What a difference between the Dems and Reps! A competent set of men discussing the issues in a civilized manner vs. two (three if you count Bill) totally out of control and whacked out Democrats screaming at each other.

Mitt can talk a good talk but seriously...he says:
"look at my economic record"

I really don't think it stacks up:

"Our analysis reveals a weak comparative economic performance of the state over the Romney years, one of the worst in the country," the researchers wrote in the Boston Globe. Specifically, they found:

* As U.S. real output grew 13 percent between 2002 and 2006, Massachusetts trailed at 9 percent.

* Manufacturing employment fell 7 percent nationwide those years, but sank 14 percent under Romney, placing Massachusetts 48th among the states.

* Between fall 2003 and autumn 2006, U.S. job growth averaged 5.4 percent, nearly three times Massachusetts' anemic 1.9 percent pace.

* While 8 million Americans over age 16 found work between 2002 and 2006, the number of employed Massachusetts residents actually declined by 8,500 during those years.

http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=12568

Ron Paul clearly won tonight once again...the only pro-freedom, pro-peace candidate on that state.

btw.. did anyone notice how this supposedly "Republican" audience, completely and totally agreed with the the premise (by their applause) that they did NOT think the Iraqi War has been worth the loss in blood and treasure?

I HAVE WATCHED CHRIS AND JOE ON MSNBC FOR A LONG TIME,I WAS SORRY WHEN JOE SWITCHED TP A.M.I ALWAYS LOOKED FORWARD TO THIER SHOW UNTIL KNOW,I DIDN!T KNOW THAT THEY WERE SO BIASED

Huckabee is #1, but Romney looked good too.  McCain = independant (Thus he should run as one). Guliani = Social Liberal; Ron Paul = Crazy Man

Did anyone else hear what Romney said about gun ownership?

I would like to see a direct quote.

A transcript doesn't seem to be available yet.

MSNBC must address the very obvious "whisper" about cutting taxes during Romney's question about Reagan and Social Security question.  Americans are not deaf - we want to know.  Did Romney wear a earbud and get "help" from his team?  He clearly had help on this question.   This is only fair and acceptable if every candidate has the same option and uses it.  In which case - why even have a debate?  

I love reading this stuff by Ron Paul supporters about how mistreated he is and then quotes like the one from Scott from Phoenix that say "the real republic, not the fantasy public polls of your little samples...want Ron Paul."  Have you guys been paying attention at all?  Paul finished 2nd in Nevada but 5th or 6th in every other state.  The people of Iowa, Nevada, Michigan, S. Carolina and even New Hampshire rejected Ron Paul.  Are they not part of the "real republic?"

I'm not all that interested in the Republican debate except to the extent that, should Hillary be the Democratic nominee, I want McCain to win on the Republican side.  The others won't beat Hillary but McCain will.  As a relatively neutral observer, it was clear to me that Romney won this debate.  It was his best yet.  He's the GOP's version of John Kerry (flip-flops) and Hillary (poll-driven decision making) but he was better in this debate than the others.  Hillary will chew him to shreds!

This debate was terrible!  I thought it was the Romney show.  I wish one of the other candidates would have something.  NBC looked in the tank for Romney giving him twice the air time.  Brian Williams and Tim Russert were about as exciting as dry toast!  This was the worst debate by far.
Huckabee won with timited air time.

These are the times for speaking in the "debate"

Ridiculous!!!!
Guiliani gets DOUBLE the speaking time of Dr. Paul, when Dr. Paul has beat him (and doubled him in a couple) of primaries. There is no other explanation, especially when the post "debate" analysis doesn't even mention him, other then an intentional disenfranchisement.

Total Times

Romney: 21:11, during 13 times

McCain: 16:00, during 13 times

Giuliani: 13:50, during 11 times

Huckabee: 12:11, during nine times

Paul: 6:31, during six times

LET THE VOTERS HEAR THE CANDIDATES EQUALLY!!
Then we can decide for ourselves.

If you run the last three Republican debates side by side, you will see that McCain and Romney say the same boring message.. (they get flustered when pushed on their record). Huckabee has continually stated clear messages on Taxes, our economy and many others. If he only had enough finances to get his message out to more people you would see that none of these candidates could touch him. Go Mike..

Grass roots America.

Hello All,

Media coverage was once again unfair by the amount of questions and even the standing placement of the candidates. The personalities shined through anyway, despite the lopsided coverage.

Romney showed his millions bought him the media and majority of the questions. He slithered out of the money question, said how "he wasnt concerned with voters, just these guys up on the stage" and repeated other candidates ideas as his own!( China idea of Huckabee's).

MCCain showed again that he is ready for any challenge. But, again the media gave him and Romney more stage time. I was surprised that Mccain chose to ask Huckabee the fairtax question. And I suppose I am happy he did, It gave Huckabee the opportunity to discuss it. It showed that Governor Huckabee has mastered his Fairtax idea. In just 90 seconds, I felt I understood how our IRS is broken, and how his plan will work for the average guy,the wealthy, corporations, the elderly, ect.. He also explained how keeping our trillions of dollars off-shore, trying to hide from the IRS, would help our economy if the money were brought home. Wow.. in 90 seconds!!

Ron Paul was honest and refreshing. It's a shame that the media doesnt give him or Huckabee more questions and they dismiss Paul as a crackpot..laughing at him.
I'm not going to vote for Paul, I just think that he is being treated unfairly and has some good ideas.

In the end, I'm voting for Governor Huckabee next tuesday here in Florida. I think his ideas are awesome, he is a true-Christian, He handles the tough questions with ease, he is moving forward just on ideas..not his money! He is classy and presidential..Vote Huckabee on Tuesday!
 

Both before and after the debate, Joe Scarborough acted like a paid staffer for Romney.  If I want biased i"ll watch FOX.  I expect more from MSNBC.

I am outraged that the journalist and reports are leaving Ron Paul out!! WHY WHY WHY???
The SMS text poll showed him to be the winner, or in par with Mitt Romney - why wasn't that reported??
Dr Paul asked McCain a question on the Economic situation of America - he didn't have an answer - doesn't Mr President supposed to have some plan and clue as to how to address an issues instead of saying he will depend on his advisors... Look at BUSH and what his advisors are advising him.
You are all guilty in trying to influence the public vote - it is so UNFAIR.  I am so outraged, disgusted and deeply disappoiunted.

I would like to know WHY Dr. Ron Paul doesn't get the same media coverage as the other frontrunners. People realize that this is happening and it just makes the media look like liars.  I thought you were suppose to report all news not just news that makes your company get more money from big government.  Yeah I am sure you wont put this up on your webpage just like you wont report the real news half the time. Just what you want people to believe weather it is true or not.
Shame on you all.  Things will change with or without you.

Romney took this debate by simply sticking to his Washington outsider message,showing clear economic strength and reminding people what he did for the state of Mass. McCain will pay for pretending not to remember his own statement about his economic weakness. I think Romney can take on the Clintons!

well no matter who won the american people lost.I for one don't need msnbc to tell me who to vote for anymore than I need fox news to tell me who to vote for.This was the most biased debate so far.I thought Russert was a real newsman.Turns out he's just a hack like the rest.

Thanks for letting us get another look at the candidates.  I aprreciated the civil conversation about the issues.  My favorite overall is Mike Huckabee.  He seems to want the nomination in order to serve our country, not win an olympic gold.

Mccain and pork barrel spending. I wonder how much it costs the American taxpayers for his photo op trips to Iraq.

Boring, boring, boring.  I much prefer the Dems.  They must think Clinton will be the nominee to constantly go after her.  They will all start pulling a Chris Matthews, he knows he is being watched for his attacks of Hillary, so now he is going after Bill.  They will do the same, but I don't think they or Chris know what they are up against.

Those egg shells they were walking on are what's left of the Humpty-Dupty Bush administration. Pro-life, pro-gun, pro-war, pro-tax cuts. How are they any different? None of these king's men can put it together again. While McCain was best at running away, even he did not run away from Bush, he ran away from congressional spending.

I can't believe I'm saying this but Mitt was very strong last night and in command of the economic issues debated for the first 20 minutes.  
McCain was very general with his answers even when he was asked to be specific.  And the whole "raise the white flag of surrender" is offensive to people who do not agree on spending any more of our money and lives on continuing a mistake.
Giuliani just cost himself any hope of winning the nomination with that performance.  And did anyone see the very weird face he makes when the camera went to wide shots?  MSNBC mercifully avoided that particuler shot as the debate progressed.
Huckabee was very flat.  He had a great answer regarding the stimulus package but otherwise a forgettable performance.  

What a shame. The best man for the job and they give him so little time to speak. I thought MSNBC would give Ron Paul a chance to get his message out, but I was wrong. He is far above the rest when it comes to realistic solution to the problems at hand with this country. When it came to the Q&A part no one asked Ron a question, and McCain had no clue on how to answer Ron's question. If they can't make these debates a true way for the voters to get an idea what ALL the candidates have to offer, and not just the ones they think are viable, don't have them at all. What does Ron Paul have to do to get respect? When will people see the others are just saying what they think the voters want to hear instead of the truth, which is all Ron Paul speaks?

Bogey Balata,

Yes it was noticed!!!  We aren't all lambs to the slaughter!!!

PAUL, ROMNEY and then GUILIANI. I am leaning more towards the Democratic Party because I agree with more of their views than the Republicans but I keep an open mind. I want someone (regardless of party affiliation) who will do the best job for our nation. McCain comes across as arrogant and stumbled all over himself with Paul's economic question. We can't have a President who doesn't understand our financial system or have an intelligent opinion on such matters. Huckabee was more of a fly on the wall. I wish there was more media coverage of Paul because I think he has really great ideas but no one knows about them.

If you look at the time each candidate was given, you might find a correlation between who wins and who was given the most time.

Romney was handed this debate. Paul didn't have a chance.

When looking good matters, the media knows how to make a guy look good. Unfortunately, looking good is more important than having solid principles, reputation and character.

So let's elect the best looking, smoothest talking guy we can find, mkay? That's what the media wants. And that's what you're getting.

We would all do well to remember that RON PAUL has no one he is indebted to...he continues to raise millions from individuals who ask nothing in return.  And his voting record is consistent enough to prove that he is not telling us what we want to hear just to get in office.  You know exactly what Ron Paul will do once he is office.  He is a fiscal conservative and as soon as this economy starts biting the dust all the other "issues" will fall by the wayside.

Huckabee plagiarizing Ron Paul disgusts me. The economy has been one of Paul's key issues from the get-go.

From the Republican debate, October 9 in Dearborn, Michigan.

Paul: Today this country is in the middle of a recession for a lot of people. Michigan knows about it. Poor people know about it. The middle class knows about it. Wall Street doesn't know about it. Washington, D.C., doesn't know about it. But it's because of the monetary system and the excessive spending. As long as we live beyond our means, we are destined to live beneath our means.

MSNBC needs to a fact check on comparing the Bush years to Clinton on the economy. Bush had lower interest rates, lower unemployment, lower inflation, the highest home ownership by blacks and whites and seven years of improving economy in spite of the war and several natural disasters.

on the call in poll who won  Romney 41% Paul 40% aren't you listening? We are....
Ron Paul 08

How come Ron Paul wins the debate last night,according
to the MSNBC call in poll, (this will only let you vote one time from one phone number)and is almost compleatly left out from any main stream meadia coverage??????

Ron Paul sure does have a lot of internet trolls on his side. Too bad they don't crawl out from the blogosphere and actually vote! Give it up, he is finished. This is now a two man race and Reps need to get serious about this primary.

I thought Romney did a good job of showing he knows the issues. Furthermore, he has poise and charisma, something we need in a president in motivating the Aemerican people while also helping to garner international support.

McCain is just a dose of the same old inside the beltway BS. He has no understanding of the economy and didn't even make an impression on his knowledge of foreign policy. Also, I was really bothered by his flat out lie about what he said earlier regarding his knowledge of the economy. If he can make a blunder like that, who knows what he will do in the White House!

One thing is clear from the debate and that is Hillary is the one thing that unites the Republican party.  She is fresh meat for them and the Democrats should take note and think twice about making her the nominee.  This is the most polorizing person in politics so why would the Dems annoint her when the thing this country needs most is to be united.  If you think the Clintons are playing divisive ball now within their own party just wait till they get to the Superbowl.  These bad and selfish people have brought race into the Dem. race to win....but their, by their own annointing, are not racist.  The Democrats desirve everything they get if they make her their candidate.

John McCain & company, your "tax and spend" catch-phrase is now obsolete.Do you think we are stupid ? Republicans have big government, they want to put Democracy every place in the world, bigger military, bigger investment in the military industrial complex; They want to go and solve every problem in every dictatorship in the world. That's bigger government. That's more government involvement. That's big tax payer spending. And that's what the Republicans have wanted to do.

Who cares what the CFR has to say? Vote Ron Paul!!

I think the biggest LOSER is Tim Russert and the dummiest question was to have Romney to answer match-up with THE BOTH CLINTONS as P/VP. I think presidential debate is serious business. The questions like those unrealistically  hypotheticals shall not be asked. Clinton has publically denied any possibility that Bill will be a running mate. It is illegimate anyway. So the question will be illegimate. It is dismal to me that TIM was emphasizing that BILL to be running mate of Hillary when he was asking. I can read that there exists some kind of hate inside Tim's abdomen or he "Calculated" to promote Romney to be front-runner. The question has the same stupidness as if Tim asks that "If you nominated, will you consider my wife to be your running mate?".  It just nonsense. Media shall focus on candidates' leadership, capability, knowledge, and standing on issues. These are important things to help voters to make up their minds for their presidential candidate.

Republicans are in a tail spin, Joe S. should not have been covering this debate, his bias is as bad as Rush's.  The only!!!! chance the republicans have of beating Hilary is to choose Mccain.  If the base snubs him again they will be throwing in the towel.  I am one of many male democrats who voted for Reagan and will not vote for Hilary against Mccain.  If it ends up being Mit, I and many others will pull the trigger for Hilary.  Even though it will hurt.  I am also of the belief that one party in control of all 3 branches does not work.  Wake up and elect someone who has a chance of uniting the country!  The Republican party will survive and may even expand.  Duh!

How come Ron Paul wins the debate last night,according
to the MSNBC call in poll, (this will only let you vote one time from one phone number)and is almost compleatly left out from any main stream meadia coverage??????

What is the story with the whisper of "he raised taxes" occuring when Russert asks Romney if he will do what Reagan did to save social security? Where did that come from?

What a shame our world media is...Censoring Dr. Paul the way corporate media does should be illegal. We need to wake up and stop eating the lies.

The National Enquirer is looking more and more credible next to MSNBC.

It's obvious that the media doesn't represent democracy.  You ( MSNBC ) may look down on our intelligence as viewers. Ratings must not be as important as controlling the debate, as if it's a hour and a half long infomercial supporting your corporate agenda.

What I don't understand is when Huckabee sites everything that Ron Paul has been saying the whole time, he gets credit.  Take a look at the real record and then make a decision.  Make sure you do our country a real service and not injustice.  Vote Ron Paul!  He is the only true conservative GOP candidate in the race.  I just love the way when every candidate was asked if it was worth the blood shed that they all said yes; and guess who said no ~ Ron Paul!!!  Just think if we didn't go to war, you and I would have our neighbors still alive standing next to us.  But instead we have a country divided and falling fast.  Stop the nonsense and BELIEVE!!!  

The real "change" will come with Dr. Ron Paul.  

Take a look SHEEP!!!

WHAT DEBATE?
LAST NIGHT WAS THE MOST BORING CHAT I HAVE HEARD YET.
THEY DEBATED NOTHING, EXCEPT FOR RON PAUL AND BEFORE YOU GET THE IDEA THAT I AM A R.P. SUPPORTER, LET ME ASSURE YOU , I AM NOT.  IN FACT I THINK IF ANY ONE LISTENS TO HIS INTIRE PLAN THEY WILL BE JUST AS TURNED OFF AS I AM. HIS IDEAS ARE - CRAXY.
I LIVE IN ARKANSAS AND GOV. BEEBE IS TRYING TO START GETTING RID OF SOME OF THE GROCERERY TAXES IMPOSED BY HUCKABEE.  MOST OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE CAUSED THE SCHOOLS TO IMPROVE WERE PUT IN PLACE BY THE CLINTONS. ESPECIALLY FOR SPECIAL ED. STUDENTS.
MY GRANDSON DOESN'T LIKE HUCK. BECAUSE OF HIM DOING AWAY WITH RECESS. THE SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES. THEY RARELY GET ANY FRESH AIR.-----AND, HIS JOKES GET A LITTLE OLD AFTER A WHILE.
McCAIN OBVIOUSLY IS THE ONE TO KEEP THE WAR GOING FOREVER, EVEN THO, HE SEEMS MORE HONEST THAN ROMNEY.
HE REALLY WILL SAY ANYTHING, AND DOES. I WISH WE HAD HAD THE CLINTONS IN THE WHITEHOUSE THE LAST 7 YEARS.  DOES ANY ONE BELIEVE WE WOULD BE IN THE MESS THAT WE ARE IN NOW?  A WAR WITHOUT END AND THE ECONOMY GOING DOWN THE TOILET.
THE CLINTON YEARS WERE PRETTY DARN GOOD INSPITE OF THE REPUBLICANS PLAYING THEIR EVIL GAMES
WHAT IN THE WORLD DID JUILIANI DO ON 9-11 THAT WAS SO HEROIC?  IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS TO MAKE THE CITY SAFER WERE NOT PUT IN PLACE, THAT MAY HAVE SAVED LIVES ON THAT DREADFUL
DAY.  REMEMBER, IT WAS HILLARY WHO FIRST WARNED THE PEOPLE WORKING AT GROUNG ZERO, THAT THE AIR THEY WERE BREATHING WAS PROBABLY DANGEROUS TO THEIR HEALTH AS THE BUSH ADMININTRATION CLAIMED IT WAS PERFECTLY SAFE. AND OF COURSE SHE WAS RIGHT.
LAST NIGHTS DEBATE LULLED ME TO SLEEP AS MOST OF THE REPUBLICAN DEBATES DO.  WE USUALLY COUNT THE TIMES RONALD REAGANS NAME IS INVOKED.  SEEMS LIKE THEY FEEL LIKE THE ONE WHO SAYS IT THE MOST WILL WIN.   LAST NIGHT IT WAS HILLARY.  SEEMS TO ME LIKE THEY ARE SCARED TO DEATH TO RUN ANYONE OF THEIR CANDIDATES AGAINST HER.  I DON'T THINK SHE NEEDS BILL TO MAKE UP HER MIND, SHE'S QUITE UP TO PAR ON ANY SUBJECT.
HILLARY IS WAY ABOVE ALL THE REST IN ANY SUBJECT YOU CAN THROW AT HER.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT I THOUGHT THE QUESTIONING WAS VERY POOR BY THE MODERATORS.
THE CNN DEM. DEBATE WAS FAR MORE INTERESTING.
MSNBC NEEDS TO BROADEN THEIR SCOPE.  HOW LONG CAN THEY KEEP MAKING PRESIDENT CLINTON THE NEWS EVERYDAY
ANY OF THE THREE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES WOULD BE A GREAT CHANGE FOR AMERICA, AFTER THE BUNCH OF THUGS WE HAVE HAD FOR THIS LAST TWO TERMS.
MY CHOICE CLEARLY IS ---HILLARY!!!!!
 

Nice job of MSNBC to try and snub Ron Paul by not allowing him nearly the face time all the other candidates got.  Ron Paul is the only Republican that is really for our best interest.  The media isn't.

I have lived in Arizona for over 30 years.  I have been heavily involved in Arizona politics over the years including working with McCain at times and running for office myself.  I hope the public in Florida has seen what a manipulative individual he is.  Believe me he will say anything that he thinks will get him this election.  Including lies like he told last night about his economic IQ.  By the way there are few state polititians who even like him personnally as well as politically.  He truly has lived up to his nickname here as McNasty.

It was such unfairness to Paul who only got half of the questions asked:
Romney: 21:11, during 13 times
McCain: 16:00, during 13 times
Giuliani: 13:50, during 11 times
Huckabee: 12:11, during nine times
Paul

Romney shined and showed a lot of wit!

The only candidate that makes sense and is being censored is RON PAUL.
Only one with a plan fiscally and on foriegn policy.
And my biggest concern (our borders). He wants them shut and no more anchor babies.

GORON PAUL

90 minute debate... Ron Paul gets under 5 minutes of air time!!!??? Rudy, in dead last over 20 minutes.  Sweet, thanks NBC!  Your about as fair and balanced as FOX!

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