Live from Manchester- The GOP Debate!

9:00PM– It’s over. I’m proud to be a Republican, as they stood head and shoulders above their counterparts in the other party. Real issues and real ideas. Hopefully a majority of Americans will feel the same way next November. The contrast between the two parties’ candidates is severe- especially when it comes to the war. One advocates cutting and running. The other, as we saw tonight (Ron Paul excepted) features candidates who see the nature and danger of the threat. The debate was pretty well conducted, and Wolf and the gang should be commended for managing to include everybody despite the crowded stage. Other than Spradling’s stupid "What to do with George Bush" question, I learned much about the candidates tonight. Hopefully those watching at home got as much, or more from it, as I did. It’s off to the Spin Room.

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Question- What would you do to include moderate Republicans and Independent voters? Gilmore- Conservatism appeals to all people. Empowering people. School choice, etc. Mitt- Families. Giuliani- "Nominate me." Noted Dems couldn’t utter the word "Islamic terrorists." McCain- Protect family. Fight the battle of our times against Islamic terrorism.

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Question- More on immigration. Tancredo says we need a time out. Do the rest believe the same? Giuliani- We should always be open to legal immigration. McCain- Beyond my thinking. Of course it has to be legal.

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Question about spending, Bush’s biggest mistake. Giuliani- spending. Mentioned his stat plan. Severe technical problems with the feed and we missed much of this… I wonder if the home viewers are seeing this? Much of the media is packing up to head over to the "Spin Room" 8:48PM

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Question for Romney- The questioner implied he flip-flopped on immigration. Why Spanish on your website? "I love immigrants- LEGAL ones." He then followed with a stream of words I missed. Tancredo follows- typical impassioned points about English. McCain spoke of Hispanic people and names on VietNam wall. Spoke about immigrants using military service to fast track citizenship. We are all God’s children. He got huge applause on this answer.

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Question- What is the most important moral issue faced by the country. Huckabee. Respect life. Not acceptable to treat ANY people as expendable. We celebrate life. Big applause. Giuliani- Great gifts from God. Get our enemies to see the value of our ideas. Ron Paul dissed the threat of a nuclear bomb for Iran, saying they have done nothing to us. Hello? Iran? There is a sizeable contingent clapping for him, though. Lots of libertarians in the audience, I guess. Brownback- the life issue is number one.

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Question from (snort) WMUR blogger: Single payer system? Tommy Thompson- Make it a wellness/ prevention system. Talked about preventing chronic illnesses, etc. Wow! This guy is sharp on this topic. Mitt followed with a lecture, hitting the free market talking points.

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Question- Prescription drugs – Why cheaper elsewhere. Giuliani- change whole model of health insurance in this country. Mentioned HSA’s. Health insurance more like homes and auto. Right now it’s government and job-dominated. Free market principals. "Socialized medicine will ruin health care in the United States!" HOOO-RAHHH!!!  Big applause. Hunter explained why the drug costs are higher here. Promotes cross-state line health insurance.

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Question- Can a conservative platform have a conservation agenda? Gilmore- "Of course. Conservatism means empowering people." Spoke of energy independence, nuclear power. Tancredo- "Of course." Refered to Teddy Roosevelt and the National Parks. "Use free market to give people incentives." 

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Question- What about the Iraqi gov’t? Ron Paul- we must get out. We shouldn’t be patrolling the streets. Dissed "neocons." Giuliani- "I believe that what we’re doing in Iraq will make us safer, if done right."

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Question- How will you bring troops home? Asked by a woman whose brother was killed in Iraq. Duncan Hunter– son joined military after 9-11. In our interest to get a stable Iraq. Brownback will put forth a political solution. 3 state solution. McCain doesn’t want that. "War was badly mismanaged." We have a new general and a new plan. "Long and hard and tough. But we can succeed."

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Question- What happened to the Republicans? Huckabee- we lost our way. Out of control spending. Should Bush pardon Libby? Hunter- look at transcript. Would pardon the border agents. Question for all– would you pardon Scooter. Yes or no? Noone gave a short answer on this. Romney- never pardoned anybody as Gov. Brownback- YES! Basic crime didn’t happen. Tancredo- Yes.

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Question- How would you use George W. Bush in your Administration? This was asked by NewsNine’s Scott Spradling, who asked the Dems the same question about Bill Clinton. THIS IS A STUPID QUESTION AND IS A WASTE OF TIME!!!!

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Question- Time to end "don’t ask don’t tell"? Gays serve openly in military? Giuliani- in time of war, it’s good policy. Not the time to raise the issue during war. Do Americans really care that much about this? Romney agrees with Giuliani. It’s worked thus far. Bigger issues than that to deal with right now. Exactly! McCain says it’s working. Let’s not tamper with it.

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Question- Global warming. Giuliani- it exists, and it could be man-made. He would create an "Apollo-like" project to work on this. Romney dittos. McCain (singin’ my song) called for a return to more nuclear power. Every time I’ve seen McCain, he calls for this. Hoo-rah! Go nukes! Question and talk about what to do with oil company profits. This question seems out of place in a free market country.

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Question about evolution to Mike Huckabee. "I believe there is a God and He was active in creation." Very strong answer. Wolf presses him on whether he LITERALLY believes in the six days of evolution. He rightfully noted this question doesn’t really belong in this setting. Brownback follows up. He talks of his religious beliefs and his faith. As to creation, he noted, "How He did it, I don’t know." Question to McCain- should evolution be taught in schools. That would be up to the individual school districts- while he thinks students should be exposed to all types of ideas. Again, as this debate rolls on, I am pleased with the overall performance of these Republicans. They seem so much more, oh, I don’t know- grown up, maybe, than the Dems.

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