GOP Hopefuls Restrained In Iowa Debate

Fewer Fireworks Than Usual In What Could Be The Last GOP Debate Before Iowa Caucuses

(CBS/AP)  Republican presidential rivals called for deep cuts in federal spending Wednesday in a debate remarkably free of acrimony, and agreed the reductions they seek need not require painful sacrifice by millions of Americans who rely on government services.

"The sacrifice we need from the American people is saying, 'Let the programs go that don't work. Don't lobby for them forever," said former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, one of nine GOP presidential hopefuls sharing an Iowa stage little more than three weeks before the state's caucuses provide the first test of the campaign. (Check out CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs' live blogging and analysis of the debate.)

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani called for across-the-board cuts of up to 15 percent, including reduced federal spending on health care. "Rather than relying on a nanny government, let's rely on people to decide their own health care," he said.

The debate was the Republicans' last before the Iowa caucuses on Jan 3, and it punctuated a remarkable period of turmoil in their race for the presidential nomination.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has eroded Giuliani's lead in nationwide polls, and he has overtaken Romney in public surveys of likely caucus goers in Iowa. The result has been an increase in testiness - Romney on Tuesday became the first candidate to assail another in a TV ad, hitting Huckabee for his position on immigration.

But all nine men on the debate stage were on their best behavior for an Iowa electorate notoriously scornful of political attacks, and the subject of education produced the only semblance of sparks.

"On subjects ranging from the national debt to education and free trade, there was more agreement than disagreement in this final debate before the January 3rd Iowa caucuses," said CBSNews.com's Ververs.

"Unfortunately for any voters tuning in looking to find distinctions between the candidates, it didn’t do much to help their search," he added.

Moments after Huckabee said schools should provide all students with music and art instruction at all grade levels, Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo took him to task. "That's not the job of a president. It's the job of a governor," he said. "That's what you should run for if you want to dictate curriculum."

Huckabee responded by saying that in his decade as governor he had the "most impressive education record."

Huckabee's tone, including a plea to end long-standing polarization between liberals and conservatives, evoked one of the Democratic candidates more than it did any of the fellow Republicans on stage, CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield said.

"As far as Mike Huckabee was concerned, he used his time to inoculate himself against attack by sounding a little bit like Barack Obama," said Greenfield, who characterized the debate as an "extremely civil exchange."

That brought a polite disagreement from Romney - also a fellow governor. "I just wanted a small adjustment to what Governor Huckabee had to say. And I don't believe you had the finest record of any governor in American on education," he said, eliciting laughter from the debate audience.

Former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee was an exception to the general agreement on spending and sacrifice. "We've got to spend more for the military as a matter of fact, but we've got to look at Social Security and Medicare and do some things that won't hurt anybody badly," he said. Thompson, alone among the White House contenders in both parties, has called for steps to reduce the benefits promised to future retirees. He has also said he supports changes in Medicare, but has yet to outline a specific proposal.

Carolyn Washburn, editor of The Des Moines Register and the debate moderator, brought about a mini-revolt at one point when she asked all the candidates to raise their hands if they thought global warming was a serious threat caused by human behavior. "I'm not doing hand shows today," said Thompson.

Ultimately, no one disputed global warming was a problem and humans at least contribute to it.

"I know it's real," said Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who advocates legislation to tackle the problem.

"Climate change is real. It's happening. Human beings are contributing to it," agreed Giuliani.

The final pre-caucus Democratic debate is set for Thursday.

[tessies101]

nolalou:
Ron Paul has a huge support base, just wait and see.....

[giantrobot2]

Mitt Romney is the Republican Howard Dean!!! Read all about it!

After the Iowa debate yesterday Mitt Romney stopped in Marion, Iowa to give a speech at Linn-Mar High School. He said the following:

%u201CAnd I%u2019m convinced the world will remember as well because you%u2019re going to do something which people don%u2019t expect, which is give me a victory,%u201D Romney said. %u201CAnd then I%u2019m going to New Hampshire where I%u2019m pretty solidly in the lead in New Hampshire, and I%u2019m gonna be in Nevada, and I%u2019m gonna win Nevada, and I%u2019m gonna be in Wyoming, and I%u2019ll win that one and Michigan. And we%u2019re gonna do pretty *** well%u2014that%u2019s at least what I plan."

.... Yahhh Hip Ha!!!

Everybody is reading all about this now. Mitt Romney is Howard Dean all over again. The media and the Democrats will now play this over and over and over and over.

This is what brought down Howard Dean and now is bringing down Mitt Romney. Republicans don''''t need another Howard Dean.

.... Yahhh Hip Ha!!!

[the74blaster]

The dems are going to come to the senses - the ticket will be John Edwards and Wesley Clarke.

Posted by nokoolaid

I hope so. We cannot afford another Republican president.

If the last 7 years are a good indicator, I can see the national debt going to 20 trillion if we do.

[cfin5]

Since everyone is making their predictions,......me too I guess. Paul/Hunter

[jackie0428]

Let there be no mistake: they are running a weak group of Democrats, and they are fighting among themselves so much that they will become even weaker. I have correctly predicted the nominees and the winners of the last 6 Presidential elections, and although predicting for 2008 is tough, I%u2019m going to now predict the race for next year. For Republicans, I see Mitt Romney getting the nomination. He%u2019s the best leader, best speaker, best debater, and most intelligent of the bunch. Rudy will burn out. Rudy has too many skeletons and a temper. Huckabee has too little name recognition and his last name is killing him; sounds too much like a hillbilly. Thompson is lazy and too slow. Ron Paul: you got to be kidding. For the Democrats, it%u2019s more a process of elimination: Obama? Sorry, but there is simply no way mostly-conservative America will nominate a black man named Barack Obama; not seeing this happen at all. Edwards? Too wimpy and whiny; he looks and talks weak. All the others are not well known and have incredibly small numbers. Clinton looks like the one who will stay on top. For the 11/08 general election, it will be Romney vs. Clinton. Look for a brutal summer next year of Hillary vs. Mitt. Because Hillary is a polarizing figure, and there are over 20 million Americans who have said they will not vote for her no matter what, I see Romney winning a very close one in the election, with about 5-to-10 more electoral votes than Hillary. The next President will be Mitt Romney.

[jackie0428]

Let there be no mistake: they are running a weak group of Democrats, and they are fighting among themselves so much that they will become even weaker. I have correctly predicted the nominees and the winners of the last 6 Presidential elections, and although predicting for 2008 is tough, I''m going to now predict the race for next year. For Republicans, I see Mitt Romney getting the nomination. He''s the best leader, best speaker, best debater, and most intelligent of the bunch. Rudy will burn out. Rudy has too many skeletons and a temper. Huckabee has too little name recognition and his last name is killing him; sounds too much like a hillbilly. Thompson is lazy and too slow. Ron Paul: you got to be kidding. For the Democrats, it''s more a process of elimination: Obama? Sorry, but there is simply no way mostly-conservative America will nominate a black man named Barack Obama; not seeing this happen at all. Edwards? Too wimpy and whiny; he looks and talks weak. All the others are not well known and have incredibly small numbers. Clinton looks like the one who will stay on top. For the 11/08 general election, it will be Romney vs. Clinton. Look for a brutal summer next year of Hillary vs. Mitt. Because Hillary is a polarizing figure, and there are over 20 million Americans who have said they will not vote for her no matter what, I see Romney winning a very close one in the election, with about 5-to-10 more electoral votes than Hillary. The next President will be Mitt Romney.

[jackie0428]

Navy, Paul does deserve a shot. A shot of lithium to calm his little antsy, idiotic, hyperactive,annoying, obnoxious brain down.

[hwy71so]

I like Hunter/Huckabee or Huckabee/Hunter...

[nolalou]

tess1012, I don''t care how much money Ron Paul manages to collect during his so called ''tea party'', it will not translate into a single caucus or primary victory! Remember Howard Dean in 2004, he also set internet fund raising records at the time, and we all know how that ended up!

[klingon69]

You and I are supposed to kiss domestic programs good-bye while they continue to plow our treasury into a trumped-up war in the Middle East.
Posted by creeper00 at 07:36 PM : Dec 12, 2007
Traditionally, wartime has always been good for the economy. Business up, production up and less unemployment. However, it is different with this war, with so much outsourcing of our jobs, and importing of cheap labor, the citizenry is going broke. I admit that I voted for Bush not just once but twice. I now have the blinders off and see clearly what these last 7 years have done to our country and economy. I can only hope that the next person sitting in the Oval Office, can make some sense out of this mess.

[klingon69]

I''''m very disturbed by the unwillingness of average GOP republican''''s to recognize the depth that Marxism is institutionalized in the Federal Government.

And, most of us are disturbed by these constant RON PAUL messages.

[mudrose-2009]

maybe so , but hearing President Paul sounds a bit too thin..dont you think?.
Posted by fitedafuture

President Kucinich? Naw. President Obama? Naw. President Clinton - Ugh. That takes care of the lefties. Now what do we have Thompson/Romney, Romney/Thompson, Thompson/Huckabee, Thompson/Guiliani? What would really be a hoot would be Romney/Huckabee.

[klingon69]

Of course Bushit will proclaim victory, but everyone except a few morons and shills now know he''''s lying every time his mouth is moving.
Posted by gkc99 at 04:32 PM : Dec 12, 2007
Not when he''s eating!

[hillaryin08]

STICK A FORK IN THEM THEY ARE DONE!

A REPUBLICAN COULD NOT GET ELECTED DOG CATCHER IN AMERICA!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by bluestardad at 03:44 AM : Dec 13, 2007

Oh yea? Why dont you ask Algore and Kerry?

Your hatred for the rich clouds your jugement. Get some theropy and deal with it.

[fitedafuture]

maybe so , but hearing President Paul sounds a bit too thin..dont you think?.

[navyretired2]

Ron Paul continues to stick to his values, and continues to get ignored by the MSM. He''s still the best man in this race, including Hillary.

Don''t take my word for it...look up his record and what he stands for...he deserves a shot.

[skyk-2009]

Posted by terrorislam7 at 06:03 AM : Dec 13, 2007
+ report abuse

You really need to seek help my friend. You cut and paste the same things over and over.... it''s just not a sign of good mental health.

[skyk-2009]

You know, I have been a political junkie all of my life and never have I seen a more pathetic lineup of candidates that this Republican lineup. There is not one of them that is remotely qualified to be president of the United States. Not even close. We have suffered through seven years of an inferior, unqualified president, and I don''''t think we are about to start over with one of these gas bags. Isn''''t there one Republican in the whole country that is qualified that wants to be president? Come on.


Posted by kansas1946 at 11:58 PM : Dec 12, 2007
+ report

Yep know what you mean there!! The entire group front to back was a joke but Alan Keys was the topper of them all. This guy is on some other planet! ROFLMAO

[cfin5]

SgtRDS, kansas1946,........I see the democratic side afflicted with the same quality of choices. The top tier candidates money smothers out your best ones at the bottom,.......Richardson, Gravel, Kucinich. I think it will always be like that because "everyone likes a winner" no matter what they believe. I say Ron has a much better chance to surprise the nation with a landslide victory than ANY candidate simply by looking at the grassroots support/money from "constitutional-centrist" democrats and republicans compared to the lack of this fact in other campaigns. Most Americans are tired of the "demopublican shellgame".

[jdb4s]

Deep down.. we all know who won..

RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL