Round 3

We also had a commercial for the v-chip. I kid you not.

Now a question from Carl Cameron about Putin and Russia and their nuclear plans. Question for McCain: a new Cold War?

McCain: Says when he looked into Putin's eyes he saw the letters KGB. Ooh. Gets applause. Has nothing very specific to say, though. Says he doesn't think there'll be a new Cold War. But everything he says about Putin, "this is a dangerous person" and "he needs to understand that there is a cost to his actions," sounds like warmed-over Cold War rhetoric. McCain says he wants missile defense. "There's going to be some tough times," he says.

Hunter says that Putin gave us an opening by offering to work with us on sea-based missile defense, and says that we should work with Putin on that, put Aegis missile defense in the Black Sea. Lots of cheers when he says we need to keep missile defense strong.

Giuliani: says now is the time to make it clear to Putin that America speaks softly and carries a big stick. He too is a Cold Warrior -- and maybe not even "cold" at all. Says he wants to expand NATO -- NATO is already in a few former Soviet republics, does he propose to expand NATO all the way into Russia herself? Good grief. Says he wants to increase the size of our military in all aspects.

Question for Thompson about Turkey's steps to curb Kurdish terrorism. If America gets to be pro-active and invade Iraq, why shouldn't Turkey do the same thing? Thompson doesn't have much of an answer for this, we have "friends on both sides," he says, but "we have to understand Turkey's position." Says he hopes diplomacy can work. But if it doesn't? He seems to come down on the Turkish side, which in Realpolitik terms is wise.

Tancredo gets to add his two cents. Picks up a Thompson point about Pelosi's Armenian genocide vote, blames her for the Turks getting antsy about Kurdish Iraq.

Huckabee says trained and armed Kurds should fight the PKK, the Kurdish terrorists. Well, do you really think armed Kurds would see the PKK as terrorists, Huck? They'd see them as brothers-in-arms.

Paul says this is all a result of a policy of interventionism. Reminds the audience that Bush ran on a policy of noninterventionism. Paul says the Iraq was is likely to spill over into Iran. "We jeopardize ourselves, and quite frankly we're not able to afford this," he says w/regard to interventionism, and "we don't need another Cold War." Audience is jeering loudly. Booing when he says "the Turks business is not our business." Florida Republicans are trashy people, at least the ones in this audience.

Romney is emoting about genocide, getting applause. Cites Charles Krauthammer -- good to know Romney frankly thinks that one of the prime neocons is a wise foreign policy maven. Lots and lots of applause from the servile audience.

Paul gets a question from Goler, who says that Paul has drawn some of the strongest reactions from the audience, both pro and con. Question is whether the other candidates have left the Republican Party. Paul has a great answer: points out that they do not represent traditional conservatism, that they do not follow the constitution, they are "big government conservatives." Paul points out that Republicans consistently won when they ran as pro-peace, smaller government candidates. Points out that "we have lost our way," which is why "we lost last year, and if we don't go back to our traditions" of hte constitution, civil liberties, etc, we're doomed. Lots of jeering.

Giuliani asked whether he fears a nuclear Iran more than he fears going to war with Iran. Makes it pretty clear that he'd go to war with Iran, though he puts more emphasis on sanctions. He also says he wants to put pressure on China and Russia to pressure Iran. But how? Giuliani cites the difference between Carter and Reagan when dealing with Iran. He doesn't mention Reagan's sale of missiles to Iran -- remember Iran-Contra? Evidently no Florida Republican does.

Thompson gets a question about his laziness. He rambles along in reply, rattling off his resume. After getting to the end, says that, "If a man can do all that and be lazy" he'd recommend laziness to anyone. The brain-dead audience cheers.

That's the end. Not just of the debate, but probably of the Republicans' chances for the next decade or so.