GOP Presidential Debate - Discussion Thread

[Mr. Morden]

I'm expecting that the candidates will be going after each other more aggressively than in the Democratic debate.  Giuliani probably won't pick any fights, but McCain may go after Giuliani a little, Romney will probably go after both Giuliani and McCain, and the other seven candidates will all go after Giuliani, McCain, *and* Romney ("Rudy McRomney").

[Mr. Morden]

I wonder if Matthews will grandstand, forgetting that it's not his show.

I'm thinking Tancredo is the most likely to go Zell Miller on him.

Did any of you see MSNBC's post-debate coverage last week, when Matthews was interviewing Mike Gravel, and Gravel made some comment to Matthews about how "you in the media aren't doing your job", and as Matthews was moving onto the next question he said "you got a little zing against me in your answer", and Gravel interjected "well, you deserve it"?

[Mr. Morden]

It will be interesting to see what Gilmore and Hunter have to say in their short answers that might cause the top three to fumble with a counterpoint.  This debate really needs to be 4 hours long and/or less questions asked so everyone has more time to respond.

They should have fewer questions asked, and also narrow the list of topics for each debate.  There's just way too much ground to cover, and the candidates only have time to give thumbnail answers on each topic.  Have a debate on Iraq, a debate on foreign policy issues besides Iraq, a debate on entitlements, a debate on immigration, etc.  That would give you some time for some decent back and forth.