian.<\/p>\n A question about Jack Abramoff provokes a response from somebody (who is that guy?) who waffles on about “family values” and winds up in a peroration about “dirty” songs on the radio.<\/p>\n McCain: Spending is out of “control,” and that’s why the GOP lost the last election. (Not the war).\u00c2\u00a0 What specific programs would he cut? Cost overruns in purchase of weapons systems. He is the candidate of “honest” militarism. Good luck with that one.<\/p>\n Huckabee: how would you rate the Bush administration on Iraq? Ducks the question….<\/p>\n I note that the moderators keep trying to get the candidates to attack each other, to no avail.<\/p>\n Tommy Thompson: what can a president do about racism? We all have to be like Ronald Reagan…. ok?<\/p>\n Tancredo: besides yourself, who should be the GOP nominee? In other words: admit it, you can’t win. So whom will you be endorsing? Tries to duck it, but then says, basically, anyone who agrees with his immigration position.<\/p>\n McCain: the status quo is not acceptable. We need temporary workers, and the 12 million illegals have to be dealt with. Endorses Bush position.<\/p>\n Paul: President makes decisions in crisis situations, have you ever made such a decision. I’m a doctor, and I’ve made plenty of life and death decisions, but none that affected a lot of other people. Five years ago, however, I made the decision to vote against the war.<\/p>\n There’s a lot of talk about cloning — as if this is the biggest issue around. What kind of “debate” is it that focuses on such marginal issues? The Republicans hate cloning and stem cell research. McCain, however, wants to fund stem cell research. Paul: We either subsidize it, in Washington, or prohibit it. Answer: No. Giuliani: yes, with limitations. Tancredo: no.<\/p>\n A tax you would cut: many endorse a flat tax, or the “fair tax,” except the majors — Romney, McCain, Giuliani: get rid of the death tax, and regularize rates with marginal reductions. \u00c2\u00a0Paul: get rid of the inflation tax, with a foreign policy we can’t afford and an entitlements we can’t afford either. We need sound money.<\/p>\n McCain: a Democrat you’d appoint to your cabinet. Joe Lieberman: and someone named John Chambers (I think) in Silicon Valley. I know how to reach across the aisle.<\/p>\n McCain: do you believe in evolution? Yes. Several candidates don’t, however (turns out the number is three, and I think one of them is Tancredo. Figures…)… and I can see why.<\/p>\n