Too bad for Mitt...I can hardly care.  Mitt strikes me as the type of person who'll talk bad about someone behind their back and then be shocked when called on it...Oh oops!  I guess that did happen.  

It's simple, if he can't take it, he shouldn't dish it.  I've watched all these political ads and his are really nasty.  Shocker there, every jumped on him.

They were cheap shots by desperate people.  Romney is right on the issues important to Republicans.  And the other candidates know it.  Romney stuck to the issues while others took as you called them "cheap shots".  America is tired of John McCain, he has been in Washington a long time and has not fixed a thing.  It's time for a true leader that can solve real problems in Washington.  It's time for Mitt Romney!

Romney, stay above the fray? Please. He bankrolled the fray. Romney flips while Giuliani flops. I like Huckabee.

Romney dominated in his win in Wyoming today (MSN reluctant to report, of course), and he won the debate as well.  Despite everyone attacking him (even personally - which he refuses to do) he eloquently deflected every attack and was the most intelligent and inspiring candidate by far.  Conservatives unite - let's nominate Mitt Romney!

I thought Rudy did great tonight... very good answers.

Rudy looked great tonight, he has my vote down here in Florida.

Huckabee is another Jimmy Carter Christian!

Who won the ABC Republican Debate in New Hampshire?

http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=1450

.

@Rocko:  "MSN reluctant to report, of course"?  Huh???  On the front page of the site AND on the front page of the Politics page, there where HUGE stories on Romney's win in Wyoming.  I know the site super sucks for navigation, but the Romney win in Wyoming was up in front for a good 4 hours.

I am ashamed at the way that fellow republicans treat Mitt Romney.  He is a good man even if you do not agree with his policies and these personal attacks are just childish.  Especially from McCain.  I have gained a lot of respect for Romney because he does not get into the childish attacks.

The sooner Romney flames out, the better-off Republicans will be.

McCain and Huckabee should be ashamed of their debate performances. Totally pathetic - all they did was diss Romney with idiotic attacks "...you really are the candidate of change" - are you serious, is this recess or something John.

Honestly, If Thompson or Mitt doesnt win - Im voting Obama - if we're not going to put a competent person in the whitehouse - then at least I want some energy and passion.

Romney seems like a straight forward man who made money in the private sector (which is not a sin)-straightened out the Olympics-and put Massachusetts Government back on track

McCain looked like the mean old man we all know he is.  He couldn't resist taking personal shots at Romney.  Romney only attacks others on their issues, not their character.  My vote goes to Romney.

As Edwards said during the Dems debate (I'm paraphrasing)--when someone comes out for change, the forces for status quo attack.  Romney is the only really fresh candidate we've had in decades.  It's only natural that the others will attack him.  The ads of Romney's that I've seen have not been "attack ads":  They've been contrast ads, comparing political and leadership records.  As a resident of the state of Arkansas who has lived through Huckabee's tenure of office, I can tell you that the things he has said about Huckabee's record are factual.  That's why Romney is being so viciously attacked on a personal basis.  The candidates all know that people are not going to take the time to research their records.  The candidates have to trash Romney so that no one will believe him when he does the research.
You want something new?  You want change?  Or do you want the status quo?

Romney had a very good night. He was specific in his answers and proposals. He did not stoop to the playground tit for tat that was evidenced by others who went after him. Huckabee appeared to speak in generalities that were rather circular. McCain did well but was not the dominant figure. Rudy and Fred also had good ideas but did not come across as having the full package. Romney had a good night.

I thought that McCain's insult of Romney ("you are the change candidate) appeared junior highish.  They're ganging up on him because he is the only on expressing uniformly conservative principles.  When he's knocked out, who do we Repubs have?

It's crazy to say that Mitt goes home if he comes in second.  These are delegates being apportioned, not winner take all electoral votes.  After NH - Mitt will be the leading in delegate count.  And he'll be leading by alot.  Probably a 30% margin over the nearest competitor - Huckster.

The reason it's pile on Mitt time is that they now see he can win even if he only is consistently second - with a handful of firsts - Like today in Wyoming, which has more delegates than New Hampshire.  Rudy is the only one who can contest Mitt nationally - and he looks weak.

Mitt can ride second all the way to the white house.  It's tough when you try to beat a cold, calculating, competent SOB.

Here in Iowa, we experienced several months of Romney's attack ads.  All were personal.  All attacks were initiated by Romney.  He's the master of cheap shots (that cost millions!).

The difference between the other candidates and Romney is... they'll challenge him to his face. He only attacks them in slimy political ads. It says something about his character... or lack of it.

JH, Columbia, TN - you are no Republican or you wouldn't have said that. Either that or you completely underestimate the character and resolve of Mitt Romney. And after tonight I've pretty much lost all respect for McCain. Huckabee, well that was gone weeks ago. The guy after the debate eagerly shakes Romney's hand and smiles at him like they were long lost friends. Why don't you try and pull the knife out of the guy's back first before you show your smug face to him. Disgraceful that Romney even has to wallow around with Huckabee.

By the way, would someone please name me one bill that Romney passed that would not be considered becoming of a true conservative? I mean, if you want to stop with the character assassinations that everyone is trying to throw out at Romney, let's talk about their records here. Let's compare records. With the other guys it's, "don't look at what I've done, look at what I'm saying now."

Let us Take role for the 3rd grade.  Huckabee.  Huckabee:here.  McCain. McCain:Here.  Lets take role for the president of the United States.  Romney.  Romney:here.   Romney focused on solving problems with America and sounded great.  Huckabee and McCain got jealous and called names like third graders.

Regis Matejcik, Austin, Texas - and yes, he is cold, calculating, competent, and downright conservative! We love you Mitt!

Mitt was on the defensive all night and did fantastic maintaining his composure. Mitt was specific and had a solid grasp of the issues.  Fred also did well and gave great answers.  

McCain looked like a baby who could not defend himself from facts, and blatantly lied about not supporting Amnesty.  

I was really angered by the cheap shots by McCain and Huckabee and shows what kind of people they are.  Fred's weren't that cheap.  Romney did fine considering he had to defend himself more than Ron Paul did.  Romney's ideas, record, intelligence and character was clearly evident.  The petty nature of all but Paul and Gulliani was evident too.  Hopefully the good people of NH will see what happened tonight.

I liked Gov. Romney best in the debate.  For the other candidates to attack him like they did they must feel threatened by him.  Huckbee did okay but after reading about his record in Arkansas I could never vote for him no matter how personable he is.
McCain is too old and he is more democratic than
republican.  He has treated conservatives with
contempt. Guiliani would be good on a number of issues
but I much prefer the stronger family values of
Romney.

rudysaurusrex, what they did tonight wasn't a challenge of his policies or positions, it was a challenge (or rather an attack) of his character. Is that acceptable to us all? Where in all of that do we have an honest evaluation of each other's policies and what they've done in the past to back it up. I want to see contrasting positions. I want to see how they differ. The only thing we saw from them was just childishness. The problem with McCain and Huckabee is that there's too many skeletons in those closets, so for them it hurts because they certainly haven't proven they are conservative. Now they want us to just trust them or take them at their word? Not going to happen.

McCain is just a warped, frustrated old man. He pretends to take the high road of clean politics, and yet he attacks Romney with personally and maligns his character.

Fact: They ganged up on Romney because he is by far the biggest threat to each of their candidacies. Romney has brilliantly positioned himself to have influence in every aspect of this race, and it showed tonight. I think that speaks volumes to Mitt Romney's appeal and to his ability to manage a complex campaign.

By the way, McCain and Huckabee showed real mean streaks in their personal attacks on Romney. They didn't debate the facts, just called names. Very weak.

I give Romney an A+ for withstanding the attacks without going personal on anybody. The guy exudes tenacity, intelligenc, and executive competence. That's what I want in a president.

If Romney gets the nomination, he'll get slaughtered in the general.  He's a stiff, unengaging phony.  Every time someone else called him out on his changing positions, the only thing he could do was change the subject or whine about "personal attacks" because his flip-flopping is undeniable.  May I remind you also that Romney was the first to put out negative ads in either party.

Iowa voter, are you an evangelical? Do you know truth? Those were contrast ads and had a lot of truth to them. Of course they say that the truth hurts.

Romney is doing fine.  He won Wyoming today hands down.  His strategy of collecting delegates state by state (gold or silver medal will do) is working fine.  It is lonely when you have the race jersey because everyone wants it.  Mitt is doing a good job of changing his message to each group, we all do the same thing.  I talk about different things with my barber than I do with my friends but I am conservative through and through.  We need a Chief Executive Officer in the White House, not a guitar playing bafoon, actor, or Democratic senator (McCain, Obama, Clinton).

Fred sounded good for once.  Huckabee was trying not to get trapped in specifics.  He can't handle those.  McCain basically said I'm a Senator and have been since the Flood. If he blinked any more his eyes would have been closed.  Rudy was Rudy and was okay talking policy and ideas but was annoying somehow. Paul, as usual, blamed everything on the war in Iraq.  Romney had a good command of facts and issues and stated his positions clearly.  He got tripped up a couple of time s but that is expected.

Basically:
Mitt does not ATTACK anybody (he gives cold, hard facts)&
Everyone ATTACKS Mitt

McCAIN said earlier today “differences will be aired in a positive and respectful manner”?

I was shocked at his impolite, negative attacks tonight and his unwillingness to speak of the details of his immigration plan.

Let’s hear the details John. Don’t replace them with personal attacks.

PollM.  Ron Paul always wins on line polls.  His people are dedicated to the net.

I think the repubs were not professional enough tonight, too many jokes, too much interupting.
Huckabee was smart for staying so quiet, Rudy spent to much time promoting his book and 'HIS' city, how many times do you need to mention Reagan, he's dead. Fred is too grumpy and simplistic, Romney too slippery, McCain was snide with the change remark at Mitt.
If you kids want to do something for america, you better vote Dem!
The repubs all seem like they want to continue Bushco.
We had enough of that.
See ya!
CHANGE NOW!!!

Reading the comments here tells me more about this country than what will come from whoever is elected president: We are blatantly lying to the world when we call ourselves the "United" anything. The only thing that unites any of this crowd or any other that I have seen gathered in the last six years is that we're all afraid someone is going to take our country away, while all the attacks on it since that watershed day in 2001 have come from within.

I'm more afraid of my fellow American than I am of Al Queda, because when I look around me I see a crowd of people who all think the country should look the way they want it and to Hell with whatever anyone else thinks. And when someone tells me that this is the way things have always been, my answer is, well, perhaps that's why we're in such a mess.

United. Prove it.

Here in Minnesota, we see stuff coming north from Iowa quite often.  To their face and in the mass media (TV, mail, etc), Romney always discussed the issues and positions, never making personal attacks.  McCain is a mean, nasty hypocrite, and Huckabee is a sly man who carefully disguises his attacks.  Their silly "gentlemen's" agreement to take Romney out is something you would expect to see behind a tree on the playground.

Joe, I agree with you. None of the Republican candidates are particularly inspiring. I'm a lifelong Republican but I'm leaning towards Obama.

What happened?  Did all of the Ron Paul Internet junkies become Mitt Romney e-apologists?  The PowerPoint/Focus Group candidate from Massachusetts lost big in tonight’s relatively lackluster GOP debate.

It's not that some of his current positions are not viable with Republicans; it's simply that nobody trusts what the Stepford Candidate believes in.

Romney stayed above the fray, while even Thompson looked petty. I do not think McCain and Huckabee ever looked more like spoiled children. Romney gained, while the others shrunk - even as they belittled.

BRAVO Mitt Romney! You won the debate. We are so proud of you.  Your character, morals, integrity, and intelligence is what we want in the White House.  Romney for President 2008!  

I think Mitt and Rudy were the only professional people up there tonight. Everyone else acted like children on the school yard.
Personally I am going to vote for Mitt, but I am very happy with how Rudy behaved tonight.
Sofar Mitt is in the lead for Delagates!!!
I guess they are all upset that they are actually loosing to (gasp!) Mitt!!!

Romney: 17 (9 IA, 8 WY)
Huckabee: 13 (13 IA)
Thompson: 8 (5 IA, 3 WY)
McCain: 5 (5 IA)
Paul: 4 (4 IA)
Giuliani: 1 (1 IA)
Hunter: 1 (1 WY)

There is no questions that Mitt Romney is the most competent Conservative candidate. The attacks on him are indicative of that. I do not have a problem with the other candidates attacking, this is a debate not a peace talk. When you are the man to beat you have to be able to step up and defend yourself.  The thing that impressed me about Romney was that he was ready to take on any one of the other candidates on the issues. He will have to do that as the President of the U.S. Finally, the guy has the ability to make things happen and not just talk about general principles that sound appealing. The guy's track record is impressive. Republicans only hope in the presidential election is Romney.

IN THE DEPTH OF THE UNKNOWN,
THERE ARE NECESSARY CONQUESTS

The well-known NASA scientist and author of popular scientific works, Professor Carl Sagan, together with his wife Linda, among other people, wrote the famous Space Message engraved on Pioneer 10 and meant for possible extraterrestrial civilizations which might be discovered — who knows? — somewhere in our Galaxy. Professor Sagan is a master of the art of using humor, and he is fond of allegories. That is why Lucien Bonnet wrote to himin the form of a parable on April 10, 1978.

Montreal, April 10, 1978

Dear Dr. Sagan:

It sometimes happens that a dreambecomes a reality. That’s the case today. Through Mr. Emil P. Ericksen, Economic Officer of the Consulate General of the United States of America in Montreal, I am in communication with the American scientist whose works and research I most admire.

I would like to address a simple message to Professor Carl Sagan and his wife, who feel, as the year 2000 approaches, that the time is ripe to make our presence known by sending signals to other possible intelligent beings in the Universe. The message, which is the result of my patient research, I formulate as follows:

"On the cosmic scale, as on the terrestrial scale, blackness is an integral part of color and light processes."

My purpose is to inform you of this particular subject and the reasons that have led me to carry out my research, in the context of the problems of the very small country, whose history is as tortured as its geography, where I was born and grew up: Haiti, whose name means "land of mountains". This country has been faced for years with the difficulties inherent to any collectivity confronted with a problem of identity. In Canada, where I live and to which I have become acclimatized, this subject still motivates my research, propels my efforts and explains the audacity of my words. In the particular context of a centuries-old conflict, where personal interest and racial origins confront each other, it is essential that we get to the bottom of things. At this point, it would be as well to point out that branch of energy physics, namely optics, where scientific taboos concerning color, darkness and light are furthered and maintained by trade secrets, patents and vested interests. A rational search for original, and even avant-garde, answers on a scientific and intellectual level would seem to be a necessary prerequisite to establishing a balanced situation.

Not being a "scientist", because,
( sometimes, facts are so obvious that they "hit you in the eye" but, like ostriches, people in the field of Optics bury their heads in the sand ). but rather, perhaps the most obscure of all obscure researchers of all obscure ages, I amasking a special favor from Professor Sagan. I would like him to agree to examine my modest results and the demonstration there of, backed up by photos and films. Needless to say, they may be freely used for any purposes deemed necessary to the success of my undertaking. On one film, I wanted to assemble in my own way the elements and conditions that I think are indispensable to the analysis and synthesis of colors. I amsubmitting four films called "color separations" and the color proofs to support this finding.

The sentences I quote below are yours. They are taken from an interview that you gave to a French magazine reporter:

"…after Apollo, scientists were discouraged. Do you know why they were disheartened? Because the sky above the Moon is black. That made them depressed. Do you think this is a joke? Not at all. Scientists are more fragile than they look. But the sky above Mars is rose-colored and that gave them hope."4

4 Delaprée, Catherine " L’homme clef de Viking: Et maintenant il faut tout revoir…",
(Le Point, August 16, 1976, pp. 48,49) [our translation]

I can see you and Mrs. Sagan smiling, seeming to say, "Roses live the life span of a rose, the space of one morning."

The solution to the enigma of Space is not a "one-morning" task. Its darkness of an extraordinary depth, always so secretive and so intriguing, bordering on despair and insanity, fear and disgust, hatred and damnation, a consequence of ignorance or indifference, jealously hides incredible resources that would be of benefit to science, perceived only by such advanced, and wise, researchers as Professor Sagan.

With all due respect to the biblical Genesis, which from generation to generation teaches those who wish to hear it their way that "God divided the light from the darkness" (Gen. 1:4), and with all due respect to Sir Isaac Newton, who showed us all the colors of the rainbow with his prism, but who left us in the dark about the greatest unknown of all times, darkness itself, I insist that darkness — "the black rose of space", arbitrarily denied as a positive value, always perceived negatively, discreet, hardly envious of the light which it absorbs, the better to conserve it — has passed for the absence of light, while in reality it is the extension of light.

Since the beginning of time, a harmonious and complementary state has existed between light and darkness, whose equivalent effects are carefully balanced at the cosmic level, making us think, as sages of all ages have suggested, like Lavoisier, that in this coherent universe, "nothing is created, nothing is lost, everything is transformed".

The question we ask ourselves most often is this: "What would our lives be without light?" All things being equal, and according to the Law of Conservation of Matter and Energy, we might ask, "What would life be without darkness?" Whether we say “darkness is an absence of light” or “light is an absence of darkness", is this not a simple question of semantics?

Reconciling light with darkness is a simple message that any future human or extraterrestrial space traveler should be able to grasp without too much difficulty. In the interests of any advanced civilization, obtaining a workable combination of visible and invisible forms of matter or energy is a chance to surpass ourselves by extending our own limits.

The so-called luminous part of the Universe, be it ever so brilliant, so forceful, that it seems to eclipse all the rest, while left in the shadow of its over whelming radiance, cannot by itself constitute a whole. The latter is left to the perception and investigation of scientists—but again, we must have the courage to get to the bottom of things.

The bottom of things is often veiled by mentalities. Mentalities depend on the human brain. It is interesting to note that the thing we are most proud of, this wonderful human brain — physically, without our realizing it — has always functioned in utter darkness. Man’s skull constitutes, without a doubt, the best model of a dark room which has ever been conceived. On the optical as well as the psychological plane, one can easily imagine what roadblocks are likely to be encountered. When we wish to refer to the superior abilities of man, weuse the term "gray matter". Gray matter in a dark room, with or without a prism — what a delicate situation! Isn’t it where all the subtlety lies?

From the gray lunar soil of the Moon and in the concerted harmony of constructive forms, visible and invisible, of channeled light energy, the white rose and the black rose of the Cosmos and the possibility of roses in all color shades — enough to make the sky of Mars blush red — represent the true challenge of space and the spaceship in modern times. Inertia, spectral speed, speed equal to or higher than that of light, and the scientifically controlled reversibility of the phenomenon, what a new synthesis, but also what a liberation! To compare is not to prove, but the dark hidden side of the Moon, however mysterious it may be, is not a path of no return.

At the edge of light, there is darkness. At the edge of darkness, we can find light. Reconciling the "Children of Light"(I Thess. 5:5) — of the zenith, the rising sun and the setting sun — with the "Children of Darkness" (I Thess. 5:6) could perhaps one day become a question of scientific mentality.

“And there was evening and there was morning…” (Gen. 1:5).

Could this, Professor, be one of the most harmonious aspects of the vital cycle of space?

Thank you for your attention to my letter.

Yours very truly,

Lucien Bonnet

http://www.contact-canadahaiti.ca
PLEASE' SEE "Bill A Ri And There Was Light!"

News Flash...Fox News (10:12EST) Claims:  Mitt Romney split 3 Delegates in Wyoming today with Duncan Hunter getting one.  NOT TRUE. Duncan Hunter did get one delegate of 12.  Fred Thompson got one delegate of 12 and at press time Mitt had got 6 delegates of 12 and likely to get most of the rest.  FOX NEWS reported an error.  You Decide.  And contrary to what Caroline says above, there is little phoney about Romney's record (or his father in Michigan for that matter). The problem is that he is a Cheif Executive and not an actor which most Americans like (perfect smiles and the true phonies by definition). So he might have some problems with a dumbed down America.  That is true.  Dumbing down America has worked.

Huckabee and McCain showed some important character traits this evening. I cannot understand how someone who wants the best for the US can support that type of attitude. Thompson is really laid back, so he was fun to watch, but all his answers reaked of theory. I question his ability to make good decisions and excute them. His answers were not very informed either. Romney put out a lot of realistic answers and you can sense that he has a good idea of what can be accomplished and what is simply dreaming and unrealistic. Giuliani put out good answers, as well, and you can tell he feels comfortable with some topics. But then again it's easy to feel comfortable when you're not receiving personal shots all night like Romney was.

Romney has spent literally millions of dollars in two small states, Iowa and New Hampshire, on nasty and dishonest attack ads against Huckabee and McCain.  Everybody in those states is well aware of this.  In the debate, he acted exactly like Eddie Haskell.  Sorry, Mr. Romney, no one is going to believe you were the good guy being unfairly treated.

I'm from NH and all I have to say to John Mccain is......

You were for amnesty....

I'm voting for Mitt romney.

All of my friends and family in NH are voting for  Mitt.

And you John Mccain...can kiss my ass!

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