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Open thread: GOP debate, gloves off edition!

posted at 7:08 pm on October 21, 2007 by Allahpundit
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8 p.m. ET on the Foxiest network in cable news. Desperate to drum up interest in another soundbite-go-round with a lackluster field in the midst of this interminable campaign, Chris Wallace took to hinting on Friday that this may be the debate where the bombs finally start to drop. He might be right: the “real Republican” brouhaha that began with Mitt and Rudy soon spilled over to McCain and then to Fred, so we’ll be seeing more skirmishes on that front tonight, I’m sure. Or rather, you’ll be seeing them: the big A’s priorities this evening lie elsewhere, but if you’re watching the debate and you see something clipworthy, I’d be grateful if you tipped us to it.

A few pre-game notes. First, remember how Rudy told the social cons that it’s better to be honest than pander by changing your positions? Well, forget it. Second, guess which candidate’s campaign will be liveblogging the debate tonight in Spanish. McCain’s, you say? Guess again. Third, Ron Paul’s quest to unite the dregs of American politics under one banner has taken an exciting new turn. Will Wallace or Brit Hume dare to ask him how and why he became the campaign’s resident freak magnet? All signs point to no. Finally, take heart in the fact that no matter how bad it gets, no matter how feebly the candidates perform, hope in this case does and will continue to spring eternal.

Sound off below if you’re tuned in. Or if you’re watching the game. Which is more important, really?


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Ron Paul’s turn… and now the views from Mars.

techno_barbarian on October 21, 2007 at 8:16 PM

Ron Paul’s new invisible clothes: Federalism.

As opposed to 9/11 truth and isolationism.

BKennedy on October 21, 2007 at 8:17 PM

I hate when I agree with Paul… but hes got this gay marriage thing right on

VolMagic on October 21, 2007 at 8:17 PM

I agree with Ron on this one. Let the state do it.

Just like mine did.

sunny on October 21, 2007 at 8:17 PM

I cant help but like McCain personally when I see him. He’s very grandfatherly and I respect the hell out of him for his service. I cant seem to see myself voting for him though.

Same here.

Spirit of 1776 on October 21, 2007 at 8:18 PM

I’m no Ron Paul guy by any stretch but the guy is solid on anything to do with federalism and the constitution. I really like listening to him when he’s on a roll on those things.

Too bad he’s a nut =/

Dash on October 21, 2007 at 8:18 PM

Not true Mitt…your crap won’t spread to my state

sunny on October 21, 2007 at 8:19 PM

Marriage = 1 man + 1 woman. Go Mitt

On-my-soap-box on October 21, 2007 at 8:19 PM

oooooooo kkkkkkkkkkk

Rudy sucks tonight

sunny on October 21, 2007 at 8:20 PM

They are blokcing Fred tonight after that first flurry….. bad move

VolMagic on October 21, 2007 at 8:21 PM

Rudy Guilliani can’t get over his anti-gun, pro-gay, pro-illegal alien credential… He and Ron Paul shouldn’t even be on that stage at a REPUBLICAN debate….

IntheNet on October 21, 2007 at 8:21 PM

Yikes Rudy with the gay marriage self deprecating New Yorker red meat.

Dash on October 21, 2007 at 8:21 PM

They are blokcing Fred tonight

Yeah! It’s a conspiracy. RONPAUL!

Spirit of 1776 on October 21, 2007 at 8:21 PM

Huck’s pandering…

JetBoy on October 21, 2007 at 8:22 PM

Huck is just so damn loveable

VolMagic on October 21, 2007 at 8:22 PM

Huck’s pandering…

JetBoy on October 21, 2007 at 8:22 PM

Yup.

techno_barbarian on October 21, 2007 at 8:22 PM

Huck scores! Bravo…. Out of the park….

IntheNet on October 21, 2007 at 8:23 PM

JetBoy on October 21, 2007 at 8:22 PM

You don;t think he’s sincere?
C’mon man

VolMagic on October 21, 2007 at 8:23 PM

And the right to smoke a cigarette, right Huck?

Spirit of 1776 on October 21, 2007 at 8:23 PM

Huck maybe lovable but he’s also a damn nanny-stater.

Drew on October 21, 2007 at 8:23 PM

Embrace the pessimism, baby. You’ll rarely go wrong.
Allahpundit on October 21, 2007 at 7:20 PM

Pessimism: The glass is half empty
Optimism: The glass is half full
Realism: The glass is exactly 50% larger than it needs to be to hold that amount of imported scotch whiskey. I believe I’ll pour myself a double.

I prefer being a realist myself. :)

wearyman on October 21, 2007 at 8:23 PM

Good answer, Fred.

techno_barbarian on October 21, 2007 at 8:23 PM

What I “hope” I said? Fred lets lies roll out of his mouth like it’s second nature.

csdeven on October 21, 2007 at 8:24 PM

And once again Tom Tancredo and Duncan Hunter will be by far the most conservative candidates on the stage but they’ll once again get ignored because they don’t fit the fancy MSM-driven template of what a ‘good’ Republican nominee ought to be. And the electorate will eat it all up.

Well said! Well said.

Go Tom and Duncan.

P.S. For the record: Exactly HOW MANY of the Pub candidates are members of the CFR (an organization that means nothing to the average voter, but whose members for some “mysterious” reason tend to dominate EVERY presidential cabinet, both Dem and Pub)?

Why am I asking? Well, for instance, if Huckabee is a member, it gives the lie to his “small Southern-State preacher-boy” schtick. No self-respecting Arkie Southern Baptist preacher would feel comfortable around such a liberal, globalist crowd. But Huck’s views on illegal immigration are RIGHT IN LINE with GWB’s and the other elites.

sanantonian on October 21, 2007 at 8:24 PM

The light display in the background is giving me a seizure

VolMagic on October 21, 2007 at 8:24 PM

Looks like Hunter and Tancredo will be completely ignored. They should sue Foxnews for equal time. Pathetic “fair and balanced” time allotment.

roninacreage on October 21, 2007 at 8:25 PM

Boring: back to chris

sunny on October 21, 2007 at 8:25 PM

And once again Tom Tancredo and Duncan Hunter …

Who?

:)

IntheNet on October 21, 2007 at 8:25 PM

Tanc!

techno_barbarian on October 21, 2007 at 8:25 PM

VolMagic on October 21, 2007 at 8:23 PM

I think Huck is unable to compete in these things…on a tru political level. He’s really all nice talk.

JetBoy on October 21, 2007 at 8:26 PM

Rudy is strong tonight! So is Fred some good one liners.

Good evening everyone!

GREENTURTLE on October 21, 2007 at 8:26 PM

tanc combover is killing me.

GREENTURTLE on October 21, 2007 at 8:26 PM

This are great questions from Cameron. Make em duke it out.

csdeven on October 21, 2007 at 8:27 PM

Rudy is strong tonight!

GREENTURTLE on October 21, 2007 at 8:26 PM

What? Rudy got called on public funding abortions and responded with tort reform. Rudy gettin a beat down

Good evening however

sunny on October 21, 2007 at 8:27 PM

Go Duncan!

GREENTURTLE on October 21, 2007 at 8:27 PM

Paul, Tancreado and Hunter have to go. It just brings everything to a halt for no reason. Tanc and Hunter are great but they aren’t going to win.

Drew on October 21, 2007 at 8:28 PM

Hunter is just awesome…. I wish he was a possibilty. :(

VolMagic on October 21, 2007 at 8:28 PM

Hunter. Way to go pal!

Spirit of 1776 on October 21, 2007 at 8:28 PM

tanc whining tone sounds desperate

taterblade on October 21, 2007 at 8:28 PM

It really is a decent panel of moderators. Much unlike MSNBC…

JetBoy on October 21, 2007 at 8:28 PM

so far Fred is doing well, Romney is not so bad, Mccain looking solid, and Huckabee winning votes. Rudy i think is having a bad night so far.

zane on October 21, 2007 at 8:29 PM

Ron Paul would disband the entire Federal Government.

JetBoy on October 21, 2007 at 8:30 PM

World Empire – WOOT!

On-my-soap-box on October 21, 2007 at 8:31 PM

Paul: it doesn;t take him long to go throught the looking glass

VolMagic on October 21, 2007 at 8:31 PM

lol jetboy yeah, Ron Paul : Tear down the congress!

zane on October 21, 2007 at 8:31 PM

Ugh geez Ron, world empire crap. He has lucid thoughts mixed in there but the crazy drowns it out.

Dash on October 21, 2007 at 8:32 PM

Tim Robins in Team America: World Police…

And corporations are being all… corporationy…. humnph!

VolMagic on October 21, 2007 at 8:32 PM

so far Fred is doing well
zane on October 21, 2007 at 8:29 PM

I just saw him say he “hoped” he had said something. That isn’t doing well in any stretch of the imagination.

csdeven on October 21, 2007 at 8:32 PM

Fred’s doing great tonight.

techno_barbarian on October 21, 2007 at 8:33 PM

Mitt with a Katrina swipe? Ugh, that fell flat.

Drew on October 21, 2007 at 8:33 PM

Mitt: I want to force all people to have healthcare… but its not HillaryCare… I promise!!!!

snake oil anyone???

VolMagic on October 21, 2007 at 8:33 PM

csdeven on October 21, 2007 at 8:32 PM

*sigh*

JetBoy on October 21, 2007 at 8:34 PM

This Hunter guy is impressive.

techno_barbarian on October 21, 2007 at 8:34 PM

On the upside, Mitt’s lousy healthcare answer wrapped up with a P.J. O’Rourke quote which is always welcomed.

Drew on October 21, 2007 at 8:34 PM

Lol, we may appreciate Gov. Romney’s optimism. That’s amusing.

Spirit of 1776 on October 21, 2007 at 8:35 PM

Mitt…. caught in a bald face lie…. obfuscating as usual.

Boo!

VolMagic on October 21, 2007 at 8:35 PM

Don’t tell me Huck’s in with the food police too…

JetBoy on October 21, 2007 at 8:36 PM

yeah!!!!! I trust me to!!!!

kill the old hippies

sunny on October 21, 2007 at 8:36 PM

Old hippies – free drugs – new legislation?

On-my-soap-box on October 21, 2007 at 8:36 PM

Oh he made a funny!

lsutiger on October 21, 2007 at 8:37 PM

Free drugs for hippies! lmao!

JetBoy on October 21, 2007 at 8:37 PM

Ok I’m voting Huckabee, that was great.

Dash on October 21, 2007 at 8:37 PM

Prevention is the key.

Spirit of 1776 on October 21, 2007 at 8:37 PM

rofl, nice swipe at the hippies from Paul. He DOES have lucid moments!

wearyman on October 21, 2007 at 8:37 PM

/tag btw

sunny on October 21, 2007 at 8:37 PM

Huckabee is a quote machine.

Complete7 on October 21, 2007 at 8:37 PM

Huck needs to get a different shtick. He’s becoming a caricature of himself.

csdeven on October 21, 2007 at 8:37 PM

Well, there goes the hippie vote. ;)

techno_barbarian on October 21, 2007 at 8:37 PM

wearyman on October 21, 2007 at 8:37 PM

Not Paul, Huck there.

Spirit of 1776 on October 21, 2007 at 8:37 PM

HA – old hippies get free drugs

taterblade on October 21, 2007 at 8:38 PM

Tanc going all Ron Paul when it comes to healthcare. Interesting.

Drew on October 21, 2007 at 8:38 PM

SIR TANCELOT STRIKES AGAIN!

Nicely stated.

wearyman on October 21, 2007 at 8:38 PM

Well, there goes the hippie vote. ;)

Hippies vote?

JetBoy on October 21, 2007 at 8:38 PM

Spirit of 1776 on October 21, 2007 at 8:37 PM

Oops, my bad. Heh, I’ve seen so little of huckabee and paul I have no idea what they look like. That, and I’m flipping back and forth a bit too.

wearyman on October 21, 2007 at 8:39 PM

Fred’s got some energy tonight. Just admitted a mistake too. Imagine that.

techno_barbarian on October 21, 2007 at 8:40 PM

Fred! is using cribnotes

lsutiger on October 21, 2007 at 8:40 PM

Hippies vote?

Leaglize drugs brings ‘em out to vote every time.

On-my-soap-box on October 21, 2007 at 8:40 PM

Fred gets his cosby on

sunny on October 21, 2007 at 8:40 PM

Tanc and Hunter are interviewing for future jobs in a Rudy or Mitt administration.

Well, well, well, Fred was wrong again. “What’s a dollar?” is interviewing for biggest meandering answers given by a candidate.

csdeven on October 21, 2007 at 8:40 PM

lsutiger on October 21, 2007 at 8:40 PM

I think they all are to some extent.

wearyman on October 21, 2007 at 8:41 PM

Goeler is an idiot. The mayor of NY didn’t run the school system when Rudy was mayor.

Drew on October 21, 2007 at 8:41 PM

Fred’s point on education and father’s accepting responsibility is right on… how many politicians would note that, or call it to the country’s attention? Who would? A future president!

IntheNet on October 21, 2007 at 8:42 PM

Rudy doing well on school choice.

Drew on October 21, 2007 at 8:42 PM

Huck’s got the best quotes, but not the best performance.

BKennedy on October 21, 2007 at 8:42 PM

csdeven on October 21, 2007 at 8:40 PM

csdeven; So negative he makes AP look like Pollyanna.

ROFL.

wearyman on October 21, 2007 at 8:42 PM

Rudy always does well when he isn’t forced into social issues.

csdeven on October 21, 2007 at 8:42 PM

Good answer, Rudy. Parents + Choice

Spirit of 1776 on October 21, 2007 at 8:42 PM

Keep on whining, cs. We wouldn’t expect anything less from you.

techno_barbarian on October 21, 2007 at 8:42 PM

Break. I wish they would give them baseball bats and the last one standing – wins!

On-my-soap-box on October 21, 2007 at 8:43 PM

What? Rudy got called on public funding abortions and responded with tort reform. Rudy gettin a beat down

Good evening however

sunny on October 21, 2007 at 8:27 PM

sorry Ive been drinking

GREENTURTLE on October 21, 2007 at 8:43 PM

wearyman on October 21, 2007 at 8:41 PM

But none of them have been as obvious as Fred

lsutiger on October 21, 2007 at 8:43 PM

Akthough Huckabee’s point on the nation’s health was quite good. Major props for the Huckster.

BKennedy on October 21, 2007 at 8:44 PM

Rudy always does well when he isn’t forced into social issues.

csdeven on October 21, 2007 at 8:42 PM

That might be an issue as he is running for the REPUBLICAN NOMINATION!

sunny on October 21, 2007 at 8:44 PM

Actually, they all sound good tonight

bnelson44 on October 21, 2007 at 8:44 PM

Drinking?! That’s a GREAT idea. Be right back.

techno_barbarian on October 21, 2007 at 8:44 PM

The first commercial at break is an erection aid…

THAT”S A REAL PROBLEM IN AMERICA!

IntheNet on October 21, 2007 at 8:44 PM

The first commercial at break is an erection aid…

THAT”S A REAL PROBLEM IN AMERICA!

IntheNet on October 21, 2007 at 8:44 PM

lol I was thinking that too

JetBoy on October 21, 2007 at 8:45 PM

The Paul Patrol is at the ready I’m sure…

The i-phone “miracle”?

jdkchem on October 21, 2007 at 8:45 PM

Boston up 1-0

sunny on October 21, 2007 at 8:45 PM

The set makes it look like some game-show.

Karol on October 21, 2007 at 8:45 PM

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