Debate Diary -- Live and Off-the-Cuff

I'm trying something new tonight. I'm going to keep a running diary of the debate...typing as I watch and as soon as the thoughts pop into my head. Far more informal than my usual style, but could be interesting...Enjoy!

Here we go...

9:10pm: Russert practically begs Huckabee to go after Romney about raising "fees" when he was Governor of Massachusetts, and Huckabee doesn't take the bait.

9:14pm: Romney takes a mild shot at McCain regarding his newfound support for the Bush Tax Cuts he voted against.

9:15pm: McCain's attempt at humor regarding the "fees" fails. Then makes very salient points about too much spending in Washington.

9:17pm: Ron Paul...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

9:19pm: Rudy mentions the check he returned to the Saudi Prince AGAIN. Stumbles about whether or not the Japanese own Rockefeller Center. Awkward moment.

9:21pm: Does anyone have any doubt how Russert votes? Geez...he just read a veritable indictment of the Bush Administration, the deficit, higher oil prices, higher gas prices, etc.

9:22pm: Good answer from McCain about listening to the Democratic Debates and what they'll do with regard to taxing and spending. Unable to resist using the line "I'll give you some 'straight talk'"...yuck...

9:24pm: Almost 25 minutes in and this debate is a snoozefest so far. All of the candidates seem somewhat flat, or perhaps it's the questions/format ???

9:26pm: Russert again expresses his displeasure with (what he clearly feels is) the hell that Bush hath wrought...tries to get Romney to go after Bush or go against Bush, but Romney wisely doesn't do so...Russert's a jerk.

9:28pm: Ron Paul is "not part of that crowd" (of spending in DC)...I wish he weren't part of this crowd!

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9:30pm: McCain uses his first "my friends" of the night...(but does so in an otherwise excellent answer about the importance of continuing and succeeding in Iraq).

9:32pm: Brian Williams quotes General Barry McCaffrey regarding our army being too small...asks Romney how we can have an army as large as we need without a draft. Romney dodges it and EXCELLENTLY references the fact that all three candidates in the Democratic Debate chose "getting out" of Iraq versus succeeding in Iraq. "We cannot turn Iraq over to Al Qaeda" and then EXCELLENTLY scolds "General Hillary Clinton" for claiming that political progress in Iraq is because the Iraqi leaders are paying attention to her and her candidacy.

9:34pm: Russert Bush-bashes again, this time on the War. Crowd attempts to applaud him and he rudely hushes them. Again, Russert is a jerk. McCain criticizes Rumsfeld but not Bush. "Was the war a good idea? Worth the price in blood and treasure"? He's going to ask each of these candidates this (and expects the answer in 30 seconds). Rudy nails Hillary on her flip-flop on the war...favoring it when "6 out of 10 were in favor of the war" but being against it when 6 out of 10 are against it. Strong answer from Rudy that he was for it when 6 out of 10 were for it he's for it when 6 out of 10 are against it." Russert will finally get an answer he likes now as he turns to Ron Paul. Paul typically/characteristically rants about our war-mongering nature. Go away, Ron. Huckabee answers well. Says Bush deserves our thanks not our scorn. Romney says he supported it when we began and he supports it now. Like McCain, criticizes the "mishandling" of the war -- doesn't explicitly mention Rumsfeld.

9:40pm: Commercial break...when we come back, the candidates question each other...could be good...thus far, Romney, McCain and, to a lesser extent Giuliani, are all quite sharp, frankly.

9:43pm: Romney first...asks about emergence of Asia and the demand for oil, Chinese supplying toys, etc....to Rudy..."as we compete with China, how do we make sure that trade is done in a way that levels the playing field...doesn't cause departure of jobs from this country...what kind of relationship do we need to have with China economically?" Rudy makes a lame joke -- second attempt at humor to fall flat. Rudy says China is a great opportunity for America, he thinks we should be working with them, should be able to sue in China so that you're protected there if doing business...refers to the Chinese as "customers"...turns to military...criticizes Clinton's (Bill's, to be clear) reduction of our military.

9:46pm: McCain asks Huckabee a question about his "Fair Tax"...asks how he answer the criticism that a "flat out just sales tax" wouldn't cause lower-income Americans to shoulder more of the burdens, etc.? How do you account for the resonance that the proposal has received? Quite a role-reversal -- usually it's Huck kissing up to McCain, and not the opposite. (Clearly no candidate is looking for a fight tonight). Huck says our current tax system is "irreparably broken"...everyone will like that.

9:50pm: Ron Paul to McCain...waste of time...I have NO CLUE what he's talking about. (Not sure McCain does either). McCain unfortunately name-drops AGAIN with same names (Jack Kemp, Phil Gramm, Warren Rudman, blah blah blah)...what a stupid question...still not sure what it was. PLEASE NO MORE RON PAUL IN FUTURE DEBATES!!!

9:52pm: Huckabee to Mitt...kisses up to Russert by referencing his "Meet The Press" interview...regarding 2nd Amendment, tries to get Mitt in a trap by pointing out that Romney says he supports the 2nd Amendment and also supports the Assault Weapons Ban and the Brady Bill. Romney stands his ground and says he does support the 2nd Amendment but that he'd have signed the Assault Weapons Ban. Does not believe we need "new legislation" and instead says we should rely on the laws in place to be implemented and enforced, reiterates his support of the 2nd Amendment.

9:54pm: Rudy to Romney...Floridians losing homes...McCain hasn't supported Rudy's "national catastrophic fund"...(a mistake in Florida)...asks Romney his position...McCain makes good joke about who the question's being addressed to...Romney does support it (I think)...says he supports EVERYONE having homeowners' insurance...not in favor of the "people in Iowa" paying for insurance in Florida, etc..."supports an effort for everyone to get some form of catastrophic coverage"...could be public-private partnership...McCain has opportunity to "rebut" since Rudy invoked his name several times...McCain is trying to dig out of hole he got himself in by previously saying he opposed the catastrophic insurance fund. Floridians are obviously very much in favor of this idea.
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10:00pm: Token environmental question...what happened to Brian Williams? This is the Russert Show. Jerk. McCain is name-dropping like it's his job tonight...just threw in Joe Lieberman...

10:01pm: Commercial Break again...no real news here tonight...no stumbles...no triumphs either...

10:06pm: Brian Williams asks why Rudy's campaign is in bad shape. Rudy is very likeable and humorous in response...likens self to New York Giants...says he'll come from behind...that he's "lulled [the other candidates] into a false sense of security".

10:07pm: Brian on a roll. Quotes McCain's mom as saying the GOP will have to "hold their nose and vote for McCain". Williams rattles off some of McCain's biggest "transgressions" (in the view of conservative Republicans)...McCain refuses to answer each charge specifically, gives a fairly good (if general) answer about his leadership abilities, etc.

10:10pm: Mitt gets good line in about "the idea of Bill Clinton back in the White House with nothing to do is something [he] can't imagine"...good line...Russert tries to get Romney to go after Hillary...he does (Good!)...says she is "so out of step"...mentions health care, Iraq..."she is exactly what's wrong with Washington...she is Washington to the core...the last thing America needs is to send the Clintons back to Washington"...Mitt says he is going to strengthen this country the "old-fashioned Republican way...the Ronald Reagan way..." a great answer.

10:12pm: Russert asks Romney to tell how much of his own money he's spent in Florida...JERK, JERK, JERK!!! Out of line question. Romney rightfully says "I have RAISED more money than any other Republican in this race". Also says that "he owes no one anything" because he is not beholden to big donors. Russert asks if Romney wants to address criticism that he is trying to "buy the state of Florida or buy the election". Russert is doing more attacking of these candidates than the candidates are to each other.

10:14pm: Brian brings up the Mormon issue. Quotes poll that 44% of Americans say a Mormon would have trouble uniting the country. Romney is good on his answer. Says he doesn't think Americans will vote against someone because of what church they go to. Doesn't believe "Republicans or Americans for that matter are going to impose a religious test". Returns to his strengths versus Hillary -- a nice pivot -- reminds that he is a Reagan Republican.

10:16pm: Russert to Paul. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

10:18pm: There went two minutes of my life I won't get back.

10:19pm: Huckabee questioned on Social Security...evades question, returns to Mitt's money in the campaign...makes horrendous attempt at joke about Mitt's five sons inheriting his money if he'll not run anymore...I see that coming back to haunt him. Reminded me -- though MUCH milder -- of when Kerry referenced Dick Cheney's "lesbian daughter" in a debate against President Bush in 2004.

10:20pm: Russert..."Governor, you're a big fan of Reagan...will you do what Reagan did for Social Security", and someone whispers "raise taxes", and Romney staunchly and confidently says he will just not raise taxes. "Raising taxes is something you just don't want to do". THAT is an answer I like. Now, addressing Social Security, Romney is able to illustrate his intelligence as he adroitly rattles off statistics and figures...excellent command of details, etc.

10:22pm: Bragging Writes now predicts that Mitt Romney will win the Republican Nomination for President of the United States of America.

10:23pm: Question to Rudy about English Language..."why is your campaign running a commercial in Spanish"? You know what? I don't think it matters right now. I think Romney may have wrapped this thing up tonight.

10:26pm: Brian reads absolutely acidic criticism of Rudy by New York Times (in their endorsement of McCain)...Rudy responds well by criticizing the Times (always a GOP favorite), and invoking Reagan (another sure-fire winner with Republicans).

10:29pm: Brian again references the Times...this time in an article today about Romney being the "most disliked" candidate (by his fellow candidates). Romney strongly answer that he's not running for president to go to Washington to "make friends"...he's going to "change Washington". Nicely done. Again, I think he's won the nomination tonight.

10:31pm: Brian -- again on a roll -- references McCain's legendary/infamous temper...asks if he thinks it will be an issue in running for president. McCain nicely rejects with humor...abruptly stops answer to go OUT OF HIS WAY to praise Rudy as "an American hero" and for his leadership after September 11th..."proud of the way he led this country and united it following 9/11"...says "all of these are good people who are running here. And I respect them, and I intend to respect them both during and after this campaign is over." That was possibly McCain's finest moment of the 2008 Campaign. Just a tremendously gracious gesture.

10:33pm: Brian hits Huckabee on his faith. (He's a former Baptist Minister). Huckabee echoes Romney, in a sense, by indicating that faith isn't going to dictate who voters choose.

10:35pm: Brian to Ron Paul...will you "launch a third-party movement and hurt the Republicans"...this is actually an answer I want to hear. Paul says he has no intention of hurting Republicans...and actually makes a good joke that he wishes his opponents "would worry about it...just to keep them on their toes". Voices his "strict support of the Constitution. "That's a nice way for Paul to end his 2008 debate appearances. (Wishful thinking on my part, perhaps)...

10:37pm: And apparently Paul will get the last word of the night too. That's a wrap.

Not sure a lot of news was made tonight. No one made any tremendous mistakes. I think Romney probably will be viewed as the winner of the debate, and I reiterate that I believe he is now going to be the GOP Nominee because I think he will now win Florida and go on to win enough future contests to take the nomination.

Have a great night.