What to watch for in CBS News' Republican presidential debate
CBS News Investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson was joined Friday by the National Journal's Managing Editor Jamie Tarabay for a preview of Saturday's CBS News-National Journal debate.
Saturday's debate will specifically focus on foreign policy and national security. The first debate where candidates will have the chance to show voters how they will react as the potential Commander in Chief.
"It's a completely different stratosphere. It's one the rest of the world will also be watching, because ... domestic issues don't really rate internationally but the rest of the world wants to hear what these candidates have to say about things like Pakistan," Tarabay said.
Watch the full discussion at left to find out what to watch out for on Saturday night. Can Texas Gov. Rick Perry come back from his "oops" moment? Is Saturday Newt Gingrich's moment to shine? And what do the rest of the candidates need to do to make a strong showing?
If you have your own questions on national security and foreign policy for the candidates, we invite you submit them here for possible use in the debate.
Popular in Politics
- IRS' Lerner: "I have not done anything wrong" 414 Comments
- Officials on Benghazi: "We made mistakes, but without malice"
- Anthony Weiner comeback try begins: Running for NYC mayor 116 Comments
- Major immigration overhaul passes first big test
- Obama to view Oklahoma tornado damage Sunday
- Christie: Keep politics out of Oklahoma disaster relief
- Will tornado relief funding escape politics?
- Top IRS official to invoke 5th Amendment at congressional testimony 218 Comments
If I watched (I won't), I would look for a person who I felt would be an effective, knowledgeable, reasonable president whose true agenda would be the restoration of a strong middle class. Unfortunately, all of these clowns are only interested in the further enrichment of the already rich through tax cuts and deregulation.
So, you see, there's really no need to watch.
As to the candidates themselves, Cain is particularly weak on foreign policy, terrorism, international security, and defense. So count on him to say something moronic along the line of his idea to release all the Gitmo terrorists. I expect much of the same level of cluelessness from Perry.
The problem with these "debates" is that they're not really debates. The moderators aren't pinning the candidates down with hard follow-ups, particularly when they're non-responsive, which is much of the time. Equally, the candidates bicker with each other about old peeves and not responding to what they're saying on stage. There's actually very little debating there. Bickering and squabbling is not a debate.