# GOP Presidential Debate
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [May 4, 2007, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691 "2007-05-04T00:13:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2007, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691/41 "2007-05-04T03:48:13Z")
[QUOTE=Apos]
…Kevin Drum made the interesting point that Reagan is pretty much the only Republican President that isn’t either toxic or competely out of step with the modern Republican Party.
[/QUOTE]
Are any of the GOP candidates actively courting Nancy’s endorsement?
---
### Author:  [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2007, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691/42 "2007-05-04T04:08:27Z")
[QUOTE=gladtobeblazed]
And that black guy, what’s his name? Osama? I only first heard about him about 7 months ago.
[/QUOTE]
The scales have fallen from my eyes.
---
### Author:  [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2007, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691/43 "2007-05-04T04:43:02Z")
I just caught the re-broadcast, and it had a few good laughs. When asked to give George W. Bush’s handling of the Iraq war a letter grade, A through F, Governor Huckabee said, basically, it’s too soon to tell.
One of them slipped in an aside about how Ronald Reagan’s steely resolve in the first two minutes of his presidency got the Iranian hostage released, which is complete crap. Was that Huckabee, too?
---
### Author:  [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2007, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691/44 "2007-05-04T04:48:10Z")
I was impressed by Giuliani’s reply to the question about the theological distinction between Sunni and Shia Islam. I expected him to flub it, but he nailed it (AFAIK).
Also, on the evolution question, Chris asked anyone to raise their hand who disagreed with evolution. It was one of those side-shots, so it was hard to see exactly who raised their hand, but three or four of them did (rewinding the DVR, it looks like Brownback, Huckabee, Tancredo).
---
### Author:  [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2007, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691/45 "2007-05-04T04:51:11Z")
[QUOTE=Robot Arm]
I just caught the re-broadcast, and it had a few good laughs. When asked to give George W. Bush’s handling of the Iraq war a letter grade, A through F, Governor Huckabee said, basically, it’s too soon to tell.
One of them slipped in an aside about how Ronald Reagan’s steely resolve in the first two minutes of his presidency got the Iranian hostage released, which is complete crap. Was that Huckabee, too?
[/QUOTE]
That was Giuliani, IIRC.
---
### Author:  [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2007, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691/46 "2007-05-04T04:53:42Z")
[QUOTE=gladtobeblazed]
Much beter than the Demoncrats debate. I can’t bear to watch Hillary for more than 2 minutes at a time. And that black guy, what’s his name? Osama? I only first heard about him about 7 months ago. I’ll take a Republican over a Demoncrat any damn day of the week.
VOTE REPUBLICAN!
[/QUOTE]
So, just so we’re clear, are you a Democrat making fun of Republicans, or a Republican making fun of Republicans?
---
### Author:  [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2007, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691/47 "2007-05-04T05:03:29Z")
[QUOTE=Kneepants Erasmus, the Humanist]
I also am curious about who said they didn’t believe in evolution…I saw a few hands up, but I couldn’t see who. (I am sure Brownback was one. What a smarmy bastard. Ugh)
[/QUOTE]
According to AP, Brownback, Tancredo, and Huckabee all raised thair hands.
---
### Author:  [@gladtobeblazed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gladtobeblazed)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2007, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691/48 "2007-05-04T05:18:00Z")
[QUOTE=Apos]
So, just so we’re clear, are you a Democrat making fun of Republicans, or a Republican making fun of Republicans?
[/QUOTE]
I’m an Independent (who generally votes Republican) making fun of Democrats (notice I spelled them demoNcrats) who make fun of Republicans. Think of Stephen Colbert with a twist.
---
### Author:  [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2007, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691/49 "2007-05-04T05:30:58Z")
[QUOTE=gladtobeblazed]
I’m an Independent (who generally votes Republican) making fun of Democrats (notice I spelled them demoNcrats)
[/quote]
You know, I didn’t notice. Wow, now you’ve really impressed me.
---
### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2007, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691/50 "2007-05-04T05:34:02Z")
Not even the [Freepers](http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1828036/posts) are enthusiastic about this lot. (They seem to be holding out hope Fred Thompson will announce.)
---
### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2007, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691/51 "2007-05-04T05:39:29Z")
[QUOTE=gladtobeblazed]
I’m an Independent (who generally votes Republican) . . .
[/QUOTE]
No, you’re not.
---
### Author:  [@Honesty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honesty)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2007, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691/52 "2007-05-04T06:35:06Z")
I was very impressed with Mitt Romney. He was sharp, witty, and extremely likable. Guiliani came off as just pandering to the conservative right. He is pro-choice but has agreed to strongarm the judiciary with pro-life justices if elected. :smack:
Many people have said in this thread that the questions were terrible. I agree. But maybe these are the type of questions that conservatives are most concerned about?
- Honesty
---
### Author:  [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2007, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691/53 "2007-05-04T08:12:42Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?]
I am afraid what the Supreme court would look like after a McCain term.
[/QUOTE]
Hasn’t Giuliani promised to appoint Justices in the Scalia vein? (Haven’t they all?)
---
### Author:  [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2007, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691/54 "2007-05-04T08:14:50Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton]
Not even the [Freepers](http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1828036/posts) are enthusiastic about this lot. (They seem to be holding out hope Fred Thompson will announce.)
[/QUOTE]
[Drum](http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2007_05/011234.php):
> [@](#):
>
> Thompson is a guy whose political record in the Senate was a big zero; whose only real claim to fame is being a character actor on TV and in films; who has done nothing to distinguish himself this year except deliver a few vaguely Reaganesque pastiches in a nice baritone; who is apparently not Christian enough for James Dobson’s taste; who has no known issues that he really cares deeply about; and whose most famous quality is his laziness.
>
> That sure doesn’t sound like the resume of a guy who’s going to rescue the Republican Party to me. The fact that so many people are talking him up seems like it says more about the suicidally desperate state of the GOP than it does about the actual presidential prospects of Fred Thompson.
---
### Author:  [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2007, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691/55 "2007-05-04T10:20:00Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton]
No, you’re not.
[/QUOTE]
BG & I agree.
Seventh Seal is opened.
glad… is embarassingly Republican, and I’m speaking as one who can has also been that way (witness my recent Pit-gloat over the Supreme Court’s PBA decision, in which I was unprepared for the challenge & rightly got my ass handed to me.) I’m also speaking as one who prefers to call himself a Right-wing Christian libertarian, which of course means I vote Republican but want to sound less partisan.
Re the debate himself-
Chris’ Qs could/should have been more (apologizing in advance) hardball.
Romney stood out more than I expected.
McCain maintained his place.
I think I could happily support either.
I’m not sure about how Giuliani did-
I know I still don’t want him as the nominee.
Tancredo, Thompson & Gilmore (the latter whom I did not know) did make themselves heard & didn’t embarass themselves.
Several pundits expected Tancredo to be the Gravel of this debate with
his harping on immigration.
He and Brownback may have been the Kuciniches, but not the Gravels.
Ron Paul is always a refreshing change of pace- he’s principled, consistent & (President-wise) unelectable.
My personal favorite is Huckabee- also pretty much unelectable right now,
maybe he could win some other office & gain more exposure & gravity,
and then have a better chance for the Presidency later on.
---
### Author:  [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2007, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691/56 "2007-05-04T12:42:01Z")
[QUOTE=gladtobeblazed]
I’m an Independent (who generally votes Republican) making fun of Democrats (notice I spelled them demoNcrats) who make fun of Republicans. Think of Stephen Colbert with a twist.
[/QUOTE]
The twist being the omission of humor and wit?
---
### Author:  [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2007, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691/57 "2007-05-04T13:19:12Z")
I happen to think the Republicans have quite a strong field of candidates. I do agree with Ramesh Ponnuru that a lot of people are uncomfortable with it because it is somewhat of an unorthodox bunch.
Nevertheless, in the top tier you have a distinguished senator and war hero, a very successful mayor and former federal prosecutor who between the two jobs tremendously improved his home city, and a phenomenally successful businessman who rescued an Olympic committee from scandal and bankruptcy and served a reasonably successful term as a state governor.
Positions and policies aside, I’d stack these candidates against the top tier on the Democratic side any day of the week. The only one in their top tier who has done nearly as much in both public and private life as these three is Hillary Clinton, and she was able to do much of that because of who she was married to. John Edwards is a self made man who hasn’t made much of an impact on policy, and Barack Obama simply doesn’t have the experience yet to compare.
Right now, for various reasons, I’m leaning toward Giuliani.
---
### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2007, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691/58 "2007-05-04T13:28:28Z")
[QUOTE=Merijeek]
I wonder why they were so inclined to abase themselves before a Idol of The Teflon President when there have been two Republican presidents since him?
-Joe
[/QUOTE]
The debate was at the Reagan library in front of an audience of Republicans-- presumably Reagan-type Republicans. Besides, it’s an easy way to avoid mentioning Bush. Makes plenty of sense to me. These guys are vying for the Republican nomination, after all.
---
### Author:  [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2007, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691/59 "2007-05-04T14:05:25Z")
There’s still time to draft Pete Domenici and Olympia Snowe.
---
### Author:  [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2007, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691/60 "2007-05-04T14:13:25Z")
[Running From Bush:](http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/republican-candidates-invoke-reagan-evade-bush-2007-05-03.html)
> [@](#):
>
> Until the final question, which specifically asked the ten candidates how they would be different from President Bush, the name of the commander in chief was uttered only once by a candidate, according to a transcript of the event. In fact, they mentioned Bush’s brother Jeb and his father George H. W. Bush as many times as the current chief executive.
[Transcript](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/03/us/politics/04transcript.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all)
> [@](#):
>
> MR. MATTHEWS: Let me go to, Senator – do you think Scooter Libby should be –
> SEN. BROWNBACK: Let the legal process move forward, and I’d leave that up to President Bush. And I think he could go either way on that.
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691.md?page=2)
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-debate/402691.md?page=4)