Anyone Watching the Republican Debate?

By: Lowell
Published On: 10/9/2007 5:18:39 PM

It's on CNBC.com.  Fred Thompson makes his debate debut.  Also, Chris Cillizza is live blogging the debate.

Comments



Interesting how Giuliani turns every conversation (Lowell - 10/9/2007 5:26:29 PM)
to Hillary Clinton.  How lame.


Brownback (Lowell - 10/9/2007 5:27:59 PM)
"I mean, this place rocks!"  Ha, good line.


Thompson on Social Security (Lowell - 10/9/2007 5:34:36 PM)
It's a major problem we've got to come to terms with.  We're not going to have Soc. Sec. and Medicare as we know it into the future, we're eating our seed corn, pitting one generation against the next.  Need growing economy - low taxes, less regulation, sound fiscal policy, less discretionary spending.  Let people provide for some of their own savings.  Index benefits to inflation for future retirees.


Trade (Lowell - 10/9/2007 5:36:06 PM)
Tancredo:  Worst vote I ever cast was to give the president "fast track" authority.  We've included all kinds of things that have nothing to do with trade, e.g., immigration-related issues.  Trade issues affect our national sovereignty.


Health care (Lowell - 10/9/2007 5:38:15 PM)
Romney: Improve what we have, not "Hillary Care."  Bring in market dynamics.  Get everyone in the system.  Don't have federal government tell states how to do it.  Let's have private insurance.  Republicans have to be able to deal with this big issue of our time - health care.  People should be able to get their insurance individually, all medical expenses tax deductible.  This is not a Democratic issue, it's a Republican issue.


Unions (Lowell - 10/9/2007 5:44:33 PM)
Paul:  The right to organize is a basic right.

Huckabee: Unions will be more prominent in the future because CEO salaries are 500 times the average worker.  Level of discontent that's going to create a huge demand for unions.

McCain:  Unions have played a very important role in U.S. history.  I come from a right to work state.  Key is that any American has the right and privilege to join a union, but should not be forced to do so.

Romney:  Sen. McCain is sure right on that point.  Good and not-so-good unions.  Carpenters union is good, for instance.  There are also bad unions, won't name them.

Thompson: I have been a union member.  I believe in the right of workers to band together, shouldn't have to be a member of a union to work, denying union workers a secret ballot.

Giuliani: Unions have made a positive contribution.  UAW reached a very responsible pact the other day.

Hunter: Steel workers union is a great union.  A union is a receptacle of power, unions have helped build middle class.

Brownback: Unions have been good for the United States.  There can be abuses, government has to work aggressively to make sure those abuses don't happen.

Tancredo:  Says Brownback's mother didn't need a union if she was a postal worker.  Unions get off track on illegal immigration (Brownback: "My mother is not an illegal immigrant").



Thompson attacks Matthews (The Grey Havens - 10/9/2007 5:49:35 PM)
What a crotchety old fool.

Just when you think this guy's coma is infectious, he busts out with "nobody asked for your opinion, Christopher."

idjit



Giuliani "police the internet" (Ken C. - 10/9/2007 5:54:49 PM)
Giuliani is letting his inner Mussolini shine through....


McCain: I wish interest rates were zero (Lowell - 10/9/2007 5:58:45 PM)
I think we'd better leave interest rates to Ben Bernanke.


Tancredo (Lowell - 10/9/2007 5:59:41 PM)
will not go to the polls and make the "lesser of two evils" choice.


Brownback: pro-growth and pro-life (Lowell - 10/9/2007 6:00:07 PM)
I'm going to support the nominee of the party.


Of course London's not going to replace New York (Lowell - 10/9/2007 6:02:10 PM)
Get your head up.  We're the last best hope of humanity, etc., etc. 

Immigration -- what country do millions of people around the world want to come to?  Act like confident Americans.

We overregulate and overtax.  Democrats want to raise taxes 25-30%.



Romney will "of course" support the Republican (Lowell - 10/9/2007 6:03:11 PM)
nominee. Wants a nominee out of the mold of Ronald Reagan.  This is a lot like "Law and Order," Senator.  Large cast, series seems to go on forever and Fred Thompson shows up at the end.  Ha. Ha. Ha.


Thompson knows (Lowell - 10/9/2007 6:04:25 PM)
who the Canadian Prime Minister is. 


McCain says president of France is pro-American (Lowell - 10/9/2007 6:06:30 PM)
and jokes that if you live long enough, anything is possible.


Giuliani; biggest problem is K-12 education (Lowell - 10/9/2007 6:08:27 PM)
Goes after Hillary Care again, jokes that Canadians will have no place to go for health care.


Thompson feels like he hasn't waited too long (Lowell - 10/9/2007 6:08:53 PM)
It was getting a little boring without me.


Romney is winning (DanG - 10/9/2007 6:39:58 PM)
Once again, he just oozes charisma, much more than the others.  Nobody should underestimate Romney, he's very good at what he does.  Unless Giuliani is the nominee, I expect him to be on the ticket in some way.


I agree. (Lowell - 10/9/2007 8:19:52 PM)
Romney is very effective. 


I think Thompson was strong as well (Lowell - 10/9/2007 8:47:13 PM)
especially for his first debate.


A comparsion (truthseeker - 10/9/2007 10:14:26 PM)
Romney = Hillary (Will say anything to get elected)

Thompson - Obama (In way over their heads)

Ron Paul = Edwards (true believer or crazy)

Huckabee = Richardson (Not half bad but without money they are toast)