GOP Debate Open Thread

Ugh. Another GOP debate. This one hosted by CNN, the Politico and the Los Angeles Times. There are no rules tonight according to Anderson Cooper. John and I will be liveblogging.

AC's first question is are we better off than four years ago? Mitt wouldn't answer for the nation, just for Massachusetts. But then seemed to criticize the state of the nation under Bush.

McCain thinks we are better off. But gave a litany of problems...when AC challenged him, he said we're better off over all. Then he went back to the litany of problems.

The rest of the liveblog is after the break. Once again, this was brutally painful to watch.

8:08 PM: Huck doesn't think we are better off. He blamed Bush -- and Congress (Huck does know the GOP controlled Congress for most of the past eight years, right?) It's not better and it's not going to get better without new leadership in DC.

8:09 PM: Ron Paul says we're not better off, too. He also blamed Bush and Congress (and he's in Congress). Then he went off in that Ron Paul way of his. Talking about empires, etc...the standard of living is going down. Monetary policy, etc.


8:10 PM: Mitt gets a question about whether McCain is indeed a liberal as Mitt has charged recently. Mitt goes off on McCain's record: ANWR, campaign finance, McCain/Kennedy on immigration. McCain/Lieberman on energy. "Those views are outside the mainstream of Republican conservative thought." Slams McCain for the NY Times endorsement.

McCain notes he got the endorsement of Mitt's hometown papers who know him so well. McCain defended himself then lit into Mitt's record of raising taxes. The takeaway is that Mitt and McCain really don't like each other. It's palpable.

8:17 PM: Huck says Rush isn't infallible.

I just realized that the backdrop is Air Force One. Maybe they just should be sitting in Reagan's little office on that plane and pretend they are him.

8:25 PM: McCain admits that global warming exists -- and he chose Arnold over Bush. That surely violates GOP/right wing orthodoxy.

8:31 PM: Huck says we're borrowing the $150 billion stimulus package from China...and we've ignored our infrastructure, which is where we should be investing. Huck keeps making digs at Bush.

Romney used the Big Dig in Boston, which he oversaw, as an example of an infrastructure project. Then he proceeded to mock the Big Dig (which he oversaw) for being something of a failure. Mitt seems really rattled tonight.

8:37 PM: McCain: I was part of the Reagan Revolution. Republicans are out of control on spending now. I was a foot soldier in the Reagan Revolution, too. Reagan! Reagan! Reagan!

8:39 PM: Mitt says Reagan would have wanted the Bush tax cuts. He is trying to take that Reagan mantle tonight. Don't be surprised if he ends up in Reagan's model Oval Office at the library tonight.

8:41 PM: On immigration, Mitt explains how he is going to deport illegal immigrants within 90 days. NO AMNESTY. Mitt wants everyone to know he hates immigrants more than the other Republicans. NO AMNESTY. NO SPECIAL DEAL. That's offensive says Mitt.

8:49 PM: AC is too nervous to touch Reagan's diary as he asks Huck if Sandra Day O'Connor was the right choice for Supreme Court. Huck won't diss Reagan...but he is pro-life and wants everyone to know. Ron Paul wouldn't have appointed her. McCain won't diss Sandra, won't second guess Reagan. McCain wants Justices like Roberts and Alito. Romney wants Justices like Roberts, Alito, Scalia and Thomas.

And a break, phew. This is painful. Okay, all GOP debates are painful. I just can't envision any of these clowns being President.

8:56 PM: Citing Peggy Noonan, AC asks Mitt if the Republican Party is better off than it was eight years ago. Mitt says No. But, it's not Bush's fault. It's Washington's fault. Huh? Republicans have run Washington for most of the Bush term. Then Mitt invoked Reagan.

9:00 PM: Mitt is hopping mad at McCain for lying about his position on Iraq. He didn't quite say McCain was lying but referred to others who said McCain was lying. McCain is sitting there smirking as Mitt goes on and on. Mitt really hates McCain -- and Reagan would've thought it was reprehensible.

9:02 PM: McCain goes right back at Mitt. Mocks him for saying he was a governor while McCain was trying to single-handedly trying to save the world.

These two are going at it. Mitt asks McCain: How is it that your the expert on my position?

They're just talking over each other. It's great. McCain is quite smug and smirky.

Mitt is quite upset that McCain sprung this on him right before the Florida primary. He seems to think McCain violated some kind of rule or protocol. It's old-style Washington politics according to Mitt.

9:09 PM: McCain to Mitt: You started it with all those millions in negative ads against the Huck and me. You've been spending a lot of your money on negative ads. Spend it all, says McCain.

9:11 PM: Ron Paul to Mitt & McCain: You agree on Iraq...how many men are you willing to let die.

9:18 PM: McCain is asked what makes him a better leader on the economy then Mitt. McCain says I'm a leader, that's how.

9:20 PM: Mitt is asked if McCain is a better leader on the econony. "NO." I was a governor. I'm an executive not a legislator who sits on committees. Mitt: I'm a LEADER, LEADER, LEADER -- so, basically, McCain hasn't done any real work. McCain sits on committees.

9:24 PM: Would Mitt be an okay commander-in-chief? McCain: I'm sure Mitt was a good manager -- bought and sold companies where some people lost jobs. But can't have on the job training. So, we can infer that McCain doesn't think Mitt would be a good commander. These guys really, really don't like each other. And, McCain is smirking a lot.

Last question: Would Ronald Reagan support you? Duh, like they're going to say No. Mitt and McCain try to explain why Reagan would support them over the each other.

It's over. And, it was awful. Again, I can't see any of these guys as President.