Blogging The Republican Debate

7:03 -- Tommy Thompson makes a joke about he's the Thompson who is the politician, not the actor. Tommy's got jokes. For a moment, he went from being a joke to making a joke.

7:04 -- Now Huckabee is doing shtick. He says he's from Hope. Like Clinton. "Give us another chance." Ha, ha, heh. I don't get it.

7:06 -- Romney seems to be hinting that if we knew there were no WMDs, then maybe we should not have fought the war. That could be huge.

7:07 -- Guiliani says we shold have attacked nonetheless. Gooniani.

7:08 -- McCain didn't read the NIE? Et tu, McCain? Et tu?

7:13 -- Thompson is unlistenableto.

7:14 -- Hunter claims he read the NIE. I can't imagine him reading US Weekly much less the NIE.

7:15 -- Paul says get out now. "It was a mistake to go, it was a mistake to stay." Gets applause.

7:16 -- Huckabee says Al Queda is a mean, mean dog. Seriously. Give him a break he was a more typical Governor from Arkansas.

7:17 -- Brownback says it was right to talk to Iran recently on Iraq security. After reading Obama's piece in Foreign Affairs that has just come out, he'd agree.

7:19 -- Hunter would nuke Iran if Iran was about to get a nuclear weapon and was unwilling to give them up.

7:20 -- Rudy says conventional weapons enough to deter Iran. Attacks the Democrats pointlessly. He seems small. Literally and figuratively.

7:22 -- Romney gives off some moderate vibes. He says we cannot be arrogant, but we must show resolve. He's definitely tacking more to the center.

7:23 -- Tancredo believes if the immigration compromise passes, it will be "disasterous."He believes immigrants will destroy the republic. I am glad he is pushing this clear message of hope.

7:26 -- Romney has a more focused attack on the immigration reform bill. He has a problem with illegal immigrants getting put into the system and a chance to stay.

7:29 -- MCain filibusters on immigration. He was way too abstract.

7:30 -- Romney apparently hired Dodd's make-up artist. He's a tangerine.

7:32 -- Brownback basically just said toss all the undocumented immigrants out. Subtlely.

7:34 -- Tommy boldly and creatively suggests that we must secure the border.

7:35 -- Oh yeah, Paul is still around. He says illegal immigrants are being made scapegoats for larger economic issues.

7:37 -- Romney just got caught rolling his eyes on camera.

7:39 -- I am getting bored by the conservative chest-thumping. I am going to work out and come back in about 40 mins or so.

8:40 -- Back after doing some weights and a two mile run. Main thing that stood out -- Why are these men lurching out of their seats and at the questioners in the audience? One woman looked troubled when Rudy came at her. Otherwise, this has been an incredibly mundane debate.

8:43 -- McCain just made a compelling, compassionate speech in support of immigrants. Seriously, it was impressive.

8:45 -- Giuliani's positions seem to be based on cheapshotting Democrats. He isn't the nominee yet, so his attack only approach seems vacuous.

8:46 -- Brownback: Bush's biggest mistake was not to cure cancer? Or arrest the Hamburglar, I'd say. He and OBL are still at large. Robble, robble.

8:48 -- Paul is nicely establishing himself as the Repubs principal isolationist.

8:48 -- Gilmore said "Hillary" wants to eliminate Bush's tax cuts. What is he talking about? Has she said that. Who is he talking about? Hillary Duff? Who cares what she has to say.

8:50 -- This pastry chef just asked what it means to be an American? Less meringue, more apple pie. That is kind of what Tancredo is saying. Ok no, he's not. I'm just proud of the pun I came up with like "that."

8:52 -- Rudy has just lept out of his seat again. Someone protect the chef whose sole mistake was to ask a question.

8:53 -- McCain just basically called Tancredo crazy. He wins the "Duh"/"Yes award for the evening.

8:54 -- This weird-looking grandma type is identified as a state legislator and she asks a question. Isn't there like 800 people in the NH legislature? And 700 residents? Seriously, can I just go up their and declare myself a state representative?

8:56 -- Hunter just called out McCain, Romney and Rudy for being too liberal. Says they are part of the Kennedy wing of the Republican party. Their responses don't even matter. That was the slam/line of the night.

8:58 -- Why do they keep talking about socialized medicine? Who aside from Kucinich on the Democratic side is pushing that? The Obama and Edwards plans rely on the continued used of private insurance companies. That is an awfully huge straw man.