Posted by
WCC on Thursday, January 24, 2008 9:39:39 PM
to MCCAIN - question from supposed citizen. How can you sustain military action and deficit spending? Says we can. Bashes Clinton for wanting to surrender in Iraq. (LOVE IT!). This is his good issue. Would be a decent SecDef, except I wouldn't trust him not to blab about cabinet meetings (like Powell) because of his liberal social leanings.
to ROMNEY - (fr. WIlliams) cites a negative line from After Action Report on Iraq noting not well enough staffed, implies we would need a draft. Romney - we need to increase enrollment by improving incentives. (Spoken like a true conservative, I like hearing about incentives!). Bashes Democrats for putting retreat ahead of victory in Iraq. Cites Al Qaeda in Iraq. Good Stuff. He won't give up in Iraq. Bashes Democrats/Hillary for claiming credit in Iraq for threatening to pull out quickly; gives Credit to Patreus. (Applause in FLA).
Russert (most Americans think removal of Hussein was not worth blood & treasure, per poll).
to MCCAIN - it was worth it. Hussein used WMD's and was trying to acquire more. Problem wasn't invasion, was Rumsfeld's handling; he railed against it at the time. War was justified b/c of threat of Hussein. If we withdraw, Al Qaeda will trumpet. RUSSERT buts in. ... "my question was ..." McCain - it was a good idea.
GIULIANI - bashes Clinton for flip-flopping on War based upon polls. Giuliani was for it when polls were for it, was for it when polls were against it. GREAT RETORT TO RUSSERT.
PAUL - Russert knows what he will say. Paul says it was a very bad idea (smattering of Paulnuts applause). Why is he still here?
HUCKABEE - I supported the President, as did the Democrats; we owe him our thanks for being proactive, and not waiting until there was another attack. Just b/c you didn't find every easter egg doesn't mean they weren't planted. (another great line) analogy to WMD's.
ROMNEY - direct and clear; I always supported it; wasn't well managed after take-down of Hussein, we were undermanned. Present phase w/ Patreus is working. (Answer mirrors McCain on the issue). Again bashes Democrats (Yes!); Frames it as what do we now, win or retreat?