...and saw the CNN wrap-up. Also read some of the transcript and GOP blogs around the internet....appears Huckabee hit this one out of the park!

Also appears Ron Paul was his usual looney-tune self.

I think Romney was hurt badly, Giuliani a little bit less so.

I think Huckabee and McCain helped themselves, Paul a little bit less so.

The others realistically did nothing.

It was amusing that the campaign video Thompson put up was a hit piece on Romney and Huckabee.  

My wife was offended by the question about the Bible, and may be doing a diary on it at dailykos.

Worth noting on what there were no question;
- health care and health insurance
- environment and global warming
- education

and I don't think anything on energy independence.

and the reason given was that Rudy just wouldn't let up on Romney. That's interesting.

In response to a question by a retired Brigadier General who had given 45 years of his life to this nation and who also happens to be gay, the former Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee had this to day: "General, thanks for your service, but I believe in what Colin Powell said when he said that having openly homosexual people serving in the ranks would be bad for unit cohesion. The reason for that, even though people point to the Israelis and point to the Brits and point to other people as having homosexuals serve, is that most Americans, most kids who leave that breakfast table and go out and serve in the military and make that corporate decision with their family, most of them are conservatives. They have conservative values, and they have Judeo-Christian values. To force those people to work in a small tight unit with somebody who is openly homosexual goes against what they believe to be their principles, and it is their principles, is I think a disservice to them. I agree with Colin Powell that it would be bad for unit cohesion." One of the clear differences between Democrats and Republicans when it comes to the issue of gay rights is that Republicans are of the belief that gays are somehow less capable of acting professionally and keeping their hands to themselves than heterosexuals are. Once again, a glaring example of type of absurdity that can be found on the other side.

here it is, broken up:

In response to a question by a retired Brigadier General who had given 45 years of his life to this nation and who also happens to be gay, the former Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee had this to day:

"General, thanks for your service, but I believe in what Colin Powell said when he said that having openly homosexual people serving in the ranks would be bad for unit cohesion. The reason for that, even though people point to the Israelis and point to the Brits and point to other people as having homosexuals serve, is that most Americans, most kids who leave that breakfast table and go out and serve in the military and make that corporate decision with their family, most of them are conservatives.

They have conservative values, and they have Judeo-Christian values. To force those people to work in a small tight unit with somebody who is openly homosexual goes against what they believe to be their principles, and it is their principles, is I think a disservice to them. I agree with Colin Powell that it would be bad for unit cohesion."

One of the clear differences between Democrats and Republicans when it comes to the issue of gay rights is that Republicans are of the belief that gays are somehow less capable of acting professionally and keeping their hands to themselves than heterosexuals are. Once again, a glaring example of type of absurdity that can be found on the other side.

So much fun to watch the old white guys beating up on each other.

In the after talk, nobody had a single good thing to say about either Rudy or Flip.  The only one people came away liking was Huckabee.

I predict he wins Iowa.

A long time ago I said he was the dark horse who could walk away with all the marbles.
Once he wins it all, he will do a little flip and go for the Independants. I still say he used every lesson Bill gave in how to win in AK and will carry it to the White House.
I never gave Rudy a chance and in the beginning It looked like Romney. Romney is polished, but flubs too many questions. Last night he stuttered on many questions and really blew the Bible question as well as the Military question. Last night he hide behind Bush's answers on many question and that will hurt him later.
Just like the D's there are only 3 contenders on the R side, and Mike scares me the most of a Republican walking away with the WH in 08.
Especially since the Media is really killing Hillary and Obama. Chris Mathews is on her like a fly on shit, along with Dobbs and Fox.
If Obama wins the nomination, Huckabee will eat him up in the debates next year.  

Sorry, Huckabee will never "eat obama" in a debate.

You have to have winning issues in a debate, and the republicans  do not have any.
Watching last night felt like watching an episode of "Im crazier than you".

FWIW my comments along with others during the telecast are at Republican Debate Anybody Watching  

More at Think Progress.