Debate Night at Saint Anselm College

Two Debates, Two Parties, One Night. That's the banner for tonight's ABC sponsored debates at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. Charlie Gibson moderated the Republican debate, asking questions for the first 45 minutes and then Scot Spradling, Political Director at WMUR-TV asked questions during the last of the time.

The Republican candidates invited to participate were John McCain, Fred Thompson, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, and Rudy Giuliani. They were all seated at desk type of sitting furniture and it made Thompson, a tall and broad shouldered man, look all scrunched up.

The only noticeable difference in this debate is that the candidates were more willing to go after each other, somewhat more personally. Charlie Gibson did a decent job, only inserting his editorial comments on Republican policies a couple of times. Not so bad for a network guy. Once, asking how the government can provide health care to all its citizens when we are spending billions on the war in Iraq. And, then when he attacked oil producing companies for big profits over the past few years. He didn't much appreciate it when Fred Thompson said, no, the government shouldn't be in the position of taking away fair market profits. What did the government do when oil was at record low prices and profits were small? Would Gibson support taking the profits from ABC News and its parent company?

It was good that Gibson asked about Homeland Security and illegal immigration. You'll remember that Nurse Ratchet from the last debate in Iowa took those two topics off the table right away. She thought those stupid Republicans had to talk about global climate change.

Ron Paul is still yammering about how it's all our own fault for radical Islamists and the threat they pose to our country.

Charlie Gibson lead a kumbaya moment at the end of the debate as the Republicans stood for audience applause and the Dems were coming onto the stage. He said they should all take that moment in time to greet each other. It was all phony crap, sure, and I'm way to cynical to enjoy such forced nonsense, but whatever.

I see now that the Dems have begun. They all still talk as though Bush is running again. None of them are worth my time.

Tomorrow night is another Republican debate, hosted by Fox News. The Dems won't have one since they are boycotting Fox. Proving once again unworthy of support. How will they rise to do the peoples business, keep our country safe, if they can't handle answering questions on Fox? They did in 2004, working with the Black Caucus in the House. The difference this time? They dance to the far left, the moveon socialists and the liberal bloggers pulling the strings in Congress.

So tonight the Republican candidates ended pretty much in a draw. No harm, no foul.