Liveblogging: The South Carolina debate is on - Video links adds, post-mortem reax
The stage will still be crowded. Elephants soon to be in the room.
Hot buttons: Iraq, Iraq, Iraq. Immigration, immigration, immigration.
What do you want to see asked tonight? Comments are currently open (midnight update: comments closed. thanks for chiming in). I’m confident we won’t get MSNBC-level questions. The adults are in charge.
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The Hot Air team has broken out the popcorn.
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904pm I said the last debate was like a game show. The Fox News time bell sounds like something from a 1950s quiz show.
DING!
Hume announces they won’t ask the candidates about Falwell. Interesting.
Chris Wallace asks McCain about being “the last man standing” on the war in Iraq. McCain repeats the pledge, supports the surge. “Americans are frustrated because of the mishandling of this war…and I will be the last man standing.”
Can Tommy Thompson please be left out of the next debate?
Romney sets the context for the warin the Middle East: “There is a global jihadist effort…they want to replace them with a caliphate and bring down the West.”
But nobody has answered Wallace’s question: Are there any circumstances under which you leave if the security situation is not yet stable?
910pm Giuliani asked about timetables. Wallace: Are you for an open-ended commitment? “These people have followed us here and will follow us here.” Makes reference to Fort Dix. “Thank God they caught them. But we have to remind ourselves that we are facing an enemy that is planning…to come here and kill us. The worst thing we could do is show weakness.”
First FoxNews.com reader question goes to Gilmore: “Would you launch a preemptive strike against Iran?” Answer: Sanctions…and an “honest discussion with the American people.”
919pm. Wendell Goler moves to domestic issues. Romney asked about “Flip-Flop” reputation. Answer: “I will not raise taxes.” Romney’s Internet team is on the job here.
Goler pushes McCain on his opposition to 2001 taxes. Answer: Opposed them because we didn’t rein in spending. McCain still believes the 2006 midterms loss was more about spending than the war. Pulls out his tired old drunken sailor joke. Obligatory laughter.
Mike Huckabee tops McCain: Congress spending money like John Edwards at a beauty shop. Big laughter and applause.
Score.
(Update: Video of Huckabee here.)
926pm. Another lame, non-answer from Tommy Thompson. Goler asks him to name three programs he would cut. He can’t name three.
Goler: “Can you tell me one?” Thompson babbles about “efficiencies.”
Lame. I repeat: Get Tommy Thompson off the stage.
Goler pitches the softball to Ron Paul. FEMA, Education, Homeland Security.
Goler to Gilmore: Would you reduce Social Security benefits for the wealthy? I don’t think Gilmore answered the question. He reads notes about taxes instead, starts to attack other candidates, but won’t specify, and wraps up with a website plug. Rolling my eyes.
Goler asks about interest on the national debt. Goler’s questions are smart, substantive, to the point. Take note, MSNBC intellectual toddlers. Tancredo excoriates candidates who pontificate about the need for spending reductions and yet voted for the Medicare expansion bill, etc.
Ding! First commercial break.
Well, Round One knockout goes to Mike Huckabee, hands down for that John Edwards joke. Fresh, savvy. It made John McCain look really, really old and worn.
936pm. Wallace wants to stir things up with intra-candidate skirmishes. Question to Gilmore about how front-runners are not real conservatives. Gilmore pats himself on the back for his “great line” that “got a lot of attention.”
Giuliani jokes: “I think Rudy McRomney wouldn’t make a bad ticket.” Moderate laughter. Let’s unite to make sure that what the liberal media wants — our defeat– doesn’t happen. Wallace tries again for an answer to his question about whether Giuliani’s record–pro-abortion, pro-gun control–is a conservative record. Giuliani talks about adoption. Wallace gets more applause than Giuliani.
Turns to McCain supporting “comprehensive immigration reform,” allying with Dems. “I will reach across the aisle.” McCain claims he’s most qualified to deal with threat of radical Islam.
Huckabee addresses his gas tax raises. Doesn’t apologize. Defends tax-cutting record.
Romney challenged on gay rights agenda in Mass, and assault weapons restrictions.
Brownback invokes Reagan’s amnesty. Gag.
948pm. Goler asks Giuliani about Huckabee’s criticism of his abortion stance.
Cites his adoption record again.
Huckabee asked to response. It’s a healthy thing for our party for Giuliani to be honest about his position. But as a party, “we value the life of one as if it’s the life of all.”
Damian G. in comments writes: “Rudy isn’t being honest about adoptions as NYC Mayor: http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/levitating_numbers.html.
953. 2nd Round concluded.
Now, on to immigration…
First question to Tancredo. Do you think McCain, Giuliani, are soft on immigration? This should be his moment in the sun.
So many conversions on immigration and everything else. Glad to see them, but this is like a Baptist revival tent. Conversions should happen on the road to Damascus, not to the road to Des Moines (laughter). Barely getting warmed up…and DING!
McCain denies supporting amnesty. Argues that southern border security has nothing to do with post-9/11 national security.
Wallace presses Romney on pro-amnesty statements. He attacks McCain-Kennedy bill, but basically articulates its core principles. He seems rather confused, but gets applause for asserting that he fears that McCain-Kennedy would do to immigration what McCain-Feingold did to campaign finance and that bad.”
Wallace presses Giuliani on his pro-amnesty stance. Giuliani jokes: “I’d like to thank Tancredo for saying I’m soft on anything.” Small laughter. “I know something about security.” Waves his NYC credentials.
Can someone ask him specially about his support of NYC’s sanctuary policy, PLEASE?
DING! Never mind…
Change of topic.
1003pm. Ron Paul buys the moonbat, blame-America line as the cause of global jihad. Goler: Are you suggesting that we invited the 9/11 attacks, sir?
Giuliani: That’s an extraordinary attack. And I’ve heard some pretty absurd explanations from the 9/11 attack. Biggest applause of the night.
I would ask the congressman to withdraw that comment and tell us he didn’t mean it.
Ron Paul: I believe sincerely in blowback. If we ignore that, we ignore that at our own risk. They don’t come here to attack us because we’re rich and free. They attack us because we are over there.
Giuliani doesn’t want to let it lie. Good for him.
Goler changes the subject.
Darn. An incredibly important debate. I would like to see the rest of that played out some time.
Internet question: Should S.C. fly confederate flag from state buildings? Boos from the audience.
McCain asked about his opinion. Stuttering. I think it’s time we all moved on on this issue. Large applause.
Huckabee gets a clemency question. He handles it well, I think.
1009pm. Goler asks a greenhouse gases question. Tancredo: Reduce dependence on petroleum products. It’s a national security. Tancredo sneaks a response to Paul in, too.
Commercial break.
Well, I give that round to Giuliani. Aggressive and stalwart in challenging Ron Paul’s blame-America-ism and willful blindness to the centuries-old roots of jihad.
1014pm. Back on stage. Hume presents a fictional terrorism scenario. Questions about what the candidates do with suspect detainees assumed to know about next potential attack.
Giuliani would support any method that they could think of to get that info. (Applause.) Romney stresses intelligence, wants to double Gitmo, “enhanced interrogation techniques” have to be used.
Hume expands the scenario. We find out that suspects are tied to west African nation hostile to America hosting terror training camps. What would you do? Tommy Thompson: “Trust, but verify. Then…it would be incumbent to do what is right.”
Hume to Brownback: Would you go to the U.N.? No.
Ok, everybody gets to get their chance to do their fist-pounding, if-I-were-president-I would-do-everything-in-my-power-to-protect-American-lives thing.
Hume to Gilmore: What would you do to protect the economy in the wake of an attack. Gilmore brandishes his national security reports. Hume: What would you do? He talks about the U.N., instead of the economy.
Gilmore and Thompson: Time to move on.
Hume tries to get his questions answered by Huckabee. Huckabee answers very well: He was glad to see Bush urge people to get back on planes, buy things, act like normal. BUT: “It’ll never, ever be business as usual.” Huckabee asks for sacrifice, change of mindset.
Tancredo gets the last word. And he gets in a good one. He’s flummoxed that the hypothetical–which assumes nuclear attacks on Amerian soil–would have officials worrying about waterboarding.
“I’m looking for Jack Bauer at that time.” (Applause)
Last questions, last round:
A rather dumb one from Chris Wallace: What does it say about GOP that there are no women, no minorities, as prez candidates?
Gilmore panders. Dumb. Isn’t there enough ideological diversity on stage? We are not the party of bean-counters.
Wallace to Romney: What positions have you taken that are unpopular with GOP? I support No Child Left Behind.
No one’s booing. But I am: BOOOOOOO….
Duncan Hunter gets a question about China. He was a non-entity tonight.
10:31pm Abrupt end to the debate.
Quick sum-up: Well, that was simply in a different league than the goofball format and goofball “moderators” on MSNBC. And I’m not just saying that because I work for Fox News. Given the crowded stage and time constraints, the debate still produced memorable moments, spontaneous conflict, and useful shakeouts.
I’ve criticized and remain critical Huckabee’s immigration stance, but he did well for himself again tonight. Will he be the next president? Probably not. But he made a solid, respectable showing.
I think I’ve made myself clear about Gilmore and Thompson.
McCain is flagging, flaming out. Romney turned in another careful, safe performance.
Giuliani had more pep and fight tonight than the last go-around. He gets points from me for bringing up Fort Dix and continuing to invoke it in post-debate commentary on Hannity and Colmes.
From comments, Brad writes:
McCain presented with the ticking time-bomb scenario and he is more worried about America’s global image than Americ[a]n lives. One of the most important points of the debate, but Michelle hasn’t posted it!
Done.
1044pm. McCain with Hannity and Colmes. He is lecturing us about the Spanish Inquisition.
Meanwhile, here comes illegal alien amnesty.
As I have warned you again. And again. And again.
1051pm. Fox just ran one of those VoteVets ad with retired Gen. Batiste targeting John McCain.
So: Where’s Fred Thompson? Kickin’ back with a cigar.
1108pm. Huckabee in post-debate chat with Hannity and Comes. The Fair Tax rally gets a shout-out.
***
Other reax:
Mark Levin gave Romney, McCain, and Hunter good marks.
Don Surber dubs Ron Paul “the Republican Kucinich.” He’s got no strings!
Sister Toldjah: “Huckabee sounded great, committed to life, but I have to give the edge to Romney. He came off as the most prepared, and sounded very presidential and looked it, too. I have to say as someone who has struggled wondering who to support, Romney is starting to sound very good to me. McCain sounded very defensive, and lost me early on with the old used drunken sailor spending joke (yawn).”
David Brody: “How Giuliani got his groove back.”
Maybe Red Bull?
The crew at Heading Right shares their two cents.
although the “big three” all spoke well, I strongly disliked the substance of several of McCain’s answers, and suspect that many other conservatives did too. On immigration, McCain touted his desire to “reach across the aisle,” which he equated with leadership. He also said he “won’t block things” and that he’s actively involved in negotiations, presumably with Democrats, to work out immigration reform legislation. To me, this sounds less like leadership and more like capitulation. If McCain wants to enable illegal aliens who are in the U.S. to become citizens, I’d rather see him defend this position on the merits than defend it on theory that Americans want to see the two parties work together.
McCain also seemed to say he would not support the use of enhanced interrogation techniques even in the “ticking time bomb” scenario. In the past, as I understand it, he has been willing to make an exception in that kind of case, which Brit Hume turned into a hypothetical scenario. Tonight, he wouldn’t even go that far (so much for “the gates of hell,” I guess). McCain’s stale, “it’s not about them, it’s about us” mantra and his reference to his experiences in Vietnam, where he was subjected to techniques bearing virtually no relation to things like water-boarding, don’t cut it as far as I’m concerned.
Agreed.
***
Stacy McCain e-mails: “Ron Paul placed first with 30% of the post-debate Fox News text-message poll, which means ….Libertarians are better text-messagers!”
FWIW, Romney was close behind at 26 percent.
If you’re in a poll-taking mood and not a text-messager, there’s a quick and easy one up at Hot Air.
When Fred gets in, the contrast between him and the rest of the top tier will be all the starker.
We’ll see.
***
Forget about the candidates and the questions and the campaign. Call the wah-mbulance: Journalists are whining about the food and restrooms.
Praise for Fox News from David Frum:
One winner: Fox News itself. The probing and incisive questions - and the willingness to follow up loose ends - meant that the 1-minute limit did not feel unduly constrained. Even more impressive: the questioners’ solid grip on their egos. No weird “look at me” questions. Always a keen awareness that the candidates are the people the audience has tuned in to see.
Makes me think the Democrats did themselves an injury by denying themselves access not only to Fox’s audience but to its - yes - fair & balanced questioners.
The first Associated Press write-up filed at 12:31am Eastern manages not to mention Fox News’s sponsorship of the debate at all.
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I thought it was hilarious that your trip to Iraq to get to “the truth” yielded an agreement on your part to post MNF and Pentagon press releases. Way to go, truthseeker!
What’s wrong about Falwell?
http://www.missdynamite.com/fanart/spgm/gal/gallery2006/gal0166.jpg
Ten people is a basketball game, not a debate.
If Giuliani becomes President, will he make ferrets illegal everywhere?
Michelle, nice to see you “liveblogging.” Unfortunately, I have no access to cable TV tonight. So YOU are my connection to what’s going on! Hope you ‘ll come out to Albany, NY someday soon for a book signing or other appearance!
Dave, you can watch live at foxnews.com
Thanks for liveblogging Michelle. I’m about to get carpal-tunnel switching between HotAir and here.
Anywho….As a fellow Virginian, tell me why Gilmore is even on the stage?
Wake me when Fred Thompson shows up. Until then, I’ll go watch his smackdown of Michael Moore another few times.
http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=611
What Tommy didn’t tell you about his record number of vetoes - they resulted in “merely” twice-inflation annual growth in Wisconsin’s government spending instead of the thrice-and-greater-inflation the Dems in the Legislature sent him.
Say, I like this commenting thing.
anyone notice Gilmore reading his answers.
anyone notice Gilmore reading his answers.
Thompson SHREDS Moore in that video and he wields his cigar like a mighty tobacco p hallus. Go get ‘em Fred!
> anyone notice Gilmore reading his answers.
Agreed. Get Gilmore off the stage.
Bing!! Rudy is looking weak.
Mr. Giuliani: Will you or will you not allow ALL American citizens to own FERRETS?
Rudy isn’t being honest about adoptions as NYC Mayor: http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/levitating_numbers.html
Sometimes I just want to SMASH CHRIS WALLACE IN THE FACE!
Did anyone hear about the pro-abortion crowd out front supposedly supporting Rudy, but then joining the anti-war crowd. Move on had their rent a mob out tonight. Where’s Mother Shehan?
Does McCain store acorns in those cheeks of his?
How does an ability to store acorns in his cheeks make McCain more qualified to fight Islamofascism?
McCain “never supported amnesty.”
L-I-A-R.
Bring the heat, Tancredo!
Correct me if I am wrong, didn’t reports indicate that a couple of the Fort Dix terrorists came across the southern border?
Are the candidates going to let McCain slide on that?
Sorry, McCain, you have NOT been consistent about abortion:
http://www.nrlc.org/news/1999/NRL999/mccain.html
“Senator John McCain (R-Az.), a leading contender for the Republican nomination for President, said on August 19, “Certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe vs. Wade,” the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion on demand.”
The question for the evening:
Which candidate is my favorite liar?
Out of the ball park, Rudy, nails the rubber duck from Texas on 911.
McCain: too old
Giuliani: backpeddles
Romney: slick, maybe a bit too much
Huckabee: huck-a-who?
Tancredo: insecure
Paul: no chance
Brownback: weak, whiny
Thompson: see Paul
And I agree about the ’50’s game show bell.
No names on the podiums! Come on FOX…how are we supposed to remember who these elves are?
Not one question about social security. Matter of fact, I don’t know how any of these guys propose to address the issue.
Mitt Romney was turned on an alien lathe.
You missed Gilmore and Hunter
Gilmore: If you dont have the balls to call out one of your opponents and would rather plug your website that I am not going to visit, you are not the candidate for me.
Hunter: Coming off great to me. Sounds better than Tancredo on the immigration stuff and I “buy” his national security credentials.
McCain: Old and Crusty
Tancredo: Usually very articulate, but seems strained in these debates
Paul: Embarassed by Giuliani
Thompson: Please go away
Giuliani: Struggling in these debates and really steadied himself on the 9/11 exchange with Paul
Romney: Not as impressive as last debate
Brownback: Doesn’t excite me
“What if” questions are useless, IMHO.
Every time Rudy invokes 9/11, it reminds me of Kerry invoking his service in Vietnam….over and over and over. Rudy we know you were mayor during 9/11!…but why should you be president?
I think Tancredo and or Hunter are sounding more like candidates I can support….
I am starting to think that Ron Paul is attending the wrong debate…his was last week on MSMBC…with Chris Blatther Matthews…
Tancredo just won over the 24 fans
Thanks for the info, Michelle. I missed the debate due to a thunderstorm (out here in the boonies they’ve fried more than one PC) and will have to form my opinion based on what I can find online. For now just call me a proud Fredhead (I don’t guess Allah copyrighted that word, did he?)
Question for Mitt: Boxers, briefs or holy?
McCain presented with the ticking time-bomb scenario and he is more worried about America’s global image than Americn lives. One of the most important points of the debate, but Michelle hasn’t posted it!
FOX did a much better job than MSNBC on the questions and the format.
Tancredo had a lot better showing today than the first debate. Good for him.
Thanks MM. Are the comments sections going to continue on MM? or just for live blogging?
Huckabee surprised me. I was very impressed by his Fair Tax support, abortion/slavery slam on Rudy, and general candor. Rudy and McCain are bums, we are being choked by them.
No doubt about it..whoever you think won this round…FOX did a much better job of running this debate than MSNBC did the Dem debate.
Ron, Ron, Ron.
As a conservative libertarian, I’m usually a fan.
But his performance tonight doesn’t sit well with me.
I cannot believe this wasn’t posted in response to:
1044pm. McCain with Hannity and Colmes. He is lecturing us about the Spanish Inquisition.
so here it is…
No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!
Obligations satisfied…I feel better.
p.s. I wish habeas corpus was better respected by these candidates.
Didn’t get to see it, didn’t want to - I have no horse in this race yet… and the ones who ARE in it could not beat Hitlery. Talk about a waste of time… this debate is.
Paul is right. The mideast hates us for being in their land for the last few decades. They certainly aren’t attacking us for our land or wealth because they know they cannot over take us. They just want us out. I’d feel the same way if we had 20 Chinese bases in the U.S. patroling us. We (meaning our corporations and governmaent) are only over there for the money. Follow the money!
Thanks Michelle for Live-Blogging it. It helps those of us at work and not able to watch! Cheers!
“I’d feel the same way if we had 20 Chinese bases in the U.S. patroling us.”
If Saddam Hussein became the dictator of the United States and instituted rape rooms, human plastic shredders, and the occasional use of cyanide gas in Washington D.C., feel free to argue about imperialism, but I’d welcome the Chinese with open arms.
If a guy like Osama bin Laden doesn’t have a problem with you, you’re doing something wrong.
No matter how you slice it, the only candidate who can beat Hillary is Giuliani. If she takes every state that Kerry took, plus Ohio, she is the 44th President. So as much as I hate to say it, Rudy will be President if he can take every state that Bush took, plus NY or NJ. Tonight, I thought that Huckabee did very well. I agree with most everyone else here-it’s time to pull the plug on Gilmore, Thompson, and Paul. Hunter,Tancredo, and Brownback will be the next to go. I hope the next debate only involves McCain, Giuliani, Romney, and Huckabee.
Although it can get lost in their prime time lineup (Geraldo? C’mon), Fox News does have a very serious news core with Britt Hume, Chris Wallace and company, and it showed with this debate.
(PS Great blog, BTW)
No wonder the Dems don’t want Fox News to host their debate. They would actually have to answer some real questions. Hume, Goler, and Wallace would eat their lunch. A great job by Fox.
great work , Michelle! Thank you.
No comments for my man Tancredo?
I believe that Ron Paul was fundamentally wrong on his assessment of Islam: the Jihadists have stated over & over that they strive for a worldwide caliphate.
I believe them. And THAT is the reason they wish to defeat us. Whether through immigration or terrorism, their goals are clear.
Big 3? Pretty much didnt reveal anything new, didnt hurt themselves, at all, nor help themselves all that much. Everyone else can comment on them. Lets look at the rest.
Huckabee and Tancredo: Best Lines of the Night. Those will get the air time and keep them in the race for a while (Plus news mention to the Fred Thompson take down of Micheal Moore to keep his name bubbling around).
The others didn’t hurt themselves but didn’t stand out either, still in the hunt for VP or a cabinet position (Hunter SecDef for example).
These are the ones I see going sooner rather than later:
Brownback need not be there - Romney has his positions covered, perhaps not as genuinely, but Brownback has immigration amnesty weakness, and comes across weak. That means he is on his way out. Best to leave sooner than later.
Tommy Thompson and Gilmore need to go soon, before the next debate. They have nothing to contribute except rhetorical tricks (for which Gilmore got busted), and TMI technobabble (Thompson)
Ron Paul needs to go. Immediately. Like, throw him off the plane with a parachute on the way home tonight. Bye Ron. The shame of it is, in so many things like sizing the Federal Gov, he says a lot of the right things, right up until he started channeling Ward Churchill on 9/11. Its sad to see a person go “stuck on stupid” right there in public.