GOP Hopefuls Evoke Reagan At Debate
Vaughn Ververs: Republican Hopefuls Throw Few Punches At Reagan Library In California
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Play CBS Video Video GOP Candidates Invoke Reagan Jeff Greenfield reports that the theme of Thursday night's Republican presidential debate was "What Would Reagan Do" - and not because the debate was held at the Ronald Reagan Library.
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Video Greenfield On GOP Debate CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield speaks with Harry Smith about the GOP debate, weighing in on issues challenging some of the 2008 Republican hopefuls.
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Video GOP Hopefuls Face Off Ten Republican presidential hopefuls took the stage at the Reagan Library in California to debate heated topics such as abortion, stem-cell research and the war in Iraq. Sandra Hughes reports.
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Republican presidential candidates Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor, left and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., look out into the audience before the start of the first republican presidential primary debate of the 2008 election at the Ronald Reagan Library, Thursday, May 3, 2007, in Simi Valley, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas (2nd L) speaks alongside GOP Presidential Candidates (L-R) former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and Representative Duncan Hunter of California on stage in the first Republican debate held at the Reagan Library on May 3, 2007 in Simi Valley, California. (Getty Images/Jamie Rector)
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The republican presidential contenders listen to Mitt Romney, former Massachusetts governor, right, answer a question during the first Republican presidential primary debate of the 2008 election at the Ronald Reagan Library, Thursday, May 3, 2007, in Simi Valley, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
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Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor, answers a question during the first Republican presidential primary debate of the 2008 election at the Ronald Reagan Library, Thursday, May 3, 2007, in Simi Valley, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Republican presidential hopefuls pose with former first lady Nancy Reagan in the Oval Office at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif., prior to the first Republican presidential primary debate of the 2008 election, Thursday, May 3, 2007. (AP Photo/Robert A. Reeder, Pool)
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A former president and the current chief executive shared a spotlight in last night's Republican debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, but 10 men seeking the title spent little time in either of their shadows. In the face of a turbulent landscape for their party, these GOP aspirants sought to take on some of their political godfather’s political magic while trying to shake off their current leader’s anemic approval ratings.
As expected, Iraq and national security issues were front-and-center and, with the exception of the libertarian-minded Rep. Ron Paul, there was no cutting-and-running among this group — at least not overtly. Still, there was plenty of unease over the administration's handling of the unpopular war. "Terribly mismanaged," said Sen. John McCain.
But these are Republicans, and this group of candidates was not about to relinquish the party's traditional stranglehold on national security issues. While the war has taken a toll on President Bush and the GOP, this group of candidates stayed true to the "peace through strength" mantra Reagan once engraved on the party's coat of arms. Tough talk on Iran and the overall war on terrorism did more than make up for current concerns, leaving no doubt that the field remain committed to an overall war on what was referred to more than a few times as "Islamic Jihadism."
Following last week's Democratic debate, the 10 middle-aged-plus white men taking the stage were striking in the group’s very makeup. History may be on the side of the demographic — America, after all, has never had a president who doesn't fit the category of "white man" — but this lineup lacked the pizzazz of their opposition, which features at least perceived electable diversity.
As their counterparts did last week, Republicans tonight were speaking more to their own party's base than to the nation as a whole. And the pressure was on, especially for the three perceived frontrunners, to demonstrate a kinship with their core voters. Whether any did so in a way that will satisfy GOP primary voters is unknown, but it's fair to say each of the three had some dicey moments in that regard.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani turned in an almost casual performance, one backed up with a competent command of facts but betrayed with some less-than-convincing arguments about his convictions. Giuliani was quick to say he was personally opposed to abortion, but his answers about government funding were confusing. While he said that the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits most federal funding for abortions, should remain law, Giuliani readily admitted he supported New York state funding as mayor.
McCain, who came out energetic to the extreme at the beginning of the debate, turned in a solid performance overall, hitting most key issues. In a nod to the most important person in the room — Nancy Reagan — McCain said he supports stem cell research when it comes to embryos already destined to destruction or perpetual animation. It's a cause dear to the heart of the former First Lady but at odds with conservatives within the party.
On the same issue, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney probably went over the heads of most viewers. Asked about the use of embryonic stem cells for research to cure diseases, Romney said he wouldn't use federal funds for that but touted a procedure very few have likely ever heard of.
"Altered nuclear transfer creates embryo-like cells that can be used for stem cell research. In my view, that's the most promising source," said Romney.
And many conservative may have been unconvinced by his explanation about his public switch on abortion, which he described as having come about as a result of a debate over cloning.
As with the Democratic debate last week, almost all of the lesser-known candidates proved up to the task but none was able to break out of the pack. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee sounded eloquent when discussing the issue of life.
"When hikers on Mt. Hood get lost, we move heaven and Earth to go find them. When coal miners in West Virginia are trapped in a mine, we go after them because we celebrate life. This life issue is not insignificant."
Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, a fierce abortion opponent, allowed that his party could support a nominee who differs on the issue, saying, "I believe in the Ronald Reagan principle, that somebody that's with you 80 percent of the time is not your enemy, that's your friend and that's your ally."
It was that kind of evening for the most part. Even candidates who were thought to have taken indirect shots at their colleagues suddenly clammed up, claiming they had been speaking in generalities. This was an opening sparring session, featuring a few light jabs but no hard hooks. And the natural result is little movement among this current field of announced candidates. But anyone interested enough in tuning in got some exposure of some would-be-presidents they may not have even been aware existed. In that regard, it was the underdogs who won.
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The secrets of tennis legend 
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See all 184 Comments-- I gave his office 2 minilla envelopes stuffed with increminating evidence against a DRMO (Defense Reutilization & Marketing Office) on how they sold classified materials including Top Secret equipment on the open market.
-------- HE DID NOTHING ---------
Posted by j-whitman at 11:29 AM : May 04, 2007
Hi J, I've always liked Ron Paul, too. He's not going to win the nomination though. Out of all of them I'd choose McCain or Hunter. Romney sounds good, looks good and I like him. But... won't be voting for him in primary.
Somebody stick a dog up there. A mean a real dog. And say: Vote fer him. It'd be the same thing.
Peace? Prosperity? That was Clinton. I mean, the guy gave away free air conditioners to old people! What de hell was so wrong about him? Huh? I'm still hearing yer frequency, Kenneth..
Thats what I do too when I'm drunk. VVVVVVVT! *invisible man* VVVVVVVT! *cloaking off*
Front runner Rudy G. made a huge error when he declared his pro-choice stance, a song which was clearly not from the right genre.
John (McC) McCain seemed to forget the words to most of the conservative songs ... screaming his lyrics at times, reducing his boyish charm.
It seems that Mitt gave the standout performance of the night ... at times almost channeling Robert Goulet. His hair also performed very well, receiving a standing O at one point.
In a surprise appearance from beyond the grave, Ronnie Reagan, or at least many of his standards, were played over and over by the GOP contestants. Most didn't have the range or presence to pull it off.
Overall the performances were judged so bad that right-wingers all arcoss America began to call MSNBC and demand that Sanjaya be brought back for another week.
For the next debate, the GOP contestants will be taken to an Ice Island in the Arctic where they will have to fight global warming with just a bible, some frozen embrios, and their GOP rhetoric.
As their ice islands melts, each candidate will try to conserve their hot air, a difficult task given last night's performances.
This is utterly absurd. Economic growth indices -- GDP, jobs, revenues -- were all positive when Carter left office. All plunged after Reagan policies took effect.
Reagan didn't cure inflation, the main economic problem during the Carter years. Carter's Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker tried when he raised interest rates. That's the opposite of what Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan has done to keep inflation low.
Carter's policies and people fought inflation, but maintained real growth. On the other hand, Reagan's policies helped cause the worst recession since the Great Depression: two bleak years with nearly double-digit unemployment! Reaganomics failed in less than a year, and it took an entire second year for the economy to recover from the failure.
Carter didn't cause the inflation problem, but his tough policies and smart personnel solved it. Unfortunately for Carter, it took too long for the good results to kick in. Not only didn't Reagan help whip inflation, he actually opposed the Volcker policies!
The best candidates that the Democraps can come up with are a black and woman. lol
Everyone knows that blacks belong in the fields and women belong in the kitchen.
Actress Selene Walters claimed that Ronald Reagan forced her to have *** with him in the early '50s. According to her, Reagan, then president of the Screen Actors Guild, met Walters in a Hollywood nightclub. He asked for her address, and she gave it to him. Later at 3 a.m., he arrived unexpectedly at Walters' door.
"I opened the door," Walters told People Magazine. "Then it was the battle of the couch. I was fighting him. I didn't want him to make love to me. He's a very big man, and he just had his way. Date rape? No, God, no... I didn't have a chance to have a date with him."
Walters (like Juanita Broaddrick) did not file charges. She did share contemporaneous accounts of the encounter with friends.
Ronald Reagan successfully stonewalled the Walters story when the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times picked it up briefly in April 1991.
He never denied the accusation.
The old Democrat party of:
"Ask NOT what your country can do for you, but rather what YOU can do for your country"
no longer exists.
And instead has been replaced by the concept of Big Government.
...
PS
A Democrat congress running the Iraq war would be like a Democrat congress running the Vietnam war.
We all know what a mistake that was.
...
The old Democrat party of:
"Ask NOT what your country can do for you, but rather what YOU can do for your country"
no longer exists.
And instead has been replaced by the concept of Big Government.
...
PS
A Democrat congress running the Iraq war would be like a Democrat congress running the Vietnam war.
We all know what a mistake that was.
...
Posted by mbcsmith at 04:16 PM : May 04, 2007
Lib's? You must mean the Libertarian Party because they oppose the war too, but of course they are an off-shoot of the republican party, so I'm sure they'd take offense to your statement. As a good liberal I know that it was not directed at us, since our party is the Democratic Party and, as I said, Libertarians are Republican.
Here's an example: the Soviet Union military couldn't deal with a weak state on its own border, the poor, undermanned Afghanistan. Most of the Soviets' military might had to make sure its "allies" in the Warsaw Pact and subjects along the South Asian front didn't revolt. Even Richard Nixon told Reagan he could balance the budget with big defense cuts.
Reagan ignored this, and wrecked our budget.
We didn't have to increase weapons spending, but Reagan didn't care. He ran away from summits with the dying old-guard Soviets, and the new-style "glasnost" leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev baffled the witless Reagan and his closed-minded extremist advisors.
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