CNN Republican Debate: Thoughts?

[s.t.e.v.e.n.]

McCain bothers me

I thought Guliani did well. I think he has handled the abortion question well everytime it comes up. A highlight of the debate was when he was asked about a catholic bishop's comments on his stance on abortion and right as he was about to answer lighting struck and knocked out the sound for a bit. Great moment.

Things I found interesting: None of the candidates raised there hands when asked who thought Homosexuals should be able to serve openly in the military. I thought the best answer to that question came from Ron Paul when he said that any conduct that is a distraction, be it hetero or homosexual should be dealt with. Of course thats a paraphrase but he made a good point. The issue should not be sexual orientation, but conduct.

I also felt like Wolf Blitzer seemed to be searching for certain answers to certain questions.

[captainhampton]

i think on both sides, i am tired of so many candidates on the stage, you don't really get to debate when you have like 20-30 seconds to answer complex questions. and for both debates, Wolf Blitzer was so annoying with how he'd interrupt and cut people off.

[s.t.e.v.e.n.]

i think on both sides, i am tired of so many candidates on the stage, you don't really get to debate when you have like 20-30 seconds to answer complex questions. and for both debates, Wolf Blitzer was so annoying with how he'd interrupt and cut people off.

I agree with everything you just said

I feel like you dont get as much of a chance to hear the candidates who are likely to be frontrunners because of people with no shot.

It was definitely weird that CNN relied on Wolf instead of say...a timer.

[Love As Arson]

Aside from Paul, none of the candidates' positions on Iraq were tenable. Though, Paul, too, brandished the xenophobic tendencies that predominated the debate.

[TxRepresent]

Paul is the only candidate that makes any sort of sense to me on the Republican side. Also him going to his libertarian roots(wanting to get rid of medicare etc) makes me lean away from him.

[livefromDC]

I also agree that Blitzer did a terrible job. He talked way to much for the Dem debate and then he was worse for the GOP one talking even longer than before. The were also biased putting the popular candidates in the middle and giving them way more time to talk.

[cfear]

I also agree that Blitzer did a terrible job. He talked way to much for the Dem debate and then he was worse for the GOP one talking even longer than before. The were also biased putting the popular candidates in the middle and giving them way more time to talk.

That's how it always is. The popular candidates have more money, power, and, thus, get what is better for them.

[Spewk]

i dont know about anyone else, but parts of this debate are hilarious

[TheOtherAndrew]

I also felt like Wolf Blitzer seemed to be searching for certain answers to certain questions.
Very true, Blitzer is a terrible moderator.
i think on both sides, i am tired of so many candidates on the stage, you don't really get to debate when you have like 20-30 seconds to answer complex questions. and for both debates, Wolf Blitzer was so annoying with how he'd interrupt and cut people off.
That's probably because the concept of these inter-party debates being televised is a joke and they only exist to boost cable news ratings.

[senatorlamb]

At times this debate scared me. I have no bad feelings toward religion, but really, do we need potential leaders of the free world giving their religious views, and yes, even sermons? Do we need them raising their hand in favor or against evolution? what's become of politics?

I will say that I think overall McCain helped himself from this debate, especially talking to that woman who lost her brother in Iraq, while Guilani maintained his frontrunner status by basically remaining strong and not screwing up. Romney was ok, nothing special. I just always feel he comes across as used car salesman. The moderate to liberal Republican from Mass. just managed to find God, guns, and gays convientantly before a presidential primary.

I think it would be hilarious though if Guialini got the nomination. Think how many times Democrats have had to tip toe around their pro-choice position, practically apologizing for it in order to gain sympathy with the religious fundy type. After the 2004 defeat, some strategists were saying Democrats should even vabandon their traditional abortion position. And yet here comes pro-choice, pro-gay rights, thrice married, Guiliani taking the Republican "family values" banner. I wonder if the same groups are going to protest Guilaini over these positions. It's funny, after the debate, some Republican strategist was practically bragging that Guialini's pro-choice position gets strong support from Republicans, and Paul Begala chimes in and says, "So are Democrats gonna recieve an apology for getting called baby killers for 30 years?"

[livefromDC]

But back to the debate itself

That's probably because the concept of these inter-party debates being televised is a joke and they only exist to boost cable news ratings.

If thats the case CNN is really sad because their GOP debates had worse ratings that FNC's regular Tuesday programing. Also, I'm not exactly sure what you mean senatorlamb when you say that Romney found gays, but I assume thats not good for a GOP candidate. I think CNN waisted a lot of time talking about issues where most of the candidates agree on - and I also can't disagree with someone telling me that Blitzer might have benefited from using a timer or some way of keeping track of answers either.