Live Blogging from Sunday’s Republican Debate

A question i would have for any republican candidate would be simply this: We prosicute and imprison four american Soldiers for Violent crimes commited against Iraqi People a terrable terrable thing. Yet the entertainment of a Nuclear strike is actually not absolutely Dismissed tho by its representation would Murder MILLIONS now and for years to come Yet four soldiers goto Jail but a Presidential Nominee who even utters those words is Appauded, Explain to me the Justice in this irrational Logic

Dear ABC & The Presidnetial Candidates.
Question: Since, the Democratic Party is dead set
against the War in Iraq and wants the U.S. Troops
out of that country, What will happen to the fledgling
Government without protection and would this leave
an open invitation for an al Qaeda invasion, spawning
sectarian genocides between Shiite, Sunnis, and Kurds?
No – I am Not A Repulican or Democrat, I am a Voter that could make or break your bid to the White House..
Gregg A
Retired Broadcaster
Freelance Journalist

I wanted to take part early on,but I could not, any way I am still not impressed with our political hopefulls – there “simply” is a lot left to be desired.

Missing planes sucks. I wonder if Rudy is just playing tired, then he will pounce and all the reporters will write: the man is awesome, even on no sleep…rudy on sleep is better than a well rested mccain…etc…yawn

When will we, as a country, begin to help the African nations develop infrastructure for water and food to those millions of people?

I don’t know how many people have read the Boston Globe article on Romney quoted in the Fact Check:
We are very concerned about the direction that he’s heading in, the change in style and rhetoric around a whole host of issues — abortion is one of those, of course,” said Erin Rowland, a spokeswoman for the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. ”He described himself as being in favor of the status quo when he ran for governor. A number of people used the term ‘prochoice’ to describe him.”
Brownback is right to call him on his previous statements and support for abortion. This is not something that a presidential candidate can reverse direction on and have any credibility.

The Republican debate results –
My Scorecard:
(using the standard +/- point system)
Tancredo….8
Huckabee….7
Giuliani….6
Brownback…6
McCain……5
Hunter……4
Romney……1
Paul……..1
Thompson….1

“The government would soon fall and the oil market would be in the hands of the terrorist? Am I wrong?”
The Saudis are responsible for 9-11. The oil market is, and has been in the hands of the terrorists for some time.
You are wrong.

What is McCain talking about? Morale is so down right now. I pity our American soldiers fighting Bush’s war. They wanna come home. Nobody has questioned the ability of our soldiers to succeed. I question Bush and his Congress for pursuing this was wrongly.

Ron Paul is the only one who makes sense to me right now. Thank you for your comment Greg.

Although he spoke very little, I agree once again with Dr. Paul’s position on the war.
It was nice to hear Tancredo mention an America first policy, but Dr. Paul has been voting that way for 10 terms.
It’s unfortunate that our nations leader in tax reduction was skipped on the question fo taxes.

I would think these dumb Republicans were funny if we weren’t stuck with them as countrymen.

I am sorry to hear your pain. I will never question the heart of our soldiers. I hope we can bring them home soon. That is the fair thing to do for our soldiers and their family.

Once again, Congressman Ron Paul was not allowed to answer the question on taxes. Why would the most fiscally conservative Republican not be allowed to elaborate on his position? It appears to me that following the status quo is much safer than challenging the constitutionality of the Federal Reserve (which is neither) and the IRS.

I just read an old novel, “The Ugly American.” I believe each political candidate should read this book. Some serious thought should be given to the image that Americans have in other countries. Maybe we wouldn’t be pulled/pushed into so many conflicts and come out smelling like the ugly american and more like roses.

I am absolutely furious over these Republican arguments against single payer health care. They keep talking about health savings accounts, as if everyone can get health insurance. After working around chain smokers for years, I developed kindney cancer (had a kidney removed) and later bladder cancer (luckily, that didn’t need to be removed). That happened nearly 20 years ago with no recurrence. I am a single parent and have been self-employed for a little over 15 years as a private music teacher with adjunct positions at a community college and a major university, neither of which offers me health insurance because of the adjunct status. I cannot get an insurance company to even give me an outrageous monthly premium quote, let along get insurance. Everytime I apply, I get turned down. I even joined NASE (National Association of Self-Employed) to enroll in their group health insurance and got turned down by them! What do these independently wealthy men have to say to me about health coverage? Will any of them use their influence with their rich CEO friends in private health care to get me any kind of insurance, reasonable or otherwise? I don’t think so.

I think all the candidates missed the boat on the discussion of health insurance. They simply don’t understand that the biggest problem with our present system is that it is based on profit for health insurance company CEOs and stockholders and not on actual health care for Americans.
I think it just shows how out of touch they are with the American people that none of them addressed the growing concern of many Americans that have health insurance but find that they are denied coverage or go bankrupt paying for services. I think this is a major issue in upcoming debates on the health care system in the US and the sooner they address it the better.
That someone has health insurance only means that it is guaranteed that the health insurance companies will get a portion of their paycheck every month. That doesn’t mean it translates into actual health care coverage.

What puzzles me is how much of the debate constantly focused on doing whatever is in America’s interest.
Many appeared to believe that if it means going into a country illegally, then it is right (as we did in Iraq). If that means trying to spread democracy through force, then it is okay. Are we so indoctrinated with the belief that “might is right” that we cannot see that dialogue and a focus on interconnectedness are necessary for peace and justice?
I fear that the Republicans and the Democrats are too stuck in the “war on terror” myth that they can’t see how to get away from the use of force and violence.
We need to move in a new direction – a direction that emphasizes peace through civilized means! I find the candidates for the Republican and Democratic parties to be less than appealing. All of them work from the “war on terror” perspective that leaves them predisposed to use violence to solve the world’s problems. We will not be able to be a civilized nation and bring health and stability to this nation and the world unless we abandon George Bush’s “war on terror” myth based on a racialized perception of Islam.
We need politicians with a new vision!
Our options are unpleasant at this point because whomever we elect will continue using the military as the heavy stick that allows us to get our way. Is there any difference between this approach and somebody who says, “I will break into that house and plunder and rape because it is in my best interest”?
Our country needs new leaders who will lead us out of a self-centered, narcissistic perspective to a perspective focused on reconciliation, peace, and justice acceptable to the larger world.
Why doesn’t America see a peaceful resolution to conflicts as an option? Watching these debates causes sadness in me because it shows the wrong direction in which the U.S. is moving. Our nation continues to suffer because of our misguided leaders.

HON. RON PAUL OF TEXAS
Before the U.S. House of Representatives
May 2, 2007
Introducing the Health Freedom Protection Act
Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce the Health Freedom Protection Act. This bill restores the First Amendment rights of consumers to receive truthful information regarding the benefits of foods and dietary supplements by codifying the First Amendment standards used by federal courts to strike down the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) efforts to censor truthful health claims. The Health Freedom Protection Act also stops the Federal Trade Commissions (FTC) from censoring truthful health care claims.
The American people have made it clear they do not want the federal government to interfere with their access to dietary supplements, yet the FDA and the FTC continue to engage in heavy-handed attempts to restrict such access. The FDA continues to frustrate consumers’ efforts to learn how they can improve their health even after Congress, responding to a record number of constituents’ comments, passed the Dietary Supplement and Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). FDA bureaucrats are so determined to frustrate consumers’ access to truthful information that they are even evading their duty to comply with four federal court decisions vindicating consumers’ First Amendment rights to discover the health benefits of foods and dietary supplements.
FDA bureaucrats have even refused to abide by the DSHEA section allowing the public to have access to scientific articles and publications regarding the role of nutrients in protecting against diseases by claiming that every article concerning this topic is evidence of intent to sell a drug.
Because of the FDA’s censorship of truthful health claims, millions of Americans may suffer with diseases and other health care problems they may have avoided by using dietary supplements. For example, the FDA prohibited consumers from learning how folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube defects for four years after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended every woman of childbearing age take folic acid supplements to reduce neural tube defects. This FDA action contributed to an estimated 10,000 cases of preventable neutral tube defects!
The FDA also continues to prohibit consumers from learning about the scientific evidence that glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis; that omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of sudden death heart attack; and that calcium may reduce the risk of bone fractures.
The Health Freedom Protection Act will force the FDA to at last comply with the commands of Congress, the First Amendment, and the American people by codifying the First Amendment standards adopted by the federal courts. Specifically, the Health Freedom Protection Act stops the FDA from censoring truthful claims about the curative, mitigative, or preventative effects of dietary supplements, and adopts the federal court’s suggested use of disclaimers as an alternative to censorship. The Health Freedom Protection Act also stops the FDA from prohibiting the distribution of scientific articles and publications regarding the role of nutrients in protecting against disease.
This legislation also addresses the FTC’s violations of the First Amendment. Under traditional First Amendment jurisprudence, the federal government bears the burden of proving an advertising statement false before censoring that statement. However, the FTC has reversed the standard in the case of dietary supplements by requiring supplement manufactures to satisfy an unobtainable standard of proof that their statement is true. The FTC’s standards are blocking innovation in the marketplace.
The Health Freedom Protection Act requires the government bear the burden of proving that speech could be censored. This is how it should be in a free, dynamic society. The bill also requires that the FTC warn parties that their advertising is false and give them a chance to correct their mistakes.
Madam Speaker, if we are serious about putting people in charge of their health care, then shouldn’t we stop federal bureaucrats from preventing Americans from learning about simple ways to improve their health. I therefore call on my colleagues to stand up for good health care and the First Amendment by cosponsoring the Health Freedom Protection Act.

Many of the candidates are quick to say that they could raise money for infrastructure without raising taxes, but how many of them have raised money for the War in Iraq without borrowing from the Chinese and passing the debt on to our grandchildren and great grandchildren. That is one of the horrible legacies of the War. This generation’s politicians put the War on the charge card for future Americans to pay for and may have jeopardized our security to do so by borrowing from the Communist Chinese.

I believe that Ron Paul has the closest precepts of the Republican party at heart and makes the most sense: Do we think that by doing ‘Vietnam’ all over again, we will get different results?

Why no debate on the issue Dr. Paul is forwarding concerning the Iraq situation.?
Who else made since? all the other candidates did was try to tie Dr. Paul to Democrats. Whom incidently are really not much different that the other supposed Republican front runners.
Maybe I am in a different Country than most of you?

I am sick and tired of hearing Republicans glorifying Ronald Reagan by crediting him with the fall of Communism with his statement “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down that wall.” Have they forgotten the revolt in Hungary? Czechoslovakia? Solidarity in Poland and – yes – the work of John Paul II before he became pope? Do they REALLY think that Mr. Reagan’s 6 words did more than the aforementioned? How self-serving! Thanks to the policies of Mr. Reagan, our middle class is increasingly becoming nonexistant.

Bernie Granado says “I am sorry to hear your pain. I will never question the heart of our soldiers. I hope we can bring them home soon. That is the fair thing to do for our soldiers and their family.”
Great point Bernie. Ron Paul would help with that and is more qualified and proven than any other candidate on either side. He is the only Republican speaking about the true way to support troops and the only true leader who has proven with his track record to understand and respect his job as it is outlined in the Constitution. Support Paul now, he needs help in the primaries/caucuses, that is when we can make a difference – and it does not cost you once cent to prepare to get out there this coming Jan or Feb (depending on your State). Make sure you either (a) register to vote as a Republican at your local town office or (b) if already registered under a different party, just go down to your local town office and change your party registration to Republican (do it this week, don’t wait, they have time limits leading up to the primary/caucus in each state, so please do it now). It is free, it is your country and your Constitution. Don’t be fooled into thinking it is “bad” to register for a party you can’t stand, if that is how you feel. I can’t stand that party either, but I, like Ron Paul, uses that party to get what I want as an active, participating citizen in this Constitutional Republic. I am loyal to NO party, just to the principles set forth in the Constitution. The parties are useless and care nothing about you. Get out there and use this system to send a message in support of Ron Paul. Don’t complain later that the country went to you-know-where if you’re not doing specific simple easy things like this now. it is important to know how your state operates and how YOU can USE that system (that is put in place FOR you) to accomplish your goals.

Watching the debate I was amazed at how often the popular canidates dodged issues and used a bunch of double talk. But I will say this, I am a Democrat, more importantly an American,and if Ron Paul were the Republican nominee, I would switch in a heartbeat. I just want to find a President who will do whats best for all Americans, not some plastic, phoney, political clone.

The Federal income taxes we pay in April of each year go directly to the owners of the Federal Reserve Bank, not the American people. How would you change that?

Based on my understanding of the Constitution and how a President’s primary responsibility in office is to uphoald his oath to protect and defend it against all enemies foreign AND domestic, my scorecard is similar to Shawn’s:
Ron Paul 10
Tom Tancredo 4
Mike Huckabee 2
Duncan Hunter 1
Mitt Romney 0
Rudy Giuliani 0
John McCain 0
Brownback 0
Tommy Thompson 0
Don, regarding your “Clinton kept us safe” comment, you’re truly lost if you’ve bought into that reverse logic rhetoric. Read the post above by jonathan regarding studying history from sources other than the pundits you have fallen for.

@anna medici-
If you are serious about respecting the Constitution, then how in the world could you ever consider voting for either Romney or Guiliani?? Mitt is a flip-flopping pseudo-conservative who voted pro-choice when it suited his needs but now claims to be on the pro-life bandwagon. And as for Rudy…are you serious?? He’s pro-choice, pro gay marrige, and anti 2nd amendment (that means he’s for gun control) Not only is he NOT a true fundamentalist conservative, he is DEAD LAST in the Constitutionality race.
Ron Paul is the ONLY candidate, either Republican or Democrat, whose voting record speaks for itself when it comes to basing votes up or down solely on constitutionality. His fellow Republicans have given him the nickname Dr. No for a reason. Do a little research for yourself instead of getting all of your information from the mainstream media.

Anyone who thinks that Americans – and not the terrorist thugs – are to blame for 9/11 is, in my book, automatically unfit to become President.

Every candidate, Republican or Democrat, believes in God.
God says, and I quote, “Thou Shalt Not KILL.”
What is so hard to understand?
I am an Atheist and I can figure that one out.
Ken Paul is right, and he should of stopped talking when he said GET OUT OF IRAQ NOW.
We should have never gone in.
I’ll take it a step further….
We (The U.S.) should close every embassy world wide.
We should get rid of every ambassador.
This is a total waste of American tax dollars.
With just that money alone, we could provide numerous other provisions for the american people. Like rebuilding bridges.Or maybe even Health Care. What a concept Saving lives instead of taking them. WOW!!!!
NO American should be turned away or treated differently when he is unable to pay for his health care.
The largest buildings in every major city in the U.S.are owned or have the name of an INSURANCE COMPANY. Why is it so difficult to get them to pay when you need them. How much does it cost to put a commercial advertisement on ABC? Why do I see more INSURANCE COMPANIES and DRUG COMPANIES on your commercials, than anything else? They don’t make enough money?
This cracks me up!
Christians will tell you, oh no, woman you can not choose to get rid of that unwanted child by abortion, thats murder.
But hey, it’s ok to go blow up people worldwide.
The moral majority is neither.
How do you know Jesus wasn’t gay?
Because some human that wears dresses and funny hats says so.
Another WOW!
Years ago, when Jimmy Carter was in office, he funded money to the major oil companies to develop OIL SHALE,as an alternative energy source. I know this because I lived in the town in CO where they did the mining.That small town boomed!Jobs were created and we were working on another source of fuel. then Reagan took office and yanked the funds out. That same town went BUST. WHY?
Just think of where we would be now if they had continued to develop oil shale.
The I.R.S. should be banned.
Steve Forbes had the right idea.
I will vent no longer.
Although he will not win his party, I think Ken Paul is the best candidate for president.

@Matt-A
You are either seriously misinformed, or you are purposely spreading disinformation. If you have researched Ron Paul’s voting record, you will see that he DID vote to go into Afghanistan to track down bin Laden and bring him to justice. He voted against the Iraq was because Congress did not declare war and that makes it UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
A vote for Ron Paul is a vote for true conservative ideals. Don’t be fooled by the big media propaganda spin machine. They do not have your best interest at heart.

On healthcare – they talk about tax credits and tax deductions – of $15.000. Who in the world can take a tax credit for $15.000? Only the richest of the rich. Many poor people don’t even have that much income.
Why does no one talk about the fact that any tax increase to pay for national healthcare may be less than what they now pay in premiums, including the employer’s share?
Take the premiums now paid, route them to Medicare – where there are no stockholders and CEO’s getting paid tens of $millions annually who insist in $millions of profits!
Didn’t Bush just have Cheney’s brain removed at public expense? Ask him about his experience with government paid healthcare.

Greetings All,
How long can Congressman Ron Paul keep receiving such an overwhelming positive response from the American public after every debate on national television, even while being marginalized with respect to the amount of mainstream media attention he is given?
Why are all you Ron Paul deniers pretending that your favorite candidate is somehow “winning” just because he/she gets the approval of some commentator or talking head?
It’s laughable to read the comments, even in this thread, that claim Ron Paul is not really the Republican frontrunner because somehow his supporters are manipulating the results of the ABC and other online poles.
None of us knows the future and who will be elected President of the United States in 2008, but in the present it’s pretty clear that Ron Paul has already been elected President of the Internet.
William C Colley

Here are the winners of the debate in order.
1. Mike Huckabee
2. Rudy Giuliani
3. Mitt Romney
4. John McCain
5. Tom Tancredo
6. Brownback
7. Ron Paul

snapshot at 1:13 PM EST:
Now that the debate’s over, it’s time to consider the winners and losers.
Who do you think won the Republican debate?
Ron Paul 5,607
Mitt Romney 1,002
Mike Huckabee 976
Rudy Giuliani 782
Nobody won. I’m voting Democratic 589
Nobody. I’m waiting for Fred Thompson or Newt Gingrich to enter the race 388
Tom Tancredo 253
John McCain 209
Duncan Hunter 90
Tommy Thompson 59
Sam Brownback 51
Total Vote: 10,006

Ron Paul is not a Republican He’s just running as one.

Hey FREEDOM & LIBERTY & OPEN GOVERNMENT IS POPULAR!!
Too bad we don’t have it. Secrecy is the key now. When Bush talks of tyranny he always reminds me of himself. I can’t even list all the egregious laws these guys have broken, the innocents killed in the name of ‘democracy”.
RON PAUL would bring back the ideals but that is not what the powerful, elite Cheney types that run the party want. It is all about money and power, not about our own people anymore.

We as a nation are at a crossroads.
We have ONE month before we mourn September the eleVenth.
There are (300)million people here that can make a simple choice.
I know it is not realistic to ask (300) million people to take a stand, but how about a SIT DOWN.
In one month on September the eleVenth if all interested Americans were to stay home or to stop what they are doing at 9:10 a.m. for the rest of the day, I believe we could get the attention of congress, senate, president, vice president and the rest of the world that we as Americans are tired of this goulag we have created for ourselves. That a change is needed and we as Americans are ready to do what is needed to create a better IDEA of what America is.
For a good man to do nothing…
Peaceful but Forceful.
V is for…

Regarding Gov. Romney interupting Dr. Paul’s criticism of the Iraq War to ask, “Has he forgotten about 9/11/?”
Since the luminaries within the GOP continue to conflate Iraq and 9/11, I would like the Republican candidates to be asked a simple question: We have 160,000 troops in Iraq and less that 20,000 in Afganistan. We know who killed nearly 3000 Americans on 9/11 and we know where he is-in the Afghanistan/Pakistan border area. Knowing that, why does do Republican support having so many troops where we know he ISN’T and having so few troops where we know he IS?

You make a good point, V, but if people would pay attention and vote (most don’t) on facts and not sound bites and untruths, it would help a alot also.

Well put heretic. I agree completely with your comments.

Mitt Romney-big government bobblehead. Rudy Guiliani-authoritarian liberal. John McCain-50 years in service…it’s time to retire John. Mike Huckabee-a decent man, wrong on the tax issue and the war. Tom Tancredo-Who is Tom Tancredo? Sam Brownback-Flat tax? A Flat tax is still a tax on my fundamental right to labor, no thanks Sam. Tommy Thompson-nothing very striking here. Duncan Hunter-it’s a war thing, Duncan if you’re the soilder’s friend, why has military sentiment among the troops caused them to send more of their dollars to Ron Paul’s campaign than any other Republican or Democrat? Ron Paul- the rule of law, respect for the U.S. Constitution and the limits it imposes on government, respect for fundamental rights, preservation and protection of Liberty and Property, armed neutrality, non-interventionist foreign policy will allow American wealth to stay in America and with The People, a free market view on health services, no federal income tax because it is a tax on our fundamental right to labor and labor is our property which is not owned by any government, sound money and elimination of the inflation tax through a fiat-monetary scheme. RON PAUL is correct on every issue. He is the true conservative. He IS the hope for our children. VOTE RON PAUL for President.

Good for Ron Paul a true republican. All the other guys seemed nervous and squeemish. Its interesting how Rudy Guliani managed to get 40% of his infrastructure repair from the poor and only 25% from the upper class…guess it doesnt pay to be poor…..I cant believe he actually said that on national television..its like saying listen to me, vote for me, I can tell you how to screw over the little guy…

hey abc… make sure you dont ask the only doctor on stage about health care and the most fiscaly conservative candidate about taxes!!!!!!! both being Dr. Ron Paul of course.
Disgraceful and disgustedly yours
Dr. Frank

Robert: Good Question!
Ron Paul wouldn’t no way no how.
He is the Champion of the Constitution.
He is for Liberty. For Citizens Rights.
No way, No How!

Does anyone still believe that any of these “front runners” stand for anything different!?
This whole political puppet show is really pathetic.

There are those that think that Veterans that have been disabled in the service of the country are well taken care of with compensation or pension by the Government but the truth is less than reasonable in the matter. If the American people really understood how a Veteran’s disability is calculated in the Code of Federal Regulation Title 38 Part 4 and looked at 4.25 combined rating table and the explanation of how to use it. Then looked at the Compensation and Pension Benefits rate tables and how they work they would find out differently.
To explain, if a veteran has three disabilities 60 percent, 40 percent and 20 percent the veteran is 80 percent disabled according to the combined rating table and not as you would think 100 percent according to the rating table since each one is taken from the amount of efficiency that is left and rounded. So in fact unless one disability is 100% they may and likely will never get to 100%. What they would receive as compensation for the 80% disability is according to the rate table they are paid from is under fifty four percent of a one hundred percent disability, the 100% dropped to 80% then for compensation to less than 54%. That is just the beginning of the inequity in the system for not just the Veteran but their family as well. The family that supported them in their job in the service that they were sent to do for the country and now they must work harder and more hours to support them since the Government that sent them shortchanges them all. Those in Washington tell America what they are doing for the Veterans yet, they will not even address this problem or many others that face the Veterans.
It is those that went to war and this government and country that gave them the promise they would be taken care of and as always promises made promises broken. If you believe it is wrong the way Veterans are taken care of then write to those in office or those running for office tell them to fix all the problems with veteran compensation and pension. The US Code Title 38 is on the net you can check it out, it is sad when industry in this country does more for their workers than this country does for those that have fought and given of themselves for it. When will those that are running address this?

omega-3

It is right on that getting accurate information on this topic can be troublesome.