I’m going to use my typing skills to try and convey what the republican candidates have to say in tonight’s debate. Mostly I’m going to summarize what I hear. My thoughts are interjected here and there. I’ll try to keep my comments in parentheses so it doesn’t look like the candidates said something they didn’t.

On the Bush Doctrine
Mike Huckabee just got his hat handed to him by Thompson. He showed one of the reasons I don’t like Huckabee: the man does not think through what he says. He’s eloquent, but I do not sincerely believe he understands what he’s talking about. I also do not appreciate his cockiness. His shot at Romney was disrespectful.

The one thing these candidates aren’t pointing out is that the Muslim religion has been at war with the rest of the world since its inception. It is not a peaceful religion. Mitt Romney (I think it was) came closest when he said that the Islamo-fascist hates women and freedom. Muslim extremists will attack any country, they’ve proven that. They don’t attack just because of our presence around the world. While I agree with Paul that our foreign policy during the nineties was bad for our country, I disagree that they attack us because we invade their countries. That’s not the only reason.

On a Strong Set of Principles
John McCain is John McCain. He has been the same man for as long as I can remember. He says exactly what he means. I have never been given a reason to question his integrity. Even though I disagreed with his campaign finance reform bill.

Mitt Romney. His beliefs are grounded in the family, the foundation of society. And now he’s going on about what his policies are.

Guilliani? What does he stand for? I don’t doubt his ability to be a leader. But he does not have a moral center from which he lives. What is sounds like he’s saying is that his goals as president would guide him.

Huckabee says that we can have principles that guide us, but we may have to change our policies from generation to generation. So we have things that never change, but we have to change all the time. Um, okay. So he thinks everything is relative. He says he is guided by The Declaration of Independence. OH, my word, he’s trying to quote the Declaration. The Declaration of Independence is his North Star.

Ron Paul makes his decisions based on whether or not the course is Constitutional.

Thompson used his time to try and clarify what Huckabee said.

Okay. I think I missed something. Overall, I agree that the Constitution and The Declaration are two immensely important document that need to guide our leaders. Charlie really made them squirm when he pointed out where several of the candidates have flip-flopped. Except, of course, Ron Paul, who’s been consistently following the Constitution for the last 20 years.

On Health Care
OH, my word! They all want the government to do something about health care. If the federal government gets involved the system will be ten times worse. I agree that fiscal policy changes will impact the market to drive down cost, but the government needs to keep off. And I agree with Ron Paul and why the economy is suffering right now.

Mitt Romney is making sense to me right now. I totally agree that if a person does not purchase a health care plan, then they have to pay for their care themselves. That is the best way to deal with health care anyway. Ask anyone who pays for their own care our of their own pockets, without the “help” of an insurance company. They work closely with their doctors and their bills aren’t as high because they aren’t paying through insurance.

Mike Huckabee wants the government to make sure we’re all eating our vegetables and taking our vitamins. No thank you! How in the world is he going to create a preventive program across the country and enforce it without legislating what I can and can’t eat? And when I have to go to the doctor? Listen, I want to see the doctor when I’m sick and not a minute before. If I want to eat burgers and fries and give myself a heart attack, then I have the right to do that. If I want to exercise four times a week, eat right, and live a healthy lifestyle, then that’s my right. His idea would put the federal government too deep into my life. Stay out of my life, Big Brother.

John McCain makes good faces.

On Illegal Immigration
Mitt Romney says it’s not fair to give amnesty to those who are already here. I agree. The 12 million who are already here, with the exclusion of criminals, do not have the right to get a c-visa, which is renewable indefinitely.

Guilliani says we need to stop illegal immigration at the border. Give everyone a card. Focus on the immigrants who’ve committed crimes. Make them come forward (yeah, right!). Fine and tax, fine and tax. He made exceptions for children enrolled in school, those seeking medical care, and those seeking safety.

Oh, this is getting ugly! There are three men talking at once! Romney and McCain are really going at each other. I have no idea what they’re talking about anymore.

I agree with Thompson…if you get to stay in the country, then it’s amnesty. This is a national security issue. Enforce the border. Enforce the law on employers. Stop sanctuary cities. He thinks the numbers of illegals will drop if we do those things.

Huckabee says secure the border–that must be done first. It is an issue of national security. We ought to have a period of time in which people return to their home countries and get in line. He wants to help immigrants enter the country the right way so that they can live in our country with their heads held high. He doesn’t mention how he will get immigrants to go back to the end of the line.

Paul is concerned this will open the door to a national ID. He also believes that there are too many incentives for illegals here: welfare, education, medical care, employment, and amnesty, etc. He’s right about that. The government says we have to give them help, because that’s compassionate, but at the same time we are bickering over whether or not we should let them be here. They already have rights to our entitlements!! That makes no sense!

On Barak Obama
Mitt Romney: I agree with his message that we need change! I can bring change.

Thompson: He’s a liberal. Our Constitution is our rule of law.

McCain: He just took a shot at Romney. Very badly done, Mr. McCain.

Guilliani: He doesn’t have the needed experience. What exactly does Obama mean by change? (Excellent point, Guilliani!) It is a difference between republican and democrat.

Huckabee: The differences lie in the right to life, local and federal government, national defense, taxes, same-sex marriage. (He’s just listing the republican platform). We ought to recognize that Americans want vertical leadership, not right or left. We need to unify the country. (This sounds a lot like GW Bush 8 years ago. And he proved that it doesn’t happen in Washington).

Paul: We have a lot of similarities in that we both have lots of young people supporting us. Youthful ideas are in both campaigns. Obama will not talk about getting rid of the income tax or the welfare state. “If we care about the poor and want to help the poor, you can’t have a welfare state.” The free market is essential.

On gas prices
Paul: the problem is inflation. The lower the value of the dollar, the higher the price of oil.

McCain: We have to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. We have to find other forms of energy. This is becoming a national security issue. We have to decrease greenhouse gases because “I am convinced we are doing damage to this planet.” (Where is my tin foil hat?)

Thompson: The prophets are part of the problem. We need to be more diversified. We need to decrease our dependence on foreign oil. We need to use our reserves and use more nuclear fuel. We are not going to manipulate the prophets.

Guilliani: We need to turn everything around to make a government program for energy research…on the scale of going to the moon. We need to use more nuclear energy.

Huckabee: It is possible to be energy independent in ten years. (!) He is talking about offering incentives to people who innovate for the country. We are enslaved to the rest of the world at the gas pump.

Romney: We can’t be energy independent in ten years. It will require a major investment from the country to do it. We have to lead the world in technology and innovation. We have to become energy secure and independent. We are the world’s leader, America is the greatest nation, and we can do it.

Awww, they’re all playing nice now. And here come the democrats!!! Oh, goody!