Republican Debate Live Blogging Posted by Shadi Hamid

[8:33] Ok, I'm done. That was fun, sort of.

[8:31] Huckabee wants "vertical" politics, not "horizontal" politics. I kind of like that.

[8:27] McCain calls it "radical Islamic extremism." Sounds clunky. If it's "extremism," doesn't that, by definition, mean it's "radical"?

[8:26] Fred Thompson: "They wanna take us down the road of the welfare state." Oh, God forbid!

[8:25] I think Romney just said "change" 20 times in like 1 minute.

[8:24] "If you think healthcare's expensive now, just wait until it's free." Huh? Translator please.

[8:22] Is it just me or is McCain getting in the habit of giving whoever's talking bad looks?

[8:16] Reagan gave amnesty?

[8:15] (I'm back). I've only watched like 10 minutes of this debate, and I've already heard Giuliani mention "Reagan" twice.

[7:51] Ok, watching this is getting me hungry.

[7:49] Romney is talking sense on healthcare. Wow, he actually sounds smart. And, he's probably the only one on the stage who got something done on the issue. "Get everyone insured in a freemarket way" (something along those lines). Does this mean Romney is pro-universal healthcare?

[7:48] Stop hating on Canada!

[7:43] Ron Paul: "If they don't listen to us, we bomb them." Yea, that's actually kind of how our foreign policy works now. Paul is off his rocker, but I have to say, it's really great that someone like him actually gets a chance to communicate his views to such a large audience. I like how he proposes we follow the "golden rule" in our foreign policy. Treat others the way we'd like to be treated. Pretty simple, right? Not for Republicans apparently.

[7:42] Why is Mitt Romney smiling at Fred Thompson?

[7:36 PM] Wait, is Rudy still calling it "the Islamic Terrorists' War against Us"? Every time I hear it, I gasp in disbelief at its stupidity and clunkiness. Doesn't Rudy have advisers for a reason?

[7:34 PM] John McCain scares me. At the same time, he's coming off quite "sober" tonight. A "serious man for serious times." Or is that Fred Thompson?

Comments

[Caitlyn]

I love how Huckabee keeps referring to "vertical" politics. It is a reference that means a lot to the christian right but sounds nonsensical to the rest of the population. It may have worked in Iowa but I think in New Hampshire they may view that as empty rhetoric and feel a tad insulted by the waste of their time.

[Whittington]

I think that socialize medicine won't work. Demanditory health care or any state insituted form of health care won't work either. The reason why is population and immigration. I agree that promoting healthy choices will help lower health problems in America. The problem also lies in taxes and who will benifit from the new system. It is clear that higher officals will get a better health care coverage than those in a lower offices and regular citzens. The best way to deal with this issue is looking at issuance and health care providers out there. If the government can provide some form support or stop problems in the system. No one should pay for someone else's healthcare when you and others take care of their own health care.

[Joe]

Romney is the only candidate of either party that has successfully crafted and passed legislation covering comprehensive Health Insurance.
He showed great restraint & composure while being personally attacked and keeping his comments to issues.

I want a President that can function under pressure. Mitt did.

[John Lail]

Why will they not let Ron Paul speak? I am tired of hearing the same old crap from politicians.

[Clayton]

Great live blog, pleae check out my recap at ags4huckabee.blogspot.com