1. WOW! Giuliani just made a point about democracy that I consistently try to make in arguing against people who say that basic democracy-- i.e., just allowing people to vote-- in countries previously dominated by authoritarian regimes is the answer when it comes to delivering greater stability. Giuliani's basic point is that made by Fareed Zakaria-- that democracy doesn't work, and won't work, until there is a foundation of liberties that are recognized and accepted by the vast majority of a given actual or future electorate. Giuliani is absolutely right to suggest that it makes sense in many cases to hold off on holding elections while a country shifts from an authoritarian regime, where rights are not recognized as fundamental, to a liberal regime (and no, I don't mean liberal like Hillary is).

2. Ooh, McCain and Romney have just had to say "Rudy's right." It's worth remembering however that so far as I am aware, neither of them have ever come identifiably close to making or recognizing the distinction that Giuliani just drew.

3. Romney's getting very close to making the argument that we should copy Hezbollah...

4. My God, Tom Tancredo is thoroughly insane. And it's a sad day when I think Tommy Thompson has said anything credible.

5. These people suck at quoting leaders. Romney screwed up the Teddy Roosevelt quote; Brownback screwed up the Reagan quote. At least Romney can be excused on the basis that he wasn't alive when Roosevelt made that quote. But Brownback surely has heard the clip of Reagan saying "tear down this wall" more than a few times, and it was said during his lifetime as well.

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1. Giuliani just made a wonderful, concise point about how reducing taxes increases revenue. He also has spouted off some very persuasive figures. I hope people who don't believe at all in supply-side economics are listening-- and that includes Romney's economic adviser who thinks supply-side economics are extremist.

2. Ooh, Romney's talking about bridges. I wonder whether anyone is going to raise the Big Dig...

3. McCain is on pork. Awesome. He looks seriously p*ssed. This is where I love McCain.

I guess we're having a little commercial break now.

Back from the commercial break.

1. Huckabee sure makes the fair tax sound good-- prostitutes, pimp, drug dealers, illegal immigrants all paying taxes, and no IRS? Great.

2. Except that as Romney pointed out, there are problems with fair tax proposals where home sales are concerned.

3. And Giuliani's just pointed out that the fair tax doesn't get rid of bureaucracy because someone has to set the boundaries on what items will be exempt from tax, and whether certain individuals will be exempt from tax. Giuliani's right that the death tax needs to go, but I would have liked it if he would have talked about some other taxes that need to be got rid of, too.

4. Tancredo's banging on about people not understanding the fair tax. I haven't read Boortz's book, so I'll admit I'm not intimately familiar with every aspect of the fair tax proposal. But, from what I've read, it has great potential to be regressive.

5. Glad to see Brownback weighed in about the optional flat tax-- which is an absolutely brilliant idea.

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Mistakes? This is always a bad issue to raise because most people just spout off crap. But...

1. You could have expected Romney to say "taking a pro-choice position." I'm calling BS and pandering on that one.

2. Giuliani offers a brilliant answer. That was funny as hell! And it was probably accurate! Loved it!

3. McCain is talking about Keating Five. Gracious.

4. Tommy Thompson will end breast cancer by 2015. Personally. That's one hell of a commitment.

5. And, Tom Tancredo brings up Jesus. Well, it was either going to be him or Brownback, I guess. Still, I'm afraid I still bristle a bit when people bring this kind of thing up, at least in the kind of terms that Tancredo used.

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