Shades of Difference on Iraq, Abortion Highlight Iowa GOP Debate

[rodeodance]

Source: cqpolitics




Shades of Difference on Iraq, Abortion Highlight Iowa GOP Debate

By Marie Horrigan 1 hour, 59 minutes ago

All nine of the declared candidates seeking the 2008 Republican presidential nomination participated in a 90-minute debate Sunday at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. The event was broadcast by ABC and moderated by George Stephanopoulos, the host of the network’s Sunday morning news-talk show, along with veteran political reporter David Yepsen of the Des Moines Register.


The debate — in the state that is scheduled next January to hold the first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses — was timed in part as a prelude to next Saturday’s Republican presidential straw poll in Ames. In a break with tradition, though, several of the GOP hopefuls have chosen not to participate in that straw poll.

Stephanopoulos worked to balance time between the nine candidates, despite the fact that three — former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain — are recognized as forming a top tier in the current poll standings. The six other participants were Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback; Reps. Duncan Hunter of California, Ron Paul of Texas and Tom Tancredo of Colorado; former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson; and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
...........

The following is a roundup of some of the debate’s key highlights:.........

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20070805/pl_cq_politics/shad...

[rodeodance]

1. yet, none care about LIVING kids!:

Top Point of Agreement: All nine of the candidates agreed they would oppose legislation that would expand coverage under the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which passed the House and Senate (with the advocacy of popular Iowa Republican Sen Charles E. Grassley) this week but has drawn a veto threat from President Bush over its cost. Several candidates said the measure would increase government involvement in health care financing and stated their preferences for free-market approaches. Later in the debate, Thompson predicted that there would be media headlines portraying the Republican candidates as opposing improved health care for children and contended that is not true.

[David__77]

2. Once born, a baby is useless to their political program.

It's about keeping the patriarchal family strong and in command. Whether or not babies have health care is a rather secondary point best addressed by economic "natural selection" from these fascists' viewpoint.

[Omaha Steve]

3. GOP Rivals Agree On Iraq, Spar On Abortion

Source: CBS/AP

(CBS/AP) Republican presidential contenders sparred over abortion on Sunday while generally agreeing the United States must remain in Iraq to help win the war against radical Islamic extremists.


Republican presidential hopefuls, from left, former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, and U.S. Rep Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., prior to the ABC News debate, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2007, at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)


"Just come home," dissented Texas Rep. Ron Paul, the lone advocate of a quick troop withdrawal from Iraq on a presidential campaign debate stage. He said there had never been a good reason to go to war in the first place.


Republican presidential hopefuls Sen. John McCain,R-Ariz., left, stands with former New York city Mayor Rudy Giuliani before the ABC News Republican presidential debate, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2007, at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)


"Has he forgotten about 9/11?" interjected former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, referring to the 2001 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center.

But it was Romney who was forced to answer on the issue of abortion, when Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback defended automated phone calls his campaign has made highlighting his rival's one-time support for pro-choice policies.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/08/05/politics/main...

[fujiyama]

4. When I see those freaks

I am reminded why I will vote for Hillary if I must!

[defendandprotect]

15. THESE are the people representing the thinking that has been running our country for decades -- EEK

[Ian David]

5. But they're all united by a common thread of douchebaggery. n/t

[MadMaddie]

6. Sooo...I wish the Democratic Party would just latch on

to the fact that all of the Rethuglican candidates would prefer to save a cell than the life of an American soldier....how hard is that to communicate?

[Mz Pip]

18. And not just an American soldier

Some of these pro-life clowns seem to be willing to keep the nuclear option on the table. One nuke will result in the deaths of perhaps millions of people and countless fetuses. Go figure.

Mz Pip

[Barrett808]

7. GOP hopefuls generally agree on Iraq

Source: Associated Press

GOP hopefuls generally agree on Iraq
By MIKE GLOVER, Associated Press Writer

DES MOINES, Iowa - Republican presidential contenders sparred over abortion on Sunday while generally agreeing the United States must remain in Iraq to help win the war on terror.

"Just come home," dissented Texas Rep. Ron Paul, the lone advocate of a quick troop withdrawal on a presidential campaign debate stage. He said there had never been a good reason to go to war in the first place.

"Has he forgotten about 9/11?" interjected former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

...

Arizona Sen. John McCain, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Romney, the most prominent contenders, agreed the United States must remain in Iraq. So, too, Brownback, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson and Reps. Tom Tancredo of Colorado and Duncan Hunter of California.

"I firmly believe that the challenge for the 21st century is a challenge against radical extremism," McCain said. He forecast a battle in the Senate in September in which anti-war critics will try to cut off funds.

"We will win that debate because the American people understand the consequences of failure," he added.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070805/ap_on_el_pr/republi...

[grytpype]

8. Good. Keep it up.

In November 2008, the war is still going to be raging, and the GOP candidate will say "Stay the course."

We'll get the Presidency and a bigger majority in Congress.

[JohnnyRingo]

9. Apparently, they're following the advice of Karl Rove

He called them all in last week and explained that the '06 election hinged on Republican corruption, not the Iraq war. ....really

And they bought it!
They believed him even in the face of McCain's fall after his Baghdad trip.

Rove instructed them to get on board with the administration's war effort and deny ever meeting Duke Cunningham.

It seems the current crop of GOP candidates are too stupid to be president.

[mvd]

10. Surprise, surprise

And 9/11? That is such an old, disproven argument! Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. Sometimes I can't decide who is more putrid: Romney or Guiliani. Bush tried to hide his extremism, while Giuliani is more brash and should turn off people. I hope they run him.

[alfredo]

11. Paul got great applause from the crowd. Mittens has forgotten

about 9-11, specifically who was behind the attacks.

[cliss]

12. This is a good sign.

It means the GOP contenders are completely unanimous in their delusional state. When the polls overwhelmingly say that Americans want out. Now.

Good. Let 'em get up there and broadcast, "We MUST stay there" "we NEED to stay in Iraq" for the whole campaign.

Let them sink together.

[AndyTiedye]

13. It Means the Repiggies Are Counting On Another "Terrorist" Attack

and Karl has promised them that there will be one.

[defendandprotect]

16. I believe it -- !!! Would Bush get away with it again -- ?????

[AndyTiedye]

19. With Their Control of the Media and the Courts and Congress, Of Course they Would

yes, I said "and Congress". We know the score now.

[BlueStater]

14. Fuck you, Mitt, you dumbass

I think all that hair on your head must be crushing your brain.

[defendandprotect]

17. I hope they stay in those Fundamentalist BLACK suits -- they look so smart -- !!!!

Love how the Congress is changing over againg to common sense suits for 100 degree days in DC --
and just generally abandoning that straight-laced religious fanatic look --