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Republican debate
- Thread starter Lugnut
- Start date
pdm
NES Member
http://althouse.blogspot.com/2007/11/live-blog-youtube-debate-with-me.html
Law prof live blogs the debate.
Law prof live blogs the debate.
Mitt Romney made me almost vomit every time he opened his mouth. Fred Thompson looked like he was going to fall over when he talked. John McCain thinks we owe HIM something (ie presidency) for serving in Vietnam...hello...YOU WEREN'T THE ONLY ONE! Rudy Guiliani needs to realize that America doesn't need a MAYOR! We need a President...maybe Canada needs a Mayor...call them up.
Wasn't it interesting when the ALCU Lawyer bashing started and it went to a quick commercial and a half? Oh and when the GAY Military General's microphone had a "malfunction" AFTER he said he was gay?
Ron Paul would be my choice but they didn't give him a chance to speak.
Wasn't it interesting when the ALCU Lawyer bashing started and it went to a quick commercial and a half? Oh and when the GAY Military General's microphone had a "malfunction" AFTER he said he was gay?
Ron Paul would be my choice but they didn't give him a chance to speak.
Ron Paul... can't take him seriously, though I like alot of what he says.
+1
The gay retired general is on the staff of Hillary Clinton's machine.
Briebart & Zogby both released a poll saying ANY of these guys would beat Hillary if the election were held now.
I have a feeling the 'media' is setting us up for Mitt.
Briebart & Zogby both released a poll saying ANY of these guys would beat Hillary if the election were held now.
I have a feeling the 'media' is setting us up for Mitt.
USMA-82
NES Member
Here's a transcript of the Second Amendment questions from the Republican Debate last night:
Q Hi, I'm Jay Fox, a lifetime member of the NRA. Now I'm from a small town, and as in any small town we like our big guns. So my question to you is: What is your opinion of gun control? And don't worry, you can answer however you like. (Laughter, cheers, applause.)
MR. COOPER: Congressman Hunter, I'll give that to you. Ninety seconds.
REP. HUNTER: Well, first, I've got to inform Jay that as a guy who got his first hunting license at the age of 10 and really believes in the right to keep and bear arms and used them in the military, as my son did in Fallujah, you should never throw a gun to a person. He should have taken that gun hand it off from his fellow hunter. So you got to be safe with guns, Jay.
But the right to keep and bear arms is an important element of community security, home security and national security, and I think it's a tradition -- (cheers, applause) -- the tradition of the American soldier from Bunker Hill to New Orleans to the rooftops of Fallujah the right to keep and bear arms and use them effectively is an important part of America's security. And I will strongly enforce the Second Amendment as president of the United States. (Cheers, applause.)
MR. COOPER: All right. On the same topic another question. Let's watch.
Q Hello. My name is Andrew Fink, and I have a question for Rudy Giuliani.
Mr. Giuliani, at a recent NRA convention you stated that it's every American's right to be secure. Yet on March 21st of the year 2000, the Boston Globe quoted you as saying, "Anyone wanting to own a gun should have to pass a written exam."
Considering the Constitution grants us the right to bear arms as a means of protection, why do you believe that citizens should be required to pass an exam in order to exercise their right to protect themselves and their families? Thank you.
MR. COOPER: Mayor Giuliani, 90 seconds.
MR. GIULIANI: Andrew, what I believe is that we have to be very aggressive about enforcing the gun laws that exist. I had a city in which, when I took over, there were 2,000 murders a year, 10,000 felonies a week, and I enforced the gun laws very aggressively. I enforced all laws very aggressively, and that's the reason we reduced shootings by 74 percent, we reduced homicide by 67 percent, and we went from being one of the most dangerous cities in the country to being one of the safest.
As far as that's concerned, what I believe is the Second Amendment gives people an individual right to keep and to bear arms. Government can impose reasonable regulations. Generally, those reasonable regulations would be about -- (boos) --
MR. COOPER: Let him answer.
MR. GIULIANI: Let me finish. Generally, those reasonable regulations would be about criminal background, a background of mental instability, basically the ones that are outlined in the opinion of -- of the judge who wrote the Parker decision, Judge Silberman. And if those -- if those regulations go beyond that, then those are unconstitutional.
I think states can have a little bit of leeway. New York can have a -- somewhat stricter rules than, let's say, Kentucky. Texas might have different rules than Ohio. But generally, you've got to comply with this rule.
Now the Supreme Court's going to decide this. The Supreme Court's going to decide this probably within the next six months. The Parker case has been taken to the Supreme Court. They're going to decide whether it's a right that pertains to the militias, which I don't believe it is, or is it a right that is a personal right. I believe that it is, and I will live by that. And people will be allowed to have guns. I'm not going to interfere with that. Generally, decisions are going to be made on a state basis, and they're going to have to comply with the Constitution.
MR. COOPER: Senator Thompson, last week you said that you don't think Mayor Giuliani's ever been a supporter of the Second Amendment. Why do you say that? Thirty seconds.
MR. THOMPSON: No, well, the mayor has supported a wide array of gun control laws. I'm not sure there's ever one that didn't come up for consideration in terms of legislation that he didn't support; signing ceremonies with people in President Clinton's Cabinet and that sort of thing when they came up.
The Second Amendment is not a choice thing. I mean it's in the Constitution of the United States. That's a protection that the people have against -- (interrupted cheers, applause) -- (off mike).
The case that the mayor refers to is the Washington, D.C. case, and they were taking the same position basically the mayor took as far as the city of New York is concerned. They said, you know, it'll make a safer city if we have -- if we outlaw law-abiding citizens having the right to possess a firearm. It didn't make them a safer city. The D.C. Court of Appeals held that it was a violation of their Second Amendment rights, and hopefully, the Supreme Court will uphold the D.C. court.
MR. COOPER: Mayor? Thirty seconds.
MR. GIULIANI: I agree with the senator that it didn't make it a safer city, and some of these gun laws do not make a city a safer city. The things we did in New York indisputably made New York City a much safer city.
And the law in the District of Columbia and the law in New York are different. The law in the District of Columbia made it impossible for you to have a firearm. And if New York City went that far, it should also be declared unconstitutional. The Second Amendment clearly gives you the right to carry and to bear arms. In my reading of it, it's an individual right. And I believe the Supreme Court will declare that. And that protection comes from the Constitution, not just the president.
MR. COOPER: Staying on the topic, another question from the viewer.
ERIC BERNTSEN (PHOENIX, ARIZONA): Hi there. I'm Eric Berntsen from Phoenix, Arizona. Got a quick question for all you candidates.
Any of you want to tell us about your gun collection -- roughly how many you own; what your favorite make, model and caliber is; if any of them require a tax stamp?
MR. COOPER: A stamp is needed if you have a machine gun or a silencer.
Senator Thompson.
MR. THOMPSON: I own a couple of guns, but I'm not going to tell you what they are or where they are. (Laughter, applause, cheers.)
MR. COOPER: Senator McCain.
SEN. MCCAIN: For a long time I used a lot of guns, including carrying a .45 as a pilot flying in combat over Vietnam. I know how to use guns. I don't -- I don't own one now.
MR. COOPER: Congressman Hunter.
REP. HUNTER: I've got an old 20-gauge L.C. Smith. It's just like the gun that my dad used to carry when I would walk behind him as a nine-year-old kid and pick up the shells when he was hunting quail. And I finally got a chance to buy one of those a few years ago, same gun that he'd had and given to me when I was nine or 10 years old, when I bought my first hunting license.
The right to keep and bear arms in the 2nd Amendment is -- is a large part protection.
MR. COOPER: Okay.
REP. HUNTER: It's also a large part family tradition.
MR. COOPER: Is there anyone here besides Senator McCain who does not own a gun? Mayor Giuliani, you don't?
MR. ROMNEY: Let --
MR. COOPER: Governor Romney?
MR. ROMNEY: I have two guns in my home. They're owned by my son Josh.
MR. COOPER: All right. So yes.
We have another question on a similar topic.
MR. ROMNEY: He buys expensive things for me.
Q Hi, I'm Jay Fox, a lifetime member of the NRA. Now I'm from a small town, and as in any small town we like our big guns. So my question to you is: What is your opinion of gun control? And don't worry, you can answer however you like. (Laughter, cheers, applause.)
MR. COOPER: Congressman Hunter, I'll give that to you. Ninety seconds.
REP. HUNTER: Well, first, I've got to inform Jay that as a guy who got his first hunting license at the age of 10 and really believes in the right to keep and bear arms and used them in the military, as my son did in Fallujah, you should never throw a gun to a person. He should have taken that gun hand it off from his fellow hunter. So you got to be safe with guns, Jay.
But the right to keep and bear arms is an important element of community security, home security and national security, and I think it's a tradition -- (cheers, applause) -- the tradition of the American soldier from Bunker Hill to New Orleans to the rooftops of Fallujah the right to keep and bear arms and use them effectively is an important part of America's security. And I will strongly enforce the Second Amendment as president of the United States. (Cheers, applause.)
MR. COOPER: All right. On the same topic another question. Let's watch.
Q Hello. My name is Andrew Fink, and I have a question for Rudy Giuliani.
Mr. Giuliani, at a recent NRA convention you stated that it's every American's right to be secure. Yet on March 21st of the year 2000, the Boston Globe quoted you as saying, "Anyone wanting to own a gun should have to pass a written exam."
Considering the Constitution grants us the right to bear arms as a means of protection, why do you believe that citizens should be required to pass an exam in order to exercise their right to protect themselves and their families? Thank you.
MR. COOPER: Mayor Giuliani, 90 seconds.
MR. GIULIANI: Andrew, what I believe is that we have to be very aggressive about enforcing the gun laws that exist. I had a city in which, when I took over, there were 2,000 murders a year, 10,000 felonies a week, and I enforced the gun laws very aggressively. I enforced all laws very aggressively, and that's the reason we reduced shootings by 74 percent, we reduced homicide by 67 percent, and we went from being one of the most dangerous cities in the country to being one of the safest.
As far as that's concerned, what I believe is the Second Amendment gives people an individual right to keep and to bear arms. Government can impose reasonable regulations. Generally, those reasonable regulations would be about -- (boos) --
MR. COOPER: Let him answer.
MR. GIULIANI: Let me finish. Generally, those reasonable regulations would be about criminal background, a background of mental instability, basically the ones that are outlined in the opinion of -- of the judge who wrote the Parker decision, Judge Silberman. And if those -- if those regulations go beyond that, then those are unconstitutional.
I think states can have a little bit of leeway. New York can have a -- somewhat stricter rules than, let's say, Kentucky. Texas might have different rules than Ohio. But generally, you've got to comply with this rule.
Now the Supreme Court's going to decide this. The Supreme Court's going to decide this probably within the next six months. The Parker case has been taken to the Supreme Court. They're going to decide whether it's a right that pertains to the militias, which I don't believe it is, or is it a right that is a personal right. I believe that it is, and I will live by that. And people will be allowed to have guns. I'm not going to interfere with that. Generally, decisions are going to be made on a state basis, and they're going to have to comply with the Constitution.
MR. COOPER: Senator Thompson, last week you said that you don't think Mayor Giuliani's ever been a supporter of the Second Amendment. Why do you say that? Thirty seconds.
MR. THOMPSON: No, well, the mayor has supported a wide array of gun control laws. I'm not sure there's ever one that didn't come up for consideration in terms of legislation that he didn't support; signing ceremonies with people in President Clinton's Cabinet and that sort of thing when they came up.
The Second Amendment is not a choice thing. I mean it's in the Constitution of the United States. That's a protection that the people have against -- (interrupted cheers, applause) -- (off mike).
The case that the mayor refers to is the Washington, D.C. case, and they were taking the same position basically the mayor took as far as the city of New York is concerned. They said, you know, it'll make a safer city if we have -- if we outlaw law-abiding citizens having the right to possess a firearm. It didn't make them a safer city. The D.C. Court of Appeals held that it was a violation of their Second Amendment rights, and hopefully, the Supreme Court will uphold the D.C. court.
MR. COOPER: Mayor? Thirty seconds.
MR. GIULIANI: I agree with the senator that it didn't make it a safer city, and some of these gun laws do not make a city a safer city. The things we did in New York indisputably made New York City a much safer city.
And the law in the District of Columbia and the law in New York are different. The law in the District of Columbia made it impossible for you to have a firearm. And if New York City went that far, it should also be declared unconstitutional. The Second Amendment clearly gives you the right to carry and to bear arms. In my reading of it, it's an individual right. And I believe the Supreme Court will declare that. And that protection comes from the Constitution, not just the president.
MR. COOPER: Staying on the topic, another question from the viewer.
ERIC BERNTSEN (PHOENIX, ARIZONA): Hi there. I'm Eric Berntsen from Phoenix, Arizona. Got a quick question for all you candidates.
Any of you want to tell us about your gun collection -- roughly how many you own; what your favorite make, model and caliber is; if any of them require a tax stamp?
MR. COOPER: A stamp is needed if you have a machine gun or a silencer.
Senator Thompson.
MR. THOMPSON: I own a couple of guns, but I'm not going to tell you what they are or where they are. (Laughter, applause, cheers.)
MR. COOPER: Senator McCain.
SEN. MCCAIN: For a long time I used a lot of guns, including carrying a .45 as a pilot flying in combat over Vietnam. I know how to use guns. I don't -- I don't own one now.
MR. COOPER: Congressman Hunter.
REP. HUNTER: I've got an old 20-gauge L.C. Smith. It's just like the gun that my dad used to carry when I would walk behind him as a nine-year-old kid and pick up the shells when he was hunting quail. And I finally got a chance to buy one of those a few years ago, same gun that he'd had and given to me when I was nine or 10 years old, when I bought my first hunting license.
The right to keep and bear arms in the 2nd Amendment is -- is a large part protection.
MR. COOPER: Okay.
REP. HUNTER: It's also a large part family tradition.
MR. COOPER: Is there anyone here besides Senator McCain who does not own a gun? Mayor Giuliani, you don't?
MR. ROMNEY: Let --
MR. COOPER: Governor Romney?
MR. ROMNEY: I have two guns in my home. They're owned by my son Josh.
MR. COOPER: All right. So yes.
We have another question on a similar topic.
MR. ROMNEY: He buys expensive things for me.
I wish they had let Ron Paul answer on the gun control topic - you would have gotten a great answer. If you care to look - his positions on gun control are free to read on the internet.
Ron Paul would be my candidate - in no small part because I know that any and all gun oriented legislation that passed his desk as president would be GUARANTEED A VETO.
With Ron Paul I am 100% certain of a veto on unconstitutional gun legislation - with ANY of the other ones it is an iffy proposition. And remember - we may well have an overwhelmingly Democratic controlled legislature come the next round of elections.
Ron Paul would be my candidate - in no small part because I know that any and all gun oriented legislation that passed his desk as president would be GUARANTEED A VETO.
With Ron Paul I am 100% certain of a veto on unconstitutional gun legislation - with ANY of the other ones it is an iffy proposition. And remember - we may well have an overwhelmingly Democratic controlled legislature come the next round of elections.
+1
What I also like about Ron Paul is that I feel he would have the courage of his "Libertarian" principles to support or veto legislation that might go against his own personal values. Too many of the other candidates may be great on gun control, but have opinions on other rights that they would be happy to trample on (Ahem...Rudi...Ahem....Huckabee...Ahem)....
I watched the debate with my 24 year old "liberal" daughter. She commented how most of the candidates looked like tired old men. She was right. I would add "tired,angry" old men.
I'm embarassed as a Republican that this is the best that we can do.
I'm embarassed as a Republican that this is the best that we can do.
Now there's a scary thought: Actually find out what these guys are all about and what they believe through their past actions.
That certainly drops Rudy a couple of rungs for me. Sounds like backpedaling and he basically said the written exam he upheld was unconstitutional.
Are you guys all serious about Ron Paul? Sure he has some great, straight-laced views that we all very much agree with, but he doesn't have a chance in the world. Also, overall he comes across a bit crazy to me. Even though a lot of views are right on, I don't think he'd be a good PRESIDENT of the United States. Huckster doesn't stand much of a chance as of today either.
Republicans need to start standing behind a candidate that has a shot in order to beat a liberal from getting the oval office.
With that said, I really haven't made up my mind yet. But my support would not go to someone who has 0 chance of gettting the nomination.
Are you guys all serious about Ron Paul? Sure he has some great, straight-laced views that we all very much agree with, but he doesn't have a chance in the world. Also, overall he comes across a bit crazy to me. Even though a lot of views are right on, I don't think he'd be a good PRESIDENT of the United States. Huckster doesn't stand much of a chance as of today either.
Republicans need to start standing behind a candidate that has a shot in order to beat a liberal from getting the oval office.
With that said, I really haven't made up my mind yet. But my support would not go to someone who has 0 chance of gettting the nomination.
Debate
Yup. You know it`s bad for us when you watch the Democratic debate and realize the candidate with the biggest balls is Hillary.
I like Duncan Hunter. To bad he`ll never get the nomination.
******I didn't see it that way. Make her watch the democratic debates... ask her why she feels live vomiting after.![[wink]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/002.gif "Wink [wink]")
Yup. You know it`s bad for us when you watch the Democratic debate and realize the candidate with the biggest balls is Hillary.
I like Duncan Hunter. To bad he`ll never get the nomination.
Compromising your ideals for someone who 'has a chance' is the reason why we always have to pick from the lesser of two evils. If people actually backed the candidates they preferred...I can't help but wonder if things would be different.
I think Huck did real well. I like Ron Paul as well. I actually think Huck would make a great vice President.
Giuliani makes me sick. Romney can DIAF. It makes me sick that these are the two we will 'default' to as the above poster inferred.
Great point, pip. I really appreciate his willingness to let others make up their own minds about what is moral or right, rather than try to control them with government force. He has said on many occasions that he doesn't condone what some people do with their freedom, but that's no reason to take it from them.
And to everyone else, yes, his chances of winning the nomination are slim, and yes, if you decide against him because of this, they will get slimmer still. You have the power.
![[grin]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/041.gif "Grin [grin]")
Is Josh a Massachusetts resident? Does he have an FID or LTD as required?
I assume that "things for me [to use]." is what he intended to say -- otherwise he contradicts his immediately preceeding statement.
Do the guns in his home follow the storage laws of the state?
I wonder if Mitt has any idea of the numerous pitfalls possible in MA.
I wonder if Deval's Public Safety department is checking into all of this.
![[cheers]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/018.gif "Cheers [cheers]")
I couldn't have said it better !!![[bow]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/027.gif "Bow [bow]")
![[rolleyes]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/042.gif "Roll Eyes [rolleyes]")
The candidates WE prefer would have not chance of beating the democrat nomination in the national election. Therefore, the lesser of two evils, as putrid as it is, is still necessary in order to have the best possible chance of not having a liberal democrat in office.
Until the system is fixed somehow (3 parties, etc.) I feel our main goal is to keep liberals out of office and hence off the benches.
Except two of those Replublican candidates (Romni and Guiliani) are worse than much of the Democrat field. Sure, Hillary would suck more (especially 2A rights), but I can't imagine that the top two Republican candidates would be any good either.
I agree with your desire for a 3 party system - then the 2 main parties might be able to shed their moonbat fringe that they rely on for support. However, that will require a major change to the electoral system (such as proportional representation). Something that isn't very likely since the Dems. and Repubs. rely on the current system to hang onto power.
As a republican, +1. As an American, I'm completely disgusted that no vaguely credible candidate of either party seems to have more than the vaguest acquaintance with the constitution. Does not bode at all well for my grandchildren.
![[frown]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/003.gif "Frown [frown]")
Ken
Pip,
I know you're a closet socialist, but come on... There would be nothing worse than Hillary as president.
![[thinking]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/010.gif "Thinking [thinking]")
