Republican and Conservative political analysis and commentary

With the exception of the subtle shot that Rudy Giuliani took at John McCain when he was asking Mitt Romney a question and the pot shot that Mike Huckabee took at Romney over his plutocratic tendencies; the debate was relatively harmonious.

The best segment of the debate was when the candidates were allowed to ask each other questions.

Best Questions. Mike Huckabee came out firing questioning Romney on his support of the assault weapons ban and the Brady bill; two bills which Huckabee asserted undermines the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Invoking the 2nd Amendment and implying Romney is not so pure on it plays well not only in Florida, but in the Republican base across the country.

Ron Paul, perhaps the smartest person on stage, asked McCain, perhaps the least acute, what he thought of the President's working group on finance. It seemed that McCain had no idea what Paul was talking about and instead used his answer to drop a lot of names that included the smartest economic minds of our generation. But I can't blame McCain, because I had no idea what Paul was talking about; and I'm guessing most people in the audience, in Florida, in the media, and the United States didn't either.

It's unfortunate Fred Thompson wasn't in the debate, he probably would have shot a zinger at Huckabee or Romney. 

Best Answers. McCain lobbed a softball at Huckabee asking him to clarify his Fair Tax plan. Huckabee not only answered the question adroitly, but effectively sold the plan. He even expertly addressed Tim Russert's concerns in the follow up. 

Winner. McCain dominated on national security; Giulaini's supposed bread and butter. He is clearly the best qualified person to lead the military. McCain also got a chance to shore up his Republican credentials citing his past support of fiscal discipline, his record on opposition to pork barrel spending, and his intention to veto any senseless pork spending bills as President.  

Losers. The Democrats got associated with taxes and spending a number of times with no chance of rebuttal. Tax and spend is alive and well. Even further, Hillary and Bill Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee at this point, took their fair share of hits.

Keep in mind that this is Florida, a crucial swing state for the general election. Because of the sanctions by the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic candidates have completely snubbed the state. The Republicans, consequently,  have had the state all to themselves and have gotten a lot of face time. They have even cut into the burgeoning Democratic Hispanic constituency with their Spanish language ads. Florida voters will not forget this in the general election.

Secondly, with regards to taxes, everything they said about the Democrats is true. The recent tax plan proposed by the Democratic Congress is to raise taxes. That is a toxic campaign issue, just ask Walter Mondale.